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THE
HISTORY

AND
TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY
OF THE
COUNTY OF
OF KENT.
CONTAINING THE
ANTIENT AND PRESENT STATE OF IT,
CIVIL AND ECCLESIASTICAL;
COLLECTED FROM PUBLIC RECORDS,

AND OTHER AUTHORITIES:
İLLUSTRATED WITH MAPS, VIEWS, ANTIQUITIES, &c.
THE SECOND EDITION,
IMPROVED, CORRECT ED, AND CONTINUED TO
THE PRESENT TIME.
By EDWARD HASTED, Eſq. F. R. S. and S. A.
LATE OF CANTERBURY.

« Ex his omnibus, longe funt humaniffimi qui Cantium incoluntas
56 Fortes creantur fortibus et bonis,
“ Nec imbellem feroces progenerant."
VOLUME 1.
1

BON TEMPS
VIENDI
CANTERBURY:
PRINTED BY W. BRISTOW, ON THE PARADE,
M.DCC.XCVII.

Engl. Res. Se
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TO THE
RIGHT HONOURABLE
til
CHARLES MARSHAM,
LORD ROMNEY,
BARON OF ROMNEY, IN THE COUNTY OF KENT, &c. &c.
*0006 2000-
MY LORD,
IT is with much diffidence and reſpect, that I pre-
fume to offer this Volume to your Patronage, a
liberty I ſhould not have preſumed to take, had I
not been encouraged to it by the well known libe-
rality of your Lordſhip’s ſentiments, and the many
ſingular favours you have condeſcended to honour
me with; but your beneficence, my Lord, is uni-
verſal
(iv)

verſal, and in your generous protection, the dif-
treffed and the unfortunate are ſure to find both
fuccour and relief. Your Lordſhip's conduct, in.
deed, is uniform ; ever good and benevolent in pri-
vate and domeſtic life, ever foremoft in patriotiſm
and love for your country, you have, my Lord, ſtood
forth in your concern for the public welfare on every
occaſion, as well in the field as in the ſenate. This
is ſo well known, and is ſo much the praiſe and ad-
miration of every one, that it wants no eulogium
of mine-To dwell on it, therefore, my Lord, would
be an affront to your feelings: Truth only is ne-
ceffary when your Lordſhip is mentioned ; your cha-
racter is above flattery; I will therefore no longer
treſpaſs on your Lordſhip's patience farther than to
intreat you to pardon this effufion of gratitude, and
that you will condeſcend to accept it as the only
acknowledgment in my power of the moſt grateful
and profound reſpect with which I remain
much the
a I remain
stort. MY LORD, toyote sin
{ back Your Lordſhip's body
PES
Moſt obliged
obot
And moſt obedient ſervant,
LONDON,
JANUARY 1, 1797
EDWARD HASTED.


PRE FACE.
AMONG THE
THE DIFFERENT COUNTIES of England, which
have been at times illuſtrated by the labours of ingenious men,
the county of Kent, beſides the part it has in the general deſcrip-
tions of Britain, has perhaps had a greater ſhare of their atten-
tion than any other in the kingdom.
Leland, librarian to king Henry VIII. may be ſaid to be the
firſt who undertook a particular and regular deſcription of the ſea
veral counties of this kingdom. To effect this general ſurvey,
he obtained the king's commiſſion to ſearch all libraries what-
ever. He viſited almoſt every part of England for this purpoſe,
during the ſpace of fix years, and took notes of whatever he
imagined might be of ſervice to his intended work, in doing
which, he appears to have made uſe of the many valuable ma-
nuſcripts depoſited in the ſeveral monaſteries throughout the
kingdom, which were ſoon afterwards diſperſed, and many of
them purpoſely deſtroyed. His collections, made for this coun-
ty, are by no means the ſmalleſt of thoſe he left behind him, but
the greatneſs of his deſign, in all likelihood, diſturbed his reaſon,
ſo that he only left the great outlines of it, which appear to
have been taken with great integrity.
On this rude, yet firm foundation, Mr. Camden is ſuppoſed to
have framed the glorious fuperſtructure of his Britannia, a work
of immortal fame, as well to the author as the country he has
defcribed. It was firſt publiſhed in 1986, and went through five
editions in the author's life time. From this work, he was den
ſervedly eiteemed the great reſtorer of antiquity to Britain; and as
he
ii
PREFACE.
.
he exceeded former ages in his admirable work, ſo he has re-
mained without an equal to this time. As his Britannia included
not only the deſcription of England and Scotland, but of Ire-
land too, it could admit but of a very ſhort and conciſe account
of each particular county, nevertheleſs it has abundance of learn-
ing and information, though contained in ſo ſmall a ſpace.
The next general deſcription of Great Britain was publiſhed a
long time after that above mentioned, under the title of Magna
Britannia et Hibernia; or, A new Survey of Great Britain and Ire-
land. It was compiled by different perſons, and having been
firſt publiſhed in monthly numbers, was afterwards publiſhed in
fix volumes, quarto; the firſt in 1720, and the reſt in the ſuc-
ceeding years; but it was left imperfect, the Engliſh counties
only being deſcribed; conſidering the greatneſs of the undertak-
ing, it is eſteemed a work of ſome merit and reputation. Be-
fides the notice which has been taken of this county, in common
with others, in theſe general deſcriptions of Britain, the follow-
ingenious and learned men have employed their pens to cele-
brate its praiſes in particular.
William Lambarde, eſq. of Lincoln’s-inn, who was well verſed in
the Saxon language, and moſt intelligent in the 'antient laws and
cuſtomis' of that people, drew up, among many other learned dif-
courſes, An alphabetical Deſcription of Places throughout Eng-
land and Wales, publiſhed ſince his death, under the title of, A
Topographical Dictionary, which he intended as a ſtore houſe, from
whence he might draw materials for a particular deſcription of
each county. Moſt probably Camden's undertaking his Britannia
put a ſtop to this deſign, and he only finiſhed what he had be-
gun as a trial, his own county of Kent; his Perambulation of it, con-
taining the antient hiſtory, laws, and cuſtoms of the county, ef-
pecially in whatever the Saxons were concerned, with the Saxon
etymology of places and things, was publiſhed in 1570; and it
was not only highly approved of by Camden, and other literary
men of that age, but has given hints to learned men of ſucceed-
ing times to endeavour the like for their reſpective counties.
Mr.


PREFACE
lii
Mr. William Somner, of Canterbury, in the beginning of king
Charles I.'s reign, whilſt the bleſſing of peace remained in this
happy ifle, collected his materials for his Hiſtory of Canterbury,
which was afterwards publiſhed in 1640. His great proficiency
in the Saxon language, made him eſteemed the moſt eminent an-
tiquary of his time; and as his induſtry was indefatigable, he
laid a plan of writing a hiſtory of the whole county, but the im-
petuous ſtorm of civil war and fanaticiſm, which broke out foon
afterwards, and directed its fury againſt every thing that had the
appearance of learning, religion, or decency, foon obliged him
to quit his deſign, and to turn his thoughts to the preſervation of
his own domeſtic concerns, and the ſafety of himſelf and family.
All that is left of this deſign ſeems to be, A Treatiſe of the Roman
Ports and Forts in Kent, publiſhed ſince his death, ſuppoſed to be
part of it; and ſome manuſcript collections relating to ſome few
towns and churches in Kent, now in the manuſcript library of
the dean and chapter of Canterbury.
Richard Kilburne, efq. of Hawkurſt, publiſhed, in 1659, in
quarto, A Topography, or Survey of Kent; but it is little more than
Directory, to point out the ſeveral diviſions of the county: the
names of rivers, towns, and pariſhes, and the diſtance of them
from each other; the liberties, fairs, and markets, within them;
the dedication of churches, with a liſt of ſheriffs, &c.
Fohn Philipott, rouge dragon, and afterwards Somerſet herald, who
had viſited this county in the year 1619, and the two following
years, as marſhal and deputy to William Camden, clarencieux
king at arms, ſoon afterwards began to make collections for Arz
hiſtorical Survey of the County of Kent, which he ſeems to have con-
tinued till about the year 1640; no long time after which, the
common fatality of the civil war overwhelmed him with misfor-
tunes, and he lived for ſome years afterwards in great poverty
and obſcurity till his death, which happened in 1645. What
ſtate his collections were left in, or what pains it coſt his ſon,
Thomas Philipott, to put them into order, is not known, but the
latter took the whole merit of them to himſelf, and without men-
tioning his father, publiſhed them in 1659, in a ſmall folio, under
his
iv
PREFACE.
his own name, by the title of, Villare Cantianum ; or, Kent fur-
veyed and illuſtrated; to which he added a Catalogue of Sheriffs,
which he owns was drawn up by his father. This Survey con-
tains a hiſtory of the deſcents of the ſeveral manors and places of
note in this county and the owners of them, with ſome few hif-
torical diſſertations, intermixed on particular matters of antiquity,
The whole ſeems to be the rude materials which John Philipott
had collected, with an intention of framing them into a more
copious and complete hiſtory.
Dr. Plott had certainly formed a plan, after the manner of
what he had already publiſhed for Oxfordſhire and Staffordſhire,
of a Natural Hiſtary of this County, with an account of the Roman
antiquities, roads, &c. in it; but beginning this deſign at the
farther part of life, and being involved in other buſineſs, he
can be ſaid but barely to have projected the outlines of it. Part
of his collections for this purpoſe came afterwards into the hands
of the late Mr. Thorpe of Bexley, in this county.
The laſt work of this kind, and the leaſt in reputation too, was
that of Dr. Harris, prebendary of Rocheſter, who ſpent eight
years in making collections for a Hiſtory of this county, but he did
not live to fee the fate of his tranſcripts, the firſt volume of
which, in folio, was publiſhed in 1719, a few months after his
death, under the title of, The Hiſtory of Kent, containing an exact
Topography or Deſcription of the County, civil, ecclefiaftical, and na-
tural, with the Hiſtory of the Royal Navy of England. It contains
but few alterations from the former deſcriptions of this county,
and as few continuations of families, the owners of the ſeveral
manors and eſtates, concluding with the poſſeſſors of them in
Philipott's time, which was in the year 1656. What progreſs
the Doctor had made towards his ſecond volume, which was never
publiſhed, is not known; but dying inſolvent, his papers were
diſperſed, and though every enquiry has been made after them,
yet no knowledge has been gained what is become of them,
Such have been the attempts of learned and ingenious men to
illuſtrate the Hiſtory of Kent. How far they have accompliſhed
this
PREFACE.
this taſk muſt be left to the judgment of others, perhaps confi-
dering the extenſiveneſs of the county and the multiplicity of
matter neceſſary to be treated of in it, beyond that of moſt others,
it may be found too much for one perſon to undertake, ſo as ta
accompliſh it with any tolerable ſatisfaction, either to himſelf or
the public; indeed, had Mr. Somner lived in more quiet times,
and had leiſure to have indulged his beloved paſſion for the ſtudy
of antiquity, he would probably have left a hiſtory of this coun-
ty, which would have done honour both to the writer and the
county itſelf. He undoubtedly deſigned ſuch a work. His learn-
ing, both in antiquity and hiſtory, and more eſpecially in the
Saxon tongue, was uncommonly great, his application was un-
wearied, and he had a purity of manners, which ſtamped a more
than ordinary degree of credit on whatever came from his pen,
.
His Hiſtory of Canterbury, with his other learned treatiſes, are
ſpecimens of what might have been expected, had he been at
leiſure to have accompliſhed this great deſign,
Nor are thoſe already mentioned the only, learned men who
have employed their pens in illuſtrating the hiſtory and anti-
quities within this county; many partial hiſtories and accounts
of towns and places, particularly of Canterbury, Rocheſter,
Maidſtone, Faverſham, and Tunbridge Wells, of Romney marſh,
and the Weald, have been at times publiſhed ; ſeveral of which
have no ſmall degree of merit, and bear a good reputation among
the learned. The beſt methodized, accurate, and moſt perfect
county hiſtory which has been publiſhed, is Sir William Dug-
dale's Hiſtory of Warwickſhire, publiſhed in 1656, before the de-
ſtruction made by the fanatics, in one volume folio; a moſt valu-
able and laborious work, as appears by the number of authori-
ties quoted in the margin of it. Sir Henry Chauncy's Hiſtory of
Hertfordſhire, publiſhed in 1700, in a like ſize, is eſteemed the
next beſt, and ſeems formed moſtly upon the ſame plan; though
had his digreffions been ſhorter, and his authorities more fre-
quent, his work would have been much more pleaſing and much
more valuable.
From



vi
PREFACE.
From thefe, which have been the patterns of all ſucceeding
county hiſtories, which bear any kind of reputation, with all due
deference to their fuperior learning and abilities, the plan of this
Hiſtory has been in a great meaſure formed.
The contents of it have been compiled, in a great meaſure, from
extenſive ſearches made among the different offices of record,
and other repoſitaries of learning, both public and private, in
London and elſewhere, all which need not be enumerated here,
as the continued references to them, throughout the work, will
ſufficiently point them out; from a conſtant ſeries of correſpon-
dence with perſons of the moſt reſpectable rank and fortune in
the county, with the clergy, and with the gentlemen practitioners
of the law, from whom the ſeveral ſubjects in it, eſpecially as to
deſcent and property, have been elucidated and aſcertained on
ſure grounds, beſides which, parochial viſitations have been
made throughout the county, by which the knowledge of every
particular, worthy of attention, has been gained.
As to The General Hiſtory prefixed to this work, it will be ne-
ceſſary to obſerve, that the accounts of Britain, before Cæſar's
time, are by moſt deemed fabulous; his Commentaries are the
firſt which have any appearance of truth, though the whole nar-
rative of his expeditions hither ſeem but a partial repreſentation
of facts, in which whatever could tend to increaſe his own glory
is punctually related ; and the contrary, with as much art, fof.
tened or entirely omitted. Whatever therefore he relates of this
county, and the inhabitants of it, muſt be read with much cau-
tion, as he attained his knowledge of it, not from his own obfer-
vations, (his progreſs in it being of ſhort extent, no farther
than St. Alban’s, in an almoſt direct route, his time but juſt
fufficient for his military obſervations, and himſelf and his forces
in continual jeopardy from the Britons,) but from the hearſay
of thoſe who dwelt on the coaſt adjoining to France, and who
never travelled into the interior parts of the ifland.
What is met with relating to Britain in Tacitus, Dion, Sueto-
nius, and others of later times, ſeems to have a greater founda-
tion
PREFACE.
vii
tion of truth than the elegant and well dreſſed Commentaries of
the ambitious and vain glorious Cæſar. Notwithſtanding which,
whether his relation is conſiſtent with truth or not, it is the ear-
lieſt that has any probability of it, and as ſuch, muſt be made
uſe of by every hiſtorian, who wiſhes to give any account of
Britain at that period of time.
The hiſtory of this county, from the departure of the Romans,
during the times that the Engliſh, the Saxons, the Danes, and the
Normans, were contending for the ſovereignty of it, is very differ-
ently related by the reſpective hiſtorians of thoſe periods, each in-
clining, with great partiality, in favour of his own nation; the
truth of the events of thoſe times muſt therefore be inveſtigated,
by comparing the probability of what each advances with the
others, and yet, after all, the certainty of it will hang by a very
flender thread indeed.
In the account of the deſcent and change of property, later than the
abolition of the court of wards, and the authenticity of former
hiſtories, very few authorities can be given, moſt of the infor-
mation being from private correspondence, oral information, or
perſonal knowledge of the facts. The difficulty of procuring
any knowledge in relation to them is becoming every year
greater: Whilſt feudal tenures ſubſiſted, and the courts of wards
and liveries was in being, a complete information could be
gained of almoſt every manor and eſtate of conſequence of which
any one died poſſeſſed, either by ſearching that office, for the
ſolemn inquiſition, uſually ſtiled, Inquiſitio poft mortem, taken af-
ter the poſſeſſors death by the king's eſcheator, on the oaths of
a jury, who enquired what lands he died feiſed of, who was his
heir, and of what age, and by what ſervices he held-or by
ſearching the eſcheat rolls, made up from his return, at the ex-
chequer. The above mentioned court was aboliſhed at the re-
ſtoration of king Charles II. and theſe helps are now loſt to the
laborious hiſtorian, and he muſt conſequently, as his only re.
ſource, apply to the poſſeſſors of the property themſelves, no
doubt the fountain head, where he ought to make his applica-
tion, where his information muſt be authentic; but from various
reaſons,

vili
PREFACE.
reaſons, too obvious to mention, how few are there who can
command the poſſeſſion of their own deeds, and of the few who
can, how difficult it is, in this age of diſtruſt, to prevail on them
to afford any information relating to the titles of their lands,
much more with the fight of them; indeed, the practitioners of
the law, through a conſtant attention to the emoluments of their
profeſſion, have, for ſome years paft, ſo multiplied the deeds of
all eſtates, and extended them to ſuch an enormous length, that
the trouble of producing, as well as of examining them, is be-
come both tireſome and laborious.
The variety of information, which has been found neceſſary to in-
ſert in this hiſtory, has ſo far filled every part of it, as to leave
no opportunity of adding fuch digreſſions and criticiſms as occur-
red on many of the ſubjects mentioned in it, which would other-
wife have been frequently done. The continual repetitions in
the ſeveral pages of it could not be well avoided in carrying on
the chain of narrative; and, indeed, had they not been fùbmit-
ted to, the frequency of the references, in conſequence of their
omiſſion, would have rendered the ſeveral pages the moſt trou-
bleſome and diſagreeable of all kind of reading.
The natural hiſtory of this county is a ſubject fo copious, and
abounding with ſuch a variety of matter, that it neither can nor
ought to be made a part of any book, it requires one entirely to
itſelf, and a genius particularly adapted to the ſtudy of it, the
ſole attention and application of which thould be that alone, and
it muſt be the employment of ſeveral years to compoſe one that
would do ſufficient juſtice to it; however fuch matters as have
occurred to the author, either from his own obſervations, or
the communications of his friends, will be found interſperſed
throughout the work.
The ſeveral peculiar cuſtoms of different places and remarkable
occurrences are in general taken notice of, all trifling and cre-
dulous ſtories, which are a diſgrace to common ſenſe, being
Omitted.
in
PREFACE.
ix
In the account of the ſeveral religious foundations it will, per-
haps, be obſerved, eſpecially in that of Faverſham, that they
are not repreſented in fo odious a light as has been too much the
practice for ſome time paſt, whether right or wrong, to ſerve
either party or particular purpoſes. There were thoſe among
them, no doubt, as there are among all denominations of men,
who were not without the common failings of human nature;
but though there were ſome few among them, whoſe actions
might be deemed a ſcandal to religion, and their ignorance a
diſgrace to the ſociety they belonged to, yet there were many
others of them who were great, pious, and good men, and of
excellent learning for the times, many of whom were preferred
to, and exerciſed with becoming credit, the higheſt offices in the
ſtate, the church, and the law; and in many of their houſes
great regularity of diſcipline and prayer was kept up, and daily
charity diſpenſed at their gates to hundreds of the
poor
and
hungry, who conſtantly flocked thither for that purpoſe.
In many of the extracts from the Records of Domeſday (the
printing of which, in fac fimile engravings, none but thoſe whoſe
continued practice had gained a technical knowledge in antient
records, could have interpreted, or even have read, and as ſuch
would have been of little or no uſe) it will no doubt be ob-
ſerved, that the names of places are very different from the pre-
ſent ones of thoſe they are ſuppoſed to deſcribe. This appears
to have been owing, as well to the miſtakes of the Norman ſcribes,
made perhaps for the purpoſe, who took their accounts from
the mouths of the Saxon inhabitants, as to the great change
worked by ſuch length of time in the very names themſelves,
inſomuch that the greateſt part of them, at this time, requires a
perfon well acquainted with the antient hiſtory of the ſeveral
places, as well as the provincial dialect of the county, to inter
pret them, and fix them to the places they are meant to deſcribe,
and even then conje&ture muſt frequently be reſorted to for this
purpoſe, however it is hoped, that very few miſtakes have been
committed in the interpretation of them.
VOL. I.
b
The
х
PREFACE.
The maps of the ſeveral hundreds have been executed with
much pains and attention, and conſidering, that they are the firſt
which have been attempted of the kind for this county, are as
accurate as can well be expected; the difficulty of aſcertaining
the bounds of moſt of them has been very great, ſeveral of them
fo
very intricate as to be almoſt unknown, as well as thoſe of
the reſpective laths in which they are ſituated; the lowy of Tun-
bridge, the hundreds of Watchlingſtone and Weſt Barnefield,
have been particularly ſo. The method of making the map
the county was well conſidered of, and the one adopted is what,
upon conſultation with ſeveral ingenious perſons, ſeemed moſt
approved of.
of
As to the views of the ſeveral ſeats, they are as well executed
as ſuch fort in general are; ſome of them are done in a more
elegant and expenſive ſtyle, where the donors have ſhewn a
more than ordinary liberality, in order to do credit to the coun-
ty, in thus embelliſhing the Hiſtory of it. The expence, at this
time, of engravings, even from the hand of a moderate artiſt,
is ſuch that it is hardly decent to aſk it of any one; from the
more eminent hands it is extravagant beyond all reaſon.
The genealogies of families have been held by many in by far
too trivial and uſeleſs a light, eſpecially when it is conſidered,
that men, whoſe anceſtors have been famed for their public vir-
tue and patriotiſm, for the glorious actions they have peform-
ed for their country, or for their proficiency in philoſophy,
learning, or the polite arts, are frequently ſtimulated to imitate
their bright and worthy examples. The ſhame of degenerating
from the reputation their families hold in the eſtimation of man-
kind in general, deters them from committing baſe and unwor-
thy actions, actions unworthy thoſe whoſe blood fills their veins.
Relationſhip of family extended, by the preſervation of pedi-
grees, promotes a chain of ſociety and good will that often af-
fords aſſiſtance and ſupport to every link of it; beſides which,
many public foundations are enjoined to give a preference in
the election of their members to particular confanguinities.
Many endowments for the education of youth, as well in ſchools
as
PREFACE.
as in the colleges of both univerſities, and many offices of truſt
and emolument, are in like manner confined to kindred, by
their founders and benefactors. How many eſtates are loft to
their right owners from their pedigrees being inadequate to trace
and authenticate their titles to them, in conſequence of which
advertiſements frequently appear in the public papers to endea-
vour to find out the next of kin to pofſeſs an inheritance. The
well-known lofs of the Selby eftate to the right heir is a recent in-
ſtance, what care ought to be taken in this particular. There
are ſome, indeed, who attempt to turn antient deſcent and pe.
digree into ridicule and contempt, but it has been obſerved, and
that very juſtly, that this is ſeldom done, except by thoſe who
have none themſelves, and think by fo doing, to level others
to a footing with themſelves. bu da budetely
It was at firſt hoped to have preſerved ſome ſimilitude and
propriety in the orthography of the names both of places and per-
fons, but this was obliged ſoon to be given up entirely; the va-
riety of ſpelling, both in manuſcripts and hiſtories, and ſtill far-
ther even in records and acts of parliament is aſtoniſhing, as may
be ſeen, as well by the gavel-kind acts of king Henry VIII. and
king Edward VI, as the ſeveral private acts, paſſed of later years,
for the ſale or ſettlement of eſtates; private deeds and convey-
ances frequently diſagree in theſe particulars---fathers and fons
frequently alter the ſpelling of their names, brothers do the ſame,
to diſtinguiſh the different branches of the ſame family;, and
ſome, after a generatiou or two, have reſumed the former ſpel-
ling of their names against any hou ons g
Thus far it has been thought proper to ſelect from the Prefaces
to the ſeveral volumes of the former edition, for the information
of the reader of theſe volumes, and it will be now neceſſary to
treſpaſs a little farther on his patience, in relation to the preſent
undertaking, which has been begun at the requeſt of many, who
though they approved much of the work itſelf, yet, from the
bulk of the folio edition, and the very high price it ſells for, de-
clined the purchaſe of it, though at the fame time they wiſhed
much to obtain it in a ſmaller and more convenient fíze, and at a
much


On
b 2
xii
PREFACE
much more reaſonable price. The preſent edition it is hoped will,
in every reſpect, anſwer both theſe purpoſes, and meet with their
approbation, as well as of the public in general, for no endea-
vours nor expence have been ſpared to render it worthy their
attention. Among the many improvements made in it, the
parts of the former edition, which have been thought too prolix
or unneceſſary, as well as all tautologies, have been omitted, the
ſeveral errors and miſtakes, obſerved by the author himſelf, or
communicated to him by others, are corrected ; much information
on every ſubject communicated by different correſpondents,
ſince the publication of the former volumes, are inſerted tlirough-
out the work, and the ſeveral articles in each pariſh are differ-
ently arranged, ſo as to render the ſucceſſion of them much more
pleaſant to the reader. The modern ſtate of each pariſh is greatly
enlarged with numbers of obſervations unnoticed before, and the
ſeveral manors and eſtates are continued down to the preſent time.
A full account of the ſeveral parochial charities, tranſcribed from
the returns of them, made in conformity to the act of parlia-
ment to the quarter ſeſſions, and a ſelection of epitaphs, in the
ſeveral churches, which were omitted in the firſt and ſecond vo.
lumes of the former edition, are likewiſe added. Much objec-
tion has been made to the frequent notes, which in the former
edition fo often interrupted the reader, to remedy which, they
are all of them here inſerted among the text, except
the
tions of authorities, which are the only ones that remain, to be
WAT BETEL PLAY
referred to.
The number of theſe volumes, as far as can be judged at preſent,
will not exceed eight; every endeavour has, and will be uſed,
to comprize this undertaking within that number, and it is
hoped, that this will be effected, and that without omitting any
material part of the hiſtory, notwithſtanding there are ſeveral
other additions and improvements too copious to inſert in the
limits of this preface, inſomuch that it may rather be eſteemed
as a new Hiſtory than a ſecond edition of a former one,
The prints, inſerted in the courſe of theſe volumes, are ſeveral
of them thoſe, where the ſize would admit of it, which belonged
to


quota


PREFACE
kili
to the folio edition, though much improved, the others are ſuch
as have been engraved at no ſmall expence purpoſely for theſe
volumes.
As to the numerous folio prints belonging to the former edition,
as there is not a poſſibility of inſerting them in theſe ſmall vo-
lumes, it is propoſed, that the purchaſers may not be deprived
of them, to make up six of them, and to deliver them, fewed
up in a number, if required, to the purchaſers of each volume
at a very trifling price, though highly improved for this purpoſe
by a very eminent artiſt.
LASTLY, the reader's candour is requeſted in like manner
as was neceſſary in the former edition, to excuſe ſuch errors and
miſtakes, for many fuch there muſt unavoidably occur to him,
likewiſe in the peruſal of theſe volumes, but he may be aſſured,
that there has not been a ſingle one wilfully made, but that the
ſacred path of truth has been invaribly purſued throughout them,
and as every endeavour has been uſed, and neither coſt nor pains
ſpared, to gratify his expectation, it is hoped, eſpecially when
he conſiders the difficulty of ſo great an undertaking from the
hand of a ſingle perſon, that he will be induced the more libe.
rally to look over and pardon whatever he finds amiſs, in the
courſe of them, intreating him to acquieſce in the well known
ſentiment of the poet-

66 QUOD SI DEFICIANT VIRES, AUDACIA CERTE
LAUS ERIT; IN MAGNIS ET VOLUISSE SAT EST."
66

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ПІТузі препаратамыз артка
dort s by cada uno
Any ERRORS OF MISTAKES, in the former edițion; or com-
munications towards the improvement of theſe volumes, will, at any
time, in future, be thankfully received, if directed to W. BRISTOW,
PARADE, CANTERBURY. V drevet food est to mora bio
ont on nos caten bis balts mode Boves to hovy as bas
animals to Docentelit moittages et larg et ungt
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ERIU V
TEBAL


ON POIN D E X.
B.
221.
MAMA.
BEL's of Erith, 513.
Berners's, 530, 531.
oldal
Agricola commands in Britain, Bacon Francis, 450.0
36.
at Badleſmere's, 389.
Air of the county, 265.
Baford caſtle built, 87.
Alcher, earl, 83, 110.
Bagſhaw Rev. Mr. 564.
Alderman or earl, 104.
Baieux, biſhop of, See Odo.
Aldric, ling of Kent, 79. Baldred, king of Kent, 80.
Alfred the Great, 84.
Ballard Robert, 389, 390.
Alphege, archbiſhop, 96, 372. Banbury Knolles, earl of, 508.
Anderida, city of, 44, 65. Banker's, a place in Lee, 493, 497.
Andredſweald, foreſt of, 63. Bankwell's of Lee, 479, 493,
Andredceafter. See Anderida.
515, 560, 561.
Angerſtein John Julius, poſeljes Bapchild, council at, 529.
Kent-houſe, in Beckenham, Barker's of Suffolk, 478, 487.
545.
Barnes's of Woolwich, account
Angles, origin of, 48.
of, 450.
Anglia the name of Britain, 48. BARONETS, degree and lift of
Anglo Saxons, 48.
Anneſley's of Lee, 436, 492, Barrows or tumuli in Kent, 372,
499.
375, 376.
Antiquities found, 345, 375, Baffet Alexander, 561. unet
506.
Baſing, Port's lords of, 533.
Appledore,the Danes land at,87. Battles between Saxons and
Arden, lord, 420.
Britons, 57, 58, 59.
Ardmagh, grace, viſcounteſs, Bathurſt, earls, 480.
434.
Beardmore Thomas, 433.
Arrapon John, 494.
Beaufort Thomas, 393. . -
Athol, dutchels of, 392 He Becanceld, council at, 77, 528.
Aton Gilbert de, 461.
BeCKENHAM, pariſh of, 527.
Atterbury, bifhop, 558. Begham, monaftery of, 356,
Auckland, lord, 528.
365. dental
Audley Anne, lady, 389. Beke Anthony, biſhop of Dur-
Auguſtine, St. 72. tomo ham, 460, 464, 513.
Auſten Francis Motley, pollelles Belknap's, 389.
Billingham, in Lewiſham, Berghamſted, land in, 78.
516.
Bermondſey, monaſtery of, 421,
Aylesford, battle at, 57, 98. 423, 432.
Bertha,
svi
INDEX.
coln, 423
Blund's, 559
548.
Bertha, queen, 73.
Briſet Jordan de, 470.
Betenſon, Mrs. Helen, 564. BRITONS, antient, account of,
Bettenham's, 560.
II, 13
Beverſea's, 537
Britons and Picts, tranſactions
Bickley-houfe, in Bromley, 551.
of, 44, 45
Biddulph’s
, account of, 391. Britons and Saxons, 46, 47.
Billingham manor, in Lewiſham, BROCKLEY, in Deptford, 356,
515
BROCKLEY, in Lewiſham, 356,
Birde's, 515.
504, 514
Birtrick of Meopham, 554.
Brograve's, 538.
BLACKHEATH, hundred of, 339.
BROMLEY und BECKENHAM,
Blackheath, 374.
, 527
A
Blanquefort, marquis of, 496.
BROMLEY, parilh of, 550.
Bliſs, Dr. Nathaniel, 401. Bromley, college of, 562.in
Bloett, Robert, biſhop of Lin- Browne’s of Deptford, account
of, 351, 369.
Blound's, 559.
prilby Browne James, 420.
Blounts of Wrickleſhmarſh, Bruin's, 530. Song
426, 434, 436.
Brydges John and Edward,
537.
Bolingbroke, St. John's, earls Buccleugh, duke of, 374.
of, 533; viſcounts, 534, 535, Buckeridge, bifhop, 567.
Buckhurſt Thomas Sackville,
Boulogne, if the Portus Itius, 22. lord, 496. la loro
Bolton, Charles, duke of, 392. Burgh, family of, 143.A
Boone's of Lee, 497.
Burgh Hubert de, earl of Kent,
Boone Charles, polleles Lee 136.
place, 497
Burgeſs, Mr. 478.
Burgherſh's de, 536. lundgren
Borough, lords, deſcent of, 143. Burnaby, Rev. Andrew, vicar of
BOTANY, 346, 381, 422, 445.
Greenwich, 420.
459, 505, 552.
Burrell's, account of, 538, 539.
Boughton's of Burwaſh-court, 540, 544, 545, 547, 562.
449, 450.
Boundaries, antient, of Kent, , shunda c. tomobiloy A
4; weſtern, 5; county, 343.
Obrolanas
Bowater John, polelles South- Cæſar invades Britain, 14, 21,
all, alias Woolwich manor, 27, 30.
449.
e Calais, if the Portus Itius, 23.
Bowater, account of, 449. Caligula, his mock expedition,
Bowes Martin, 450.
32. to tab ada no
Bowreman, William, 480. Camp, Roman, at Keſton, 35-
Boxley abbey, founded, 135. Canterbury,St.Auguſtine's mo-
Bradley, Dr. 401.
naſtery in, built, 72. but
Bradfole, alias St. Radigund's Canterbury, plundered by th
abbey, 142.
Danes, 95. 1 ano
Brandon William, 530, 532.
Canterbury, caſtle of, 138;
Brett Charles, 375.
keeper of, 195
Caſſivilaun,





Booth's, 559.



INDEX.
xvii
Caffivilaun, king of the Tri- Colepeper, Thomas, 487
nobantes, 13, 25, 26, 28, 30. Colfe family, account of, 506.
Caſtle Ruff, near Milton, 87.
Colfe’s, 524, 525
Catigern flain, 57
Combe, meaning of, 372.
CATFORD MANOR, in Lewis Combe, manors of, in Greenwich,
Mam, 513.
THÁI
383, 386.
Cator, John, polfelles Wricklef- Combe marſhes in Greenwich, 389.
marſh in Charlton, 428; Comes littoris Saxonici, firſt ap-
Beckenham manorand place, pointed, 39; for what pur-
536; Fox-grove in Becken-
poſe, 105.
ham, 538.
Common law of England, ori-
Cator, John, 374, 528, 537. gin of, 100
Cavell's of Cheſilhurſt, 4.79. Comport's, 487;
Ceaulin, king of the Weſt Sax Confervators of the peace, ori-
ons, 71.
gin of, 215.
Cedwalla, king of the fame, 76. Conyer's, account of, 425.
Cells, conventual, 516. CORBYE, alias Corbyn Hall, in
Cenulph, king of Mercia, 79. Eltham, 476.
LOTTA
Ceolmund, earl of Kent, II.
Corbye’s, ibid.
Cerdick, the Saxon, lands in Cornforth, Charles, 497.
Britain, 66.
CORONER, office of, 214.
Cinque ports, warden of, 180, Council, held at Beckenham,
182.
528.
Chantries ſuppreſſed, 331.
County court, 103, 104.
Chamberlain Mrs. and others Courtenay Henry Reginald (biſhop
polleſs the advowſon of Charl of Briſtol) rector of Lee, 502.
ton rectory, 433
Courts leet and courts baron,
CHARLTON, pariſh of, 420.
origin of, 102.
Cheeſman's of Mottingham479. Cowley, Mr. 346.
Cheney, Henry, 449.
Cragg's, 434, 439, 515.
Cheſilhurſt, 463
Crecanford, battle at, 59.
Cheſilhurſt, Anfgotus de, 479. Crida, the Saxon, lands in Bri-
Chichele's, 448, 471.
tain, 70.
Chomley, Roger, 450.
Cromer, William, 462.
Cholmondeley, Geo. James, earl Cudred, king of Kent, 79.
of, reſides at Charlton, 420.
Curwen's, 532.
Ciults, Saxon boats, ſo called, 50. Cuſtoms of Kent, 312
Clarence, George Plantagenet, Cypenham, now Sydenham, in
Lewiſham, 504.
Clarke's, 561.
Cypreſs trees at Charlton, 425-
Claudius, the Roman emperor,
invades Britain, 33.
D.
Clergy, regular and ſecular, 322.
Cobham, lord, 477.
Dacre, Mary lady, poleles a ſeat
Coins antiently ſtamped in Bri in Lee, 498.
Dacre, Roper, lord, ibid.
Coins, Saxon, 8o.
Danes in England, 81, 372,
Coke, Edward, vifcount, 435.
VOL.I.
Danegeld,
duke of, 504.
tain, 32.
377, 386.
viii
INDEX.
424.
IIO.
ΙΙΩ.
Danegeld, tax of, 93.
Ducie, Sir Wm. viſc. Downe,
Darcy, Thomas, lord, 385,
415.
DUKES AND EARLS of Kent,
Darent, battle near, 57.
Dartmouth, earl of, 374.
Dulwich wells, 505.
Dartmouth, Wm. Legge, earl Dutch expedition up the Med-
of, pollelles Lewiſham manor, way, 279.
512 ; rectory, and advowſon Dynely, Mr. polelles Motting-
of vicarage, 523;
ham place, 480.
Deal, Cæſar's naval camp there,
26.
E.
Degrees of inhabitants of Kent,
299.
Eadbald, king of Kent, 73.
Delight, houſe of, in Green. Eadbert-Pren, king of Kent,
wich park, 399.
79.
Demefne, antient, 311. EARLS AND DUKES of Kent,
Deanries in Kent, 261.
Deptford, pariſh of, 340. Earl of the county, how crea-
Deptford once wholly in Kent,
ted, 107
6.
EASTCOMBE, in Greenwich, 386.
Dering's, deſcent of, 136, 178. EASTHORNE manor, in Eltham,
Dering, Sir Edward, bart. 476. 470.
Dingley, Robert, 434.
Eait Saxons, fourth kingdom
Diſgavelling, acts of, 319.
founded, 67.
Divisions of the county, 250, Eaft Angles, fixth kingdom
253
founded, 69.
DOMESDAY, account of, 332. Eaton, John, rector of St. Paul's,
Dorſet, earl of, 463.
in Deptford, 371.
Dorſet, Thomas Grey, marquis Ebbsfleet in Thanet, 53; bat-
of, 495
tle at, 58, 63.
Dover, Roman forces at, 43 ; ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDIC.
caſtle and haven, 137; con-
TION of Kent, 260.
ftables of, 144, 158, 180, Edric, king of Kent, 76.
181, 182.
Egbert, firſt ſole monarch of
Dover, tumult at, 116.
England, 80.
Dover, hoſpital and church of Egbert, king of Kent, 75.
and Maiſon Dieu founded at, Edgar, king, 553.
142.
Ella, the Saxon, lands in Bri-
Drake, Dr. John, and his bro tain, 63, 65.
ther, poffefs Upper Brock- Eliot, Edward, lord, polelles
ley farm, in Deptford, 357; Kidbroke, 440; Catford and
the parſonage of Deptford other premiſes in Lewiſham,
and the advowfons of the vi-
515.
carages of St. Nicholas's and Eliot's, 439, 515.
St. Paul's there, 367. Elmſted wood, in Bromley,
Drake, Dr. John, vicar of St. Ni-
557
cholas's, Deptford, 371.
Eltham manor, 446.
Druids, Britiſh, acconnt of, 12. ELTHAM, pariſh of, 455
Eltham





INDEX
xix

6.
436.
ford, 354
Eltham manor, 460; palace, 463, Freeholds, number and diſtri-
Eltham, earl of, 483.
bution of, 301.
Elwill's, 544
Freeman's, 496, 500. Mebe)
Embattle, licence to, 394.
England,once joined to France,
G.
Ercombert, king of Kent, 74. Game Wm. Langhorne, 425.
Erith church, meeting held at, Garway, Sir William, 426, 434,
137.
Eſcus, king of Kent, 64. H Gates Sir John, 462, 477, 490.
Eftbridge, manor of, 138. Gauls, Belgic, antiently inha-
Ethelbert, king of Kent, 68bited Kent, 9.
78, 552, 553
Gavelkind, tenure of, 313, 3.15
Evelyn, Sir Frederick, bart, pof- Ghent, abbey of St. Peter's at,
Selles Saye's court, in Dept 386, 408, 413, 445, 507,516
Baloghenb52.1.
Evelyn's, account of, 354, 369, Gilbourne's, 431, 449.
538 20 Glanville, bifhop, 555.
F.
Glaſtonbury, abbot of, 558.
Glouceſter, Humphry, duke of,
Fair Maid of Kent, 147.
393:
FAIRY-HILL, a feat in Motting. Godwyne, earl of Kent, 111.
ham, 480.
Godwyne ſands, ſtory of, 120.
Falkland, Sarah, viſc. 516. Goodwyn Henry, refides at
Faverſham, Geo. Sondes, earl
Greenwich, 375116
of, 496.
to Government; of the antient Bri-
FEUDAL tenures, 305.
tons, 12, 26, 28, 45.
Fighting, manner of, among Government of the Romans in
the Britains, 19.
Britain, 37, 42. lo
Finch’s of Deptford, 370. Gower, lady, 565,
Fitch's of Eltham, 478, 487.
Grahme Reginald, 509, 524
Flamſted-houſe, in Greenwich Gravel, excellent dug on Black-
park, 401. 104
heath, 374.
VOX
Fluyder's of Lee, 497, L Greene Mrs. Anne, popeſes a
Fordwich, town of, 177.
feat at Southend in Eltham,
Foliot's of Worceſterſhire, 470,
Folkeſtone, nunnery built, 73.
Greene's, 537
Foot's Cray, 463-
GREENWICH, pariſh of, 372.17
Foreſts in Kent, 269.
Greenwich manor, 383 ; hoſpital,
Foreſt-place, alias Brockley, in 401.
Lewiſham, 357, 514.
Greenwich, John Campbell
Foreſt, father John, 409.
duke of, 382.
Forth Hugh, 391.
In Grey's, earls and duke of Kent,
Fortree's of Greenwich, 387.
156 to 166.
Foxgrove manor in Becken: Grey's, origin of family, and
ham, 536.
different branches of, 156.
Foxgrove's, ibid.
to Grey Jemima Campbell, mar-
Franſciſcans, order of, 409, chioneſs of, 168.
Griffith

478.
C2
XX
INDEX,
tham, 477:
Griffith John, 433.
Hermitage in Deptford, 358.
Guildford Henry, Sir, 462. Heron, Sir William, 348. Soal
Gundulph, biſhop, 555. Hervey's of Kidbrook,437,514.
Gwydir, lord, 528, 538, 540. Hetherington's of North Cray,
Gwydir, lord, podeljes Kelſey's 564.
Panonoomsen
in Beckenham, 541; Lang- Heveningham's, 530, 531.
ley-park in ditto, 545; Simp- Heydon's, 449.
ſon's in Bromley, 562. Hinchinbrooke, Henrietta,
counteſs of, 477
H.
o Holand's, earls of Kent, 148,
150, 152, 154.
Hall, large one belonging to El- Hollingſworth Luke, 537.
tham palace, 464.
Holmewood in Suſſex, battle at,
Halley, Dr. 401, 499.
89.
Halliday, Mr. 392.
Holmes William, 392.
Hambly, Mr. polejes Deptford Holderneſs, Ramſey, earl of,
Strond manor, 351.
an
509.
Hamilton, dutcheſs of, 528. Honour, oak of, in Lewiſham,
Hammet Sir Benjamin, reſides 505.
at Park-place farm, in El Horn-fair, at Charlton, 421.
Horn park, in Eltham, 465,467.
Hamo, vicecomes, 177, 441, 447, Horne, Dr. biſhop of Norwich,
459.
489.
Harleſton's, 530,531,
1000 Horfá lands in Britain, 53.
Harold, earl of Kent, 121, 392. Horſted, 57.
Harriſon Benjamin, refides at Hoſpitals in Kent ſuppreſſed,
Lee-place, 497.
330.
Harriſon John, pollefjes Shaw. Houſes, number of in Kent,
field-houſe in Bromley, 551. 303.
Harriſon William, the antiqua- How Ephraim, 504.10 ton
rian, 506.
Hulſe Mr. reſides at Black-
Haſtings, the Daniſh pirate, 85,
87.
Hunter, governor, 420.
Haſtings, battle of, 127.
Oncol Hundreds, origin of, 102, 251,
Hatecliffe's, 416, 560, 524.
254. avoit
Hatchfield Great, a place in Lew- Hythe, battle near, 58. eodos
iſham, 515;
Download
Heming, a Daniſh chief, 95.
Heming's Dane, ſeveral places
22910
ſo called, ibid.
James, lady, poſſeſſes Park-place
Hengist, the Saxon, lands in
farm in Eltham, 477.
Britain, 53, 57,60,61,62,109: James, Sir William, ibid. 457.
Henley's, a place in Eltham, Janus's head, found near Dept-
470.
ford, 345.
Henley, John de, 470, 486.5 Ida, an Anglian chief, lands in
Henſhaw, Edward, 475.
Britain, 67.
Heptarchy, Saxon, 8o. Jeffreys, manoi of, in Wool-
Hermenric, king of Kent, 67.
wich, 449.
Polar



10!
heath, 374.
Dates
I. J.Yo eso

Ina,
INDEX.
526.
land, 99.
K.
of, 520.
*
Ina, king of the Weſt Saxons, LANGLEY-PARK, a ſeat in Beca
77.
kenham, 541, SE
Inhabitants of Britain, origin of, Langley's of Beckenham, 542.
18; antient of Kent, 9. Lapis tituli, where, 58.
Inwin Thomas, 515.
Lapis populi, ibid.
Jones, John, 425.
Laths, origin and number of,
Jones Hugh, vicar of Lewiſham, 250, 254.
Laws, different ones among the
Ippedsfleet. See Ebbesfleet.
Saxons, 72, 99.
Ipre William de, earl of Kent, Laurence Poultney, college of,
134.
in London, 513.
Iſham Edward, 489.
LEE, pariſh of, 492.
okolino
JURISDICTION, antient in Eng- Legge family, account of, 509.
Leigh's, 531, 537
Fuſtices of the peace, origin of, 216. Lethieullier's, 504, 545.
LEWIS HAM, pariſ of, 503.
Lewiſham, manor of, 383,384,
414, 445, 478, 507; church
elsa-bi
Keinſham, abbey of, 485. Lind Edward George, pollelles
KELSEY's, a ſeat in Beckenham,
Sundridge in Bromley, 560.
538.
Lidgbird's of Plumſted, 457.
Kemſley-downs, near Milton, Limne, Roman forces at, 43.
87.
Limene river, 87.
Kent, how antiently governed, Liminge, church of, founded,
28; arms of, 64.
74.
Kent-HOUSE, in Beckenham, Lindſey, Dr. primate of Ire-
528, 545
land, 453. biolo
Kernellare, meaning of, 394. Loader Ifaac, of Deptford, 368,
Keſton, Roman camp at, 35 Long Sir Richard, 385, 415-
KIDBROOKE in Charlton, 436. Longueville Michael, lord Grey
KINGS, Saxon, of Kent, 62.
of Ruthin, 165.
Kingdoms, Saxon, in England, London formerly in Kent, 5.
65 to 70.
e London, corporation of, 503.
Kirke, Joſeph, 420.
LORDS LIEUTENANTS, origin
Kirkman Mr. of London, 528. and lift of, 231.
Kitſcoty-houſe, 57. TO Lothair, king of Kent, 75.00
Knights of the Royal Oak, 229. Lucas Thomas, of Lee, 477,
Knolles Sir Francis, 508. W
545.
TO
L.
Shusdebono
M. UOMITTCH
dey
Lambarde’s of Greenwich, ac. Mandeville's, 460. gammolk
count of, 390, 417.
Magminot, family and barony
Lambton William Henry, 421. of, 346, 356.
Lanfranc, archbiſhp. 131, 554. Malmain's, family of, 542.
Langhorne's of Charlton, 424, Manners of the antient Britons,
433, 434,
Manors



IO.
xxii
INDEX.

Manors, origin of, 306. Naſſau Robert, lefſee of Eltham
Manufactures in Kent, 270. parſonage, 487
Marble, ftory of one remarka- Naſſau Robert, 478.
bly poliſhed, 426. with Nelſon, Mr. polelles Fairy-hill
Market towns in Kent, 260.1,
in Eltham, 481.
Mariſco de, 447.
Nethercombe in Greenwich,
Marryon, Rev. John, 425.
386.
Maſkeline, Rev. Neville, 401. Newington, near Hythe, 138.
Mayo, John, 480.
Newſham James, 439, 515.
Mercia, kingdom of, 70, 112.
Newton's of Charlton, 4230
Middle Saxons, kingdom of, 432, 434
founded, 70.
Nevill Wm. earl of Kent, 155.
Middleton, hundred of, 181. Nightingale-hall, on Shooter's-hill,
Military government of antient 457
Britain, 108.
Northumbrians, fifth Saxon
Militia, modern regulation of, kingdom, founded, 68.
303.
Noviomagus, the Roman ſtation,
Moated place, or ſtone houſe, 506.
in Deptford, 357.
Nugents of Gosfield-hall, 439.
Modingham, 463.
515. lo vedoissa
Monaſteries, different ones in Nunn's of Eltham, 477.
Kent, 323; diſſolution of,
324.
Monſon, Hon. Lewis, 497.
O.
Montacute, alias Montague fa-
mily of, 438, 514.
Obſervants, order of, 408.
Montague, duke of, 374.
duke of, 374. Obſervatory, Royal, at Green-
Montague, lords and dukes, ac-
count of, 438, 514.mobi Oeta, king of Kent, 66. do
Montague, Rt. Hon, Frederick, Odo, biſhop of Baieux, 129,
pollelles Eaſtcombe in Green: 392, 422, 426, 460, 493,
wich, 389.
541.
POINT
Montague, Mr. 456.
Mr. 456. dobaru Offa, king of Mercia, 79.
MORDEN-COLLEGE on Black, Oldenburg Henry, 435.
heath, 429, 374; polelles Old OLD COURT in Greenwich, 385.
Court in Greenwich, 386. 387, 415.
Morden, Sir John, 386, 427, Olyffe Sir John, 537.
429. her Ordnance, branches of, at
More, Sir Thomas and his fa-
Woolwich, 444
mily, picture of, 476. Oſpringe, manor of, 138.
MOTTINGHAM, hamlet of, in El Otford, battle at, 98.
tham, 48, 4SI.
Overie's St. Mary, monaſtery
Mountenay's of Eſſex, 470. of, 436, 440.1 indesiderat
N.o
Oxford, cardinal's college in,
357, 366.
Name of Kent, its etymology, Oxford, Oriel college in, poli
Selles Eltham parfonage, 487.
OVO
wich, 401.


Oxenden's, 4170
DES
Pegani
INDEX.
xxiii
Poultney. See Pulteney. so
Pagani, the Danes ſo called, 81. Powlett, lord Harry, 477.0
Page, Sir Gregory, 392, 427, Printing-office, formerly at
431, 476, 488.
Greenwich, 380.
Page's of Blackheath, account Priories alien; 507. KELUT
of, 427
Products, natural and artificial
Papillon's of Acriſe, 492. in Kent, 265. doit animale
PARK-PLACE FARM in Eltham, Puckering's, 424, 434, 435.
477.
fonte Pulteney's, account of, 447,
Parks in Kent, 269. che 471.023
PARLIAMENT, knights in, cho- Pynſent's, 560, 567.dest
Jen for the county of Kent, 235.
Parre, lady Anne, 423.
Q.org
Paveley's de, 536.
Quintus Liberius Durus, 26.
Pearce, bifhop, 564, 567,
Pearce, Mr. (brother of the bi-
R.
ſhop) 565
Penge green in Beckenham, 528. Ramſey's, 509.
Penny-yard pence, a coin, 458. Ravenſbourne river, 344, 503,
Percival, lady Charlotte, 433. 550.
Pery-ſtreet in Lewiſham, 504. Raymond's, 537, 544, 561.
Petrie, Mr. 392.
Reculver, Roman forces at, 43.
Pett, Peter, 369.
Reculver, palace built at, 72 ;
Philipott, John, 489.
monaſtery founded at, 75;
Place-houſe in Lewiſham, 504 Eadbert, abbot of, 78.
Placentia manor in Greenwich, Religion of antient Britons, 12.
394
Religious, different orders of,
Plague in England, 88, 94. 322
Plaiſtow, hamlet of, in Bromley, Richborough, Roman forces at,
551.
43.
Plantagenet's, earls of Kent, Richards, hon. brigadier, 433.
146, 147
Rivers in Kent, 272.
Plantagenet, Joan, counteſs of, Rivers, earls, 494.
147.
Rochell de la, family of, 529.
Plautius, the Roman prætor, Rocheſter, Danes land at, 92;
invades Britain, 33.
caſtle, 132, 138.
Pleazance manor in Greenwich, Rocheſter, Godwine, bp.of, 96.
394.
Rocheſter,biſhop of, poDefles the
Plume, Dr. 563
advowſon of Woolwich rec-
Piets in Britain, 39, 44, 53 tory, 453; Bromley manor
Pinenden-heath, folemn aſſem and palace, 558.
bly held at, 130, 554.
Rocheſter, priory of, 452, 479,
Plumſted pariſh, 456, 457.
482, 554.
Polſted's, 514.
Rocheſter, dean and chapter of,
Port, family of, 533.
pofelles a penſion from Wool
Porteſlade, church of, 142.
wich rectory, 453, 482.
Portus Itius, where, 22.
Rockingham, Watſon's earls of,
Poultney Sir John, 513.
Rokele's





496.
XXIV
ÍNDEX.

tham, 49i.
83.
Rokele's, 529. PERO Shaw Sir John Gregory, bart.
ROMANS in Britain, 13, 15; polelles Woolwich manor,446;
depart the empire of Britain, Eltham manor and fcite of
44.
the old palace, 463, 468.
Roman works, at Deal, 26; Shaw John Kenward, vicar of El-
road, 375.
- Blinds
Romney Robert, lord, 420. Shawfield-houſe in Bromley, 551.
Roper Henry, rector of Charlton, Sherard Dr. James, 459.
435 sol yumu Shelvocke George, 369.
Roper family, account of, 472. Shene, monaſtery of, 384, 385,
Roper's, 487.
387, 508, 518, 521.7
Roper Charles Trevor, 497. Shepey ifle, Danes land in, 81,
Roſe Rev. Wm. po/effes the ad-
vowſon of Beckenham rec Sheriff's court, 104.
tory, 548.
SHERIFFS, origin of ; 106, 108;
Roſe, W. rector of Beckenham,550. office of, 169; lift of, 177.
Rupella de, family of, 529. Sheriff's antiently the kings
purveyors, 144, 182.
S. antalons Shooter's-hill, account of, 456.
Shrawfield in Lee, 494.
Sackville, Thomas, 496.
Sigeward, king of Kent, 78.
Sanderſon family, account of, SIMPSON's, a feat in Bromley,
388, 418.
560.
Sandwich, Danes land at, 91,
Simpſon's, 5611
93, 96, 97, 99.
Sipeham, now Sydenham in
Lewiſham, 504.
Saliſbury, Montacute, earl of,
Situation of Kent, 4.
513.
Saxons, firſt infeſt Britain, 38; Skinners-place in Deptford, 358.
their origin, 47; character, Smith H. curate of Bromley, 570.
48; religion, 50; land in Snelgraves, 531, 533.
Britain, 47, 52, 54, 55, 63. SOcage tenures, 311.
Saye, family and barony of, Soil and products of Kent, 265.
347, 348, 365.
Somerſet Sarah, dutcheſs dow-
SAYE'S - COURT,
alias Weſt
ager of, 566.
Greenwich in Deptford,
Sondes Sir George, 496.
manor,
Sondes Lewis Watſon, lord, poj-
350, 351, 353.
SAYE'S-COURT, manſion of, in
ſes Lee manor, 497.
Deptford, 351, 353.
SOUTHALL, alias Woolwich ma-
Sclater Mr. poffefes a houſe in nor, 44.6.
Lewiſham, 504.
SOUTHEND, hamlet of, in El-
Scots firſt land in Britain, 38;
tham, 477:
more of them, 39, 44, 53.
SOUTHEND, hamlet of, in Lewa
Scrope, Geoffrey le, 462.
iſham, 504
Seſſions, times of holding them, South Saxons, 63; ſecond king-
260.
dom of.founded, 65.
Shaw family, of Eltham, ac- Southwark, St. Thomas's hof-
count of, 468, 446.
pital in, 358.
Sovereign





INDEX.
XXV
Sovereigri Royal, man of war, Thomas, G. A. rector of Wool-
account of, 443.
wich, 454.
Speke Sir Thomas, 385, 462, Thomas, biſhop, 558, 564.
477.00 W. Thornhill's, 566.
Spratt, biſhop, 558.
Tilly Mrs. 537
Spring, mineral, at Shooter's- Timewell's, ibid.
hill, 456.
he
Tolſon's, 537.
St. George, churches dedicated Towns of the antient Britons,
to, 546.
how conſtructed, 9.
St. John's, 531; account of fa- Trefufis, 515.
mily of, 533. hele Tregoze, St. John's, barons of,
Stanhope George, dean of Can 534, 535
terbury, 524.
TRINITY HOUSE and hoſpital,
Stanley John, 457
in Deptford, 358.
Stoddard's of Mottingham, 480, Tumuli or barrows in Kent, 372.
508.
375, 376.
Stone plundered by the Danes, Tunbridge caſtle, governors of,
91.
144.
Stone-houſe, alias Moated-place, Tunſtal, manor of, 138.
in Deptford, 357
Turner Sir Gregory Page, bart.
Stratford Langthorne, mona poflelles Weſtcombe in Green-
ſtery of, 450, 515.
wich, 392; Eaſthorne and
Street Mrs. of Dartford, 565.
Wellhall in Eltham, 476 ;
Strickland William, 476.
the advowſon of Eltham-vi-
Sturry Sir Thomas, 494.
carage, 488.
Style's of Beckenham, account Turner's of Oxfordſhire, ac-
of, 542, 546, 547, 561. count of, 428.
SUNDRIDGE MANOR in Brom- Tyrawly lord, 375.
Tyrril's, 530.
Suppreſſion of monaſteries, 326. Tyrwhit Thomas Drake, and
SUTTON AT HONE, lath of,
his brother poffefs Upper
339.
Brockley in Deptford, 357 3
Swabert, king of Kent, 76. the parfonage and advowſon
Sydenham, hamlet and wells of, of St. Nicholas and the ad-
in Lewiſham, 504.
vowſon of St. Paul in Dept-
ford, 367
Tithes, firſt granted to the
T.
clergy, 83.




ley, 559
Tatterſhall's of Eltham, 449,
U.
471.
Temple ſeat in Lewiſham, 528. Uffa, a Saxon chief, 69.
TENURES, feudal, 303 ; ſocage, Uffingæ, whence ſo called, ibid.
311; gavelkind, 313.
Teniſon, archbiſhop, 563.
V.
Thanet, ille of, 53, 75; Danes
land in, 82, 83, 91, 94, 95.
Vallibus de, family of, 536.
Theodore, archbithop, 75. Vanbrugh Sir John, 375.
VOL.I.
d
Vaux's,
xxvi
INDEX.
Vaux's, 536.
Wiccingi, the Danes ſo called,
Vere's, 426, 434.
81.
Veſci's, 455; account of, 460, Wickham-brews manor, 151.
479.
Wickham's of Oxfordſhire,
Violet's, 542.
357.
Viſcount, honorary title of, 1 76. Wickland's in Woolwich, 449.
Vortigern, chief monarch of Widred, king of Kent, 76.
the Britons, 46, 54, 56, 59, Widmore, a hamlet in Bromley,
109.
551.
Vortimer elected king, 56, 58. Wilcox, biſhop, 558.
59, 61, 109.
Wilcox, Joſeph, 563.
Wildgorſe Sir John, 514.
Wild Sir John, 503.
W.
Willoughby, 559
Wilſon Sir Thomas Spencer,
Wachelſtone, hundred of, 151. bart. podeljes Charlton ma-
Wall, built by the Romans in nor, 421, 425.
Britain, 40.
Wilſon's, 560.
Warner, biſhop, 558, 562. Windham Mr. pollefſes the tithes
Warren's of Charlton, 433. of Deptford, in Surry, 367.
Warwick, earls of, 385, 504, Wippedsfleet
. See Ebbsfleet.
508.
Wiſeman, Daniel, 454.9
Waſhers in the Woods, alias Sun- Witſan, if the Portus Itius, 22.
dridge in Bromley, 560.
Wolfe Mrs. 563.
Water, calybeat, in Bromley, Woodſtock, Edmund, earl of,
551.
143
Watling-ſtreet, road, 375.
Woodville's, 494.
Watſon, Hon. Lewis Monſon, WOOLWICH, pariſh of, 441,
497.
463.
WEALD, account of, 293; do- Woolwich manor, 446.
nations in, 554.
WRICKLES MARSH in Charla
Weller John Badger, 425.
ton, 426.
Well-ĦALL in Eltham, 470. Wotton's, 476.
Wells Wm. pollelles Bickley- Wynne, Sir Rowland, bart.
houſe in Bromley, 551,
476.
Wendover, bifhop de, 567. Wythen's of Eltham, 478.
Weſſex, the third Saxon king-
dom founded, 67, 112.
Y.
WESTCOMBE in Greenwich,
386, 387
Yonge, biſhop, 566.




DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER.
I. Before and oppoſite Title Page, A FANCY Vignette.
2. After, and to face p. 12, the Figures of TWO DRUIDS.
3. Before, and to face p. 339, Map of BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
4. Before, and to face p. 395, Plate of GREENWICH PALACE.
5. Before, and to face p. 527, Map of BROMLEY, &C. HUNDREDS,

OCEANUS BRITANNICUS
Dunkirka
TANATIS
X
Gravelinga
nila.
Audoman
alln Caletum
ropolis
Hlutupie
Regulb:
Dela
ADA Durovernum
Sangata
Witsan
Dubris
Folkstena
Portus
Iccius
Marquisa
Afh_Gefsoriacum
Bononia
Portetum
Lapis appositus o
in ultime Terre
oStapule
THE
HISTORY temuvie only
OF THE
COUNTY OF KENT.
AMONG the different counties of England, few
have been more enriched, both by art and nature,
than the county of Kent. Beſides the advantages
it enjoys in common with its neighbours, this county
has many peculiar to itſelf. Among which may be
reckoned its ſituation, ſo well adapted for commerce
and trade, and to ſecure it, as long as Britain re-
mained divided into diſtinct principalities, from ene-
mies on every ſide; which, with the natural bravery
of the inhabitants, preſerved it as an entire kingdom
for near four hundred years.
VOL. I.
The

B
2
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
The Kentiſhmen afterwards becaine ſo famous for
their valor and intrepidity, eſpecially in their en-
counters with the Danes, that the vanguard, or fore-
moſt rank in battle, was unanimouſly given to them,
as the reward of their courage, whenever they en-
gaged the common enemy with the reſt of their neigh-
bours. From their nearneſs and intercourſe with
Gaul, the inhabitants of Kent were far more civilized
than thoſe of any other part of Britain, as Cæſar
writes in his Commentaries; and to this intercourſe,
as well as gentleneſs of manners, this county was in-
debted for the bleſſing it received, in having the
Chriſtian religion firſt eſtabliſhed in it in the time
of the Saxon heptarchy. Thoſe noble rivers, the
Thames and the Medway, bear their glorious bur-
thens beyond what the world can fhew beſides, on
their navigable ftreams, for many miles within its
boundaries. Four of the docks of the Royal Navy
of Great Britain are ſituated on their banks, and
thoſe rivers the ſtations of it. The cuſtoms and
tenures of it are free, much beyond thoſe claimed
in any other part of this kingdom. It has the honor of
having the Archiepiſcopal See fixed within it, and its
chief city the metropolitical city of all England, and
of having another dioceſe ſtill within its bounds. It
has four of the antient Cinque Ports, and the Court
of Shipway within it, and the Caſtle of Dover, ſo
highly celebrated in hiſtory for its antiquity and
great conſequence to Britain : infomuch, that it was
called, for its ſtrength and ſuperiority, The Lock and
Key of the Kingdom.
To its ſituation, this county owes, in a great mea-
ſure, that wealth and abundance which is ſo laviſhly
diffuſed over every part of it: the ſea-coaſt, and the
rivers Thames and Medway, furniſh employments
ſo various and lucrative to all ranks of people, and
cauſe ſuch an accumulation of trade and riches,
that not only the adjacent, but the moſt inland parts
partake



NAME AND SITUATION.
3
partake of it. From their continued intercourſe
with foreigners of all nations, the inhabitants are
inore open and liberal minded than others, who fel-
dom, if ever, find an opportunity of converſing be-
yond their neighbouring diſtrict, or with any but
their own countrymen. This produces a well-bred
hoſpitality and civility of manners among them,
which extends itſelf to all degrees, and is ſo parti-
cularly taken notice of by all ſtrangers. From their
ſituation, the inhabitants enjoy moſt convenient and
profitable markets for their commodities, which in
general diſpenſes fome portion of its advantages even
among the loweſt rank of people ; and in this county
there are very few, if any, ſuch ſcenes of miſery and
wretchedneſs to be ſeen among the poor, as there are
in many parts of England. Inſtead of which, a
comfortable ſubſiſtance, and cheerful content is found
in moſt of the meaneſt cottages. From the freedom
of its tenures and cuſtoms, the lands throughout the
county are ſhared by almoſt every houſekeeper in it :
by which means the Great are reſtrained from pof-
ſeſſing ſuch a vaſt extent of domains, as might
prompt them to exerciſe tyranny over their inferiors :
and every one's poffeffions being intermixed, there
ariſes an unavoidable chain of intereſts between them,
which entitles both one and the other to mutual
obligations and civilities. From the eſtabliſhments
of the church in it, learning and religion is ſpread
throughout it by the moſt eminent and diſtin-
guilhed men in the kingdom, who being likewiſe
preferred to parochial cures in it, teach the pure
doctrine of the goſpel, and the principles of virtue
and morality to all ranks in every village, to the
great increaſe of good government and of ſociety in
general. The bravery of the Kentiſhmen in antient
times is ſtill inherited by the preſent generation of
them: many ſhining examples of heroiſm, in the
memory of every one, might be inſtanced, of thoſe,
B 2
whoſe
4
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
whoſe noble actions, and whoſe courage, conduct,
and activity, in their commands in the Britiſh army
and navy, would have done honor to antient Rome;
and there are many ſtill advancing haſtily to the like
fummit of reputation in both. Nor are thoſe of a
lower rank leſs conſpicuous among their comrades ;
and though there is a freedom of ſpirit reigns in
the breaſt of Kentiſhmen of every denomination,
yet they nevertheleſs preſerve among them a decent
ſubordination; for there is no part of the kingdom,
where the government of the realm, and the laws and
magiſtracy of the country are more chearfully ſub-
mitted to than in this county.
Such, among many others, which the reader will
find particulariſed in the courſe of the enſuing work,
are the advantages and peculiar circumſtances, which
have together concurred to raiſe Kent to that pre-
eminence and fame throughout Britain, which the
general voice of both antient and modern times has
allowed it, and which, in the opinion of every one, it
ſtill continues juſtly to deferve.
Time has not yet deprived this county of its antient
name; but as Cæſar, Strabo, Diodorus Siculus,
Ptolemy, and others, call it Cantium, ſo the Saxons,
(as Nennius tells us) named it Cantguar-lantd, i. e.
the country of men inhabiting Kent.
In the re-
cord of Domeſday it is written, Chent, and by us at
preſent, Kent. The moſt probable conjecture of
the etymology of this name is from the ſituation of
the place, the Britiſh land here extending itſelf with
an angle, or large corner eaſtward towards France.
This county, thus ſituated in the ſouth-eaſtern-
moſt part of Britain, over againſt France (from
whence its neareſt diftance over the Channel is about
twenty-four miles) is bounded on the north by the
river Thames, (excepting that finall part of it on the
Effex ſide of the river, over againſt Woolwich,)
and by the Channel; on the ſouth again by the
Channel,
ANTIENT BOUNDARIES.
5
a
Channel, and the county of Suſſex; and on the weſt
by the county of Surry. Its length is about ſixty-fix
miles from weſt to eaſt, and its breadth from north to
ſouth about twenty-ſix miles, both being taken at a
medium ; and it is in circumference one hundred
and ſeventy-four miles, or thereabouts. It is fup-
poſed by inany to have extended antiently much
farther weſtward than it does at preſent, nay, even
to have had antient London, then ſituated on the
hither or fouth ſide of the Thames, within its
bounds. Indeed it muſt be obſerved, that both
Ptolemy, and Ravennas ſpeak of London, as in
Kent; and on the ſouth ſide of the Thames, which
Gale, in his learned comment on Antoninnus's
Itinerary, ſolves thus : that probably a ſtation of that
name might be placed on the ſouth ſide of the
Thames by the Romans, for the protection and ſe-
curity of the conqueſts which they had made, be-
fore they overcame the Trinobantes, the place in
which it was being now called St. George's Fields
between Southwark and LamBeth, where many Ro-
man coins, chequered pavements, and urns have
been found, and where three Roman roads centered
out of Kent, Surry, and Middleſex. This then
is ſuppoſed to have been the Londinium nieant by
Ptolemy, and Ravennas, on the ſouth ſide of the
river, which became neglected after the Romans had
fubdued the Trinobantes, and driven the Britons far-
ther north, and had ſettled themſelves on the other
ſide of the Thames. Having thus accounted for an-
tient London's being placed on the ſouth ſide of
the Thames, I muſt add a few words on its having
been deſcribed within the boundaries of Kent.
There is no doubt that before the landing of
the Romans in Britain, the ſpace of country between
Deptford and the Thames, as high up as Lambeth,


a Camden's Brit. p. 215, 371. Verſtegan, p. 150. Spelman's
Works, part 1. p. 164. Heylin's Hiſt. p. 475.
B 3
was
6
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
was a ſwampy marſh, great part of which was con-
ſtantly overflowed by the tide, and as ſuch, of little or
no uſe, and indeed uninhabitable. This ſpace then,
with the channel of the Thames at its extremity,
might be looked on, both by the Trinobantes and
Cantiani, as a kind of barrier between them, which
might miſlead the antient geographers who ſuppoſed
that the territories of the former being bounded by
the Thames, and this ſpace of country not belonging
to them, muſt, therefore, of conſequence, be part
of the adjoining Cantiani ; whereas, in fact, it be-
longed to, or, at leaſt, was claimed by neither.
The Romans afterwards, to ſecure this barrier,
drained as much of theſe lands as ſerved their pur-
poſe, erected a ſtation here, and made roads to it;
but on their further conqueſts, removed to the other,
or north ſide of the river, where London now ftands.
After which, neither of the above people claiming
this diſtrict, it became, in proceſs of time, reputed
as part of the country of the Regni, who inhabited
Suflex and Surry, in which laſt county it has con-
tinued to this time. Not content with the above
acquiſition, the inhabitants of Surry, even ſubfe-
quent to the Norman conqueſt, Teem to have en-
croached on the boundaries of the county of Kent.
The pariſh of Deptford, having been, by all ac-
counts, wholly within the latter, though now the
former claims that part of it in which are the manor
and feat of Hatcham, the manor of Bredinhurſt, &c.
It has been the opinion of many of our moſt
learned antiquaries, ainong whom are Camden, Som-
ner, and Twine, that France and England, or Gaul
and Britain, were antiently joined by an iſthmus or
neck of land, where the narrow paſſage is now be-
tween Dover and Calais, which many ages fince, be-
yond the reach of any hiſtory, perhaps coeval with
the general deluge, was, by the ſea's violently beat-
ing upon it on both ſides, worn away and broken
through



ANTIENT BOUNDARIES.
7

through, whereby what was once an iſthmus is now
become a fretum, or narrow ſea." Theſe learned
men give us many reaſons, which, if well confi-
dered, ſeem convincing that there was once ſuch
a conjunction. Among others, they urge the near-
neſs of land between England and France, that is,
from the cliffs of Dover, to the like cliffs lying be-
tween Calais and Boulogne; that theſe cliffs, on
either ſide of the ſea, lie juſt oppoſite one another,
and are both of one ſubſtance, that is chalk and
flint, the ſides of both towards the ſea appearing
to have been broken off by violence, from ſome more
of the ſame ſort, which they had been joined to
originally ; that the length of them on one ſide of
the ſea, is anſwerable to the very like on the other,
each reaching about fix miles in length, and the
diſtance between both not exceeding twenty-ſix
miles, at which place the ſea is, even at this day,
much ſhallower than it is on either ſide of it. To
which may be added, that there is a narrow ridge
of fand in the ſea between Folkeſtone and Bou-
logne, called the Riprapps, diſtant from Folkeſtone
about ten miles, and lies S. W. and N. E. in length
ten miles; it is a ſtony bottom, and has, at a low
ſpring tide, not more than fourteen feet of water on
it. Many of the fiſhermen at Folkeſtone have ſeen
this ground, and touched it with a fifteen feet oar.
Conſequently many large ſhips have ſtruck on it,
and ſunk directly in twenty-five fathom water cloſe
to it. This ridge runs away to the eaſtward at the
back of the Goodwin Sands, and is there called the
Falls, which often deceives the failor for them; the
diſtance between the bank called the Cliff, on the
banks of Flanders and the Goodwin, is not above




a See the Letter from the learned Dr. Wallis, publiſhed in Phil.
Tranf. No. 275. Somner, by Battely, part ii. p. 251. Phil.
Tranſ. No. 272. Twine De Rebus Albion, p. 8. et ſeq. Burt:
on Anton. p. 18, 19. Verſtegan, p. 95, 97.
B 4
fifteen

8
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
fifteen miles ; a ſmall ſpace in a dark ſtormy night,
and the Falls are between them both; and there
is another ridge or bank, about fix miles off Dover,
called the Vane, on which is very little water at low
ſpring tides ; but both that and the Riprapps are
providentially very narrow, and twenty-five fathoms
water cloſe to them. They dwell on the effects,
which the great ſeas on both fides, beating continu-
ally with fierce impetuous tides on this iſthmus, muſt
have had in proceſs of time, and they account for
the parts where they diſcharged their waters before
they had, by the deſtruction of it, made a free pal-
ſage for them, and afterwards what lands were raiſed,
and left dry, by the breaking down of it. All which
is corroborated by inſtances of the like change in dif-
ferent parts of the world, and are, no doubt, ſtrong
preſumptions in favour of this hypotheſis.
It has been objected, that there is no mention made
in any hiſtory of ſuch an iſthmus, or ſuch a rupture
in this place, which being an event fo very remark-
able, muſt have been thought worthy of being re-
ported. Yet this need not be thought ſtrange, con-
ſidering, that in all probability, when this happened,
and for a great length of time afterwards, theſe parts
were little, if at all, inhabited. And when they were,
the inhabitants (even ſuppoſing the tradition of ſuch
a matter to have remained among them, which is
not very likely) were in ſo uncivilized and barbarous
a ſtate as afforded them no means of tranſmitting
it to poſterity. And we have no particular account
of the Britiſh coaſts, which might determine this
queſtion, earlier than the acceſs of the Romans
hither with Julius Cæſar.
There have been variety of opinions and conjec-
tures among the learned, concerning the origin of the
inhabitants of Britain, fome deriving them from the
Phenicians, and after them the Greeks, others from
the Trojans, ſome think Britain to have been peopled
by

INHABITANTS.
9
by colonies from different places, and at different
times, and others by Aborigines planted in it by the
Divine Omnipotence. Which of theſe opinions comes
neareſt to the truth is not within the bounds of my
preſent undertaking to diſcuſs; it will be sufficient
for me to obſerve, that the firſt knowledge we have
of
any
inhabitants in this part of Britain, is from Ju-
lius Cæſar, whoſe Commentaries are the earlieſt de-
ſcription we have of this country.
At the time the Romans firſt invaded this ifland,
under the command of that Emperor, which was
about fifty-five years before the birth of Chriſt, Kent
was, in general, inhabited by the Belgic Gauls, who
had originally come hither for the fake of making
war, and to plunder. This being accompliſhed, many
of them, inſtead of returning home, ſettled here,
and begun to cultivate the lands, (contrary to the
cuſtom of moſt of thoſe who inhabited the inland
parts of Britain, who lived on milk and fleſh, got by
hunting, and never fowed any corn,) retaining in ge-
neral the names of thoſe towns and places from
whence they came, and at the time of Cæſar's being
here they were become exceeding numerous.
Their
veſſels, in which they made their ſhort excurſions,
are ſaid to have been very ſmall, with their keels and
ribs made of flight timber, interwoven with wicker,
and covered with hides, which ſhews they undertook
no long voyages ; nay, in all likelihood they never
ventured to ſea beyond the coaſt of Gaul, as may be
learnt from Cæſar de Bello Civili, lib. i. and from
Lucan in theſe verſes in his fourth book :
66 Primum cana ſalix madefacto vimine parvam
66 Texitur in puppim, cæſoque induta juvenco
“ Vectoris patiens tumidum fuperemicat amnem.
66 Sic Venetus ftagnante Pado, fufoque Britannus
“ Navigat Oceano."

Their towns or villages, were at that time, however,
little more than a confuſed parcel of huts, which were
built
IO
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

built after the manner of the Gauls. Cæſar ſays, they
had every material, for uſe and building, the ſame as
in Gaul, except the fir tree and the beech, which
fhews how little he was acquainted with the face of
the country. They were placed at a ſmall diſtance
from each other and generally in the middle of a
wood, the avenues of which were defended with ram-
parts of earth, or with the trees, which had been cut
down to clear the ground, ſerved them as a place
of ſafety to retire to with their cattle, when they were
apprehenſive of incurſions from their neighbours.
They had great plenty of cattle, and made uſe of braſs
money and iron rings, which paſſed by weight. The
climate was more temperate here than in Gaul, and
the froits not fo intenſe. From their origin and their
intercourſe with the continent, the inhabitants of
Kent (the uſual landing-place from thence) were a
far more civilized people than thoſe of any other
part of Britain, and their cuſtoms and manners were
much the fame as thoſe of Gaul. The uſe of cloaths
was ſcarce known in the iſland ; none but the inha-
bitants of Kent, and the neighbouring coaſts making
uſe of any kind of covering, and theſe had only the
fkins of wild beaſts careleſsly thrown over them, not
ſo much to defend themſelves againſt the cold, as to
avoid giving offence to the ſtrangers who came to
traffic with them.
The Britons in general uſed, by way of ornament,
to make inciſions in their bodies, in the ſhape of
flowers, trees, and animals, which, with the juice of
woad, they painted of a ſky colour, that never wore
out, and by this means they appeared more dreadful
to their enemies in battle. The hair of their heads
they wore very long, but ſhaved all the face, except
the upper lip; they were tall in their perſons, and

a Cæſar de Bell. Gall. lib. v.
• Herodianus, lib. iii. cap. 14; Strabo; Diod. Sic. I. 4; Ta-
citus; Solinus, 1. vii. c. 8.
remarkably
ANTIENT BRITONS.

remarkably honeſt and ingenuous. They had ſome
cuſtoms, eſpecially one as to their marriages, which
were greatly reprobated by other nations. This pre-
vailed along time among them, though, in other re-
ſpects, they grew much more civilized by their in-
tercourſe with the Romans when maſters of this
iſland. In general they lived to a great age, probably
cwing to their exerciſe, fobriety, and temperance, as
well as the wholeſomneſs of the climate, The few
particulars abovementioned are chiefly gathered from
Cæſar's account of his expeditions hither, during
which, however, he ſaw little of this country, and
met ſuch a warm reception from the brave inhabi-
tants of it, much more ſo, it is believed, than he
chooſes to own. In confirmation of which, Lucan,
in his ſecond book, ſays-
66 Territa quæſitis oſtendit terga Britannis."
And Tibullus, in his fourth book-
66 Invictus Romano marte Britannus."
Horace hints as much, calling the Briton
« Intactus Britannus."
Tacitus tells us, Cæſar did not conquer Britain, but
only ſhewed it to the Romans; and Dion Caffius
ſays, Cæſar acquired nothing in Britain, either to
himſelf or Rome, but the glory of having made an
expedition thither, which he greatly exaggerated in
his letters fent to Roine on this occaſion. He could
therefore neither have time nor opportunity himſelf
to obſerve much either of their cuſtoms or man-
ners; indeed, what he has told us muſt, in general,
be underſtood as relating to the inhabitants of Kent,

© Cæfar Ib. Dion Caſſius, lib. xxxix. lib. lxxvi. See Pomp.
Mela, lib. iii. c. 6. Cæſar Bell. Gall. lib. vi. cap. 12. See note
in Camden, p. xv.
the
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

the only part of Britain he can be ſaid to be at all ac-
quainted with; and as this is the only deſcription we
have of that time, we muſt be ſatisfied with it, and
with what we find ſcattered in ſucceeding authors,
who themſelves, perhaps, knew but very little of the
matter.
Though we know the Druids, as well among the
Britons as the Gauls, had the care and direction of all
religious matters, yet we have nothing certain trans-
mitted to us concerning them in this iſland: nor can
we form any idea of their religion, but by that of the
Gauls, which Cæſar has given us ſome knowledge of;
indeed, we could not expect it ſhould be better known
to us, conſidering the Druids committed nothing to
writing, it being their cuſtom to teach their diſciples
every thing by heart. The name Druid is derived from
the word Deru, ſignifying in the Britiſh or Celtic lan-
guage, an oak, like Apūs, in the Greek; and they
acquired it not only becauſe their uſual reſidence was
in groves among oaks, (a tree they had ſuch a pro-
found veneration for, that they never performed any
of their ceremonies without ſome of the branches or
leaves of it) but from their eſteeming nothing more
ſacred than the miſietoe, which grew on them.
As the religion of this part of Britain may be learned
from that of the Gauls, an idea of its government
may likewiſe be formed the ſame way; for as the
people of both countries had the ſame extraction,
they had, very probably, the ſame form of govern-
ment. From the earlieſt accounts, the Gauls were
divided into ſeveral petty ſtates, with a head, or chief,
over each ; fome of theſe being more powerful than
the reſt, kept their neighbours in a fort of depen-
dence; and one of them, upon great and imminent
dangers, was, by the common conſent of the neigh-
bouring ſtates, choſen commander in chief over them
Plin. lib. xvi, cap. 44
all

TWO BRITISH DRUIDS.
FM Dimcombe, inv.at del
17. Walker, sc.
This Plate is gratefully Inscribed
Member in two succeſsive Parliaments,
to Sir John Henniker, Bar/
for the Town and Port of Dover.»

ANTIENT BRITONS.
13
all, whoſe power ceaſed, as ſoon as ever the circum-
ſtance for which he was appointed was at an end.
During his office he was conſidered as a ſovereign
magiſtrate, having power to put the laws in execu-
tion, and as captain-general of all their forces.
Like to this government was that of the Britons,
which, in all likelihood, began in Kent, and thence
ſpread itſelf over great part of this iſland. For the
whole country, between the Channel and the Tine,
was divided into ſeventeen petty ſtates, each of which
had its head, or chief. Indeed, Kent, when Cæſar
invaded Britain, had four princes, or chiefs, in it, as
will be ſhewn hereafter. At which tirne the command
of the united forces of the Britons, to oppoſe the Ro-
mans, was, by common conſent, conferred on Caſſi-
velaun, whom Cæſar ſtyles king of the Trinobantes,
as it was afterwards, in the time of Claudius, on
Charactacus, king of the Silures. Theſe nations, or
ftates, without doubt, depending on each other, no
farther than neceſſity compelled them, had frequent
quarrels and conteſts, of which we have not the leaſt
knowledge before Cæſar's time. From thence to
the period of this iſland's being freed from the do-
minion of the conquering Romans, the account of
their tranſactions here, may, in fome meaſure, be
carried on, though there muſt occur ſeveral large
breaks in the thread of it, which it is not poſſible to
avoid, as we have ſo few authors who have treated
on this ſubject.
otto
po
BRITAIN was in the ſtate above-mentioned when
Cæſar turned his thoughts to the invaſion of it, at
which time the Romans were become maſters of
almoſt all Europe, the beſt part of Africa, and the
• Diod. Sic. lib. iv. Pomp. Mela, lib. iii. cap. vi. Tacitus in Vit.
Agric.
richeſt
14
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
richeſt countries of Afia. Whilſt they were conti-
nually adding ſo many kingdoms to their empire,
Britain ſtill preſerved its independency, for which it
was indebted to its remote ſituation, more than to
its ſtrength. It was conſidered by the inhabitants of
the continent as a ſeparate world, of which (except-
ing in the maritime parts oppoſite to it,) they had
very little knowledge, and what they had did not ex-
cite their deſires to extend their dominion over it.
Julius Cæſar, during his wars with the Gauls, had
taken great umbrage at the ſupplies which the neigh-
bouring parts of Britain had continually ſent to them:
at leaſt this was the ſpecious pretence for his leading
his forces hither; a pretence frequently made uſe of
by the Romans, to carry their conqueſts into the
moſt remote countries; though his unbounded ambi-
tion was, moſt probably, the ſole motive that urged
him to it. It was in the 698th year after the build-
ing of Rome, and fifty-five years before the birth
of Chriſt, Cn. Pompey and Marcus Lic. Craſſus
being then conſuls of Rome, that Julius Cæſar re-
folved to undertake a voyage into Britain, and though
the ſummer was then almoſt ſpent, he would by no
means delay it; not that he expected the advanced
ſeaſon of the year would permit him to carry on the
war, yet he thought it would be of no ſmall uſe to
him, if he only landed and diſcovered ſomething of
the nature of the inhabitants, the country, and its ha-
To gain some intelligence, therefore, Cæſar
fummoned together all the merchants round about,
but he could not learn from any of them, either what
the ſize of Britain was, what or how many nations
inhabited it, what progreſs they had made in the art
of war, what cuſtoms they uſed, or what number of
ſhips their ports were capable of receiving. This un-
certainty made him determine to ſend out C. Volu-
vens.

a Cæſar Com. de Bell. Gall. lib. iv. cap. 20. et ſeq. Horf,
Brit. Rom. p. 3. Suet in vit. Cæſ.
ſenus
ROMANS IN BRITAIN.
15
ſenus with a galley, to make what diſcoveries he
could without danger. In the mean time he himſelf
marched with all his forces into the country of the
Morini, now the province of Picardy, from whence
the paſſage into Britain was ſaid to be the ſhorteſt,
and thither he ordered the ſhipping from all the neigh-
bouring parts.
Whilſt theſe preparations were going forward, the
merchants gave notice to the Britons of Cæſar's de-
ſign, who fent meſſengers to him, in hopes of di-
verting him from his purpoſe, promiſing to deliver
hoſtages, and to ſubmit themſelves to the Roman
empire.
Cæsar gave them a civil reception, made them
liberal promiſes, and, encouraging them to perſiſt in
their reſolution, fent them home again.
Along with them he ſent Comius, whom he had
made king of the Attrebates, in Gaul, a perſon,
whoſe intereſt in thoſe parts was accounted very
great, and whoſe fidelity Cæfar had a great opinion
of. He commanded Comius to viſit as many ſtates
as he could, and perſuade them to accept of an al-
liance with the Romans, and farther, to tell them,
that he would very quickly be over with them in
perſon. Voluſenus, in the mean time, having made
what diſcoveries he could of the country, for he durft
not venture himſelf aſhore, after five days cruizing,
returned, and acquainted Cæſar with all he had ſeen;
who having, in the mean tiine, got together eighty
tranſports, which he thought ſufficient to carry over
the foot of his two legions, beſides his gallies, and
eighteen more tranſports for the horſe, which lay
wind-bound at another port, eight miles diſtant, ſet
fail with the foot about one o'clock in the morning,
and left orders for the horſe to march to the other
port, and to embark there, and follow him as ſoon as
they could. Cæsar hiinſelf, with the foremoſt of
Cæſar Ib, cap. 23. See H. Huntingdon, lib. i. p. 301.
his
16
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
his ſhips, arrived on the coaſt of Britain about ten
o'clock the fame morning, where he ſaw all the cliffs
covered by the enemy in arins, and he obſerved
(what would render the execution of his deſign moſt
difficult at this place) that, the ſea being narrow, and
pent in by the hills, the Britons could eaſily throw
their darts from thence upon the ſhore beneath. Not
thinking this place proper therefore for landing, he
came to an anchor, and waited for the reſt of his
fleet till three in the afternoon; after which, hay-
ing got both wind and tide for him, he weighed an-
chor, and failed about eight miles farther, and then
came to a plain and open ſhore, where he ordered
the ſhips to bring to.
The Britons being appriſed
of his deſign, fent their horſe and chariots before, and
following after with the reſt of the army, endea-
voured to prevent their landing. Here the Romans
laboured under very great difficulties, for their ſhips,
on account of their ſize, could not lie near the ſhore,
and their ſoldiers with their hands encumbered and
loaded with heavy armour, were obliged to contend,
at the same time both with the waves and the ene-
my, in a place they were unacquainted with; whereas
the Britons, either ſtanding upon dry ground, or but
a little way in the water, in places with which they
were well acquainted, and being free and unincuin-
bered, could boldly caſt their darts, and ſpur their
horſes forward, which were uſed to this kind of com-
bat, which diſadvantage ſo diſcouraged the Romans,
who were unuſed to this way of fighting, that they
did not behave themſelves with the ſame ſpirit that
they uſed to do, in their engagements on dry land.
Cæſar perceiving this, gave orders for the gallies
to advance gently before the reſt of the fleet, and
to row along with their broadſides towards the ſhore,
and then by every kind of miſſive weapon to drive the
enemy away. This piece of conduct was of conſi
derable ſervice to them, for the Britons being terri-


fied,
ROMANS IN BRITAIN.
17
fied, quickly after began to give ground; upon which
the foldiers, though at firſt unwilling, encouraging
one another, leaped down into the ſea, from the ſe-
veral ſhips, and preſſed forward towards the enemy.
The conflict was ſharply maintained on both ſides ;
in which the Romans, not being able either to keep
their ranks, obtain firm footing, or follow their par-
ticular ſtandards, fell into great diſorder; whilſt the
Britons, who were well acquainted with the ſhallows,
ſpurring their horſes forward, aſſaulted the enemy,
incumbered and unprepared to receive them. Cæſar
obſerving this, cauſed the boats and pinnaces to be
filled with ſoldiers, and diſpatched them to the relief
of thoſe who ſtood in need of it; theſe charged the
Britons, and quickly put them to flight, but could
not purſue, as their horſe were not then arrived. The
Britons, upon this, as ſoon as they had efcaped be-
yond the reach of danger, fent meſſengers to deſire
peace, promiſing to deliver hoftages for the perform-
ance of whatever Cæfar had commanded.
firſt upbraided, and then pardoned, tlreir imprudence,
and demanded hoſtages of them ; ſome of which
they delivered immediately, and promiſed to return in
a few days, with the reſt : in the mean time they
diſperſed their men, and the chiefs aſſembled from
all parts, and recommended themſelves and their
ſtates to Cæſar's protection.
Upon the fourth day after Cæſar's arrival in Bri-
tain, the tranſports with the horſe, of which mention
has been already made, fet fail with a gentle gale; but
when they were arrived fo near as to be within view
of the Roman camp, the whole fleet was diſperſed by
a ſudden ſtorm, and afterwards, though with much
difficulty, inade the beſt of its way back to the
continent. The ſame night the moon was at full,
and, conſequently, it made a ſpring tide, an obſer-
vation the Romans were ſtrangers to ; ſo that at the
ſame time both the gallies, which had been drawn on
Thore,
He at


VOL. I.
С
IS
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
ſhore, were filled with water, and the ſhips of bur-
then, which rode at anchor, were greatly diſtreſſed
and damaged. Several of them were loft, and the
reſt were rendered wholly unfit for ſervice, which
cauſed a great conſternation throughout their whole
army; for they had no other ſhips to carry them
back again, nor any materials to refit their own with;
and they knew very well they muſt of neceſſity take
up their winter quarters in Gaul, as there was no
proviſion of corn againſt winter made for them here.
As ſoon as the Britiſh chiefs, who had been aſſembled
to perforin their agreement with Cæſar, knew of this,
and that the Romans were without horſes, ſhips,
and proviſions, concluding from the ſmallneſs of their
camp, (which was then narrower than uſual, becauſe
the legions had left their heavy baggage in Gaul)
that their foldiers were but few, they refolved upon
a revolt, and to hinder the Romans from foraging,
and delay them till winter ; imagining that if they
could but gain a victory over them, or prevent their
return, none would ever dare to make ſuch another
attempt; and having entered into a new confederacy,
they began by degrees to quit the Roman camp, and
privately to enliſt their diſbanded troops again.-
Though Cæſar knew nothing of their deſign, yet
ſuſpecting, from the loſs of his ſhipping, and their
delay in the delivery of their hoſtages, what after-
wards really happened, prepared for all events, cauſ-
ing proviſions to be brought into his camp every day,
and repairing the ſhips that were leaſt damaged. By
which means, with the loſs of twelve, he made the
reſt fit for fea again. Whilſt matters were in this
ſituation, the ſeventh legion, whoſe turn it was,
went out to forage, whilſt ſome of the men were
employed in the fields, and others in carrying the
corn between them and the camp, the out-guards gave
2 Cæſar de Bell. Gall. lib. iv. cap. 25 et ſeq. 13,90
Cæfar

ROMANS IN BRITAIN.
19
Cæfar notice, that they obſerved a greater duſt than
uſual, in that part of the country to which the le-
gion went. Upon which, ſuſpecting that the Bri-
tons had revolted, he took with him the cohorts that
were placed for an advanced guard, and commanded
the reſt to repair to their arms, and follow him as faſt
as poſſible. He had not marched far before he faw
his foragers overcharged by the Britons, and drove
into a ſmall compaſs ; for the Britons, knowing there
was but one place where the harveſt had not been
carried in, ſuſpected the Romans would come there,
and having hid themſelves the night before in the
woods, ſuddenly ſet upon the ſoldiers, who had laid
down their arms, and were diſperſed and buſy in
reaping the corn, and having killed ſome of them,
they put the reſt in diſorder, and then ſurrounded
them with their horſe and chariots. Their way of
fighting with their chariots was this; firſt they drove
up and down every where, and flung their darts
about, the very terror and noiſe of their horſes and
chariots frequently putting the ranks of the enemy in
diſorder ; and whenever they got in among the ranks
of the horſe, they alighted, and fought on foot. Their
charioteers, in the mean time, drove a little way out
of the battle, and placed themſelves in ſuch a man-
ner, that if their maſters ſhould be overpowered by
the numbers of the enemy, they might readily retreat
to them. Thus they performed in their battles all
the activity of the horſe, and the ſteadineſs of the
foot, at the ſame time, and were fo expert, by daily
uſe and exerciſe, that even, when they were going
full ſpeed on the fide of a ſteep hill, they could ſtop
their horſes and turn, run upon the pole, reſt on the
and thence throw themſelves, with great
dexterity, into their chariots again. The Romans
being diſordered by this new kind of fight, Cæſar
came very opportunely to their aſſiſtance; for on his
arrival the Britons made a ſtand, and the Romanis
began
20
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
began to forget their fears. However," not think-
ing it adviſable to venture an engagement at that time,
after remaining on the ſame ſpot for a little while,
he retreated with his legions to the camp. The bad-
neſs of the weather, which followed after this for fe-
veral days ſucceſſively, kept the Romans in their
camp, and the Britons from attempting any thing
againſt them. In the mean time the latter ſent meſ-
fengers to all parts, to give information of the ſmall-
neſs of the Roman army, and to thew how conſider-
able a booty they might obtain, and what a glorious op
portunity then offered of making themſelves free for
ever, if they could but force the enemy's camp; by
which means they quickly raiſed great numbers of
horſe and foot, and came down to it for that purpoſe.
Although Cæfar foreſaw, that the Britons, in caſe they
were routed, would, as they had done before, eſcape
the danger by Aight, yet having got thirty horſex
which Comius of Arras brought over with him, he
drew his legions up in order of battle before the
camp, and having engaged the Britons, who were not
long able to ſuſtain the attack, put them to flight, and
the ſoldiers purſuing them as far as they could, killed
many of them, and burnt all their houſes for ſome
diſtance round. The very fame day, the Britons
fent meſſengers to deſire a peace, when Cæſar de-
manded double the number of hoſtages he had before
to be ſent into Gaul, for the autumnal equinox being
near, he did not think it ſafe to fail with ſuch weak
fhips in the winter ſeaſon ; ſeizing, therefore, the firſt
favorable opportunity of the wind's being fair, he
ſet ſail foon after midnight, and arrived fafe at the
continent. Probably he left this iſland about the 20th
of September, about twenty-five days after his land-
ing, and, as he ſays, a little before the equinox, which
at that time muſt have been on the the 25th of that
month.
a Cæfar de Bell. Gall. lib. iv. cap. 31, et ſeq.



This
ROMANS IN BRITAIN.
This is Cæſar's account of this ſhort expedition,
which, however plauſible he may have dreſſed it up in
his Commentaries, yet his ſudden departure in the
night, immediately following the battle, carries with it
a ſtrong ſuſpicion of his having been beaten by the
Britons. Horace, Tibullus, and Lucan, ſeem to con-
firm it, as do Tacitus and Dion Caſſius in their hiſ-
tories.
A more modern writer of our own nation, H.
Huntingdon, who lived about an hundred years after
the Norman conqueſt, ſays, that Cæſar was diſap-
pointed in his hopes; for on his landing he had a
ſharper conflict with the Britons than he could have
believed, and perceiving that his forces were too few
for ſuch an enterpriſe, and that the enemy was much
more powerful than he imagined, he was of neceſſity
compelled to re-embark, and that then, being caught
in a ſtorm, he loſt the greateſt part of his fleet, a
great number of his foldiers, and almoſt all his ca-
valry; at which, being diſmayed, he returned to Gaul,
ſorely wounded at his diſappointment.
M. Weſtminſter ſays much the ſame, as does Bede.
Polidore Virgil, an Italian, who is always ſevere on
the Engliſh, in his hiſtory, tells us, the report was,
that Cæſar, being routed by the Britons at the firſt
encounter, fled into Gaul.d
Dr. Halley publiſhed a diſcourſe in Philoſ. Tranſ.
No. 193) to prove at what time Cæſar landed in
Britain, in which he makes it plain, that the cliffs
mentioned by Cæfar were thoſe of Dover, and that
from the tide, and other circumſtances, the Downs
was the place where he landed.
In this expedition Cæſar made no advances into the
country; the unexpected oppoſition he met with pre-
vented whatever deſigns he might have had towards it.
b

d P. 27.
H. Huntingdon, lib. i. p. 301.
c Lib. i. cap. 2.
See Horf. Brit. Rom. p. ix. Cæſar de Bell. Gall. cap. 24.
Upon
C3
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
and army.
Upon the whole, the reſult of this attempt ſeems to
have been no more than a diſcovery of the moſt conve-
nient place of landing, and that, if he again attempted
the conqueſt of this country, he ſtood in need of a
much fuperior force, than what he had then with him.
The Britons, it ſeems, were not much awed by the
Romans; for of all the ſtates into which this iſland
was then divided, two only ſent hoſtages. Provoked
at this contempt, Cæſar determined to make a ſecond
invaſion next year, with a far more powerful fleet
For which purpoſe, when he left his
winter quarters in Gaul, as he uſually did every year
to go into Italy, he gave orders to his lieutenants,
who were to command the legions in his abſence, that
they ſhould build, during the winter, as many ſhips
as they could, and repair the old ones. And at the
ſame time he ſhewed them the manner and form in
which he would have them made, directing them to
be built ſomething lower than they uſed to be in
the Mediterranean, that the ſoldiers might both em-
bark and get aſhore again with greater eaſe; and
likewiſe broader than ordinary, as more convenient for
the number of horſes he intended carrying in them,
and to contrive them all for oars, for which the low-
neſs of them would be very proper. On Cæſar's
return to his army, he found that the ſoldiers, by
their unparalleled diligence, had already built fix hun-
dred ſuch ſhips as he had ordered, and twenty-nine
gallies, which would be ready to be launched within
a few days. Upon which he commanded them all
to meet him at the Portus Itius, from whence he
knew there was the moſt convenient paſſage into Bri-
tain, which here was about thirty miles from the con-
tinent. Where this port was has been variouſly con-
jectured; Mr. Camden, and Ortelius, ſuppoſe it to
have been Witfon. Cluverius, and after him Som-
ner, Battely, and others, ſuppoſe Boulogne to have
been the Portus Itius here mentioned by Cæſar.---
Lambard
ROMANS IN BRITAIN.
23

Lambarde, Horſley, and others, join with Dr. Halley
in placing it at or ſomewhere near Calais. The latter
of theſe in his diſcourſe mentioned above, (Phil.
Tranf. No. 193) founds his opinion on arguments
drawn from the navigation of thoſe times, and Cæſar's
deſcription of his voyage. He further obferves, that
Cæſar's diſtance of the paſſage from Portus Itius to
Britain comes very near the truth, for by an accurate
furvey, the diſtance at Calais, from land to land, is
twenty-fix Engliſh miles, or twenty-eight and a half
Roman.
From hence he ſet ſail for Britain with five legions,
and the ſame number of horſe he had left with Labi-
enus, about ſun-ſet, with a gentle ſouth-weſt wind.
About midnight it fell calm, and the fleet being driven
by the tide, Cæſar, at day-break, found he had left
Britain on the left hand. But the tide turning, they
fell to their oars, in order to reach that part of it
where they had the year before found the beſt landing,
Cæſar arrived on the coaſt of Britain about noon, with
his whole fleet, but there was no enemy to be ſeen;
though as he afterwards learned from the priſoners,
the inhabitants had been there in vaft multitudes, but
being terrified at the number of the ſhips, (which, to-
gether with the tranſports, and other veſſels which
particular officers had prepared for their own accom-
modation, amounted to above eight hundred,) they had
fled from the ſhore, and had hid themſelves among
the hills. Having landed his army without oppo-
ſation, and choſen a proper place to encamp in, when
he had learned from the priſoners, where the Britiſh
forces were pofted, about midnight Cæſar marched in
queſt of them, having left ten cohorts, and three hun-
dred horſe, under the command of Q. Atrius, to
guard the ſhips, which he was the leſs uneaſy for, as
he left them at anchor, on a ſoft and open ſhore.a
fel Cæſar de Bell. Gall. lib. v.
C 4
When
24
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
When he had marched about twelve miles, he diſ-
covered the Britons, who, having advanced with their
horſe and chariots to the banks of a river, began,
from a riſing ground to oppoſe the paſſage of the
Romans, and to give them battle ; but being repulſed
by the Roman cavalry, they retired to a place in the
woods, which was fortified both by art and nature, in
an extraordinary manner, and which ſeemed to have
been ſo prepared ſome time before, on account of their
own civil wars. All the paſſages to it were blocked
up by heaps of trees, cut down for that purpoſe, and
the Britons ſeldom venturing to ſkirmiſh out of the
woods, prevented the Romans from entering their
works; but the ſoldiers of the ſeventh legion, hav-
ing caſt themſelves into a teſtudo, and raiſed a
mount againſt their works, after having received a
few wounds, took the place, and drove them out of the
woods; Cæsar however would not permit them to fol-
low the purſuit, becauſe he was unacquainted with the
country, and the day being already far ſpent, he was
deſirous of employing the reſt of it in fortifying his
camp.
Various have been the conjectures of our antiqua-
ries concerning this place of the Britons fortified both
by art and nature. Horſley thinks it likely, that
this engagement was on the banks of the river Stour,
a little to the north of Durovernum, or Canterbury,
in the way towards Sturry, which is about fourteen
Engliſh miles from the Downs; others well acquainted
with this part of Kent, have conjectured it to have
been on the banks of the rivulet below Barham-
downs, and that the fortification of the Britons was in
the woods behind Kingſton, towards Burſted; and the
diſtance as well as the ſituation of this place, and the
continued remains of Roman works about it, almoſt
in a continued line to Deal, add fome ſtrength to
this conjecture. Some have placed this encounter
below Swerdling downs, three miles north-weſt from
Burſted,
ROMANS IN BRITAIN.
25
Burſted, and the intrenchment in the woods above the
downs behind Heppington, where many remains of
intrenchments, &c. are ſtill viſible. Perhaps the en-
gagement was below Barham-down; the fortification
near Burfted, as before-mentioned; and the remains
above Swerdling, the place to which the Britons re-
treated, after they were put to flight by the Romans,
and where Cæſar again found them, after he had for-
tified his camp, with their allies, under the command
of Caſſivelaun.
The next morning, having divided his army into
three bodies, Cæſar fent both his horſe and foot in
purſuit of the Britons ; ſoon after which, before the
rear of them had got out of ſight, ſome horſemen
arrived from Q. Atrius, to acquaint him, that the
night before there had happened a dreadful ſtorm,
which had ſhattered almoſt all his ſhips, and caſt
them on the ſhore, for neither anchors nor cables
could hold them, nor could all the ſkill of the mariners
and pilots reſiſt the force of the tempeſt, ſo that the
fleet, from the great number of ſhipping lying toge-
ther, received conſiderable damage. Upon this in-
telligence the Roman general, countermanding his
forces, returned himſelf in perſon to the fleet, and
there found that about forty of his ſhips were en-
tirely loft, and that the reſt of them were ſo much
damaged, as not to be refitted without great trouble
and labour. Wherefore, having choſen ſome work-
men for this purpoſe from among his foldiers, and
fent for others from the continent, he wrote to
Labienus, to build him as many ſhips as he could
with thoſe legions that were left with him; and he
himſelf determined, though it would be an affair that
would be attended with great toil and labour, to have
his fleet hauled on ſhore, and to incloſe it with his
camp, within the ſame fortification. In the execution
of which, the ſoldiers laboured ten days and nights
without intermiſſion, and at this day, upon the ſhore
about

26
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
tons.
about Deal, Sandown, and Walmer, there is a long
range of heaps of earth, where Camden ſuppoſes this
Ship camp to have been, and which in his time, he
ſays, was called by the people, as he was told, Rome's
work. Though ſome have conjectured, and perhaps
with ſome probability, that the place of Cæſar's naval
camp was where the town of Deal now ſtands. When
the ſhipping being drawn on ſhore, and the camp ex-
ceedingly well fortified, Cæsar left the fame guard
over the fleet as he had before, and returned to the
place where he had deſiſted from purſuing the Bri-
On his arrival, he found they had aſſembled
their forces there in greater numbers from all parts than
when he left the place before. By general conſent the
chief command and management of the war was in-
truſted to Caſſivelaun, whoſe territories were divided
from the maritime ſtates by the river Thames, about
eighty miles diſtant from the ſea. There had been be-
fore that time continual wars between Caſſivelaun and
the reſt of the ſtates in the iſland; but the Britons,
being terrified on the arrival of the Romans, had
conferred the chief direction of affairs on him at
fo important a conjuncture. Whilſt the Romans were
on their march they were briſkly attacked by the
Britiſh horſe and chariots, whom they repulſed, with
great ſlaughter, and drove them into the woods; but
being too eager in the purſuit, loſt ſome of their own
Not long after this the Britons made a ſudden
fally out of the woods, and ſharply attacked the ad-
vanced guard of the Romans, who little expected
them, and were employed in fortifying their camp;
upon which Cæsar immediately diſpatched the two
firſt cohorts of his legions to their aſſiſtance; but the
Britons, whilſt the ſoldiers ſtood amazed at their
new way of fighting, boldly broke through the midſt
of them, and returned again without the loſs of a
man. Quintus Laberius Durus was Nain in this ac-


men.

a Camd. Brit. p. 248,
b Cæsar Ibid. cap. 15.
tion,
ROMANS IN BRITAIN.
27
tion, but ſome freſh cohorts coming up, the Britons
were at laſt repulſed. This is Cæſar's account; but
our hiſtorian, Henry of Huntingdon, ſays, that in this
engagement, Labienus, the tribune, and his battalion,
being incompaſſed by the Britons, were all fain, and
Cæſar perceiving the day was loſt, and that the Bri-
tons were to be encountered more by art than
ſtrength, determined, before his loſs was too great,
to ſave himſelf by flight; upon which the Britons, pur-
ſuing the Romans, killed many of them, and were at
laſt reſtrained, only by the contiguity of the woods ;
and Bede goes farther, and tells us, the Britons gained
the victory."
This engagement happening in the view of the
whole Roman army, they all perceived that the
legionary ſoldiers were not equal to cope with ſuch
an enemy, as the weight of their armour would not
permit them to purſue, nor durſt they go too far
from their colours. Neither could their cavalry en-
counter them without great danger, as the Britons
often counterfeited a retreat, and having drawn them
from the legions, would leap from their chariots and
fight on foot, to a great advantage. For the engage-
ments of the cavalry, whether they retreated or pur-
ſued, were attended with one and the fame danger.
To which may be added, that the Britons never
fought in cloſe battalions, but in finall parties, at a
great diſtance from one another, each of them hav-
ing their particular poſt allotted, whence they received
ſupplies, and the weary were relieved by thoſe who
were freſh and untired. The next day the Britons
poſted themſelves on the hills, at ſome diſtance from
the Roman camp, appearing but ſeldom, and with leſs
eagerneſs to harraſs the enemy's horſe than the day
before. But about noon, when Cæsar had ſent out
three legions and all the cavalry, under the command
of C. Trebonius, to forage, they ſuddenly ruſhed on

Lib. i. p. 301.
a Lib. i. cap. 2.
the
28
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
the foragers from all parts, inſomuch as to fall in
with the legions and their ſtandards. But the Ro-
mans returning the attack briſkly, drove them back,
nor did the cavalry, (who depended on the legions,
which followed cloſe after, to ſuſtain them in caſe
of neceſſity) deſiſt from purſuing the Britons, till
they had entirely routed them. Great numbers of
whom were flain ; for the Romans purſued them fo
clofe, that they had no opportunity either of rallying,
making a ſtand, or forſaking their chariots. Upon
this rout the Britiſh auxiliaries, which had come from
all parts, left them ; nor did the Britons ever after
this engage the Romans with their united forces.-
From hence Cæſar marched his army to the river
Thames, towards the territories of Caffivelaun, which
river was fordable only in one place, and that with
great difficulty, and on his arrival there, he ſaw the
Britiſh forces drawn up in a conſiderable body on the
oppoſite bank, which was fortified with ſharp ſtakes;
they had likewiſe driven many ſtakes of the fame
fort ſo deep into the bottom of the river, that the
tops of them were covered with the water. Notwith-
ſtanding Cæſar had intelligence of this from the pri.
foners and deſerters, yet he ordered his army to
paſs the river, which they did with ſuch reſolution
and entrepidity, (though the water took them up to
the neck) that the Britons, not being able to fuf-
tain their affault, abandoned the bank, and fled. Caf-
ſivelaun, now deſpairing of ſucceſs by a battle, dif-
banded the greateſt part of his forces, and contented
himſelf with watching the motions of the Romans,
from time to time, and betaking himſelf to the woods,
and other places, inacceſible to the Romans. In
the mean time ſeveral ſtates had ſubmitted themſelves
to Cæſar; and Caffivelaun, to divert him from purſu-
ing his conqueſts, ſent his meſſengers into Kent,
which was then governed by four petty princes;
Cingetorix, Carnilius, Taximagulus, and Segonax,
whom




ROMANS IN BRITAIN.
29

whom Cæfar ftiles Kings, and commanded them to
raiſe what forces they could, and ſuddenly attack the
camp where his ſhips were laid up; which they did,
but were repulſed, with great ſlaughter, in a ſally
made by the Romans, who took Cingetorix priſoner,
and returned, without any loſs, to their trenches.
Upon the news of this defeat Caflivelaun, reflecting
on the many loffes he had ſuſtained, that his country
was laid waſte, and that ſeveral of the neighbouring
ſtates had ſubmitted, ſent meſſengers to Cæfar to treat
of a ſurrender. As the ſummer was already far ſpent,
Cæſar, who was determined to winter in Gaul, to
prevent fudden incurſions there, readily hearkened to
their propoſals, demanded hoſtages, and impoſed an
annual tribute on the country. Having received the
hoſtages he marched his army back to the ſea fhore;
where, finding his ſhips refitted, he cauſed them to be
launched, and as he had a great number of captives,
and ſome of his ſhips had been loit in the ſtorm, he
reſolved to tranſport his army at two voyages. But as
moſt of the ſhips which were ſent back from Gaul, after
they had landed the foldiers that were firſt carried
over, and of thoſe which Labienus had built for him,
were driven back by contrary winds, Cæſar, after ha-
ving long expected them in vain, left the winter ſhould
prevent his voyage, the equinox being near at hand,
crouded his ſoldiers cloſer than he deſigned, and tak-
ing the opportunity of an extraordinary calm, ſet fail
about ten o'clock at night, and arrived ſafe with his
whole fleet at the continent by break of day. It is
conjectured, that this ſecond expedition of Cæſar's
was in May, and that he returned to Gaul about the
middle of September ; for, in a letter to Cicero, from
Britain, dated September the iſt, he ſays, he was come
to the ſea ſide in order to embark.
Such is the account given by Cæſar of his two ex-
peditions into Britain, who, in penning his Commenta-
ries, ſeems to have framed the whole much to his own
advantage.


30
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
advantage. Indeed, no one can read the particulars of
theſe expeditions in them without being ſenſible, that
ſome circumſtances muſt have been omitted, (for, in
ſome parts, he is ſcarce conſiſtent with himſelf,) and
that whatever was not to his honour, he has paſſed
over in ſilence. As a proof of which, let us conſider
Cæſar's deſign in paſſing over hither, and attacking
the Britons, and the events of it. He tells us, that he
made a deſcent, with two legions only, in an enemy's
country, in the fight of an army, formidable for num-
ber, bravery, and peculiar method of fighting, and
afterwards in a battle put their united forces to flight.
That on his landing, with a much larger force, the
ſecond time, he drove the Britons from their advanta-
geous poft on the banks of a river, and afterwards from
their ſtrong fortification in the woods; that he then
routed the Britiſh army and their auxiliaries, which
had been aſſembled from all parts of the iſland; and,
what is more wonderful, he paſſed the Thames at a
ford, which was guarded by a numerous army, ſtuck
full of ſharp ſtakes, and ſo deep as to take the fol-
diers up to their chins. Such continued ſcenes of
good fortune, it would be imagined, would have ſe-
cured him ſucceſs in the deſign and reſolution with
which he ſet ſail from Gaul, of conquering Britain,
and reducing it to a Roman province, as Dion Caf-
ſius poſitively aſſerts. Yet, notwithstanding his gain-
ing ſuch victories over the Britons every where ; his
paſſing the Thames in ſpight of every obſtacle, his
vanquiſhing and routing Caſſivelaun, and obliging him
to diſband moſt of his forces, in deſpair of being able
to cope with him; his becoming maſter of the capital
of that prince ; and the Britons ſubmitting and ſuing
for peace : notwithſtanding all theſe advantages, he
was content with ordering Mandubratius to be re-
ſtored, in the room of Caſſivelaun, to the kingdom of
the Trinobantes; which command was never execu-
ted; for on Caffivelaun's making his ſubmiſſion to
Cæfar,

ROMANS IN BRITAIN.
31

Cæfar, he reſtored him again to his favour, only im-
poſing an eaſy tribute on him, and then quickly, with-
out fortifying any one place, or leaving any troops in
the iſland, he ſet ſail again for the continent.
So trivial a ſatisfaction, inſtead of the conqueſt of
Britain, evidently ſhews, that the ſucceſs acquired by
Cæſar, in theſe expeditions, came far ſhort of the idea
he endeavours to give us of it. It ſerves to confirm
the teſtimony of Lucan, who taxes him with turning
his back to the Britons; of Dion Caffius, who ſays,
the Roman infantry were entirely routed in a battle by
them, and that Cæſar retired from hence without ef-
fecting any thing; and of Tacitus, who writes, that
Cæſar rather ſhewed the Romans the way to Britain,
than put them in poffeffion of it; and who in another
place makes one of the Britons ſay, that their anceſtors
had driven out Julius Cæſar from this iſand.
be
a
WHATEVER promiſes the Britons had made to
Cæſar, in order to get rid of him, they troubled them-
ſelves little about the performance of them; and the
civil wars which enſued among the Romans were, in
great meaſure, the cauſe of their neglect of Britain,
which continued a long while after peace was reſtored,
as Tacitus elegantly expreſſes in theſe words:
" Next follow the civil wars, and the arms of the
“ princes turned againſt the common-wealth; and
os hence Britain was long forgot, even in peace.”
This neglect of Britain continued till the reign of
Claudius, near the ſpace of a whole century, as all the
Roman hiſtorians acknowledge ; º during which time
the inhabitants of it lived at their own diſpoſal; and,
b
a Lucan, lib. ii. ver. 572. Dion Caſſius, lib. xxxix. and xl.
Tacitus in vit. Agric. cap. 13. and Annal. lib. xii. cap. 34.
b Tacitus in vit. Agric. cap. 13.
Sueton, in vit. Claud. c. 17. Eutrop. lib. vii. c. 13.
as
32
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

as Dion ſays, were governed by their own kings. Au-
guftus, indeed, twice made a ſhew of compelling the
Britons to fulfil their promiſes made to his predeceſ-
for ; and Horace has paid Auguſtus a compliment on
this occafion in more than one of his odes;a but the
Britiſh princes, by courting his friendſhip by preſents
and artful addreſſes, found means to perſuade him to
give over his deſign; and Cunobeline, who is ſaid to
have ſucceeded Tenuantius, the ſucceſſor of Caſſive-
laun, even cauſed coins to be ſtamped after the man-
ner of the Romans; ſome of which are ſtill to be ſeen
in the cabinets of the curious, having the word Taſcia
on their reverſe, ſignifying, according to our antiqua-
ries, tribute; for the payment of which it is concluded
this money was deſigned; for though braſs and iron
rings of a certain weight ſerved, as Cæſar informs us,
for their current coin, yet the Romans exacted their
tribute in gold and ſilver, of which latter metal are
theſe coins. Caligula, the fucceffor of Tiberius, for-
med a deſign againſt Britain, but never put it in exe-
cution, which Tacitus aſcribes to his inſtability, and
the ill ſucceſs of his vaſt enterpriſes in Germany; and
Suetonius tells us, that he did no more than receive
Adminius, (called alſo by our writers Guiderius) the
ſon of Cunobeline, who ſurrendered himſelf to that
emperor with the few men he had with him, having
been expelled his own country by his father. Indeed
he made a kind of mock expedition with his army as
far as the ſea ſhore oppoſite to Britain; but being in-
formed the Britons were prepared to receive him, in-
ſtead of purſuing his deſign, he ordered his foldiers to
fill their helmets with ſhells, which he called the ſpoils
of the conquered ocean; and then ſending his vain-
glorious letters to the fenate, implying the conqueſt
of Britain, he foon followed them to Rome himſelf.b
a Lib. iii. ode 5; lib. iv. ode 15; and lib. i. ode 35.
• Tacitus in Vita Agric. Strabo, Suet. in Calig Dion. lib. lix.
See Camden's Introd. p. cxix.
The
II ROMANS IN BRITAIN.
33
The Britons may be ſaid to have continued hitherto
free from the Roman yoke ; but in the reign of Clau-
dius, the ſucceſſor of Caligula, great part of the iſland
was brought under ſubjection to Rome, and the reſt
by degrees under the ſucceeding emperors. In the
time of the emperor Claudius, Cunobeline being dead,
his two ſons, Togodumnus and Caractacus, reigned in
Britain in his ſtead. In their reign, one Bericus, (who
he was is not known) being driven out of the iſland
for attempting to raiſe a ſedition, fled, with thoſe of his
party, to Rome, and being highly provoked againſt
his éountrymen, perſuaded the emperor to invade Bri-
tain. On the other hand, the Britons, reſenting the
emperor's receiving the fugitives, and his refuſing tò
deliver them up, denied the tribute he then demanded
of them, and prohibited all commerce with the Ro-
mans.As. Claudius wanted only a pretence for the
was not ſorry they afforded him one fo plau-
ſible ; he was then in his third conſulate, and was am-
bitious of atchieving ſomething that might entitle him
to a triumph; therefore he made choice of Britain
for his province, and gave orders to Plautius, then
Prætor in Gaul, to tranſport thoſe legions he had with
him into Britain, and begin the expedition, whilſt he
was preparing to follow him, if there ſhould be oc-
caſion. F. But the Roman ſoldiers, perhaps, remember-
ing the rough reception the Britons had formerly given
to Julius Cæfar, and being, as they ſaid, unwilling to
make war beyond the end of the world, at firſt refuſed
him or obey his commands. However, they
were at laſt prevailed on to embark; and putting to
ſea in three different parties, left their landing ſhould
be hindered, they made towards Britain, and landed
without oppoſition; for the Britons having been in-
formed of a mutiny in the Roman army, did not ex-
peet fo ſudden an alteration, and had, therefore, made

war, he
to follow
c Suet. in Claud. Dion, lib. Ix,
VOLI.
no
34
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

no preparations to oppoſe then. It is generally fap-
poſed that the emperor fent Plautius into Britain in
his third conſulate, which fixes it in the year 43; as
foon as he had landed he ſeems to have been very
deſirous of coming to a battle as ſoon as poſſible ;
but the Britons did all they could to avoid it, and kept
themſelves in ſmall parties behind their moraſſes and
among their hills, in hopes of tiring out the enemy
with ſkirmiſhes and delays till winter, when they ima-
gined Plautius would go and winter in Gaul, as Julius
Cæſar had before. This reſolution much diſconcer-
ted the Roman general, who, notwithſtanding theſe
difficulties, found means firſt to attack Caractacus, and
afterwards Togodumnus, and defeated them both. He
then reduced part of the Dobuni, whence he marched
on in queſt of the Britons, whom he found careleſsly
encamped on the farther bank of a river, (thought by
ſome to have been the Severn,“) imagining the Ro-
mans could not paſs it without a bridge ; but Plautius
ſending over the Germans, who were uſed to paſs the
moſt rapid ſtreams, in their armour, they fell upon
the aſtoniſhed Britons, who were forced, after a moſt
obſtinate reſiſtance, to betake themſelves to fight.
From hence the Britons betook themſelves to the
Thames, towards the mouth of it, and being acquain-
ted with the nature of the places which were firm and
fordable, paſſed eaſily; whereas the enemy, in pur-
ſuing them, ran great hazards. But the Germans,
having ſwam over the river, and others getting over
by a bridge higher up, the Britons were ſurrounded
on all ſides, and great numbers of them Nain. And
the Romans, purſuing too eagerly, fell among
bogs and moraſſes, and loft great numbers of their
own men. Upon this indifferent ſucceſs, and becauſe
the Britons were ſo far from being daunted at the death
of Togodumnus, (who had been ſain in one of theſe

the
a
Horſley, P: 30.
battles)
THROMANS IN BRITAIN...
35
battles) that they made preparations with greater fury
to revenge it, Plautius fearing the worſt, drew back
his forces, and taking care to ſecure the conqueſts he
had already made, ſent to Rome to the emperor Clau-
dius to come to his aſſiſtance, as he was ordered to
do, if his affairs ſhould be in a dangerous ſituation.
It is plain, from Dion Caſſius's account of this expe.
dition, that Plautius waited for the emperor on the
ſouth, or Kentiſh fide of the Thames. From his fear
the preparations and fury of the Britons, it is moſt
likely he choſe himſelf an advantageous ſituation for
this purpoſe, capable of containing his forces, and
which he, no doubt ſtrongly entrenched and fortified.
It has been thought by many, that the place of his en-
càmpment was where thofe large remains of a Roman
camp and entrenchment are ſtill to be ſeen on Keſton-
down, near Bromley. Indeed, its nearneſs to the
Thames, as well as its ſize, ſtrength, and many other
circumſtances, induce one to think it could hardly be
made for any other purpoſe. ari yant roils 210T
"The emperor Claudius no ſooner received this news
than he ſet out from Rome with a mighty equipage ;
and, to ſtrike the more terror, he brought with him
ſeveral elephants ; having purſued his journey, partly
by land and partly by ſea, till he came to the ocean,
he ſailed over, and landed in Britain, and immediately
marched to join Plautius, who ſtill waited for him
near the Thames. Having taken upon himſelf the
chief command, the whole army paſſed that river, and
in a ſet battle gave the Britons a ſignal overthrow.
After this he took Camulodunum ; ſuppoſed by ſome
to have been Maldon ; by others Colcheſter, and by
Dr. Gale, Walden, the royal ſeat of Gunobeline, and
a great number of priſoners in it; many by force, and
others by ſurrender. From the mention Suetonius
makes of Claudius's expedition hither, it is inſinuated,
► See Horſley, p. 37. ISS



his
36
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
his conqueft in Britain coft no blood. Bede, we may
fuppofe, was of the ſame opinion, as in his account of
it he even copies Suetonius's words: but Dion Caſſius,
from whom we have the moſt particular deſcription
of this war, gives the above very different account of
it. it Whichever the fact was, part of Britain being
thus fubdued, Claudius difarmed the inhabitants, and
appointed Plautius to govern them, and ordered him to
fubdue thoſe who remained as yet unconquered. To
ſuch as had ſubmitted, he generouſly forgave the con-
fiſcation of their eſtates, which obliged them to ſuch
à degree, that they erected a temple to him, and paid
him divine honors.su The emperor, having ſtaid in
Britain about fixteen days, ſet out from hence con his
return to Rome, having ſent before him the news of
his victories. And though he had conquered but a
very ſmall part of this iſand, yet on his arrival at
Rome, he was rewarded with a triumph, and many
other honors, the ſame as had been decreed to other
conquerors, after they had reduced whole kingdoms."
After this, the ſeveral governors of Britain, ſent over
by the Romans, had various ſucceſs againſt the Bri-
tons ; one while the Romans through fear of them
taking care not to provoke them by any act of hoftility,
giving to their cowardly inaction the ſpecious name of
peace, and at another time maintaining their conqueſts,
and reducing ſeveral warlike ſtates to their empire.
In this ſituation Britain remained till the celebrated
Cneius Julius Agricola was ſent to command in it, in
the reign of the emperor Veſpaſian, in the year 78;
who not only, by his bravery, extended the Roman
empire through Wales and the fartheſt part of Scot-
land; but by his prudent management, reconciled the
inhabitants to the Roman government; by which
means the Britons began to live more contented, and
beinunni ai ni 190 ne sois boxo e DD 020 alam
Dion, lib. lx. Suet. in Claud. cap. II.
• See Phil. Tranf. No. 356.151. Tacit. in vit. Agric.





a
in
y ROMANS IN BRITAIN
37

in a ſtate of peace under the Romans ; a ſtate which,
through the neglect and connivance of former gover-
nors, had been, till then, no leſs dreadful than that of
war. A For the purpoſe, he employed his winters here
in meaſures extremely advantageous to the empire;
ſo that the people, wild and diſperſed over the coun-
try, might, by a taſte of pleaſures, be reconciled to
inactivity and repoſe, he encouraged them privately,
and publicly aſſiſted them to build temples, houſes,
and places of public reſort. He took care to have the
fons of their chiefs educated in the liberal ſciences,
preferring their genius to that of their neighbours, the
Gauls; and ſuch was his ſucceſs, that thoſe who had
lately fcorned to learn the Roman language, ſeemed
now fond of its elegancies. From that time many of
the Britons began to aſſume the Roman apparel, and
the uſe of the gown grew frequent among them. Thus,
by degrees, they proceeded to the charms and allure-
ments of vice and effeminacy, in their galleries, baths;
entertainments, and other kinds of luxury; all which
were, as Tacitus judiciouſly obſervés, by the inex-
perienced, ftiled politeneſs, though in reality they
were only baits of ſlavery.
Agricola having ſpent eight years in Britain, or-
dered the admiral of his feet
to ſail round it; which he
happily accompliſhed, and returned, with great reputa-
tation, to the port whence he had departed, and thence
proved Britain to be, as it was long thought before, an
iNand. Though Britain was thus, after ſo many
ſtruggles and conteſts, entirely reduced, yet the Ro-
mans did not long continue maſters of it, at leaſt, in
Caledonia ; for what Agricola won, was, on his being
recalled ſoon after, loft by Domitian, in whoſe reign
the farther, or northern, parts of Britain were left to
the natives of them, the Romans contenting them-
felves with the hither, or ſouthern, part which was
"Roma na Tacitus, Ib. susishani nimeingia
2009
Samov p.
32
reduced
LA DE
.
38
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

reduced to a complete province, not governed by con-
ſular or proconſular deputies, but accounted præfidal,
and appropriated to the emperors, as being annexed to
the empire, after the diviſion of provinces by Auguf-
tus, and having proprætors of its own.
The Romans had continued conflicts after this with
the northern inhabitants of Britain, the Scots and the
Picts. The firſt mention made of the former infeſting
this iſland, is in the year 360. They landed firſt from
Ireland, as the Picts had done before from Scandina-
via. Theſe conflicts were attended with various suc-
cefs. At length, in order to reſtrain theſe people,
and to prevent their making incurſions into their pro-
vinces, they cauſed ſeveral walls at different times to
be built acroſs from ſea to ſea, which ſeparated at the
ſame time that it defended the provincial part
of
Britain, in the poſſeſſion of the Romans, from the
northern part, in the hands of the barbarians. During
the whole of this period, the county of Kent, not-
withſtanding the bloody wars and inſurrections which
continually overſpread the reſt of Britain, ſeems to
have continued in peace, and in a quiet ſubjection to
the Roman government; for though a firſt the inha-
bitants of it contended with much bravery in defence
of their liberty againſt the Romans, and did not ſubmit
to the yoke without much bloodſhed, yet, in the end,
they became pleaſed with their ſituation, and, as it
were, one nation, with their conquerors, and were,
at laſt, no leſs unwilling to part with them than they
had been at firſt to receive them. At length, foon
after the year 395, the famous Stilico, who go-
verned the weſtern empire during the minority of the
emperor Honorius, fent over a legion into Britain, by
which means the Saxons, who are ſaid to have firſt in-
feſted Britain in the time of the emperor Valentinian,
VOL 10 or oth
a Alford's Annals.
b Spartian in Hadrian, p. 6; Jul. Cap. in Anton. c. 5; Spar-
tian in Sever. Bede, cap. 5; Burt, on Anton. p. 99; Uſher Ec.
Brit. Antiq. p. 595; Claud. de Bell. Get. ver. 415.
anno
TROMANS IN BRITAIN. MED
39

anno 364, being overcome, the ſea was become
quiet; and the Piets having loft their ſtrength, Bri-
tain was delivered from her fears. About this time
a proper officer was appointed, to guard the coaſts
againſt the attempts of the Saxons, with the title of
Comes Littoris Saxonica. Not long after, the Roman
empire being overrun by ſeveral barbarous nations,
moſt of the Roman troops quartered in Britain were
recalled, and the iſland was again left open to its for-
mer enemies; whereupon the natives, expećting no
aſiſtance from Honorius, ſet up an emperor of their
own, two of whom, Mark and Gratian, being after a
very ſhort reign ſucceſſively murdered, were fuc-
ceeded by Conſtantine, a common ſoldier, who was
inſpired with ſuch an opinion of his own merit and
fortune, that he formed a deſign of making him-
ſelf maſter of the whole empire. With this view he
paſſed over into Gaul, taking with him the few Roman
forces that had been left here, and ſuch of the Britons
as were able to bear arms. The unhappy Britons,
thus left to themſelves, were more harraſſed than ever
by the Scots, Picts, and other northern nations, who,
putting all to fire and ſword, foon reduced them to a
miſerable condition. In this ſituation, after having
often implored in vain the emperor's altiſtance, they
withdrew their obedience to Rome, and no longer
obeyed the laws of the empire. The emperor Hono-
rius ſeemed to approve their conduct; for, by his let-
ters, he permitted, and even adviſed them to provide
for their own ſafety, which was an implicit reſignation
of the ſovereignty of Britain. This happened, ac-
cording to Bede, a little after the taking of Rome by
Alaric, king of the Goths, in the year of Chriſt 410.
Boso 790
• Alford's Annals.
a Claud. de Laud. Stil. lib. ii. Ib. in Eutropium, lib. ii. Ib.
Epithal. &c. Zof. lib. ix. cap. 11. See Bede Ecclei. Hiſt. lib. i.
Zof. lib. vi. Afferii Annales, p. 142; Uſher, p. 216; Al-
ford ad an. 410, an urb. Cond. 1161; Bede, lib. i. cap. II.
cap i.
e
D4
The
40 GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

The Britons, now again a free people, ſeemed at firſt
to have fought with ſome ſucceſs againſt their irre-
concileable enemies; but being in the end overpow-
ered, they had recourſe again to the emperor, implo-
ring his protection, and promiſing an entire obedience
to Rome, provided they were delivered from the ty-
ranny and oppreſſion of their mercileſs enemies. Ho.
norious, touched with compaſſion, ſent a legion to
their relief, which landing unexpectedly in Britain, cut
in picces great numbers of the Scots and Picts, and
obliged them to retire beyond the friths of Edinburgh
and Dumbarton; and then, after adviſing the Britons
to build a wall on the iſthmus, from ſea to ſea, they
returned to the continent, where their aſſiſtance was
wanted, to repulſe the barbarians, breaking from all
quarters into the empire. But though this advice was
immediately followed by the Britons, yet it was of no
ſervice to them; for the wall being built only with turf,
their enemies ſoon broke it down in ſeveral places,
and pouring in upon their territories, like a torrent,
committed more dreadful ravages than ever, deſtroy-
ing every thing with fire and ſword. After ſo many
miſeries and calamities, the unhappy Britons fent de-
puties once more to the emperor, who appearing be-
fore him with their garments rent, and duſt on their
heads, prevailed on him to fend new forces to their
relief. Theſe haſtening into Britain, fell upon the
enemy, not in the leaſt appriſed of their arrival, and
made a dreadful havoc among them, whilſt they were
roving up and down in queſt of booty. The Scots
and Picts being thus driven beyond the friths, the Ro-
mans, who had no ambitious views in aſſiſting the
diſtreſſed Britons, but were come over merely out of
compaſſion, told them plainly, they were to expect
no farther aſſiſtance from the emperor ; that the troops
he had now fent were ordered back to the continent,
id a Gild. Excid. Brit. cap. 12, 13; Bede, Ib, cap. 12.
circabut lost browa GOATE band
To
ROMANS IN BRITAIN.
41

and that they were therefore obliged to take their laſt
farewel of Britain, and entirely abandon the iſland.
After this declaration, Gallio of Ravenna, commander
of the Roman troops, exhorted the Britons to defend
themſelves for the future by fighting manfully for their
country, their wives, their children, and, what ought
to be dearer than life itſelf, their liberty, againſt an
enemy no ſtronger than themſelves, provided they
would exert their ancient courage and reſolution. And
that they might the better withſtand the attacks of the
enemy, he adviſed them to repair the wall built by
Severus, not with turf, but with ſtone, offering them
the aſſiſtance of his ſoldiers, and his own direction in
the work. Upon this the Britons, jointly with the
Romans, carried on their work with ſuch diligence,
that though the wall was eight feet in breadth, and
twelve in heighth, it was ſoon finiſhed. They likewiſe
built towers at convenient diſtances on the eaſt coaſt,
againſt the Saxons and others; who, coming from Ger-
many, made frequent deſcents on that ſide. ll Dan
The Roman commander then leaving them patterns
of the weapons he had taught them to make, after
many encouraging exhortations, took his laſt farewel
of Britain, telling the inhabitants not to expect their
return again ; and from this departure may be dated
the total defertion of Britain by them, and the final
period of the Roman empire in this iſland. But
there is a great difference among writers about the
year in which the Romans may be ſaid to have aban-
doned Britain ; ſome dating it from Gallio's departure,
others from their application to Ætius, the conſul, for
his aſſiſtance, and accordingly they place this event in
the years 426, 435, and 437. Uſher ſays, Gallio
arrived in Britain, with his forces, in 425, and that he
left it in 427, which ſeems the moſt probable account
of any.ali to nemm9vog ori 20 noisdin.
Bede, Ibid.
5. Ho amor
That
OF
42
GENERAL HISTORY ORY KENT.
OF 
That part of Britain which lies ſouth of the two
Friths (for the northern parts ſtill maintained their inde-
pendency) having been reduced into a complete province
by Agricola, in the reign of the emperor Domitian,
had been put under the government of an officer, who
bore the title of Proprætor being the emperor's lieute-
nant, and the inhabitants, who were become ſubjects of
the empire, endured all the hardſhips that uſually fall to
the lot of the vanquiſhed; exhorbitant taxes were laid on
them on various pretences; their eſtates were frequently
taken from them, and given to the veterans that were
continually coming to ſettle in the iſfand, and their
youth were made foldiers and diſperſed into the other
provices of the empire. Under this form of govern-
ment the province of Britain continued to the time of
the emperor Conſtantine, who, when he new modelled
the empire, and made a general regulation for the bet-
ter government of his dominions, divided them into
four large Præfeatures, viz. Italy, Gaul, the Eaſt,
and Illyria, in which were contained fourteen great
provinces. Britain, one of theſe, was made ſubject to
the Præfe&tus Prætorio, or Præfect of Gaul, and was
governed by a vicar, or deputy, who was ſtiled Specta-
bilis. Before this time, Britain was divided into two pro-
vinces only, but Conftantine divided it into three ; the
firſt was called Britannia Prima, containing thoſe parts
fouth of the Thames; the fecond Britannia Secunda,
containing all the country' weſt of the Severn, to the
Iriſh ſea, now called Wales; the third province was
diftinguiſhed by the name of Maxima Cæfarienfis
,
and contained all the reſt of the country lying north-
ward of the Thames, and eaſtward of the Severn.-
Pancirollus, who wrote his Notitia ſomewhat later than
the time of the Emperors Arcadius and Honorius,
viz. before the middle of the fifth century, in his de-
fcription of the government of Britain, tells us, that
a Zoſimus Ecclef. Hift. lib. ii.
the
ROMANS IN BRITAIN.HU
43

the lieutenant, or vicegerent, of the Præfect of Gaul,
had then under him certain conſular deputies, and
præſides, or preſidents, who, with ſeveral inferior
officers, managed all civil and criminal matters. Be-
ſides which, there were ſubordinate to him at that
time in Britain three different courts, or departments,
under the direction of three principal officers, namely,
the Commes Britanniarum, or Count of Britain; the
Dux Britanniarum, or Duke of Britain; and the
Comes Littoris Saxonici, or Count of the Saxon
Shore.
1. The firſt of theſe ſeems to have been merely a
civil officer, whoſe juriſdiction was over the inland
parts of the iſland, and the weſtern coaſts; the fe-
cond ſeems to have been military, whoſe. ſtation was
in the North, where he had a large body of troops
garriſoned under his command, to defend thoſe parts
from the inroads of the Scots and Picts, and the
third had the guard of the eaſtern and ſouthern coaſts,
from the depredations of the Saxon pirates ; for which
purpoſe he had likewife a fufficient number of troops
under his command, ſtationed in this part of Britain.
The government of the honourable the Count of the
Saxon Shore in Britain, extended over the counties of
Norfolk, Suffolk, Eſſex, Suſſex, Hampſhire, and
Kent, on the coaſts of which, or at leaſt near them,
the forces under his command were ſtationed. Thoſe
in the county of Kent were :
The commander of the Tungrian ſoldiers ſtationed
at Dover. og
The commander of the detachmerit of ſoldiers of
Tournay, at Limne.
11.
The commander of the firſt cohort of Vetaſcians,
at Reculver. d Est Hinw lewo bovec
9 The commander of the ſecond legion, called Au:
guſta, at Richborough.
OH to ohl.292 Hlouions On The
mo
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

The commander of the detachment of the Abulci,
at Anderida.
n's bas
The military force kept by the Romans in Britain
was very conſiderable ; from the time of Claudius to
that of the emperor Veſpaſian, there were four legions
conſtantly in this iſland, and afterwards three, till the
Romans were forced to recal them, by degrees, to
make head againſt their inteftine enemies, and the
Goths, and other barbarous nations, who extended
their ravages to all parts of the empire.
There remains little more to be ſaid of the Romans
whilſt in Britain, that concerns their tranſactions in
this county, further than to take notice, that in order
to facilitate their marches, and prepare an eaſy quick
communication throughout the iſland, they made
feveral highways from one end of it to the other ; par-
ticularly in this county they made three public or con-
fular ways, beſides others of an inferior fort, and fixed
their uſual ſtations and manſions upon them. That
in proceſs of time, they built ſeveral watch-towers,
forts, and caſtles, on the coaſt, as well to awe the
Britons, and preſerve a ſafe intercourſe with the con-
tinent, as to guard againſt the infults of the Saxon
pirates, all which will, in other parts of this work, be
more particularly mentioned. lole allation
de 30 2 sdh sio 15
Glos
2004 robi coton
to varuda 04
b THE ROMANS having thus abandoned Britain,
with an intention to return no more, the Scots and Picts
no ſooner heard of it, than landing in ſwarms from their
leather veffels, they committed greater ravages than
ever, deſtroying all with fire and ſword. Next they
reſolved to attack the wall, which had been lately re-
paired, and foon made themſelves maſters of it, the
sarrotoddi ito sa
* Notitia Pancirolli. See Seldon's Tit. of Hon. p. 327.
Britons
BRITONS AND PICTS.
Britons betaking themſelves to fight, and their ene-
mies purſuing them, made a dreadful havoc of the
fugitives, taking poffeffion of their towns, which
they found deſerted by the inhabitants. As they met
with no no oppoſition, they overrun the whole country,
making a general havbe and devaſtation, which bred
a dreadful famine bui ont bord en oo 91110 pustimonis
This was productive of new miſchiefs, and a kind
of civil war among the Britons themſelves, who were
obliged, for their ſupport, to plunder and take from
each other the little the common enemy had left them.
At laſt, the famine became ſo general, that the Bri-
tons which remained were obliged to betake them-
ſelves to the woods, and ſubfift by hunting, and in
this deplorable condition they continued ſome years.
The Britons had at this time kings of their own; but
they raiſed ſuch only to the throne as were remarkable
for their rapine and cruelty, and theſe were frequently
inurdered, and worſe men chofen in their room.--
Thus at variance among themſelves, and at the ſame
time preſſed with famine, and purſued by a mercileſs
enemy, they had recourſe once more to the Romans
for aſſiſtance, writing to Ætius, who was then conſul
the third time, and governed the weſtern empire, al-
moſt with abſolute fway, in order to move him
with compaſſion. But Ætius, who was then in Gaul,
either could or would not afford them the leaſt aſſiſt-
ance urithe emperor, Valentinian the Third, then being
under great apprehenfion of a war with Attila, which
threatened the whole weſtern empire. The Britons,
now deſpairing of any relief from the Romans, and
reduced by their misfortunes to the utmoſt extremity,
knew not what meaſures to take to free themſelves
from their unfortunate circumſtances. Great num-
bers of them fled to Armorica, where thoſe Britons
who attended Maximus into Gaul are ſuppoſed to
orodhuba 3:7 ID DIJAH
ze
•
Gildas, fect. 13 and 16. Flor. Worceſt. p. 541.
have


46
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
have ſettled; others ſubmitted to the Scots and
Picts, purchaſing a miſerable fubfiftance with ever-
laſting Navery; and ſome few, fallying out in parties
from the woods and caves, fell upon the enemy while
they were roving up and down the country, and cut
many of them in pieces. The Picts, from the famine
and miſery of the country, had no inducement to con-
tinue longer in it, and therefore withdrew themſelves
to thoſe parts about the wall, which were either aban-
doned by the Britons, or inhabited by ſuch as had ſub-
mitted to their new maſters; and the Scots returned
home. The Britons, having now fome reſpite, began
to cultivate their lands again, which produced an
amazing plenty ; but the luxury and eaſe attendant on
it, plunged them into the utmoſt exceſſes of vice and
debauchery; in the midſt of which, theſe nations,
returning with incredible fury, put all to the fire and
fword, and foon again reduced this unhappy people to
the utmoſt extremity.forl) nam Show bris buvo TUT
In their diſtreſſes, as the only poſſible remedy of
their calamities, the Britons had, at a general aſſembly,
elected Vortigern as their chief or ſuperior monarch
over the whole nation, as one who ſhould manage the
war for them, and direct the whole of their affairs
againſt the common eneiny. But the diſcord that now
reigned between many of the ſtates prevented any
good effect that might happen from this choice; ſeveral
of their great men, having fortified themſelves in dif-
ferent parts, acted as kings; and all theſe petty tyrants,
jealous of one another, far from acquieſcing in the
above election, ſought only to deſtroy this monarch,
in hopes of being chofen in his room. In this ſtate
of confuſion it was impoffible for any of them to ſub-
fift long. Vortigern, who had been thus choſen king,
was a proud, covetous, debauched tyrant, regardleſs
bleac 319 D oni
2 H. Hunt. lib. i. Gild. ſect. 14. Bede, lib. i, cap. 13 Flor.
Worceſter. Spelman, part ii, p. 148. Ulher, p. 1104.
of



TBRITONS AND SAXONS.
47
of the public welfare, though he was choſen merely
for the purpoſe of promoting it. However, being at
this time rouſed by the clamours of the people on all
ſides, and alarmed for his own preſervation, he ſum-
moned a meeting of the chief men of the nation, to
conſult on the proper means of delivering the country
from the calamities it then groaned under. In this
aſſembly, the Britons, almoſt diſtracted and without
hope at their diſtreſſed condition, reſolved upon an
expedient the moſt pernicious that could be imagined,
and what in the end, proved the utter deſtruction of
the nation. 110 This was to invite the Saxons to come
over to their fuccour, a people at that time famous for
their piracies and cruelties, and dreaded, even by the
Britons themſelves, as death itſelf.bigg erit nobru Bolina
to The Saxons were, according to the moſt probable
opinion, a colony of the Cimbrians, that is, of the in.
habitants of the Cimbrian Cherſoneſus, now Jutland,
who, finding their country moverſtocked with inha-
bitants, fent outsi much about the ſame time, three nu-
mérous companies to feekbnew ſettlementssurdo one
of theſe companies was afterwards given the name of
Suevians, to another that of Franks; and to the third
the name of Saxons. 9 The Suevians, took their rout
towards Italy, the Franks advanced to Belgic Gaul,
and the Saxons poſſeſſed themſelves. cof their whole
country between the Rhine and the Elbe, and after-
wards, by degrees, extended the conqueſts along the
coafts of the German ocean, and when the Britons ſent
to imploreſ their affiftance, they were maſters not only
of the preſent Weſtphalia, Saxony, Eaſt and Weit
Frieſland, but likewiſe of Holland and Zealand. The
firſt place theſe people ſettled in, on their leaving the
Cherſoneſus, was the preſent duchy of Holſtein, which
is thence called the antient ſeat of the Saxons. Bee
Tungod 90olin brods and bobserb anexo 50%
Ñ W. Malmíb. lib. i. cap. 1. H. Hunt. lib. i. Gildas fect. 17.
Bede, lib. i. cap. 14, et ſeq. M. Westm. p. 81. Die



tween
48
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
tween this country and the Cherſonefus, or Jutland,
dwelt a people known even in Tacitus's time, by the
name of Angles. According to this account which
is copied from Bede, the Angles inhabited that ſmall
province in the kingdom of Denmark and duchy of
Sleſwick, which is called at this day Angel, and of
which the city of Flenſburgh is the metropolis.
Hengiſt and Horſa came from this country of the
Angles into Britain, which from thence was called
Anglia.arii od bluo iedt vobinsog domst nibaqxa
20 At the time the Saxons came out of the Cherſoneſus,
in queft of new fettlements, they were joined by the
Angles, who, in proceſs of time, became one nation
with them. » Hence they are, by moſt authors, com-
priſed under the general name of Saxons, though they
are diſtinguiſhed by ſome by the compound name of
Anglo-Saxons. Some time after the Saxons, Franks,
and Suevians had left the Cherſoneſus, the Goths, hav.
ing driven out the Cimbrians that were remaining,
made themſelves maſters of that peninſula, which was
thenceforth called Gothland, or Jutland, from its in-
habitants the Goths, or Jutes. Great numbers of theſe
Giotæ, or Jutæ, mixing with the Saxons and Angles,
came over with them from time to time, to ſhare in
their conqueſts, and ſettling with them, were eſteemed
afterwards as one and the ſame people ; but being fo
few in number, they loſt the name of Jutes, and toge-
ther with the Angles, were compounded under the
general name of Saxons, but they were not known to
the Romans till the latter end of the fourth century ;
Eutrophius, Ammianus Marcellinus, and the poet
Claudian being the firſt Roman writers who make
mention of them. They were looked upon to be the
moſt valiant of all the Germans, both for greatneſs
of mind, ſtrength of body, and a hardy conftitution,
The Romans dreaded them above all others, becauſe


* Tacitus de Mor. Germ. cap. 40. Bede, lib. i. cap. 15.
their
BRITONS AND SAXONS.
49

their motions were always ſudden, and their courage
and activity terrible to them. They were remarkable
for their chaſtity, and in their perſons for their tallneſs,
ſymmetry of parts, and exactneſs of features. They
wore their hair hanging down their ſhoulders ; their
cloaths were ſhort cloſe coats ; and their armour long
ſpears. When they ſtood, they leaned upon little
ſhields, and wore a ſort of knives hanging before. But
earlier they uſed to ſhave their heads to the very ſkin,
except a little above the crown, and wore a plate
round their heads.b
This Sidonius Appollinaris plainly intimates in theſe
verſes, lib. viii. epift. 9.
SH
bomurod
66 Iſtic Saxona cærulum videmus
66 Adſuetum antè falo folum timere,
“ Cujus verticis extimas per orasbo branitely
“ Non contenta fuos tenere morfus both
yaq* Altat lamina marginem comarum. to alegro
“ Et fic crinibus ad cutem reſciſſis,
bottom “ Decreſcit caput, additurque vultus us to add to
bisotib
Here 'twas we ſaw the purple Saxon ítand, resultat
Us’d to rough ſeas, yet ſhaking on the land. u to goth
bis The frozen plate, that on their crown they wearwa doa
og In one great tuft drives up their buſhy hair ;
Bris The reſt they keep cloſe fhav'd; and thus their face
27 Appears ſtill bigger, as their head grows leſs.
CAMD. BRITT. P. clxii.
150
They were admirably ſkilled in naval affairs, and by
their long and continued piracies, had inured them-
ſelves ſo to the ſea, that it might almoſt be ſaid, they
dreaded the land. They annoyed the coaſts of Bri-
tain and France, even as far as Spain, to ſuch a degree,
that it was found neceſſary to guard the ſhores with
officers and ſoldiers, appointed for this purpoſe, againſt
Bons
* Zofimus Ecclef. Hift. lib. i. Amm. Marcell. lib. xxviü.
cap. 2. METOD WO on 20 DE NOW
any
VOL. 1.
E
50
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

you, if
any attempts they might make upon them, and theſe,
for that reaſon, were called Counts of the Saxon
pore. But notwithſtanding this, by the help of
their nimble fly-boats, called ciults, in Engliſh, keels
or yawls, they contrived very frequently to plunder
our coaſts.
When they put to ſea in theſe boats
there were as many pirates as rowers ; they were all
at the ſame time both maſters and ſervants, all taught
and learned in this their trade of robbing. In ſhort,
the Saxon was the inoſt terrible enemy that could be
engaged. If he took you unawares, he was gone
in
a moment; he deſpiſed oppoſition, and certainly
worſted
you were not well provided. If he
purſued, he undoubtedly caught you ; if he flew, he
always eſcaped. Shipwrecks, fo far from frightening
him, hardened him. Theſe people did not only un-
derſtand the dangers of the ſeas, but were intimately
acquainted with them. If they were purſued in a
tempeſt, it gave them an opportunity of eſcaping;
if they were purſuing, it ſecured them from being
diſcovered at a diſtance. They readily ventured
their lives among waves and rocks, if there were any
hopes of ſurpriſing their enemy. K was their cul-
tom always, before they weighed anchor and ſet ſail
homewards, to take every tenth captive and put
them to death, by equal and exquiſite tortures, and
this was owing to ſuperſtition; after thoſe that were
to die were got together, they pretended to temper
the injuſtice of putting them to death by a ſeeming
equity of lots.
The Saxons were ſo ſtrangely ſuperſtitious, that
whenever they had any weighty matters under debate,
they were, beſides their foothſaying, principally di-
rected by the neighing of horſes, which they looked
on as the ſureft preſage. To foretell events of war they
uſed to take a captive of the nation againſt which
their deſign was, and to oblige him to fight a ſingle
combat with ſome one of their own country : each
was
BRITONS AND SAXONS.
51
was to fight with the arms of his own nation, and by
the iſſue of it they concluded which ſide would
conquer.
Their religion was much the ſame as that of the
other northern nations. Among their chief gods were
the Sun, the Moon, the celebrated Woden, his ſon
Thor, his wife Friga, or Fræa, Tuiſco, Theutates,
Heſus, and Tharamis. Theſe three laſt are men-
tioned by Lucan, as is Tuiſco by Tacitus. To the
Sun and Moon were conſecrated the two firſt days
of the week, called from them Sunday and Monday.
Tuiſco was the founder of the Gerinan nation, and
to him was conſecrated Tueſday. The next idol
was Woden, whom they eſteemed as their god of bat-
tle; his ſacrifices were men, and the fourth day in
the week was conſecrated to him, and was from him
called Wedneſday. Several places in England take
the original of their name from this idol, particularly
Wodenſborough, or Winſborough, in this county.
Thor, the god of the air, who was thought to have
ſtorms, winds, ſhowers, and fair weather at his dif-
poſal, had Thurſday conſecrated to him, and was of
more eſtimation among them than moſt of the reſt;
they believed his power and might to be wonderful,
and that there were no people throughout the whole
world that were not ſubjected to him, and did not
owe him divine honor and worſhip. Friga, the next,
was the goddeſs of pleaſure, who had the ſixth day
allotted for her worihip, and thence called, from her,
Friday. The ſeventh day, or Saturday, was ſacred
to the idol Seator, otherwiſe called Crodo. The
Saxons had, beſides theſe, ſeveral other deities, to
whom they paid great veneration, and among others
to mulet blirani
a Sidon. Apoll. lib. ix. epiſt. ad Numantium. See Camd.
clxiii. et ſeq.
Lucan, lib. i, ver. 444. Tacitus de Morib. Germ. M.
Weft. p. 82
82. Camd. clxix. Verſtegan, p. 77.
the



Brit.
P.
P.
E 2
52
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
od
the goddeſs Eoſtre, to whom they ſacrificed in April,
which was thence by them ftiled Eaſter Monath, or
the Month of Eoſtre ; and hence the Saxons retained
the word Eaſter even after their converſion to the
chriſtian religion, appropriating it to the ſolemn fef-
tival, which we celebrate in commemoration of our
Saviour's reſurrection.a
The Angles, as we read in Tacitus, as well as the
other neighbouring nations, worſhipped Herthus, that
is the mother earth, as believing ſhe intereſted
herſelf in the affairs of men and nations. For a
more particular account of the worſhip the Saxons
paid to their gods, and the facrifices they offered to
them, the reader is referred to Wormius, Verſtegan,
Ifaacius Pontanus, and other German and Daniſh
writers. As to their government, the country ſub-
ject to them was, according to Verſtegan, divided
into twelve provinces, each of which was governed
by a chief, or head, accountable to the general aſſem-
bly of the nation. By this aſſembly a general was
choſen in time of war, who commanded with almoſt
a ſovereign power ; but his authority ceaſed as ſoon
as the war ended.
Kaisa Ston
It is time now to reſume the thread of our hiſtory,
and return to the landing of the Saxons on this
iſland.be
For your stated blom
The expedient of inviting the Saxons hither being
approved of in the general aſſembly of the Britons,
meſſengers were immediately diſpatched into Ger-
many, to offer them advantageous terms, provided
they would come over to their aſſiſtance. The Sax-
ons were highly pleaſed with their propoſal, the more
as they were foretold by their foothſayers, that they
ſhould plunder the country to which they were
called, for the ſpace of an hundred and fifty years,



a Bede de rat. temp. cap. 1 3•
Camd.
P.
clxiv. Ant. Univ. Hiſt. vol. xix, p. 177.
and
BRITONS AND SAXONS.
53

and quietly poſſeſs it twice that time. Having
therefore fitted out three long ſhips, called, in their
language, chiules, they put to ſea under the conduct
of Hengiſt and Horſa, the ſons of Wetgiffel, great-
grandſon of the celebrated Woden, from whom all
the royal families of the Saxons derive their pedi-
grees. Theſe arriving at Ippedsfleet, now called
Ebbsfleet, in the Inle of Thanet, a little to the north
of Richborough caſtle, about the year 449, were
received there, both by the prince and people, with
the greateſt demonſtrations of joy. A league was
immediately concluded with them, by which they
were to defend the Britons againſt all foreign enemies,
and were to have in return the Idle of Thanet allotted
to them for their habitation, beſides pay and main-
tenance, which event ſome place a few years
ſooner, others a few years later; Bede and Flor.
Worceſt. place it in 450, as does archbiſhop Uſher.
Hiſtorians have not told us what was the number of
theſe Saxon auxiliaries, but it could not be above
1 500, ſince they all came over in three ſhips, and it can-
not well be ſuppoſed, that any of theſe ſhips carried
more than 500 men. The Saxons being thus put in
pofleffion of the Iſle of Thanet, King Vortigern did
not ſuffer them to continue long there without em-
ployment, but led them againſt the Scots and Picts,
who were advanced as far as Stamford in Lincoln-
ſhire, where a battle was fought, in which the lat-
ter were utterly routed, and forced to ſave them-
ſelves by a precipitate flight, leaving the Sax-
ons in poſſeſſion of the ſpoil and booty tliey had
taken. After which they ſo conſtantly defeated the
С
Bede, lib. i. cap. 15. Gild. fect. xxiii. Chron. Sax. Ethel-
werd, p. 834. Flor. Worc. p. 542. W. Malmfb. lib. i. cap. 1.
M. Weſtm. p. 81.
Sax Chron. H. Huntingd. lib. ii. Lamb. per p. 101.
. Bede, lib. i. cap. 15. Hen. Huntingd. lib. ii. M. Weſtm.
P $2,
enemy,
d
E 3
54
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
enemy, that being diſcourged by theſe frequent over-
throws, they abandoned their conqueſt by degrees,
and retired into their own country, dreading nothing
ſo much as meeting with the Saxons. The more
Hengiſt ſaw of the fruitfulneſs and wealth of the
iſland, the more he was captivated with it; and ob-
ſerving the inhabitants to be enervated with luxury,
and addicted to eaſe and idleneſs, he began to enter-
tain hopes of procuring a permanent ſettlement for
his countrymen in Britain. Having therefore, art-
fully perſuaded Vortigern of the danger he was in,
not only from a freſh invaſion of the Scots and Picts,
but from the inſolence of the Britons themſelves, he
adviſed him to ſecure himſelf from the impending
ftorm, by ſending for more Saxons, and ſtrengthen-
ing himſelf with their numbers againſt all his ene-
mies. This he readily conſented to, and Hengiſt at
the ſame time acquainted his countrymen with the
fruitfulneſs of the iſland, and the effeminacy of the
inhabitants, inviting them to ſhare with him in his
good ſucceſs, of which he had not the leaſt reaſon to
doubt.b
The Saxons readily complied with this invitation,
and arriving in ſeventeen large fhips, in the year 450,
the year after Hengiſt landed, being as Hector
Boethius ſays, 5000 in number, beſides wives and
children, made up, with their countrymen already in
the iſland, a conſiderable army.
With this ſupply
came over Oeſc, or Eſk, Hengiſt's ſon, and, if Nen-
nius is to be credited, Rowena, his daughter, with
whoſe charms king Vortigern was ſo captivated, that,
divorcing his lawful wife, he married her, after hav-
ing, with much difficulty, obtained the conſent of
her father, who pretended to be much averſe to the



a Chron. Sax. W. Malmſb. lib. i. c. 1.
Þ
Bede, lib. i. cap. 15. W. Malmſb. lib. i. cap. I. H. Hunt,
lib. ii. M. Weſtm.
P.
82,
match,
BRITONS AND SAXONS.
55

match, by inveſting him with the government of
Kent. Though Hengiſt had a good body of troops
in Britain under his command, he did not think it
fufficient for the execution of his determined object,
the conqueſt of the whole kingdom. He therefore
led the king, by degrees, to ſeek of his own accord
the thing he wiſhed for moſt himſelf, nainely, the
ſending for a greater number of Saxon troops, by
exaggerating the dangers that threatened him on all
fides, particularly from the diſcontents of his own
ſubjects, who freely vented their complaints againſt
them both. This new reinforcement of Saxons, be-
ing the third, came over in forty ſhips, in the year
452, under the conduct of Octa and Ebuſa, the fon
and nephew, or, as others will have it, the brother
and nephew of Hengiſt. They arrived at the Or-
cades, and having ravaged there, and all along the
northern coaſt, the countries of the Scots and Picts,
made themſelves maſters of ſeveral places beyond the
Friths, and in the end, obtained leave of the king to
ſettle in Northumberland, under the ſpecious pre-
tence of ſecuring the northern parts, as Hengiſt did
the ſouthern ; after which, encroaching ſtill on the
king's favor, Hengiſt ſent by degrees for more men
and ſhips, till the countries from whence they came
were almoſt left without inhabitants. The num-
bers of the Saxons being by theſe means greatly in-
creaſed, they began to quarrel with the Britons, de-
manding larger allowances of corn and other provi-
fions, and threatening, if their demands were not
complied with, to break the league and lay waſte the
whole country. The Britons were ſurpriſed at theſe
menaces, and though they were fearful the Saxons
were powerful enough to do what they threatened, yet
they refuſed their demands, and deſired them, if they

• Nennius, cap. 36.
E 4
were
56
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT,
were not contented, to return home, ſince their num-
bers exceeded what they were able to maintain.-
This anſwer, however juft and reaſonable, at the
ſame time it provoked the Saxons, gave them the op-
portunity of putting their long wiſhed-for deſign in
execution; wherefore, having ſecretly concluded a
peace with the Scots and Picts, they began to turn
their arms againſt thoſe they came to defend, and
over-running the iſland deſtroyed every thing with
fire and ſword, wherever their fury led them. Moſt
of the public as well as private buildings were leveled
with the ground : cities were pillaged and burnt;
prieſts flain at the altars, and people without diſtinc-
tion of age, ſex, or condition, flaughtered in multi-
tudes throughout the land. Some of the unhappy
Britons, who eſcaped the fury of the Saxons, took
refuge among the rocks and mountains in Wales
and in Cornwall; great numbers of them either
periſhed with hunger, or were forced by the extre-
mity of famine to abandon their afylum, and deli-
vering themſelves up, preſerved their lives at the ex-
pence of their liberty ; fome, croſſing the ſea, took
ſhelter among foreign nations, and thoſe that re-
inained at home fuffered inexpreſſible calamities, in
perpetual apprehenſions, and want of neceffaries.-
In the mean time, the Britons, looking on the par-
tiality which king Vortigern had continually ſhewn
the Saxons as the principal cauſe of their miſeries,
and provoked at his cowardice and inattention to
their welfare, depoſed him ; for though they left him
the title of king jointly with his fon Vortimer, yet all
the command and royal power was conferred on the
latter, whom they thus raiſed to the throne ; who
being a brave and valiant youth, undertook the de-

a Gild. fect xxiii. Bede, lib. i. cap. 15. H. Hunt. lib. ii.
Ant. Unv. Hift. vol. xix. p. 180,
fence
BRITONS AND SAXONS.
57
b
fence of his diſtreſſed country ; this happened in the
year 454.
It was about five years after the firſt landing of the
Şaxons, that the Britons, under the command of Vor-
timer, began to make head againſt them. Several
bloody battles and ſkirmiſhes were fought between
them, as both the Saxon and Britiſh writers agree,
though they differ greatly, as well as to the time of
theſe engagements, as the ſucceſs of them, as they
ſtood affected to either ſide. Vortimer having af-
ſembled his forces, led them againſt the Saxons, and
had his firſt encounter with them on the banks of
the Darent, in this county ; in which it ſeems pro-
bable the Saxons were worſted, as they retreated from
their enemy, who followed them to Aylesford, where
a bloody battle was fought between them, in the year
455, the ſucceſs of which remained equal a long
time, though at laſt the victory fell to the Britons.
In this ſharp engagement Horſa, brother to Hengiſt,
and Catigern brother to Vortimer, fought hand to
hand, and were both killed on the ſpot. The for-
mer was buried on the eaſtern ſide of the Medway, at
a place which from him ſtill retains the name of
Horſted; and Catigern ſtill nearer to the field of bat-
tle, (from which it ſeems likely, that the Britons re-
mained maſters of it,) in the pariſh of Aylesford,
where it is ſuppoſed that rude monument, ſomewhat
in the manner of Stonehenge, was erected over him,
which remains to this day, and is called Kitſcoty-
houſe, which is, as ſome interpret it, Catigerns-houſe.
For ſome ſpace round about the hill, near which this
battle was fought, there are large ſtones diſperſed
over the lands, ſome ſtanding upright, and others
thrown down by time, which, no doubt, were placed



• Matt. Weſtm. p. 83:
· Hen. Huntingd. lib. ii. Matt. Weſtm. ad an. 455. Nen-
nius, cap. 46. W. Malmib. lib. i. cap. I.
there
58
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
there in memory of ſome who fell in this noted en-
counter. Some have imagined theſe ſtones were
brought from the quarry on the other ſide of the
river Medway, ať fix miles diſtance; but there
was ſurely no occaſion for this ſuperfluous trouble,
when there were quarries both at Sandling and Al-
lington, within two miles of the ſpot. Others have
imagined them to be the product of neither, but to be
rather of the pebble kind, with which this part of the
country abounds; one of this fort appears to lye in
its natural bed of earth, at the top of Boxley-hill,
cloſe to the Maidſtone road at this time.
Vortimer ſtill followed the retreating Saxons, and
coming up with them again on the ſea-ſhore, near
Folkeſtone, fought a third battle with them, between
that place and Hythe; and, gaining a complete vic-
Lory, drove them into the iſle of Thanet. There is
much difference among writers as to the place where
this battle was fought; ſome aſſerting it to have been
at Wippedesflete, now Ebbsfleet, in Thanet ; but as
the Britons drove the Saxons, after this battle, into
that iſland, the field of battle could not be in it.
Nennius and others ſay, it was fought in a field on
the ſhore of the Gallic fea, where ſtood the Lapis Ti-
tuli, which Camden and Uſher take to be Stonar, in
the iſle of Thanet; but Somner and Stillingfleet, in-
ſtead of Lapis Tituli, read Lapis Populi, that is,
Folkeſtone, where this battle was fought. What adds
ſtrength to this laſt conjecture, are the two vaft heaps
of ſkulls and bones piled up in two vaults under the
churches of Folkeſtone and Hythe; which, from the
number of them, could not but be from fome battle.
They appear, by their whiteneſs, to have been all
bleached, by lying ſome time on the ſea ſhore. Pro-
bably, thoſe at Hythe, were of the Britons, and thoſe
at Folkeſtone of the Saxons. It happened in the
year


BRITONS AND SAXONS.
59
year 456; and the year following Vortimer died.“
By theſe continued ſcenes of ſlaughter, both ſides
were ſo much weakened, that for ſome time after
neither invaded each others territories.
The Saxons having thus withdrawn themſelves to
the country that had been granted them by Vorti-
gern, that is, to Kent and Northumberland, remained
quiet there till after the deceaſe of Vortimer; who
died, as our hiſtorians tell us, after a ſhort reign of
leſs than five years; and they add, that upon his
death-bed, he deſired to be buried near the place
where the Saxons uſed to land, being perſuaded, that
his bones would deter them from making any at-
tempts there for the future; but they buried him elfe-
where: Matthew of Weſtminſter ſays, at London ;
Nennius and others ſay, at Lincoln. Hengiſt was
no ſooner informed of his death, than he returned
with a numerous body of Saxons; and landing, in
fpite of all oppoſition, fought ſeveral battles with the
Britons, under the command of Vortigern; who,
upon the death of his ſon, Vortimer, had been re-
ſtored to the throne. In one of theſe battles, which
was fought in the year 457, at Crecanford, now cal-
led Crayford, in this county, the Britons were over--
thrown, with the loſs of four thouſand men, which
obliged them to abandon Kent, and to retire to Lon-
don; from which time only Hengiſt is ſaid, by fome,
to have taken on himſelf the title of King of Kent,
eight years after the firſt arrival of the Saxons in Bri-
The only circumſtance that could have ſaved
the Britons, proved, through their unreaſonable fac-
tions and animoſities, their utter ruin. For Aurelius
Ambroſius, ſecond ſon of Conſtantine, having landed
with a conſiderable body of forces from Armorica,

tain..
a Hen. Hunt. lib. ii. Nennius, cap. 46.
• Ethelwerd, p. 834. Flor. Worceſt. p. 543. Hen. Huntingd.
lib.ii.
through
60
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
through the favor of Aldroen, king of that country,
Vortigern and his party, conſidering him as an uſur-
per, who was come to ſeize the crown under colour
of defending it, raiſed all the forces they could, and
determined to carry on the war againſt him, as a
more dangerous enemy, if poſſible, than the Saxons
themſelves. Both ſides having at length wrought
themſelves
up into the utmoſt fury, a civil war en-
fued, which laſted ſeven or eight years; and thus the
miſerable Britons, always a prey to their inteſtine di-
viſions, inſtead of uniting againſt the common enemy,
deſtroyed one another. At length, the wiſeft of both
parties, conſidering theſe diffentions would be the
cauſe of their common ruin, put an end to them by
parting the kingdom. Vortigern had the eaſtern, and
Ambrofius the weſtern part of Britain, excepting
thoſe parts in the poſſeſſion of and inhabited by the
Saxons; which diviſions were ſeparated from each
other by the Roman highway, called afterwards Wat-
ling-ſtreet.
The civil diſſentions among the Britons having
been thus appeaſed, both parties united againſt their
common enemy, the Saxons. This war was car-
Tied on with various ſucceſs, till both parties, wearied
out with continual loſſes, without the advantage or
proſpect of conqueſt on either ſide, began to fhew in-
clinations for peace, which was very ſoon concluded be-
tween them, probably upon the terms that each ſhould
keep the country they already poſſeſſed. Hengiſt,
who had from time to time entertained hopes of
poſſeſſing the whole iſland of Britain, was now forced,
after a twenty years war, to give them up, and to ſit
down in appearance contented with Kent, and ſome
few other ſmall diſtricts. Not that he really was ſo;
he ſtill continued a prey to his unbounded ambition,
and reſolved in his mind to compaſs by fraud and

و



a Gildæ Epiſt. Bede, lib. i. cap. 16, 22.
treachery,
BRITONS AND SAXONS.
61
treachery, what he could not attain openly by force
of arms. For which purpoſe, every thing he did
ſeemed to fhew his fincere intention of living in
perfect union with the Britons, and to keep up a
good underſtanding between the two nations. The
princes had frequent intercourſe with each other;
and as a mark of his peaceable and contented dif-
poſition, he invited Vortigern, whoſe attachment
to pleaſure he was well acquainted with, to a ſplen-
did entertainment. Vortigern went thither, atten-
ded by three hundred of his prime nobility, and
unarmed, as not ſuſpecting any treachery ; but to-
wards the end of the feaſt a quarrel being deſign-
edly raiſed by Hengiſt, the Saxons ſtarting up at
a ſignal given, diſpatched each of them his next
man with daggers, or ſhort ſwords, which they had
concealed for this purpoſe. Vortigern alone was
{pared, as Hengiſt had commanded, and being de-
tained as a priſoner, was forced, as a ranſom for his
liberty, to ſurrender up to the Saxons a large tract
of land bordering upon Kent, which Hengiſt added
to his former territories. This was afterwards divided
into three provinces, and peopled with Saxons; that
part which was planted eaſtward with regard to the
reſt they named Eaſt-fexa, or Seaxe, now Effex; that
which was fouth of the ſame, Suth-ſeaxe, or Suſſex;
and that which was in the middle between them,
Middel-ſeaxe, now Middleſex. From this time there
will be no occaſion to follow the Saxons in their feve-
ral motions through the other parts of Britain, nor to
take notice of the calamities and diſtractions which pre-
vailed in them for ſome years. It is ſufficient to men-
tion, that henceforward the Saxons ſpread themſelves
more and more over the whole face of Britain, and
made haſty advances towards that firm eſtabliſhment
in it, which they had been ſo many years contending
for, and that whenever there are any tranſactions

Nennius, cap. 47.
between
62
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

between them and the Britons, in which the kingdom
of Kent is concerned, they will be taken notice of
below, in the account of the reigns of the ſeveral
Kentiſh monarchs.
KINGS OF KENT.
I. HENGIST. ANNO 455.

1
ALTHOUGH Hengiſt had thus eſtabliſhed
himſelf in the kingdom of Kent, yet the Britons ſtill
kept poſſeſſion of a conſiderable part of the three
provinces he had ſo unjuſtly extorted from Vortigern.
The natives every where ſhewed the greateſt detefta-
tion of the Saxons, and a reſolution not to ſubmit
to their government till the laſt extremity. This
exceedingly perplexed Hengiſt; he plainly ſaw the
Britons would never ſubmit to him, except by force,
and he was fearful of uſing that, left the country
1hould be diſpeopled by it, and the lands lying waſte
and uncultivated, his new dominions would be of
little or no uſe to him. In this ſituation he reſolved
to fend into Germany, and invite ſome more of his
countrymen over; and offered, as an inducement, to
divide theſe provinces among them. He was convin-
ced the Saxons already with him in Britain, were not
inore than ſufficient to people Kent, and to ſupply
the forces he was obliged to keep up, to oppoſe the
Britons from time to time, and by thus ſettling the
Saxons in the country around him, which could not
otherwiſe be of any uſe to him, and muſt remain in
the hands of his inveterate enemies, it would be a
kind of barrier againſt them, and their cauſe being
mutual, the Saxons would always unite to oppoſe
the
SAXON KINGS.
63

the Britons ; by which means he would have no
cauſe to fear any attack they might make upon him,
and he ſhould further, by this means, the only one
in all probability which he could take, ſecure the
fucceffion of the kingdom of Kent to his poſterity.
Hengiſt's invitation was joyfully accepted of by
Ella, a Saxon general, of the poſterity of Woden,
who, with his three fons, Cyinen, Wlencing, and
Ciffa, and a large company of Saxons, embarked for
Britain. They landed in Suſſex, at a place, from
Ella's eldeſt fon, afterwards called Gymen's Shore,
not without great oppoſition from the Britons. The
Saxons, though they were tall, ſtrong, and vigorous,
met with a warm reception from the Britons, and af-
ter a long conteſt, at laſt gained poſſeſſion of the ſhore,
and drove the Britons as far as the foreſt of Andredf-
weald, now the weald or woody part of Suſſex
and Kent, to the place ſuppoſed to be now called
Wittering in Suſſex. After this retreat of the
Britons, the Saxons poſſeſſed themſelves of all the
ſea-coaſt of Suſſex, and continued to extend their
dominions more and inore towards the Thames,
though not without frequent battles with the na-
tives, which obliged them to ſend continually for
freſh ſupplies out of their own country; however,
in the end, they maintained their ground, and be-
ing poſſeſſed of the ſouthern ſhore, were called from
thence Suth, or South Saxons, and their country,
Suffex. Hengift, thus powerfully ſtrengthened by
the arrival of his countrymen, gave as many of
his Saxons, as deſired it, leave to return into Ger-
many, as the Britons were ſo much haraſſed by con-
tinual wars, in which they were for the moſt part
- worſted, particularly at Wippedsfleet in 465, and in
another battle in 473," that they were in no condition
to make head againſt him. They were indeed,
* Flor. Worceſt. p. 544. H. Hunt. lib. ii. Alford ad an. 465.
Ethelwerd, libi. Alford ad hunc an,
grieved
64
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

grieved to ſee the Saxons ſo firmly ſettled in Britain;
but their weakneſs prevented the moſt diftant hopes
of diſpofſeffing them. Hengiſt died about twelve
years
after the arrival of Ella, in the year 488, thirty-
nine years after his firſt landing in Britain, and thirty-
three years ſince his taking upon himſelf the title of
King of Kent. Though Hengiſt muſt have been
allowed by every one to have been a brave and gal-
lant ſoldier, yet his character was fullied by a con-
tinual ſcene of bloodſhed, and the moſt inhuman
cruelties, to which, and to his fraud and treachery,
he owed moſt of his ſucceſs; in particular, the murs
der of the Britiſh lords, mentioned above, will always
remain an indelible ſtain on his memory.
The wapen, or arms of Hengift, according to
Verſtegan, were a leaping white horſe, or hengit, in a
red field; ſimilar to which are the preſent arms of this
county, the only difference being the colour of the
field ; which, in the latter, is blue.
He was fucceeded in the kingdom of Kent by his
ſon Eſcus ; or, as ſome write him, Oiſc, who be-
gan his reign in the year 488, from whom the inha-
bitants of Kent were ſometimes called Elkins, and
Oiſcingians. He had likewiſe a ſon, named Audoa-
cer, who ſtaid behind in Germany; and a daughter,
Rowena, married, as is ſaid, to Vortigern, king of
Kent; all of whom were born before Hengift's firſt
landing in Britain ; at which time, indeed, Rowena
was marriageable, which ſhews he muſt have died
in a good old age.
gunel bom
II. ESCUS.-AnnO 488.de VOGT
WHEN his father died, Efcus was in the nor-
thern parts of Britain, where he had been ſent the
year before to affift againſt the Britons ; but as ſoon
Chron. Sax. ad an. 477. M. Weſtm. ibid. Flor. Worceſt. Ib.
as
bove

SAXON KINGS.
65
as he had notice of it, he haftened into Kent, to
take pofſeffion of the kingdom. As he had not the
valour or abilities of his father, he ſeems rather to
have defended than enlarged his kingdom, preferring
his eaſe to the fatigues of war. For the three firſt
years of his reign, there was a general truce between
the Saxons and Britons, at the end of which Ella,
having received a ſtrong reinforcement out of Ger-
many, went and beſieged the ancient ſtation of An-
derida, or Andredceafter, ſituated, as ſome think,
within the bounds of Kent, at Newenden; and
others, in the near neighbourhood of it, in Suſſex,
at Pevenſey or Haſtings. However this may be, the
Britons aſſembled in multitudes to raiſe the fiege,
and harraſſed the Saxons in ſuch a manner, that they
were forced to break up from before the town, and
by ſkirmiſhes with the Britons to drive them by battle
into the woods. Notwithſtanding which, they re-
turned again upon them, which obliged the Saxons
to divide their army into two parts, with one of
which they kept the Britons off, and, at the ſame
time, with the other they carried on the ſiege. At
length, after a vigorous defence, the city was taken
by ſtorm; but the Saxons were fo enraged at the
loſſes and fatigues it had occaſioned them, that they
put all the inhabitants to the ſword, burnt the city,
and raſed all the walls and places of defence to the
ground. Immediately after this, Ella aſſumed the
title of King of Suſſex, or the South Saxons, which
he durſt not do whilſt Hengiſt was alive. This was
the ſecond Saxon kingdom, and contained the pre-
ſent counties of Suſſex and Surry. Ella was alſo
elected chief or general, of the Saxons in Britain, in
the room of Hengift; for they, like the Britons, al-
ways choſe one of their princes, whom they inveſted
a Ethelward, an. 492. H. Hunt, lib. ii. Chron. Sax. ad an. 490.
Flor. Worceſt. p. 545. Matt. Weſtm. ad an. 492.
- VOL. I.
with
F
66
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

with the ſupreme power, to conduct their affairs du-
ring a war, who was accountable only to the ſtates,
and was a kind of monarch, or head, over the other
kings.
In the year 495, Cerdic, a noble Saxon general,
arrived in Britain with a large body of Saxons ;a he
was illuſtrious not only on account of his own con-
queſts, but for his deſcent, being ſprung from Wo-
den, the root of all the principal Saxon families ;
from him the kings of England, down to king Ed-
ward the Confeſſor, in the male line, were deſcended;
and in the female, down to his preſent Majeſty of
Great-Britain. He was alſo famous as founder of
a kingdom, to which all the reſt in the end became
ſubject ; and, conſequently, he muſt be eſteemed as
one of the firſt founders of the Engliſh monarchy.
This warlike prince, having acquired great reputation
in Germany, and finding no farther employment
there, reſolved, after the example of hie country-
men, to ſeek his fortune in Britain. Wherefore, em,
barking with his men in five ſhips, he landed at a
place called, from thence, Cerdic's Ora; but as his
encounters with the Britons were in the further parts
of Britain, it will not be within the compaſs of my
deſign to follow him thither. I ſhall, therefore, re-
turn to Efcus, king of Kent, of whom nothing re-
markable is related by our hiſtorians. He died, after
a reign of twenty-two years; in 512, leaving the king-
dom of Kent to his ſon Oeta, who became third
king thereof. is aswd
beton lub or
-910° bonicnog brus erakargutis tun? beras sot
ols Pow All HII. OCTA. ANNO 512. als carros es?
TWO years after king Octa's acceſſion to the
throne of Kent, Ella, king of Sufſex, died, and the
monarchy of the Saxons was conferred on Cerdic
a Ethelwerd, an. 495. Flor. Worceſt. p. 546. W. Malmſb. lib. i.
cap. 2. H. Hunt. lib. ii. Matt. Weſtm. ad an. 494.
I above-
SAXON KINGS.
67

above-mentioned, who, after many bloody battles,
gaining a ſignal victory over the Britons in the year
519, took poffefſion of the preſent counties of Hamp-
ſhire and Somerſetſhire, where he founded the king-
dom of Weſſex, or the Weſt Saxons, ſo called, be-
cauſe it lay weſt of Kent and Suſſex, this being the
third kingdom of the Saxons in Britain. From the
time Hengiſt had peopled Effex and Middleſex with
Saxons, thoſe provinces had been governed by a pre-
feet, or deputy, under the king of Kent; but in
the year 527, Erchenwin, a deſcendant of Woden,
who then held that poft under Oēta, taking advan-
tage of that king's weakneſs, engaged the people to
acknowledge him as king, which was the foundation
of the kingdom of the Eaſt Saxons, being the fourth
erected by that nation in Britain.
Octa, third king of Kent, after an inactive reign
of twenty-two years, died in the year 534 ; and was
ſucceeded by his fon Hermenric.
ci
IV. HERMENRIC. ANNO 554.
DURING whoſe reign, that is, in 547, Ida, a fa-
mous chief, an Angle by nation, and a deſcendant of
Woden, arrived in Britain with a number of his
countrymen. They landed at Flamborough, in York-
fhire, then in the poſſeſſion of the Northumbrian
Saxons, who received them as friends. The Nor-
thumbrians, ſo called from their inhabiting north of
the Humber, had maintained themſelves in that
country ever ſince the time of Hengiſt, and had been
always in ſome dependence on the kings of Kent; but
being ſo far from them, the diſtance prevented their re-
ceiving any aſſiſtance, or indeed having any intercourſe
with them, which made them tired of their ſubjec-
tion, and Ida found them ready to receive him, and
the numerous company of Angles that he brought
with him, and they acknowledged him as king of
Northumberland;
OF 2
68
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

Northumberland;a which was the foundation of the
fifth Saxon kingdom in Britain, which proved a very
powerful one, for it comprehended all Yorkſhire, Lan-
caſhire, Durham, Cumberland, Weſtmoreland, and
Northumberland, with part of Scotland, as far as
Edinburgh Frith. At this time, thoſe parts of the
country, which remained in the hands of the Britons,
were parcelled out into little independent ſtates, who
weakened each other by the difcord that reigned
among their reſpective princes., The Britiſh hiſto-
rians give ſuch a character of theſe petty ſovereigns,
that the nation in general could have but ſmall hopes
of aſſiſtance from any one, or all of them together.
They were remarkable for vice and tyranny, rapine
and violence; theſe fovereigns were divided among
themſelves, and as they had no confidence in each
other, they could never agree upon proper meaſures
to free themſelves from the impending calamities, ſo
that each purſuing his own ſeparate intereſt, the Sax-
ons, their common enemy, were left at liberty to
eſtabliſh themſelves upon their ruin.
As to Hermenric, king of Kent, we have nothing
left relating to him worth mentioning, excepting that
in the year 561, he admitted his ſon Ethelbert part-
ner with him in the kingdom, though the latter was
then but a youth. Hermenric died in 564, leaving
a daughter, named Rickell, who married Sledda, fe-
cond king of the Eaſt Saxons; and Ethelbert, his fon
and partner in the kingdom above-mentioned, who
ſucceeded to the entire poffeffion of it on his father's
death, and became one of the moſt celebrated mo-
narchs, not only of Kent, but of the whole heptarchy.*
TOON SOOVIOD
Obdur V. ETHELBERT. Anno 564.mort din
THOUGH Ethelbert, when he aſcended the
throne, was but young, yet he had a great and aſpi-
to.antan hoonloo ont pas non du
In 547. W. Malmfb. lib. i. cap. iii. Flor. Worceſt. p. 552.
RUODISTA
ring
TMI SAXON KINGS. A Sana
69

ring genius, and beheld, with regret, the loſs of that
ſuperiority which Hengiſt, as monarch, had over all
the Saxons ſettled in Britain. To regain this, he re-
folved to revive his pretenſions to this dignity by
force of arms, and for that purpoſe declared war
againſt Ceaulin, king of the Weſt Saxons, who then
poffefſed it. This occaſioned the firſt civil war among
the Saxons in Britain ſince their arrival in it. When
Ethelbert took this reſolution, he did not conſider
the diſproportion between his forces and thoſe of his
enemy, which he foon was but too ſenſible of; for Ce-
aulin, diſdaining to wait to be attacked by ſo young
a prince, and one of no reputation, marched to meet
Ethelbert, and meeting him at Wibbandune, now
Wimbledon, in Surry, entirely routed him, Olace
and Cnebba, two ſons of Ethelbert's chief comman-
ders, being lain; and being defeated again a ſecond
time, Ethelbert was forced to ſue for peace. His
vexation, at ſo unexpected a diſappointment, was in-
creaſed by the mockery he received from the other
princes, for his preſumption. Indeed, he had occa-
fion for this mortifying leſſon, to teach him, that
courage alone is not fufficient for ſucceſs, unleſs ac-
coinpanied with prudence and ſtrength. However,
he improved ſo much by it, that he afterwards be-
came one of the wiſeſt and moſt illuſtrious princes of
his nation. Not long after this, that is about the
year 575, began, as is ſuppoſed (for the year is not
mentioned in the Saxon Annals, or any other antient
hiſtory) the kingdom of the Eaſt Angles, compriſing
the counties we now call Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge-
ſhire, and the iſle of Ely, being the fixth Saxon
kingdom in Britain ; it was founded by Uffa, the
eighth from Woden, froin whom the ſucceeding
kings were called Uffingæ. The Saxons were now
become ſo numerous and powerful over the whole
country, that they began afreſh to haraſs the Britons,
and in a few years drove thein out from every part of
the


F 3
70
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

to be
the iſland, now known by the name of England.
During the time of the war between the two nations,
that is, in the year 585, the ſeventh kingdom of the
Saxons in Britain was foudned by Crida,“ of the race
of Woden, who had landed with a numerous body
of Angles, his countrymen, in a fleet the moſt con-
fiderable of any that had come from Germany. This
was called the kingdom of the Middle Saxons, and
afterwards the kingdom of Mercia. This, though
the laſt erected, was one of the largeſt of the Engliſh
Saxon kingdoms, and one of the laſt that was con-
quered by the Weſt Saxons. It comprehended ſeven-
teen counties; to wit-
Glouceſterſhire Northamptonſhire Staffordſhire
Herefordſhire Lincolnſhire
Shropſhire de w
Worceſterſhire Huntingdonſhire Nottinghamſhire
.
Warwickſhire Bedfordſhire De Derbyſhire
Leiceſterſhire Buckinghamſhire Cheſhire, and part
Rutlandſhire Oxfordſhire age of Hertfordſhire.
The Britons were now confined within very narrow
bounds; for having abandoned their ancient ſeats,
they took ſhelter amongſt the craggy- and moun-
tainous places in the weſt of the iſland, which the
Latins called Cambria; and the Engliſh, after the
German cuſtom, Wales, whither their mercileſs ene-
mies could not eaſily purſue them. This firſt civil
war among the Saxons was followed by many more,
cauſed by the reſtleſſneſs and ambition of their princes.
As ſoon as they were out of danger from the Britons,
they quarrelled among themſelves, with ſuch animo-
ſity, that if the Britons had had an able and coura-
geous monarch to have led them forward, they might
have recovered all they had loft,
BEBEDO
Ethelwerd, lib. i. W. Malmſb. lib. i. cap. i. Hen. Hunt. lib. ii.
and Matt. Weft. ad an. 568; Alford ad an. 575, 586; Matt. Weſt.
ad hunc an.
” Alford ad an. 568, 569; Hen. Hunt. lib. ii,
Ceualin,
TS

SAXON KINGS.
71

Ceaulin, king of the Weſt Saxons, was fo elated
with his ſucceſs againſt Ethelbert, that he looked
upon the neighbouring princes as his ſubjects and vaf-
fals; in all likelihood they would have foon been really
ſo, had not death ſnatched him away in the midſt of
his ambitious projects. After Ceaulin's death, Ethel-
bert was elected monarch of the Anglo-Saxons; and
though in the beginning of his reign his ill ſucceſs
had brought on him the ſcorn and contempt of the
neighbouring princes, inſomuch that he could ſcarce
defend his own territories, yet now being of riper
years and more experienced, he ſoon brought under
his ſubjection all the nations of the Anglo-Saxons,
except the Northumbrians, who alone found means
to keep themſelves independent. The reſt chofe ra-
ther to ſubmit than to contend with him. iro
Ethelbert, beſides his being formidable to his
neighbours for his perſonal accompliſhments, had,
moreover, the advantage of being allied to France.
by means of his marriage with Bertha, daughter of
Charibert, king of Paris; a circumſtance which pro-
cured him great reſpect from all of them. Though
the haughtineſs with which Ethelbert treated the reſt
of the princes, made them very uneaſy, yet they had
ſtill a much greater reaſon to be alarmed, when, on
the death of Crida, king of Mercia, he ſeized on
that kingdom, notwithſtanding the deceaſed king had
left a ſon of fit age to ſucceed him. In this he ex-
actly imitated Ceaulin, though he had himſelf ſtirred
up the other kings againſt that monarch, on account
of his ambition. Ethelbert, it ſeems, pretended that
he had a right, as monarch and deſcendant of Hen-
giſt, to ſucceed to all the vacant thrones in the hep-
tarchy. Alarmned at this, they began to take mea-
ſures to put a ſtop to fo open an uſurpation. But
• Saxon Chron. in 593. Bede, lib. i. cap. 25. W. Malmíb. lib. i.
cap. 1; Thorne, Col. 1759; Parker, Ecclef. Brit. p. 61.
Ethelbert,
F4
72
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

Ethelbert, dreading left they ſhould all join in a league
againſt him, and treat him in the ſame manner they
did Ceaulin, would not expoſe himſelf to the fame
danger. Therefore, to make them eaſy, he reſtored
the kingdom of Mercia to Wibba, the ſon of Crida,
reſerving, however, ſuch an authority over him, that
he durft not undertake any thing without his permiſ-
ſion. The Engliſh princes ſeemed fatisfied with this,
and laying aſide all thoughts of a war, turned their
thoughts to their own domeſtic concerns. Nothing
more remarkable happened during the reſt of Ethel-
bert's reign, except what relates to religion. It was
about the year 597, that king Ethelbert embraced
the Chriſtian faith, and was baptiſed by faint Auguf-
tine, the firſt archbiſhop of Canterbury, to which his
queen, Bertha, had prepared the way, which example
was followed by great numbers of his ſubjects; and
ſo great was the reſpect and eſteem which the king
entertained for Auguſtine, and the profeſſion which he
had embraced, that he gave him his royal palace at
Canterbury, as an habitation for himſelf and his dif-
ciples; and retiring to Reculver, about eight miles
diftant from thence, built another palače there, out
of the ruins of the old Roman buildings at that place.
In the year 604, king Ethelbert and his queen kept
their Chriſtmas at Canterbury, during which the king
endowed the monaſtery he had erected there, at the
requeſt of Auguſtine, with great revenues and iminu-
nities, and dedicated it to the apoſtles, faint Peter
and faint Paul. The laws which the king made with
the advice of his Wittenagemot, or Great Council, are
ſtill extant in the Saxon language, and are printed,
with thoſe of the reſt of the Saxon kings, in the edi-
tion of the Textus Roffenfis, in Dr. Hickes's Theſaurus,
in Archaionomia, and in biſhop Wilkins's Leges An-
glo Saxonicæ ; which as they are the moſt antient of
our Saxon laws, ſo they fhew the plainneſs and ſim
plicity of the times,
Hook
Ethelbert
MO SAXON KINGS.
73

1 Ethelbert had two wives: the firſt was Bertha, of
France, by whom he had Eadbald, his ſucceſſor, and
Ethelburga, married to Edwin, king of Northumber-
land. The name of his ſecond wife is unknown. He
died in 616, having reigned fifty-three years, and was
buried in the porch of ſaint Martin, within the church
of the abovementioned abbey, juſt by his royal con-
fort, queen Bertha, who died ſome years before.
VI. EADBALD. ANNO 616.
obrang
HE was ſucceeded by his ſon Eadbald, who be-
came the fixth king of Kent. A man very unlike
his father, for as ſoon as he became his own maſter,
he forſook the Chriſtian religion, and became again a
heathen, and is even faid to have married the queen,
his mother-in-law.a
His vices rendering him Nothful and inactive, all
the Engliſh kings caſt off the yoke they had worn
during the life of Ethelbert; and among the reſt, the
king of Mercia freed himſelf from the ſervitude Ethel-
bert had kept him in; and Eadbald had neither
courage nor power to maintain what the king his fa-
ther had, as he thought, ſo firmly eſtabliſhed. How-
ever, at laſt he was brought to a ſenſe of his errors,
and again embracing Chriſtianity, he ſpent the re-
mainder of his days in the practice of its precepts,
and dying in the year 640, was buried, near his fa-
ther, in the fame abbey, in a chapel there, which he
himſelf had built. By Emma, daughter of the king
of France, he left two ſons, Ermenfride and Ercom-
bert; and a daughter named Eanſwith, who became
a nun, and was foundreſs, under his patronage, of
the nunnery at Folkeſtone, in this county. His fif-
ter, Ethelburga, called Tate, who had been married
to Edwine, king of Northumberland, and baptiſed
by Paulinus, with great numbers of people in thoſe
a Bede, lib. ii. cap. v. Chron.'Sax. ad an. 616. Flor. Worceſt.
P. 556; Bede,lib. cap. 5; Chron Sax. ad an. 640.
parts,
OS
74
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

1
parts, upon her huſband's death; and a perſecution
thereupon ariſing againſt the Chriſtians, fled to Ead-
bald for protection, who received her and her chil-
dren, and gave her a portion of land at Liminge,
where ſhe founded a church, and was afterwards bu-
ried.
VII. ERCOMBERT.
ERCOMBERT, though the younger of king
Eadbald's ſons, found means to aſcend the throne in
prejudice of his elder brother, as ſome ſay, by the
appointment of his father. This prince was a zea-
lous Chriſtian, and ordered the heathen temples to
be razed to the ground, and the idols to be broken
in pieces, leſt they ſhould hereafter prove a ſnare to
the people. On his brother Ermenfride's being
ſeized with a diſtemper which brought him to the
grave, Ercombert promiſed to leave the crown, which
of right belonged to him, to his children, but he
was not ſo good as his word. Ermenfride left iſſue
by his wife Oſlava, two ſons, Ethelred and Ethelbrit;
and two daughters, Ermenburga and Ermengiva; the
former of whom, who was alſo called Domneva, had
iffue by her huſband Merwald, ſon of Penda, king of
Mercia; one ſon, Merefine; and three daughters,
Milburg, Mildred, and Milgith, who were all four
fainted.
Ercombert died in 664, and was buried in faint Au-
guſtine's monaſtery, being much eſteemed, as well
for his piety as love to his country. By Sexburga, the
daughter of Anna, king of the Eaſt Saxons, he had
two ſons, Egbert and Lothair ; and two daughters,
Ermenilda, wife of Wulpher, king of Mercia : and
Ermengotha, a nun.
p. 78.
Thorne, Col. 1906; Parker, Ecclef. Brit.
6 W. Malmſb. lib. i. cap. i. Thorne, Col. 1769; M. Weſtm.ad
an. 640.
· Flor. Worceſt. p. 558, 564; Thorne, Col. 1906; M. Weſtm.
ad an. 676.
VIII. EGBERT,
WE SAXON KINGS. TORTE
75
to guardon
VIII. EGBERT.
bre
EGBERT ſucceeded his father in the kingdom
of Kent, and became a great encourager of learning
and the liberal arts; which then, under the endea-
vours of archbiſhop Theodore, began to make their
appearance in England. He was a kind patron of
the miniſters of the goſpel, receiving and entertaining
them with much generoſity. But theſe actions were
much fullied by the murder of his two nephews,
Ethelred and Ethelbrit; whom, at the inſtigation of
one Thunor, a flattering ſycophant, he cauſed to be
put to death, left they ſhould diſturb him in the pof-
ſeſſion of the crown.
To expiate this guilt, accord-
ing to the cuſtom of thoſe times, he gave Domneva,
their ſiſter, a ſufficient quantity of land in the iſle of
Thanet to found a monaſtery on. He gave alſo to
one Baffa, in the year 669, the palace and lands of
Reculver, in Kent, (where, from the time of king
Ethelbert, had been the palace of the kings of Kent)
build another monaſtery there, as a farther atone-
ment for his crime. He died, according to the beſt
authorities, in the year 673, leaving two ſons, Edric
and Widred, who were both ſet aſide, to make way
for their uncle Lothair, who uſurped the throne on
his brother Egbert's death.
foon blive
IX. LOTHAIR.
LOTHAIR did not reign long unmoleſted;º his
firſt thoughts were employed in ſecuring the fuccef-
fion of the crown to his poſterity ; for which purpoſe
he made his ſon Richard, by his wife, daughter of
4 Bede, lib. iv. cap. 2; W. Malmſb. lib. i. cap. 1; and lib. ii.
cap. 13; H. Hunt. lib. iii. Thorne, Col. 1996; Chron. Sax. Flor.
Worceſt. p. 563.
Bede, lib. iv. cap. 12; H. Hunt. lib. ii. Chron. Abb. S. Pe-
tri de Burgo, an. 677. dislio Ilo poder
kab
Sigerus,

d
76
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

Sigerus, king of the Eaſt Saxons, and ſiſter to king Of-
fa,
partner with him in the government. This obliged
lis nephew, Edric, to withdraw from court, and ap-
ply to Adelwalch, king of Suſſex, for aſſiſtance, who
kindly received him, and ſupplied him with a confi-
derable force. This involved the country in a dread-
ful ſcene of war and bloodſhed. At length, after
feveral engagements, with various fucceſs, Lothair
was vanquiſhed, and died of the wounds he received
in battle; and was buried in faint Auguſtine's mo-
naſtery, near king Ercombert. yd bailit soum
modu 150 br bolorat
X. EDRIC. TORONT 900
AFTER this victory, Edric was crowned with-
out oppoſition, about the year 68ç. His ſhort reign
was a continued ſcene of warfare with his ſubjects, by
whom he was ſlain, within the ſpace of two years,
leaving the kingdom of Kent fo weakened and em-
broiled, that it became a prey to the ſeveral uſurpers
who attempted the conqueſt of it.
avluda
od 19 todlerta
his or XI. WIDRED AND SWABERT.
HE was ſucceeded by his brother Wired, but as
he had not the general approbation of the people, he
was obliged to admit one Swabert as partner in the
kingdom. Soon after which Cedwalla, king of the
Weit Saxons, imagining the inteſtine diviſions of
Kent would render the kingdom an eaſy conqueſt, ſent
an army into it, under the command of his brother
Mollo, who over-ran and waſted great part of the
country, carrying off great quantities of ſpoil. This
fouſed in the Kentiſhmen their wonted courage, and
uniting together in a conſiderable body, they put
Mollo and his troops to flight. This prince, per-
ceiving he was cloſely purſued, took ſhelter, with
twelve others, in a houſe, which they valiantly de-
fended for ſome time; but the Kentiſh ſoldiers ſetting
fire to it, they all miſerably periſhed in the flames.
stiftepla
Cedwalla,
13
MIZ SAXON KINGS.
Cedwalla, irritated at the fate of his brother, whom
he tenderly loved, reſolved to revenge his death. For
which purpoſe he entered Kent with a formidable ar-
my, and never quitted it till he had waſted the whole
country with fire and ſword, which reduced it to fuch
a ſtate, that this kingdom never afterwards made any
great figure in the heptarchy.ul TICHTI
The two kings, Widred and Swabert, enjoyed no
repoſe till the year 691; when, having got rid of
fome other petty princes, who pretended a right to
part of their territories, they divided the government
between them, and the country was again reduced to
a ſtate of peace and quietneſs within itfelf. Cedwalla
was not content with the revenge he had taken, on
account of his brother's death, he ſtrongly recom-
mended the purſuit of it to his fucceffor, Ina; who,
in 694, made great preparations to invade this king-
dom, and having actually marched hither, put the
whole country in a conſternation. The Kentiſhmen,
after having tried every means to perſuade him to re-
linquilh ſo cruel a defign, found money the only pre-
vailing argument'; on which they offered him thirty
thouſand marks of gold, which he accepted, and im-
mediately returned home. Soon after this, Swabert
dying, Widred reigned alone in Kent, and continued
in peace to the time of his death, which happened in
the year 725. This prince was a great patron of the
church, and favourer of the clergy. He called the
famous council of Becancelde, in 694, wherein he
confirmed ſeveral immunities and privileges to them.
He was buried near the body of faint Auguſtine, in
the ſouth part of the porch of our Lady's chapel,
built by king Eadbald. He had been twice married ;
his firſt wife's name being Werburga, and the other
TEPA di 10 einq porio ar to nolitcquan
Bede, lib. iv. cap. 26; Flor. Worceſt. p. 566; W. Malmíb.
lib. i. cap. 1; Thorne, Col. 1770; Chron. Sax. ad an. 687; H.
Hunt. lib. iv. Bromton, Col. 742, 758. chod 2811 di
bibert,

a
78
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

Kynygytha ; and he left three fons, Ethelbert, Ead-
bert, and Aldric; though the Saxon Chronicle names
them Eadbert, Ethelbert, and Edmund, and ſays,
they ſucceeded in turn to the crown. Tevens beste
and downtos
XII. ETHELBERT.
ETHELBERT fucceeded his father Widred in
the year 725, taking, according to ſome writers, his
two brothers, Eadbert and Aldric, as partners with
him in the government. But as this kingdom now
made no great figure, hiſtorians have made little or
no mention of it, or of the ſeveral princes who
reigned over it. In the year 748 Eadbert died ;
after whoſe death Ethelbert aſſociated with him Ar-
dulph, his ſon, as partner in the government; and
fome letters are ſtill extant, which theſe princes wrote
to Boniface, archbiſhop of Metz. It appears alſo,
from the evidences of Chriſt church, Canterbury, in
the Decem Scriptores, that this Ardulphus gave ſome
land at Berghamſted, in this county, to Eadbert, ab-
bot of Reculver. King Ethelbert died in the year
760, having ſurvived his brother Eadbert about twelve
years. He was buried, as ſome write, at Reculver ;
but according to others, with his predeceſſors in ſaint
Auguſtine's monaſtery, in Canterbury.
About this tiine there was one Sigeward, king of
a part of Kent, if any credit is to be given to one of
his grants, extant in the Textus Roffenſis, in which
he ſtiles himſelf, Rex dimidiæ partis provinciæ Cantu-
ariorum. It ſeems highly probable, that this king-
dom had, for ſome time before this, been ſubdivided
into ſeveral governments, and this might be one rea-
fon that no mention is made of them in our hiſto-
ries, as being too inconſiderable to be noticed, in
compariſon of the other princes of the heptarchy.
dobro
2 Bede, lib. v. cap. 24; Flor. Worceſt. p. 572; Spelm. Couns
cils, lib. i. f. 189; Bede; Flor. Worceſt. H. Hunt. Ib. Chr. Ab.
[ci Petri de Burgo.
XIII, ALDRIC.
TA SAXON KINGS.ASVU
79
Longoraivarl buster de toda argist aid tinged
ayri 208 1.9 od XIII. ALDRIC. is duoda tuzido
om
ARDULPH died before his father, king Ethel-
bert, ſo that Aldric, the third, and only ſurviving
ſon of Widred, ſucceeded to the crown. This prince
was frequently attacked by his neighbours, who, per-
ceiving the weak ſtate of the kingdom, thought it a
fair opportunity to ſubdue it. Of theſe Offa, king of
Mercia, was one of the moſt forward. In the year
774, Offa invaded Kent, and fought a famous battle
with Aldric, at Otford in this county, where the for-
mer gained the victory, after a great flaughter on both
ſides. This ſunk the affairs of Aldric exceeding
low, and had not Offa been diverted from purſuing
the fruits of his ſucceſs, by the invaſion of his own
kingdom by the Welſh, he would then, in all likeli-
hood, have united Kent to Mercia. Aldric had aſſo-
ciated his ſon Alcmund as partner with him on the
throne ; but this prince died before his father, and
neither leaving any heirs, with them ended the right
line of the Saxon kings of Kent, of the race of
Hengiſt.
XIV. EADBERT-PREN.
AFTER the death of Aldric, Eadbert, or Edil-
bert, furnamed Pren, took poſſeſſion of the throne,
but Cenulph, king of Mercia, did not fuffer him to
enjoy it long in peace; for taking advantage of the
weak ſtate the kingdom was in, he ravaged it from
one end to the other. At laſt, having defeated Ead-
bert, he carried him into Mercia, where he ordered
his eyes to be put out, and his hands to be cut off.
XV. CUDRED.
AFTER this, Cenulph placed one Cudred on the
throne, who was in abſolute dependence on him. He
bera Gentilor
a Chron. Sax. Flor Worceſt. p. 573; Alf. Ann. Text. Roff.
P. 745 W. Malmth. lib. i. cap. 1. H. Hunt. lib. iv.
began

Det XV. CUDRED.

80
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
эрдia
began his reign about the year 797, and having reigned
obſcurely about eight years, died in the year 805. Five
of his coins in ſilver, are deſcribed in Hickes's Differ-
10
tations and Epiſtles, p. 168, pl. iv.
JULIA to
W XVI. BALDRED. I borbi to mo?
BALDRED ſucceeded Cudred in the kingdom of
Kent, and after a reign of eighteen years, in which
time nothing memorable is recorded of him, was dri-
ven out of his kingdom by the victorious Egbert, king
of the Weſt Saxons, and the firſt ſole monarch of that
nation in Britain; who, ſending Ethelwulf his ſon, Bi-
ſhop Ealſtan, and his præfect, Wulfeard, with a great
army, reduced this kingdom to his obedience, and
drove Baldred acroſs the Thames into the northern
parts ; on which the South and Eaſt Saxons, and the
people of Surry likewiſe ſubmitted themſelves to his
government, and owned his fovereignty. And thus,
in the year 823,` ended the kingdom of Kent, pro-
perly ſo called, whilſt it had a diſtinct king of its own,
after having continued in that ſtate about 368 years.
Egbert, who began his reign over the Weſt Saxons
in the year 800, did not finiſh his conqueſts till 827, or
828, from which time his title of king of England is
to be dated, as well as the diſſolution of the Saxon hep-
tarchy. Notwithſtanding which, this prince was only
in actual poffeffion of the antient kingdoms of Weſſex.
Suſſex, Kent, and Effex, peopled by the Saxons. As
for the other three kingdons, whoſe inhabitants were
Angles, he was contented with reſerving to himſelf the
foverignty over them, permitting them to be governed
by kings who were his vaffals and tributaries, and for
feveral fucceffions held their former uſual titles.
ora Ethelwerd, lib. iii. c. 1,2. $. Dunelm, Col. 1; Flor. Worc.
ibid. W. Malmfb. lib. i. cap. 1. Matt. Weſtm. Alford's Ann. In-
gulphus, Brady, p. 111.
FIA29930 W 101
Saulo
DE AMSCARCE
shad

TH
THE DANES. A TIMU
81
bamugar nod bent
*** -|----
**** Jalgisa bas belli
SCARCE was the kingdom of Kent free from the
miſeries of civil war and inteſtine ſquabbles, and the
conſequence of them, before a new ſource of evil
broke out, which ceaſed not till it had overwhelmed
the whole nation. This was the invaſion of the Danes,
an antient and numerous people, whom the Saxon
Chronicle makes the ſame with the NORTHMANNI, or
Normans, and Crantzius ſays, from the earlieſt times,
were mortal enemies to the Saxons. Theſe ſeem to
have come from the Scandia of Ptolemy, and thence
to have flocked into the Cimbrica Cherſoneſus, where
they overpowered the Angles that remained in it. de
There is no mention made of the Danes before the
time of the emperor Juſtinian, about the year 570, but
then they began to invade France. The Latin writers
of the hiſtory of England give them the name of
Wiccingi, from the Saxon WICCINGI, a pirate ; for
piracy was their firſt and chief employment; they
likewiſe termed them Pagani, or Pagans, becauſe at
that time they were not converted to the thriſtian re-
ligion. Though the Danes had, for ſome years be-
fore the acceſſion of Egbert to the Engliſh monarchy,
haraſſed the coaſts of Britain, their firſt landing be-
ing, according to Chron. Sax. and Flor. Worc. in 787,
when they landed with three ſhips in the Weſt of
England, being the firſt that ever had been ſeen here
of that nation, yet the county of Kent remained free
from their piracies till the year 832, when they invaded
it with a numerous Aeet, landing in the iſle of She-
pey, where they met with no oppofition, for Egbert
having reigned more than ſeven years in the peace-
able poffeffion of his conqueſts, had diſbanded his
army. As the Danes had no deſign to make con-
queſts, they contented themſelves with plundering the
0 Camden, p. ccv. Chorographica Daniæ Deſcriptio, by J.
Iſaac Pontanus, p. 639. See Mod. Univ. Hift. vol. xxxii. p. 2.
Chron. Sax. an. 832. Camd. ccvi.
2010
P.
VOL. 1.
iſland
82
yo
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

iſland and neighbouring country, and then returned
again to their ſhips. From this time they continually
made defcents in different parts of England, making
havoc of every thing, plundering and deſtroying the
cities, burning the churches, and waſting the lands,
with a moſt barbarous cruelty. After which they
murdered the kings of the Mercians and Eaſt Angles,
and then took poſſeſſion of their kingdoms, with great
part of that of Northumberland. Ant bancario
o Under Egbert's ſucceſſors, Kent now become part
of the kingdom of England, remained without any
material alterations, eſpecially after the ſeveral dif-
tributions of it were finally ſettled under king Alfred
the Great. From its ſituation it was more particularly
expoſed to the piracies and depredations of the Danes,
and came ſucceſſively under the power and govern-
ment of four of their kings, namely, Sweyn, Edmund
Ironſide, Canute, and Hardicanute. From the time
of Egbert, even to the Norman conqueſt, this coun-
try was miferably harraffed by then; particularly, in
the year 838 they landed in Lincolnſhire, Eaſt Anglia,
and Kent, with an army, killing abundance of people
in each, and extending their ravages as far as Canter-
bury, Rocheſter, and even London itſelf, and having
plundered thoſe cities, and committed unheard-of cru-
elties in them, they returned to their ſhips. In 851
they landed in Effex, and being beaten, from thence,
retired to the iſle of Thanet, where they wintered.
But king Ethelftan giving them battle at Sandwich,
both by ſea and land, defeated their army, and took
nine of their ſhips. Notwithſtanding which, the next
ſpring they came into the mouth of the Thames with
three hundred and fifty fhips, and landing in Kent,
took and pillaged Lundenburg and Canterbury. After
which they marched into Mercia, and overthrew the
1 Chron. Sax. Ethelwerd, lib. iii. cap. 2. Flor. Worceſt. p. 580.
Camd. p. ccvi. In MS
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TV9 buie 8.013 „112
forces
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TV THE DANES. RED

next
forces that were ſent to oppoſe them, and, in all
likelihood, they would have over-run all England,
had not the news of king Ethelwulf and Athelſtan's
intention of intercepting them obliged them to re-
turn and repaſs the Thames, with a deſign to en-
counter the two kings, who were encamped at Okley
in Surry. Here a bloody battle was fought, wherein
the Engliſh made fo terrible a Naughter of the Danes,
that very few eſcaped. This ill ſucceſs did not in the
leaſt diſcourage theſe indefatigable thieves, for in the
year, 853, they invaded the iſle of Thanet, with
a conſiderable force, and being attacked by earl Al-
cher, or Ealhere, with the Kentiſhmen, and earl Huda
with thoſe of Surry, an obftinate battle was fought,
in which the Engliſh at firſt got ſome advantage. Great
numbers were killed and drowned on both ſides, and
the
two Engliſh generals at length loſt their lives. 19
The next year the Danes wintered in the ine of
Shepey, and king Ethelwulf, in hopes of obtaining
the divine aſſiſtance againſt theſe dreadful enemies,
granted to the church the tythes, or tenth part of the
land throughout his dominions, diſcharging it from all
taxes and tribute. After this Kent remained unmo-
leſted by them for ſome years; but in the autumn of
the year 865, in the reign of king Ethelbert, grando
fon of Egbert, they landed again in the iſle of
Thanet, where they wintered, in order to begin their
incurſions in the ſpring. The Kentiſhmen, who
dreaded nothing more than their cruelty and oppreſſion,
thought to divert this ſtorm by offering them a large
fum of money to go off quietly, which as ſoon as
theſe treacherous robbers had received, they ruſhed
into Kent and deſtroyed all the eaſtern parts of it
with fire and ſword. King Ethelbert, though he was
not then in a condition to be revenged of them,
learned, however, by this treachery, that nothing but
force could free the country from them. He there-
fore immediately made preparations for levying an
army,
84
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

army, to intercept them in their retreat, and prevent
them from carrying off their booty. This alarm ter-
rified them ſo much, that they embarked haſtily with
their plunder, before the king was in readineſs to uſe
any poſſible means to prevent them. During the
reign of king Ethelred, the younger brother and fuc-
ceſſor of Ethelbert, the Danes carried on a continued
war in this kingdom, and notwithſtanding the great
bravery of king Ethelred, who in one year fought nine
pitched battles with them, yet by the numerous fuc-
cours they received from their own country, and thę
diffentions among the Engliſh, they found means to
extend their conqueſts more and more every year, and
on the death of that monarch, in 871, they were be-
come maſters of Mercia, Eaſt Anglia, and Northum-
berland, with which, however, they were not con-
tented, and could not forbear looking upon the re-
maining four kingdoms with a greedy eye.
Alfred, afterwards, for his noble and virtuous ac-
tions, ſurnamed the Great, ſucceeded his brother
Ethelred in the throne of England, at a time when
the Danes were preſſing forward with all their forces
to gain poſſeſſion of the remaining parts of his king-
dom, and they purſued the war with ſuch ſucceſs, that
the king being abandoned by his troops, was forced
to lie hid in a cottage in the iſle of Athelney, in
Somerſetſhire, till ſome lucky and unexpected turn
in his affairs might put him in a condition to re-
cover his dominions. His good fortune foon brought
this to paſs, and placed him at the head of an army
fufficient to give the Danes battle, over whom he
gained a complete victory, and by it arrived at the
height of his wiſhes; his enemies were driven out
and he recovered his kingdom ; his ſubjects, whom fear
had diſperſed or conſtrained to ſubmit to the Danes,
continually flocking to him. The few Danes that ef-
caped the carnage of this battle betook themſelves to
a caſtle, where they were immediately beſieged. Al-
fred,
THE DANES. LA SIMO
85

fred, taking advantage of their conſternation, purſued
it ſo briſkly that they ſoon capitulated, and he generouſ-
ly granted them ſuch terms as they had no hopes to
expect; for he gave up the lands of Eaſt Anglia to
ſuch of them as were willing to turn Chriſtians, and
required the reſt immediately to quit the iſland, and
never more to ſet foot in it again; and at the ſame
time, he inveſted the Daniſh general, Guthurm, with
the title of king of Eaſt Anglia, in which Alfred did
nothing more than confirm to them the poffeffion of
that kingdom, where they were already very power-
ful, by granting them a governor of their own nation,
who was to be his vaſſal.
There were in England at this time two ſorts of
Danes ; thoſe that were already ſettled, and thoſe who
were endeavouring to procure themſelves habitations ;
with theſe laſt it was that Alfred principally treated.
As for the others, reflecting on what had happened to
their brethren, they moſt of them, thought themſelves
happy in the enjoyment of their poſſeſſions, and choſe
rather to ſit down contented and acknowledge Alfred
for their ſovereign, than to run the riſk of loſing their
all by continuing the war. Accordingly the Danes,
ſettled in the three kingdoms of the Angles, ſubmitted,
and ſwore allegiance to him. But as many of them
were inwardly much diſſatisfied with the terms of this
treaty, and had accepted of them through neceſſity,
and with the deſign of returning to their old courſe of
life, the firſt favorable opportunity that offered, it
was not long before the moſt conſiderable among them,
headed by one Haſtings, earneſtly ſolicited Guthurm
to renew the war, and on his refuſal they put to ſea,
and went and ravaged the coaſts of Flanders, and
Shortly after another no leſs numerous troop of them,
minden
mitra Chron. Sax. Ethelwerd. Flor. Worſt. p. 582. Aſſer. an. et. de
vit. Alf. Sim. Dunelm. Col. 139. Ingulph. p. 17. W. Malmſb.
lib, ii. cap. 3. Rog. Hovenden, p. 417.
CONSV
G3
induced
86
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

induced by the report of their plunder, ſhipped them-
ſelves off to join them. Theſe two bands, thus united,
over-run that whole country, and committed unheard-of
cruelties. After which they agreed tò fail back to
England, in hopes of plundering the country, where
they imagined they ſhould come unexpected. For this
purpofe, they ſeparated their numerous fleet into two
diviſions, one of which went towards the eaſt, and the
other, at the ſame time, failed up the River Medway
to Rocheſter, in hopes of ſurpriſing that city; but fail-
ing in this deſign, they ftraitly beſieged it, caſting up
a mount, in order to over-top the walls and deſtroy the
works. But the citizens made a brave defence againſt
them, till ſuch time as king Alfred, who, contrary to
their expectation; had his army in readineſs, and on the
firft notice of the arrival of the Danes, was marching
towards them, came to the relief of the city ;-on whoſe
approach they inſtantly fled to their ſhips, leaving their
plunder behind them ; they then returned to France,
and after ſome time rejoined their companions, and
continued their devaſtations in that country. Alfred,
fenfible that a powerful feet was the beſt ſecurity to
protect the coaſts from the continual invaſions and plun-
der of the Danes, took the opportunity of the peace
he then enjoyed to equip a conſiderable one, which
putting to ſea, had orders to cruiſe along the coaſts,
and to deſtroy theſe rovers wherever they could be met
with. Having thus ſecured the fea-coaſts, Alfred di-
ligently fortified the reſt of the kingdom with caſtles
and walled towns, which he ſtood in great need of;
thefe ferved equally to defend it againſt the foreign
Danes, and to keep thoſe in awe that were ſettled in
the iſland, who ſeeing ſuch wife precautions taken by
the king, were the more diſpoſed to continue in a quiet
fubmiffion to him.
bleThe happy calm of peace that fucceeded theſe trou-
,
by freſh invaſions; for the Danes, who in the mean
bsoubor
time,
THE DANES. LA HIS
87
time, under the conduct of Haſtings, had been ravag-
ing France and the Low Countries, and, according to
the cuſtom of pirates, had prodigally ſquandered away
the fruits of their robberies, being diſtreffed for ſub,
fiſtance turned their thoughts towards England, and
reſolved to return and plunder the iſland. For this
purpoſe, in the year 893, they fitted out a great num-
ber of ſhips, which they divided into two fleets ; with
one of theſe, conſiſting of two hundred and fifty fail, they
came into the mouth of the river Limene, or Rother, in
this county, and going up about four miles from the
mouth of the haven, they attacked and took a ſmall fort,
ſituated in the marſhes, which had not been quite finiſh-
ed, and was but ill defended. From whence failing up as
high as Appledore, they intrenched themſelves there,
and built a ſtrong fort for their defence. The other divi-
fion,
which was under the command of Haſtings, entered
the Thames mouth, and landed at Middleton (Milton)
near Sittingbourn, in this county. Here the Danes built
a caſtle, the ſcite of which, now called the Caſtle-ruff,
is ſtill viſible at Kemſley-downs, about a quarter of a
mile north-eaſt beyond the church there, and on the
other ſide of the creek from Kemſley-downs are the
remains of ſome ſtone work and ditches, being part
of the fortifications made by Alfred againſt the Danes ;
the place is now called Baford-caſtle, and is in the
pariſh of Sittingbourn, but at what time they were
made is uncertain; after which they ravaged and plun-
dered the adjoining country in a mercileſs manner.--
King Alfred, who was at this time in Eaſt Anglia, on
receiving intelligence of theſe invaſions, thought it pru-
dent to take a new oath of fidelity from the Eaſt An-
glian Danes, who, however, when they were no longer
reſtrained by his preſence, went and joined Haſti
and their countrymen, in order to partake of the plun-
der. The king, having drawn together what forces
he could, marched towards Kent; but being informed
that another body of Danes had entered Weſſex, he


.
G4
was
88
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

was obliged to alter his courſe, and advance towards
them as the moſt dangerous enemy. He ſoon found
theſe pirates a many-headed monſter, which it would
be almoſt impoſſible for him to ſubdue ; for there were
ſeveral bands of them, ravaging England, and roving
about in diſtant parts of it at the ſame time, and
whenever any of them received intelligence of his be-
ing near them, that party haſtily withdrew and vented
their fury in ſome other place; therefore, after having
haraſſed his army for ſome time in fruitleſs endeavours
to come up with them, he was forced to content him-
ſelf with encamping in a place where he could prevent
their joining from all parts in one grand body. England
was now reduced by theſe cruel enemies, who ſpread
deſolution over the whole face of it, to the moſt deplor-
able extremity, when it was at once freed from them, by
what in this caſe may be called a fortunate event :
this was the plague, which then began to rage, and ſwept
off great numbers of Danes as well as Engliſh. This
dreadful diſtemper drove them over again into France,
in 894, though not till they had plundered the country
in ſuch a manner, that there was little left for them to
pillage. To keep theſe enemies from the coaſts for
the future, king Alfred had invented a ſort of galley,
by which he afterwards deſtroyed great numbers as
they attempted to land; ſoon after which the Danes
that were ſettled here ſubmitted to him, and acknow-
ledged him for ſovereign of all England.
i absen
King Alfred enjoyed this tranquility but a few years,
for he died in the year 901, leaving behind him the
character of a juſt, learned, and religious prince, a
lover of his people, and an indefatigable promoter of
their welfare and the good of his country. To him
we owe at this time the principal part of our preſent
excellent conſtitution of Engliſh government. The
togos
by a Aſſer. et de vit, Alf. W. Malmſb. lib. ü. cap. iv. Sim. Du-
nelm, Col. 129, and Bromton, Col. 112. Chron. Şax. H. Hunt,
25030
lib. v.
death
TL THE DANES. YA SILVA
89

death of Alfred brought on freſh troubles to this coun-
try; for his fon Edward, ſurnamed the Elder, having
fucceeded him, Ethelward, eldeſt ſon of Ethelbert,
king Alfred's elder brother, reſolved to diſpute the
crown with him. To accompliſh this purpoſe, he
took refuge with the Danes, who were already up in
arms, and eſpouſing his cauſe, proclaimed him king of
England, pretending, as they were in poſſeſſion of one
half of the kingdom, they had as much right to make
a king as the Weſt Saxons. This brought on a civil
war, in which Ethelward was aſſiſted by the Danes in
general, and by a large body of Normans which he
had obtained from France. În the year 902, a battle
was fought between the Kentiſhmen and the Danes,
at a place called Holme, or Holmewood, in Suſſex, in
which the latter were worſted. But three years after
this the Kentiſhmen, who compofed part of king Ed-
ward's army, in their return from purſuing the Danes,
happening to ſtay too far behind, were ſurrounded by
their enemies, whereupon an obſtinate and bloody en-
gagement enſued, in which ſeveral were killed on both
fides; on one ſide Ethelward himſelf was ſain; and
on the other, duke Sigulf
, earl Sigelm, and many other
noblemen; but in the end the Danes remained maſters
of the field of battle. Soon after this the Danes ſued
for peace; king Edward was acknowledged by them
as their ſovereign, and the Danes returned home.
This peace could not hold long between the two na-
tions, fo exaſperated againſt each other ; accordingly,
after three years the war was renewed between them.
In the interim of which, king Edward had provided a
hundred ſail of ſhips on the Kentiſh coaſt, and was him-
felf there to ſee them fitted out. In the ſubſequent
wars with king Edward, the Danes were continually
worſted; and the king ſo well improved every advan-
tage he gained over them, that ſome time before his
death, he had compelled them once more to ſubmit
and acknowledge him for their ſovereign. Notwith-
ftanding
90
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

ſtanding which, thoſe Danes ſettled in England gave the
fucceeding monarchs of it frequent troubles, making
the kingdom for ſome time a diſmal ſcene of war and
bloodſhed; yet each reign reduced them more and
more to a ſtate of ſubjection to the Weſt Saxon mo-
narchs; and when Ethelred the Second ſucceeded to
the crown in 978;* England had enjoyed a domeſtic
tranquility for ſome years; the precautions and good
management of his predeceſſors had fecured the country
from foreign invaſions, and had he followed their ſteps,
he might, in all probability, have enjoyed a happy and
peaceful reign; but his natural cowardice, joined to
a ſluggiſh diſpoſition, an inſatiable avarice, and other
failings, foon convinced his enemies they had nothing
to fear from him: accordingly, it was not long before
he found himſelf attacked by the old inveterate ene-
mies of his country, the foreign Danes. For ſixty
years paſt theſe pirates had, in appearance, laid aſide
all thoughts of England; cand the Engliſh, on their
fide, had loſt all remembrance of the calamities they
had ſuffered from the hands of thoſe cruel enemies,
Though many of the Engliſh Danes, during this pe-
riod, feemed to have contracted the fame, affection for
this their adopted country as the natives themſelves;
yet; no ſooner did their foreign countrymen appear;
but, reſuming their old behaviour, they joined them,
in hopes of improving the preſent opportunity of free-
ing themſelves from the dominion of the Engliſh, I To
defcribe at length every tranſaction which happened
between the two nations after this, would be inconſiſt-
- ent with the deſign of this hiſtory. I ſhall, therefore,
confine myſelf chiefly to the recital of thoſe matters
which more particularly relate to this county.1. In the
year 980, the foreign Danes made their firſt attempt
nevhs Vivo bovatouillow of anial onli bas bahaw
ant Chron. Sax. Affer. in vit. Alfo. Flor. Worceſt. p. 5959 $.
Dunelm..Col. 151; Hen. Hunt. lib. v. cap. 4. Ethelwerd, lib. iv
cap. 2. Bromton, Col. 831 et ſeq. M. Weſtm. R. Hoveden, p.
421 et ſeq.
on
THE DANES. SED
91

one, ,
on Southampton, where they arrived with ſeven ſhips;
and after plundering the town, and the adjacent coun-
try, they failed to the iſle of Thanet, and waſted the
whole iſand; whilſt others of them landed in other
parts of England, and committed the like outrages
wherever they came. Theſe frequent deſcents in dif-
ferent parts diſtreſſed the Engliſh exceedingly, they
knew not where to aſſemble or expect the enemy; if
at any time they could come up with them, and gained
the advantage, they only recovered the plunders but
if they were worſted, the country was aſſuredly exa
poſed to all imaginable cruelties, before another force
could be drawn together. In 991, a time when al:
moſt all parts of this realm felt the fury of the Danes,
the pariſh of Stone, in this county, was entirely fpoiled
and burnt by them; and the next year a band of them,
having landed and plundered ſeveral parts of Kent;
Eſſex, and Suffolk, penetrated ſtill farther into the
country, king Ethelred being without an army, and
unable to ſtop their progreſs, when Siricius, archbiſhop
of Canterbury, and other nobles, perſuaded him to give
them ten thouſand pounds (a large ſum of money at
that time) to quit the kingdom. This advice proved
afterwards fatal to England. The preſent given to
theſe robbers ſerved only to allure others, who, no leſs
greedy of money, thought they had an equal right to
make the ſame advantage of the weakneſs of the Eng-
liſh. It even tempted Sweyn, king of Denmark, and
Olaus, king of Norway, to fit out a numerous fleet,
in hopes of ſharing the ſame good fucceſs. Theſe
princes, in the year 993, came to Sandwich, with a
fleet of ninety-three ſhips, and having plundered it,
and the coaſt of Kent, returned with their booty. The
next year they entered the Thames, and having in vain
attempted to become maſters of London, they ravaged
the coaſts of Kent; Hampſhire, Eflex, and Suſilex,
threatening to lay waſte the whole kingdom, unleſs they
had a ſum of
red,


92
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

1
red, who had no more conduct than courage, not
knowing how to put a ſtop to theſe plunderers, bound
himſelf by treaty to pay them no leſs a ſum than fix-
teen thouſand pounds, within a limited time; whereup-
on the two foreign kings cauſed all hoſtilities to ceale,
and retired to Southampton, where they wintered.
King Sweyn did not long remain quiet; for, under pre-
tence of the ſtipulated fum not being paid within the
time agreed on, he renewed the war again, and de-
ſtroyed the weſtern parts of England with great cru-
elty. At laſt, finding nothing more to plunder there,
he put to ſea again; and in the year 998, failing up the
river Medway, landed at Rocheſter; the inhabitants,
by endeavouring to reſiſt him, encreaſed his fury, and
being overpowered, were treated with the utmoſt bar-
barity. After which the Danes again pillaged the
weſtern parts of the county.
King Ethelred, in the mean time, equipped a fleet,
in hopes of meeting with them at fea; but this was
rendered uſeleſs, through the diffenfions and unſkilful-
nefs of the commanders, and the fleet did not appear
till the Danes were departed home; whence, however,
they foon returned with double fury, and ſpread ſuch a
fcene of miſery over the whole kingdom, as it had
hardly ever felt before ; their plunders, murders, fires,
and devaſtations being univerſal over the whole face
of it. The king himſelf was ſeized with ſuch a terror,
that he durft not venture in perfon againſt them; and
the Engliſh Danes not only refuſed to fight againſt their
countrymen, but joined with theſe pirates to deſtroy
the country. In this extremity, Ethelred, irreſolute
and timorous, and far from imitating the firmneſs of
his anceſtors, who were never daunted by misfortunes,
with the advice of his council, yielded to pay the Danes
Hopsat voda obroto arette
Osigned
a W. Malmſb. lib. ii. cap. 10; Flor. Worceſt. p. 608; S. Du-
nelm. Col. 161; Bromton, Col. 877; R. Hoveden, p. 427; and
M. Weſtm. an. 980; Chron. Sax. Hen. Hunt. lib. v. R. Hove-
.
p. 428
a large
THE DANES. 12
93
a large fum of money, as the only means of preventing
the continuance of theſe miſeries in which the nation
was involved. The ſum ftipulated was twenty-four
thouſand pounds (a very conſiderable one in thoſe days)
which was levied by a tax, called Danegeld, being
twelve pence on every hide of land throughout Eng-
land. A tax which was ſeverely burthenfome to the
nation, even after the Danes had quitted England, and
was ſo fatal a precedent to the ſucceeding monarchs,
that it may be ſaid to be felt by the Engliſh even at
this time. The Danes, ſatisfied with this, ceaſed their
ravages, and moſt of them returned home. Many,
however, ſtaid behind, and lived among the Engliſh;
who, diſpirited by their paſt calamities, were fearful of
giving the leaſt umbrage, which might cauſe a renewal
of the war, which made them exceedingly inſolent.
They abounded in wealth and eaſe, whilſt the miſerable
Engliſh were forced to labour and toil inceſſantly, to
ſatisfy the avarice of their new maſters. The burthen
of this yoke was ſo inſupportable to the whole king-
dom, that it inſpired the king with the fatal reſolution
of deſtroying the Danes by a general maſſacre. To exe-
cute this project, orders were ſent fo privately through-
out the kingdom, that in one night, November 13,
1002, they were all nain. This expedient, inſtead of
throwing off the yoke, ferved only to make it more
heavy and inſupportable. King Sweyn, having re-
ceived the news of this maſſacre, ſwore ſolemnly he
would never reſt till he had taken revenge for ſo bloody
an outrage. His next expedition was not undertaken,
therefore, with an intent to plunder only, but to de-
ſtroy the whole country and people in it. This he en-
deavoured to execute with great cruelty for ſome years,
until a famine, which happened in 1005, obliged him
to return to Denmark for want of ſubſiſtence. But the
very next year, as ſoon as ever the famine had ceaſed,
he again failed for England, and arrived at Sandwich,
and immediately laid waſte the neighbouring country.

King
94
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT. .

King Ethelred levied an army as ſoon as poſſible, in
hopes of giving the Danes battle; but they retired to
the iſle of Thanet, where it was out of the power of
his forces to attack them; and winter coming on, the
Engliſh returned to their homes. Then the Danes,
iſſuing from their retreat, renewed their ravages, well
aſſured they ſhould meet with no oppoſition ; and the
king, in order to ſtop their progreſs, which threatened
the ruin of the whole kingdom, had recourſe to that
fatal palliative, ſo much wiſhed for and expected by hi
enemies, the giving them a ſum of money, thirty-fix
thouſand pounds ; on which they returned home again.
Hardly had a year paſſed ſince the above treaty, when
the Danes again demanded that ſum, pretending it to
be a yearly tribute due to them by contract with king
Ethelred, and this demand was accompanied with
threats of deſtroying the whole kingdom, if the money
was not immediately paid. This the king was obliged
to comply with. However, theſe new pretenſions,
convincing him, there was no poſſibility of ever con-
tenting their unſatiable avarice, he determined to equip
a fleet capable of defending the kingdom againſt them.
Neceſſity cauſed the king's orders to be directly put in
practice; and he quickly had ready for ſervice the
largeſt and beſt fleet England had ever ſeen, the ren-
dezvous of which was at Sandwich. Theſe meaſures
obliged the Danes, who wiſhed to avoid a ſea engage-
ment with the Engliſh, to retire, and wait for a more
convenient oportunity, which ſoon after happened; for
this great equipment, by the treachery and diffentions
- among the principal commanders of it, was rendered
of no uſe; part of it was deſtroyed by pirates; another
part of it was loſt in a violent tempeſt; and the re-
mainder, inſufficient to cope with the enemy, failed
up to London. In the mean time the Danes were pre-
paring to take advantage of theſe diſorders. The next
ſpring (anno 1009) they ſet ſail, in two fleets; for Eng-
POS og Sobocinland,
THE THE DANES.
95

land; one of which arrived in Eaſt Anglia, under
Turkill, and the other in the iſle of Thanet, under
Heming and Anlaff; from the former of whom ſeveral
places in this county ſtill retain the name of Heming's
Danes. Theſe leaders joining their forces in Kent,
plundered the country, and then laid ſiege to Canter-
bury, which would certainly have fallen into their hands
if the inhabitants had not purchaſed a peace with the
ſum of three thouſand pounds.
Whilſt the Danes were pillaging different parts
the country, king Ethelred was drawing an army to-
gether, with which he deſigned to prevent their em-
barking again, and carrying off their booty; and, in
all probability, this would have been attended with the
wiſhed-for ſucceſs, had not the king liſtened to the
treacherous advice of one of his nobles; in compliance
of which, he ſuffered them to march by him with all
their plunder unmoleſted. But inſtead of failing for
Denmark, as was expected, theſe robbers threw them-
ſelves into the iſle of Thanet, where they wintered,
and ſubfifted themſelves by the incurſions they conti-
nually made in the neighbouring country, and on each
fide of the Thames; they even inade ſeveral attempts
upon the city of London, but without ſucceſs. In the
following ſpring they refitted their ſhips in Kent; and
after various expeditions into different parts of Eng-
land, they croſſed the Thames in 1010, and marching
into the marſhes of Kent, burnt and deſtroyed what.
ever they met with, according to their uſual cuſtom.
Shortly after this they extended their conqueſts over a
great part of England. They had ſubdued Kent, EL
ſex, Middleſex, Hertfordſhire, Buckinghamſhire, Ox-
fordſhire, Bedfordſhire, Cambridgeſhire, Huntingdon-
thire, Northamptonſhire, Surry, Suffex, Hamplhire;
odt rod mat bras noitsidób doiva sobgantolon
of a Flor. Worceſt. p. 611; S. Dunelm. Col. 164; Bromton, Coli
879; M. Weſt. ad an. 1002; H. Hunt. lib. vi. T. Walfingham,
P: 427; Alf.
Ann. 1002 et ſeq. Spelm. Gloff. p. 161; R. Hove-
den, p. 430. .
Wiltſhire,

96
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
Wiltſhire, and Devonſhire, whilſt king Ethelred, who
had ſcarce any thing left, kept himſelf ſhut up in Lon-
don, without a poſſibility of ſtopping their progreſs.
In all the above-mentioned counties, London and Can-
terbury were the only places of ſtrength left in the
king's power; to the latter the Danes quickly marched,
and having beſieged it vigorouſly for twenty days, took
it by the treachery of one Elmar. Among the pri-
foners were Elphege the archbiſhop, Elfword the king's
præfect, Godwine, biſhop of Rocheſter, and Leofruna,
abbeſs of faint Mildred's monaſtery, in Thanet; be-
fides numbers of religious, both men and women.
They then plundered and reduced the city to alhes ;
and as for the inhabitants they decimated them, de-
ſtroying nine parts in ten of thein, ſo that only four
monks and about eight hundred laymen were left alive.
After which they returned to their fleet, which lay in
the Thames, at Greenwich; carrying with them the
archbiſhop, whom they afterwards barbarouſly mur-
dered there.
England being now reduced to this moſt deplorable
ſtate, the king and his nobles found, by experience,
that the Danes would not be ſatisfied, except they had
a large ſum of money paid them to return home; to
this expedient they were forced to ſubmit, and as ſoon
as the Danes had received it they departed with their
booty. Though this retreat coſt England dear, yet
the people thought themſelves happy in being once
more freed from theſe dreadful enemies ; but they had
hardly enjoyed a year's peace, before they received the
, news of Sweyn’s having arrived at Sandwich with a
numerous feet, and a reſolution of making a conqueſt
of England; from thence he failed northwards towards
the mouth of the Humber and Trent, threatening the
whole kingdom with deſolation and ruin. In ſhort, the
country being in a defenceleſs ſtate, he foon made
himſelf maſter of all the counties lying north of Wat-
ling.ſtreet; and advancing ſouthwards, on a ſudden laid
srl
fiege
TYT 97
THE .
À
THE DANESDANES. 
fieğe to London, where king Ethelred remained ſhut
up; but this unfortunate prince, dreading to fall into the
hands of theſe barbarians, haftily fled with his family
into Normandy; upon which the Londoners ſubmitted
to the king of Denmark, to whom all the reſt of the
kingdom was now ſubject. Preſently after he was
proclaimed king of England, no one daring to ſhew
the leaſt oppoſition to it. On king Sweyn's death,
which happened within twelve months after this, his ſon
Canute was proclaimed king of England by the Danes;
but Ethelred was recalled by the Engliſh, whọ again
ſwore fealty to him, and promiſed to ſupport him
againſt the Danes, whoſe government was already be-
come inſupportable to them. By their eagerneſs to flock
to him he foon found himſelf at the head of a conſider-
able army, with which he prepared to march and fight
his enemies. But Canute having in the mean time re-
ceived news from Denmark, that Harold, his younger
brother, had ſeized on that kingdom for himſelf
, was
obliged to embark his troops, and fet fail thither im-
mediately; but before his departure he ſet the hoſtages,
which had been given to king Sweyn his father, on
ſhore at Sandwich, having, in a moſt barbarous and
cruel manner, cut off their hands, noſes, and ears. Ca-
nute, having ſettled his affairs in Denmark, returned
the next year (anno 1015) to England, and arrived at
Sandwich with a numerous fleet and army. However,
he ſtaid there but a ſhort time; when, failing round
Kent to the weſtern parts of the kingdom, he quickly
ſubdued them, and foon ſaw himſelf in a condition to
complete the conqueſt of all England.“
In the midſt of this ſcene of miſery Ethelred died,
in the year 1016, upon which the city of London, and
all the lords there, proclaimed his ſon Edmund, ſur-
* Flor. Worceſt. p. 613; H. Hunt. lib. vi. S. Dunelm, Col.
167; Bromton, Ib. R. Hoveden, p. 431; Alf. Ann. W. Malm.
lib. ii. cap. 1o.
- S 301
elector
Dorotan
VOL. I
named
98
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

named Ironſide, who had already given ſignal proofs of
his courage and conduct, king of England: but the
Danes, and all the counties in their poſſeſſion, declared
for Canute, whereupon, the biſhops and nobles of that
party, went to Southampton, where they abjured the
race of Ethelred, at the ſame time they chofe Canute
for their king, and ſwore feality to him. This occa-
fioned many engagements, which werę attended with
various ſucceſs, and ſerved only to prolong the war.
London being a great ſupport of king Edmund, the
Daniſh king thought the depriving him of it would,
in a great meaſure, put a ſpeedy end to the war; with
this view he approached that city, and forming the
fiege of it, carried it on vigorouſly; but the brave re-
ſiſtance of the citizens giving Edmond time to throw in
fuccours, Canute was not only obliged to raiſe the
fiege, but to ſail down the Thames with his fleet, and
thence up the Medway, in order to ſecure his navy. In
the mean time, king Edmund, paſſing the Thames
with his army, marched after Canute through Surry in-
to Kent, and encountered the Danes at Otford, in this
county, where he gained a victory over them, and,
making a great Naughter, purſued them as far as Ay-
lesford in their rout to the iſle of Shepey; and had he
not deſiſted from the purſuit there, by the treacherous
advice of his ſon-in-law, Edric, he would, in all pro-
bability, within the compaſs of that day, have made
the vičtory complete over their whole army. He af-
terwards paſſed the Thames into Effex after them, and
various battles were fought between them in different
parts of England, which in the end produced a treaty,
by which they divided the kingdom between them.
King Edmund did not long ſurvive this peace; he died
in the year 1017, and Canute remained ſole monarch
of England, and all the lords, both Engliſh and Da-
niſh, foon ſwore allegiance to him.
After the death of Canute, and of his ſon, king Ha-
rold, without iſſue, in the year 1039, his brother Har-
dicanute,
ANTIENT JURISDICTION.
99

dicanute, who was then at Bruges, in Flanders, with
queen Emma his mother, coming over to England, to
claim the crown, arrived with a fleet of forty ſhips,
about Midſummer, at Sandwich, where he landed; and
was afterwards received with great demonſtrations of
joy, both by the Engliſh and Danes. He was ſuc-
ceeded by king Edward the Confeffor, in whoſe reign
ſome Daniſh pirates, in the year 1046, putting to ſea
with twenty-five ſhips, arrived unexpectedly at Sand-
wich, and having plundered the neighbouring country,
carried off their booty, not without great ſlaughter of
the inhabitants. Then failing for Eſſex, they carried
away with them grdat numbers of both ſexes, and of
all conditions; and though the Engliſh were at firſt
inuch terrified, yet the nobles took ſuch vigorous mea-
ſures, that the Danes haſtily retired, and carried their
ravages elſewhere. After which, to the time of the
Norman conqueſt, which happened in the year 1066,
no tranſactions of the Danes occur, which have any
particular relation to the county of Kent."

THOUGH the Saxons had divided England in-
to ſeven different kingdoms, yet they were all one, in
effect, as to their manners, laws, and language, info-
much that the breaking of their government into many
kingdoms, or the reuniting of theſe again into a monar-
chy, wrought little or no change among them, as to
the laws by which they were governed; for though
we read of the Weſt Saxon law, the Mercian law, and
the Dane law, ſubſiſting, as many contend, in the ſea
veral parts of Britain at the ſame time, yet they all
held a uniformity of ſubſtance, differing rather in the
quality of fines and amerciaments than in the courſe
a Flor. Worceſt. p. 616. W. Malmſb. and H. Hunt. S. Dunelm.
Col. 171. Bromton, Col. 903. M. Weſtm. an. 1016.
H2
and
100
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
and frame of juſtice Therefore, when all theſe king-
doms grew into one monarchy, as under Egbert, Al-
fred, and his ſuceſſors, it bred no innovation in any of
them; the king had no new laws to impoſe on his new
ſubjects, nor were they unacquainted with his form of
government, having always lived according to it; fo
that when king Edward the Confeffor took away the
ſmall differences that were between theſe laws, he did
it, even in thoſe fickle and inconſtant times, without
any tumult, making his alteration, rather by giving
a new name to his code than furniſhing it with new
matter, for aboliſhing all former names, he ordered it to
be called, The Common Law of England; by which from
thenceforth the whole kingdom ſhould be governed.
The temporal government was divided into princi-
palities, or dukedoms, which contained in them divers
counties; the county into divers laths, or trithings,
every lath, or trithing, into divers hundreds, or wapen-
takes, every hundred into divers towns, or lordſhips,
ſhortly after called baronies, and the government of all
theſe was committed to their ſeveral heads, viz. towns,
or manors, to the lord thereof, whom the Saxons cal-
led theings, or thanes, afterwards barons, hundreds to
the Lords of the Hundreds, trithings, or laths; to their
trithingreves, counties to their Earls, or Aldermen,
and the larger principalities to their Dukes, or chief
princes. All of whom had ſubordinate authority, one
under the other, and within the precinct of their own
territories, adminiſtered juſtice to their ſubjects and
dependants. For in the Saxon times there were, ſtrict-
ly ſpeaking, only theſe degrees among the laity; viz.
the earl and the huſbandman, the thane of the greater
fort, called the king's thane, and the thane of the lef-
ſer fort, called the theoden, or under thane, as for the
bondmen, they were not accounted members of the





a
Spelm. Poſth. Works, part ii. p. 49. Bromton, Col. 956,
957. Pol. Virg. p. 139.
commonwealth,
ANTIENT JURISDICTION.
101
commonwealth, but parcels of their maſter's goods and
ſubſtance. As to lands, there were only two forts of
it among the Saxons; Bockland, which was free and
hereditary, and paſſed by deed with livery and ſeizin,
which was made and given by taking of a turf from the
land, and delivering it with the deed; or paſſed by
will, unleſs the firſt purchaſer had prohibited it. This
ſort of land was poffèffed by the Thanes, or nobler ſort.
It is the ſame as allodium in Domeſday, and was de-
fcendable to all the fons.--Folkland was terra vulgi,
land of the folk, or common people, who had no ef-
tate therein, but held the fame, according to agree-
ment, at the will only of the lord, or thane; therefore
it was not put in writing, but accounted prædium ruſti-
cum et ignobile.
The Thane, or Lord, of the town (whom the Nor-
mans afterwards called a Baron) had, of old, juriſdic-
tion over them of his own town (being, as it were, his
colony) and, as Cornelius Tacitus faith, Agricolis ſuis
jus dicebat ; for thoſe, whom we now call tenants, were,
in thoſe antient times, but huſbandmen, dwelling upon
the ſoil of the lord, and manuring the fame, on ſuch
conditions as the lord aſſigned; or elſe ſuch as were
his followers in the wars, and had portions of land
given to them in reſpect of that ſervice, which portion
was thereupon called a knight's fee, from him, who
being a fervant in the war, whom the Saxons called a
knight, had it allotted to him, as the fee and wages of
his ſervice. Theſe fees at firſt were but at the lord's
pleaſure, or for a limited time, and, therefore, both
military and huſbandmen were in that ſituation, as
to the lands they occupied, at the will of their lord,
who ſet them laws and cuſtoms, how and in what man-
ner they ſhould poſſeſs them, and whenever any con-
troverſy aroſe about them, the lord uſed to aſſemble
the reſt of his followers, and with their aſſiſtance and

Spelm. part ii. p. 11. Chauncy's Hertf. p. 6.
H 3
advice
102
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

advice judged it. Out of which uſage the court barons
took their beginning, and the lords of towns and ma-
nors gained the privilege of holding plea and juriſdic-
tion within ſuch territories over their tenants and fol-
lowers, who, from thence, are at this time called ſec-
tatores, or ſuitors of the court, but the Saxons them-
ſelves called this juriſdiction facha and foca, or ſac and
foc. And in this manner the lords of towns, as from
the cuſtom of the realm, came to have juriſdiction over
their tenants and followers, and to hold plea of all
things touching land, but they did not take cogni-
zance in criminal matters, or otherwiſe meddle with
them, but by the king's charters.
As to the keeping of the king's peace, every hun-
dred was divided into many freeburgs, or tithings,
conſiſting of ten families, who ſtood all bound one for
another, and among themſelves puniſhed ſmall mat-
ters in their court, held for that purpoſe, called the lete;
which was, at its firſt inſtitution, exerciſed by peculiar
officers, but for no long time, being ſoon, by the
king's charter, granted over to the lords of manors.
But matters of great account were, notwithſtanding,
carried from thence into the hundred cours, ſo that
both the ſtreams of civil and criminal juſtice met
there, and were decided by the hundreds, &c. as by
ſuperior judges both to the court baron and court lete,
The lord of the hundred, therefore, had juriſdiction
over all the towns of the hundred, as well in criminal
matters as in civil, and they that failed of their right in
the courts baron, tithings or letes, might proſecute it
there, before the lord of the hundred, and his follow-
ers, called the ſuitors of the hundred, who were the
lords and owners of lands within that hundred, who
were bound to be there at every court, which, as ap-
pears by the laws of Henry I. cap. 8. was to be hol-
den twelve times in the year, that is, once every

a Spelm. Poſth. Works, part ii, p. 51.
month:
TV ANTIENT JURISDICTION.
103

month; but a full appearance was required twice in the
year eſpecially; in memory whereof, the ſuitors are at
this day called to it, at the Lady-day and Michaelmas
courts, by the ſteward of the hundred. brisconi sikis
King Alfred further decreed, that every freeman
ſhould be ſettled in ſome hundred, and appointed to
ſome freeborg, or tithing (as did king Canute after
wards) and that the heads of theſe freeborg's, or tithing's
(now called capitales plegii) ſhould judge the ſmal-
ler matters, as in leets, &c. but ſhould reſerve the
greater for the hundred court, and thoſe of moſt diffi-
culty to the alderman and ſheriff, in the county court,
and king Ethelred decreed, that in the hundred court,
twelve men of the elder fort, together with the reve
of the hundred, ſhould, holding their hands upon ſome
holy thing, take their oath not to condemn any man
that was innocent, or acquit him when guilty.
The thrithingreve or leidgreve was an officer who
had authority over the third or larger diſtrict of the
county, or over three or more hundreds, or wapen-
takes, whoſe territory was thereupon called a trything :
in ſome counties a leid, or lath, as in the county of
Kent; a rape, as in Suſſex; and a riding, as in York-
ſhire. Thoſe matters, therefore, that could not be de-
termined in the hundred courts, either through diffi-
culty or miſcarriage thereof, were from thence brought
into the court of the trithing, or lath, where all the
principal men of the three or more hundreds being af-
ſembled, debated and determined the ſame, or if they
could not, it was then fent up to the county court, to be
there decided, as in parliament, by the whole body of
the county. And it is probable, that the courſe we
now uſe for the taking of a jury out of many hundreds
in a county, for the trial of a cauſe ariſing in one hun-
dred, took its beginning from the trial in the court of
the trithing or lath, which latter thereupon grew out
of uſe,
11
4. The


104
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

The alderman, or earl of the county, was in parallel
equal with the biſhop, and as ſuch both their eſtima-
tions were valued alike, in the laws of Ethelftane, at
eight thouſand thrymſes (a thrymſa was the third part of
a ſhilling). He was to be a man learned in the laws,
and had the government of the whole ſhire, and cog-
nizance over all inferior courts, and perſons, both in
civil and criminal matters. For which purpoſe he held
his ordinary court, called the county court, by the
foreve, once every month; and there reſorted as ſuitors,
and bound by duty all the lords of manors and principal
men of the county, with the reſt of the freeholders,
who were not only aſſiſtants, but judges with him, of
all matters there depending, whether ariſing originally
there, or by appeal from inferior courts. As the bi-
ſhop had twice a year two general fynods, wherein the
whole clergy of his dioceſe were bound to reſort for
matters concerning the church, fo alſo was there,
twice in the year, a general aſſembly of all the ſhire,
called by the Saxons, the Jhyre-gemot, or ſherif's tourn,
for matters concerning the common-wealth, wherein,
without exception, all kinds of eſtates were required
to be preſent; dukes, earls, barons, and ſo downwards
of the laity, and eſpecially the biſhop of the dioceſe
among the clergy; for in thoſe days the temporal lords
often fat in fynod with the biſhops, and the biſhops, in
like manner, in the courts of the temporality, and were
therein not only neceſſary, but principal judges them-
felves. The one to teach the laws of God, and the
other, the laws of the land. The ſheriff's tourn be-
ing in a manner the general court leet, as the county
court was the general court baron of the whole county.
The county court is at this time conſtantly held at the
county houſe on Pinenden-heath, by the clerk of the
county court, from Wedneſday to Wedneſday four
weeks, for civil actions, when a jury of the neighbour-
ing refiants is impanelled, for the trying of the ſame,
- but all matters of any conſequence are uſually removed
from



ANTIENT JURISDICTION.NO
105
from thence to the upper courts, by writs of recordari.
The ſhyre gemot or Meriff's tourn, is grown entirly obſo-
lete, not having been held in the memory of any one
now living.
The title and dignity of earl was certainly taken from
the antient conſtitution of the Romans, from whom it
was tranſmitted to the Saxons by the Germans, their
anceſtors; for when the Roman empire was grown to
its full ſtrength, the emperors had a certain privy
council, which they conſulted as well in the time of
war as in peace, called Cæfaris comitatus, and the mem-
bers thereof had the title of comites; but when Con-
ftantine the Great altered the conſtitution of the em-
pire by new diſtinctions, and endeavoured to oblige the
people to him by large gifts and great honors, he made
the title of comes, or count, as the Normans termed
it, a title of dignity without any function or govern-
ment, and annexed to it ſeveral privileges about the
perſon himſelf. At length, he granted to theſe comites
other dignities with authority and government, and
fuch were the Comes Britanniarum, or Count of Britain;
and the Comes Littoris Saxonici, or Count of the Saxon
Shore, under the government of the Romans in Bri-
tain. Theſe comites had fees annexed to them du-
ring the emperor's pleaſure, which at firſt were tempo-
rary, and afterwards for life, but about the declenſion
of the empire they became hereditary, and when it
was rent into many kingdoms, this title ſtill remained.
The Saxons named them in their own language, ealdon-
men, though they ſtill termed them in Latin comites, and
conſules ; and when they divided this land into pro-
vinces, called in Saxon ſhires, and in Latin conitatis,
they conſtituted theſe comites, or ealdormen, to govern
them, and for the more ready diſpatch of juſtice, king
Alfred allowed theſe counts to make deputies, who


a Selden's Tit. of Hon. p. 604. Spelm. Poſth. Works, part ii.
p. 53. Seld. Ib. p. 331. Dugd. Warwickſh. p. 298. amit
were
106
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
were called vice-comites or viſcounts, and in their own
tongue, ſheriffs; i. e. the Myre-reeve, from the Saxon
word, gerefa, or gereva, a provoſt, præfect, or ftew-
ard, to diſtribute juſtice to the people in their provin-
cial, or county courts. This dignity of eaidorman, or
count, was generally officiary and temporary, during
the pleaſure of the prince ; for, before the year 900,
king Alfred granted and revoked it, as he thought beſt,
fo that when he accuſed ſeveral of them of ignorance,
with threats to remove them, if they did not learn and
improve themſelves in the knowledge of matters be-
longing to their office, they, frightened with thefe
menaces, earneſtly applied themſelves to this ſtudy,
that they might diſcharge the duty of their office, and
keep their places. When the Danes prevailed againſt
the Saxons, and obtained the government of this land,
they called theſe caldormen, or counts, eorlas, that is,
honourable, from which name, ſomewhat mollified,
fprung that of our modern earl. Theſe earls had, it
feems, juriſdiction in their earldoms, or territories,
from whence they were denominated, and not, as at
preſent, merely titular, men taking their titles now ac-
cording to their own fancy, ſometimes of places where
they have no property, and ſometimes of an old extinct
family, with whom perhaps they never had any alliance
or connection. The earl had ſometimes the govern-
ment of ſeveral counties, ſometimes only of one, and
ſometimes of only parcels of counties, which entirely
depended upon the kingºs pleaſure. As to the profits
accruing to him, if the whole territory was his own,
then thoſe of the courts held, and of the juriſdiction,
ſuch as the pleas, fines, and foreign emoluments, were
to his own uſe and benefit, but if he did not own the
fame, but only ſome particular revenue in it belonging
to his dignity, then, it ſeems, the profits of his juriſdic-
tion and courts (except perhaps in his own poffeffions)
were held by him for the king's uſe and benefit, in the
ſame manner the ſheriffs do at preſent, and they had
the






ANTIENT JURISDICTION. TO 107
the third penny ariſing therefrom for their fees, and the
other two parts were paid into the king's exehequer,
according to the laws of king Edward the Confeffor.
When William the Norman conquerer had poſſeſſed
the government of this kingdom, earls began to be
feudal, hereditary, and patrimonial, and theſe, as ap-
pears from Domeſday, were ſtiled ſimply earls, with-
out any addition, as-Earl Hugh, Earl Alan, Earl
Roger, &c. Afterwards, as appears by antient records,
earls were created with an addition of the name of the
place over which they had juriſdiction, or of the prin-
cipal ſeat where they reſided, and they had, as had
been cuſtomary, the third penny of the county aſſigned
them for their ſupport. Soon after the conqueſt they
began to be created by charter, but without any further
ceremony than the delivery of it. King John is the
firſt who is mentioned to have uſed the girding of the
ſword, when they were ſaid to be inveſted with this
honour, per cinéturam, cingulo comitatus; whereupon
the ſheriff had command to make livery unto them of
the tertium denarium de placitis comitatus, ut fit inde
comes (as were the uſual words of the precept) i. e, the
third penny of the pleas of the county, that thereupon
he might be Earl thereof, though Selden intimates,
that Richard I. uſed this ceremony, and that it was then
ſpoken of as a cuſtom of that age, formerly enough
known. After which the earl had a certain ſum only
allowed him out of the profits of his county, as expref-
ſed in the patent, for his better ſupport and dignity, and
fometimes great poffeffions in lands were given to the
fame purpoſe.
To of
In the following age there was an additional cere-
mony of putting on a cap with a golden circle, now
changed into a coroneț with rays and pearls, and a robe


· Chauncy's Hift Hert. p. 18. Camd, Brit. p. ccxxxvi. Seld.
Tit. Hon. p. 606. Brady's Hiſt. of Eng. p. 81. Camd. Brit. P.
cxxxvii. Dugd. Warw. p. 298; Geld. Ib. p. 614, 636, 638, 647,
et ſeq. Dugd. Bar. vol. i. Præf. p. 3. Selden, p. 677.
changed
108
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

of eſtate, which three, namely, the ſword and belt, the
cap with a coronet, and the robe of eſtate, are at pre-
ſent carried by three ſeveral earls before him who is to
be created, and then he is introduced to the king upon
his throne, between two earls in their robes of eſtate,
and himſelf in a furcoat, where kneeling down, the in-
ſtrument of his creation is read to him: the king then
puts on him the robe, hangs a ſword at his neck, puts
a cap with a coronet upon his head, and delivers into
his hand the inſtrument of his creation. The govern-
ment of counties, under the officiary earls, ceaſed in
the reign of king Edward III. ſince which this dignity
has been merely titular, and the ſheriff, who was be-
fore only a deputy, and ſubordinate to the earl, as the
earl was to the king, is now become the king's imme-
diate officer in his reſpective county.
The military government of antient Britain, as we
learn from Cæſar, was in his time divided into ſeveral
petty ſtates or governments. In this county, he ſays,
there were four governors or chiefs, namely, Cingeto-
rix, Carvilius, Taximagalus, and Segonax, whom, with
his uſual pomp, he ſtiles kings. Theſe, at that time
of common danger, were, as well as the reſt of the
chiefs of the iſland, under the government and direc-
tion of Caſſivelaun, king of the Trinobantes, who had
been choſen by the Britons their chief, or generaliſi-
mo, to conduct their affairs during their war with the
Romans, under Cæſar, in his ſecond expedition hither,
as has been already mentioned. Whether Kent was
equally divided between theſe four reguli, or in what
proportion their ſhares of it were to each other, is not
known. The ſame kind of government ſeems to have
continued in Britain to the time of the arrival of the
Saxons here. Indeed, the monarchs choſen by the ſe-
veral chiefs as their generaliſfimo from time to time,
from the frequency of danger and continuance of the
wars, appear to have uſurped a much greater power
Camd. Brit Præf. p. ccxxxviit
Camd. Brit Præf. p. ccxxxviii.
oves
ANTIENT JURISDICTION.
109

over the reſt than in Cæſar's time. When Hengiſt,
with the Saxons, arrived in Britain, in the year 449,
Kent was under the government of one Gorongus,
who, as well as the reſt of the princes, or chiefs of the
iſland, were ſubordinate to Vortigern, who had been
chofen monarch in Britain at a general aſſembly of
them. Hengiſt the next year, as it is ſaid, obtained
from king Vortigern, in recompence for his daughter
Rowena, the gift of the county of Kent, which was
tranſacted fo privately between them, that Gorongus
was diſpoffeffed before he could take any meaſures to
oppofe it, It appears that Hengiſt received the gift
of this province from the king, on condition of his
holding it ſubordinate to him as his deputy or chief go-
vernor of it, or, as Ethelwerd calls it, primus conful. It
was about five years after the firſt landing of Hengiſt,
that the Britons, provoked at the infolence of the Sax-
ons, whoſe numbers, by the frequent arrival of large
bodies of them from their own country, were greatly
increaſed, began to make head againſt them, under the
command of king Vortimer, whom they had choſen for
their monarch, jointly with his father Vortigern. Seve-
ral bloody battles and ſkirmiſhes were fought between
them, with various ſucceſs; in one of them, which
was fought in the year 457, at Crayford, in this coun-
ty, the Britons were overthrown with great Naughter,
inſomuch, that they were neceſſitated to abandon this
county, and retire to London ; upon which Hengift,
throwing off all ſubordination to the Britiſh monarch,
erected the province of Kent into a ſovereignty, this
being the firſt kingdom eſtabliſhed by the Saxons in
this iſland.
The hiſtory of the ſeveral kings, fucceffors of Hen-
giſt, who reigned in Kent during the Saxon heptarchy,
has been already given. They too, like the Britons,
choſe a chief or monarch, from among themſelves,
whom they inveſted with a general power over the reſt,
the common welfare of the heptarchy. Among theſe
Ethelbert,
110
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

rooin.
Ethelbert, who ſucceeded to the entire poffefſion of
the kingdom of Kent in 564, was, on the death of
Ceaulin, king of the Weſt Saxons, in 593, choſen,
by the reſt of the Saxon princes, monarch in his
In this manner Kent continued as a ſeparate
kingdom, under the government and juriſdiction of
its own kings, till the general diſſolution of the Saxon
heptarchy, when the victorious Egbert, king of the
Weſt Saxons, having, in the year 823, drove king
Baldred out of it, united it to the reſt of his domi-
nions, and aſſumed to himſelf the title of King of
England, being the firſt fole monarch of it. From this
time Kent was governed, under him and the fuc-
ceeding princes, as to its civil juriſdiction, by the
Eolderman, or Earl, as had been mentioned before,
who was frequently inveſted with the military power
alſo. However this be, whoever poſſeſſed the chief
military dignity of the county was ſtiled, in Saxon,
heretogas, and in Latin, dux, or general ;" which ac-
counts for one and the ſame perſon being frequently,
in our hiſtories, called by both theſe titles. bastano
ec
hooldus
DUKES AND EARLS OF KENT.”
ALCHER, EALCHER, or AUCHER, was the
firſt EARL OF KENT that I have ſeen any mention
of, who had alſo the title of DUKE, from his being
at the ſame time intruſted with the military power
of the county. He is eminent in hiſtory for his bra-
very ſhewn in a battle with the Danes, in the year
853. Theſe pirates, having landed with a conſidera-
a
Ethelwerd, an. 597; Seld. Tit. of Hon. p. 334, 558.
Dug. Bar. col. i. p. 12. Among Harl. MSS. is a book of Ge-
nealogies, and in it, Linea comitum Kancia, No. 465,17.---Comites
Kantia (Grey) No. 806, 30. Liſt of the Earls from Godwin to
Hen. Grey, an. 1572.---No. 6124, 6.
MOROS
wsdl
ble
DUKES AND EARLS O-F KENT.
III

ERO
ble force that year in the iſle of Thanet, were attacked
by earl Alcher, with the Kentiſhmen, and earl Huda,
with thoſe of Surry, when an obitinate battle was
fought, in which the Engliſh at firſt gained ſome ad-
vantage. Great numbers were killed and drowned
on both ſides, and the two Engliſh generals at length
loſt their lives. on
- CEOLMUND was in the year 897, at which time
king Alfred appointed ſeveral men of eminence guar-
dians of the realm, in different parts of it, to with-
ſtand the incurſions of the Danes, who greatly infeſted
the coaſts, made duke, or chief general, of this county
for that purpoſe, and Matthew of Weſtminſter ſtiles
him primicerius, which fignifies a chieftain, or perſon
of eminent degree.
GODWYNE was, in the year 1020, for his great
bravery and ſervices to king Canute, created Earl of
Kent. He was of a noble extraction, and brother
to the great Edric Streon, earl of Mercia, in the
reign of king Ethelred II. In 1019, king Canute
finding the whole kingdom in profound tranquility,
reſolved on an expedition to Denmark; at the ſame
time he embarked with him the flower of the Engliſh
army, under the command of Godwyne, who, being
a perſon of great courage and experience, ſoon ſigna-
liſed himſelf by his bravery in this war, and, on his
return the king, as a reward for his ſervice, created
him Earl of Kent, Suſſex, and Surry, and gave him
in marriage Thyra, his ſiſter, or, according to ſome,
his daughter. Earl Godwyne, on the death of king
Canute, in 1036, directed all things with ſuch an ab-
ſolute fway, that he cauſed the late king's 'youngeſt
ſon, Hardicanute, then in Denmark, to be proclained
la muntans bois
© Flor. Worceſt. p. 597. Alford's Ann. 1020.79
See his Life. Biog. Brit. vol. iv. p. 2219, 2217. Vol. i..p. 59.
Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 12. Malmfb. lib. i. cap. II. H. Hunt.
lib, vi. M. Weft. ann. 1024.
cord de brede bas

à
king
112
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
king of Weſſex (or of the Weſt Saxons) leaving the
Mercians free to acknowledge Harold for their king;
who, foon afterwards, finding means to gain the Ear)
over to his intereſt, the latter, ſuddenly, before any
meaſures could be taken to obſtruct his deſign, on pre-
tence that Hardicanute neglected to come to Eng-
land, with the aſſiſtance of ſome other lords, procured
Harold to be acknowledged king likewiſe by the in-
habitants of Weſſex." It ought to be obſerved here,
that the country north of the Thames was called by
the general name of Mercia, and was chiefly inhabi-
ted by thoſe of Daniſh extraction; on the contrary,
Weſſex, or the country ſouth of the Thames, was
moſtly inhabited by the Engliſh. Their forces being
nearly equal, it is no wonder they were jealous of one
another, each wiſhing to have that prince for ſove-
reign, whom they imagined would prove
moſt favour-
able to themſelves. This equality of forces prevented
the war, which this diviſion would moſt probably
have otherwiſe occaſioned, and both parties conti-
nued in peace. Harold, though poſſeſſed of the
crown, thought himſelf by no means ſecure whilſt the
two Saxons princes, fons of king Ethelred, remained
alive; with the advice of earl Godwyne therefore, he
determined to get them in his power, and for this pur-
poſe forged a letter in the name of their mother, queen
Emma, earneſtly inviting them to come to England.
Accordingly Alfred, the eldeſt, who was then with his
brother in Normandy, failed for England, with a few
fhips and a ſmall number of Normans, but they were
no ſooner landed, than they fell into the hands of earl
Godwyne, who went himſelf to meet the young prince
and his attendants, and falling upon them took Alfred
priſoner, and ſent him into the iſle of Ely, where,
after his eyes where put out, he was ſhut up in the
monaſtery there, and died ſome few days after. After

a Malmſb. and Huntingd. Ib. Brom. Col. 932.
Ingulph.
this
THE EARLS OF KENT.
113

this, earl Godwyne continued in great favour with king
Harold, and by his power entirely governed the af-
fairs of the kingdom. He had raiſed himſelf to that
heighth of fortune, that it would hardly admit of any
addition. He was of a genius much ſuperior to the
reſt of the nobility, and not only his mérit, but his
birth and alliances diſtinguiſhed him beyond the reſt.
King Harold had raiſed him to the dignity of Duke
of Weſſex, and had made him his high treaſurer, and
the government of the counties of Oxford and Here-
ford were in the hands of his eldeſt fon. In this ex-
alted ſituation was Godwyne at the time of the king's
death, without heirs, when the Earl joined with the
great men of the nation, and unanimouſly made an
offer of the crown to the deceaſed king's brother,
Hardicanute, then with the queen his mother, at
Bruges, in Flanders. Hardicanute, on his arrival at
Sandwich, was received with great demonſtrations of
joy, eſpecially by the Earl, who was one of the fore-
moſt to do him homage. The king began his reign
with an uncommon act of revenge on the corps of
Harold, for he ordered Godwyne, with ſome others,
to dig it up, after which they cut off his head, and
threw it with the body into the Thames. When the
king had thus made uſe of Godwyne, in a ſervice
which, from the ingratitude of it, made him more
deteſtable in the eyes of every one, he ſhewed him
continued marks of his diſpleaſure. Godwyne plainly
ſaw this, and to appeaſe the king, he made him a
preſent of a ſhip, gilt with gold, and tackling ſuitable,
in which were fourſcore ſoldiers in gilt armour, each
of them having two bracelets of gold on their arms,
weighing ſixteen ounces, as alſo harbegions, or coats
of defence, of gold, gilt hemlets, ſwords with gilt
hilts, girt to their loins, and a Daniſh axe of gold
hanging on their left ſhoulders, each bearing in his
hand a target' with gilt boſſes and nails, and in his
right a lance, called in Engliſh a tegar. By this ex-
traordinary
VOL. I.
I
114 GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

traordinary preſent he, in great meaſure, qualified the
king's diſpleaſure, and to palliate the inurder of young
Alfred, he laid the fault wholly on king Harold, and
affirmed, that he was compelled by him to do it.*
How great ſoever the refentments were which the
king bore the Earl, he was ſuch an enemy to bufi-
neſs, that he left the whole management of his affairs
to him, and Godwyne knew ſo well how to improve
theſe favourable junctures, that his power far exceed-
ed that of all the other Engliſh lords. In this zenith
of his good fortune Hardicanute died, in 1041, with-
out iſſue, and Edward, fon of king Ethelred II and
Emma of Normandy, was the only prince then in
England that had any pretenſions to the crown. Ed-
ward ſoon found means to gain the Earl's friendſhip,
fo neceſſary for his purpoſe, who however, before he
engaged in Edward's caufe, ftipulated the perform-
ance of certain conditions, one of which was, that
the young prince ſhould marry his daughter Editha.
The prince was neceffitated to comply with theſe
terins, to which he bound himſelf by oath, notwith-
ſtanding the inward reluctance he muſt have to marry
the daughter of a man, whom he could but look on
as the murderer of his brother Alfred. As ſoon as
Godwyne had received from Edward the aſſurances
he demanded, he convened a general aſſembly, where,
by his management, that prince was acknowledged
and proclaimed king. King Edward had not ability
fufficient to govern fo large a kingdom, which gave
the nobles an opportunity of aſſuming almoſt a ſove-
reign power. Earl Godwyne eſpecially uſurped, by
a Flor. Worceſt. p. 623. S. Dunelm, Col. 180. Bromton, Col.
936. W. Malmſb. lib. ii. cap. xii. Hoveden, p. 438. M. Weſtm.
an. 1036.
The hiſtorians differ much in their accounts of this proceed-
ing of earl Godwyne, of which the reader may fee farther in
Ingulp. p. 295. W. Malmfb. lib. ii. cap. xiii. S. Dunelm. Col.
179. Bromton, Col. 934 et 1eq. H. Hunt. lib, vi.
degrees,
EARLS OF KENT.
115

degrees, foʻgreat an authority, that he had almoſt the
fame deference paid him as the king himſelf. How
fair foever the king carried it towards Godwyne, he
ſecretly hated him and his whole family, and deferred
his marriage with Editha as long as he could. But
as he ſtood in fear of the Earl, he durft not break his
word with him, and, therefore, after two years, on
various pretences, he eſpouſed her according to his
promiſe. But his averſion was fo great, that he never
confummated the marriage, and the queen, who was
a perſon of ſtrict virtue, and endowed with a peculiar
greatneſs of ſoul, never made the leaſt complaint of
this neglect, but diverted her thoughts with acts of
piety and devotion. Ingulphus tells us, ſhe was moſt
beautiful, chaſte, and humble, and exceedingly learn-
ed, and further ſays, ſhe had nothing of her father
in her, whence this verſe:
nu
« Sicut fpina roſam genuit Godwynus Edytham."
The king however did not venture to divorce her,
leaſt the Earl, by whoſe intereſt he had mounted the
throne, might ftill have it in his power to depoſe
him. He concealed his averfion, and even continued
to heap favours on him, in hopes of meeting with a
proper opportunity of ſhewing his reſentment. God-
wyne wiſely improved this appearance of the king's
favour, and became every day more formidable by the
great number of friends he acquired. About this time
Swane, the earl's eldeſt ſon, in the year 1047, having
deflowered an abbeſs, fled to Denmark, and finding
no hopes of obtaining a pardon, made open war upon
the Engliſh. Soon after which he committed a bru-
tal action, which ſeemed to put his reconciliation at
a ſtill greater diſtance, for imagining that earl Beorn
(who had interceded with the king for him, and was
come to acquaint him with the terms of his pardon)
-was come to betray him, he flew him with his own
hand,

I 16
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

hand, and threw his body into the ſea. Notwith-
ſtanding which the king foon after, fearing, if he con-
tinued inflexible, Godwyne would revenge it, granted
Swane his pardon. In 1051 an accident happened,
which brought Godwyne to the brink of deſtruction,
and gave the king an opportunity of diſcovering his
enmity to him. Euſtace, earl of Boulonge (who had
married Goda, the king's ſiſter) being come to viſit
king Edward, fome of his attendants, who were ſent
before to provide lodgings at Dover, inſiſted upon
having them in a houſe there, againſt the will of the
owner, whereupon a quarrel aroſe, and a townſman
was fain, which ſo exaſperated the inhabitants, that
they immediately fell upon the Earl's retinue, killing
ſeveral, and wounding many more, earl Euſtace him-
ſelf, who had entered the town in the midſt of the
tumult, hardly eſcaping their fury. The Earl, who
was then governor of Dover-caſtle, enraged at this
affront, haftened with his complaint to the king,
then at Glouceſter, who ſent for Godwyne, and com-
manded him to march with bis power, and vindicate
this injury done to the earl of Boulonge in his go-
vernment. But he, excuſing the fact, and adding,
in a haughty tone, ſome ſevere reflections on the in-
ſults of foreigners,, ſo highly provoked the king, that
after his departure, at the perſuaſion of Robert, arch-
biſhop of Canterbury, and the reſt of the Normans
about him, the king determined to puniſh him for
his inſolence. But the Earl having had notice of it,
iminediately put himſelf in a condition to reſiſt the
king and his enemies, and under colour of reſtrain-
ing the incurſions of the Welſh, who were then in
arms in Herefordſhire, he raiſed fome forces out of
Kent, Suthſex, and Weffex, as his eldeſt ſon Swane
did thoſe of his earldom, viz. Oxford, Glouceſter,
a W. Malmſb. lib. i. cap. 13. H. Hunt. lib. vi. Bromton, Col.
939. S. Dunelm, Col. 183. Higden, p: 278.
MSS. Bib. Cott. Vefpaf. A. 5.
Hereford,
TWEARLS OF KENT.
117
Hereford, Somerſet, and Berks; and Harold, his
other ſon, thoſe of his, viz. Effex, Eaſt-Anglia, Cam-
bridgeſhire, and Huntingdonſhire; to oppofe which
the king, with the aſiſtance of his nobles, raiſed a
large army out of Mercia and Northumbria. After
this Godwyne marched into Glouceſterſhire, and ſent
meſſengers to the king, requiring him to deliver up
earl Euftace and all his followers (then in Dover cal-
tle for their ſecurity) threatening, in caſe of refuſal,
to declare open war againſt him. But the Earl, dif-
cerning that the king's army was not inferior to his,
ſubmitted to end the quarrel by a treaty. Upon
which the king required him to come to him, with
only Harold his ſon, and twelve of his retinue un-
armed, which the Earl excuſed himſelf from for va-
rious reaſons. In the mean time, the king obſerving
Godwyne's arıny deſerted in great numbers, cauſed
open proclamation to be made, that the earl ſhould
appear at court, as required, or depart the realm with
in five days, upon which he ſaw himſelf on a ſudden
abandoned by his principal adherents, and was com-
pelled to fly in the night to Thorney iſland, with his
wife and three of his fons, Swane, Tofti, and Gyrth,
and foon after into Flanders, to earl Baldwin, whoſe
daughter Judith, Tofti had married; his other two
ſons, Harold and Leofwyne, fled to Briſtol, and from
thence to Ireland. The king having now no reaſon
to fear any thing from Godwyne or his family, ſhut
up the queen in the nunnery of Wharwel, with a de-
fign never to take her again, and to deprive the Earl
and his fons of all hopes of returning, the king dif-
poſed of all their poſts, the chief whereof were con-
ferred on Alfgar, ſon of Leofric. In the mean time
Godwyne took meaſures to reinſtate himſelf by force
of arms, and having inade every hoſtile preparation,
calord had set at the rigated yao odt
Flor. Worc. p. 627. S. Dun. Col. 184. Brom. Col. 942. W.
Malmib. lib. ii. c. xiii.' R. Hoved. p. 441. W. Weſtm. an. 1051.

I 3
he
II8
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

he returned to England, his fons, Harold and Leof-
wyne, joining him from Ireland, they entered toge-
ther the mouth of the Severn, and made great ſpoil
in thoſe parts. From thence the Earl failed to the
Kentiſh coaſt, and ſeized the veſſels, and levied all
the power he could in this county and the neighbour-
ing parts, but being purſued by the royal navy, then
at Sandwich, he retired to the iſle of Wight. After
which he failed up the Thames, and entering South-
wark, by fair promiſes, induced many of the Lon-
doners to join him, and finding no refiftance at the
bridge, he got higher up with his boats. At the re-
turn of the tide, the Earl ſteered towards the north
part of the river, as though he intended to furround
the king's fleet, which lay on that ſide; king Edward
had a numerous body of foot, as well as Godwyne,
yet both fides, confiſting entirely of Engliſh, pauſed
from the attack, as unwilling to embrue their hands
in the blood of their countrymen. Upon which the
nobles inſtantly interpoſed, and Godwyne was per-
fuaded to fue for pardon, and five perſons being
choſen on each ſide, they ſettled all differences, the
armies were diſbanded, and Earl Godwyne, his wife,
and all his fons, except Swane, were reſtored to their
honours and eſtates, and the king honourably received
the queen his wife again. The ſame year (1052)
Swane, Godwyne's ſon, died on a pilgrimage, which
he had undertaken to Jeruſalem. The late diſgrace
of earl Godwyne, contrary to the expectation of his
enemies, tended only to render him more powerful
and formidable than ever. The height of it would
probably have proved of dangerous conſequence, had
not death freed the king from ſo formidable a ſub-
ject. The Earl's deatha was attended with extraordi-
4990 slihan
a The ſtory of his fingular death is related by Ingulp. p. 898.
H, Hunt. lib. vi. Dec. Script. Col. 944. H. Knighton, Col. 2333.
R, Higden, p. 280. M. Weſtm. an. 1054,
nary
EARLS OF KENT. TV
119

nary circumſtances, if we believe the Norinan monks,
who were his enemies, but according to the beſt
authorities, earl Godwyne was taken ſpeechleſs as he
fat at table with the king, then celebrating the feaſt
of Eaſter at Wincheſter, and being carried into the
king's chamber by his fons, he lay there in a lan-
guiſhing condition four days, and died on the 5th, be-
ing the 15th of April, 1053, and was buried in the old
monaſtery at Wincheſter. His poſſeſſions were many
and great; an account of ſome of them may be ga-
thered from the general ſurvey of Domeſday, in which
are mentioned, as once belonging to hiin, fourteen
lordſhips in Herefordſhire, one in Kent, forty-four in
Suſſex, one in Surry, and eleven in Hampſhire. He
had two wives, the firſt Thyra, Canute's fifter, or, ac-
cording to ſome, his daughter, by whom he had only
one ſon, who, carelſsly riding a horſe into the river
Thames, was there drowned. His ſecond wife was
Gytha, ſiſter to Swayne, king of Denmark, by whom
he had ſeven fons, of whom authors by no means
agree as to their ſeniority, almoſt every ane placing
them in a different ſucceffion; however, I ſhall place
them as follows, viz. Swane, who was earl of the
counties of Oxford, Glouceſter, Hereford, Somerſet,
and Berks, and died abroad, on a pilgrimage to Je-
ruſalem. Harold, the ſecond ſon, was the firſt earl
of the Eaſt Saxons, Eaſt Angles, and the counties of
Huntingdon and Cambridge, and on the death of
his father, of the Weſt Saxons and of Kent. Vul-
noth, the third ſon, with Hacon (the ſon of Swane)
his uncle, was ſent into Normandy, as an hoſtage,
upon his father's reſtoration from baniſhment, where
he continued during the whole reign of king Edward;
after the Norman conqueſt he was brought back in-
to England, and kept priſoner at Saliſbury till his
death. Toftan, the fourth ſon, married Judith,
dąughter of Baldwin, earl of Flanders, by whom he
left no iſſue. Upon the death of Siward, earl of
I 4
Northumberland,



I20
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

Northumberland, he had that earldom beſtowed up-
on him, after which his turbulent and haughty ſpirit
continually involved him in a ſeries of miſchievous
practices, and the perpetrating of the moſt ſhocking
barbarities. He was ſlain with the king of Norway,
after a ſharp and bloody conflict, fought at Stanford-
bridge, in Yorkſhire, againſt king Harold his bro-
ther.? Gyrth, the fifth ſon, was ſlain with his bro-
ther Harold, in the battle fought with William the
Conqueror, at his landing at Haſtings. It appears
he was an earl, though of what county is not known
and he is ſaid to have been a young man of know-
ledge and virtue, far above his years. The fixth,
Leolwyne, was ſlain in battle with his brothers at
Haſtings, at the time above-mentioned. He was
an earl, but of what county is not mentioned. By
the record of Domeſday he was poſſeſſed, in the time
of king Edward, of nine lordſhips in Kent, and four-
teen in other counties. Elfgare, the feventh ſon,
was a monk at Rheims, in France. Earl Godwyne's
daughter, by his ſecond wife, was Edytha, who be-
came wife of king Edward the Confeffor, whoſe ſuf-
ferings and character have been already related. She
died after the conqueſt, in 1074, and was buried in
Weſtminſter-abbęy. no bad
50cc
1 The common received ſtory of the Godwyne fands,
oppofite to the town of Deal, and ſuppoſed to be ſo
called from their having been once the eſtate of this
Earl, and, as a judgment for his crimes, at once ſwal-..
lowed up by the fea, has been long exploded, as is that
of their once being an iſland, called Lomea. The
moſt probable opinion of our beſt antiquaries being,
that inſtead of theſe fands having been occaſioned by
sed derand are
24 See an Account of Toftan, Biog. Brit. val. iv. p. 222. n3 on
• Floren. Worc. p. 628. S. Dunelm. Çol. 187. R. Hoveden,
p. 443. Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 5 et ſeq. Malmíb. lib. ii. cap. 13.
R. Higden, p. 281. H. Knighton, Col. 2333. Brom. Col.
934.
Strype's Stow's Survey, book vi. p. 14,
an
TEARLS OF KENT.
I 21

an inundation of the ſea, they were rather cauſed by
the ſea's leaving them, at the time of that terrible in-
undation in the reign of king William Rufus, or
king Henry I.'s reign, which drowned ſo great a part
of Flanders and the Low Countries, by which this
part of the channel, which had before a ſufficient
depth of water at all times to cover it, the channel
being as navigable there as elſewhere, became a large
tract of ſand, dry at low water, and but barely co-
vered with the waves at other times, and as ſuch of
the moſt dangerous conſequence to mariners, as the
continual ſhipwrecks on it fufficiently prove. This
deſertion of the fear in theſe parts might have been
further increaſed by following inundations in other
places, eſpecially that upon the parts of Zealand, which
conſiſting antiently of fifteen iſlands, eight of them
were ſwallowed up in king Henry II.'s time. benisido
HAROLD, ſecond ſon of earl Godwyne, though his
own earldoms were given away by the king, fucceeded
his father as Duke of Weſſex, and Earl of Kent, and
Governor of Dover-caſtle. Dugdale takes no notice
of his having been earl of Kent, and others make a
doubt of it, however, the generality of writers af-
firm him to have been fo. He was of a temper more
courteous and pliable than his father, carrying himſelf
with much leſs pride, and with a more reſpectful and
ſubmiſſive behaviour to the king, This did not re-
move the king's inveterate hatred to his family; per-
haps, indeed, Edward had not ſo great an averſion to
him as he had to his father, but he feared him as
much, and perhaps very juſtly. Harold had as great
parts and abilities as Godwyne, and a much greater
principle of honour; he was very liberal, which joined
to a civil and obliging behaviour, firmly attached
both the nobles and people to his intereſt. And the
Hoo idig EM
d Somn. Rom. Ports, p. 26. Lamb. Peremb. p. 105.
Şeld. Titles of Honour, p. 618.
Bao
ſaine
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
fame reafons which induced the king to conceal his
real ſentiments towards the father, now obliged him
to do the ſame towards the ſon, for he was become
too great a favourite with the nation to hazard a rup-
ture with him. Though Harold had married the
daughter of Alfgar, duke of Mercia, that nobleman,
envying his greatneſs, behaved with great coolneſs to-
wards him. Alfgar being of a reſtlefs ſpirit, entered
into a conſpiracy with Griffin, prince of Wales, for
which he was accuſed of treaſon, and condemned to
baniſhment, upon which he retired into Wales to
that prince, with whom, ſoon after, making an inroad
into Herefordſhire, they were met by earl Harold,
who had levied an army in his governments, and put-
ting them to the rout, compelled them to retire into
Wales. After this Harold, by his intereſt, having
obtained Alfgar's pardon, the duke was reſtored to
his honours and eſtate. Harold acquired great re-
putation by this expedition, and his generoſity to
Alfgar, and it began to be the public diſcourſe, that
as the king had no heirs, none was more worthy to
ſucceed him. This very ſenfibly touched king Ed-
ward, who all along had waited for an occaſion to
ruin him. Whatever thoughts he might have had
before, of leaving the crown to the duke of Norinan-
dy, he now found it would be impoſſible for a fo-
reign prince to ſucceed againſt an Engliſh earl of
ſuch power and credit, and ſo entirely beloved by
the people. This moſt probably obliged him to
turn his thoughts towards his nephew, Edward, fon
of Edmund Ironſide, then in Hungary, accord-
ingly he diſpatched Aldred, biſhop of Worceſter, to
fetch him home. The arrival of this prince, ſon of a
king of England, whoſe memory was dear to the na-
se bo meni ot olagu bado 30 dont shoc
a MSS. Bibl. Cott. Veſp. A. 5, 22. Flor. Worc. p. 628. Ingulp.
p. 898. S. Dunelm, Col. 187. Brom. Col. 945. H. Hunţ. lib. vi.
Hov, p.443. M. Weſt, an. 1055 et ſeq, W. Malmf. lib. ii. c. 13.






tion,
13. EARLS OF KENT.IO
123

tion, could not but be exceedingly acceptable to the
Engliſh, and he was henceforward conſidered by them
as the king's preſumptive heir, their efteen for Ha-
rold giving place to their affection for a deſcendant
of the antient royal family of England, and he would
have undoubtedly ſucceeded his uncle, had not his
death put an end to all their hopes, foon after his ar-
rival in England. He left one fon, Edgar, ſurnamed
Atheling. Earl Harold's ambition and hopes were
revived by prince Edward's death ; his ſon, indeed,
inherited all his rights, but he was then fo young,
that it was no hard matter to ſupplant him, and he
might poſſibly die before the king. Accordingly
Harold reſolved to improve the preſent favourable
conjuncture, but before he openly diſcovered his de-
ſigns, he thought it requiſite to try to get out of the
hands of the duke of Normandy, Vulnoth, his bro-
ther, and Hacune his nephew, whom Godwyne, his
father, had given as hoſtages to the king. Though
the Earl demanded them very urgently, yet the king
conſtantly replied, that as they were not in his power,
but in the duke of Normandy's, his application muſt
be made to him. At laſt the Earl, finding he ſhould
never obtain his deſire, requeſted leave to go and fo-
licit the Duke for their deliverance, and ſoon after-
wards embarked for Roan; but a violent tempeſt
ariſing, he was drove towards Picardy, and compelled
to put into one of the ports of the earl of Ponthieu,
Eadmer, S. Dunelm, Bromton, H. Huntingdon, Ho-
veden, and ſome others agree in the above circum-
ſtances of it. William of Malmſbury, Matthew of
Weſtminſter, and others ſay, that Harold being at
his manor of Boſenham in Suſſex, went out in a filh-
ing boat for his diverſion, but failing further than he
was aware of, a tempeſt aroſe and drove him as above,
where he was immediately ſeiſed, and it would have
been difficult for him to have regained his liberty, had
not the duke of Normandy demanded the priſoner
of
124
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

of the earl of Ponthieu, who not daring to diſpute
this matter, Harold was ſet at liberty, and immedi-
ately went on to Roan, where he was honourably en-
tertained. After fome days the Duke told him, that
king Edward, whilſt at his court, had promiſed if
ever he caine to the crown of England, he would ſettle
the inheritance of it on him; and he added, that if
he, Harold, would give him his affiſtance in this mat-
ter, and deliver to inim the caſtle of Dover, with the
well of water in it, and promiſe to ſend his filter
over to be married to one of the Duke's nobles, and
himſelf to marry the Duke's daughter, he would in
recompence reſtore his nephew Hacun, and when he
became to be king of England, he ſhould have his
brother Vulnoth ſafely delivered up to him, and every
thing granted to him that he could in reaſon aſk or
defire. Harold, perceiving he had but one courſe to
take to get out of the Duke's power, readily conſen-
ted to whatever was deſired, upon which the Duke
bound him by oath to the performance of his pro-
miſes, and eſpecially, that he would never attempt
the throne of England ; after which he diſmiſſed Ha-
rold, loaded with preſents, who quickly returned to
England, with his nephew Hacune. Harold had no
fooner got beyond the reach of the Duke's power,
than looking on the oath he had made as extorted
from him, he reſolved to take every meaſure to fruf-
trate his deſigns, and henceforward uſed all his dili-
gence to ſecure in his intereſt all the great lords of the
kingdom, that by thus ftrengthening his party, he
might put it out of the power
of the king or the duke
to lay any obſtacles in his way. After this, in the
year 1063, the Welſh renewing their incurſions un-
der the conduct of Griffin their king, Harold and his
brother Toſton, earl of Northumberland, joined their
forces to repulſe them. They were ſo fortunate in
this expedition, that they compelled them to dethrone
Griffin, and become tributary to England; nay, on
the

THE ARLS OF KENT.
125
On his ap-
the renewing of the war, Harold marched towards
their frontiers, and ſtruck ſuch a terror into the Welſh;
that they ſent him the head of their king. Soon after
this Harold's brother Toftan, earl of Northumber-
land, treated the Northumbrians with ſuch ſeverity,
that not able to bear his oppreſſions any longer, they
took up arms againſt him, and expelled him from
the province, upon which Harold was ordered to
chaſtiſe them, and reſtore his brother. On his
proach the Northumbrians fent meſſengers to inform
him, that they had no deſign of withdrawing their
obedience from the king, but only to free themſelves
from the tyrannical power of an unjuſt and cruel go-
vernor, to whom they were reſolved never to ſubmit
again, and promiſing farther, provided the king
would ſet over them one who would govern them
according to the laws and cuſtoms of their country,
an unſhaken fidelity for the future. Harold finding
this affair related chiefly to Tofton's ill conduct, ra-
ther than to any diſaffection to the king, ſent an im-
partial account of it to the court, and at the ſame time
interceded for the Northumbrians, and not only ob-
tained their pardon, but procured them Morkard, ſon
of Alfgar, duke of Mercia, for their governor - Whilſt
Harold was endeavouring to ſecure the crown, Ed-
ward did not ſeem to trouble himſelf about the fuc-
ceſiion, which he had ſo exceedingly perplexed by his
engagement with the duke of Normandy, but em-
ployed his whole attention on religious matters, and
the ſtructure of the church and monaſtery, which he
had begun at Weſtminſter, at the dedication of which,
not long after, he was ſeized with a ſudden illneſs,
which proved fatal to him. Harold was at this time
edu boisbane doo
a Sim. Dunelm. Col. 196. Bromton, Col. 947. Eadm. p. 5.
Malmſb. lib. i. cap. 13. R. Hoveden, p. 446. M. Paris, p. 1.
Flor. Worceſt. p. 632. Ingulphus, p. 899. H. Hunt. lib. vi. M.
Weſtm. an. 1064. H. Knighton, Col. 2337. R. Higden, p. 283.
ont Buat wave
by
W
126
ĠENERAL HISTORY OF KÉNT.

1
by no means inattentive to his own intereſt: he found
means, according to Florence of Worceſter, and others
of our Engliſh hiſtorians, to induce the king to de-
clare him his fucceffor. Thoſe who favoured the duke
of Normandy's title affert, Edward bequeathed the
kingdom by will to the duke; and others write, that
he recommended to the nobles, then aſſembled in a
body, to chooſe the perſon they thought moſt wor-
thy to rule over them. He died foon after, on Janu-
ary the 3d, 1066. Earl Harold's ſucceeding to the
crown is thus variouſly related by our hiſtorians, as
they wiſhed to efpouſe the cauſe of one or other of
the competitors to it, and they differ as much in the
manner of his obtaining it after king Edward's death.
Several affirm, he was elected with one common voice,
freely by the wittenagemot then afſembled, and crown-
ed the day after the election by the archbiſhop of
York. Others ſay, he uſurped the crown, by com-
pelling the great council to elect him, and there are
fome who look on his election as a fiction, affining,
that Harold, without troubling himſelf about the
conſent of the nobles or people, extorted fealty from
them, and ſet the crown upon his own head without
farther ceremony. After Harold was crowned, there
was not a perſon in the kingdom but what owned him
for fovereign, and paid him obedience ; but though
he found no oppoſition at home, it was otherwiſe
abroad, for, befides the duke of Norinandy, who,
enraged at Harold's breach of faith, was ſecretly pre-
paring to claim the crown by force of arms, earl Tof-
ton was likewiſe making preparations to diſturb him
in the poffeffion of his new dignity. Accordingly,
having got together ſome ſhips, he infeſted the Eng-
liſh coaſts, plundered the iſle of Wight, and after-
wards entering the Humber, made a defcent on York-
fhire, and ravaged the country. After which he en-
tered into a treaty with Harold Harfager, king of
Norway, and with him invaded England with a large
fleet,
WE EARLS OF KENT. AD 127

fleet, with deſign to conquer his brother Harold, who
met them at Stanford-bridge, upon the river Der-
went, in Yorkſhire, and after a ſharp conteſt, in which
both Toftan and the king of Norway were ſlain, ob-
tained a coinplete victory. In the inean time the
duke of Normandy was taking every meaſure to wreſt
a crown from Harold which he had been ſo long in
expectation of, and to which he thought he had a
much fuperior right. After having long waited for
a wind at Saint Valery, he ſet ſail from thence with
his forces, and landed at Pevenſey, near Haſtings, in
Suſſex. Harold, on receiving the news of the deſcent
of the Normans, by haſty marches came up to Lon-
don, and having drawn all his forces together, ad-
vanced towards the Normans, and coming up with
them near Haſtings, a moſt bloody battle was fought
between them, on Saturday, October 14, 1066, a day
memorable for one of the greateſt events that ever
happened to this kingdom. Without entering into
the particular circumſtances of this battle, fo fully
deſcribed by all our hiſtorians, I ſhall content myſelf
with obſerving, that in this engagement the Kentiſh-
men were in the front of the Engliſh army, a privilege
they had long enjoyed, and that the conflict conti-
nued, with doubtful fucceſs, from fix in the morning
till night parted the two armies, and that the next
morning, in a furious attack made by the Normans,
Harold was ſlain, by an arrow ſhot through his brains,
on which his troops betook themſelves to flight, and
the Normans gained a complete victory. Thus fell
Harold, courageouſly fighting in defence not only of
his own, but of his country's cauſe, againſt the am-
291 - กรยาน
a Flor. Worceſt. p. 433. S. Dunelm. Col. 193. and H. Knigh-
ton, Col. 2339. R. Hoveden, p. 447. R. de Díceto, p. 479. W.
Malmíb. lib. ii. cap. 13. H. Hunt. lib. vi. M. Paris, p. 2.
Weítın. an. 1066. Ingulp. p. 900. Bromton, Col. 958.
• Bromton, H. Hunt. M. Paris, Knighton, and ſome others.
Flor. Worceſt, and S. Dunelm ſay, on October 22d.

W.
bition
I 28
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
bition of the duke of Normandy. With him were
ſain his two brothers, Gyrth and Leofwine. His
death put an end to the empire of the Anglo-Saxons
in England, which had continued upwards of fixt
hundred years, from the time of Hengiſt's firſt taking
the title of King of Kent. Harold's body, fo co-
vered with wounds that it was hard to be known,
was ſent by duke William to his mother, without any
ranſom, though ſhe is ſaid to have offered him for it
its weight in gold: ſhe buried it at Waltham-abbey,
in Eſſex, a monaſtery which the king himſelf had
founded. --Harold was twice married: by his firſt
wife, whoſe name is unknown, he had three ſons,
Godwyne, Edmund, and Ulfe, the two former of
whom, in the ſecond year of the Conqueror's reign,
landing with ſome forces out of Ireland, made great
ſpoil in the weſtern parts of England, and returned
there again ſafely with their booty, Ulfe being af-
terwards priſoner in Normandy with Duncan, ſon of
Malcome, king of Scots, was with hiin*ſet at liberty,
and knighted by Robert, eldeſt ſon of the Conqueror,
when he returned thither on his father's death. He
had alſo two daughters, of whom Gunild, the eldeſt,
falling blind, paſſed her days in a nunnery, and the
youngeſt, whoſe Chriſtian name is not known, mar-
ried Waldemar, king of Ruſſia, by whom ſhe had a
daughter, who was mother to Waldemar, king of
Denmark, from whom the Daniſh kings, for many
ages after proceeded. His ſecond wife was Alditha,
by ſome called Algytha, daughter of Alfgar, duke of
Mercia, and widow of Griffin, prince of Wales.---The
lands which earl Harold poſſeſſed in king Edward the
Confeſſor's time were very great, in different counties,
2
a W. Malmíb. lib. iii. cap. 1. H. Hunt. lib. vi. M. Weſtm.an.
1066. Flor. Worceſt. p. 633. S. Dunelm, Col. 195. and Brom-
ton, Col. 960. Knighton, Col. 2343. M. Paris, p. 3. Dugd. Bar.

vol. i. p. 21.
as
THE EARLS OF KENT.
129

4
Norfolk .......
2
as appears by the Conqueror's ſurvey. He had the
following lordſhips : in-- ateing som enw poblis
Yorkſhire..... 4 Kent...
odtubro
.... 2 Surry . 8
Wiltſhire.... 12 Suffex ....
.... 9 Hampſhire ... 8
Dorſetſhire... 4 Berkſhire ....... Staffordſhire.. I
5
Somerſetſhire 11 Hertfordſhire. Io Oxfordſhire... 3
Cornwall ....... 3 Buckinghamſh. 3 Cambridgeſh. I
Devonſhire.. 17 Gloceſterſhire.
Shropihire .... I Worceſterſh... I Leiceſterſhire 3
Effex ..... 15 Herefordſhire. 40 Lincolnſhire.. 8
In all one hundred and ſeventy-five lordſhips.
After the duke of Normandy had, by his ſignal vic-
tory at Haſtings, ſubjected this realm to his abfo-
lute power, it cannot be doubted, but he would uſe
every means for the eſtabliſhing himſelf in his future
dominion. To this end he advanced thoſe to the
chiefeſt truſt and command, who had hazarded their
lives with him in this expedition ; but among theſe,
his neareſt relations were more eſpecially preferred to
the moſt important poſts both of honour and profit..
bODO, BISHOP OF BAYEUX, in Normandy, and his
half-brother, had attended him in his expedition hi-
ther, and though an eccleſiaſtic, in conſideration of
his kindred to him, was raiſed to the Earldoin of
Kent, being the firſt place of power and truſt, which
after the victory at Haſtings king William conferred
upon any one. At the ſame time he had the caſtle
of Dover (called, from its ſtrength and importance,
Clavis et repagulum totius regni, i.e. the lock and key
of the whole kingdom) and this whole county com-
mitted to his charge; ſoon after which he was joined
with William Fitz Ofberne, commander in the Con-
queror's army, in the generalſhip or chief command of
all the military forces
of the whole realm. Odo was
likewiſe a count palatine, which title was given to him,
Toyob
Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 20.
VOL. I.
not
PUEDE
a
K
130
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
not as he was earl of Kent, or a local earl (for this
earldom was not palatine) but as he had a perfonal
office in the court under the king, or a general power
of lieutenancy, created in the court, but extended
through the kingdom, in conſequence of which he
gave laws as king, having power over all other earls
and great men of the land. He was alſo one of the
barons of the king's exchequer, and Juſticiarius Angliæ,
that is, the principal perſon under the king for admini-
ſtering of juſtice throughout the whole nation, which
high and eminent office after him continued till to-
wards the latter end of king Henry III.'s reign, Odo
at that time being reputed the wiſeſt man in England.
In Lent, after the coronation, the king going into
Normandy, left Odo, together with William Fitz Of
berne, guardians of the kingdom in his abfence, with
directions to build caſtles throughout the land, where-
ever they thought fit. Upon this Odo feated him-
felf in Kent, and became ſo powerful, that no man
durft oppoſe him; he even ſeized ſeveral lordſhips be-
longing to the archbiſhop of Canterbury, which be-
ing made known to Lanfranc, when he was advanced
to that fee, in the fifth year of that reign, he imme
diately made his complaint to the king, who com-
manded, that the whole county of Kent, eſpecially
thoſe who had moſt knowledge of the antient uſages
and cuſtoms there fhould, without delay, aſſemble
and do right therein. Meeting therefore on Pinen-
den-heath, Geffrey, bifhop of Conſtance, fat in the
king's ſtead as chief judge, and, after much diſpute,
paffed fentence in favour of the archbiſhop, that he
ſhould enjoy the lands belonging to his church, as
freely as the king himſelf did his own demeſne lands.b
But the extraordinary power and wealth which Odo
so
a Seld. Tit. of Hon. p. 686.
• Mad. Excheq. p. 743. Dugd. Orig. p. 20. Dugd. Bar. vol. i.
p. 23. See more of this meeting under Boxley.
had

.
EARLS OF KENTMI
131

1
had amaſſed by pillaging the Engliſh, made him ſo
forgetful of himſelf, that he grew both violent, op-
preffive, and ambitious. Nay, he became ſo highly
elated, that he determined to employ his money in
purchafing the papacy. To that end he bought a
ſtately palace at Rome, and filled it with coſtly fur-
niture, where he deſigned to reſide, and to convey all
his treaſures thither, that he might be ready, on the
pope's death, to put his deſign in execution. In the
mean time, as he wiſhed to conceal his intentions, he
took the opportunity of the king his brother's abſence
in Normandy to begin his journey to Rome, and ha-
ving allured, by the promiſe of large gifts, Hugh earl
of Cheſter, and a great band of choice foldiers, to fol-
low him into Italy, he went, accompanied by them,
to the iſle of Wight, where his fhips lay ready for
him, but contrary winds preventing his embarking ſo
foon as he expected, he was forced to remain ſome
time there. This broke all his meaſures ; for the king,
having intelligence of his deſign, came over haſtily
and ſurprized him, juft as he was ſetting fail, and or-
dered him to be ſeized immediately, but as he was a
biſhop no one dared to touch him; whereupon the
king himſelf laid hands on him, Odo at the ſame time
crying out, that he was a clerk, and as ſuch could
not be fentenced by any but the pope; to which the
king replied, that he neither ſentenced any clerk, or
biſhop, but his own eart, whom he had inade vice-
gerent in his kingdom ; to which method the king
was adviſed by archbiſhop Lanfranc, which Odo never
forgave, but ever afterwards bore an implacable hatred
to him, and the king, reſolving that he ſhould give
an account of that truſt, commanded him to be car-
ried into Normandy, where he was kept a priſoner, in
the caſtle of Roan, the remaining four years of the
Conqueror's reign. Odo, quickly after his ſeizure,
c Alford's Annals, 1077.
being
132
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

being convicted of numberleſs extortions, his effects
and lands were all confiſcated to the king's uſe.*
Whilſt the king was in his laſt fickneſs, among other
priſoners of ſtate, he refuſed to releaſe his brother
Odo, however, on William Rufus's acceſſion to the
throne, anno 1087, he was ſet at liberty, and coming
over to England, was confirmed in the poſſeſſion of
his earldom of Kent, and was much favoured by the
King, but when Odo found he had not the whole
ſway and diſpoſal of every thing, as formerly, he fell
off from his allegiance, and ſeduced many others to
do the ſame; inciting them to advance Robert Cur-
thoſe, (eldeſt ſon of the king, to whom he had left
the dukedom of Normandy,) to the throne of Eng-
land, and in order thereto, he began an inſurrection
in Kent, where he burnt ſeveral towns belonging to the
king and archbiſhop Lanfranc, to which latter he bore
an implacable hatred, attributing all the misfortunes
which had befallen him in the former reign to his ad-
vice and counſel. Odo carried all his plunder to Ro-
cheſter, of which he had the cuſtody, from whence
he marched to his caſtle of Pevenfey, in Suſſex, where
he was in hopes he inight hold out a ſiege till the
duke of Normandy could come to his relief; but at
the end of ſix weeks he was forced, for want of food,
to ſurrender it up to the king, and to promiſe, on
oath, to quit the realm, and never to return to it
until the king ſhould command him. Beſides, he
bound himſelf to deliver up, before his departure, the
caſtle of Rocheſter, where many gallant men, and
the chief of the Norman lords, were ſhut up under
the command of Euſtace, earl of Boulogne. For this
purpoſe he was conducted to the gates of Rocheſter,
where he feigned to perſuade the governor
deliver
up the city; but Euſtace, gueſſing at his meaning,
detained him, and the ſoldiers who conducted him,
2 Alford's Annals, 1083.
• Ibid. 1087.
priſoners.
TUEARLS OF KENTAVO
133

priſoners. Upon this the king immediately marched
with his army to Rocheſter, and beſieged the city fo
vigorouſly, that thoſe in it were at laſt compelled to
ſurrender themſelves, and Odo loſing all his honours,
for ever abjured the kingdom, and went into Nor-
mandy, where he was received by duke Robert, and
had the whole care of that province committed to
him. The character given in general of Odo, by
hiſtorians is very great; Ordericus Vitalis fums it up
as follows: he was eloquent and magnanimous,
courtly and courageous; he honoured religious men
much, and ſtoutly defended his clergy, as well with
his tongue as his ſword. In his youth, in regard to his
kindred, he was advanced to the biſhopric of Bayeux,
in which he ſat more than fifty years. The church
of our Lady at Bayeux he built from the ground, and
furniſhed it with coſtly veſtments, and different orna-
ments of gold and ſilver. In the church of Saint Vin
gor (formerly biſhop of Bayeux) which is fituate near
the wall of the city, he placed monks, and made it a
cell to the abbey of Dijon. He ſent young ſcholars
to Liege, and other cities, where he knew the ſtudy
of philoſophy flouriſhed, and gave them large exhibi
tions for their ſupport in learning. Of thoſe educa-
ted by him were Thomas, archbiſhop of York, and
Sampſon his brother, biſhop of Worceſter; William
de Ros, abbot of Fiſchamp, in Normandy; Thurf-
ton, abbot of Glaſtonbury, and many others. Thus,
notwithſtanding he was much entangled with worldly
cares, he did many laudable things, beſtowing his
wealth, however indirectly gotten, on the church and
poor. To conclude the life of this great man; be-
ing at length tired of the world, he undertook a jour-
ney to Rome with duke Robert his nephew, but died
at Palermo, in Sicily, in the year 1096, and was bu-
ried in the church of our Lady there. He left a na-
· Dugd. Bar. vol. 1, p. 23. Rapin, p. 183. Alf, Ann. 1088.
K 3
tural
134
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

tural ſon, named John, who was afterwards, for his
eloquence and ingenuity, of great eſteem in the court
of king Henry I. The lands and poſeſſions which
Odo had in England were wonderfully great, all
which were given him by the bounty of king Wil-
liam, his brother. In Kent he had no leſs than one
hundred and eighty-four lordſhips, or the greateſt
part of them, and in other counties two hundred and
fifty-five more. The ſeal of Odo is not only ex-
tremely rare, but very ſingular, in reſpect to the fi-
gures repreſented thereon. On the one ſide of it he
appears as an earl mounted on his war horſe, clad in
armour, and holding a ſword in his right hand; but
on the reverſe, he appears in his character of a biſhop,
dreſſed in his pontifical habit, and as pronouncing
the benediction. He is ſaid to have borne for his
coat armour, Gules a lion rampant argent, ſurmounted by
a biſhop's crozier in bend finiſter
. or. The monks of
Saint Andrew's priory in Rocheſter uſed to celebrate
his anniverſary, by ſaying maſs at the leſſer altar, and
diſplaying three flags on the lefſer tower.
WILLIAM DE IPRE° was the next earl of Kent,
concerning whoſe parentage there is much difference
among authors, fome affirming him to be an illegi-
timate ſon of Philip, earl of Ipre, in Flanders, by the
- daughter of William Laon, viſcount of Ipre, ſecond
ſon to Robert le Friſon, earl of Flanders; others,
that he was ſon of Robert, marquis of thoſe parts of
Picardy. After having given great proofs of his cou-
ſage in Flanders and Normandy, as well during the
latter part of king Henry I.'s reign, as the beginning
of king Stephen's, he took part with the latter againſt
Maud the empreſs, and did that prince ſeveral ſignal
pieces of ſervice, as well in Normandy as in England,
for which he was created Earl of Kent by king Ste-
С
a Guill,
p.
286.
• Cuſtumal. Roff. Harris, p. 419.
Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p: 611.
phen,
TWEARLS OF KENT.
Tida
135

phen, in the fixth year of his reign. Before the end
of that year the king meeting with his adverſaries at
Lincolne, gave them battle, in which encounter this
earl had a chief command, and behaved with great
courage, notwithſtanding which the king's forces were
routed, king Stephen himſelf, with the chief of his
friends, made priſoners, and his enemies obtained the
victory, and the earl, ſeeing all was loſt, ſaved him-
ſelf and his men by a ſeaſonable retreat. After this
victory the empreſs was immediately acknowledged
as fovereign in all parts of the realm except in Kent,
where the queen and this earl had great power. Soon
after which the former, obſerving that the empreſs had
loft the affections of the people by her haughty be-
haviour, took the advantage of it, and by the aſſif-
tance of this earl, and other nobles, raiſed another
army, which ſoon after, by that ſignal victory ob-
tained at Glouceſter, turned the ſcale, ſo that the
king was ſet at liberty. It is reported of this earl,
that in the times of hoſtility between Maud the em-
preſs and king Stephen, he burnt the abbey of Wher-
welle, in Hampſhire, becauſe the nuns of that houſe
harboured ſome of the empreſs's followers. But when
the times grew more calm and quiet, he made fuf-
ficient recompence, by founding the abbey at Boxley,
in this county, for Ciftercian monks, in the year 1146.
Earl William is ſaid by Camden to have fortified the
town of Rye, in Suſſex, and to have built a tower
there, which, in memory of him, was called Ipre's
tower; he likewiſe obtained ſeveral immunities and
privileges for it, in common with the reſt of the
cinque ports. On the death of king Stephen, this
earl, with the reſt of the Flemniſh, of which he was
principal, was forced to depart the kingdom ; after
which, betaking himſelf to a monaſtic life, he died a

d
Dudg. Bar. vol. i. p. 611,612. Tan. Mon. p. 213. Rapin,
vol. i. p. 206. 223. Camd. Brit. p. 211.
monk,
K4
136
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
monk, in the abbey of Laon, in Flanders, in 1962.
He is ſaid by York herald to have borne for his arins,
Girony of ten or, and azure, an eſcutcheon gules, over all
a baton finiſter humette argent, though it plainly appears
by the quarterings borne by the Derings of Surrenden,
in which this of Ipre is the fourth, that he bore ar-
gent, two bars vaire azure and gules. Normannus Fitz
Dering, anceſtor to the preſent family of Dering, of
Surrenden, in this county, is ſaid to have married Ma-
tilda, only ſiſter and heir of this William de Ipre, earl
of Kent. In the reign of king Henry II. his ſon,
whom he had cauſed to be crowned likewiſe king,
having a deſign to raiſe a rebellion againſt his fa-
ther, did, upon that account, give the title of Earl
of Kent to Philip, earl of Flanders, but he was earl
of Kent no otherwiſe than by bare title and promiſe ;
for as Gervas of Dover tells us, this Philip promiſed
his utmoſt affiſtance to the young king, binding him-
ſelf to homage by oath. In return for which the
king promiſed him revenues of one thouſand pounds,
with all Kent, the caſtle of Rocheſter, and the caſtle
of Dover.
HUBERT DE BURGH was the next earl of Kent,
the chief of whoſe family, (according to our beſt
ge-
nealogiſts) was Williain Fitz Aldelme, ſteward to king
Henry Il. and governor of Wexford, in Ireland,
whoſe younger brother John, was father of Hubert de
Burgh above-mentioned, who was in ſuch eſtimation
with king John, that in the third year of his reign,
being chamberlain of his houſehold, he was conſtitu-
ted warden of the marches of Wales, and governor
of Dover caſtle. The next year, when Philip, king
of France, had pofſeffed himſelf of all Normandy, he,
with the biſhop of Ely, was ſent embaſſador to treat
with him for the reſtitution of it. From the 4th to



a York's Heraldry, p. 174.
b
Camd. p. 259. Lel. Itin. vol. vii. p. 131. Coll. vol.i. p. 287.
the
EARLS OF KENT.
137
the 15th year of king John he executed the office of
ſheriff of ſeveral counties, and in the 16th year he
was feneſchal of Poictu, and the next enſuing year,
when the barons roſe in arms againſt the king, le
was appointed one of the commiſſioners to treat with
them at Runimede, near Stanes, where the king gran-
ted to the people, what had been ſo eagerly contend-
ed for by thoſe barons, in the two famous charters of
liberty, called Magna Charta and Charta de Foreſta,
and for the great eſtimation the king had of his me-
rits, he advanced him to that eminent office of Juf.
tice of England. Soon after which he was conſtituted
ſheriff of Kent and Surry, governor of the caſtle of
Canterbury, and conſtable of Dover-caſtle; beſides
which he had other truſts conferred on him. At the
latter end of the ſame year, he obtained a grant of
the lordſhip and hundred of Hoo, and was again ap-
pointed one of the commiſſioners to treat with Rich-
ard, earl of Clare, and others, on the part of the ba-
rons, in the church at Erith, in this county, concern-
ing a peace between the king and them. In the 18th
year of the ſame reign, upon the landing of Lewis of
France, whom the barons had then called in, having
the caſtle of Dover ſtill in his charge, he ſtoutly de-
fended it againſt him. And as he ſtood firm to king
John in his great diſtreſſes, ſo he did to Henry IIT.
his fon and ſucceſſor, then of tender age ; for when
Lewis again beſieged Dover-caſtle, and defiring to
ſpeak to him, tried to perſuade him, that king John
being dead, he was under no obligation to hold it
againſt him, promiſing, if he would deliver it up, to
enrich him with great honours, and advance him to
be the chief of his council. He boldly anſwered,
that though the king his maſter was dead, he had left
both fons and daughters, who ought to ſucceed him,
and that he would ſay more to him, when he had
fpoke with his fellow ſoldiers in the caſtle, which he
foon did, abſolutely refuſing, by ſo doing, to incur
the




138
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
the guilt of treaſon. Upon which Lewis quitted the
fiege, and returned to London. Soon after this, when
Euftace le Moyne, an eminent perſon in France, with
ten more lords, came with a great fleet in aid of Lewis,
Hubert, having but eight ſhips, encountered him at fea,
took him priſoner, and cut off his head. In the 4th year
of king Henry III. upon the death of W. Marefchal,
earl of Pembroke, who had been governor of the king
and kingdom, (the king being then but fourteen years
of age, he ſucceeded him in that truſt. The next year
he ſuppreſſed a great and dangerous inſurrection in
London, and in the 8th year of that reign, was con-
ftituted governor of the caſtles of Arundel and Rochef-
ter. Hubert having executed the office of ſheriff of
Kent, from the beginning of the third, to the end of
the eleventh year of that reign, he was, upon the
11th of February that year advanced to the dignity of
Earl of Kent, gladio comitatus Cantii aceinatus, as M.
Paris writes; and upon the ſame day he obtained a
grant of the manors of Eftbrigg and Oſpringe in this
county, as he did, foon after, of ſeveral other manors
and lands in different counties, and a confirmation of
others, purchaſed by him, among which were all the
lands of Baldwin, earl of Guiſnes, in Newington, near
Hyth, and the manor of Tunſtal, purchaſed from Ro-
bert Arſic; and in conſideration of his eminent ſervi.
ces, as well to the king as his father, by the advice of
the peers of the whole realm, he had a grant of that
great office of juſtice of England, to hold during his
life, as alſo of the caſtle and port of Dover, with the
jevenues of that haven, and of the caſtles of Rocheſter
and Canterbury, during his life, with the fee of one
thouſand marks per annum for the cuſtody of them.--
Having been created earl of Kent, as before-men-
tioned, he obtained a grant in the 13th year of king
Henry III. of fifty pounds ſterling per annum, in


• Madox's Exchequer, p. 25. Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 693-
lieu
EARLS OF KENT. SOLID 139
lieu of the third penny of this county, to be received
yearly from the ſheriff, at which time he had the fur-
ther grant of ſeveral honors, manors, and lands in dif-
ferent parts of the realm, and upon the collection of
the fcutage of Kerry at that time, he anſwered for one
hundred and thirty-eight knights fees and upwards. In
the 16th year of that reign, increaſing in his intereſt
with the king, he procured a ſpecial charter of pri-
vileges, that in caſe of ſickneſs, or abſence, he ſhould
have power to aſſign a ſubſtitute, to be approved of
by the king, in that high office of juſtice of England.
Soon after
which he obtained a grant of the office of
juſtice of Ireland for life ; he had alſo the cuſtody of
the tower of London, with the caſtles of Odyham and
Windſor, and the wardenſhip of that foreſt, being the
greateſt and richeſt ſubject at that time in Europe.-
Soon after this the king's favour towards him declined
apace, for the ſame year, through the inſtigation of
Peter de Rupibus, biſhop of Wincheſter, who then be-
gan to bear the chief fway at court, he was firſt to-
tally diſplaced from his office of juſtice of England, as
well as from the cuſtody of the caſtles of Dover, Can-
terbury, Rocheſter, Windfor, Odyham, Hertford, Col-
cheſter, and the tower of London, Stephen de Segrave
ſucceeded him in all theſe truſts : at the ſame time he
was ſtrictly required to give account of all the king's
treaſures, with which he had at any time meddled, of
the different receipts of the king's debts, revenues,
public and private, and of whatſoever elſe had been
loſt through his negligence; but theſe were but trivial
matters, in compariſon of what his enemies afterwards
objected againſt him of treaſon in moſt of the negocia-
tions and tranſactions with foreign princes, in which he
had been concerned. The ſcene being thus changed,
he was forſaken by all, except the archbiſhop of Dub-
lin, who, with tears, earneſtly interceded for him in
vain, for Hubert was thrown into priſon, and treated
with many indignities and much hard uſage, which

moved
140
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
moved his ſtedfaſt friend, the archbiſhop, to intercede
again for him, who at laſt prevailed ſo far, that he had
his choice, either to abjure the realın for ever, or toſub-
mit to perpetual impriſonment, or elſe openly to ac-
knowledge himſelf a traitor. To theſe hard propoſals
he anſwered, knowing he had done nothing to deſerve
them, that he was content to quit the kingdom, but
not to abjure it for ever. In the mean time the king
was told, that Hubert had depoſited great treaſures in
the new Temple London ; upon which he ſent his trea-
ſurer, together with the juſtices of the exchequer, to
Hubert, who had ſurrendered himſelf, and was then in
fetters in the Tower, to demand them of him, who
freely ſubmitted himſelf to the king's pleaſure, and di-
rected the templars to deliver up the keys to the king.
Great ſtore of plate, both gold and ſilver, much mo-
ney, and many jewels of great value, were found de-
poſited by Hubert in the Temple, all which the king
cauſed to be carried to his treaſury. Soon after this
the king, out of compaſſion to him, permitted him to
enjoy for his neceſſary fupport all the lands which he
had been poſſeſſed of, either by grant from king John,
or by his own acquiſition. Hubert, not long after this,
was bailed from his ſtrict impriſonment by Richard, earl
of Cornwall, the king's brother, and other great men,
and ſent to the caſtle of Deviſes; during his ſtay there,
the king relenting, granted him a full and free pardon
for his flight and outlawry, and that his heirs ſhould
freely enjoy all the lands of his own inheritance; but
as for ſuch as he had otherwiſe obtained, he ſhould truſt
to the king's favour, who retained all thoſe of his own
demeſne, which through his bounty he had beſtowed on
him, as well as the caſtle of Mongomery, and other
caſtles in England and Wales. After which, by a ſpe-
cial grant, Hubert quitted his title to the office of juf-
tice of England, in conſideration of which he had reſ-

a
Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 696. Fox's Martyrs, vol. i. p. 312.
titution
IMÉARLS OF KENT. ES 141
titution of a vaſt proportion of lands in different coun-
ties, fome of which were of his own inheritance, others
part of the lands of his former wife, Beatrix de War-
ren, and others granted to him by different perſons,
which grant of the king's bears date in the 18th year
of his reign. iBut the greateſt part of theſe, under pre-
tence of making reſtitution to thoſe whom Hubert had
oppreſſed, were again taken from him, by which means
he was left in a very neceſſitous condition. Hubert
being ſtill a priſoner in the caſtle of Deviſes, the biſhop
of Wincheſter ſolicited the king to appoint him go-
vernor of it, that he might have a fitter opportunity to
murder him ; but Hubert having private intimation of
this, eſcaped over the caſtle wall, in the night, to the
pariſh church, and there took refuge at the high altar ;
but this was of no advantage to him, for the ſheriff
had orders to beſiege him there,' and ſtarve him to
death. In this deſperate condition ſome of the ſoldiers
had compaſſion on him, and took him thence to ſome
of his friends, who putting a military habit on him,
conveyed him into Wales. Here Hubert remained till
the concluſion of the peace between king Henry and
Leoline, prince of Wales, the firſt condition of which
was a reconciliation between the king and all his nobles,
who having adhered to Leoline had been baniſhed the
realm'; whereupon this earl, among others, was then at
Glouceſter, received in favour. The king, ſoon after,
in his 21ſt year, grew highly offended with him again,
on account of Richard earl of Glouceſter, a minor, hav-
ing clandeſtinely married Margaret, the earl's daughter,
without licence, the king having deſigned to marry him
to a near relation of his own, but being ſatisfied this
had been tranſacted without the knowledge of Hubert,
he was at length pacified with the promiſe of a ſum of
money; and though Hubert after this remained faithful
to the king at a tiine ſo many others deſerted him, ne-
abast ter boniot vudistas do golddong and mom
bub Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 698. Fox, vol. i. p. 313. to 317.
vertheleſs,

142
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

vertheleſs, in expectation of extorting more money from
him, the king again charged him with many crimes, to
fatisfy whom, he was adjudged, in the 24th year of that
reign, to give up four of his chiefeft caſtles ; to which,
being wholly worn out with trouble and ſorrows, he
quietly ſubmitted, on condition that he might enjoy the
reſt of his poſſeſſions in peace, and that he, and Marga
ret his wife, and the ſurvivor of them, ſhould enjoy all
his other lands. He ſurvived this calm but a few years,
for died at Banftede in Surry, on the 12th of May,
in the twenty-ſeventh year of that reign, and his corpſe
being brought to London, was there honorably interred
within the church of the Friars Preachers, commonly
called the Black Friars, in Holborne, to which con-
vent he had been a large benefactor, having among
other things, beſtowed on it his palace at Weſtminſter,
aftewards purchaſed by the archbiſhop of York, and
called Whitehall. His works of piery were many to
ſeveral religious houſes, according to the cuſtom of
the times he lived in: particularly he gave to the canons
of Bradſole, alias St. Radigunds, near Dover, the church
of Porteſlade; he founded the hoſpital of our Lady in
Dover, and the church of the Maiſon Dieu in that
town. As to his wives, he firſt married Joan, daughter
of William de Vernun, earl of Devonſhire, and widow
of William de Briwer, with whom he had in marriage
the whole iſle of Wight, and other poffeffions ; fe-
condly, Beatrix, daughter of William de Warren, of
Wirmegay in Norfolk, and widow of Dodo Bardolph;
thirdly, Iſabell, third daughter and coheir of William,
earl of Glouceſter, widow of Geffrey de Mandeville,
earl of Effex, whom king John had firſt repudiated; and
fourthly, Margaret, daughter of William, king of Scot-
land, whom, the court being then, anno 5 Henry III.
at York, he there folemnly married, the king him-
ſelf, with many of the nobility, being preſent at the cere-
mony, the archbiſhop of Canterbury joined their hands
together. He left by his laſt wife two ſons, John and
Hubert,
TV EARLS OF KENT. HIVIO
143

Hubert, and two daughters, Margaret and Magot;
of whom Margaret was married to Richard de Clare,
earl of Glouceſter, as has been before mentioned. Of
the fons, John, the eldeſt, ſided with the rebellious ba-
rons, and his lands were ſeized, but he ſucceeded as his
father's heir. Hubert, the younger fon, was anceſtor
to Thomas Burgh, of Sterborough caſtle, in the coun-
tý of Surry, who, in the third year of king Henry VII.
was created lord Borough ; but neither of theſe fons
enjoyed the title of earl of Kent. He bore for his
coat armour, Gules ſeven lozenges vaire, three, three
and one. Camden ſaith of this great man, that he was
an entire lover of his country, and amidſt the ſtorms
of adverſity, diſcharged all the duties that it could de-
mand from the beſt of ſubjects.
EDMUND, ſecond ſon of king Edward I. by Mar-
garet, his ſecond wife, was the next Earl of Kent. He
was ſurnamed, of Woodſtock, from his birth at that
place in Oxfordſhire, anno 1301, being the twenty-
ninth of his father's reign. In the 13th year of king
Edward II. he was in the wars of Scotland, and the
fame year obtained of the king, his brother, ſeveral
lordſhips, lands, and rents in different counties; all
which were granted to him, in part of the performance
of what his father had by his teſtament appointed, viz.
that his fon, king Edward II. ſhould ſettle upon this
Edmund his brother, as he expected his bleſſing, lands
to the value of two thouſand marks per annum. The
next year he had ſeveral privileges granted for ſeveral
of his lordſhips, and was alſo fummoned to parliament
as baron of Woodſtock; and the year after, he was
upon the 28th day of July created earl of Kent, per
cinturam gladii, by which title he was then ſummoned to
400 totdatos
02 Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 694, 699, 700. Strype's Stow's Survey,
vol. ii. p. 72. Sandford's Gen. Hiſt. p 49. on Beam
+ York's Heraldry, p. 175.
• Camd. Brit. p. 261.
I tryigit bigration
parliament,
144
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
parliament, the lords of which, with their numerous
attendants, were at this time entertained at the king's
charge. The proviſions for this purpoſe were fent up
from the ſeveral counties, in conſequence of writs ſent
to the ſeveral ſheriffs. Thus the ſheriff of Kent, by
writ as 6 Edward II. was commanded to provide one
hundred quarters of corn, one hundred quarters of malt,
two hundred of oats, forty oxen, one hundred muttons,
and forty hogs, the coſts of which was to be allowed
him in his accounts. The earl of Kent at the ſame
time had a grant of the caſtle of Okham in the county
of Rutland, and in farther ſupplement of the above-
mentioned two thouſand marks per annum, a grant of
the manor of Kingſbury in the county of Somerſet. In
this year alſo he was conſtituted governor of Tonebrigge
caſtle in this county, and upon that inſurrection then
made by Thomas, earl of Lancaſter, was one of thoſe
to whom the king granted commiſſion to purſue and
take him, and for that purpoſe to lay ſiege to his caftle
of Pontefract ; upon the taking of that earl afterwards
at Burrowbrigg, he was one of the chief perſons that
gave fentence of death upon him. In the aft
year
of
king Edward III. he was in an expedition made into
Scotland, and the ſame year obtained a grant of the
town, caſtle, and honor of Arundel in Suſſex, the manor
of Swanſcombe in this county, and ſeveral other lord-
ſhips and lands. To this earl the care of king Edward
III. during his minority, was principally committed, and
with him were joined in this important truſt, Henry,
earl of Lincoln, and Roger, lord Mortimer of Wig-
more. In conſideration of his good and acceptable fer-
vices, and in part of his father's bequeſt to him, he ob-
tained the next year ſeveral lordſhips and lands, and
had afterwards the important poft of conſtable of Do-
ver-caſtle conferred on him. In the third year of king
Edward III. he had poſſeſſion granted of the dowry of

a Dugd. Orig. p. 18. Rym. Fæd. vol. iii. p. 418.
Margaret
DI CARLS OF KENT.
.
145

Margaret his wife, (widow of John Comin, of Bade-
nagh,) lying in Tyndale, which Margaret was daughter
of John, and ſiſter and heir of Thomas, lord Wake.
The occaſion of his death is variouſly related; however,
the general opinion is, it was for plotting the reſtora-
tion of king Edward II. his brother, who, he had been
informed, had eſcaped that cruel murder in Berkley-
caſtle, which was generally believed to have been acted
upon him, and which, indeed was but too true, that
prince having been murdered near twelve months be-
fore. Being accuſed of treaſon, he was arreſted at a
council held at Wincheſter, in the 4th year of king
Edward III. upon which, having made his confeſſion,
he ſubmitted to mercy; but by the malice of queen
Ifabel, who governed all during the minority of her
fon, and of Roger, lord Mortimer, her minion, he was
not only adjudged to die for high treaſon, for plot-
ting the delivery of the late king, but was led forth
to execution at Wincheſter that very day; where he
ſtaid on the ſcaffold from noon till five o'clock in the
evening, expecting the fatal ſtroke, which no one would
give him till a malefactor out of the Marſhalſea, being
promiſed his life as a reward, beheaded him. Immedi-
ately after which, proclamations were diſperſed through-
out England to inform the people of the reaſon of his
being put to death. In the king's letter to the pope,
concerning this earl's execution, he was accuſed of hav-
ing conſulted an evil ſpirit, who had aſſured him, king
Edward II. was yet alive, though the earl himſelf had
attended his funeral. The lands and rents of which he
died poſſeſſed were very great ; among others were ſe-
veral manors and eſtates in this county, beſides the
yearly rent of thirty pounds, payable out of the profits of
the county, by the hands of the ſheriff of it for the time
1
Dugd. Bar. vol. ii. p. 92, 93. Cott. Libr. Veſpaſian. A,
5, 21.
VOL. 1.
koue being.
sondheid
146
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

being. Several of theſe lordſhips and rents were al-
figned, ſhortly after, to Margaret his widow, for her
dowry. By her the earl had two ſons, Edmund and
John, ſucceſſively earls of Kent, of whom hereafter, and
a daughter, Joane, firſt married to fir Thomas Holand,
knight, next to William de Montague, earl of Salif-
bury, and laſtly to Edward, prince of Wales, commonly
called the Black Prince. He bore for his arms, Gules,
three lions paſſant guardant or, a bordure argented ?
The
arms of Margaret Wake, his wife, were, or two bars
gules, three torteuxes in chief, which coat ſtands impaled
with earl Edmond's, in a window in Cheſterfield church
in the county of Derby. The above coat of this earl,
viz. three lions within a bordure is carved on the roof
of the cloyſters of the cathedral church of Canterbury,
and on the roof of the ſouthern part of that church; it
was depicted in the windows of Wickham-brews
church, and remained a few years ago on ſome ſmall
antique tiles in South-fleet church.
EDMUND PLANTAGENET, eldeſt ſon of the laſt earl,
was, upon his petition in the parliament held that year,
reſtored to the Earldom of Kent, his father's attainder
being reverſed; but he died the next year the king's
ward, and without iſſue, leaving his brother John to
ſucceed him. He bore the ſame arms as his father.
John PLANTAGENET, brother to the laſt earl, ſuc-
ceeded him in the Earldom of Kent, and making proof
of his age in the 25th year of king Edward III. had
poffeſfion granted of all his lands, his mother being
then dead, in which year he ſat in parliament, by the ti-
tle of earl of Kent; but he did not long ſurvive, for he
died on St. Stephen's day in the year following, anno
26 Edward III. and was buried in the church of the
Friars Minors, at Wincheſter. He married Elizh,
2 Rym. Foed. vol. iv. p. 424. Dugd. Bar. vol. ii. p. 94. Sandf,
Gen. Hiſt. p. 213. Rot. Eſch.
h Sandf. Gen. Hift. p. 213.
Cott. Records, p. 77. Dugd. Bar. ibid.
daughter
TWEARLS OF KENT. C
147

daughter of the duke of Juliers, ſhe ſurvived him, and
afterwards took upon her the habit of a nun in the
abbey of Waverley, after which, quitting her profef-
fion, ſhe clandeſtinely married Euſtace Dabridgecourt,
ſecond ſon of the lord Dabridgecourt of Henault, in
the chapel of the manſion-houſe of Robert de Brome,
a canon in the collegiate church of Wingham, without
licence from the archbiſhop of Canterbury, for which
both ſhe and her huſband were fentenced to a ſevere
but moſt ridiculous penance. She died 12 Henry IV.
and by her will ordered her body to be buried in the
church of the Friars Minors at Wincheſter, in the tomb
of her late huſband, John earl of Kent, who had no iſ-
fue by her ;d upon which foane her fifter, then the wife
of fir Thomas Holand, knight, was found to be his
next heir.. He died poſſeſſed of money and lands in
this and ſeveral other counties, and of the yearly fee, as
earl of Kent, of thirty pounds, payable out of the
fits of this county by the hands of the ſheriff for the
time being. The arms of this John, and Elizh his
wife, were painted in a window of the cathedral church
of Litchfield, being the ſame as his brother's, impaled
with Fuliers, or a lion rampant ſable.
JOANE PLANTAGENET, fifter and heir of the laſt-
mentioned John earl of Kent, and called for her ad-
mirable beauty, the Fair Maid of Kent, was at that
time the wife of fir Thomas Holand, knight, fecond
ſon of fir Robert Holand of Lancaſhire, by Maud his
wife, daughter of Alan de la Zouch. Sir Thomas
Holand fignaliſed himſelf greatly in the wars of France,
eſpecially at the famous battle of Crefíi, where he had
a chief command in the van of prince Edward's army.
Theſe exploits gained him ſuch a high reputation for
courage and military ſkill, that in the 24th year of king
Edward HII. he was elected into the moſt noble order

pro-


Dugd. Bar. ibid. Lel. Itin. vol. iii. p. 750 tons
Inquis poft Mort. anno 27 Edward III.
of
L 2
1
148
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
of the garter, at that time founded by the king. Be-
fore which, being ſteward of the houſhold to William
Montague, earl of Saliſbury, he fell deeply in love
with Joane Plantagenet above mentioned, and having
contracted himſelf to her, had knowledge of her, but
being called abroad before he could folemnize his mar-
riage, the earl of Saliſbury took advantage of his ab-
ſence, and inticed her to make a ſecond contract with
him, and at fir Thomas Holand's return unjuſtly de-
tained her from him ; but upon an appeal to the pope,
he, upon hearing the merits of the cauſe, gave fentence
in favor of fir Thomas, who, in conſequence thereof,
poſſeſſed her, and the earl of Saliſbury acquiefcing after-
wards, married another woman. After which, anna
26. Edward III. fir Thomas Holand, obtained a grant
of one hundred marks per annum for the better fup-
port of Joane his wife, during her life, and having iſa
fue by her two years afterwards, and doing his homage,
he had poffeffion granted of the lands of her inheri-
tance, excepting the dowry of Elizh, widow of John,
late earl of Kent. Next year, being made lieutenant
and captain-general in the dukedom of Britanny, and
parts of Poictou adjacent, as well as in other places be-
longing to John, Duke of Britanny, then in his mino-
rity, he had for his fupport in that ſervice aſſignation
of the whole revenues of that dukedom. In the zoth
year of king Edward III. he was conſtituted governor
of the iſles of Guernſey, Jerſey, Sark, and Alderney,
and the next year governor of the fort of Cruyk, in
Normandy, and the year after that, of the caſtle and
fort of St. Saviour le Viſcount, &c. He had fum-
mons to parliament from the 27th to the gift of this
reign, among the barons of this realm, by the title of
Thomas de Holand, chevalier. In the 34th year of
that reign he aſſumed the title of Earl of Kent, in right
of his wife, for it does not appear that he had ever
any creation to that dignity; by which title he had
fummons


EARLS OF KENT. V
149
-
ſummons to parliament that year. But before the
end of it he died, being then poſſeffed of ſeveral manors
and lands in this county among others. By Joane, his
wife, he left three fons, Thomas, Edmund, and John;
which John was afterwards created duke of Exe-
ter, and married Elizabeth, ſecorid daughter of John
of Gaunt, duke of Lancaſter, by whom he had three
fons and a daughter, Conſtance, married firſt to Tho-
mas Mowbray, duke of Norfolk, by whom ſhe had
no iſſue; and fecondly to John, lord Gray of Ruthin,
from whom all the earls of Kent of that family de-
rived their deſcent. After his death his widow ſtill re-
tained fo much beauty and elegance of perſon, that
fhe attracted the admiration of that martial prince, and
heir apparent to the crown of England, Edward, fur-
named the Black Prince, who became ſo enamoured of
her, that, after he had reſuſed feveral illuſtrious match-
es, he, in the twenty-ſixth year of his father's reign,
made choice of her for his wife; but by reaſon of their
conſanguinity (for ſhe was couſin-german to his father,)
they were obliged to have a diſpenſation from the pope.
She outlived prince Edward, her third huſband, hav-
ing had iſſue by him king Richard II. in the 9th year
of whoſe reign, anno 1385, ſhe died, at Wallingford-
caſtle, of grief, as it is ſaid, becauſe the king denied
her earneſt requeſt for the pardon of her ſon,
and his
half-brother, John Holand, who had Nain Ralph, ſon and
heir of Hugh, earl Stafford. Her corpſe, embalmed and
wrapt in lead, was ordered to be honourably entombed
in the church of the Friars Minors, at Stamford. Sir
Thomas Holand bore for his coat armour, azure femi de
lize, and a lion rampant guardant or. The lady Joane, his
wife, during his life-time, bore per pale Holand and Kent.
Her arms, impaled with thoſe of prince Edward, her
Huſband, are carved upon the north ſide of the tomb
of queen Phillippa in Weſtminſter-abbey, and were


a Cott. Records, p. 5. and Rym. Fæd. vol. vi. p. 213.
L 3
alſo
150
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

alſo painted in a window in Chriſt church, New-
gate-ſtreet. In the church of Wickham-brews, in
this county, in the windows, were depicted the arms
of prince Edward, France and England, a label of three
points ; another ſhield, the like coat, impaling Holand;
and a third, the prince of Wales's device, three of
triches feathers, each with a ſcrole on it, ich dien. a to
THOMAS, the eldeſt ſon of Thomas Holand, earl of
Kent above-mentioned, by Joane his wife, ſucceeded
his father, as Earl of Kent, and lord Wake of Lydel.
In the 40th year of Edward III. having been knighted
by the Black Prince, who had married his mother, he
bravely ſupported him in the battle fought that year
with Henry, king of Caſtile. In regard to his near al-
liance to the king, he obtained, for the better ſupport
of his ſtate, in the firſt year of king Richard II. a grant
of two hundred pounds per ann. out of the exchequer,
and was conſtituted general warden of all the foreſts fouth
of Trent, and had afterwards other poſts of truſt con-
ferred on him. Two years afterwards he obtained, in
farther augmentation of his revenue, a grant of ſeveral
rents for the increaſe of the above-mentioned ſum to one
thouſand pounds per annun, and the ſame year he was
appointed marſhal of England. - In the 4th year of that
reign, in which year, and to the 20th of it, he had fum-
mons to parliament as earl of Kent, in the former of
which years he was one of the embaſſadors ſent into
Flanders, to treat of a marriage for king Richard with
Anne, fiſter to the emperor; in the 8th year he was
made general of Cherburgh, and in the 9th year of it,
upon the death of Joane, princeſs of Wales, his mother,
doing his homage, he obtained a ſpecial poſſeſſion and
grant of the lands of her inheritance, though all the in-
quiſitions taken after her death, were not then returned
into chancery, and among other poſſeſſions which ſhe
then held in dower in different counties, was the hun-
2 Sandford's Gen. Hiſt. p. 215. York's Honor, p. 176.
dred
THE EARLS OF KENT.
151

dred of Wachelſtone in this county; ſhe alſo died poffef-
fed in her demeſne as of fee, in other manors and lands;
this Thomas de Holand, earl of Kent, being found
her ſon and heir; and in the 13th year of that reign
he was made conſtable of the tower of London. In the
20th year of it having declared his teſtament by the title
of earl of Kent, and lord Wake, he appointed to be
buried in the abbey of Brune, and bequeathed to Alice
his wife, and Thomas his ſon, all his goods and chattles.
He died on the 25th of April, being then poſſeſſed,
among others, of the manor of Wickham-brews in this
county. He had by Alice his wife, daughter of Rich-
ard Fitzalan, earl of Arundel whom he married in the
34th of king Edw. III. four ſons and fix daughters; viz.
Thomas, who ſucceeded him in titles; Edmund, who
ſucceeded his brother; and John, and Richard, who died
young. Of the daughters, Eleanor married, firſt, Ro-
ger Mortimer, earl of March ; and ſecondly, Edward
Charlton, lord Powis. Margaret was twice married ;
firſt to John Beaufort, earl of Somerſet, afterwards to
Thomas, duke of Clarence, and lies buried, with both
her huſbands, in Canterbury cathedral. Eleanor, the
younger of that name, was the wife of Thomas Mon-
tague, earl of Saliſbury. Joane was firſt wife of Ed-
mund Langley, duke of York, and afterwards of ſir Hen-
ry Bromflete. She next married Henry le Scroope,
of Maſham, and laſtly William de Willoughby, of
Ereſby. Elizabeth married John, lord Nevill, ſon and
heir of the earl of Weſtmoreland; and Bridget was a
nun at Barking. He had alſo by Conſtance, only daugh-
ter of Edmund de Langley, duke of York, a natural
daughter, afterwards married to James Touchet, lord
Audley. In a charter in French, dated at London Feb.
8th, anno 11 Richard II. 1387, the above Thomas

b
p. 216.
Dugd. Bar. vol. ii. p. 75. 76. Sandf. Gen. Hift.
• See Dugd. Bar vol. i. p. 659. vol. ii. p. 84.
Şee Sandford's Gen. Hift. p. 216. "
14
itiles
152
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

ftiles himſelf, Thomas de Holand, comte de Kent, and
feigneur de Wake. His ſeal is appendant to it, upon
which is repreſented, a hind lodged under a tree, gor-
ged with a ducal coronet, which was the device of his
mother, the counteſs Joane; and upon a ſhield, hang-
ing about the neck of her hind, her arms, being Gules
three lions paſant guardant or, a bordure argent; which
coat this earl Thomas aſſumed, diſcontinuing the pa-
ternal coat of his family. Theſe arms are in two
places on the roof of Canterbury cloiſters.
THOMAS HOLAND, eldeſt ſon of the laſt mentioned
earl, by Alice his wife, ſucceeded him as Earl of Kent
and lord Wake of Lydel, ſhortly after which, doing
his homage, he had poffeffion granted of his lands;
and upon the attainder of Thomas de Beauchamp, earl
of Warwick, had a grant of much of his lands, and the
ſame year he had the title of Duke of Surry conferred
on him, the king then fitting in parliament, crowned,
It is obſerved, that in the ceremony of his creation,
and others at that time, the virga aurea was firſt uſed
in the inveſture. In which year he was appointed
Marſhal of England, and made a knight of the order
of the Garter, and obtained a grant from the king of
the curious pieces of arras hangings at Warwick caſtle,
on which was richly depicted the ſtory of Guy earl of
Warwick, and by the forfeiture of Thomas earl of War-
wick, then in the crown. About this time the duke
founded the priory of Carthufians at Montgrace, in
Yorkſhire, and in the 22d year of that reign he was
made lieutenant of Ireland, and obtained a grant of
the barony of Norrhage in that kingdom, and was
made governor of the caſtles of Leverpole and Cle-
therow. The next year he went into Ireland with
king Richard, and when the unwelcomenews of Henry
a
b
Dugd. Bar. vol. ii. p. 76. Cotton's Records, p. 366 et ſeq.
Dugd. Warwickſh.p. 323. Chauncy's Hertf. p. 294. York's
Honour, p. 177:
· Burt. Mon. p. 258.
duke
1
EARLS OF KENT:
153

duke of Lancaſter's arrival in England came, this duke
returned back with him. The reſignation and depo-
fal of king Richard ſoon after taking place, the duke,
in a parliament, held in the iſt year of king Henry IV.
was doomed to loſe his title, in regard he had been
one of the proſecutors of Thomas of Woodſtock, duke
of Glouceſter; much diſcontented, therefore, with this
change of government, he plotted with others the
getting into Windſor caſtle, where king Henry then
kept his Chriſtmas, under diſguiſe, to murder him, and
to reſtore king Richard, but they were diſappointed,
for the king having notice of it, was gone privily to
London. After this the earl, with ſome of his com-
pany, rode to Wallingford and Abingdon, exhorting
the people to put themſelves in arms for king Richard;
at length they came to Cirenceſter, in the dark of the
night, ſtill encouraging the people to arm, but the
townſmen blocked up the avenues, and when they at-
tempted about midnight to get away privately, with
bows and arrows hindered their paſſage. Diſcerning
therefore their danger, they armed themſelves, ſuppo-
fing they might eaſily conquer theſe ruſtics, which
finding they could not do, after three hours fight, they
ſubmitted, intreating that their lives might be ſpared,
till they could ſpeak with the king. During this con-
fufion, a prieſt of the company preſumed, if he could
ſet fome houſes on fire, that the inhabitants would be
ſo much employed in quenching the flames, that they
ſhould find an opportunity of eſcaping, but this attempt
only enraged the people the more, who let their houſes
burn, that they might take this earl, and the earl of
Saliſbury, both of whom they brought out of the ab-
bey, and cut off their heads, and then ſent the head
of the former to London, where it was ſet upon the
bridge. But Joane his wife, daughter of Hugh lord
Stafford, prevailed with the king to have it taken
down, and delivered to her, to bury it where ſhe
pleaſed, and ſhe got leave to remove his body from
Cirenceſter,
154
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

Cirenceſter, and convey it to the priory of Montgrace,
of his own foundation. In the parliament held next
year this earl was attainted, and his lands feiſed. He
bore for his arms thoſe of king Edward the Confeffor,
impaled with his paternal coat, Gules three lions paſſant
guardant or, both within a plain bordure argent. 10.000
* EDMUND, his brother, dying without iſſue, the laſt
mentioned earl ſucceeded him as Earl of Kent, and be-
fore the end of that year obtained ſpecial poſſeſſion of
almoſt all the caſtles, manors, and lands of which his
brother died poffefied, by virtue of an old entail made
of them formerly to his anceſtors. In the 6th year of
king Henry IV. the earl of Mar came out of Scot-
land, and challenged earl Edmund in fears of arms,
but the latter won the field. Two years after which
he married the lady Lucy, daughter of the duke of
Millaine, in the priory of St. Mary Overy, in South-
wark, and kept his wedding feaſt in the biſhop of
Wincheſter's houſe. In the gth year of that reign he
was made lord-admiral of England, but ſhortly after,
beſieging the caſtle in the iſle of Bríac, in Brittany, he
received a mortal wound in his head, by an arrow
from a croſs-bow. After his death, his body was
brought into England, and buried with his anceſtors.
He had ſummons to parliament in the 7th and gth
years of that reign, and was knight of the Garter.d
The earl had no iſſue by the lady Lucy his wife, ſo
that Edmund the ſon of Eleanor, late counteſs of
March, his eldeſt ſiſter; Margaret his ſecond fifter,
firſt married to John earl of Somerſet, and afterwards
to Thomas duke of Clarence; Eleanor, the younger
of that name, his third fifter, the wife of Thomas earl

a
Dugd. Bar, vol. ii. P: 76, 77. Chauncy's Hertf. p. 204. Ra-
pin, vol. i. p. 489.
b Sandf, Gen. Hiſt. p. 216. Dugd. Bar. yol. ii. p. 77. Chaun-
cy, p. 205. Leland's Coll. vol. i. part ii. p. 485.
Spelman's Gloff. 16. 1o ESO alta
Cott. Records, p. 449.463. York, p. 175. hos bolik
of

p.
EARLS OF KENT.
155

of Saliſbury; Joane his fourth ſiſter, ducheſs of York,
svife of fir Henry Bromflete, knight; and Elizh his
fifth ſiſter, married to fir John Neville, knight; were
found to be his heirs. He bore for his arms, England
within a bordure argent.--It appears by the Tower re-
cords, that king Henry IV. kept a great council at
Weſtminſter, wherein debate was moved between the
earls of Kent and Arundel for their places in parlia-
ment, and likewiſe between the earl of Warwick and
the earl marſhal; when it was determined that the earl
of Kent ſhould have place above the earl of Arundel,
and the earl of Warwick above the earl marſhal, and
they were each put perſonally in poſſeſſion of their re.
ſpective places.
WILLIAM NEVILL was the next who enjoyed this ti-
tle of Earl of Kent, ſo created by Edward IV. and alſo
knight of the Garter. He was the ſecond ſon of Ralph
Nevill, the firſt earl of Weſtmoreland of that name,
by Joane his ſecond wife, daughter of John of Gaunt,
duke of Lancaſter, and widow of fir Robert Ferrers,
knight; which William Neville married Joane, daugh-
ter of fir Thomas Fauconberge, knight, who, making
proof of her age in the 10th year of king Henry V.
being then fifteen years old, had poffeffion granted of
the lands of her inheritance, and in her right he from
henceforward bore the title of lord Fauconberge. In
the 4th year of king Henry VI. after the king himſelf
was made a knight by his uncle, the duke of Bedford,
at Leiceſter, this William, among others, received the
like honour at his hands; and in the 7th year of that
reign was ſummoned to parliament by the ſtile of Wil-
liam de Nevill, ch', as he was afterwards with the ad-
dition of de Fauconberge. In the gth year of that reign,
he ſhewed his military ſkill and valour in a very high
© Cott. Rec. p. 574.8
f Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 299, 308, and vol. ii. p. 4. emilo
& Cott. Rec. p. 656, &c,
degree,
136
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
degree, at the fiege of Orleance. In the 26th year le
was again in the wars of France, and was afterwards
made governor of the caſtle of Roxburgh, in Scot-
land; after which, being fent ambaſſador into Nor-
mandy, to treat of a peace and truce betwixt both
realms, he was moſt- perfidiouſly feized upon by the
French, and kept priſoner. In the 32d year of the
fame reign he was ſtill a priſoner in France; and in
the 35th of it, being again employed in the wars, he
was of the retinue of Richard Nevill
, earl of Warwick,
his nephew, and lieutenant of the marches there; and
in the firſt year of king Edward IV. having fought va-
liantly for that king in the battle of Touton, where
the Lancaſtrians received an overthrow, he had, in
conſideration of his great ſervices, a large reward, and
was foon afterwards advanced to the title of Earl of
Kent, and made lord-admiral of England, which title
and honour he did not long enjoy, but died in the 2d
year of king Edward IV. being then knight of the
Garter, leaving three daughters his heirs, viz. Joane,
wife of fir Edward Bedhowing; Elizabeth, wife of
fir Richard Strangeways; and Alice, wife of fir John
Coniers." He was buried in the priory of Giſborough,
in the county of York, and thus dying without male
iffue, the title of Earl of Kent became extinct. He
bore for his arms the coat of Nevill, viz. Gules a fal-
tier argent, a mullet fable in the center, for difference.
EDMUND GREY, lord of Haſtings, Weysford, and
Ruthen, was, by king Edward IV. in his 5th year, next
created Earl of Kent. This noble family of Grey
is ſaid to derive its deſcent from Anſchetil de Grai,
often mentioned in the book of Domeſday, as holding
lands in different counties, in the reign of William the
Conqueror, when that general ſurvey was made. His



a Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 309. Rym. Fød. vol. i. p. 4901
Collins's Peer. vol. i. p. 370. Burton's Leic. p. 122. Dugd.
Bar. vol. i. p. 724.
,
fon
WE EARLS OF KENT.MD
157
fon and ſucceſſor was Richard de Grai, or Grey, who
lived in the reign of king Henry I. and was a great.
benefactor to Eynſham abbey. By Mabilla, his wife,
who ſurvived him, he had three ſons, Anſchetil, Wil.
liam, and a third who was a monk in that abbey. Anf-
chetil, the eldeſt ſon, was ſucceeded by his eldeſt ſon
and heir fir John Grey; for he had another ſon, named.
likewiſe John, who was biſhop of Norwich, and af-
terwards, in 1206, elected archbiſhop of Canterbury,
but the pope oppoſing his advancement, he never ob-
tained the pall. Sir John de Grey, the elder brother,
had three fons, Robert, Walter, Henry de Grey, and
two daughters. Of theſe fons, fir Robert de Grey,
the eldeſt, was anceſtor to the barons Grey of Rother-
field, in the county of Oxford, which line became ex-
tinet in the reign of king Henry IV. This branch bore
for their arms, Barry of fix argent, and azure with a bend
gules, for difference. Walter de Grey, the ſecond ſon,
was, in the 7th year of king John, made lord-chancel-
lor, and afterwards promoted to the fee of Litchfield,
and from thence to the archbiſhopric of York. Sir
Henry de Grey knight, the youngeſt ſon, having mar-
ried Iſolda, the eldeſt of the five neices and coheirs of
Robert Bardulph, ſhared in the inheritance of all their
lands in the oth year of king Henry III. He had iſſue
by her three fons, viz. fir Richard de Grey, whoſe
principal ſeat was at Codnore in the county of Derby,
whoſe deſcendants were barons Grey of Codnore, which
branch terminated in Henny lord Grey of Codnere,
who died anno in Henry VII. without lawful iſſue, and
was buried at Aylesford, in the deſcription of which
pariſh more may be ſeen of him. They bore for their
arms, Barry of fix argent, and azure. Sir John de Grey the
ſecend ſon, was ſeated at Eaton, near Fenny Stratford,

• Collins's Peer. vol. ii. p. 373 et ſeq. Burt. Leic. p. 122. Dugd.
Bar, vol. i. p. 712
.
d Cooke's Bar. MSS.
in
158
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
in Buckinghamſhire, and was anceſtor to the lords Grey
of Wilton and Ruthin, from whom the earls of Kent
derive their defcent, and of whom more will be ſaid
hereafter. --William the third ſon, was of Sandiacre, in
the county of Derby, which branch terminated in the
reign of king Henry IV. in a female heir, Alice de Grey,
who marrying fir John Leak, brought great poſſeſſions
to him ; from which match the late earls of Scarf-
dale were deſcended. —Sir John de Grey, of Eaton,
before-mentioned, ſecond ſon of fir Henry, was much
favoured by king Henry III. and had ſeveral poſts of
the greateſt truſt conferred on him from time to time,
one of which was that of conſtable of Dover caftle.
He died in the fiftieth year of that reign, far advanced
in years, being then chief of the king's council, and
greatly eſteemed for his wiſdom and valour. He left
by Emma his wife, daughter and heir of Geoffrey de
Glanville, a ſon named Reginald, and one daughter.
The ſon Reginald, in conſideration of his ſervices, had
a grant, in the 21ſt year of king Edward I. of
part
of
the honour of Monmouth, and of the caſtle of Ruthyn,
in the county of Denbigh, with the cantred of Drif-
fencløyt. His death happened in the iſt year of king
Edward II. He married Maud, daughter and heir of
Henry de Longchampe, a baron of the realm, whoſe
principal ſeat was at Wilton, in Herefordſhire, by
-which means that lordſhip came into this family. He
left by her one ſon and heir, John de Grey, ſirnamed
of Wilton, who was an active man in the king's ſervice,
during his father's life, as well as afterwards. In the
13th year of king Edward II. he had ſummons to par-
liament by the title of John de Grey, ch', and bore
for his arms, Barry of fix argent, and azure a label of
three points gules. He died in the 17th year of that
reign, having been twice married, firſt to Anne, daugh-



a Coll. Peer. vol. ii. p. 377. Bar. vol. i. p. 713.
© Cotton's Records, p. 3. Cooke's Bar. MSS.
ter
TWEARLS OF KENT. SED 159

ter of William lord Ferrers, of Groby, by whom he
had a ſon, Henry de Grey; ſecondly to Maud, daugh-:
ter of Ralph lord Baffet, of Drayton, by whom he had
a ſon, Roger de Grey, and one daughter. Henry de
Grey, only ſon of the firſt marriage, was fuminoned to
parliament as lord Grey of Wilton, and by Anne his
wife, daughter and coheir of Ralph Rockby, was anceſ-
tor to the lords Grey of Wilton, who became extinct
in the beginning of James I:'s reign. Roger de Grey,
the only ſon of John, by the ſecond marriage, died in
the 207th year of king Edward III. having been fum-
moned to parliament from the fourth year of it to that
of his death. He married Elizh, daughter of John
lord Haſtings, of Bergavenny, and of Iſabel his wife,
fiſter and coheir of Aymer de Valence, earl of Pem-
broke, by which match his poſterity became heirs to
the laſt John de Haſtings, earl of Pembroke, who was
killed in a tournament at Woodſtock, in the 11th year
of king Richard II. He had iſſue by her two fons,
John and Reginald, and three daughters. He added
three torteauxes in chief to his arms, to diſtinguiſh him-
ſelf and his deſcendants from thoſe of his half brother
Henry de Grey of Wilton, the only ſon of his father's
firſt marriage, the antient carms of this family being
Barry of ſix argent and azure. Of his ſons, John, the
eldeit, died in his father's life-time, before he could
celebrate his intended nuptials with Anne, the daughter
of William Montague, firſt earl of Saliſbury. Upon
which Reginald, the ſecond ſon, became, at the time
of his father's death, his fole heir, and bore the title
of lord Grey of Ruthin, by which he was ſummoned
to parliament. In the latter end of king Edward III.'s
reign, the branches of Codnore and Rotherfield began
ng Morda bih se boiwoww
'c Coll. Peer, vol. ii. p. 377 et ſeq. Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 713,
714:05
sol Coolers Bar stola
Burton's Leic. p. 122, 123. Cooke's Bar. MSS. Coll. Peer.
vol. ii. P. 379 et ſeq. Dugd. Bar, vol. i. p. 716. Ibid. Warwickih.
P. 73

1
to
160
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

to be ſpelt Gray, as were thoſe of Wilton and Ruthirts
conſtantly from the 7th year of king Richard II. in
their fummons to parliament.” He died in the 12th
year of king. Richard II. being then poffeſfed of the
caſtle of Ruthin, with other territories in the marches
of Wales, and of the manors of Wreſt and Flitton, in
the county of Bedford, and of others in the counties of
Huntingdon, Northampton, and Buckingham. He
married Alianor, daughter of John lord Strange, of
Blackmore, by whom he had one fon, Reginald, and a
daughter, Alianor. Which Reginald, in the 14th year
of king Richard II. on the death of John Haſtings
earl of Pembroke, was found to be next heir. He
had great diſputes with Owen Glendowrdwy, concern-
ing the boundaries of their reſpective lands, by whom
being overpowered, Reginald became his priſoner, and
paid ten thouſand marks for his ranſom, to diſcharge
which he was neceſſitated to fell feverał manors and
lands in this county, and beſides to marry Jane, daugh-
ter of Glendowrdwy, but by her he had no iſſue. He
had alſo a great conteſt in the court of chivalry with
fir Edward de Haſtings, concerning the titles of lord
Haſtings, Weiſhford, and Abergavenny, and the bear-
ing the
entire arms of John de Haſtings, late earl of
Pembroke, to whom he was heir, ás has been before
obferved, which cauſe coming to a final fentence in
the 11th year of king Henry IV. the right and title
to the name and and arms was adjudged to him and his
heirs, as lord Haſtings, and fir Edward de Haſtings
was thenceforth prohibited to bear them. He died
in the 19th year of king Henry VI. having received
fummons to parliament from the 17th year to the time
of his death, by the title of Reginald Grey de Ruthin,
ch'. He was twice married, firſt to Margaret, daugh-
ter to William lord Roos, by whom he had one fon,
John de Grey; ſecondly to Joane; daughter and heir
a Cotton's Records.
b Ibid.
of
EARLS OF KENT.
161

of William lord Aſteley, and widow of Thomas Ra-
leigh, of Farnborough, in the county of Warwick, ef-
quire; by whom he had three fons; Edward, the eldeſt,
married Elizh, daughter and heir of Henry lord Fer-
rers, of Groby, and was anceſtor of Edward Grey;
viſcount Liſle, and Thomas Grey, marquis Dorſet, in
the reign of Edward IV. and of Henry Grey, duke of
Suffolk, in that of Edward VI. all now extinct, and of
the preſent earl of Stamford; John, the ſecond ſon,
was of Barwel, in the county of Leiceſter; and Ro-
bert, the third ſon, was of Enville, in Staffordſhire.
Sir John de Grey, Reginald's only fon by his firſt
wife, though he died in his father's life time, yet he
was a perſon of great note and eminence, and of ſignal
bravery and reputation as a ſoldier, and at the time of
his death was one of the kniglfts companions of the
order of the Garter. He married Conſtance, daugh-
ter of John Holand, the firſt of that name, duke of
Exeter, by Elizh, ſecond daughter of John of Gaunt,
duke of Lancaſter, and ſiſter to king Henry IV.9
and widow of Thomas lord Mowbray, fon of Tho-
inas duke of Norfolk, who died in exile. By her
he left two ſons, Edmund and Thomas, and Alice a
daughter. Edmund, the eldeſt, was his grandfather's
heir. Thomas, the ſecond ſon in the 28th year of
king Henry VI. was created lord Grey of Rugemont,
in the county of Bedford; and for his attachment to
the houſe of Lancaſter, was, with many others, attaint-
ed in parliament, in the iſt year of Edward IV. and died
without iſſue. He bore for his arms, Barry of ſix argent
and azure, a bend gules, and in chief three torteauxes.d
EDMUND, the elder brother, in the 19th year of
king Henry VI. ſucceeded his grandfather, and was that
year ſummoned to parliament by the title of Edmund


© Sandford's Gen. Hift. p. 217. bos
d Coll. Peer. vol. ii. p. 384. Dugd. Bar, vol. i. p. 717. Cooke's
Bar. MSS.
Nov.199
VOL. I.
.
M
lord
162
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

lord Gray of Ruthin, and in the 3d year of king Ed-
ward IV. was appointed lord high treaſurer of England,
and two years after, viz. on May the 3d, in the sth
year of that reign, anno 1465, he, then uſing the title
of lord and baron Haſtings, Weysford, and Ruthin,
was created Earl of Kent, and had a grant of twenty
pounds yearly, to be paid by the ſheriff of Kent out of
the iffues of the county, in ſupport of that honour, and
had ſummons to parliament by that title accordingly,
having obtained from king Richard III, a confirma-
tion of his creation patent, as he did again from king
Henry VII. in his 2d year. He died in the 4th year
of king Henry VII. having married Catherine, daugh-
ter of Henry Percy, fecond Earl of Northumberland,
by whom he had four fons; Anthony, who died un-
married in his life time, and lies buried at Luton, in
Bedfordſhire; John and Edmund, who both died
young ; George, who continued the line, and will be
mentioned below; and two daughters, Elizh and Anne.
He bore for his arms, Barry of ſix argent and azure, in
chief three torteauxes, quartered with Haſtings and Va-
lence quarterly.
drop
GEORGE the fourth, but only ſurviving fon, fuc-
ceeded his father as Earl of Kent, and baron Haſtings,
Weysford, and Ruthin, and was a chief leader of the
king's forces in the frequent tumults of thofe times,
particularly in the 12th year of king Henry VII. on
the rebellion of the Corniſhmen, under James lord
Audley, he was one of the chief of the Engliſh nobility
that appeared againſt them, and by his conduct and
valour, they were in a great meaſure overthrown on
Blackheath, and great numbers of them flain. He died
in the 22d year of that reign, having been twice mara
ried; firſt to Anne, daughter of Richard Woodvile,
a Rot. Cart. 5, 6, and 7 Ed. IV. No. 18. Cot. Records.
Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 718. Pati anno 5 Rich. III. Harl. MSS.
No. 433.891. ..... Collin's Peer, vol. ii. p. 385. Dugdale ſays,
anno 20 Hen. VII. Bar. vol. i. p.718.
I earl
EARLS OF KENT.
163

earl Rivers, and widow of William viſcount Bourchier,
by whom he had a ſon, Richard, who ſucceeded him.
He married fecondly Catharine, daughter of William
Herbert, earl of Pembroke, by whom he had fir Hen-
ry Grey, of Wreſt, in the county of Bedford (afterwards
earl of Kent); George and Anthony Grey, of Branſ-
peth, in the biſhopric of Durham, whoſe deſcendants
afterwards enjoyed the title; and two daughters.
RICHARD Grey, the eldeſt ſon by the firſt marri-
age, ſucceeded him in titles and eſtate, being the third
Earl of Kent of this family. In the 20th year of the
fame reign he was elected knight of the Garter, and
attended king Henry VIII, at the fiege of Terouenne,
in 1513. He married Elizh, daughter of fir William
Huſſey, chief-juſtice of the king's bench, and died in
the 15th year of Henry VIII. without ifſue. He was
buried at the White Friars, Fleet-ſtreet, leaving Elizh
his wife ſurviving, who died in the 32d year of the ſame
reign, and was buried under her huſband's tomb. Sir
William Dacre, lord Grayſtoke, and William Grey,
lord Grey of Wilton, on the death of this earl, claimed,
as his couſins and heirs general, moſt of his lordſhips,
lands, and hereditaments, which lordſhips amounted to
feventy-three in number. But the earldom, as well as
the baronies before mentioned, came to fir Henry
Grey, of Wreſt, his brother of the half blood.
SIR HENRY GREY above mentioned, earl of Kent,
and baron Haſtings, Weysford, and Ruthin, by birth-
right, not thinking his eſtate ſufficient to ſupport theſe
dignities, (for the laſt earl had waſted the greateſt part
of it) declined taking on him theſe titles, and having
married Anne, daughter of John Blenverhafſet, of
Frenſe, in Norfolk, eſquire, and coheir to her brother
John, of Southill, in the county of Bedford, died in
the 4th year of queen Elizabeth, and was buried in the
church of Saint Giles, without Cripplegate, leaving
Henry his ſon and heir, and one daughter.
See a liſt of them, in Harl. MSS. No. 1499-79.
HENRY
M 2
164
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

Henry, the ſon, likewiſe declined taking on him
any title, and having married Margaret, daughter of
John, and ſiſter of Oliver St. John, of Bletſoe, left by
her three ſons, Reginald, Henry, and Charles.
REGINALD, the eldeſt ſon, having by his frugality,
greatly recovered his eſtate, reaſſumed the title of Earl
of Kent, and baron Haſtings, Weysford, and Ruthin,
in the 13th year of queen Elizabeth, by the queen's
eſpecial favour, being the ſixth earl of this family. He
died in the 15th year of that reign, and was buried in
Saint Giles's church, without Cripplegate. He married
Suſan, daughter of Richard Bertie, eſquire, by Catha-
rine, relict and fourth wife of Charles Brandon, duke
of Suffolk, (afterwards married to Sir John Wingfield)
by whom he had no iſſue, ſo that Henry, his brother,
ſucceeded him in titles and eſtate. He bore for his
arms, quarterly four coats, firſt and fourth Grey of
Ruthin, ſecond and third quarterly Haſtings and Va-
lence; for his creſt, a wivern or ; for his ſupporters,
two wiverns or.a
HENRY, ſeventh Earl of Kent, was, as Camden
ſtiles him, a perſon plentifully endowed with all the
ornaments of true nobility. He was lord lieutenant
of the county of Bedford, and having married Mary,
one of the daughters of fir George Cotton, of Cum-
bermere, in Cheſhire, widow of Edward earl of Der.
by, died without iſſue at Wreſt, on January 31, 1614,
and lies buried under a noble monument in the chapel
adjoining to Flitton church, in Bedfordſhire, which
chapel he himſelf had founded.
CHARLES GREY, his next brother, ſucceeded him
as Earl of Kent, and lord Haſtings, Weysford, and
Ruthen. He married Suſan, daughter of Richard
Cotton, of Bedhampton, in the county of Southamp-
ton, eſquire, by whom he had a ſon, named Henry,
and a daughter Suſan, who became the wife of fir Mi-
a Cooke's Bar, MSS.
chael,
EARLS OF KENT.
165

chael, fourth ſon of fir Henry Lougueville, of Wol-
verton, in the county of Buckingham, knight, who left
by her a ſon, Charles, who, on the death of Henry,
earl of Kent, his mother's only brother, without iſſue,
after a long diſpute, had the barony of Grey of Ruthin
adjudged to him, and was, the 6th of February, 16
Charles I. anno 1640, fummonded to parliament, as
lord Grey of Ruthin, in right of his brother above-
mentioned. Which Charles, lord Grey, had an only
daughter and heir, Suſan, married to ſir Henry Yel-
verton, anceſtor to the earl of Suſſex, who now enjoys
that barony. The earl died on the 26th of Septem-
ber, 1625, at his manor houſe of Blonham, and lies
buried by his brother in the chapel at Flitton.!
- HENRY GREY, his ſon, ſucceeded him in titles and
eftate, being the ninth Earl of Kent of this family.
He married Elizh, the ſecond of the three daughters
and coheirs of Gilbert Talbot, earl of Shrewſbury, but
died without iſſue, at his houſe in London, on Novem.
ber 21, 1639, and was buried in the ſame chapel ad:
joining to Flitton church, as was his counteſs after-
wards, who died in 1651.
Sisiana
2o ANTHONY Grey, then rector of the church of Bur-
bache, in the county of Leiceſter, ſon of George, and
grandſon of Anthony Grey, of Branſpeth, in the county
palatine of Durham, third ſon of George the ſecond
earl of Kent of this name, ſucceeded on the death of
the laſt earl to his titles, by virtue of the entail on the
heirs male, and became the tenth Earl of Kent of this
family, and was accordingly ſummoned to parliament,
but excuſed himſelf on account of his indiſpoſition and
age. He married Magdalen, daughter of William
Purefoy, of Caldecot, in the county of Warwick, eſq.
by whom he had five ſons, Henry, John, Job, Theo-
philus, and Nathaniel; and five daughters. He died
in the year 1643, and was buried in the church of Bur-
bache.
$ Dugd. vol. i. p. 718. Coll. Peer. vol. ii. 386.
HENRY

M 3
166
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

HENRY GREY, the eldeſt ſon, fucceeded his father
in titles and eſtate. He was twice married, firſt to
Mary, daughter of fir William Courteene, knight, by
whom he had one fon, Henry, lord Grey, who died a
youth, and was buried in St. Paul's chapel, in Weſtmin-
fter-abbey, in 1644, near his mother, who had been
buried there the year before. His ſecond wife was
Amabella, daughter of fir Anthony Ben, knight, re-
corder of London, and widow of Anthony Fane, third
ſon of Francis, earl of Weſtmoreland, who brought a
great fortune and reſtored the luſtre of this decayed
family, by whom he had two ſons, Anthony, who
ſucceeded him, and Henry, who died in his life-time,
and one daughter, Elizh, married to Baniſter May-
nard, lord Maynard. He died in 1651, and was bu-
ried in the chapel at Flitton, where a monument was
erected to his memory by his counteſs, who died in
1698, aged 92 years.
Poops to
ANTHONY GREY, the eldeſt ſon, above-mentioned,
twelfth Earl of Kent of this family, married Mary,
daughter and fole heir of John, lord Lucas, baron of
Shenfield in Effex, who, in conſideration of her father's
merits and ſervices, was created baroneſs Lucas of
Crudwell in the county of Wilts, on May 7, 1663 anno
13 Car. II. and to her heirs male and female by the earl
of Kent. He died Auguſt 19, 1702, and was buried
in Flitton church, leaving by his wife, who died Nov.
aft following, one ſon and heir, Henry, and a daughter,
Amabell
B ales
Henry GREY, above-mentioned, was the thirteenth
Earl of Kent, and took his feat as ſuch in the houſe of
peers, on October the 20th, 1702, and on the death of
his mother, on the ift of November following, fuc-
ceeded to the title of lord Lucas of Crudwell. In 1704,
he was conſtituted lord Chamberlain of the queen's
houſhold, and ſoon afterwards lord lieutenant of the
a See his character, Biog. Brit. vol. iii. p. 1481,
county
EARLS OF KENT. 7
167
county of Hereford, and was ſworn of the privy coun-
cil. On December 14, 1706, being the fifth year of
queeri Anne, he was created viſcount Goodrich, of
Goodrich-caſtle in the county of Hereford, earl of Har-
old in the county of Bedford, and marquis of Kent, and
on the 28th of April, 1710, he was farther advanced to
the title of duke of Kent. In the year 1711, he was
conſtituted lord lieutenant, and cuſtos rotulorum, for the
county of Bedford; and next year elected knight of
the garter. In the firſt year of king George the firſt
he was appointed conſtable of Windſor-caſtle ; in 1716,
lord Steward of the king's houſhold, and in 1718, lord
privy feal. He married, firſt, Jemima, eldeſt daughter
of Thomas, lord Crew of Stene, by Anne his ſecond
wife, by whom he had four ſons and feven daughters.
Of the fons, Anthony, the eldeſt, ftiled earl of Harold,
was called up by writ to the houſe of peers, by the title
of lord Lucas of Crudwell, and married the lady Mary
Tufton, fourth daughter of Thomas, earl of Thanet,
afterwards married to John, earl Gower. He died in
1723, in his father's life-time, without iſſue. Henry,
Lucas, and George, the other fons, died young. Of
the daughters, Amabell, the eldeſt, married John Cam-
bel, viſcount Glenorchy, late earl of Bredalbane, in
Scotland, of whom hereafter. Jemima married John,
earl of Aſhburnham. Anne married lord Charles Ca-
vendiſh, third ſon of William, duke of Devonſhire.
Mary married the rev. Dr. Gregory, canon of Chriſt
church; the others died infants. The duke married,
fecondly, in 1729, Sophia, daughter of William Ben-
tinck, earl of Portland, and by her, who died in 1748,
had one daughter, Anne Sophia, married to Dr. John
Egerton, ſon of the biſhop of Hereford, and a fon,
George, who died an infant. Amabell, the duke's eld-
eſt daughter, having married lord viſcount Glenorchy,
as above-mentioned, died at Copenhagen in 1726. She
had by him one ſon, who died an infant, and one
daughter, Jemima, both born in Denmark. This
daughter,





M 4
168
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

daughter, Jemima Campbel, being the only ſurviving
child of her mother, and being the eldeſt grand-daugh-
ter of the duke of Kent, was, in 1740, contracted to
the honorable Philip York, eldeſt ſon and heir apparent
to Philip, then lord, and afterwards earl of Hardwicke,
chancellor of Great Britain; ſoon after which, the duke
was created, on May the gth that year, a marquis, by
the title of Marquis Grey, to him and the heirs male of
his body, with remainder to Jemima Campbel, his
grand-daughter above-mentioned, and the heirs male of
her body; after which, on May the 22d following the
above marriage took place. The duke of Kent died
on June the 5th, 1740, being then lord lieutenant and
cuftos rotulorum of Bedford, by which the titles of duke
and earl of Kent became extinct, as well as thoſe of
earl of Harold, and viſcount Goodrich; but the titles
of marchioneſs Grey, and baroneſs Lucas of Crudwell,
devolved on the lady Jemima his grand-daughter, wife
of the honorable Philip York, above-mentioned, after-
wards earl of Hardwicke, but ſince deceaſed, by whom
ſhe had two daughters. The marchioneſs of Grey bore
for her arms, in a lozenge quarterly, firf Campbel
, quar-
terly firſt and fourth, girony of eight pieces, or and ſable ;
fecond argent a galley ſable, with one maſt, fail furled, and
oars in action ; third or, a feſs cheque argent and azure.
Second quarter, barry of fix pieces argent and azure, for
Grey. Third quarter, argent a feſs between ſix amulets
gules, for Lucas. Fourth quarter, azure a lion rampant
argent, for Crew. Her ſupporters, two wiverns or, their
wings diſcloſed. The duke of Kent bore for his creſt,
a wivern or. O
borish
pon
e trabao kisha
boneka
IT has been already obſerved, that the Saxons, when
they divided this realm into provinces, (called in their
language Shires, and in Latin, comitatus, i. e. counties)
odwO2 90 mid d bril
al Coll, Peer. vol. ii. p. 388, 390. Collins's Hift. Coll. p.49.
framed
TY OFFICE OF SHERIFF. 50
169
framed the government of them from the antient con-
Ititution of the Romans, from whom it was derived to
them by their German anceſtors, in conformity to
which, they conſtituted certain of their chief men to
preſide over their ſhires, whom they denominated in
their own language, ealdormen, (and in Latin, comites
and confules.) King Alfred, for the more ready admi-
niftration of juſtice, allowed theſe ealdormen, or counts,
to make deputies, who were called vice comites, or viſ-
counts, and in their own tongue, ſheriffs, i, e. the ſhyre-
reeve, from the Saxon word gerefa, or gereva, i. e, pro-
voft, præfect, or ſteward, to diſtribute juſtice to the
people in their provincial, or county courts, This of
fice of fheriff is ſuppoſed, by the beſt authorities, to
have been conſtituted by that king, when he new
modelled this realm into different ſhires and provinces.
That it was in being ſoon after may be learnt from In-
gulphus, p. 876, where, in a grant of king Edric to
Crowland-abbey, about the year 984, mention is made
of this vice-comes, or ſheriff, among his other miniſters;
and afterwards in this ſubſcription--Ego Alfer vice-
comes audivi. In the ſame author, p. 912, edit. Franckf.
one Normannus is mentioned as vice-comes, or ſheriff
to Edric Streon, ealdorman, or earl of Mercia, who
lived about the year 1007. The office of vice-comes
is mentioned likewiſe in the laws of king Edward the
confeffor. Theſe caldormen, or, as they were after-
wards called by the Danes, eorlas, (from which name
is derived that of our modern earl) in proceſs of time,
either by their ceaſing to be officiary, and becoming
merely titular ; or, by reaſon of their high employ-
ments, and attendance on the king's perſon, not being
able to tranſact the buſineſs of that county, were, by his
approbation, freed from the trouble, and the ſheriff,
who was before only a deputy, and ſubordinate to the


b See above, p. xlvi.
See Wilkins, p. 205, and Seldon's Titles of Honor, p. 762.
carl,
170
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

earl, as the earl was to the king, became the king's
immediate officer in his reſpective county, tranſacting
all the king's buſineſs in it: for though the earl re-
ferved the honour to himſelf, yet the whole labour
was laid on the ſheriff, who, notwithſtanding he is
ſtill called vice-comes, is entirely independent of, and
in nothing ſubject to the earl, the king, by his letters
patent, committing cuſtodiam comitatus to the ſheriff
alone. They were uſually men of high rank and
great power in the realm, having one or more coun-
ties coinmitted to them by the king at his pleafure,
either in cuſtody or at a ferm certain. To them the
king uſually committed (together with the counties)
his caſtles and manors lying within their bailiwick.
They provided the caſtles with aminunition and other
neceffaries, and they ſtocked and improved his ma-
nors; in ſhort, the ſheriff was the king's farmer, or
bailiff, and the collector of all his rents and revenues
within his diſtrict. As ſuch he is called by Ethel-
werd, exaktor regis, i. e. the king's receiver, and by
others, queſtor provinciæ. His duty was then, as it ſtill
is, to do the juſtice of his county, and, to keep the
public peace, of which he is within it the principal
conſervator, in aid of which he has the power of raif
ing the pole comitatus ; and as keeper of the king's
peace he is, both by common law and by his com-
miffion, during his office, the firſt man in the county,
and ſuperior in rank to any nobleman therein. As
to his judicial capacity, he hears and determines all
cauſes, not exceeding forty ſhillings value, in his own
court, called the county court, of which more has
been mentioned before, and he has alſo a judicial
power in ſeveral other civil caſes. In his minifterial
capacity, he executes writs and proceſſes, proclaims
2
Blackſtone's Com. vol. i. p. 339.
Madox's Excheq. p. 634 and 643. vode
TOKOH 1 T nobis
erable ſtatutes,
OFFICE OF SHERIFF. 90
171

ſtatutes, returns juries, and makes return of writs for
electing knights of the ſhire, &c.
so In whatever manner the iheriffs might have been
appointed or choſen before the Norman conqueft, it
is certain, from that period they continued to be ap-
pointed by the king at his pleaſure, till the latter end
of the reign of king Edward I. who, by ſtatute in his
28th year, granted the election of ſheriff to the peo-
ple of each county, if they lift, as the ſtatute fays, ex-
cepting in thoſe where the fhrievalty was hereditary,
as it ſtill continues to be in the county of Weſtmore-
land. Notwithſtanding which, king Edward II. con-
tinued to appoint ſheriffs in ſeveral counties, where,
I ſuppoſe, the people did not liſt to elect them ; and
in thoſe which did chooſe them, thoſe popular elec-
tions grew fo tumultuous, that they were put an end
to by the ſtatute of 9 Edward II. which enacted, that
the ſheriffs ſhould from thenceforth be aſiigned by
the chancellor, treaſurer, and judges, as perſons in
whom that truſt might be with confidence repoſed,
from fuch as had fufficient lands in the county to an-
ſwer the king and his people. By the ſtatutes of
14 Edward III. 23 Henry VI. and 21 Henry VIII.
the chancellor, treaſurer, preſident of the king's coun-
cil, the chief juſtices, and chief baron, are to make
this election, and that on the morrow of All Souls,
in the exchequer; and the king's letters patent, ap-
pointing the new ſheriffs uſed cominonly to bear date
the 6th day of November, and the cuſtom now is,
and has been, at leaſt ever fince the reign of Hen-
ry VI. for all the judges, together with all the other
great officers, to meet in the exchequer chamber on
the morrow of All Souls yearly, (which day is now
altered to the morrow of St. Martin, by the laſt act
for abbreviating Michaelmas term) and then and
there propoſe three perſons to the king, who after-
wards appoints one of thein to be ſheriff. But though
this is the general practice, yet frequently, for parti-
cular
172
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

cular reaſons, the king omits appointing any one of
the three perſons fo propoſed, and ſome time after,
by the fole authority of the crown, appoints one not
nominated to him as above, who is called from thence
a pocket ſeriff, a cuſtom of ſome time ſtanding, and
uniformly continued at this day. Sheriffs, by virtue
of ſeveral old ſtatutes, are to continue their office but
for one year; and yet it has been ſaid, that a ſheriff may
be appointed durante bene placito, or during the king's
pleaſure, and ſo is the form of the royal writ; there-
fore, till a new ſheriff is named, his office cannot be
determined, unleſs by his own death, or the death of
the king. And by the ſtatute of 1 Richard II. no
man,
who has ſerved the office of theriff for one year,
can be compelled to ſerve the ſame again within three
years after. The under-lheriff uſually performs the
duties of the office, a very few only excepted, where the
perſonal preſence of the high-Sheriff is neceſſary ; for
which purpoſe there is a large indenture ſigned and
ſealed between him and his under-ſheriff at the time
of his entering on his office. The principal perfonal
attendance which is required of the high ſheriff of this
county is twice a year, at the aſſīzes and general goal
delivery, held at the county town of Maidſtone, to
which he comes on the commiſſion day in great pa-
rade of equipage, with his under ſheriff, bailiffs,
and other officers, and remains there attendant on
the judges, and buſineſs of the aſſizes, till the whole
is finiſhed, and the judges have left the town; when
he too departs home, leaving the execution of the cri-
minals, and ſuch matters, to the under ſheriff and his
officers. si
oletouno idora
In Hilary term next after the ſheriff is out of of-
fice, he and his under ſheriff are ſworn to yield and
give a juſt and true account to the king, and his offi-
cers, in the exchequer of the king's debts, wherewith
Centro
2 Madox's Excheq, p. 638, Blackſ. Com. vol. i. p. 349 et ſeq.
he

od od
OFFICE OF SHERIFF.
173

he is charged by the green wax of the exchequer, and
other particulars which have happened within the
compaſs of his office, , and of all other profits what-
ſoever, due and belonging to the king, and chargeable
to him to anſwer for ; after which he leaves the far-
ther trouble in paſſing his account to the care of his
under ſheriff. The tranſacting of which, and obtain-
ing the ſheriff's quietus, or diſcharge, became ſo trou-
bleſome and expenſive, from the delays made by the
officers concerned in it, and the variety of fees de-
manded by them, that the legiſlature thought it ne-
ceſſary to paſs an act in the 3d year of George I. not
only for his greater eaſe in the execution of this office
of ſheriff
, but for the aſcertaining the fees to be paid
by him in fuing out his patent, and paſſing his ac-
counts, and the preventing the officers and clerks
from retarding and hindering the paſſing of them ;
and the inrolment and delivery of his quietus in due
time ; and for eſtabliſhing a new oath of office, in the
room of the old one; and as the profers payable at the
exchequer by the ſheriff remained then the ſame as
they antiently were, though many of the rents and
premiſes, out of which they were payable, were alie-
nated from the crown, the lord treaſurer, and great
officers of the exchequer, were enabled, at the requeſt
of the ſheriff, to reduce and fettle the ſame to ſuch
fums as they ſhould think juſt and reaſonable, with
regard to the amount and value of ſuch rents and
certainties at preſent in the county, which, when ſo
fettled, were to be the profers payable by the reſpec-
tive ſheriff. im
The fees allowed by the above act to be taken of
the ſeveral ſheriffs by the officers and clerks in the
exchequer and chancery, amounted all together to the
fum of four thouſand pounds or thereabouts ; and as
it was juſtly thought unreaſonable, that the ſheriffs of
this kingdom, who were obliged to take upon them
that troubleſome and expenſive office for the ſervice
of
174
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

of their country, ſhould pay fo large a fum them-
felves, an act paffed that year, for ſetting apart the
fum of four thouſand pounds yearly in the exchequer,
for paying the expences they were at in fuing out
their patents, paſſing their accounts, and obtaining
their quietus, according to the ſeveral proportions
therein recited, in which the fum allowed to the ſhe-
riff of Kent is one hundred and eight pounds ten ſhil-
ings; notwithſtanding this allowance, the expence of
ſerving the office for this county generally amounts to
about three hundred pounds.
There are many inſtances of the great nobility of
the kingdom, women as well as men, being in early
times appointed to this office, and among them are
ſeveral archbiſhops and biſhops, as may be ſeen in
the rolls of thoſe times, For example, earl Goſpa-
trick bought the ſheriffwic of Northumberland of
William the Conqueror; Robert earl of Leiceſter
had the county of Hereford granted, by king Ste-
phen, to him and his heirs ; king Richard I. gave
the ſheriff-wick of Yorkſhire to the higheſt bidder ;
William, biſhop of Ely, the chancellor, offered the
king for the fheriffdom of the counties of York,
Lincoln, and Northampton, fifteen hundred marks
in hand, and one hundred more increment, or increaſe,
for thoſe counties above the uſual ferm every year of
each ; Geoffrey, archbiſhop of York, offered the king
for the ſheriffdom of Yorkſhire, only three thouſand
marks, and one hundred more increment, upon which
he was made ſheriff of that county. Henry III. by
his letters patent, committed the counties of Norfolk
and Suffolk to Hubert de Burgh, chief juſticier of
England, during pleaſure, and commanded all perſons
therein to be intendant and refpondent to him as the
king's bailiff and ſheriff, and in all letters and pre-
cepts directed to the ſheriff, there was an injunction for


BISNES Madox's Excheq. p. 634.635.
all
OFFICE OF SHERIFF.
175
all archbiſhops, dukes, marquifes, earls, viſcounts, bi-
thops, barons, &c. to affiſt him in the execution of
them, which ſhews the great extent of his authority ;
but ſince the conftitution of the office of lord-lieu-
tenant this has been omitted, and his power much
abridged. The ſame king, by letters patent, com-
mitted the county of Southampton to Peter, biſhop
of Wincheſter, and in the 3d year of that king he
was accounted as fheriff of the fame. Queen Iſabel
had the ſheriffwic of Cornwall ſeveral years before, as
well as after her huſband, king Edward II 's death.
Margaret, widow of Edward earl of Cornwall held
this office in the county of Rutland the laſt five years
of king Edward I. and as many of king Edward II.
It is ſaid that ſhe was ſheriff fourteen years, as was her
huſband, Edmund earl of Cornwall, ſon of Richard,
king of the Romans, from the 17th to the 28th, and
in the zoth of that reign, but it is not mentioned of
what county." And after the next three years Mar-
garet, the wife of Piers Gaveſton, earl of Cornwall,
anſwered to king Edward II. the profits of that coun-
ty. Elizh, countefs of Saliſbury, had the county of
Wiltſhire committed to her the 21ſt of king Hen-
ry III. Each of theſe having her ſhire clerk, or ſub-
ftitute under her. King Henry III made his ſon,
prince Edward, the five laſt years of his reign, ſheriff
of Bedford and Buckingham. The Black Prince was
often ſheriff of Cornwall under king Edward III. and
prince Henry, in the life-time of king Henry IV. was
theriff of the ſame. William earl of Saliſbury was
ſheriff of different counties for ſeveral years during
the reign of king John. The earls of Warwick were
often ſheriffs of the counties of Warwick and Leiceſ-
ter, under king Edward III. and of the county of
V to
Philipott, p. 1%. Madox's Excheq. p. 636.
-179 " Philipot, p. 17. Spelman, in his Gloſſary. p. 555.
Philipot, p. 18.
QUASH nga buz tu
Worceſter




WO

176
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
Worceſter moſt part of that reign. Ralph earl of
Cheſter, was ſheriff of that county the iſt of king
Henry JII. and of Lancaſhire in the ad year
of the
fame king. Walter, archbiſhop of York, was ſheriff
of Nottingham in the 54th and 55th of king Hen-
ry III. Hilarius, biſhop of Lincoln, was ſheriff of
Lincolnſhire from the oth to the 13th of that reign;
and Hilarius, biſhop of Chicheſter, was ſheriff of Suf-
fex and Surry in the 8th year of king Henry II.
There are many more inſtances of earls, archbiſhops,
and biſhops, being ſheriffs of different counties; but
thoſe mentioned above are ſufficient to ſhew the dig-
nity and eminence this office was held in. Before the
reign of queen Elizabeth, as may be ſeen by the
above account, ſome counties were joined with others
lying next to them, for the eaſe of the ſervice of the
ſheriff; as Suſſex and Surry, Devon and Cornwall,
Somerſet and Dorſet, Hants and Wilts, Warwick
and Leiceſter, Norfolk and Suffolk, Effex and Hert-
ford, Nottingham and Derby, Oxford and Berks,
Bucks and Bedford, Cambridge and Huntingdon ;
ſince which, by reaſon of the increaſe of gentry able
to bear the office in them, they have been ſeparated,
each county in the realm having now a diſtinct ihe-
riff to itſelf, excepting the two laſt mentioned. kuin
King Henry VI. in his 18th year, made this title
of vice-comes or viſcount, honorary, and made it a de-
gree of ſtate ainong the peers of this realm, by crea-
ting John lord Beaumont, Viſcount Beaumont, which
name and title of viſcount, though it is the ſame
word as, both in Latin and French, denominated
our officiary ſheriff, yet it has not the leaſt connexion
with it, being merely honorary.
I ſhall now give a ÇATALOGUE of the Vice-
COMITES or SHERIFFS OF KENT, as they are regiſ-
tered in the Pipe rolls, and other records and evi-
dences.
a Act 8th and 13th Elizabeth.


SHERIFFS
LIST OF SHERIFFS.
177
-
frontoian Berbagain to pred

SHERIFFS OF THE COUNTY OF KENT.
0902
OSWARD was the firſt of them that I can find,
who held this office in the reign of king William the
Confeſſor, as appears by the record of Domeſday,
and had then great poſſeſſions in this county:
D. Hamo de Crevequer was Sheriff of Kent in the reign
of king William the Conqueror, and is frequently
mentioned as ſuch in the book of Domeſday, under
the denomination of Hamo vice comes, and in many
deeds and writings of that time, under that of Ha-
mo dapifer, i. e. the king's feneſchal or ſteward. He
continued ſheriff, as was then not unuſual, during
life, which was prolonged beyond the middle of the
reign of king Henry II. for in the year 1111, being
the 12th of that reign, Hugh, abbot of St. Auſtin's,
granted to him the lands of Bodeſham and Smethe-
tun. Quod ipfe, as the deed ſays, fi opus fuerit, ec-
cleſiæ et mihi, vel fuccefforibus meis de predi&tis in comi-
tatu vel in curia regis contra aliquem baronem, conſulat
adjuvet, et ſuccurrat
. At the ſame time Hamo re-
ſtored to that abbey the town of Fordwich in theſe
words : Hamo Cantii vicecomes et Henrici regis Anglo-
rum dapifer timore Dei ductus, reddo, etc.
William de Aynsford ſucceeded Hamo, and conti-
nued ſo during the remainder of king Henry I. His
arms were, fretee ermine, as carved on the roof of the
cloiſters at Canterbury:
Norman Fitz Dering was Sheriff under king Ste-
phen, as appears by a writ of queen Maud, directed
to him. He was a deſcendant of that Dering, who,
as the book of Domeſday informs us, held Farning-
• The arms of the ſeveral ſheriffs, not deſcribed here, may be
found under the ſeveral pariſhes in which they reſided.
• Madox’s Excheq. p. 224.
ham
VOL. I.
N
178
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
mero.
ham in the time of king Edward the Confeffor. He
bore for his arms, argent a fefs azure; and having
married Matilda, only ſiſter and heir of William de
Ipre, earl of Kent, was anceſtor to the Derings of Sur-
renden.
Ruallon de Valoignes in the latter part of king Ste-
phen's reign. He was poſſeſſed of Swerdling in Pe-
tham, Repton in Aſhford, and Tremworth in Crun-
dal, at which ſeats he alternately reſided. He had
this
his county in ferm from king Stephen, at the time
when moſt, if not all, the counties were let to ferm,
at the rent of two hundred and fixty pounds, ad pen-
ſam, and ſeventy-ſix pounds and twenty pence, de nu-
He was likewife ſheriff in the firſt
year
of
king Henry II. anno 1154, as appears by the Pipe-
office, where the ſheriff's accounts are inrolled.
Ralph Picot, from the 2d to the 7th year of the
ſame reign incluſive. Adam Picot ſupplied part of
this laſt year, and Hugh de Dover the reſt.
Hugh de Dover, ſon of Fulbert de Dover, who held
the caſtle of Chilham, and other Kentiſh fees for his
ſupport, in the defence of Dover caſtle, was ſheriff
from the 8th to the 11th of that reign incluſive. He
dwelt ſometimes at Chilham caſtle and ſometimes at
Kingſton.
Richard de Luci, in the 13th year of the ſame
reign.
Gervas de Cornhill, from the 16th to the 20th year
of king Henry II. incluſive, his ſeat being at Luke-
dale, in Littlebourn. Reginald de Warren was joined
with him in the 16th year. In the year 1170, king
Henry II. kept his Eaſter at Windſor, whence he
came to London, and there put out of office moſt of
the ſheriffs of England, and put them to ranſom" for

a
b

Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 461.
Đ Madox's Excheq. p. 136.
• Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 83.
d Madox's Excheq. p. 12.
miſdemeanors.
LIST OF SHERIFFS.
179
miſdemeanors. In the 21ſt year of this reign Robert
Fitzbernard was joined with him in his office.
Robert Fitzbernard above-mentioned, exerciſed this
office alone, from the end of the above year to the
3oth of that reign. His capital manſion was at Kingſ-
down, near Wrotham.cout bris
these
William Fitznigel de Muneville in the 30th year of
it ; and William Fitz Philip was joined with him.
This family of De Muneville were lords of Folke-
ſtone. et du nister
Allan de Valoignes (de Tremworth) from the 30th
to the end of king Henry II. His reſidence, accord-
ing to the cuſtom of his anceſtors, was ſometimes at
Tremworth, and ſometimes at Repton and Swerdling.
Henry de Cornhill, ſon of Gervas above-mentioned,
in the iſt, 2d, and 3d years of king Richard I.'s reign.
His ſeat was at Lukedale.
Reginald, ſon of Gervas de Cornhill, from the 4th
to the oth year of that reign incluſive, and in the laſt

year of it.
Gervas de Cornhill, in the 4th year of king John.e
ai Reginald de Cornhill, from the 11th of that reign
during the remainder of it; in the 12th year of which
John Fitz Vinon, of Haringe in Sellindge, was joined
with him in the execution of this office. His feat
was at Minſter, in Thanet, which was, from his be-
ing ſo conſtantly ſheriff, denominated Sheriff's Court;
which name it retains at this day; nay, from this
circumſtance, his own name was diſcontinued, and
he was called Reginald le Viſcount, and his relict, in
a grant of land to the chapel of Lukedale, is ftiled
in the deed, Vicecomitiſſa Cantii. He bore for his
arms, Two lions paſſant, debruiſed with a bendlet, as
be ſeen on the roof of Canterbury cloiſters.
Oro
e Madox's Excheq, p. 194.
may
opinie
f Ibid. p. 225.
ove
09.9 Stagili
N 2
SHERIFFS
180 GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
redo Angiorno
BOULA
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING HENRY III.
Si batu WHO BEGAN HIS
PION IN 1216.
ods sobre a mot books foto
Hubert de Burgh, that great ſubject, who was af-
terwards earl of Kent and conſtable of Dover caſtle,
from the ift to the 7th of it incluſive, during which
tiine Hugh de Windleſore, of Warehorn, was joined
with him as his aſſiſtant. Hubert had this county in
ferm. He was juſtice itinerant at the time he was
ſheriff, notwithſtanding it had been ordained other-
wiſe in the iſt of Richard 1. In the 8th year Roger
Grimſtone was joined as an aſſiſtant with him, and
continued ſo the two next years. In the 11th year
of that reign William Brito was joined with him,
and continued his aſſiſtant in that office till the 17th

b
year of it.
Bertram de Criol, lord of Oftenhanger, and conſta-
ble of Dover-caſtle, from the 17th to the 22d, and
ſo on till the end of the firſt half of the 23d year of
it, whoſe grandſon was uſually ſtiled the Great Lord
of Kent, on account of the great poſſeſſions in this
county, which accrued to him in right of his wife.
Alianore, one of the daughters, and at length coheir
of Hamon de Crevequer, lord of Leeds caſtle, and of
Maud his wife, daughter and heir of William de
Averenches, lord of Folkeſtone.
Humphry de Bohun, earl of Hereford and Effex, for
the laſt half of the 23d of it, and for the two years
following. He was at that time poffeffed of the ma-
nor of Billington.
Peter de Saubaudia (or of Savoy) being earl of Sa-
voy, and uncle, by the mother's ſide, to Alianore, wife
to king Henry III. was made earl of Richmond, in
Yorkſhire, and lord warden of the cinque ports. He
dwelt in the Strand, in London, at the houſe ſince
a Madox's Excheq. p. 225 and 640.
Philipott, p. 20.
called,
LIST OF SHERIFFS.
181
called, from him, the Savoy. He was ſheriff of Kent
in the 26th year of king Henry III. and Bertram de
Criol was joined with him.
i Bertram de Criol above mentioned, who had been
ſheriff before, in the former part of this reign, held
this office in the 27th year of it, and John de Cob-
ham was joined with him that year, and he held it
alone from the 27th to the end of the 32d year of it.
2. Reginald de Cobham, ſon of Henry, from the be-
ginning of the 33d to the end of the 40th year of
it. In the 41ſt year Walter de Berſted (afterwards
conſtable of Dover caſtle) was joined with him; in
the 42d he executed it alone, in which year he died,
and Roger de Northwood, and his other executors,
anſwered for the profits due from him. After which
Hugh de Montford, the king's nephew, is faid, by
Pat. 48, memb. 12, to have had the cuſtody of the
county of Kent, and the hundred of Middleton,
granted to him for the remainder of the year, after
Reginald de Cobham's death, whoſe executors only
anſwered for certain ferm and profits due from him
to the king, on account of his late office.
Fulk Peyforer, in the 430 year of this reign, His
feat was ſometimes at North-court in Eaſling, and
ſometimes at Colebridge-caſtle in Boughton Malherbe,
His arms, Argent fix fleurs de lis azure, are ſtill re-
maining on the roof of the cloiſters in Canterbury.
Fohn de Cobham, eldeſt fon of John de Cobham be-
fore mentioned, by the daughter of Warine Fitz Be-
nedict, his firſt wife, in the 44th year of it. He
ſerved the firſt part of the 45th, and Robert Walleran
ſerved the reſt, and Walteſ de Redmaſedg was under
him.
John de Cobham was likewiſe ſheriff in the 46th and
47th years of this reign, and Robert Walleran and
Thomas Delaway were under him. His ſeat was at

Dugd. Bar. vol. ii. p. 65.
N 3
Monkton
182
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
Monkton in Thanet. He bore for his arms, as all
his deſcendants did, Gules on a chevron or, three lions
rampant ſable.
od tiw bornomenu HOTD
Roger de Leyborne, in the 48th year of it, and Fulk
Peyforer had the cuſtody of the county the latter part
of that year, and three parts of the 49th year. Roger
de Leyborne was ſheriff again in the 50th year, and
John de Bourne was joined with him, and fo conti-
nued till the 52d year of it, and Fulk de Peyforer
had the cuſtody of the county again the laſt three
parts of that year. His ſeat was at Leyborne caſtle.
Stephen de Pencheſter, the 53d and two following
years, and Henry de Leeds was his aſſiſtant or ſhire
clerk. He was conſtable of Dover caſtle and warden
of the five ports. His ſeat was at Penſhurſt. tava brasa
Henry Malmains, of Pluckly and Walderſhare, in
the 56th year of it, being the laſt of this reign.
៤) UC
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING
THE TIME OF KING EDWARD I.
PATIO



WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN IN 1272.
Henry Malmains above mentioned, continued ſheriff
part of the iſt year, when he died, and John his ſon
anſwered for the profits of the county for the firſt
half year, and William de Hevér ſerved the office the
other half of the year. In this year the king ſent
his letters to the ſheriffs of the ſeveral counties, to
make proviſion for his coronation, to be delivered to
his conſtable of his caſtle of Windſor by Eaſter-eve
at fartheſt ; among others, the Sheriff of this county
was to furniſh within his diſtrict, to be approved of
by the bearer of theſe letters, forty oxen and cows,
forty hogs, two boars, forty live and fat muttons, two
thouſand and one hundred capons and hens, and
twenty-five bacons, the coſt to be paid at the king's
exchequer. Dated 10th of February 1274. In the
a Clauſ. 2 Ed. I. h. 13. Rym. Fod. vol. ii. p. 21.
ſame
THE LIST OF SHERIFFS.
183

ſame manner, as occafion required, writs were ſent to
the ſheriffs for proviſions for the king's houſehold at
the meeting of the parliament and other feſtivities.
They were a kind of purveyors to the king for even
cloaths, furniture, or whatever elſe he wanted. The
arms of Henry Malmains were, Gules three right bands
couped argent, as may be learnt from the quarterings
in the coat armour of the Derings of Surrenden. vich
William de Hever above mentioned, of Hever caſtle,
continued on in the beginning of the 2d year of this
reign, and William Haute of Petham ſerved the re-
mainder of it.s
William de Valoignes, of Swerdling and Repton,
from the 3d to the 6th year of it incluſive, though
part of the laſt year was fupplied by Henry Perot, of
Knowlton.
Robert Scotton, from the 7th to the noth of this
reign incluſive, in which laſt year he died, and Robert
his
ſon accounted for the remainder of that year. He
kept his ſhrievalty at Cheriton..
Peter de Hunting field, of Huntingfield, a manor in
Eaſling, fo called from this family, in the 11th, 12th,
and 13th years. His principal feats were, the above
manor, and Weſt Wickham, in this county. He
bore for his arms, Or a feſs gules between three tor-
teauxes. follos bien
193 pont alone
Hamon de Gatton, of Throwley, in the 14th year.
His arms, as formerly in a window in the church of
Selling, were, Chequy azure and argent.
William de Chellesfield, fo named from the manor
of Chellesfield, of which he and his anceſtors had
been many years pofſeffed, in the 15th, 16th, and
17th years of this reign.
donalo to nao Del
o no Madox’s Hiſt. Excheq, p. 234 et teq. v podo
Kilburne, p. 390. Dugd. Bar. vol. ii. p. 14. to
Philipott, p. 21.
William



C
a
V 4
184
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
years of it.
William de Bramſhott, ſo named of a place in Hamp-
ſhire, of which he and his anceſtors were lords, in the
18th and 19th years. nomihog
amunalnog sida do grona sdt
* Sir Fohn de Northwood, ſon of fir Roger North-
wood, of Northwood, in Milton, in the 20th
year
of
this reign, for the latter part of which Richard de
Cumbe, and Simon de Cumbe, his ſon and heir,
ſerved for him. In the 21ſt year he was ſheriff again,
and John de Bourne was joined with him.
Fohn de Bourne, of Sharſted, in Doddington, had
the cuſtody of this county in the 22d, 23d, and 24th
William Truffell was ſheriff in the 25th and 26th
years.
Henry de Apulderfield, of Apulderfield, now called
Apperfield, in Cowdham, ſerved the latter part of the
26th year, but was ſheriff alone in the 27th.
Sir John de Northwood above mentioned was again
ſheriff in the 28th year. od 101
Henry de Cobham, of Roundal, in Shorne, younger
brother of fir John de Cobham, lord of Cobham, in
the 29th, 30th, and part of the 31ſt years of this
reign, in which laſt year the barons of the Exchequer
appointed Elias de Morton, of Doddingdale, in Can-
terbury, to ſerve in his ſtead. This Henry de Cob-
ham is frequently written in old rolls, Henry Cobham
le Uncle, becauſe ſurviving his brother, he was uncle
to Henry lord Cobham.. Wannol ac
Warefus de Valoyns, as the name then began to be
fpelt, of Tremworth, the latter part of the 31ſt and
in the 32d year of it.
Sir John Northwood was again ſheriff in the 33d
and 34th of it.
William de Coſenton, of Coſenton, in Aylesford, in
the 35th year, whoſe arms are carved on the roof of
the cloiſters at Canterbury:
19 ore


SHERIFFS
LIST OF SHERIFFS. VOO
185

SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING EDWARD II.
WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN IN 1307.
bord
Sir Henry de Cobham, of Roundal, in Shorne, was
again ſheriff in the ift year. nato de.
John le Blund, of Sundridge place, in Bromley, in
the 2d, 3d, and 4th years, and dying in the 5th,
when he was likewiſe ſheriff, Edward his ſon ſerved
out the remainder of the year for him, and continued
in the office part of the year following.
William de Baſing, of Kenardington, who is in the
roll of thoſe knights who accompanied king Edward I.
in his victorious expedition into Scotland, was iheriff
in the 7th year of this reign, and John de Handloe,
the younger, of Courtopſtreet, in Limne, was joined
with him. This William was alſo ſheriff the next
year, during which he died, and Margaret, his wi-
dow, accounted for the profits of it, as the Pipe,
rolls inform us.
BOR
Sir Henry de Cobham again, in the gth year. Id velo
John de Malmains, of Malmains, in Stoke, in the
1oth and part of the 11th year, the year after which
he was committed priſoner to the Fleet, quia abſen-
tavit ſe de compoto ſuo.
Jou de boilogul tam
John Fremingham, of Fremingham, now Farning-
ham, the laſt half of the 11th year, and for three
parts of the 12th year, when Henry de Sarden was
joined as an affiſtant with him. He bore for his
arms, Argent a feſs gules, between three Corniſh thoughs
fable, as on the roof of the cloiſters at Canterbury.
William Septvans, ſon and heir of fir Robert Sept-
vans, whoſe feat was at Milton, near Canterbury, part
of the 13th and in the 14th year of this reign, and
Henry de Sarden was his aſſiſtant. He continued in
the 15th and part of the 16th, and Ralph Savage,
of Milfted, was joined with him, whoſe arms are re-
maining on the roof of the cloiſters at Canterbury.
Fobu
186
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
John de Shelving, ſon of Thomas de Shelving, of
Wodenſborough, part of the 16th and part of the
17th year, and John de Fremingham was his aſſiſtant
in it. Which
John de Fremingham ferved the office alone the re-
mainder of thoſe years, as he did entirely the 18th
part of the 19th of the reign of this unfortunate
prince, and Ralph de St. Laurence ſerved out the re-
fidue for hiin. Thomas de Toniford accounted for
the profits of his office for him. Tobruschetta
guiwollen av on lo godlo odt
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING EDWARD III.
WHO BEGUN HIS
IS REIGN IN 1326.
IN 1326. to
Diors bashoba osui moldoen aloitoin id
Ralph de St. Laurence was ſheriff in the ift year of


and

this reign.
ce was the
William de Orlanſton, in the 2d year, as well as the
next following, when John de Shelving above men-
tion was joined with him. His arms were, Two chev-
rons on a canton a lion paſſant, in imitation of the Cri-
ols, his lords paramount.
John de Shelving abovementioned was ſheriff alone
in the 4th year, but died within it, as appears by the
inquiſition taken after his death, and John de Wal-
mer ſupplied the reſt of the year for him. ni
Roger de Raynham ſerved part of the 5th year of
this reign, and John de Bourn ſerved the remainder.
Thomas de Brockhull, of Brockhull, in Saltwood, in
the 6th year, and Laurence de St. Laurence ſerved
as his affiftant for part of the year, but in the 7th year
Thomas de Brockhull ſerved the office alone, whoſe
arms are on the cloiſters at Canterbury, and in ſeveral
churches in this county.olias enw agl slodweny
Stephen de Cobham, of Roundal, in Shorne, ſon and
heir of Henry de Cobham le Uncle above mentioned,
in the 8th, 9th, and noth of this reign. busuk tout
Thomas de Brockhull above mentioned theriff again
in the 11th year, anellobodio 2001 od mogaus
William

LIST OF SHERIFFS.
187

SHOW
William Morant of Morant's court, in Chevening,
in the 12th and 13th years of this reign. During his
ſhrievalty the king iſſued a mandate to him, to take
care that but one bell ſhould be rung in any ſteeple
towards the ſea coaſt in this county.
b Henry de Valoyns of Repton, in Aſhford, in the 14th
year.
John de Mereworth of Mereworth caſtle, in the 15th
year, as he was in the 16th, when John de Vielſton,
now Filſon, in Shoreham, was joined with him,
John de Vielfton beforementioned, from the 16th to
the 20th year incluſive.
si William de Langley, of Knolton, in the 21ſt year.
His arms are on the roof of the cloiſters in Canter-
bury, and the windows of ſeveral churches in this
county. odno
2. Fohn de Fremingham before mentioned, again in the
22d year, and Richard Stone was his deputy.
-- William de Langley, of Knolton, again from the
23d to the 25th incluſive, and part of the 26th, and
Arnold Savage of Bobbing, ſerved part of that
for him.
James de la Pine part of the 26th and part of the
27th year, which Stephen Brode kept for him. He
was pofſeffed of Helburgh, in Reculver, and Eaſthall,
in Murſton, in which laſt he kept his ſhrievalty.
William Apulderfield of Bedmancore, in Linſted,
deſcended from thoſe of Cowdham, part of the 27th,
and entirely the 28th year. He bore the fame arms
as thoſe of Cowdham.
si_Reginald de Dike, of Sheldwich, in the 29th year.
He married Lora, widow of Sampſon At-leeze, and
by having the guardianſhip of his children, much im-
proved his own eſtate, and purchaſed lands in Shepey
and Sheldwich in this county, and in Rutlandſhire.
He lies buried in Sheldwich church.
a Gilbert de Hells, of Hells court, in Aſh, and of
St. Margaret Hells, in Darent, in the 30th year. He

of that year

was
188
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
next years.
was ſon of Betram de Hells, lieutenant of Dover
caſtle, under Reginald de Cobham. His arms, ſable
a bend argent, are carved on the roof of Canterbury
cloiſters. Mot s bodi llod 500 od tadt STED
William de Apulderfield again, in the 31ſt year. 01
Ralph de Fremingham, of Fremingham, in the 32d
year.
William Makenade of Makenade houſe, in Preſton,
near Faverſham, in the 33d year, at the end of which
he died. He kept his thrievalty at Makenade. won
(William de Apulderfield again, in the 34th, and two
ajutation des salle
William Pimpe of Pimpe's court, in Nettleſted, in
the 37th year. oba od to 100 pili no 916 me
William de Apulderfield again, in the 38th year. id
Feffery Colepeper of Bayhall, in Pembury, and Pref-
ton, in Aylesford, part of the 39th year. His arms
are ſtill remaining in the windows of many of the
churches in this county, and on the roof of the cloiſ-
ters in Canterbury
banho bon
John Colepeper of Bayhall, the other part of the 39th
and the whole of the 40th year.
Sir Richard At-leeze of Leeze-court, in Sheldwich,
in the hiſt year. His arms were placed in Sheldwich
church. bus atiti
Dodatog da
John Brockhull of Brockhull, in Saltwood, in the
42d year.
subota 106
John Colepeper of Bayhall, again, in the 430 year.
William Pimpe of Pimpe’s-court, again, in the 45th
year.
babwe to claire
John Barrey of the Moat, in Sevington, in the 46th
year. His arms are on the roof of the cloiſters in
Canterbury.blid naberg onrus va
Jeffrey Colepeper of Preſton, in Aylesford, in the
47th year.
TODO at nibiwbiana bao
Robert Nottingham of Bayford, in Sittingbourn, in
the 48th year, and kept his fhrievalty at the above
place, in which year he died; Richard de Southwell


ferved
T LIST OF SHERIFFS:
189
ſerved the remainder of it for him. His arms were,
Paly wavy of four pieces, gules and argent.
b William Pimpe again ſerved the office in thé- 49th
year, but died before the end of it, and Reginald his
ſon ferved the remainder of it for him.
Nicholas at Crouch, of Great Chart, ſo named from
his habitation near the Croſs, in the goth year.
# Henry de Apulderfield of Otterpley, in Challock, in
the 51ſt year, in which year this victorious prince
died.
Patta
shamois
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING RICHARD II.
WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN IN 1377.
Thomas de Cobham of Roundal, in Shorne, in the iſt
year, and William de Modyngham was his deputy.
John de Fremingham, of Fremingham, or Farning-
ham, as it is now called, in the 2d year.
James de Peckham of Yaldham, in Wrotham, in the
3d year.
William Septvans of Milton Septvans, near Canter-
bury, in the 4th year, and kept his ſhrievalty there.
Arnold Savage of Bobbing-court, near Sittingbourn,
where he had a caſtellated houſe, in the 5th year, and
was a man of great note in his time. His arins are
on the roof of Canterbury cloiſters, and in ſeveral
churches in this county.
Thomas Brockhull of Calehill, in Little Chart, in
the 6th and 7th years.
Robert Corbie of Boughton Malherbe, in the 8th year.
Arnold Savage of Bubbing, again in the 9th year.
Ralph St. Leger of Ulcombe, in the 10th year,
whoſe arms are on the roof of the cloiſters at Canter-
bury, and painted in the windows of ſeveral churches
in this county.
William Guldeford of Hemſted, in Benenden, in the
IIth year. His arms are carved on the roof of the
cloiſters in Canterbury.
James


190 GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

James de Peckham of Yaldham above mentioned,
again in the 12th year.
William Burceſton of Burſton, in Hunton, deſcended
out of the county of Southampton, in the 13th year.
Richard de Berham, ſon of Henry de Berham, of
Berliam-court, in Teſton, in the 14th year.dk
Thomas Chiche of the Dungeon, near Canterbury,
whoſe arms may be ſeen carved in ſtone in the church
of St. Mary Bredin, in Canterbury, and on a braſs
plate in Milton church, near Sittingbourn.
William Barrey, ſon of John above mentioned, and
likewiſe of the Moat, in Sevington, in the 16th year.
Fohn de Fremingham above mentioned was again
ſheriff part of the 17th year, and Thomas Colepeper
of Pembury, ſerved the remainder of it.
Thomas Colepeper above mentioned continued all

the 18th year.
Nicholas Haut of Wadenhall, in Stelling, in the
19th year, and kept his ſhrievalty there. His arms
were, Or, a croſs engrailed gules, as on the roof of the
cloiſters of Canterbury, and in many of the neigh-
bouring churches.
Thomas St. Leger of Otterden, in the 20th year.
Nicholas Potin, who reſided at Queen-court, in Of-
pringe, and kept his ſhrievalty there, was ſheriff in

the 2 iſt year.
Fohn Boteler of Gravenny, in the 22d year, being
the laſt of king Richard's reign. His arms were,
Sable, three cups covered or, a bordure of the ſecond, as
may be ſeen in Milton, by Sittingbourn, and Gra-

veny churches.
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING HENRY IV.
WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN IN 1399.
Robert Clifford of Bobbing, in the iſt year.
Thomas Lödelow, deſcended out of Wiltſhire, in
the 2d year, but died before the end of it, and John
Digg,
LIST OF SHERIFFS.
191
Digg, of Digg's-court, in Barham, diſcharged the of-
fice for the remainder of the year, whoſe arms may
be ſeen in the roof of the cloiſters in Canterbury, as
well as in many churches in this county.
Thomas Chiche of the Dungeon, in St. Mary Bre-
din's pariſh, Canterbury, in the 3d year.
Richard Clitherow of Goldftanton, in Aſh, near
Sandwich, who was conſtituted admiral of the feas,
from the Thames mouth weſtward, was ſheriff in the
4th year and moſt part of the 5th.
Thomas Swinbourne, owner of ſeveral eſtates in the
county of Eſſex, in the 6th year, and kept his ſhriev-
alty at Thevegate, in Smeeth,
Michael Horn of Horn’s-place, in Appledore, in the
7th year, and kept his ſhrievalty there.
Edward Haut of Haut's place, in Petham, and of
Bourne, in the 8th year.
William Sraith of Addington, in the 9th year.
Reginald Pimp of Pimp's court, in Eaſt Farleigh,
ſon of William Pimp of Nettlefted, in the ioth year,
John Darell of Calehill, in Little Chart, a younger
branch of thoſe at Seſay, in Yorkſhire, who was ſtew-
ard to archbiſhop Chicheley, and elder brother to fir
William Darell, under treaſurer of England, was ſhe-
riff in the 11th year.
William Notbeame, deſcended out of Suffolk, where
his family was of gentility, but whoſe reſidence was
at Alh, near Sandwich, in the 12th year, and in the
7th year of king Henry V. was returned among thoſe
who were ſaid, portare arma antiqua.
William Cheney of Shurland, in Shepey, in the 13th
year, being the laſt of king Henry IV. He bore for his
arms, Argent, on a bend ſable, three mullets or, being his
own paternal arms, and alſo the additional coat of
Shurland, being Azure, fix lioncels rampart argent, three,
two, and one, a canton ermine, which laſt coat is carved
on the roof of the cloiſters in Canterbury.



SHERIFFS
192 GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
od nagrobnice
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING HENRY V.
2 WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN IN 1912.
William Cheney above mentioned continued the iſt
year.
Robert Clifford beforementioned, again in the 2d

and 3d years.
1
William Langley of Knolton, in the 4th year.
John Darell of Calehill before mentioned, again in
the 5th year,
Richard Clitherow of Ath, again in the 6th year.
Fohn Burgh of Etonbridge, in the 7th year. During
whoſe ſhrievalty there came a ſpecial writ to him from
the king, commanding him to elect out of the moſt
fit and able knights and efquires of the county, that
bore arms from antiquity, twelve of the moſt ſuffi-
cient, to ſerve as lances for the defence of the king-
dom.
William Haut of Hautſborne, ſome part of the 8th
and all the oth year.
Fohn Darell of Calehill, in the roth year, being the
laſt in king Henry V.
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING HENRY VI.
WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN IN 1422.
onad songs to Do DOOR
John Darell of Calehill was continued the iſt year.
William Cheney of Shurland, in the 2d year.
John Rykeld of Eflingham, in Friendſbury, in the
3d year, and kept his fhrievalty there.
William Clifford of Bobbing, again in the 4th year.
a William Colepeper of Preſton, in Aylesford, ſon of
ſir John Colepeper, in the 5th year.
to Thomas Ellis of Burton, in Kenington, in the 6th.
year.
bachado
William Scott of Scott's-hall, in Smeeth, in the
7th year.
Fohn Peche of Lullingſtone, in the 8th year.
John

1 LIST OF SHERIFFS.
FOTETSHUM
193
Fohn St. Leger of Ulcombe, in the 9th year.
by
John Guldeford of Halden, alias Lambin, in Rol-
venden, in the roth year.
William Bures of Halſted, in the 11th year.
Richard Woodvile of the Moat, near Maidſtone, in
the 12th year.
William Clifford of Bobbing and Shorne, of whom
mention is made before, again in the 13th year.
William Manſton of Manſton, in Thanet, in the
14th year, and kept his ſhrievalty there. His arms
are carved on the roof of the cloiſters at Canterbury,
and in Aſhford church, and of 201ösigned boog sett
James Fienes, fecond ſon of fir William Fienes, of
Kempſing and Seal, in the 15tlı year. Two years
after which he was ſheriff of Surry and Suſſex, and in
the 25th of this reign he was fummoned to parliament
as lord Say and Seale, and was afterwards conſtituted
lord treaſurer of England.
Bo naona
Richard Waller of Groombridge, in Speldhurſt, who
took the duke of Orleans priſoner at Agincourt, was
ſheriff in the 16th year.
dotar
Edward Guldeford of Halden, in Rolvenden, in the
17th year.
Gervas Clifton, who married Ifabel, widow of Wil-
liam Scott, and lived upon her eſtate at Braborn,
where he lies buried, in the 18th year. His arms.
were, Sable ſeme of cinquefoils and a lion rampant argent.
John Yerde of Denton, near Eleham, in the 19th
Siw
year.
John Warner of Foot's Cray, in the 20th year.
William Maries, who lived at Ufton, in Tunſtall,
in the 21ſt year. He was eſquire to Henry V. and
lies interred in Preſton church, near Faverſham.
Sir Thomas Brown, treaſurer of the houfehold to king
Henry VI. and anceſtor to the late viſcount Monta-
gue, in the 22d year.
William Cromer of Tunſtall, in the 23d year. He
married Elizh, daughter of James lord Say and Seale,
lord

VOL. I.
0
194
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

lord treaſurer, and was barbarouſly murdered by Jack
Cade, and his rebellious route, as he was oppofing
their entrance into London.
Horor naber
John Thornbury of Faverſham, in the 24th year.
His arms were, Argent, on a bend engrailed ſable three
plates ermine.
William Iſey of Sundridge, in the 25th year.
William Kene, who reſided at Welhall, in Eltham,
in right of Agnes his wife, widow of John Tatterſall,
in the 26th
year.
Stephen Slegge of Wouldham, in the 27th year. He
was a good benefactor to the above mentioned church.
Henry Cromer, ſecond ſon of William Cromer above
mentioned, in the 28th year.
Gervas Clifton before mentioned, again in the 29th
year.
Robert Horne of Horne's-place, in Apledore, in
the 30th year.
Thomas Ballard of Horton Parva, near Canterbury,
in the 31ſt year.
John Fogge of Repton, in Aſhford, in the 32d year.
His arms were, Argent, on a feſs between three amulets
ſable, three mullets of the firſt pierced, as they are car-
ved and painted in ſeveral churches in tlris county,
and on the roof of the cloiſters at Canterbury.
Sir John Cheney of Shurland, in the 33d year.
Philip Belknap of the Moat, near Canterbury, in
the 34th year.
Alexander Iden of Weſtwell, who flew Jack Cade,
and married the widow of William Cromer, flain be-
fore by that rebel, was ſheriff in the 35th year.
John Guldeford of Halden, in Rolvenden, in the
36th year. He was afterwards Comptroller of the
houſehold to king Edward IV. and was knighted by
king Richard III. at his coronation, and was admitted
by king Henry VII. of his privy council.
Sir Gervas Clifton before mentioned, again in the
37th year.
bro
Sir


LIST OF SHERIFFS.
195
Sir Thomas Brown of Beechworth caſtle, in Surry,
again in the 38th year.
John Scott of Scott's-hall, in the 39th, and laſt year
of the reign of king Henry VI. He was afterwards
knighted by king Edward IV. and made a privy-
counſellor, deputy of Calais, and comptroller of his
houſehold.
be
IN
BOOST
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING EDWARD IV.
WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN IN 1460.
John Iſaac, eſq. of Howlets, in Bekelbourne, in the


Iſt year.
Sir William Peche of Lullingſtone, in the 2d and
3d years, when he had likewiſe the cuſtody of the
caſtle of Canterbury annexed to his office, as the fol-
lowing record informs us Rex conceſſit Willielmo
Peche militi totum comit. Cantii una cum caſtro Cantuar.
ac conſtituit eum vice-comitem Cantii, ac ei conceſſit 40
libras annuas quouſque ei dederit 40 libras annuas in ſpe-
ciali tallio & heredibus maſculis. Pat. 2 Edw. 4ta.
parte 2 da.
John Diggs, eſq. of Digg's-court, in Barham, in the
4th year.
Alexander Clifford, eſq. of Bobbing-court, ſon of
Lewis Clifford, eſq. in the 5th year.
Sir William Haut of Hautſbourn, ſon of William
Haut and Elizh his wife, ſiſter to Richard Wood-
vile earl Rivers, and aunt to Elizh, queen to king
Edward IV. in the 6th year.
Sir John Golepeper of Pembury and Goudhurſt, in
the 7th year.
Ralph St. Leger, eſq. of Ulcombe, in the 8th year.
Sir Henry Ferrers of Eaſt Peckham, deſcended out
of Warwickſhire, in the 9th year. He married Mar-
garet, one of the daughters and coheirs of William
Hextal of Hextal-place, in that pariſh.
John
0 %
196
en
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

the 12th year.
Fohn Brumpton, efq. of Preſton, near Faverſham,
in the 10th year. He bore, Barry of ſix pieces, a chief
vaire, and lies buried in Faverſham church.
Richard Colepeper, eſq. of Oxenhoath, in Little
Peckham, in the nith year.
James Peckham, eſq. of Yaldham, in Wrotham, in
Sir John Fogge of Repton, in Aſhford, in the 131h
year, who was ſometime comptroller of the houſe-
hold.
Fobu Illey, eſq. of Sundridge, couſin and heir-gene-
ral of William İſley, who was ſheriff in the reign of
king Henry VI. ſerved this office in the 14th year.
Sir William Haut of Hautſbourne, formerly men-
tioned, again in the 15th year.
John Green, eſq. who reſided at Scadbury, in Chi-
ſelhurſt, in right of his wife Conſtance, widow of
ſir Thomas Walſingham, in the 16th year. His arms
were, Gules, a croſs-croſet ermine, within a bordure
gobony argent and ſable
William Cheney, eſq. of Shurland, in the 17th year.
Richard Haut, eſq. of the Moat, in Ightham, a
younger brother of fir William Haut above mention-
ed, in the 18th year.
Richard Lee of Great Delce, near Rocheſter, in
19th year.
Sir John Fogge of Repton, before mentioned, again
Sir George Brown of Beechworth caſtle, ſon of fir
Thomas, in the 21ſt year.
Richard Haut, eſq. of the Moat, in Ightham, again
in the 22d and laſt year of his reign, after he had
been three years from the office, as the ſtatute directs.


in the 20th year.
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING EDWARD V.
WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN IN 1483.
Sir William Haut of Hautſbourne, who had been
twice before in the foriner reign, was now ſheriff
again;
LIST OF SHERIFFS.
197

е се е
again; that is, from Michaelmas, in the laſt year of
king Edward IV. to the oth of April, the day on which
king Edward V. began his reign, and froin thence to
the
22d of June, the day of king Richard's being
proclaimed ; a few days after which fir Henry Fer-
rers was placed in this office, and continued in it till
the Michaelmas following.
in arw odw any dto solt
Soros
Oslo 1916
temas cobra
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING RICHARD III.
WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN IN 1483.
orlar
John Bamme, eſq. of the Grange, in Gillingham,
deſcended from Adam Bamme, lord-mayor of Lon-
don, in the 2d year.
os
.
Robert Brackenbury of the Moat, in Ightham, in
William Cheney, eſq. of Shurland, the next
next year, in
which king Richard died.
ShEgihulebrowo
islo
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING HENRY VII.
WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN IN 1485.
William Cheney, eſq. above mentioned, continued
in this office the remaining part of the year.
John Pimpe, eſq. of Pimpe's court, in Eaſt Farleigh,
CE W odni

theSir R
the 3d year,
”, efq. al

in the 2d year.
in the 4th year.
tollo
oned,
Sir Henry Ferrers, of Eaſt Peckham, before menti-
again in the 3d year.
Walter Roberts, efq. of Glaſfenbury, in Cranbrook,
,
Duo
Sir William Boleyne of Hever-caſtle, ſon of ſir Geof-
frey Boleyne, lord-inayor of London, in the 5th year.
Sir William Scott of Scott's-hall, which he new built,
ſon and heir of fir John Scott, in the 6th year.
John Darell, eſq. of Cale-hill, in the 7th year. He
was eſquire of the body to king Henry VII. and cap-
tain of the launciers in that part of the county. His
eſtate had been ſeized on by king Richard, for hold-
ing
198
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

8th year.
11th year.
Our
ing a correſpondence with that prince, by whom, on
his coming to the crown, it was again reſtored, with
ſeveral other manors.
Thomas Kempe, eſą of Ollantigh, near Wye, in the
Sir Richard Guldeford of Halden, in Rolvenden, in
the 9th year, who was knighted at Milton-haven, and
made a banneret at Blackheath.
John Peche, efq. of Lullingſtone, in the 10th year,
who was afterwards knighted. A02 OLX
John Digg, eſq. of Digg's-court, in Barham, in the
Sir James Walfingham of Scadbury, in Chiſelhurſt,
in the 12th year.
Lewis Clifford, eſq. of Bobbing-court, in the 13th
year.
Robert Wotton, eſq. of Boughton Malherbe, in the
14th year, afterwards knighted, and made comptroller
of Calais.
Alexander Colepeper, eſq. of Bedgbury, in the 15th
year, afterwards knighted. YADDARE
Thomas Iden, eſq. of Weſtwell, in the 16th year.
William Scott of Scott's-hall, above-mentioned,
again in the 17th year.
Ralph St. Leger, eſq. of Ulcombe, and heir of
Ralph St. Ledger, eſq. in the 18th year.
William Cromer, eſq. of Tunſtall, in the 19th year,
afterwards knighted.
John Langley, eſq. of Knolton, in the 20th year.
Sir Thomas Kempe, K. B. of Ollantigh, in the 21ſt
year.
Sir Alexander Colepeper of Bedgbury, before men-
tioned, again in the 22d year,
Henry Vane, eſq. of Tunbridge, ſecond ſon of John
Vane of that place, in the 23d year.
Reginald Peckham, eſq. of Yaldham, in the 24th,
being the laſt year of king Henry VII. de
SHERIFFS
LIST OF SHERIFFS. 10
199
SEOSESTE Rotoped
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING HENRY VIII.
BROCAN
BUDE
WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN IN 1509.
OF KING

the 2d year.
Sir William Cromer of Tunſtall, in the iſt year.
James Digge, efq. of Digge’s-court, in Barham, in
Sir Thomas Boleyne of Hever-caſtle, in the 3d year.
He was afterwards, in the 15th of this reign, made
knight of the Garter, and treaſurer of the king's
houſehold ; two years after which he was created viſ-
count Rochford, and in the 21ſt, earl of Wiltſhire
and Ormond.
Sir Thomas Kempe, K. B. above mentioned, again
Sir John Norton of Northwood, in Milton, in the
5th year.
Sir Alexander Colepeper of Bedgbury, in the 6th
in the 4th year.
year. 1 9700
489
Ý Thomas Cheney, eſq. of Shurland, in the 7th year,
afterwards made knight of the Garter.
Sir William Scott, K. 'B. before mentioned, again
in the 8th year.
the 12th year.
Sir Thomas Boleyne of Hever-caſtle, in the 9th year.
John Criſpe, eſq. of Quekes, inBirchington, in Tha-
net, in the roth year.
Sir John Wiltſhire of Stone, near Dartford, in the
I 1th year, comptroller of Calais.
John Roper, eſq. of St. Dunſtan's and Wellhall, in
Robert Sondes, efq. of Town-place, in Throwley,
and of Darking, in Surry, in the 13th year.
Sir John Fogge of Repton, in Aſhford, in the 14th
year.
George Gulderfield, eſq. of Hempſted, in Benenden,
in the 15th year.
Sir William Haut of Hautſborne, ſon and heir of
fir Thomas, in the 16th year.
O4
Henry

200
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT. .
Imay be al
Henry Vane, eſq. of Tunbridge, before mentioned,
again in the 17th year.
due
William Whettenhall, eſq. of Hextal-place, in Eaſt
Peckham, in the 18th year.
Şir John Scott of Scott's-hall, in the 19th year.
William Kempe, eſq. of Ollantigh, in the 20th year,
afterwards knighted.
Sir Edward Wotton of Boughton Malherbe, in the
aisha
brewusils anys
William Waller, eſq. of Grombridge, in Speldhurſt,
in the 22d year. i dobitiwiteite enerowds blodsiuod
Sir Richard Clement of the Moat, in Ightham, in
bromo bar
Sir William Finch of the Moat, in St. Martin's,
near Canterbury, in the 24th year. usy s DELTAGE
Thomas Roberts, eſq. of Glaſfenbury, in Cranbrook,

2ift year.
the 23d year.
in the 25th year.
Sir Thomas Poynings of Oſtenhanger, in the 26th
year, afterwards lord Poynings. He bore for his
arms, Barry of fix or and vert, a bend gules, as in many
churches, and on the roof of the cloiſters in Canter-
bury. bancite
Sir Edward Wotton of Boughton Malherbe, again
in the 27th year.
- Sir Thomas Wyatt of Allington.caſtle, in the 28th
year.
corrente
Sir William Haut of Hautſbourne, again in the 29th
year.
Slo 1911onomop 10 din
Sir William Sidney, banneret, of. Penſhurſt, in the
30th year.
Sir Anthony St. Leger of Ulcombe, in the 31ſt year.
Anthony Sondes, eſq. of Throwley, in the 32d year,
Reginald Scott of Scott's-hall, in the 33d year.
Sir Henry Iſiey of Sundridge, in the 34th year.
Sir Humphrey Stile of Langley-park, in Becken-
ham, in the 35th year.
Sir John Fogge of Repton, in the 36th year,
Sir Percival Hart of Lullingſtone, in the 37th year.
Henry


LIST OF SHERIFFS.
201

Henry Criſpe, eſq. of Quekes, in Birchington, in
the 38th, and laſt year of king Henry VIII. who was
afterwards knighted. bado

SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING EDWARD VI.
HBO
WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN IN 1546.
the iſt year.
TO
2nd
19
- William Sidley, eſq. of Scadbury, in Southfleet, in
e os ano
Sir George Harpur of Sutton Valence, in the 2d
year. Loomadbrod to trude
Thomas Colepeper, eſq. of Bedgbury, ſon and heir
of fir Alexander Colepeper, in the 3d year.
Sir Thomas Wyatt of Allington caſtle, in the 4th year.
Sir Henry Iſley of Sundridge, in the 5th year.
Sir John Guldeford of Hemſted, in Benenden, in
the 6th year, in which king Edward VI. died.
Ruo
TE SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF QUEEN MARY,
WHO BEGAN HER REIGN IN 1553.
REIG
Stbol
ci sono trova als eblonyo A 10 ruid dok
Sir Robert Southwell of Mereworth, in the iſt year,
afterwards maſter of the'rolls. ples ann
William Roper, eſq. of Well-hall, in the iſt and 2d
of Philip and Mary. todo lo abla
Sir Thomas Kempe of Ollantigh, part of the ad and
3d year, and the remaining part of it was ſupplied
by Thomas Moile, eſq.
George Vane, eſq. of Badſel, in the 3d and 4th year.
Thomas Wotton of Boughton Malherbe, in the 4th
and 5th, in which year queen Mary died. dt ni sias
Obchod Ingus
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF QUEEN ELIZABETH,
WHO BEGAN HER REIGN IN 1558. 12
Thomas Wotton, eſq. before mentioned, continued
in office part of the firſt year, and the remaining part
of it was ſupplied by Nicholas Criſpe, eſq. who kept
his ſhrievalty at Grimgill, in Whiſtable.
Warham



26"
202
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

Warham St. Leger, eſq. of Ulcombe, in the ad
year, afterwards knighted.
John Tufton, eſq. of Hothfield, ſon and heir of Ni-
cholas Tufton, eſq. of Nordiam, in Suſſex, in the 3d
year. He bore for his arms, Argent on a pale ſable, an
eagle diſplayed of the firſt.
Richard Baker, eſq, of Siſinghurſt, in the 4th year,
ſon and heir of fir John Baker, chancellor of the ex-
chequer, and one of queen Mary's privy council
.
Sir Thomas Wallingham of Scadbury, in Chiſelhurſt,
in the 5th year. udobos
Sir Thomas Kempe of Ollantigh, before mentioned,
again in the 6th year.
Fohn Mayney of Biddenden, eſq. in the 7th year;
he died before the year was out, and the remainder
of it was ſupplied by William Iſley, eſq. of Sundridge.
John Sidley, eſq. of Southfleet, in the 8th year.
William Cromer; efq, of Tunftal, in the 9th year,
fon and heir of James Cromer, efq... on
John Brown, of Reynolds, alias Brown's-place, in
Horton Kirby, in the roth year.
Edward Iſaac, eſq. of Patrickſbourn, in the 11th
year.is fotini ndio w dorp
John Lennard, eſq. of Chevening, In the 12th year,
ſon and heir of John Lennard, of the fame place.
Walier Mayney, eſq. of Spilfill, in Staplehurſt, in
plosioM SEO
Sir Thomas Vane of Badfell, in the 14th year. 9
Thomas Willoughby, eſq. of Bore-place, in Chiding-
ſtone, in the 15th year. He was grandſon of fir Tho-
mas Willoughby, of the ſame place, chief juſtice of the
common pleas.
LOR
Sir James Hales of the Dungeon, near Canterbury,
in the 16th
year.
John Tufton, eſq, of Hothfield, in the 17th year.
Sir Thomas Scott of Scott's-hall, in the 18th year.
Edward Boys, eſq. of Fredvile, in Nonington, in
the 13th year.
the 19th year.
Thomas
TO
203
LIST OF SHERIFFS.
20th year.
in the 28th year.
Thomas Wotton, eſq. of Boughton Malherbe, in the
Thomas Vane, eſq. of Badfell, in Tudely, in the 21ſt
year.
Thomas Sondes of Throwley, in the 22d year.
Sir George Hart of Lullingſtone, in the 23d year.
Sir Richard Baker of Siſinghurſt, in the 24th year.
Juſtinian Champneis, eſq. of Hall-place, in Bexley,
in the 25th year, ſon of fir John Champneis, lord-
mayor of London.
Michael Sondes, eſq. of Throwley, in the 26th year.
William Cromer, eſq. of Tunſtall, in the 27th year.
Sir James Hales of the Dungeon, near Canterbury,
John Fineux of Haw-houſe, in Hearn, eſq. in the
29th year.
Richard Hardres, eſq. of Hardres, in the zoth year.
William Sidley, eſq. of Southfleet, in the 31ſt year.
Thomas Willoughby, eſq. of Bore-place, in Chiding-
ſtone, in the 32d year.
wa
Sampſon Lennard, efq. of Chevening, in the 33d year.
Robert Bing, eſq. of Wrotham, in the 34th year.
Michael Sondes, eſq. of Throwley, in the 35th year.
Sir Edward Wotton of Boughton Malherbe, in the
36th year.
Thomas Palmer, eſq. of Wingham, in the 37th year.
Sir Moile Finch of Eaſt Well, in the 38th year.
. Thomas Kempe, eſq. of Ollantigh, in Wye, in the
39th year.
Martin Barnham, eſq. in the 40th year.
Roger Twyſden, eſq. of Royden-hall, in Eaſt Peck-
ham, in the 41ſt year.
John Smith, eſq. of Oftenhanger, in Stanford, in
the 420 year.
Thomas Scott, eſq. of Scott's-hall, in the 43d year.
Sir Peter Manwood, K. B. of St. Stephen's, near
Canterbury, in the 44th, being the laſt of this queen's
reign

SHERIFFS
204
.
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING JAMES I.
WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN IN 1602.
L'USO
Sir Peter Manzood, of St. Stephen's above menti-
oned, continued in the iſt year.
Sir James Cromer of Tunſtal, in the 2d year.
Sir Thomas Baker, ſecond ſon of ſir Richard Baker,
of Siſinghurſt, in the 3d year, and kept his fhrievalty
at Sifinghurſt.
Sir Moile Finch of Eaſtwell, in the 4th year.
Sir Norton Knatchbull of Merſham, in the 5th year.
Sir Robert Edolph of Hinxhill, in the 6th year.
Sir Edward Hales of Woodchurch, in the 7th year.
William Withens of Southend, in Eltham, in
the Sth year.
Sir Nicholas Gilbourne of Charing, in the 9th year,
Sir Maximilian Dalliſon of Halling, near Rochef-
ter, in the roth year.
Sir William Steed of Steed-hill, in Harrietſham, in

TE
the IIth year.
DAS
Sir
Sir Anthony Aucher of Hautſbourne, in the 12th
year.
Ivo
Edward Filmer of Eaſt Sutton, in the 13th year.
Sir Edwin Sandys of Norbourn, in the 14th year.
William Beſwick, eſq. of Spelmonden, in Horſmon-
den, in the 15th year.
Gabriel Liveſey, eſq, of Hollingbourn, in the 16th
year.
Sir Thomas Norton of Bobbing and Northwood, in
Milton, in the 17th year.
Edward Scott, eſq. of Scott's-hall, in the 18th
year,
He was afterwards made a knight of the Bath, at the
coronation of king Charles.
Sir John Sidley of the Friars, in Aylesford, in the
Horosive
Sir
wil oppgadas purdistas
al gior
19th year.
LIST OF SHERIFFS.
205

Sir Thomas Roberts of Glaffenbury, in Cranbrook,
in the 20th year.
Sir George Fane of Burſton, in Hunton, in the 21ſt
year.
Sir John Hayward of Hollingbourn, in the 22d, be-
ing the laſt year of the reign of king James.
0
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING CHARLES I.
WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN İN 1625.

Sir Thomas Hamon of Braſted, in the iſt year, fon
of William Hamon, of Acris, eſq. He bore for his
arms, Azure, three demi lions paſſant guardant or.
Sir Iſaac Sidley, knt. and bart. of Great Chart, in
the 2d year.
Baſil Dixwell, efq. of Folkeſtone, in the 3d year.
Sir Edward Engham of Goodneſton, in the 4th
year; and had a diſpenſation, under the king's hand
and fignet, to inhabit within the county and city of
Canterbury during his year of ſhrievalty, and to find
a proper perſon to attend at the aſiſes in his ſtead, in
regard to his indiſpoſition of body.
Sir William Campion of Combwell, in Goudhurſt,
in the 5th year.
John Brown, eſq. of Singleton, in Great Chart, in
the 6th year; he was deſcended from thoſe of Beech-
worth caſtle, and bore the ſame arms.
Sir Robert Lewknor of Acris, in the 7th year.
Nicholas Miller, eſq. of Horſnells Crouch, in Wro-
tham, in the 8th year.
Sir Thomas Style, knt. and bart. of Watringbury,
in the 9th year.
Sir John Baker of Siſinghurſt, in Cranbrook, bart.
in the roth year. Dom ha a les
Edward Chout, eſq. of Betherſden and Hinxhill, in
the 11th year, and kept his ſhrievalty at the latter.
Sir William Colepeper, bart. of Preſton, in Ayleſ-
ford, in the 12th-year.

Sir

206
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
Sir George Sondes, K. B. of Lees-court, in Sheld-
which, in the 13th year.
Sir Thomas Hendley of Courſehorne, in Cranbrook,
in the 14th year.
Sir Edward Maſter of Eaſt Langdon, in the 15th
year.
David Polhill, eſq. of Otford, in the 16th year.
His arms were, Argent, on a bend gules, three croſs-
croſets or.
James Hugeſſen, efq. of Linſted, in the 17th year.
Sir William Brockman of Bytchborough, in Newing..
ton, near Hyth, in the 18th year, being appointed by
the king, then in arms at Oxford; but being a perſon
of known loyalty to king Charles, he was ſoon ſuper-
ceded in his office by the authority of the parliainent
then fitting, and fir John Honeywood of Evington
was appointed by them to ſerve the remainder of the
year.
Sir John Honywood before mentioned, continued in
office in the 19th and 20th years.
Sir John Rayney, bart. in the 2 iſt year; in which
ſir Edward Monins, of Waldeſhare, bart. was alſo
ſheriff.
Sir John Henden of Biddenden, in the 22d year.
His arms were, Azure, a lion paſant between three el-
callops or.
Sir Stephen Scott of Hayes, in the 2 3d year.
George Selby, eſq. of the Moat, in Ightham, in the
24th year; in which year the king was put to death,
on January 30, 1648. His arms were, Barry of eight
pieces or and ſable.

SHERIFFS DURING THE USURPATION,
AFTER THE DEATH OF KING CHARLES I. do
MYYD
1650 Henry Criſpe of Quekes, in Birchington ; but in
reſpect of his age and infirmities, his place was
ſupplied by fir Nicholas Criſpe, his ſon and heir.
1651 George

LIST OF SHERIFFS. TO 207

1651 George Curtis, eſq. of Chart Sutton, was cho-
ſen to ſerve the office in the room of William
2017 Draper, eſq. of Crayford, who died ſoon after
his nomination to this office. By reaſon of his
age and infirmities his ſon Norton Curtis, was
ſuffered to diſcharge the office for him. His
marms were, Argent, a cheveron between three bulls
heads, caboſhed ſable.
1652 Thomas Floyd, eſq. of Gore-court, in Otham.
1653 Bernard Hyde of Bore-place, in Chidingſtone.
1654 The Rt. Hon. Sir John Tufton, earl of Thanet.
He bore for his arms, Sable, within a bordure
argent, an eagle diſplayed ermine.
1655 Sir Humphry Tufton of the Moat, near Maid-
SI
ſtone, uncle to the above mentioned earl.
1656 S Sir Michael Liveſey, bart. of Eaſtchurch, in
16572 Shepey.
1658 Charles Bolles, eſq. of Rocheſter.
1659 .... Plumer, eſq.
16611
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING CHARLES II.
FROM HIS RESTORATION IN 1660.
to mi
Sir Robert Auften, bart. of Hall-place, in Bex-
1660
ley. He continued in office till the end of the
next
year.
1662 David Polhill, eſq. of Chipſted.
1663 Nicholas Toke, eſq. of Goddington, in Great
Chart.
1664 Thomas Biggs, eſq.
1665 Sir John Beal, bart. of Farningham.
1666 Sir Humphry Miller, bart. of Oxenhoath, in
By Weſt Peckham.
1667 Sir William Leach of Squirries, in Weftram.
1668 Sir John Williams of Eleham-court, afterwards
created a barvnet. He bore for his arms, Ar-
24 gent, a wivern's head eraſed vert, holding in his
mouth a man's hand couped at the wriſt and erect
gules.
1669 Robert
208
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

16785
I
TAO
1669 Robert Jacques, efq. of Elineſtone.
1670 Sir John Darell of Calehill, in Little Chart.
1671 Sir William Hugeſſen of Provender, in Norton.
1672 John Twifleton, eſq. of Horſeman’s-place, in
Dartford.com
1673 Sir Bernard Hyde of Sundridge.
1674 William Gomeldon, efq. of Somerfield-court, in
Sellindge.
1675 Francis Vanacker, eſq. of Erith.
1676 Sir John Cutler, knt. and bart. of Deptford.
His arms were, Azure, three dragons heads eraſed
or, à chief argent.
1677 Thomas Cadwell, eſq. of Rolvenden.
Sir Richard Betenſon, knt. and bart. of Scad-
bury, in Chiſilhurſt, and continued in office the
167911
next year, at the end of which he died.
1680 Ralph Petley. eſq. of Riverhead.
1681 George Etkins, eſq. of Graveſend.
1682
S Archibald Clenkerd, eſq. of Sutton Valence, as
he was likewiſe in the two following years.
16841
1685 William Rooke, eſq. of Canterbury; afterwards
knighted, being the laſt year of the reign of
king Charles II.
Ooo
WOOD
SHERIFFS IN THE REIGN OF KING JAMES II.
00
WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN IN 1685.
ad
In the iſt year of king James II. no ſheriff is
1687] found in the recogniſance book in the exche
1688) quer; but in the 2d and 3d, Sir William Rooke
above mentioned ſerved this office.
1689 Sir Robert Filmer, bart. of Eaſt Sutton, in the
4th, and laſt year of king James's reign.
abu OBRAS
mananda
viele guld
73
Puerto de
1683
SHERIFFS
LIST OF SHERIFFS.
209
THE TIME OF

SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING WILLIAM III.
WE WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN IN 1689.
1690 Thomas Adrian, eſq. of Bifrons, in Patrikſ-
bourn.
1691 Sir Henry Palmer, bart. of Wingham.
1692 Sir John Marſham, bart. of the Moat, near
Maidſtone.
1693 Sir Nicholas Toke of Goddington, in Great
Chart.
1694 Edmund Davenport, eſq. of Greenſted-green, in
Darent.
1695 William Cage, eſq. of Milgate, in Berſted,
1696 Saloman Hougham, eſq. of St. Paul's, in Canter-
bury.
1697 Richard Goodhugh, eſq. of Tunbridge.
1698 George Children, eſq. of Tunbridge.
1699 John Amherſt, eſq. of Eaſt Farleigh.
William Woodgate, eſq. of Chiddingſtone.
1701 Ifaac Loader, eſq. of Deptford.
1702 Bowyer Hendley, eſq.•of Gore-court, in Othani,
in which year king William died.
1700
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF QUEEN ANNE,
WHO BEGAN HER REIGN IN 1702.
1703 Thomas Golding, eſq. of Leybourn-caſtle.
1704 Sir Thomas Colepepyr, bart. of Preſton-hall, in
Aylesford.
1705 Sir Edward Betenfon, of Scadbury, in Cheſil-
hurſt.
1706 Snelling Thomas, efq. of Deptford.
1707 Percyval Hart, efq. of Lullingſtone.
1708 James Codd, eſq. of Watringbury; he died
whilſt in office, and Stephen Stringer, eſq. of
Goudhurſt was ſheriff for the remaining part
of the year.
VOL.I.
1709 Sir
210
OF OF
Leonard Bartholoma? Little Peckham.
.
GENERAL HISTORY KENT.
1709 Sir Comport Fytch, bart. of Elthain.
1710
1o Sir Thomas Style, bárt. of Watringbury.
1711 Humphrey Style, eſq. of Langley, in Beckenham.
1712 fohn Hooker, el
1713
eſq. of Rocheſter. Oft
1714 John Lynch, eſq. of Grove, in Staple, in the laſt
year of queen Anne.
verad i det til spd
noin
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING GEORGE I. I
WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN IN 1714.00
poloha
1715 David Polhill, eſq. of Chipſted-place, in Che-
vening. Men
1716 Richard Gee, eſq. of Orpington,
1717 Richard Sheldon, eſq. of Aldington, in Thurn-
ham.dnoT
1718 John Stevens, efq. His arms were, On a chevron
three croſs-croflets, between three demi lions ram-
pant.abbid to
1719 John Hamilton, efq. of Chilſton, in Boughton
Malherbe.no
1720 Sir Charles Farnaby of Kippington, in Sevenoke.
1721 Jonathan Smith, eſq. of Ingres, in Swanſcombe.
1722 Peter Burrell, eſq. of Beckenham.
1723 William Glanville, eſq. of St. Cleres, in Igh-
tham.
1724 Sir Robert Auſten, bart. of Hall-place, in Bex-
1725 James Maſter, .eſq. of Yotes, in Mereworth.
his arms, Azure, a feſs embattled,
1726 John Savage, efq. of Boughton Monchelſea;
and on his death, in April 1726, Richard Lew-
bail in, efq, of Lee, was ſheriff for the remaining
20 part of the year. He bore for his arms, A cheva
between three eſcallops.
1727 Samuel Pugh, eſq. of Beckenham. To
is


1
ley.
He
- He
SHERIFFS
LIST OF SHERIFFS.
2II
SHERIFF'S IN THE TIME OF KING GEORGE II.
WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN IN 1727.
1728 Robert Weller, efq. of Tunbridge.
1729 Thomas May, eſq. of Godmerſham. His arms
were, Gules, a feſs between eight billets or, being
the arms of May. He was the fon of William
Broadnax, of Godmerſham, eſq. and by act,
(13 George I.) took the firname of May, as he
did afterwards, in 1738, the naime of Knight.
1730 Mawdiftly Beſt, eſq. of Boxley.
1731 James Brookes, eſq. of Lewiſham. Edrig
1732 William James, eſq. of Ightham...
1733 Sir Brook Bridges, bart. of Goodneſton; who
dying May 23, fir Windham Knatchbull
, bart.
was fheriff for the remaining part of the year.
1734 Sir Henry Dicks of Deptford, knīghted during
his ſhrievalty. His arms were, A feſs wavy be-
tween three fleurs de lis. YHTYL BETTER
1735 Baldwin Duppa, junior, eſq. of Hollingbourn.
1736 Abraham Spencer, eſq. of Penhurſt.
1737 Thomas Maylin, efq. of Cheſilhurſt.
1738 Fones Raymond, efq. of Langley, in Beckenham,
who died ſoon after his appointment, and Chriſ-
topher Milles, efq. of Nackington ferved the
remainder of the year.
1739 Robert Lacey, eſq. of Elmes, in Hougham.
1740 John Smith, eſq. and on his death, in June that
year, John Douglas, eſq. was appointed for the
remainder of the year.
1741 Fohn Lidgbird, efq. of Plumſted.
1742 John Maſon, eſq. of Greenwich.
1743 Thomas Whitaker, efq. of Trotteſcliffe.
1744 Thomas Hodfon, efq. of Bromley.
1745 John Cooke, efq. of Cranbrook.
1746 Arthur Harris, eſq. of Barming.
7747. William Quilter, efq. of Orpington.
1748 Samuel



P 2
212
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

1748 Samuel Collett, eſq. of Greenwich. His arms
1 were, Sable, on a chevron argent three annulets of
the firſt, between three hinds of the ſecond,
1749 Richard Hornſby, eſq. of Horton Kirkby.
1750 Richard Merry, eſq. of Eltham.
1751 James Beſt, eſq. of Boxley.
1752 Sir John Honywood, bart.
1753 Sir John Shaw, bart. of Eltham.
1754 Sir Thomas Rider of Boughton Monchelſea.
1755 George Sayer, eſq. of Charing.
1756 John Cocking Sole, eſq. of Bobbing-place.
1757 William Glanvil Evelyn, eſq. of St. Clere's, in
Ightham.
1758 Thomas Whitaker, eſq; of Trotteſcliffe.
1759 Pyke Burfar, eſq. of Greenwich.
1760 Sir Thomas Wilſon of Weſt Wickham, who was
knighted during his ſhrievalty, ſerved this of-
in the laſt year of king George II.
SHERIFFS IN THE TIME OF KING GEORGE III.
WHO BEGAN HIS REIGN IN 1760.
1761 William Jumper, eſq. of Leed's-abbey.
1762 Sir George Kelly of Speldhurſt, who was knight-
sed during his ſhrievalty.
1763. William Gorden, eſq. of Rocheſter.
1764 Henry Goodwin, eſq. of Deptford.
1765 Sir Richard Betenſon, þart. of Bradbourn, in
and Sevenoke.
1766 William Wilſon, eſq.
1767 James Whatman, eſq. of Boxley.
1768 Richard Hulſe, eſq. of Baldwin's, near Dart-
ford, ſecond ſon of fir Edward Hulſe.
1769 William Wheatley, eſq. of Erith.
1770 John Toke, eſq. of Goddington, in Great Chart.
1771 William Daniel Maſter, eſq. of Yotes, in Mere-
worth.
1772 James Flint, eſq. of Judde-houſe, in Oſpringe.
1773 Fofiah
LIST OF SHERIFFS.
213

1773 Joſiah Fuller Farrer, eſq. of Cleve-court, in
Thanet.
1774 Willſhire Emmett, eſq. of Wiarton, in Boughton
Monchelſea.
1775 Granville Wheeler, eſq. of Otterden-place.
1776 William Perrin, eſq. of Smith's-hall, in Weſt
Farleigh.
1777 Benjamin Harenc, eſq. of Footſcray-place.
1778 John Ward, eſg. of Weſterham.
1779 William Slade, eſq. of Lewiſham.
1780 Robert Burrow, eſq. of Holwood-hill.
1981 John Cator, eſq. of Beckenham-place.
1782 Samuel Boys, eſq. of Hawkhurſt.
1783 Henry Hawley, eſq. of the Grange, in Leyborne.
fince created a baronet.
1784 Charles Booth, eſq, of Harrietſham-place, who
was knighted during his ſhrievalty.
1785 Edward Knatchbull, efq. of Provenders, in Nor-
ton, eldeſt ſon of fir Edward Knatchbull, ba-
ronet.
ON
1786 Thomas Hallet Hodges, eſq. of Hemſted, in Be-
nenden.
1787 Fohn Cottin, eſq. of Hill-park, in Weſterham.
1988 James Bond, efq. of Hayes, and part of 1789.
1789 John Cartier, efq. of Bedgbury, in Goudhurſt,
was ſheriff in the latter part of the year.
1790 Leonard Bartholemew, eſq. of Addington-place.
1791 William James Drake Brockman, efq. of Bitch-
borough, in Newington, near Hythe. a
1792 Henry Streatfield, eſq. of Highſtreet-houſe, in
Chiddingſtone.
1793 George Norman, eſq. of Bromley. v par
1794 Richard Carew, eſq. of Orpington.
1795 Gabriel Harpur, eſq. of Gore-court, in Tun-
ſtall; Samuel Chambers, eſq. of that pariſh was
appointed his deputy, and executed this office
for him.
1796 John Mumford, eſq. of Sutton at Hone. Hroch
to e
vog be
P 3
AT
214
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
COOQIB
AT the time

AT the time the Earls gave up the wandenſhips
of their reſpective counties, and the office of ſkeriff
was conftituted, there were other officers likewiſe
conſtituted, who were ordained together with him to
keep the peace of each county; theſe were called Co-
roners, Coronatores, becauſe they had principally to do
with the pleas of the crown, or ſuch wherein the king
was more immediately concerned; and in this light,
the lord chief juſtice of the King's bench is the principal
coroner of the kingdom, and may, if he pleaſes, exer-
ciſe this office in any part of the realm.
There are particular coroners for every county in
England, uſually four, ſometimes ſix, and ſometimes
fewer, and they are ſtill chofen by all the freeholders
in the county court, as, by the policy of our antient
laws, all other officers were, who had concern in
matters that affected the liberty of the people. Of
antient time this office was of great eſtimation; for
none could be elected to it under the degree of a
knight ; and there was an inſtance in the 5th of king
Edward III. of a man's being removed from it, be-
cauſe he was only a merchant. «Now, indeed, through
the neglect of gentlemen of property, this office has
been ſuffered to fall into the hands of thoſe of lower
rank, being at preſent uſually executed, in this coun-
ty in particular, by attornies at law; and although
formerly none who were coroners would condeſcend to
be paid for ſerving their country, yet for many years
paſt they have only folicited to be choſen for the ad-
vantage of the perquiſites and fees which they are by
ſtatute allowed to take, which now amount to fo con-
fiderable a ſum as to be highly burdenſome to the
county. to
boob zid bare
The office and power of a coröner, like thoſe of a
ſheriff, are both miniſterial and judicial, as the the-
riff's
OFFICE OF CORONER.
215

Tiff's fubftitute, but principally the latter, which al-
moſt wholly conſiſts in taking inquiſitions upon view
of the body, when any one is Nain, or dies ſuddenly,
or in priſon, or any kind of unnatural death whatſo-
ever, and the body is found within his diſtrict; and
this he does by a jury ſummoned from the neighbour-
hood. The whole of which inquiſition he is to cer-
tify to the court of King's-bench, or to the next
affiſes. Another branch of this office is to enquire
concerning ſhipwrecks and treaſure trovę." His fees
of office, which are paid out of the county ſtock, are
twenty fhillings for every inquiſition he takes, and
nine-pence a mile for every mile he travels from his
own home to take the ſame. There are at preſent
five coroners choſen to exerciſe this office in this
county: dor both
hIN antient times there were two ſorts of conſerva-
tors of the peace in this realm, the firſt were thoſe who
had this power annexed to ſome office which they
held; and the ſecond were without any office, and
Simply and merely conſervators of the peace, who
-claimed that power by preſcription, or were bound to
exerciſe it by tenure of their lands, or laſtly were cho-
ſen by the freeholders in full county court before the
Theriff, sby force of the king's writ, out of the princi-
pal men of the county, after the return of which, the
king directed his writ to the perſon elected, com-
manding hiin to take upon him, and execute the of-
tfiçe runtil he ſhould order otherwiſe. Their office
swas (according to their names) to conſerve the king's
peace, and to protect the obedient and innocent ſub-
jects from force and violence. In this manner the
sconſervator es pacis were conſtituted till the depoſal and
murder of king Edward II. by the contrivance of
queen Iſabel, when, left ſo foul an action might alarm



a
Blackſtone's Com, vol.i. p. 348. Dudg. Warwickſh.p.23.
P 4
the
216
GENERAL HISTORY TORE
OF KENT.

the people, and occaſion riſings and other diſturbances
of the peace, the new king (Edward III.) fent writs
to all the ſheriffs in England, the form of which is
preſerved by Walſingham, giving a plauſible account
of the manner of his obtaining the crown, and that
was done ipſius patris beneplacito, and withal com-
manding each ſheriff that peace be kept throughout
his bailiwic; and a few weeks after the date of theſe
writs, it was ordained in parliament, in the firft year
of that reign, that for the maintenance and keeping
the peace in every county, good men and lawful, who
were no maintainers of evil, nor barretors in the coun-
ty, ſhould be aſſigned to keep the peace; and thus,
upon this occaſion, was the election of conſervators of
the
peace
taken from the people, and given to the
king, this aſſignment being conſtrued to be by the
king's commiſſion.
In the 12th year of that reign they were authoriſed
by two commiſſions to reduce all vagabonds and wan-
derers, to diffipate all mutinous and riotous conven-
tions, and to ſuppreſs all thieves and outlaws, and
other perſons diſaffected to the peace eſtabliſhed, and
to vindicate and aſſert the two ſtatutes of Northamp-
ton and Wincheſter. But ſtill they were called only
conſervators, wardens, or keepers of the peace, till the
34th year of king Edward III. when by ſtatute they
had
power given them of trying felonies, and then
they acquired the more honourable appellation of
juſtices of the peace. It appears, that in the 8th year
of the above reign, in the parliament held at York, it
was petitioned, that in every county there might be
appointed one juſtice of the peace learned in the law,
who ſhould be chief; and though this was not then
granted, it ſhews it was thought expedient, and might
be ſoon afterwards put in practice. Theſe juſtices,
rigueur moi dot new stoup
a Coke's Inft. c. viii. part. ii. p. 558. Blackſtone's Com. vol. i,
p. 394 et ſeq.
Cotton's Records, p. 15.
the
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
217

the principal of whom is the cuſtos rotulorum, or keeper
of the rolls of the county, are now appointed by the
king's ſpecial commiſſion, under the great ſeal, the
form of which was ſettled by all the judges in the
reign of queen Elizabeth, anno 1590. This appoints
them all, jointly and ſeverally, to keep the peace ;
and any two or more of them to enquire of and deter-
mine felonies and other miſdemeanors, in which num-
ber ſome particular juſtices, or one of them, are di-
rected to be always preſent ; the words of the com-
miſſion running, quorum aliquem veſtrum unum eße vo-
lumus, whence the perfons ſo named are uſually
called
juſtices of the quorum, and formerly it was the cuſtom
to appoint only a ſelect number of juſtices, eminent
for their rank, or their ſkill and diſcretion, to be of
the quorum, though now, all in the commiſſion are
advanced to that dignity, except the laſt one or two
perſons named in it.
DIVOT
Touching their number and qualification, it was
ordained by the ſtatute, in the 18th year of king Ed-
ward III. that they ſhould be two or three of the beſt
reputation in each county ; but theſe being found
too few for the purpoſe, it was provided by ſtatute,
in the 34th year of that reign, that one lord, and
three or four of the moſt worthy men of the county,
with ſome learned in the law, ſhould be made juſtices
in every county. After this, the number of juſtices,
through the ambition of private perſons, became ſo
large, that it was thought neceſſary, by ſtatute in the
12th and 14th years of king Richard II. to reſtrain
them, at firſt to ſix, and afterwards to eight only ;
but this rule is now diſregarded, which ſeems, as Mr.
Lambarde juſtly obſerves, to be owing to the grow-
ing number of ſtatute laws, committed from time to
time to the charge of the juſtices of the peace, the bur-
then of which has occaſioned, and very reaſonably,
their increaſe to a larger number. The commiſſion
of the peace for each county, now containing the

names
218
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

year
Toe . , .
names of ſeveral hundred perſons, every gentlemarı
of rank and property in a county looking upon him-
ſelf flighted if his name is not inſerted in it.
onAs to their qualifications, they were at firſt directed
to be of the beſt reputation, and moſt worthy men
of the county, of the moſt ſufficient knights, eſquires,
and gentlemen of the law; and as in proceſs of time, it
was found, that contrary, to the laws, men of ſmall
ſubſtance and low. rank had crept into the commiſ-
fion, whoſe degree in life and poverty made them
both 1 covetous and contemptible, to prevent this,
it was thought neceſſary, in the 18th
of king
Henry VI. to affix a qualification of twenty pounds
per annum to this office, which, on the continued al-
teration of money was, in the reign of George II.
raiſed to one hundred pounds per annum, clear of all
deductions ; notwithſtanding which, this method has
not as yet proved any ways fufficient to remedy the
above inconvenience. bris odun tiada gaibon T
goed to the chosengketaan vd borishna
Aed on lo son loowi od blood yodigad Il brow
CONSERVATORS OF THE PEACE, ideteor
otoeftyd b SEOROTHE_COUNT VOOF KENT.2) Tot wet cut
HENRY de Montford, Bartholemus de Burg
hurſt, Johannes de Ifield."
Bartholemus de Burghurſt
, Johannes de Cobham,
Johannes de Ifield.
Johannes de Cobham, Johannes de Ifield. cordis
Willielmus de Clinton, Johannes de Cobham, Jo-
hannes de Segrave, Thomas de Feverſham, Tres vel
duo eorum."
iesl doinwebebugatti won ai geriausi od
,
Rymer's Foed. vol. i. p. 792.
extravio do ytor obudo
01 b Pat. 48 Hen. III. Pat. 1 Edw. III. ima. pars memb. ema. in
dorfont,323
a to order to
c Pat, 3 Edw. III. ima. pars memb, 16 in dorſo. to morts
Pat. 5 Edw. III. ima. pars memb. 24 in dorſo.
a
Για
STRE TO VOTE
Willielmus

wer
COTTON
va
d
CONSERVATORS OF THE PEACE.
219

Willielmus de Clinton, John de Cobham, Galfri,
dus de Say, John de Segrave, Othọ de Grandifon,
Thomas de Feverſham. Quinque, quatuor, tres et duo
eorum.f
Johannes de Cobham, Thomas de Aldon, Johan-
mes de Segrave. De confirmatione pacis, ac ftatuti North-
ampton, et cujuſdem ordinationis, ne qui alicubi incedant
armati ad terrorem populi:s
- Willielmus de Clinton, Radulphus Savage, Tho-
mas de Aldon, Johannes de Hampton, Willielmus
de Reculver. Quatuor vel tres.eorum. De feloniis et
malefa&toribus notorie ſuſpectis infequendis et de audiendo
et terminando felonia, tranſgreffones et exceſus."
Johannes de Cobham, Thomas de Aldon, Thomas
de Brockhull, Willielmus de Orlanftone. Tres vel
duo eorum. Jo. de Warrena, com. de Surry. Wil-
lielmo de Clinton, com. de Huntingdon, quos, &c. ad
Johannes de Cobham, Thomas de Brockhull, Otho
de Grandiſon, Willielmus de Morant. Tres vel dilo
eorum in com. Kantii.k
Galfridus de Say, Wilielmus de Thorpe, Otho de
Grandiſon, Arnaldus de Savage, Stephanus de Va-
loigns, Willielmus de Norton.
Galfridus de Say, Willielmus de Norton, Williel-
mus de Thorpe, Thomas de Lodelow.m
Rogerus de Mortuomari, Comes de March, confiab.
caftr. Dovoriæ et cuftos 5 portuum, Willielmus de
*Thorpe," Radulphus de Spigornel, Willielmus de
*Norton, Stephanus de Valoigns, Thomas de Lode-
low, Willielmus Warner."
. -do
$55
Pat. 6 Edw. III. jmą. pars memb. il in dorſo.
(Pat. 9 Edw. III. zda. pars memb. 24 in dorfo.
- h Pat
. 20 Edw. III. 2da. pars memb. 18 in dorſo. 13 an
Pat. 12 Edw. III. memb. 16 in dorſo.
* Pat. 18 Edw. III. 2da. pars memb. 35 in dorſo.
29 Edw. III. ima. pars memb. 29 in dorſo.
im Pat. 31 Edw. III. Ima. pars memb. 17 in dorſo.
n Thoře marked thus were judges.
Pat. 31 Edw, III. ada. pars memb. 11 in dorſo.
.....
2002
Pat.
In
220
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

* In the next commiſſion, awarded after the act of
the 34th of king Edward III. the eight following
perſons were named:
Anodi
Sir Robert Herle, lord warden of the five ports,
and conſtable of Dover-caſtle; John de Cobham ;
Roger de Northwood, of Northwood; Ralph de Fre-
mingham, of Fremingham ; Robert de Lodelow;
Robert Vintners, of Vintners in Boxley: John Bar-
rie, of Sevington; and Thomas Hartridge, of Har-
tridge in Cranbrook.
But the reſtriction in the above act, that one lord,
with three or four of the beſt in the county, and three
or four learned in the laws, ſhould be aſſigned in every
ſhire to keep the peace, and reſtrain offenders, was
but little attended to; for in the commiſſion iſſued
in the iſt
e iſt year of king Richard II. the numbers were
greatly augmented, and were as follow:
De juſticiariis ad pacem conſervandam aſignatis. Ed-
mundus comes Cantab. conſtab. caſtri Dovoriæ. |
Johannes de Cobham, Robertus *Belknap, Ste-
phanus de Valoigns, Henricus de *Eſtrie, Willielmus
Horne, Thomas de *Shardelow, Willielmus Topcliff,
Thomas Garwinton de Well, Nicholas Hering, Wil-
lielmus Tilcombe, Willielmus Mackenade, Johannes
Francis, Thomas Hartridge, John Bird de Smeeth.
Juſticiarii ad pacem confervandam aſſignati, in ląſtis de
Sheringhope, Shepwey, St. Auguſtine, et 7 hundredis in
com. Kantii
. Teſte rege apud Weſtm. Ima die Aprilis.
Idem Edmundus comes ſupradiétus, Johannes Cob-
ham, Robertus Belknap, Thomas Colepeper, Henry
de Eſtrie, Johannes Fremingham, Jacobus de Peck-
ham, Thomas de Shardelow, Willielmus Topclive,
Nicholaus Hering, Willielmus Makedade. Juſticiarii
ad pacem conſervandam aflignati, in laſtis de Ailesford,
***
a Pat. I Rich. II. Ima. pars memb. 20 in dorſo.
Sutton
DEGREE OF BARONET.
221
Sutton, et Leucata de Tunbridge in com. Kantii. Teſte
rege ut ſupra.

The above were two ſeparate commiſſions, iſſued
at the ſame time, for the ſeveral parts of the county,
as above-mentioned.
In the reign of queen Elizabeth, anno 1596, there
were no leſs than ſixty-four of the nobility and gentry
of this county in the commiſſion of the peace, then
reſiding in it, beſides numbers of others, who reſided
in other parts of the kingdom.
In the firſt of king Charles I. as it appears by the
commiſſion then granted, there were eighty-fix perſons
named in it. How inuch the numbers have ſtill in-
creaſed ſince the above reign, may be ſeen by the
names in the preſent commiiſion of the peace, which
are near four hundred, though there is not a fourth
part of them that qualify themſelves to undertake
this moſt uſeful and neceſſary office, for the ſervice of
their country
one
rodio e
THE degree of baronet was inſtituted in 1611, in
the 9th year of king James I. as a means of raiſing
money for the ſecurity of a plantation in the province
of Ulſter, in the kingdoni of Ireland. For which
end, the perſon raiſed to this dignity gave a ſupply
to the king, ſufficient to maintain and ſupport thirty
men in the foot forces in Ireland, for three entire
years, for the defence of that kingdom, and eſpeci-
ally of the ſaid province, which was paid in a ſum in-
to the exchequer, upon ſealing of their patent, but
which has been in general long ſince diſcontinued.
For this reaſon each baronet bears, over his uſual coat
of arıns, thoſe of Ulſter, either in a canton or in an
eſcutcheon, viz. In a field argent, a finifter hand, couped
Lambarde's Peramb. p. 28.
Wom
more
c
Rym. Fod. vol. xviii p. 856.
TAKIE
GRATIS
at
222
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
in the pre-
و
at the wriſt, extended in pale, gules. They are created
by patent, under the broad ſeal, to them and the heirs
of their body, lawfully begotten, and ſometimes with
remainder to another in like manner. By their pa-
tent they have the addition of fir to themfelves, and
the title of madam, and lady, to their wives, with
precedency before all perſons whatever, under the de-
gree of barons of parliament, excepting knights of
the garter, privy counſellors, chancellor and under-
treaſurer of the exchequer, chancellor of the duchy,
the chief juſtices, the maſter of the rolls, the chief ba-
fon, and all other the judges and barons of the degree
of the coif, the younger ſons of viſcounts and barons,
and bannerets made by the king, under his ſtandard
diſplayed in an army-royal in open war,
fence of the king; they have alſo place in grofs near
the king's ſtandard. Their eldeſt fons, attaining tlie
age of twenty-one, may receive knighthood, and they
and all their other ſons and daughters, and their
wives, have place reſpectively before the eldeſt fons,
and other fons, daughters, and wives of all others
whomſoever, whom their fathers precede. In the
univerſities, by the ſtatutes, baronets enjoy much the
fame privileges as the higher nobility, and are there
ſtiled noblemen.
At the firſt inſtitution it was deſigned, that they
ſhould not exceed two hundred, and that after this
number ſhould be completed, if any of them became
extinet, for want of heirs male, there ſhould never be
any more created in their room, but that the num-
ber aforeſaid ſhould diminiſh, and on that account be
reduced to a leſſer number ; king James exceeded
this by four only, and thoſe were to fill vacancies
that happened not by death or attainder, but by pro-
motion to a higher dignity, ſo that he did not go be-
yond the bounds of his firſt engagement. But the
ſucceeding kings have been pleaſed to increaſe the
number greatly, and this degree is now, like the


higher
LIST OF BARONETS: 0
223
higher hereditary titles, without limitation, at the
pleafure of the prince.
lobiowbt
At firſt it was ordered, that none were to be ad-
mitted to this degree of honor, unleſs, upon good
proof, they were men for quality, ſtate of living, and
good reputation, worthy of it; and, at the leaft, de
ſcended from a grandfather, by the father's ſide, that
and had alſo a clear revenue in lands of at
leaſt one thouſand pounds per annum. Thus it is
very plain, they were deſigned at firſt to be men of
family, figure, and fortune ; but how far this has of
late years
been deviated from is fo viſible to every
one that it needs no farther comment in this place.a
.
de volbi IP

bore arms,
petibor
LIST OF THE BARONETS OF THIS COUNTY,
FROM THE FIRST INSTITUTION OF THỂ ORDER TO TNÉ
PRESENT TIME.
CREATED BY KING JAMES I.
No. in the
gen. Order
of creation.
NAME.
RESIDENCES
.
.
DATE.
25 SIR Moyle Finch, knt. of Eaſtwell....... 1611
Now earl of Winchelſea and Nottingham. Two fratents ;
,
60 Sir John Tufton, knt. of Hothfield .....
Now earl of Thanet.
June 29.10
61 Sir Sam. Peyton, knt. of Knowlton
Extinct.
pieni
63 Sir Henry Baker, knt. of Siſinghurſt
сана
65 Sir Wm. Sidley, knt. of Aylesford......
plaas ao
66 Sir Wm.Twyſden, knt. of Eaſt-Peckham
9310 & TV
Now Sir William.
Chauncy's Hertf. p. 563. Baronetage, vol. iii. p. 252 et fêq..


Extin&t.
Extin&t.
67 Sir
224 GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
NUMB.
DÅTE.
SA
30 Extinct.
April 2. 3100
ON NAME. oxin RESIDENCE.
67 Sir Edward Hales, knt. of Woodchurch.. 1611
DE Now Sir Edvard, of St. Stephen's.
68 William Monyns, eſq. of Walderſhare...
Extinct.
105 Sir Wm. Hervey, knt. of Kidbrook ....... 1618
Extin&.
March 1.
124 Adam Newton, eſq. ... of Charlton....
........ 1620
138 Sir Tho. Roberts, knt. of Glaſſenbury....
f Extinet.
July 3. lq
151 Sir Tho. Palmer, knt. of Wingham ...... 162 L
Now of Buckinghamſhire. Det
June 29. 9
153 Sir John Rivers, knt. of Chafford
Extinet.
155 Sir Iſaac Sidley, knt. ... of Great Chart....
Extin&t.
September 14.
191 Wm. Meredith, eſq.... of Staníty, Dorſet. 1622
Afterwards of Leed's-abbey in this county. Extinét.
193 Giff. Thornhurſt, eſq. of Agnes-court.
Extinct.
November 12.


....
July 19.
CREATED BY KING CHARLES I.
May 17
209 Sir Edw. Dering, knt. of Surrenden ...... 1627
Now Sir Edward.
February 1.
217 Thomas Style, eſq...... of Watringbury ..
Now Sir Charles.
April 21.
223 Wm. Colepepyr, eſq... of Aylesford .....
Extinct.
226 Sir Humph. Style, knt. of Beckingham.
May 20.
242 Michael Liveſey, eſq... of Eaſtchurch.....
Extinct.
July 11.
249 Baſil Dixwell, eſq. ...... of Terlingham....
Extindt.
February 18.
307 John Maney, eſq. ...... of Linton........... 1641
Extinct.
310 William Boteler, eſq... of Teſton...
Extinct.
July 3
333 Norton Knatchbull... of Merſham-hatch
Now Sir Edward.
Auguſt 4.
344 Henry



June 29.
LIST OF BARONETS.
225
NUMB.
NAME.
RESIDENCE
DATE.

W
Extinct.
December 24.
Extinez.
4
344 Henry Heyman, efq... of Somerfield...... 1641
Now Sir Henry.
Auguſt 12.
362 Sir Hum. Tufton, knt. Mote, Maidſtone.
366 Sir John Rayney, bart. of Wrotham ......
... 1642
January 22.
373 Sir Wm. Cowper, knt. of Ratling - court
Now Earl Cowper.
March
380 John Williams, efq.... of Minſter, Thanet
Extinct.
April 22.
395 Sir Rich, Hadres, knt. of Hardres.........
June 3.
408 Stephen Lennard, eſq. of WeſtWickham
Auguſt 15.
432 Sir E. Waldegrave, knt. of Hever-caſtle...
Now Earl Waldegrave.
Auguſt 1.
plo bueno da se
Extinct.
Extinct.
vozu Earl
CREATED BY KING CHARLES II.
KUVA
1657
October 19.
Dan
460 Richard Browne, eſq. of Deptford..... 1649
Extinct
September 1.
466 Sir Arth. Slingſby, kút. of Bifrons ......
Extinct.
492 Bafil Dixwell, eſq....... of Brome ..... 1660
Extinct.
June 19.
Charles Hudſon, efq... of Eltham...
Now Sir Charles.
July 30
524 Robert Auſten, eſq.... of Bexley.
Extinci.
July 10.
526 Robert Hales, eſq....... of Bekeſbourn
Now Sir Philip.
July 12.
534 Edw. Honywood, eſq. of Evington ...
Now Sir John.
569 Humphry Miller, eſq. of Oxenhoarh.....
Extin&t.
571 John Beale, eſq. ........ of Maidſtone....
Etober 19
582 John Wroth, eſq. ...... of Blenden-hall.
Extinct.
November 29.
588 John



July 19.
Otober 13
Extin&.
VOL. 1.
Q
226
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
NUMB.
RESIDENCE.
DATE.
Extinct.
NAME.
588 John Fagg, efq.......... of Whiſton, Suſſex 1660
Now Sir John of Myſtole Chartham. December 15.
William Wilſon, efq... of Eaſtbourne, Suf: ---
Now Sir Tho. Spencer Wilſon, bt. of Charlton. Mar. 4.
647 Nathaniel Powell, eſq. of Ewherſt, Suſſex
And of Wiarton in Kent. Extinet. May 10.
667 John Selyard, eſą....... of Delaware 1661
June 18.
669 Reginald Forſter, efq.. of EaſtGreenwich
Extinet.
July 11.
679 John Banks, eſq. ....... of London
And of Maidſtone. Extinct.
Auguſt 22.
730 Sir Richard Betenſon, Wimbledon, Surry 1663
Afterwards of Bradbourn in Sevenoke. Extinet. June 7.
737 Sir John Marſham, knt. of Cuckſtone......
Now Lord Rowney.
Auguſt 12.
738 Robert Barnham, eſq. Boug"Monchelſea
Extinct.
Auguſt 15.
754 Sir Theoph. Biddulph, knt. Weſtcombe... 1664
Now of Warwickſhire.
November 2.
761 Thomas Taylor, eſq... Park houſe, Maid. 1665
January 18.
765 Sir John Shaw, knt. ... of London
Now Sir John of Eltham.
April 15
777 Sir William Swan, knt. of Southfleet 1666
Extinct.
March 1.
779 Maurice Diggs, eſq.... of Chilham caſtle
March 6.
783 Sir Tho. Twiſden, knt. of Bradbourn......
Now Sir John.
June 13
784 Sir Anthony Aucher... of Biſhopſbourn..
Extinct.
July 4.
821 Thomas Williams, eſq. of Eleham ......... 1674
Now of Brecknockſhire.
November 2.
822 Robert Filmer, eſq..... of Eaſt Sutton
Now Sir John.
December 24
831 Richard Head, eſq...... of Rocheſter....... 1676
836 Thomas Dyke, eſq..... of Horeham, Suf. 1677
Nor Sir John of Lulling ſtone.
March 3.

Extinct.

.....
Extinct.

June 19.
847 Sir
LIST OF BARONETS. O
227
NAME.
RESIDENCE.
DATE.
.
NUMB.
847 Sir Hen.Oxenden, knt. of Dean. 1678
Now Sir Harry of Brome, near Barham. May 8.
878 Timothy Thornhill, eſq. Ollantigh ...... 1682
Extinet.
December 24
883 George Chout, eſq..... of Hinxhill....... 1684
Extinct.
September 16.
886 Richard Sandys, eſq.... of Norbourn....
Extinct.
December 15.
19 ONA
CREATED BY KING JAMES II.

co

1686
1688
894 Robert Guldeford, eſq. of Hemſted.....
e Extinet.
February 4.
907 Sir Tho. Fytche, eſq. of Eltham
September 7.
908 John Morden, eſq. ... of Blackheath...
September 20.
909 Jn. Narborough, eſq... of Knowlton
Extinct.

Extinct.
ve
Extinct.
pla Dor November 5:
CREATED BY QUEEN ANNE.
948 Charles Sedley, eſq.!... of Southfleet .... 1702
Extin&t.
July 10.
955 Sir Henry Furneſe, eſq. of Walderſhare. 1706
973 Wm. des Bouverie, eſq. of London....... 1714
Now Earl of Radnor.
February 19.


Extinct.
June 29.
CREATED BY KING GEORGE İ.
978 SirW.Humphreys, knt of London.......
And of Hever-caſtle. Extin&t.
November 30.
981 Gregory Page, eſq...... of Greenwich
Extinct.
December 3
3.
995 Thomas D'Aeth, eſq. of Knowlton 1716
Now Sir Narborough.
1000 Brook Bridges, eſq...... of Goodneſtone, 1718
Now Sir Brook.
April 19.
1009 Sir W. Sanderſon, knt. of Combe........ 1720
In Greenwich. Extinct.
July 19.
1014 Henry

July 16.
,2
228
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
NUMB.
RESIDENCE.
BM NAME.
1914 Henry Fermor, efq..... of Sevenoke ..... 1725
With remainder to Charles Eversfield of Denn, in Suf-
580 fex, who noz
ſex, who now enjoys it. Tom May 4.
1015 Sir Cha. Farnaby, knt. of Kippington... 1726
Now Sir. Charles Ratcliffe. On July 21. 32

CREATED BY KING GEORGE HI.

1052 Horatio Mann, efq..... of Linton........ 1755
Reſident at Florence; with limitation, in failure of iſſue
male, to his brother Galfridus, and his heirs male. Now
Sir Horace of Linton and Egerton. March 3.
1064 Sir Sam. Fluyder, knt. of London........ 1759
And of Lee in this county. Now Sir Samuel. Nov. 14.
Sampſon Gideon, eſq. of Belvidere .....
Now Lord Eardley.
May 19.
CREATED BY KING GEORGE IIT.
de
1093 Merrick Burrell, eſq... of Suſſex......... 1766
With remainder in default of male iſſue to Peter Burrell,
eſq. of Beckenham, and his heirs male. Now Lord
Gwydir.
July 12.
1099 Rob. Ralph Foley, eſq. of Halſted-place 1767
Now removed into Surry.
June 27.
1101 Peter Dennis, efqe...... of St. Mary's....
And of Blackmanſtone, Romney-marſh. Extinet. Ost. 28.
John Boyd, efq.......... of Danſon-hill... 1775
The preſent baronet.
May, 1775.
Williarn James, eſq.... of Eltham........ 1778
Now Sir Edward William,
July 2.
Richard Heron, eſq. .. of Newark
Now of Speldhurft. The preſent baronet. And to his heirs
male; remainder to his eldeſt brother, Thomas Hern,
eſq. late of Chilham-caſtle, deceaſed, and his heirs 30
male,
July 25.
Sir Rt. Gunning, K.B. of Horton
Northamptonſhire. Now of Eltham.
Charles Middleton, eſq. of Teſton......... 1781
The preſent baronet. And to his heirs male; remainder to
Gerard Noel Edwards, eſq. of Dartford, and his heirs
male.
September 4,
Richard

Cha
.....
......
Otober 27.
KNIGHTS OF THE ROYAL OAK. 229

NAME.
RESIDENCE.
DATË.
102
NUMRiboth
ME.
SIDE
Richard Rycroft........ of Penſhurſt..
......
1783
Now Sir Nelſon.
December 1o.
William Green, efq.... of Woolwich.... 1786
The preſent baronet.
June 10.
di Henry Hawley, efq..... of Leyborne..... 1795
W * " The preſent baronet. a la bras on April 11. ang
med ad mi bolo to ide
un solo world! 080... gataludts mob
fost are ogni O estudos de los usoban
KING CHARLES II. at his reſtoration, intend-
ed to inſtitute an order of knighthood, as a reward to
thoſe who had adhered faithfully to him in his diſ-
treffes. They were to be called, Knights of the Royal
Oak, and were to bear a ſilver medal with a device
of the king in the oak, pendant to a ribbon, about
their necks. But it was thought proper to lay it aſide,
leaſt it might open thofe wounds afreſh which, at that
time were thought moſt prudent to be healed. The
names of the intended knights in Kent, with the va-
lue of their eftates, were as follows:
begotten tot £ s. d. b
Edward Badbye of Hawley, efq. -1000 O to
Edward Roper, efq.
of William Roper, efq. - -
600
Sir Richard Sandys of Norbouin, knt. - - 1000
9. William Dyke of Rolvenden, eſq. - - - - 1000
Thomas Engliſh, eſq. --
Stephen Lennard, efq.
of Weſt Wickham 1000 • öhd
"O Roger Twyſden, ſecond ſon of Sir Ro-
ovo ger Twyſden of Eaſt Peckham, bart....)
John Clinkerd, eſq.of Sutton Valence, eſq. 600
Humphry Hide, junior, eſq. of Sundridge 600
William Kenwricke, efq.
600 0 0
Sir Thomas Leigh of Eaſt Wickham, knt. 15000 000
of Sir William Delaune of Sharſted, knt. --- 250000
gorivash sirli buat
Hoe oj, kapit
aparla, onlar bu
om-mol
algogdan gatherbs
WHEN ALFRED new modelled the govern-
ment of this realm, he divided the office of præfect,



PER ANNUM.

O
1000
o
DIQQ

OT
230 GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT. 2


or governor of the ſeveral counties into diſtinct of-
fices, one of which he put under certain judges, or
juſtices, and the other under the vice-comites, or ſhe-
riffs. By the former of theſe juſtice was, in ſome
meaſure, adminiſtered to the people throughout the
realm from that time; but from the troubles that
enſued, both before and after the conqueſt, there was
no regular adminiſtration of it ſettled in this king-
dom; the king ſending them, at his own pleaſure,
and not in any conſtant courſe, to ride into the ſeve-
ral counties for this purpoſe, from whence they were
called juſtices itinerant. Sometimes they had power
to hear all cauſes in general, and at others only ſpe-
cial matters, as aſſiſes and the goals, &c. But peace
and quiet beginning to flouriſh in the reign of king
Henry II. in order that the people might have juſtice
with more eaſe adminiſtered to them on all occaſions,
and be enabled the better to attend their domeſtic
buſineſs, that prince, by the advice of his great coun-
cil, aſſembled at Northampton, on the feaſt of St.
Paul, in the 23d year of his reign, anno 1176, di-
vided this realm into fix parts, or circuits ; into each
of which he ſent three of thefe juſtices itinerant, re-
quiring of them at the ſæine time an oath, for the
due performance of their duties. todo
After this, in the 21ſt of Edward I. 1293, that king
having, by his laſt ſtatute of Weſtminſter, given com-
mand that there ſhould be ſpecial juſtices aſſigned for
taking of aſſiſes, &c. at certain times within the ſeve-
ral counties of this realm, and no other. Eight were
appointed for this purpoſe; two of which were for the
counties of Kent, Effex, Hertford, Norfolk, Suffolk,
Cambridge, Huntingdon, Bedford, and Buckingham.
Which juſtices were diligently to attend that ſervice
on ſuch days throughout the year, and at ſuch places
as might moſt conduce to the advantage of the people.?
Notwithſtanding this appointment of juſtices for the
Ob od salt och
Dugd. Orig. 8, 52, 53. Decim. Script. Col. 1410.
purpoſe



a
LORDS LIEUTENANTS.
231
purpoſe of affiſe and goal delivery, the juſtices itinerant
ſtill continued to be appointed, and made their iti-
nerary progreſs for particular purpoſes, ſuch as the
trial of quo warrantos, and the diſputes ariſing from
grants, charters, liberties, and the like, either brought
on at the ſuit of the crown, or on the claim of indi-
viduals. After the 7th year of king Edward III. I
find no more appointments of theſe juſtices itinerant,
their place being afterwards wholly ſupplied by the
juſtices of allſiſe and nifi prius. Toi
-A liſt of theſe juſtices itinerant may be ſeen in Dug-
dale's Origines, as well as of the juſtices of the aſſiſe,
lord-chancellors, and treaſurers, with other great of-
ficers of the law; among which the reader will find
many great and reſpectable perſons of this county,
clergy as well as laymen, continually named ; but
the number of them is ſo great, that it will well ex-
cuſe the addition of them in this place. b ,
Serebro non immos y trang


IT ſeems acknowledged, that the kings of this
realm, in antient times, appointed perſons of eminent
degree to be their Lieutenants in different counties, in
caſe of domeſtic inſurrections, or the proſpect of fo-
reign invaſions. Thus ROGER DE LEYBORNE was
made lieutenant of this whole ſhire in the latter end of
the reign of king Henry III. as Lambarde tells us bisw
Theſe temporary licutenants continued till the reign
of king Henry VIII. when lord lieutenants began to be
introduced as ſtanding repreſentatives of the crown,
to keep the counties in military order; and accord-
ingly we find them mentioned as known officers in
the ſtatute of 4 and 5 Philip and Mary, though they
had not then been long. in uſe; for Camden ſpeaks
of them, in the time of queen Elizabeth, as extraor-



Peramb.p. 359.
į Blackſtone's Comm. vol. i. p. 410.
dinary
Q4
232
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
dinary magiſtrates, conſtituted only in times of diffi-
culty and danger.
The firſt permanent lord-lieutenant that has come to
my knowledge is
SIR WILLIAM BROOKE, lord Cobham, knight of
the Garter, &c. who was Lord-lieutenant from the 1ſt
year
of
queen Elizabeth, 1559, to the time of his
death, which happened in the 40th year of that reign,
anno 1597_n
HENRY BROOKE, lord Cobham, ſucceeded his fa-
ther in 1598, and continued in this office till his at-
taint, anno 1 James I.a
EDWARD, lord Wotton, in the 6th year of king
James I. He is nientioned in the charter to the city
of Canterbury, dated that year. Sir Edward Hoby,
knt. was Cuſios Rotulorum in 1596, and died in the
16th of that reign.
James, duke of Lenox, was appointed Lord-lieu-
tenant by commiſſion under the Great Seal, June 8,
anno 18 James I.
PHILIP HERBERT, earl of Montgomery, was
Lord-lieutenaut in 1626, being the 2d year of king
Charles I.
HENEAGE FINCH, eafl of Winchelſea, was con-
ſtituted Lòrd Lieutenant and Cuſtos Rotulorum on
July 10, 1616, and was fo in 1667.
CHARLES STUART, duke of Richmond and Lenox,
was Lord-lieutenant in 1672, and died the end of
that year. i
fo
CHRISTOPHER ROPER, lord Teynham, was con-
ſtituted and appointed Lord Lieutenant and Cuſtos
Rotulorum on January 1687, anno 3 James II.
VERE FANE, earl of Weſtmorland, and HENRY,
lord viſcount Sidney, were joint Lord Lieutenants,
being ſo conſtituted in 1692. The former died the
next year.dedesin nostro
ter i stortio

a
Rym. Fød. vol. xviii. p. 763. eta
DANIEL
LIST OF LORD LIEUTENANTS. 233

DANIEL FINCH, earl of Nottingham, was con-
stituted Lord Lieutenant and Cuſtos Rotulorum in
May 1702, being the iſt year of queen Anne, and
reſigned the ſame on the 17th of April, 1704. berica
CHARLES FINCH, earl of Winchelſea, was made
Lord Lieutenant and Cuftos Rotulorum in 1704. He
reſigned this office in 1705.
LEWIS WATSON, lord, afterwards created earl of
Rockingham, was conſtituted Lord Lieutenant in
1705, in the room of Charles earl of Winchelfea, the
doquet for that purpoſe bearing date the 16th of
April that year. He continued in this office till his
death, which happened on March 19, 1724.
JOHN SIDNEY, earl of Leiceſter, was conſtituted
Lord Lieutenant on May 5, 1724, and at the ſame
time Lionel Cranfield Sackville, duke of Dorfet, was
appointed Cuſtos Rotulorum. The earl continued in
this office till his death, which happened on the 27th
of September 1737.
201on
Lewis WATSON, earl of Rockingham, was ſworn
in Lord Lieutenant on the 12th of January 1737,
and was likewiſe Guſtos Rótulorum. He died in De-
cember 1745.
bs
THOMAS WATSON, earl of Rockingham, brother
to the laſt mentioned earl was, in his room, made
Lord Lieutenant and Cufios Rotulorum, and died
poſſeſſed of this office in the February following,
1746.
Olio iglo HT
LIONEL CRANFIELD SAKVILLE, duke of Dorſet,
was made Lord Lieutenant and Cuftos Rotnlorum in
July 1746, and continued fo till his death, which
happened on the oth of October 1765. in omnes y
CHARLES SACKVILLE, duke of Dorſet, ſon of the
former duke, was made Lord Lieutenant and Citfios
Rotulorum on the roth of February following, 1766,
and continued in theſe offices till his death, on Ja-
nuary 6, 1769. i ond to noted sds of DNB blad
ali to co por los lined to todo JOHN

NERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
234

John FREDERICK SACKVILLE, duke of Dorſet,
was conſtituted Lord Lieutenant and Cuſtos Rotulorum
in the room of his uncle, the laſt duke above-men-
tioned, and ſtill continues to hold theſe offices.ongitar
In anno 13 and 14 of king Charles II. the king's
power of iſſuing theſe commiſſions of lieutenancy for
the ſeveral counties of this realm was confirmed by
parliament; and the lieutenants were enabled to arm
and array perſons within their juriſdictions, as well to
fuppreſs inſurrections as to repel invaſions, in manner
as the king ſhould direct, and to give commiſſions to
the officers, and that they might preſent to the king
the names of ſuch as they ſhould think fit to be de-
puty lieutenants, and upon his approbation of them,
ſhould give them deputations; any two of whom, in
the abſence of the lord lieutenant, or by his direction,
might exerciſe and conduct the perſons ſo armed as
aforeſaid.
ਤੇ ਤ obat ordaille aids
Theſe commiſſions of deputy lieutenancy were given
to but few, and thoſe of the firſt conſideration, till
the ſecond year of George II, when, on the new ef-
tabliſhment of militia throughout England, they were
granted, for the better execution of that ſervice to
moſt of the principal gentlemen of the county.
cabados
Best to
bi sono risa do beton
THE origin of the Houſe of Commons, at leaſt in its
preſent form, is a point that has been conteſted with
great earneftneſs by ſeveral eminent writers, the firſt
expreſs writ that is found of any knights of counties,
by name, ſummoned to our parliaments, as members,
is that of the clauſe-roll of the 49th of king Henry III.
anno 1264, requiring pheriffs to fummon two knights
out of every county to parliament, as alſo to the ci-
ties and boroughs the like number of citizens and
burgeſſes, and to the barons of the five ports a cer-
tain number of their diſcreeteft men. Before that time
the



G

KNIGHTS IN PARLIAMENT.
235

03
Edward I.'s time,
the conſtituent members of the great council of the
nation were, archbiſhops, biſhops, abbots, and pri-
ors, earls, barons, and all who held of the king in
capite, as ſir H. Spelman, fir W. Dugdale, and others
of our beſt Engliſh antiquaries obſerve, which opinion
is grounded on a claufe in Magna Charta, as granted
by king John to the people, in the 17th year of his
reign, wherein that prince promiſes to ſummon all the
above degrees and tenure, to meet at a certain place,
within forty days notice, in order to hold a common
council of the kingdom, to aſſeſs aids and ſcutages
when neceſſary
It is to be obſerved, that theſe writs, in the 49th
year of Henry III.'s reign, to fummon the knights,
burgeſſes, and barons of the five ports, as above-men-
tioned, were iſſued when the barons had that prince
in their power, after the battle of Lewes, and exer-
ciſed royal authority in his name, and though there
were ſeveral parliaments in ,
before the 18th year of his reign, yet there is no teſti-
mony left upon record of any writs of ſummons till
that year, in which, as may be ſeen by the bundle of
writs then directed to the ſheriffs, two or three knights
were directed to be choſen for each county, but no
citizen or burgeſſes till the 23d of that reign. In
conſequence of theſe writs fome few counties returned
three knights, but the generality two only, in which
laſt number was the county of Kent.


TO THE PRESENT TIME.
A LIST OF THE KNIGHTS RETURNED FOR THE
Hoiv COUNTY OF KENT,
FROM THE 18th YEAR OF KING EDWARD 1. ANNO 1289,10
bi TO THE
IN THE TIME OF KING EDWARD I.
Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Knights in Parliament.
18th. Parliament at HENRY de Apuldrefield,
Weſtminſter ........ Robert de Septvans.
23d.
236 GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

Walter de Ripple. cia assigny
Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Knights in Parliament.
,
.
23d. Parliament at Stephen Chute,
( 1918 по 3 ст.
Otrd, altho
Weſtminſter ......
25th. At London... Luke de la Gare, fed nuo 1h.
Richard de Scoland. bankroto
26th. At York...... Richard de Scoland, dolsul och
allt nommt John de Goſeliall. miatástw eigene
28th. At London... Warétius de Valoigns, pavadis
(IOTICLO) Spice O Richard de Scoland. LỜI TIVI
28th. At Lincoln... The fame. nobgaci su to Liauda
michacort over
29th. Waretius de Valoigns, ou sai 11
medico di comun
Henry de Apuldrefeld. I 30 miny
33d. At Weſtminſter Henry de Apuldrefeld, hegtud
Como ora bisden Richard de Rokeſle. tow boonoli
34th. b Council at Waretius de Valoigns, moni mi
Weſtminſter ......... Richard de Rokelle. Isvou polio
35th. Parliament at Bartholomew de Badlefmere,*-*
Carliſle
01 Oct 10
Fulke Peyforer, at detonad
под стари поділугеорги
to all IN THE TIME OF KING EDWARD II.
angingu ownedod o bobomb esclaw
2d. At Weſtminſter. Waretius de Valoigns,porib siew
cigion and to William de Grey. ud to nositio
4th. - Henry de Cobham, ompelmon
in w wielu pow. Thomas de Sandwich.ginal 99
5th. - Henry de Cobham, v 190 i fler
Stephen de Greyes.
5th. At London..... Henry de Cobham of Roundál.
T Thomas de Sandwich.
6th. At Weſtminfler. Fulk Peyforer. To
Thomas de Sandwich.
6th. -
John de Feld, JHTV
John de Cobham. i toe mais
7th. William de Grey, edung 01137
Stephen de Ulcombe. Aloista
hes
Sth.


22
KNIGHTS IN PARLIAMENT. 237
......
15th.
Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Knights in Parliament.
8th. Parliament at John Malmayns of Waldwareſhare.
York ....... .... William de Baſings. m2 V
Sth.
Henry Cobham,
John Malmayns.
Ioth. Council at Henry de Ellham, ale
Lincoln ............. Ralph Savage.
12th. Parliament at John Malmayns deWaldwareſhare.
York.............. John Savage.
12th.
- John Savage.
olib Walter de Thornton.
John Savage
Thomas de Sandwich.
17th. At Weſtmin- Roger de Hegham,
ſter....
William de Grey.
19th
William de Dene.
William de Grey,
20th.
John de Segrave, knight,
John, de Cobham.
teddo
IN THE TIME OF KING EDWARD III. Joan
iſt. At Lincoln..... John de Bournne,
Nicholas Malmayns.
iſt. Ai Weſtminſter. Robert de Stanegrave,
John de Bourne.
iſt.
John de Segrave,
John de Carleham.] sit
2d. At York......... John de Bourne, todo
El Bisby Henry de Holles.
Yo bolo a 20
zd. At New Sarum. Thomas de Bourne, tw eis beban
John de Bourne, hol do ponto con
non sdt galveno man
2d. At York ........ John de Bourne, atud aiate
John Malmayns deWaldwareſhare.





3d.
238
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Knights in Parliament.
3d. Parliament at John de Bourne, a
New Sarum........ Thomas de Bourne, .
4th. At Weſtminſter. John de Cobham,
John de Ifeld.
4th. At Wincheſter. Philip de Pympe,
Henry de Helles.
5th. At Weſtminſter: John de Ifeld,
Ralph de St. Laurence.
6th.
Henry de Helles,
to Otto de Grandiſon.
6th.
- John de Ifeld,
dobrir John de Cobham.
8th.
Ralph Savage,
William Morant.
Sth. At York........ Thomas de Baa,
Thomas de Ore,
- John de Cobham,
Robert de Stangrave.
joth. At Weſtmin- John de Cobham.
fter .......
William Morant.
Ioth
Co
Philip de Pympe,
William Morant.
ith.
The ſame.
Ilth,
:-Ralph de Savage,
Stephen de Alhway.
12th. Council at Ralph de Savage,
Northampton ....... Stephen de Cobham.
a This John de Bourn, in the 3d year of king Edward III. de-
ko
manded his wages, as one of the knights for the community of
the county of Kent, of the fheriff, and he had writs of the Great
Seal for levying the money on the community of this county.
Mad. firm. Burg. p. 102. Placita Cor. Baronibus ex Rot. b.
9th.

-


12th.
KNIGHTS IN PARLIAMENT.
239
13th.
Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Knights in Parliament.
12th. Parliament at John Malemayns,
Weſtminſter ........ John Savage..
13th.
Thomas de Brochehille,
Humphry de Northwode.
-=Ralph Savage,
Henry de Valoyns.
- Robert de Shirlonde,
William de Dene.
--- William de Orlafton.
Thomas de Brockehille.
=== William de Orlafton,


14th,
14th.
14th.
15th.
rum
William de Orlafton,
viabi Thomas de Brochehille.
17th.
Roger de Higham,
---
18th. At New Sa- Stephen de Cobham,
.... William de Grey.
20th. At Weſtmin- Ralph'de St. Leger,
ſter ......
Thomas de Gillingham.
2 iſt.
- Otto de Grandiſon,
Robert de Chene.
22d.
The ſame. To trovare
25th.
Otto de Grandiſon, oldado
SEAY "Arnold Savage. anonim
26th. -- Otto de Grandiſon,


iloa
8
27th. Council at Thomas de Brockhille,
Weſtminſter........
28th. Parliament dt Otto de Grandiſon,
Weſtminſter John Fitzbernard.
29th.
John de Mereworth,
John Fitzbernard.
31ſt.
240
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
34th.
37th.
Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Knights in Parliament.
ziſt. Parliament at Otho de Grandiſon, le stes
Weſtminſter .......... Thomas Apuldrefeld.de
ziſt. - John de Mereworth,
bowho. Robert Chene.
William Apuldrefeld,
arvo William Haldenne.
34th.
- Thomas Apuldrefeld,
Thomas Colepeper.
36th. - Ralph de Ferningham,
oldalo Thomas Apuldrefeld.
- Thomas Apuldrefeld,
John Barry.
38th
John Colepeper,
Wittenbor Thomas Apuldrefeld.
40th. - Richard Attleſe,
Richard Dygges.
42d.
- Thomas Covene,
von Thomas Colepeper.
Thomas Apuldrefeld,
framler Thomas Covene.
- Thomas Apuldrefeld,
90 John Barry.
45th.
Council at Thomas Apuldrefeld,
Wincheſter
***...
4.6th. Parliament at William de Pympe,
Wincheſter .......... James de Peckham.
47th.
Stephen de Valoyns,
DOC Richard Charles. Samo
Thomas Fogge, chevr. Aluminium
Thomas de Cobham. des
Robert Paflele,
dito. Arnold St. Leger ulike dodies
brendis ole


43d.
45th.
5oth.
5ift.
IN
KNIGHTS IN PARLIAMENT,
241
3d.
wa Nicholas
5th.
IN THE TIME OF KING RICHARD II. RY
Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Knights in Parliament. Her
iſt. Parliament at John de Fremingham, ha
Weſtminſter ......... James de Peckham.
2d. At Glouceſter Thomas Fogge, chevr.
John de Brochehille, chevr. At
2d. At Weſtminſter, Robert Paffelle, cheur.
trends at Ralph St. Leger, chevr.
- William Stephens,
Nicholas Atte-Crouche.
4th. At Northampton Thomas Fogge, chevr.
William de Guldeford.
8
5th. At Weſtminſter Thoinas de Fogge,
Hvid John de Fremingham.
- Thomas Colepeper, chevr.
Thomas de Cobham, chevr. this
6th.
Thomas Colepeper de Farleigh,
chevr.
YAvan Thomas Brochehille. W
6th.
Thomas Fogge, chevr.
rundgni James Peckham.si
7th.
Thomas Colepeper,
Hoyroad Thomas Fogge, chevr.
JAD
7th. At New Sarum Robert Corby,
William Guldeford.
Sth. At Weſtminſter John Cobham, che
suudalaid Robert Notbeame. A WIN
8th.
- Thomas Fogge,
spopads som Thomas Cobham.tu dia
- Thomas Brokhill,
sworo Nicholas Adam.si A 18
loth.
William Bettenham,
WO19 Geoffrey Chaucer.
11th.
Thomas Fogge, chevr
James de Peckham.
I2th.


be
9th.
VOL. I.
R
242
KENT.
MONY OF GENERAL HISTORY KE
OF Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Knights in Parliament,
12th. Parliament at James de Peckham,
Cambridge .......... William Bettenham Hot
13th.
Arnold Savage, chevir. minut
streda - John Cobham. olanak vid bo
14th. At Weſtmin- Arnold Savage, checer.
ſter ........ Nicholas Potyn.is
16th. At Wincheſter William Burcete, cheur.
enor Nicholas Potyn.
17th. At Weſtmin- Williain Peche, chevr.
ſter........ ....... John de Cobham.
18th.
botol. Nicholas Haute,
1999 Thomas Brokhill. In de
20th. A Thomas Brokhill,
south oge. Nicholas Potyn.
21ſt. mabadda Williain Peche, cheur.
eh Toge John Cobhain.

IN THE TIME OF KING HENRY IV.

16.06
DOTET
iſt. At Weſtminſter John de Fremingham,
Thomas Brokhill
Taqadar
2d.
Arnold Savage, knight,
Thomas Brokhill.
3d.
The ſame.
4th. At Wincheſter, The fame.
5th. At Weſtminſter Reginald Braybroke, cheur.
Arnold Savage, chevr.
6th. At Coventry.... Thomas de Clinton, chevr'.
Ild-John de Horn.
8th. At Weſtminſter Richard Clitherowe,
suscio Robert Clifford.
gth. At Glouceſter... Richard Clitherowe,
mund John Darell.
Les 2900
12th,

KNIGHTS IN PARLIAMENT.
243
ift.
Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Knights in Parliament,
12th. At Weſtmin- Reginald Pympe, totalno tie
ſter........ William Haute of Hautſborne.
7 binige
IN THE TIME OF KING HENRY V.
John Darell,
John Boteller.
2d. At Leiceſter.... Thomas Clynton, cherr.
ton, chezrk ditas
John Darell.
2d. Ai Weſtminfter. Arnold Savage, gamta Wiadite
John Clifford.
8
John Wilcox,
William Chene.
8th
William Rickhill,
Thomas Towne.
Sth.
William Simon, vatiinia 1 de de
William Lovel.
Thomas Elys,
as Elyesinence with d88.
Roger Bonyngton.

3d.
Dr
9th.
3d.
its IN THE TIME OF KING HENRY VI.
iſt.
Geffry Louther,
poles Reginald Pympe.
2d.
- John Rickhill,
William Bury.
- John Darell,
.:10 John Drylond.
4th. At Leiceſter.... John Lowther,
Edward Guldeford. ad
5th. At Weftminſter. John Darell,
borbi at gurit
LAIN John Brambury.asto icookie di sto
8th. At Weſtminſter John Darell, H910 doider วัน
William Hauteuilletes
9th.

we
R2
244
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Knights in Parliament,
gth. Parliament at John Bambury, ifs WA vise
Weſtminſter ......... William Scott.
13th.
Reginald Peckham,
V LAW Edward Guldeford, T MI
2oth.
James Fenys,
William Iſle.
25th. At Cambridge James Fenys,
William Cromer.
varased in Es
27th. At Weſtminſter John Chene,
Du
William Cromer.
28th.
William Iſle,
John Waverſhed.
29th.
Laurence Peche,
.
31ſt. At Reading.... William Hextall,
John Thornbury.
38th. At Weſtminſter Thomas Kiriel,
Robert Horn.
11019

SON
On
Ilir Williarn Haute.
ETIO
7th.
be
IN THE TIME OF KING EDWARD IV.
-- John Scott, knt.
soon James Peckham, efq.
12th.
Henry Ferrers, knt.
John Sley, eſq.
17th
John Fogg, knt.
Ib John Brumpton.
Todo mo
[ All the writs, indentures, and returns, from the 17th
of king Edward IV. to the iſt year of king Edward VI.
are loft, except one imperfeet bundle, No. 33, Henry VIII.
in which COLCHESTER, CANTERBURY, and Roche-
STER, are miſſing. ] Hasily

IN
KNIGHTS IN PARLIAMENT.
245
IN THE TIME OF KING EDWARD VI. is
Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Knights in Parliament.
iſt. Parliament at -
8
Weſtminſter ........
6th.
Thomas Cheyne,
ph Henry Sidney.

IN THE TIME OF QUEEN MARY.
alam
iſt.
Thomas Cheyne, knight of the
Garter,
Robert Southwell, knt.
iſt. At Oxford..... Thomas Cheyne, knt.
John Baker, knt.
IN THE TIME OF PHILIP AND MARY,

bazki , .
iſt and 2d. At Weſt- Thomas. Cheyne, knt.
minſter
John Baker, knt.
2d and 3d.
John Baker, knt.
Robert Southwell, knt.
4th and 5th. Thomas Cheyne, knt.
no anodoi
John Baker, knt.
tashabby
IN THE TIME OF QUEEN ELIZABETH.
ift. 11 Richard Sackville, and in his
Lelysdgrad 5 room
Thomas Kempe, knt.
braesto Thomas 1

5th.
བ ན བ བ 1:
13th.
TT Henry Sidney, knt.
Henry Cheyne, efq.
Henry Sidney, knt. preſident of
Wales,
Thomas Scott, kat.
Tortosa
27th.
R 3
246
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
27th. Parliament at Philip Side Knights in Parliament.
31ſt.
Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Knights in Parliament,
Sidney
Weſtminſter ......... Edward Wotton, eſq.bo
28th.
Henry Cobham alias Brooke, s
knt.
Thomas Scott, knt.
Henry Brooke, eſq.
Henry Cobham, knt.
+ Edward Hobie, knt.. KI
Moile Finch, knt.
Robert Sidney, knt.
William Brooke, kni.
us allevam
Henry Nevill, knt.
Francis Fane, eſq.ro

35th
39th.
43d,
de
ift.
IN THE TIME OF KING JAMES I.
JAMLA
John Scott, knt.
John Leveſon, knt. hiba basi

I2th.
SW

18th.
Robert Sidney, knt. viſcount Lille
George Fane, eſq.
Nicholas Tufton, knt,
Edwin Sandys, knt.
21ſt.
HTETASI
IN THE TIME OF KING CHARLES I.
iſt.
Iſt.
Mildmay, lord Bergberſh,
Albertus Morton, knt,
Edward Hales, bart.
Edward Scott, knt.
pis
Thomas Finch, knt, and bart.
Dudley Diggs, knt.
- Roger Twyfden, knt. and bart,
Norton Knatchbull, eſq.

3d,
15th,
16th.
KNIGHTS IN PARLIAMENT.
247
Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Knights in Parliament,
16th. Parliament at Edward Dering, bart.*
Weſtminſter ........ John Colepeper, knt, and in his
room
John Boys, eſq.

INTERREGNUM.
IN THE TIME OF KING CHARLES II.

13th.
31ſt.
12th.
1660. Sir John Tufton, bart.
Sir Edward Dering, bart.
1661. Sir Thomas Peyton, bart.
A Sir John Tufton, knt. and bart.
1678. Sir Vere Fane, K. B.
Edward Dering, eſq.
1679
1.
32d. At Oxford, Sir Vere Fane, K. B.
Edward Dering, efq.
31ſt.

1681.....******
CIE
IN THE TIME OF KING JAMES II.
iſt. At Weſtminſter, Sir William Twyſden, bart.
168 5........... Sir John Knatchbull, bart.
MARY.
iſt.
IN THE TIME OF WILLIAM AND
1688. Sir Vere Fane, K. B.
Sir John Knatchbull, bart.
WA
1690. The ſame.

b
2d.

2 In 1641 he was expelled the houſe, by the powers who then
ruled, for his loyalty, and captain Auguſtine Skinner was placed
in his room, as a man more fit for their purpoſes.
• On Vere Fane's becoming a peer, fir Thomas Roberts, bart.
was choſen in his room.
R. 4
IN
248
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT
IN THE TIME OF KING WILLIAM III.


Years of the Reign, &c. Names of the Knights in Parliament.
7th. Parliament at Hon. Philip Sidney, eſq.
Weſtminſter, 1695. Sir Thomas Roberts, bart.
loth. 1698. Sir James Oxenden, knt. and bart.
Sir Stephen Lennard, bart.
12th.
1700. Sir Thomas Hales, bart.
Thomas Meredith, eſq.
13th. - 1701. Sir Thomas Hales, bart.
William Campion, eſq.
iſt.
4th.
7th.
IN THE TIME OF QUEEN ANNE,
1702. Sir Thomas Hales, bart.
Sir Francis Leigh, knt.
1705. Hon. William viſcount Villiers,
Sir Cholmley Dering, bart.
1708. Sir Thomas Palmer,
Sir Stephen Lennard, bart.
1710. Sir Cholmley Dering, bart."
Percival Hart, eſa.
be
1713. Percival Hart, eſq.
Edward Knatchbull, efq;

gth.
12th.
IN THE TIME OF GEORGE I.
.

Ift.
C
1714. Hon. Mildmay Fane, eſq.
William Delaune, eſq.
1722. Sir Thoinas Twyſden, bart.
Sir Edward Knatchbull, bart,
7th.

b
a On his death David Pelhill, eſq. was choſen in his room.
On his death fir William Hardres, bart. was choſen.
On his deceaſe his brother John Fane, afterwards earl of
Weſtmoreland, was choſen.
KNIGHTS IN PARLIAMENT,
249
IN THE TIME OF KING GEORGE II,

SER
Years of the Reign, &c, Names of the Knights in Parliament,
ift. Parliament at Sir Roger Meredith, bart. an
Weſtminſter, 1727. Sir Robert Furneſe, bart. saus
7th. 1734. William viſcount Vane, BO
Sir Edward Dering, bart.
For
14th. 1741. Sir Edward Dering, bart. voler
Sir Roger Twiſden, bart, ha
2ift.
oba
នៃខ្លួន ។ are
- 1747. The ſame.
doob on di
28th.
1754. Hon. Robert Fairfax,
Hon. Lewis Monſon Watſon.
Door
IN THE TIME OF KING GEORGE III.
iſt.
1761. Hon. Robert Fairfax, shah
gbola Sir Windham Knatchbull, bart,
7th. 1768. Sir Brook Bridges, bart.
John Sackville, eſq.5
14th.
1774. Hon. Charles Marſham,lice
Thomas Knight, junior, eſq.
2oth.
- 1780, Hon. Charles Marſham,
Potom dolor Filmer Honeywood, ejq.
24th. 1784. The ſame.
3oth. 1790.
Sir Edward Knatchbull, bart.
Filmer Honeywood, eſq.
fuarda
36th. Ju 1796. Sir Edward Knatchbull, bart.
Sir William Geary, bart."
=
d On his death in 1733, fir Edward Dering, bart, was choſen.
• He died a few days after his election, and fir Chriſtopher
Powell, knight, was choſen.
od TODIS
+ He died in 1763, and fir Brooke Bridges, bart. was choſen.
& On his ſucceeding to the dukedom of Dorſet, Sir Charles Far-
naby of Keppington, bart. was choſen in his room.
h The poll laſted nine days, cloſing on June 16, when the num-
bers, as declared by the ſheriff, were for fir Edward Knatchbull,
5202; for fir Wm Geary, 4418; and for Mr. Honeywood, 4280.
IN
250
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT,
HOSION-*««<br>

IN the reign of king Alfred the inhabitants of
this iſland, following the example of the Danes,
were fo greedy of ſpoil and rapine, that no one could
travel in ſafety, in order, therefore, to ſecure them
frorn fuch outrages and robberies, the king divided
the ſeveral counties, or ſhires, into ſmaller diſtricts,
which were called laths, or trithings, each of which
he again divided into hundreds, taking the model of
them, no doubt, from his German anceſtors, in whoſe
country a like ſyſtem ſtill prevails. It has been much
queſtioned from whence the hundreds in England
took their name, and what was the extent of their
juriſdiction ; however, the general opinion has been,
that they were ſo called from their extending over a
diſtrict, in which one hundred afſefſors, pledgers, or
fureties of the king's peace reſided, which plainly ac-
counts for the great difference in the ſize of them ;
ſome in this county having but one or two pariſhes,
whilſt others have twenty, or more, or the greateſt
part
of them within their bounds. Every hundred
was governed at firſt by a particular officer, called a
centenary, or hundredary, who was choſen into that of-
fice by all the elder fort of the people, who met to-
gether at the uſual place in the hundred on a certain
day appointed for that purpoſe. This officer held his
court, called the hundred-gemote, or hundred court, for
particular caſes within the extent of his juriſdiction ;
but there was an appeal from it to the court of the
laih, or trithing.
Theſe laths in this county were five in number,
and were ſo called from the Saxon word, gelathian, to
afſemble together; for in this court all the principa
men of the hundreds, within the bounds of the lath, af-
a
2 Chauncy's Hertf. p. 25. Spelm. Gloff. verb. hund.
or ſembled
1
DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY
251

ſembled together, to debate and determine the matters
brought before them; though if they were found too
difficult, they were fent up from hence to the fupe-
rior county-court, as to a parliament of the whole body
of the county, All which has been already treated
of more at large. King Alfred, for the ſtill berter ef-
tabliſhment of the peace and ſecurity of his people,
ſubdivided theſe hundreds into tithings, ſo called, be-
cauſe in them ten families were caſt into a fociety,
or as they were termed in this county, boroughs, of the
Saxon word, borh, ſignifying a pledge or ſurety ; each
of whom was bound to the king for the peaceable
and good behaviour of the others. The chief in
each of theſe tithings, as they were called in the weſt,
was named tienbeofod, or theohungman, from his office;
and with us, friborg, from fri, free, and borgh, a ſu-
rety, or pledge, as much as to ſay, a free pledge.
This fribourg or borſholder's office was, at its firſt
inſtitution in this court, called the lete, or view of
frank pledge, (which, being eſteemed the king's court,
has been long ſince granted by charter to the lords of
hundreds and manors,) to determine the finaller dif-
ferences between neighbours, and ſuch treſpaſſes as
belonged to their farms; the greater matters being
reſerved to the hundredaries. Beſides this, the king
ordained, that every natural inhabitant, or Engliſh-
man born, ſhould live in ſome hundred, or tithing,
that would be bound for his appearance, to anſwer
the law ; but he that could not find ſuch ſurety,
ſhould abide the ſeverity of the law, and if ſuch of-
fender happened to make his eſcape, then all that
hundred or borough incurred a mulct or fine, to be
impoſed by the king. By which means, it is faid,
king Alfred reduced his fubjects to ſuch a ſtate of ho-
heſty and good behaviour, that having cauſed brace-
lets of gold to be hung upon poſts in the highways, to
delude the greedineſs of paſſengers, none dared to
touch
252
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
touch them. This wholeſoine diſtribution of juſ-
tice by king Alfred laſted but a ſmall time ; for the
kings his ſucceſſors, either for the ſake of improving
their revenues by the profits of theſe hundreds, or
of obliging ſome of their nobles, granted ſome of
them, and let others to farm to their great men, or
ſheriffs, under a rent, or otherwiſe ; ſo that this office
of hundredary was ſoon laid aſide, and the juriſdiction
became veſted in the lord of the hundred, as above-
mentioned. But it was not long before great evils
aroſe from this change; for, either through the negli-
gence or connivance of the lord of the hundred, great
miſchiefs happened to thoſe that travelled through
theſe diſtricts ; murders were committed, robberies
perpetrated, houſes burnt, and theft practiſed among
the people, ſo that few could paſs through the coun-
try in quiet, or reſide at home in ſafety. ola 70
In this unciviliſed ſtate, as it may well be termed,
this country remained even to the time of king Ed-
ward I, who, in the 13th year of his reign, by the
ſtatute of Wincheſter, made many regulations for the
better government of the police, and the re-eſtabliſh-
ment of quiet and ſafety throughout the kingdom.
For this purpoſe he inſtituted a hue and cry, which
made the whole county anſwerable for the robbery
and the damages thereof, and a wateh, which ſhould
be kept in every town from ſun-ſetting to ſun-riſing,
from the time of Aſcenſion to Michaelmas. He or
dained that the highways ſhould be cleared of wood,
to prevent the felons concealing themſelves, and di-
rected that every man, according to his ſubſtance,
ſhould have arms in his houſe, to purſue the felon ef-
fectually, He likewiſe conſtituted two conſtables in
every hundred, to view the armour, and preſent the
defaults thereof, and the defaults of tourns of high-
Briswilgots mi allog nogus pried
od od on blog
a Chauncy's Hertf. p. 25 et feq. Spelm. Gloff. Brady’s Hift.
Eng. p. 83. Lamb. Peramb. p. 22.

ways,
DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY.
2 53

ways, &c. ſince which time acts of parliament have
enlarged the power and authority of theſe officers,
who are employed to keep the public peace, and con-
vey the warrants of magiſtrates to the petty conftables
and borſholders of the ſeveral vills, boroughs, and pa-
riſhes within their hundreds. They are called chief
or high conſtables, to diſtinguiſh them from the petty
conftables of pariſhes and boroughs, and were antiently
choſen and ſworn in the tourns held for the hundred;
but the ſheriff, or lord thereof, neglecting to hold their
courts at the uſual times, they are, in ſuch default,
now uſually appointed at the general court of quarter
ſeſſion. dyris si top
29ihodi 10 anonibiu SIST
99101 bab wo
Idsfnoa grived
vtrirou edilo asifuiadt moitoisibitor ovi, Boxs
S THIS COUNTY has been for ſome time divided
into two diſtricts, uſually called Weſt and Eaſt Kent,
which nearly divide it into two equal parts, in which
are contained the five laths, or great diſtricts, which
comprehend the whole county of Kent. to abort
The weſtern diviſion, or Weſt Kent, contains the
laths of Sutton at Hone, and Aylesford, and the
lower diviſion of the lath of Scray.
The eaſtern diviſion, or Eaſt Kent, contains the laths
of St. Auguſtine and Shipway, and the upper diviſion
of the lath of Scray.
The extent of both theſe diſtricts, as well as of the
laths; may be eaſily traced out by the dotted line on
the map of the whole county, prefixed to this work.
Theſe laths are divided into fourteen bailiwics and
fixty-three hundreds, as well for the diſtribution of
juſtice by the ſheriff and his bailiffs, as by the juſtices
of the peace; and within the limits of the above are
thirteen franchiſes and liberties, moſt of which have
courts of record belonging to them. Theſe hundreds
are again divided into pariſhes, the inſtitution of
which, in England, many of our writers have aſcribed
to archbiſhop Honorius, about the year 636, build-

SS

ing
GENERAL HISTORY TORY .
OF KENT1
OF KE
254
ing their opinion on the authority of archbiſhop Par-
ker; but Mr. Selden ſeems rightly to underſtand the
archbiſhop's expreſſion, provinciam ſuum in parochias
diviſit, of dividing his provinces into new dioceſes.
The diſtinction of pariſhes which now prevails could
never be the model of Honorius, nor the work of any
one age; the reduction of a whole country into ſuch
formal limitations muſt have advanced gradually, and
have been the reſult of many generations." There are
four hundred and thirteen of theſe pariſhes in this
county, moſt of which are ſubdivided into vills, bo-
roughs, and hamlets ; among which are fifteen ſepa-
rate juriſdictions, or liberties, not in any hundred,
having conſtables or officers of their own, and three
excluſive juriſdictions from the juſtices of the county,
as is the liberty of Romney-marſh, and that of the
cinque ports.
Mbow
The lath of Sutton at Hone contains the bailiwics of
Sutton Dartford and Sutton Bromley, and the hun-
dreds of
Toivog gloriw sa buscarton
ustao
Blackheath, Little and Leſnes, Ruxley,
Bromley and Beck- Dartford and Wil- Weſtram and Eton-
enham,
mington, 3 bridge, hvor
Axtane, alias Clack - Codeſheath alias Co- and
Somerden. A 12
The lath of Aylesford contains the bailiwics of Hoo,
Twiford, Eyhorne, and the lowy of Tunbridge, and
the hundreds of
orgados story Set 10 CM
Hoo,
Twyford,
ola
Shamel,
Littlefield,
Brenchley and
Toltingtrow, Watchlingſtone and Horſemonden,
Chatham and Gil the lowy of Tun- Eyhorne, alias Ai-
lingham,
bridge,
horne,
Larkfield, alias La- Weſt, alias Little and
prostridi
vercfield,
Barnfield, geols Maidſtone.
Otri bobivib ng The
1 Kennet's Paroch. Antiq. p. 586.
b Kilburne’s Surv. and Lambarde's Peramb. This hundred
was formerly diſtinguiſhed as two ſeparate half hundreds, viz. the

ftone,
deſede, He bas
Odo
Wrotham, binne
a
half
DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY. 255

ton.
The lath of Scray, formerly called Sherwinhope, and
in Domeſday Wiwareleſt, contains the bailiwics of
Milton, alias Middleton, Scray, and of the Seven
Hundreds, and of the hundreds of
Marden,
Selbrittenden, Middleton alias Mil.
9 Barkley,
do Blackborne, alias ki ton,
Great, alias Eaſt
Blacetune, mid Teynham, sofii ont
Barnfield, Tenterden, Faverſham,
Cranbrook, Bircholt, antiently Boughton alias Boc-
Rolvenden, 1903 Barony,
on
boulod
The hundreds of Calehill, Chart and Longbridge, Felbo-
rough, and Wye, commonly called the Four Hundreds, once be-
longed to this lath; but they have been a long while ſevered from
it, and added to the lath of Shipway. I bris
bas awo en to
BOIB 5 250 poids
The lath of Shipway, alias Shepway, called in Domel-
day, Limwareleſt, contains the bailiwics of Stowting,
Shipway, and Chart and Longbridge, and the hun-
dreds of
ROUTE
EVOLA
orod toho
Calehill,
tro
Oxney, no
Worth,
TO
Chart and Long- Aloeſbridge, Strete, Buste
bridge,
Newchurch,
Heane, doo
Felborough, alias
alias St. Martin's Pount- Stowting, weH
Feleborg,
ney,
Loningborough,
Bircholt Franchiſe, Langeport,
and
Wye,
Ham,
Folkeſtone.
? 6.2978
The lath of St. Auguſtine, called alſo formerly, He-
delinth, contains the bailiwics of Bridge, and Eaſtry,
and the hundreds of
Beulborough,
busi Eaftry, alias Eftrege, Preſton, but als
Cornilo,
Wingham, Ringflow alias Tenet,
mu DORDEVOCIOS bhios oliwera TA
half hundred of Chatham, and the half hundred of Gillingham
and Graine ; in the ſame manner was the hundred of Bromley
and Beckenham, Chart and Longbridge, and others, that have
119
two names joined for one hundred.
© Eaſt and Weſt Barnefield are, in fact, but two half hundreds,
and formerly had their ſeparate names as fuch; which diviſion
was occaſioned by their lying in two different laths.
* otron Bible
Downhamford,

256
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

terined, which the con
Downhamford, de Bridge and Petham, Weſtgate, and
Kinghamford, dis Blengate,
Blengate, sistem Whiftaple.ca
The particular pariſhes in each of theſe hundreds are deſcribed ini
the future courſe of this hiſtory, barbouki
There are alſo ſeveral towns and places in this
county, which have conftables and other officers of
the like nature within themſelves, and are not ſub-
ject to the conſtable of any hundred ; ſome of theſe
are in the forraigne, and others in their particular li-
berties. The following is a liſt of them both, and
of thoſe in the forraigne, or foreign, a term made uſe of
to expreſs a place that is in the juriſdiction of the
county at large, and not in any liberty or franchiſe,
which has a particular juriſdiction of its own, and in
which the juſtices of the county cannot intermeddle,
viz. woda lo siwilsed on eritinos tas we lb
a bo
bris
Aſhford town,
Hilden borough, in Queenborough, Cor-
Aylesford town, Tunbridge,
poration of
Chriſt Church, in Longport borough, Seaſalter,
Canterbury, 10 v
near Canterbury, South borough in
Graveſend and Mil- Weft or Town Mal- Tunbridge,
ton, Corporation of ling, dowcowa
Hadlow borough, Newenden townſhip Tunbridge town.
de town.
Brafted ville, Oſpringe,
frogogastrondonia
The following places are in their particular liber-
gobind o coiwiliad sa anisino dailab
CANTERBURY, which is a city and county of it-
felf, and a corporation, under the juriſdiction of its
own juſtices. A
olaro
ROCHESTER is likewiſe a city and corporation un-
der the juriſdiction of its own juſtices. to be ileri
MAIDSTONE town is a corporation, which, toge-
ther with the pariſh of Maidſtone, is under the juriſ-
diction of its own juſtices. blaitteen
* Romney marſh is likewiſe a liberty under the ju-
riſdiction of its own bailiff and jurats.
Poacetimo
In

and
o
DI
Paris
2
DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTY
257
In the liberty of the cinque ports are the following
places, which have conſtables and officers of their
own, and are under the juriſdiction of their own juſ-
tices. This liberty has a court of chancery, and a
court of admiralty, and it had antiently a court, cal-
led the caſtle-gate court, for the determination of pleas
touching the guarding of the caſtle of Dover.
SANDWICH, with the three churches in the ſame;
Deale, with the church; Ramſgate in St. Laurence,
but not the church; St. Nicholas, but not the church;
both in Thanet; Walmer, with the church ; and
part of Woodneſborough, but not the church, are in
the liberty of the port and town of Sandwich..
sr Dover, with its two churches'; Birchington, with
the church; part of Charlton, but not the church ;
part of Hougham, but not the church; St. John's
with Margate, with the church ; St. Peter's, with the
church; Ringwold, with the church ; and Wood-
church in Thanet, the church of which is demoliſhed,
are in the liberty of the port and town of Dover.
Part of New ROMNEY, viz. the town with the
church; part of Old Romney, with the church ;
part of Apledore, but not the church ; part of Bren-
zet, but not the church ; part of Ivechurch, but not
the church; part of Snargate, but not the church ;
ſo much of Bromhill as is in Kent, are within the li-
berty of the port and town of New Romney. She
Hith, with the church, part of Weſt Hith, but
not the church, are in the liberty of the port and town
of Hith. OD
BEAK SBORNE, with the church, and the Grange
in Gillinghain, but not the church, are in the liberty
of the port and town of Haſtings in Suſſex.
FORDWICH, with the church, is a member of the
port and town of Sandwich, and within the liberty
of the ſame. mag plochu nos
Part of FOLKESTONE, viz. the town, with the
church ; part of Faverſham, viz. the town, with the
church,



VOL. I.
S
258
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
church, are members of the port and town of Dover,
and within the liberty of the fame.
TENTERDEN is a member of the antient town of
Rye in Suſſex, one of the additional cinque ports.
There are, beſides the above, feveral franchiſes and
liberties within the forraigne, fome of which have
courts of record in them, though moſt of them are
now diſufed.
The liberty of the archbiſhop of Canterbury claims
over a great number of manors, pariſhes, and parts of
pariſhes in this county, being ſuch as have been at
any time in the poffeffion of the fee of Canterbury,
ſince the feparation made of the archbiſhop's reve-
nues, and thoſe of the priory of Chriſt-church, in the
time of archbiſhop Lanfranc. This liberty has in it
a court of record, to hold plea of all actions, real,
perſonal, and mixed; but it has been a long time dil-
afed.
Elonet iw blowane dondo
The liberty of the dean and chapter of Canterbury claims
likewiſe over a great number of manors, pariſhes, and
parts of pariſhes, being ſuch as were the eſtates of the
late priory of Chriſt-church, and were granted, with
all their liberties, privileges, and exemptions, to the
dean and chapter, by king Henry VIII. in the 33d
year of his reign. This liberty had a like court of
record as the former, which has alſo been long ſince
diſuſed.
tog i lo pred
The liberty of Aſhford claims over that town and all
the pariſh, except the boroughs of Henwood, alias
Hewet, and Rudlow. It has in it a court of record,
to hold pleas for all actions, the debt or damages
- whereof do not exceed twenty marks.
The liberty of St. Auguſtine, near Canterbury, com-
monly called, The high court of the liberty of the late
diſſolved monaſtery of St. Auguſtine, near the city of
Canterbury, claims over ten whole pariſhes, beſides
part of upwards of one hundred others, and into the
city of Canterbury. It has, among other privileges, a




court
DIVISIONS OF THE COUNTŤ259
.
.
court of record, to hold pleas of all actions, real, per-
ſonal, and mixed, without limitation of any ſum ; but
it has been long ſince diſuſed.
The liberty of Elebam, which has no court of record

for pleas.
The liberty of Graveſend and Milton, near Graveſ-
end, claims over both thoſe pariſhes, and has in it a
corporation and a court of record.
The liberty of the duchy of Lancaſter claims over cer
tain manors, lands, and pariſhes in this county, being
ſuch as were part of it in the reigns of king Henry IV.
and V. But this liberty has no court of record for
pleas in this county.
The liberty of Liminge has no court of record for pleas.
The liberty of Queenborough has a corporation and
court of record, which claims over the town and ville
of Queenborough.
The liberty of the biſhop of Rocheſter claims over all
ſuch manors, lands, and pariſhes, as are, or have been
part of the revenues of this biſhopric. It has a court
of record for pleas in all actions, real, perſonal, and
mixed, but it has long ſince been diſuſed. valy
The liberty of Sevenoke has no court of record for
pleas.
The liberty of Wrotham has no court of record for
pleas.
The liberty of Wye has a court of record for pleas,
in all actions, real, perſonal, and mixed.
As the county of Kent is divided into the two
great diſtricts of Eaſt and Weſt Kent, ſo is the dif-
tribution of juſtice in it; for though every juſtice of
the peace is, by the commiſſion, appointed for the
whole county at large, yet he uſually confines his
acting in that office, except upon extraordinary oc-
caſions, to that diſtrict of the two in which he re-
fides, and in common matters, to that particular di-
viſion of juſtices of the lath and hundred to which he

HOW

belongs.
S2
Each
260
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
- Each diſtrict of Eaſt and Weſt Kent holds its own
court of ſeſſions four times in the year, that is, twice
originally, and twice by adjournment, viz. the Eaſtern
Diſtrict originally at the Old Caſtle of Canterbury,
on the Tueſday in the week after the Epiphany and
the feaſt of St. Thomas Becket, from whence it is
adjourned for the Weſtern Diſtrict to the county
town of Maidſtone on the Thurſdays next enſuing;
and the Weſtern diſtrict originally at Maidſtone on
the Tueſdays next after the feaſts of Eaſter and Mi-
chaelmas, from whence it is adjourned for the Eaf-
tern Diſtrict to Canterbury on the Fridays next en-
fuing.
There are in this county thirty-four market towns.
Viz.

Canterbury,
Graveſend,
Deal,
Rocheſter,
Lenham,
Dover,
Faverſham,
Maidſtone, Town Malling,
Aſhford,
Milton, near Sit Folkeſtone,
Bromley,
tingborne, Hith,
Chatham,
Sevenoke,
Lid,
Cranbrook, Smarden, Margate,
St. Mary Cray, Tunbridge, Ramſgate,
Dartford,
Weſterham,
New Romney,
Eleham,
Woolwich, Sandwich,
Greenwich,
Wrotham,
and
120 Goudhurſt, Wye,
Tenterden.
Which laſt eleven are within the cinque ports.
ale OLIO

a
so
- THE ECCLESIASTICAL GOVERNMENT
of this county is divided into the Dioceſe of the Arch-
biſhopric of Canterbury, and the Dioceſe of the Bi-
. a The market at St. Mary Cray has been diſcontinued from the
time the market-place was blown down by the great ſtorm in the
year 1703
→ Eleham market is held on Palm Monday yearly. Eltham as
as well as other places have the privilege of a market, but they
are diſcontinued
ſhopric

ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION. 261
ihopric of Rocheſter ; each of which is divided into
ſeveral deanries, and thoſe again into pariſhes.
The dioceſe of Canterbury has in it eleven dean-
ries, in which are the following pariſhes :
BRIDGE DEANRY
1
HAS IN IT THE PARISHES OF
ADISHAM, Crundal,
Alh, near Sandwich, Elmſtone,
Beakſborne,
Godmerſham,
Boughton Aluph, Gunſton,
Barham,
Upper Hardres,
Biſhopſborne, Ickham,
Bridge,
Kingſton,
Brooke,
Littleborne,
Challock,
Molaſh,
Chartham,
Nonington,
Chilham,
Patrickſborne,
Chillenden,
Petham,
Preſton, near Ford-
wich,
Staple,
Stelling,
Stodmarſh,
Sturmouth,
Waltham,
Wickhambreaux,
Wimlingſwold,
Wingham,
and
Wye.



CANTERBURY DEAN RY.
St. Alphage,
St. Paul, and Harbledown, St.
All Saints,
St. Peter, in Canter Michael,
St. Andrew,
bury,
Harbledown, St.
St. George,
Coimus Blean,
Nicholas,
St. Margaret,
St. Martin,
2
Lower Hardres,
St. Mary Bredin,
St. Dunſtan, Nackington,
St. Mary Bredman, Milton,
Sturry,
St. Mary Burgate, Fordwich,
Thanington, and
St. Mary Northgate, Hackington, alias Weſtgate, near
St. Mildred,
St. Stephen's,
Canterbury

Near
Canter-
CHARING DEAN R Y.
Aſhford,
Cranbrooke,
Kennington,
Benenden,
Eaſtwell,
Newenden,
Betherſden, Egerton,
Pluckley,
Biddenden, Frittenden, Rolvenden,
Boughton Malherbe, Halden,
Sandhurſt,
Charing,
Hawkhurſt, Smarden,
Great Chart,
Hedcorne,
Tenterden, and
Little Chart,
Hothfield,
Weſtwell.


S 3
DOVER
262
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
DOVER DEAN RY.
Alcham,
Cheriton,
Liddon,
Bewsfield alias Whit- Cliff, near Dover, St. Margaret's, near
field,
St. James's, and Dover,
Buckland, near Do- St. Mary's, Dover, Newington, near
ver,
Ewell,
Hith,
Capel, near Folkef- Folkeſtone,
Polton,
tone,
Guſton,
River,
Charlton, near Do- Hawking,
and
ver,
Hougham,
Swingfield.

ELEHAM DEANRY.
Acriſe,
Elmſted,
Padleſworth, near
Bircholt,
Haſtingligh,
Dover,
Braborne,
Hith,
Saltwoood,
Denton, near Ele- Horton Monks, Stanford,
ham,
Liminge,
Stowting, and
Eleham,
Poſtling,
Wooton,

Aldington,
Apledore,
Bilfington,
Blackmanſtone,
Bonnington,
Brenzet,
Brookland,
Burmarſh,
Dimchurch,
Eaſtbridge,
Ebeney,
Fairfield,
Hurſt,
Hinxhill,
LIMNE DEANRY.
Weſt Hith,
New and Old Rom.
Hope,
ney,
Ivechurch,
Rucking,
Kenarton,
# Sellindge,
Kingfnoth,
Sevington,
Lid,
Shadowhurſt,
Limne,
Smeeth,
St. Mary's, near Snargate,
Romney,
Snave,
Merſham,
Stone, in Oxney,
Midley,
Warehorne,
Newchurch, Wilſborough,
Orgarſwick, Witterſham, and
Orleſtone,
Woodchurch.



OSPRINGE DEAN RY.
Badlemere,
Harty,
Preſton, near Faver-
Buckland, near Fa- Graveny,
ſham,
verſham,
Hernhill,
Otterden,
Boughton Blean, Leveland,
Selling,
Davington,
Linſted,
Doddington, Luddenham,
Stallisfield,
Eaſling,
Newnham,
Stone, near Fayer-
Faverſham,
Norton,
ſham,
Goodneſton, near Ore,
Tenham, and
Faverſham, Oſpringe,
Throwley.
SANDWICH

Sheldwich, bet
ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION, 263
SANDWICH DEAN RY.
Barſon,
Weſt Langdon,
Shebbertſwold,
Betfhanger,
Great Mongeham, Sholden,
Coldred,
Little Mongeham, Stonar,
Deal,
Norborne,
Sutton, near Dover.
Eaſtry,
Ringwold,
Tilmanſtone,
Eythorne,
Ripple,
Walderſhare,
Ham,
St. Clement's,
Walmer,
Knolton,
St. Mary's,
Woodneſborough and
Eaſt Langdon,
St. Peter's,
Worde.

SITTINGBORNE DEAN RY,
Bapchild,
Kingfdowne, near Rainham,
Bicknor,
Sittingborne, Rodmerſham,
Bobbing,
Layſdowne, Sittingborne,
Borden,
Milfted,
Stockbury,
Bredgar,
Milton, near Sitting- Tong,
Eaſtchurch,
borne,
Tunſtall,
Elmley,
Minſter, in Shepey, Upchurch,
Halſtow the Lower, Murſton,
Hartlip,
Newington, near Sit- and
Iwade,
tingborne,
Wichling.hite

can Warden,
SUTTON DEANRY.
Boxley,
Goudhurſt,
Maidſtone,
Bredhurſt,
Harrietſham, Marden,
Bromfield,
Hollingborne, Otham,
Berſted,
Hucking,
Staplehurſt,
Boughton Monchel- Langley,
Eaſt Sutton,
ſea,
Leeds,
Sutton Valence,
Chart, near Sutton, Lenham,
Thurnham,
Detling,
Linton,
Ulcombe, and
Frinſted,
Looſe,
DE Wormſell.
Wormſelí.wo
von HtH ma
WESTBERE DEANRY.
Birchington, in Minſter,
Swaycliffe,
Thanet,
Monkton,
Weſtbere,
Chiſtlet,
St. Nicholas, Whitſtaple, endo
Herne,
St. Peter's, and
Hoth,
Sarre,
Wood alias Wood-
St. John's, La Reculver,
church, in Thanet.
Seaſalter,
In all two hundred and eighty-two pariſhes.



S4
a
The
264
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
The dioceſe of Rocheſter has in it four deanries, in
which are the following pariſhes:
DARTFORD DEAN RY
HAS IN IT THE PARISHES OF
EST, Eltham,
Beckenham,
North Cray, Lee,
Bromley,
Cowdham,
Lew ſham,
Charlton, near Dartford,
Lullingſtone,
Greenwich, Deptford,
Plumſted,
Cheſilhurſt,
Erith,
Sutton at Hone
Chelsfield,
Eaſt Wickham,
Weft Wickham,
Foot's Cray,
Farnborough,
St. Mary Cray,
Eaſt Greenwich, Wilmington, and
Paul's Cray, Horton Kirkby, Woolwich,
MALLING DEANRY.
Addington, Weſt Farleigh,
Pembury,
Allington, near Hadlow,
20. Ryarſh,
Maidſtone,
Horſmonden,
Seale,
Aſhurſt,
Kemfing,
Po Shipborne,
Eaſt Barming,
Laborne,
Speldhurſt,
Weſt Barming, Lamberhurſt
, odgui Teſton,
Bidborough, Lygh,
Trottiſcliffe,
Birling,
Weſt Malling, Tudeley,
Brenchley,
Mereworth,
Tunbridge,
Capel, near Tun- Nettleſted,
wa Watringbury,
bridge,
Hey Off ham,
Home Weſterham,
Cowden,
Paddleſworth, near and
Ditton,
swart
w Snodland, Yaļding.
Eatonbridge, Weſt Peckham,



ROCHESTER DEANRY.
Allhallows, struno Halling,
O Merſton,
Afh, near Wrotham, High Halſtow, Nutſted,
Aylesford,
Hartley, EAE
St. Nicholas, Rochet-
Burham,
Higham,
ter,
Chalk, boyaw Hoo, oftest Ridley,
Chatham, odela Kinfdown, near Shorne,
Cobham, Wrotham, Snodland,
Cookſtone,
bn Longfield, at Southfleet,
Cowling, mis too Luddeſdon.
971 Stoke,
Denton, near Graveſ- St. Margaret's, near Stone, near Dartford,
end,
Rochefter, a Stroud,
Fawkham,
St. Mary's Hoo, Swanſcombe,
Frindíbury,
Milton, near Gravef- and
Graveſend,
end,
Woldham.
SHOREHAM


SOIL AND PRODUCTS.
265
SHORE HAM DEAN RY,
WHICH IS A PECULIAR OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTER-
BURY, HAS IN IT THE FOLLOWING PARISHES:
Bexley,
ca Halſted,
Northfleet,
Brafted, на Hayes, obi Orpington,
Chevening
Hever,
Otford,
Chidingſtone, Hunton,
Eaſt Peckham,
Cliff at Hoo,
St. James
, in Penſhurſt,
Crayford,
Graine,
Sevenoke,
Darent,
Ifield,
Shoreham,
Downe,
Ightham,
Stanſted,
Eynsford,
Keſton,
Sundridge, and
Eaſt Farleigh,
Eaſt Malling, Wrutham
Farningham, Meopham,
with
Gillingham, Nockholt,
Plaxtool.
In all one hundred and thirty-two pariſhes,





HAVING thus deſcribed the ſeveral diviſions of
this county, I ſhall now take fome notice of the Air,
Soil, natural and artificial ProduEts, and other particu-
lars relating to the preſent ſtate of it.
The air in this county is various, according to the
parts of it: in many it is as healthy and pure
as any can be in this iſland; but on the north fide
of the great road, leading from London to Dover,
almoſt as far as Canterbury, and from thence again
on the ſame ſide of that into the iſle of Thanet, there
is a long ſpace of country, lying near the banks of
the Thames and the Medway, along the Swale, and
adjoining to the river Stour below Canterbury, in
which the air is groſs, foggy, and much ſubject to in-
termittents, owing to the large tracts of low, ſwampy,
marſh grounds, among which there are ſuch quanti-
ties of ſtagnating waters, as render the country near
them exceedingly unwholſome, eſpecially in the au-
tumnal quarter. Romney-inarſh labours under the
ſame inconvenience, and for the ſame reaſons.
The
266
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
The general face of this county is very beautiful,
not only from the wealth and abundance with which
it is conſtantly covered, but from the great variety
and inequality of the ground, the former of which is
fo great, that it may almoſt be called from thence an
epitome of the whole kingdom. Indeed, it has moſt
advantages that the reſt of the kingdom enjoys, and
many that are not to be found elſewhere.
The ſoil is ſo different in almoſt every pariſh, that
it is not poſſible to give any regular deſcription of
it; I ſhall only obſerve, therefore, that the whole
county, excepting the marſhes and the weald, is a ge-
neral cluſter of ſmall hills ; two chains of which,
higher than the reſt, run through the middle of it,
from weſt to eaſt, moſtly at about eight miles diſ-
tance (though at ſome places much leſs) from each
other, beginning at the county of Surry, and ending
at the ſea. Theſe are called the upper and lower hills,
and are, along the tops of them, covered with large
tracts of woods and coppice. The ſoil of them is but
poor and barren, that of the upper being moſtly chalk
and flint, and of the lower various, as fand and gra-
vel, and more eaſterly full of the rock ftone, the rich-
nefs of the ſoil increaſing as you deſcend to a greater
diſtance from them.
The incloſures in Kent are in general ſmall, and
conſiſt promiſcuouſly of arable, meadow, paſture, or-
chards, and hop-ground, and much woodland inter-
fperſed among them, except in the north-eaſt part
of the county, beyond Canterbury, which is a much
more open and campaign country than the reſt of it.
It has corn and grain of the like forts with the reſt
of the kingdom, as wheat, rye, oats, barley, buck-
wheat, peas, beans, and tares, much more than can
be conſumed in it, great quantities of which are
weekly ſent by water to London and elſewhere. In
the eaſtern parts there are many fields and plats fown
with canary and hemp, and about Faverſham are fe-


vera)
SOIL AND PRODUCTS,
267
veral fields planted with madder, which is there of
late manufactured for the uſe of the dyers, and woad
is likewiſe frequently fowed in Weſt Kent for the
like uſe.
The paſture, meadow, and marſh ground is much of
it exceedingly rich and fertile, eſpecially below the
hill, and in Romney-marſh, from which London is
weekly ſupplied with great quantities of the fineſt
and fatteſt ſheep and oxen that are at any time brought
to market. Beſides which, great numbers of ſheep
are kept and fatted on the turnips, clovers, ſanfoins,
and other ſuch graſſes, which are continually fown on
the uplands, by which manure there is afterwards pro-
duced a much greater quantity of corn than would
be by any other method of huſbandry.
As to the orchards of apples, pears, plumbs, and
cherries, there are great numbers of them everywhere,
but not ſo much as formerly, eſpecially of the latter;
many of them having been deſtroyed and converted
into hop-grounds. The codling-tree is likewiſe more
ſcarce than it uſed to be in this county. In the neigh-
bourhood of Maidſtone the plantations of apples are
very large, and a great quantity of cyder is made from
them; and there are likewiſe in thoſe parts many
plantations of filberts, which turn out to good ac-
count, the fruit of them being ſent to the London
markets.
The hop-grounds have increaſed greatly of late years,
and about Maidſtone, Faverſham, and Canterbury
eſpecially, hops are the principal commodity of the
country, though they were petitioned againſt by the
parliament ſo late as the reign of king Henry VI.
about 1428, as a wicked weed. They were intro-
duced by king Henry VIII. but were not much cul-
tivated in England for ſome time, and ſo late as
queen Elizabeth they were fetched from the Low
datura )
Brit. Top. p. 61. Spelm. part ii. p. 147.
Countries;



n
268
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

Countries; ſince which they have ſo greatly increa-
fed, that the duty on hops throughout England, in
the year 1778, amounted to 1603581. 135. 11 d. of
which the county of Kent produced nearly one half,
viz. Canterbury diſtrict, 36862 1. 3 s. 6d. and Rochef-
ter diſtrict, 420461. os. 11d. together 789081. 45. 5d.
Theſe plantations, amounting to many thouſand
acres, being of the greateſt advantage to this county,
they employ great numbers of the neighbouring poor,
not only in their cultivation, but in the making of
the bagging for them; they greatly increaſe the value
of the woodlands, and are the cauſe of much money
being circulated within the county every year.
There are many nurſeries for trees, plants, &c. and
acres of rich garden ground, in the weſtern part of this
county, and in the environs of London, moftly uſed
for the ſupply of the metropolis, and there are others
of the like fort in the neighbourhood of the feve-
ral capital towns in its about Sandwich the foil is ſo
adapted to the growth of carrots, that it produces
larger ones, and of a more excellent flavour and co-
lour than thoſe that grow any where elſe.
The coppice wood in general is either oak, hazel,
birch, or beech, intermixed with aſh, willow, cheſnut,
&c. of which laſt there are large traéts in the neigh-
bouring parts of Milton, near Sittingborne, and New-
ington, and ſo on for ſome miles towards the fouth.
The timber in the woods is moſtly oak and beech,
and round the fields and hedge rows on the north fide
the hill, and weſtward of Barhain-downs, moſtly
elm, with ſome very few oak and afh, but in other
parts of the county, eſpecially about Maidſtone, be-
low the hill, it is in general oak, and that not only in
the hedge rows, but in the woods, in great plenty,
and of a very large ſize, fit for the ſupply of his ma-
jeſty's navy, inſomuch that the timber growing on
many eſtates, if cut down and ſold, would purchaſe
the freehold on which they ſtand. Alh, alders, and
willows,




el SOIL AND PRODUCTS
269
willows, likewiſe grow in great plenty near the freſhi
ſtreams every where.
The only remains of a foreſt in this county is what
is called the fouth and north frith, near Tunbridge,
moſt part of which is now woodland. There were,
in
queen
Elizabeth time, fifty-three ancient parks,
which are now all diſparked, except thoſe of Knoll,
Cobhain, Mereworth, Greenwich, Eltham, Lulling-
ftone, Leeds, and Chilham ; but there are others in-
cloſed ſince, as Langley in Beckenham, Lamienby and
Blendon in Bexley, Chilfton in Boughton Malherbe,
Charlton by Greenwich two parks, Foot's Cray, God
merſham, St. Stephen's, alias Hackington, Knowl-
ton, Lee, Linſted, the Moat in Maidſtone, Bradborne
in Eaſt Malling, Merſham, Penſhurſt, Surrenden in
Pluckley, Kippington in Sevenoke, Fairlawn in Ship-
borne, Eaſt Sutton, Teſton, Walderſhare, and Eaſt-
well. Beſides the above, there are many plantations
and lawns near gentlemen's ſeats, which though they
have no deer in them, are kept up and incloſed as
parks, and more profitably fed with ſheep and oxen.
There are very few heaths of any ſize in this coun-
ty; the principal being Black-heath, Bexley-heath,
Cox-heath, Charing, Dartford, and Malling heaths ;
thoſe beſides are hardly worth the name of ſuch, be-
ing moſtly of the ſmaller fort, ſuch as commons, lees,
forſtals, minniſes, and the like; land being too valu-
able in it, and the ſpirit of induſtry too prevalent,
to fuffer much land to lie waſte and uncultivated. In
the eaſternmoſt parts of Kent, and on the high chalk
cliffs and hills on the coaſt, there are, however, ſeveral
tracts of downs, viz. from Barham-down to Deal,
and from thence to Dover, and ſo on to Folkeſtone
and Hith, and in ſome other places on the ſummit of
theſe hills ; but they are in general well covered with
graſs, and afford good paſture for ſheep, &c.
In the Weald, about Becherfden, there is a broad
fone dug up, called, from the excellent poliſh it
bears,

270
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

bears, Betherſden-marble, which was formerly ſo highly
eſteemed, that tombs and ornamental pillars in moſt
of the churches were made of it, and in moſt of the
antient ſeats the chimney pieces, in the grandeſt apart-
ments, were made of it; and in the weald adjoining
to Suſſex are iron mines and furnaces, the manufac-
ture of which is, by the navigation on the Medway,
carried to market. Near Maidſtone are large quar-
ries of ſtone, called the Kentiſh rag-ſtone, which, when
worked up and ſquared, is conveyed away by the
fame means. And at Greenhith, Northfieet, and
near Rocheſter, chalk is dug, and the lime from it
is carried, by means of the Thames and Medway, not
only to diſtant parts of this county, but into Eflex,
Norfolk, and Suffolk, in great quantities. M ftoh
There are but few manufa&tures in this county, as
well owing to the great attention paid to agriculture
and grazing, as to the great number of eaſy and lu-
crative employments in the diſpoſal of government ;
yet there are ſome. For inſtance, at Canterbury is a
manufactory of muſlins, called Canterbury mullins,
brocaded filks, and of ſtockings ; at Whiſtaple and
Deptford there are large copperas works; at Stonar,
in the iſle of Thanet, and likewiſe in the iſle of
Graine, there are works for the making of ſalt; at
Oſpringe are large works erected by government for
the manufacture of gunpowder, beſides ſmaller ones
in other places ; in the Weald, adjoining to Suſſex,
are large furnaces for the caſting of iron; at Boxley,
near Maidſtone, is the moſt extenſive and curious
manufacture of paper perhaps in Europe; at Dart-
ford and Crayford there are mills for the manufactur-
ing of iron ; at the latter there are large works for the
printing of calicoes, and the whitening of linens;
near Sevenoke are extenſive mills for the manufac-
turing of filk. As to the cloathing manufactory,
which uſed to be carried on fo largely in the Weald,
it is now, I believe, entirely laid alide.

This
SOIL AND PRODUCTS.
271

This county produces, in great plenty, every kind
of proviſion for the ſupport of its inhabitants, beſides
large quantities, which are weekly ſent from it to
London and its environs, and which are continually
expended for the ſhipping, at the ſeveral ports round
the confines of it. The beef, veal, mutton, lamb,
and pork, are well fatted and excellent. The poul-
try of every fort is large and fine, and the fiſh, caught
on its own fhores, and in the rivers and ponds within
it, not only ſupply the tables of the rich in great
plenty, but afford a cheap and conſtant ſupport to the
poor. The native Milton oyiters are ſuperior to all
others, and the lobſters caught off the iſle of Thanet,
exceed in goodneſs all others taken in any other part
of England. From the ſeveral warrens in it the mar-
kets are well ſupplied with rabbits. From the num-
ber of parks in it there is great plenty of veniſon;
which, in thoſe of Eaſtwell, Knoll, and Cobham, is ef-
teemed fuperior in flavour and goodneſs to all others.
The game likewiſe is in great plenty throughout
the whole of it ; viz. hares, pheaſants and patridges;
the pheaſants being eſteemed larger, and finer fla-
voured, than in any other part of the kingdom.
In ſhort, I know not what this county has not, thar
a country ſhould have, for the eafe, pleaſure, profit,
and health of its inhabitants, nor can I conclude bet-
ter than with the verſes of our old Engliſh poet, Mi-
chael Drayton, who in his Poly Olbion, thus celebrates
the praiſes of it:ndle aber
ancoidides
Oh! famous Kent, quoth key time
What county has this iſle that can compare with thee!
What
Which haft within thyſelf as much as thou canſt wiſh,
Thy conies, ven'fon, fruit, thy ſorts of fowl and fiſh;
And what comports with ſtrength, thy hay, and
ſtrength, thy hay, and corn, and wood,
Not any thing thou wants, that any where is good.
urod O
Vwed to Drone
Sento che non bokep indtil AMONG
Tanto antes guiat di harivo od movie


....
272
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

OOOOOOO
AMONG the different advantages which the coun-
ty of Kent enjoys from its ſituation, thoſe two noble
rivers, the Thames and the Medway, muſt not be
forgotten, the former of theſe flowing by the northern
boundary of it for upwards of forty miles, and the lat-
ter taking a navigable courſe for a much greater
length through the midſt of it.
The Thames, the moſt famous river of this iſland,
has been already ſo fully treated of by our hiſtorians
in their accounts of London, and the ſhires through
which it paſſes before it comes to this county, that it
is needleſs to repeat again here what they have ſaid
on this ſubject. Indeed, the various matters relating
to it would fill a volume of themfelves, I ſhall, there-
fore, content myſelf with obſerving ſome few particu-
lars relating to it, ſo far as it has connexion with this
county.pnold
Camden has obſerved, that there is no river in Eu-
rope, in which the tide flows with ſo long a courſe as
in the Thames. It flows in it as high as Richmond,
in Surry, which is upwards of fixtý miles from the
mouth of it, a circumſtance of the greateſt benefit to
its navigation, the preſerving of its waters ſweet and
wholeſome, and the increaſe of the numerous ſhoals
of fiſh with which it is filled. toodwHOVAC lead
The glorious view of trade, plenty and riches al-
ways to be ſeen on this river, exhibits a conſtant al-
toniſhment to the beholder, and the numerous fleets
of ſhips ſo continually crowding their fails on its ſur-
face ffoin every part of the globe, afford a ſight greatly
beyond what any other river in Europe can ſhew.
The Thames, having paſſed London-bridge, flows
on to Deptford, the firſt boundary of Kent,
where it
receives the ſtream called the Ravenſborne. Here
the river is ſo covered with thipping lying at their
anchors



RIVERS. SEE
273

anchors for various purpoſes of trade, that there re-
mains a ſpace between them barely ſufficient for the
paffage of others. Beſides ſeveral private ones, here
is a royal dock, for the building and refitting of the
navy of Great Britain, and the ſhore, from hence to
Greenwich, is covered with all the opulence and hurry
of trade, carried on by thoſe who are employed either
unloading the various merchandiſes from the ſhipping,
or ſupplying them with freſh ſtores, and victualling
for their intended voyages.
From Deptford the Thames paſſes by the royal
hoſpital and town of Greenwich, and from thence
flows on by Woolwich, where there is a royal dock,
and other buildings and accommodations for the uſe
of the navy, and an eſtabliſhment of the office of ord-
nance for the royal artillery. Having paſſed this
town it goes on by Erith, where the Eaſt-India ſhips
frequently ſtop in their paffage homewards, to unload
part of their ſtores; and having received the rivers
Cray and Darent into its bofom near Dartford, it
flows on by Greenhith, where there are large wharfs,
and a ferry for horſes and cattle over the river into Ef-
ſex. Thence it goes on to Northfleet, and by the
large chalk-wharfs there, having firſt received into it
a ſmall ſtream which flows under Northfleet bridge,
to the town of Graveſend, a populous place, entirely
ſupported by the navigation of the Thames.
Juſt below Graveſend ends the port of London,
from whence the Thames flowing through the road
called the Hope, paſſes by the hundred of Hoo and
the iſle of Graine, at the eaſtern extremity of which
it meets the waters of the Medway, and being thus
united at the Nore, they flow together into the Ger-


man ocean.
The river MEDWAY, or Medwege, was named by
the antient Britons Vaga, to which the Saxons added
the ſyllable mad, ſignifying in their language, mid, or
middle, becauſe it ran through the middle of the
kingdom

VOL. I.
т
274
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

kingdom of Kent, calling it in their language, Med-
weg, which word is now modernized to Medway.
This great river has four principal beads, one of
which riſes in the manor of Gaffon, in the pariſh of
Blechingley, in the county of Surry, and having re-
ceived into it ſeveral ſmall ſtreams, it runs on to
Eatonbridge, in Kent, and paſſing by Hever-caſtle,
runs to Chidingſtone, and ſo flows on to Penſhurſt,
where it divides into two parts, uniting again at about
three quarters of a mile diſtance. The Medway is
here increaſed, on the ſouthern fide, by a ſecond
principal head of it, which riſes at Graveley-hill, in
Suſſex, and being augmented by other ſtreams in that
county, it enters the county of Kent, and goes on by
Cowden, and thence runs on by Groombridge to
Alhurſt, fome diſtance below which it joins the Cow-
den branch above-mentioned. Thus united, it runs
on, and meets the main river near Penſhurſt, having
throughout the whole courſe of it been augmented
by numbers of ſmall ſtreams
The river Medway flows from hence to Tunbridge,
a little above which it ſeparates into five different
channels, the moſt northern of which is the principal
and only navigable branch, and in fhis ſtate it paſſes
Tunbridge town. Three of theſe ſtreams again join
the main
channel a mile and a half below Tunbridge,
as does the other and moſt fouthern in ſomewhat
more than half a mile below the others; from hence
the Medway flows on to Brand-bridge, and thence to
Twyford-bridge, and ſo on to Yalding, where it is
joined by a very conſiderable ſtream, flowing from
two of its principal heads; one of theſe, being the
third principal head of this great river, riſes at a place
called Hockenbury Panne,
in Waterdown-foreſt, in
the county of Suſſex, about a mile from Eredge-
houſe, near Fant, and runs from thence to Begham-
abbey, which having ſupplied, it flows froni thence
to Lamberhurſt, and ſo on to Finchcocks, in Goud-
Detail
hurft,
RIVERS.
275

hurſt, where it is met by a rivulet compoſed of two
ſtreams, one called the Bewle, which comes by Scot-
ney, and gives name to a bridge juſt above it, called
Bewles-bridge ; and the other the Theyſe, from its
riſing at Teyſhurſt, in Suſſex ; after this rivulet has
paſſed by Finchcocks, it goes on to Broadford, and ſo
runs on to Marden, and about a mile from Twyford
it ſeparates into two branches, called the Twiſt, both
of which run into another main branch of the Med.,
way, near Hunton, at about three quarters of a mile
diſtance from each other. The ſpring from whence
this laſt-inentioned branch flows is the fourth prin-
cipal head of the Medway, and riſes near Goldwell,
in Great Chart, from whence it paſſes on to Rome-
den, and flowing on by Smarden, it continues its
courſe towards Hedcorne, and being much increaſed
by ſeveral leffer waters, it flows on to Style-bridge,
ſoon after which, receiving into it the two ſtreams of
the Twiſt above-mentioned juſt beyond Hunton, it
goes to Yalding-bridge, at a ſmall diſtance below
which it joins the main river as above-mentioned.
From Yalding the river Medway flows on by Net-
tleſted and Watringbury, and paſſing through Teſton-
bridge runs on by Weſt Farleigh and Barming, and
through thoſe bridges, and ſo on through Eaſt Far-
leigh-bridge to Tovill, after having been joined by
ſeveral ſmall rivulets during its courſe, one of which,
at about a mile from thence, hides itſelf under
ground, being covered near half a mile, and then at
the Quarries it riſes again, and runs above ground to
Looſe,--thence the Medway runs on to Maidſtone,
and above the bridge there, on the north ſide, it re-
ceives a rivulet, which riſes at Bigon-heath, near Len-
ham, at a ſmall diſtance from which this little ſtream,
having been joined by ſeveral brooks on each ſide,
runs on to Fairborne, and ſo by Bromfield to Leeds-
caſtle, and through the park there, and being in its
way augmented by ſeveral brooks, eſpecially from
T2
the
276
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

the north, it paſſes by the Mote, a ſmall diſtance be-
low which it ſupplies the curious manufacture for
paper at the old Turkey-mill, foon after which it joins
the main river juſt above Maidſtone-bridge as above-
mentioned.
Having paſſed by Maidſtone town, the river Med-
way flows on by Allington caſtle, and ſo on through
Aylesford-bridge, whence it runs on by Boreham, and
ſo flows on to Woldham and Whornes-place, and be-
ing now become a large and ſpacious river, of great
width and force of water, it paſſes through Rochef-
ter-bridge, and by the towns of Strood, Rocheſter,
and Chatham, and ſo on to the royal ſtorehouſes and
docks there, and then by Upnor-caſtle and Gilling-
ham-fort, after which it increaſes to a great width,
and its waters become very rapid, and ſo plentiful,
that they form many iſlands and ſmaller channels on
each ſide of it, the river all the while twiſting and
winding itſelf about in continued meanders, and at
the ſouth-weſt corner of the iſle of Graine it paſſes
the ſmall ſtream which ſeparates that ifle from the
main land, which is called at this end the Dray, and
at the end next the Thames the North Yenlet ; op-
poſite to this iſland the Medway receives into it Stan-
gate-creek, and a little lower the waters of the Swale,
which flow between the iſland of Shepey and the
main land, and thence it goes on by Blackſtakes to
Sheerneſs, where are the royal docks and ſtorehouſes
for the uſe of the navy, a garriſon, and ſtrong fortifi-
cations for the defence of this river; after which the
Medway meeting the waters of the Thames at the
Nore, they flow together into the German ocean. The
principal channel of the Medway, from Tunbridge
to Sheerneſs, runs north-north-eaſt, and the length
of country, from its entrance at Cowden and Eaton-
bridge to its inouth, is forty-four miles, though by
the circles and meanders this river makes it is many
The rivers and brooks that fupply it over-
ſpread
more.
RIVERS.
277

ſpread a ſurface of near thirty miles in width, in the
midſt of this country and in the Weald, bringing with
their ſtreams fertility, pleaſure, and convenience.
The Medway is now made navigable as high as
Tunbridge, which is of great utility to this county
and Suſſex, and to the public in general. This navi-
gation was firſt begun in purſuance of an act of
par-
liament, paſſed in the 16th and 17th years of king
Charles II. but the undertakers, not finding the
powers of that act ſufficient to complete ſo great a
work, procured another in the 13th of king George II.
anno 1740, by which they are incorporated by the
name of The Proprietors of the Navigation of the River
Medway, and enabled to raiſe thirty thouſand pounds
among themſelves to carry on their work, which ſum
was to be divided into three hundred ſhares, of which
no one perſon was to have more than ten. They
were empowered likewiſe to employ boats, &c. to
carry goods on the river, and to take toll of others;
and the navigation was exempted from the commiſ-
fion of ſewers; in conſequence of which the proprie-
tors have laid out great ſums of money in deepening
and widening it, and erecting locks and bridges, and
other improvements; infomuch that a ſafe and con-
ſtant navigation upon it is now completed from Ro-
cheſter up to Tunbridge, by which the great quan-
tities of fine timber, which grow in the wealds of
Kent and Suſſex, and the iron ordnance, balls, and
other materials of war forged in thoſe parts, which
could not otherwiſe, by reaſon of the badneſs of the
roads, be conveyed to market without an enormous
expence, find an eaſy carriage in lighters thither; and
wood, corn, grain, hay, hops, wool, leather, and all
manner of proviſions, coals, lime, quarry ſtone, and
all other neceſſaries and commodities are conveyed on
it at an eaſy expence, to the great benefit of this
county, and the improvement of trade and commerce
in general ; and in 1792, another act paſſed for im-
proving
I 3
278 GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

proving this river ftill farther below the town of
Maidſtone, through the pariſhes of Boxley, Allington
and Aylesford.
The traffic on the Medway ſtill increaſes from the
neighbouring country on each ſide of it, till it comes
to Maidſtone, where it becomes ftill more conſider-
able by the hoys, which continually fail from thence,
freighted for the ſupply of the London markets, to
which the feveral mills for corn, paper, &c. there, and
the great quantity of hop-grounds in thoſe parts, do
not a little contribute. The tide flows up as high as
the lock juſt above Maidſtone-bridge, and is there
ſtopped by it, before the erecting of which it uſed
to flow up as high as Farleigh-bridge, and fometimes,
though but very ſeldom, as far as St. Helen's, in
Barming.
At Rocheſter-bridge, where the tide of this river
becomes exceeding rapid, foaming with great noiſe
as it paſſes through, all the fhipping are obliged to
ſtop, neither the bridge nor the river itſelf permitting
them to fail higher; and at thoſe towns of Strood,
Rocheſter, and Chatham, they unload their cargoes,
either for ſale there, or to be put inter lighters to be
conveyed upwards, towards Maidſtone or Tunbridge.
Beſides the trade neceffarily ariſing from the country,
and the number of inhabitants with which theſe towns
are filled, there are at Chatham large and extenſive
docks, buildings, and other accommodations for the
uſe of the royal navy, and departments of the ord-
nance and victualling offices, ſeveral private docks,
and other branches of trade in conſequence of them;
all which promote a conſtant fuccefſion of trade, hur-
ry, and buſineſs, upon this river,
From Rocheſter-bridge to Sheerneſs, which is about
twenty miles, the channel of the river is ſo deep, the
bed fo foft, and the reaches fo fhort; that it is the
beſt, and indeed the only ſafe harbour in the king-
dom for the larger ſhips of the royal navy, which ride
here,
RIVERS.
279
here, when they are put out of cominiſlion, in great
numbers, as in a wet dock, and being moored at the
chains, which are fixed for that purpoſe at the bottom
of the river, ſwing up and down with the tide. Be-
low Chatham there have been ſeveral forts erected for
the defence of the royal navý, &c. of which a further
mention will be made hereafter ; from whence to the
mouth of it there is little elſe worth notice, except-
ing that at the entrance of Stangate-creek, about
three miles above Sheerneſs, on the ſouth ſide of this
river, there is a regular quardntine eſtabliſhed for all
veffels coming from the Levant and other ſuſpected
places, to prevent their bringing any infection of the
plague into this kingdom; and that at the Swale,
about two miles below this creek, the veſſels from
Queenborough, and very frequently from Milton,
Faverſham, and thoſe parts of Kent, take their courſe
into the Medway towards the Thames.
At Sheerneſs, which is a royal dock likewiſe, for the
buildings ſhips of a leffer ſize, and refitting others
upon a ſudden emergency, there is a garriſon, and
ſtrong fortifications, to guard the entrance into this
river, mounted with ſuch heavy cannon commanding
the mouth of it, that no fleet of ſhips whatſoever can
attempt to paſs by them without being torn to pieces.
This fort was built by king Charles II. and improved
from time to time to its preſent ſtate, eſpecially on
the memorable attempt which the Dutch made on
the oth of June 1667, upon the royal navy in this
river, at which time it was left almoſt defenceleſs ;
for there were then but four guns that could be uſed
at Upnor, and ſcarce fo many at Gillingham, and
about twelve guns in the ifle of Shepey, where the fort
of Sheerneſs is now built.
It was during a treaty of peace between the Dutch
and the Engliſh, that the former took advantage of
our too great ſecurity, and appearing with a great fleet
on our coaſts, rode in triumph along them, and ad-
vanced




T 4
28a
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

vanced near the mouth of the Thames, and find-
ing no oppoſition there, they made a bold attempt,
and failed up the Medway, and ſoon made themſelves
maſters of the little fort of Sheerneſs, though valiant-
ly defended by Sir Edward Spragg. To put a ſtop
to their farther progreſs, ſeveral veſſels were funk
about the Muſcle-bank, the narroweſt part of the
river, and a ſtrong chain was put acroſs the channel,
and the lord-general, the duke of Albermarle, came
down thither with a land force to oppoſe them, but
having the advantage of an eaſterly wind, and a ſtrong
tide, the Dutch furiouſly preſſed on and broke through
the chain, and fought and burnt the three ſhips that
lay to guard it, the Matthias, the Unity, and the
Charles V. all three Dutch ſhips taken in that war,
damaging many other veſſels, and taking along with
them the hull of the Royal Charles, which was twice
fired by the Engliſh, and as often extinguiſhed by
the enemy. After which they advanced, with ſix men
of war and five fire-ſhips as far as Upnor-caſtle, and
burnt the Royal Oak, and in effect deſtroyed the
Loyal London and the Great James, which they left
a great part under water, and after all this inſult and
ravage they fell down the river again, with no great
damage to themſelves, excepting the loſs of their fire-
ſhips, and the running aground two of their men of
war, which they were forced to fęt on fire.
This bold attempt of the Dutch gave ſuch an alarm
to the nation of the danger the royal docks and ma-
gazines at Chatham, and the Britiſh navy itſelf lay
expoſed to, from the defenceleſs ſtate of the river
Medway, and of the eaſy acceſs of the enemy to it,
that the little fort at Sheerneſs was ſoon afterwards
increaſed to a regular fortification, with a line of large
and heavy cannon to command the mouth of it. A
fort or platform of guns was likewiſe raiſed higher up
in the river, called Cockham-wood; the Swamp and
Gillingham-caſtle were likewiſe formed and furniſhed
be
with
RIVERS.
281

with guns, and on the oppoſite ſhore, Upnor-caſtle
was ſtrengthened with a good platform of guns, which
commanded two reaches of the river, above and be-
low it. Beſides which, there has always been ſince,
in time of peace, a man of war, and in other times fe-
veral more, ready for ſervice, lying at the entrance of
this river, and the Thames at the Nore, to protect
the nation froin any ſudden inſult of the like ſort for
the future.
The river Medway is plentifully ſtored with fiſh;
above Maidſtone there is, in particular, plenty of
carp, perch, tench, pike, dace, chub, roach, and
gudgeons, and about once a year there is a ſalmon
caught, commonly of about twelve or fourteen pounds
weight; there were formerly great numbers of this
fiſh in the Medway, ſeveral of the manors belonging
to the priory of Rocheſter being bound to furniſh
one
or more of them yearly to the monks there, for the
uſe of their refectory;a and below Rocheſter there are
taken the fineſt and largeſt ſmelts that can be, foals,
flounders, dabs, thornbacks, maids, &c.
Sturgeon, in former times, uſed to be ſo exceed-
ingly plenty in this river, that a duty was paid from
it to the biſhop of Rocheſter, and formed a confider-
able part of his revenue, as ſecond to the archbiſhop,
and another to the king ; but there has been hardly
any fiſh of this kind in the river for many years,
which is imputed to the largeneſs and frequency of
the men of war in it, which, diſturbing the fiſh, have
driven them from it. Indeed once in ſix or ſeven
years a fiſh of this kind is ſeen up the river, one of
which, in particular, was taken in the Medway, near
Maidſtone, in July 1774, which weighed one hundred
and fixty pounds, and was ſeven feet four inches long.
On the Medway, and in the ſeveral creeks and wa-
ters belonging to it, within the juriſdiction of the cor-
bot
a Text. Roff. p. 193.
poration
282
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

poration of Rocheſter there is an oyſter fiſhery, and the
inayor and citizens hold a court once a year, or of-
tener, if neceſſary, called the admiralty-court, for re-
gulating this fiſhery, and to prevent abuſes in it, the
juriſdiction and authority of it have been further ef-
tabliſhed and enforced by two acts of parliament,
paſſed for that purpoſe, and this fiſhery is now in a
flouriſhing condition.
There are ſix ſmaller rivers in this county ; the Ra-
venſborne, the Cray, the Darent, the Greater and
Leffer Stour, and the Rother. The moſt weſtern of
theſe is
The river, called RAVENSBORNE, which riſes on
Keſton-common, at a litle diſtance weſtward from the
antient camp at Halwood-hill in the pariſh of Keſton,
directing its courſe north-north-weſt between the
pariſhes of Hayes and Bromley, and, being augmented
by ſeveral ſmall brooks on the eaſtern ſide of it, this
ſtream runs northward, through the eaſtern bounds
of Beckenham, towards Lewiſham, where, at the ham-
let of Southend, it ſupplies the ſteel manufactory,
and flowing from thence, at about a quarter of a mile
below Kengeley-bridge, it receives a confiderable in-
creafe from the weſtern fide, from a ſtream which
riſes from ſeveral ſprings in the pariſh of Beckenham.
Hence it directs its courſe northward, and at a little
diſtance from Lewiſham-ftreet, having turned a mill,
it croſſes the highway leading from Lee to Deptford,
where, having paſſed the bridge, it receives the Lee
Bourne from the weſtward, and flows on to Dept-
ford, where it croſſes the London-road, having a
handſome ſtone bridge over it, and then pafling due
north empties itſelf into the Thames, at about a mile's
diſtance, during which length it is navigable for ligh-
ters, and ſuch other like craft, up as high as Deptford-
bridge.
The next river is the Cray, antiently called, by the
Saxons, Crecca, which word fignifies a ſmall brook,
or
RIVERS.
283

or rivulet. This riſes at Newell, in the pariſh of Or-
pington, and runs from thence almoſt due north by
St. Mary Cray, Paul's Cray, and Foot's Cray, where
it crofſes the high road from Farningham to London,
and having ſupplied the waters in Foot's Cray-park,
through which its runs, as it does through thoſe of
North Cray-place adjoining, and thence by ſeveral other
feats in its way to Bexley, it croſſes the road, and paf-
fing under a newly-erected brick bridge, it runs by
the late Mr. Thorpe's gardens to thoſe of Hall-place,
and thence paffes on to Crayford, and then branches
into two ſtreams, both of which croſs the great Lon-
don road, having bridges over them.
Theſe two ſtreams having ſupplied two large ma-
nufactories for the printing of calicoes, as they croſs
the high-road, re-unite, and turn an iron-mill; and
having fupplied fome whitening grounds, this river
makes ſeveral fmall windings through Crayford-
marſhes, and joining the river Darent in Dartford-
creek, on the weft fide of it, about a mile below
Dartford town, and as much from the Thames, flows
in one united ſtream into that river, This river is
well ftored with trout of the fineſt flavour, colour,
and fize, much beyond what any other water produces
in theſe parts.
The river DARENT, called alſo, in the Saxon char-
ters, Terent, takes its riſe above the grounds belonging
to Squirries, in the pariſh of Weſterham, and having
croſſed the high road at the end of Weſterham-ftreet, it
runs north-eaſt and by eaſt, by Valence to Brafted, foon
after which it feparates into two ſtreams, which paſs
by Sundridge, where there is a bridge over them,
leading towards Combank, hence they run on to
Chipſted, where the road croſſes them on two bridges;
foon after they again unite in one ſtream, which then
paſſes on to Riverhead, where the Tunbridge road
croſſes it over a bridge, and foon afterwards directs
its courſe nearly north, and paſſing by Otford, it runs
by
284
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
by Newhouſe to Shoreham, and having paſſed the
bridge there, it runs on to Lullingſtone-park, where
it ſeparates into two ſtreams, forming an iſland, and
rejoins again at Lullingſtone-place, at the back, or
eaſt part of which it continues its courſe, and ſo goes
on to Eynsford, where it runs by the old caſtle there
on to Farningham, and having paſſed the bridge lately
built there, and croſſed the high road, it flows on by
Franks and Horton to South Darent, foon after
which it ſeparates into two ſtreams, the northernmoſt
of which, being the old river, flows through the vil-
lage of Darent, the ſouthernmoſt having paſſed by
St. John's and Sutton-place, reunites with the other
branch, about a mile or leſs from their ſeparation.
Hence this river flows by Hawley, and about a mile
farther on, it ſupplies a gunpowder manufactory, foon
after which it feparates into two ſtreams again, which
unite juſt above the county bridge there, under which
the Darent flows, and ſoon after ſupplies the iron-
mill, a little below which it forms an iſland, and now,
acquiring the name of Dartford-creek, it receives, on
the weſt fide, the little brook called the Cranford,
which riſes at Hawley, fomewhat more than a mile
ſouth of Dartford, and hence it flows, with ſeveral
turns and windings, for about a mile and a half, when
it receives, on the weſt ſide, the Cray, and in about
the ſame diſtance more empties itſelf into the Thames.
The Darent, or Dartford-creek, as it is called, 'be-
low Dartford town, is navigable for ſmall boats, as
high as the iron-mills above-mentioned, though not
at all tides, the channel of it being of late years much
choaked up with the fulliage, &c. which drives into
it, as it is ſaid, from the above manufactory, info-
much, that it is feared this navigation, ſo uſeful to this
town and neighbourhood, will be by this means, be-
fore many years are elapſed, entirely deſtroyed.
The next river is the STOURE, of which name there
are two, at no great diſtance from each other, dif-
tinguiſhed



RIVERS.
285
tinguiſhed by the names of the Greater and the Lef-
ſer Stoure.
There are ſeveral rivers ſo called in different parts
of England, the name is ſuppoſed to be derived from
the Britiſh words, Es Dür, (or To vowe) ſignifying the
water ; hence the city of Canterbury was called Dur--
whern, and afterwards, in Latin, Durovernum. The
above Britiſh name, Es Dür, was afterwards latinized
into Eſtura, or Sture, and now, by change of lan-
guage and long cuſtoin, it is called and ſpelt Stoure.
The Greater Stoure has two principal heads, from
which it riſes; the firſt of which is at Well-ftreet, in
Lenham, and at about a mile's diſtance runs fo
ſtrong, as to turn a mill, keeping on its courſe ſouth-
eaſt, thence it runs on through the grounds belong-
ing to Calehill to Ford-mill, near Surrenden ; after
which it takes a circle to the eaſt, round Rutting-
ſtreet, and turning Hurſt-mill, it runs fouth-weſt,
and forms an iſland; and having united it changes its
courſe again to ſouth-eaſt; after which it runs on by
Goddington to Bucksford-mill, where it makes again
another ſmall iſland, and thence to Stone-bridge, ha-
ving in its way formed ſeveral ſmall iſlands, ſoon after
which this river is greatly augmented by the ſtream
which takes its riſe above Poftling church.
This is the ſecond principal head of the Stoure,
which runs from Poſtling to Stamford, and from
thence by Weſtenhanger, after which croſſing the
road froin Hith to Aſhford, a little below Summer-
field, it runs on, and having turned Evegate-mill, it
paſſes on to Merſham-bridge, beyond which it forms
an iſland near Sevington-court, having in its courſe
been increaſed by many ſmaller waters, it joins the
main ſtream as above-mentioned.
The Stoure having been thus increaſed, directs its
courſe north-eaſt, and paſſes Aihford-bridge at the eaſt
end of that town, croſſing the high road from Hythe
thither, and thence, after receiving ſeveral ſmall brooks

into
286
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

into it on each ſide, it goes on by Spring-grove to
Wye, and having paſſed the bridge there, and ſup-
plied the gardens and grounds at Ollantigh, for which
purpoſe it is there ſeparated into two channels; this
river flows on in one ſtream to Godmerſham, and
having paſſed the bridge there, it continues its courſe
by Chilham, which it leaves not quite half a mile
to the noth-weſt, and then goes on to Shalmsford+
bridge, where it croſſes the high road from Afhford
to Canterbury, and thence runs on to Chartham, bend-
ing its courſe eaſtward, by Horton and Thanington,
after which it ſeparates into two ſtreams, which form
three iſlands, one above the other, in the ſecond of
which is contained part of the city of Canterbury;
theſe two ſtreams, in their paffage through Canter-
bury, turn five mills, and again unite a little below
the town. Thence the Stoure, having ſupplied Bar-
ton-mill, paſſes by Vauxhall, and having croſſed the
high road from Canterbury to the iſle of Thanet,
under a new built bridge of three arches, it runs on,
in its way to Fordwich-bridge, which having paffed,
as well as the town of Fordwich, after having taken
ſeveral circles and meanders, it paſſes Grove-ferry,
where there is a paſſage over it for carriages, as well
as cattle; and thence it flows on till it arrives at the
iſie of Thanet, a mile fouthward from Sarre.
Near this place, ſomewhat 'northward of Stour-
mouth, the two river Stoures are ſuppoſed to have
emptied themſelves formerly into the water antiently
called the Wantſume, which ſeparated the iſle of Tha-
net from the main land, now eſteemed as part of the
river Stoure, This water was once ſo conſiderable as
to afford a good harbour, and a ſafe and eaſy paſſage
for the ſhipping in their way from Sandwich towards
London, without the danger and inconvenience of
going round the North Foreland.
The Wantſume, a name now almoſt forgotten, was
formerly ſupplied as well by the waters of the two ris


vers
RIVERS.
287

vers Stoure, and other ſmaller ſtreams, as by the two
diſtinct tides which, entering it at each end, met each
other at the low point of high lands under Sarre, from
whence they each ebbed back again to their own ſea,
at Northmouth and Sandwich-haven.
This water was once, as it is ſaid, in the wideſt
part
of it, near four miles over, but it had by degrees re-
tired ſo much, that even in the venerable Bede's time,
as he tells us, it was but three furlongs over, and was
uſually paſſable at two places only; theſe were Sarre
and Stonar, where two ferry-boats were kept for that
purpoſe.
The Wantſume had two mouths ; one of which
was eaſtward of Sandwich, and the other at Yenlade,
or Northmouth, near Reculver. It was navigable
throughout, fo late as the time of king Henry VIII.
for Twyne, who lived in the latter part of that reign,
tells us, that there were people then living, who had
often feen veſſels of good burthen paſs to and fro
upon it, where the water was then, eſpecially towards
the weſt, totally excluded ; all whịch, he adds, hap-
pened, becauſe the freſh ſtreams were not ſufficient
to check the falt water, that choaked up the channel.
At preſent, that part of this water which flowed
round the ſouth ſide of the iſle of Thanet (from the
place where the river Stoure arrives at it, about a mile
ſouthward from Sarre, to the mouth of it at Pepper-
neſs,) is called the river Stoure, and is deemed a part
of that river; a farther account of which will be given
in its proper place below.
That part of this water, which flowed into the ſea
northward of Sarre, at Northmouth, having the ſup-
ply of the ſtreams from Chiflet and that part of the
county, after the above period, directed its courſe
ftill northward, but in two ſeparate channels, one of
which continued, as before, into the ſea at North-
olara
dal Bede, lib. i. cap. 26. Lamb. Peramb. p. 96.
mouth,




288
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.


mouth, and the other found a courſe more weſterly
through a new channel, into the ſea at a place, called
from thence, Newhaven, about a quarter of a mile
eaſtward from Reculver, and one mile diſtant from
the other.
The eaſtermoſt of theſe waters laſt-mentioned di-
rects its courſe northward from Sarre-bridge, below
which, taking the name of the Nethergong, it flows
almoſt due north into the ſea at Coldharbour or
Northmouth-ſluice, formerly called the North Yen-
lade, at about five miles diſtance from Sarre-bridge:
At a ſmall diſtance north-weſt from the place where
a ſtream from Chiſlet meets the Nethergong, the
weſternmoſt water branched off from it, though they
have now no communication, a wall of earth, of about
fifteen feet wide, thrown up for the benefit of the
marſh lands, feparating them entirely from each
other. By which means this water becomes a dead
head, or pond, at this end; but a little farther, at
Marſh-row, it becomes of a much greater width, and
ſo flows on northward into the ſea at Newhaven.
Theſe waters, eſpecially the Nethergong, are at
moſt times narrow inconfiderable ſtreams, being con-
tinually croſſed by wears, gates, &c. ſet up as well by
the commiſſioners of ſewers, as private perfons, for
the convenience of the levels, though in the time of
floods they are both frequently intreaſed to a great
width, and run with vaſt force and rapidity into the
ſea.
After this change in the courſe of the Wantſume,
there was a ſpace left between the northern and the
ſouthern ſtreams, that is, from Sarre-bridge ſouth-
ward for about a mile, to the place where the river
Stoure arrives at the iſle of Thanet, where there was
no water remaining, ſo that Thanet might from thence
be called rather a peninſula than an iſland, but for the
benefit of ſewing the marſhes, an artificial cut, called
the Mile ſtream, has been made from the Nether-
gong

RIVERS.
289
gong to the Stoure, by which means it was again fur-
rounded with water, and became an iſland as before.
The Stoure, being come to the iſle of Thanet, as
above-mentioned, and having parted with that water,
which runs north-weſtward by Sarre, juſt deſcribed,
continues its courſe between the iſland and the main
land ſouth-eaſtward, ſoon after which it receives into
it the ſtream of the Leffer Stoure.
The river, called the Leſſer Stoure, may properly
be ſaid to riſe in the grounds belonging to Bourn-
place, for though it is frequently increaſed by a tem-
porary water, called the Nailbourn, which, after great
rains or thaws, makes its way from ſeveral ſprings, one
of which is at Eching-ſtreet, which ſeldom fails, even
in the drieſt ſummer; another a mile lower, at Li-
minge, which though it is ſeldom dry at the well, yet
ſometimes does not afford water enough to flow the
ſpace of a mile; the third is at a place called Bromp-
ton’s-pot, about three miles and and an half lower
than Liminge, and this, in the ſpace between Ele-
ham and Barham, frequently becomes dry, except
when the occaſional water or Nailbourn burſts out,
when running over at this ſpring, it makes a river of
itſelf, more or leſs permanent, for ſeveral months, as
the ſpring affords it a ſupply, and continuing its
courſe to Barham, it paſſes near Kingſton and by
Charlton-place to Bourn, where falling in with the
head of the Little Stoure, it increaſes the waters of it
to double their uſual fize; after which this river ha-
ving ſupplied the grounds belonging to Bourn-place,
it paſſes by Bridge-place, and croſſing the great Dover
road, under a bridge of one arch, it directs its courſe
north-eaſtward by Bifrons through Patrickſborne, and
then running on by the remains of the archbiſhop's
palace, at Bekelborne, it croſſes the road by the vi-
carage there, and goes on through the grounds of
Old Howlets by Garwinton and Well, after which it
ſupplies the grounds belonging to Lee-houſe, and
then





VOL. I.
U
290
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
then croſſes the high road from Deal to Canterbury,
under a bridge of two arches, and foon afterwards turns
two corn-mills, whence it runs to Wickham, after
which this river continues its courſe till it flows into
the Greater Stoure, which it meets in its progreſs round
the iſle of Thanet, as above-mentioned.
The river Stoure continues its courſe round the iſle
of Thanet ſouth-eaſt and by fouth, and paſſing by Rich-
borough caſtle, it flows on to Sandwich, where there
is a bridge over it into the iſland, and having afforded
a harbour for the ſhipping there, it takes a circle and
flows almoſt due north, as it were back again, till it
comes to the falt-works at Stonar, a little diſtance from
whence, where the land is not more than forty rods
over, a cut has been made for the benefit of ſewing the
levels above, for which an act paſſed in 1776, from this
part of the river to the former part of it a little above
Richborough-caſtle, the river having flowed from
thence nearly in the ſhape of an horſe-rhoe, making a
circuit of about four miles ; Sandwich being ſituated
midway between the two extremes of it. Soon after
the Stoure has paſſed by Stonar it directs its courſe
north-eaſt and by eaſt, and ſoon afterwards empties it-
felf into the Britiſh channel by Pepperneſs.
The trout in both theſe rivers are remarkably fine,
particularly about Littlebourne in the Leffer Stoure,
and in the Greater Stoure about Chartham. There is
another ſort of trout, which frequents the Greater
Stoure, and ſeems to be of the ſalmon kind. Theſe
fiſh come into it from the ſea at the latter end of the
ſummer, and remain in it only three or four months;
they are caught as high up this river as Wye, but
more often between Barton-mill, below Canterbury,
and Fordwich, than in any other part of it. They are
in general of the weight of nine pounds and upwards,
though they are ſometimes taken of the weight of
twenty-one pounds, or more. Both theſe forts of trout
are of a beautiful red colour when in ſeaſon.
Below



RIVERS.
291
pod
Below Fordwich, and to the mouth of the river at
Pegwell-bay, there is ſtill a different fort, commonly
called Fordwich trout, though it is ſuppoſed this fiſh
never breeds in the river, but comes from the ſea.
They have been much more numerous formerly than
they are at preſent, owing to the mouth of the river,
where it empties itſelf into the ſea, being ſo much
narrower and ſhallower than it uſed to be, when the
tide ran ſtronger, and flowed farther up.
Theſe trout are ſometimes taken of ten or twelve
pounds weight, and generally upwards of four. They
are ſharp-ſnouted, and their fleſ of a yellowiſh caſt.
In the ſixth year of the reign of king Henry VIII.
an act paſſed for making that part of this river navi-
gable which lies between Canterbury and Fordwich,
ſo that both lighters and boats might come to each
alike, notwithſtanding which nothing appears to have
been done in it. Perhaps this might be owing to the
difference which then ſubſiſted between the archbiſhop
and the city, which cauſed him to build at Otford, in-
ſtead of Canterbury, as he at firſt deſigned. However,
in queen Elizabeth's time, Mr. Roſe, an alderman of
Canterbury, made an attempt to put the above act in
execution, and render this ſtream navigable, and be-
fides being a great benefactor and encourager to it in
his life-time, he, by his laſt will, left three hundred
pounds towards this uſeful undertaking. The conſe-
quence of which was, that for ſome time there were a
few lighters, and boats that navigated this ſtream as
high as Canterbury, but now, and for many years ſince,
there has been no paſſage for them above Fordwich,
but between that place and Sandwich there is a con-
ftant traffic carried on by means of this river, which is
of ſome, though of no great benefit to the city of Can-
terbury and its neighbourhood.
lepidon bu
a Somn. Rom. Ports. Lamb. Peramb. Dugd. Imb. p. 83, &c.
Somner's Rom. Ports, P. 21.
The




292
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

The river Rother, formerly called Limene, takes its
riſe at Gravel-hill, in the pariſh of Rotherfield, in the
county of Suſſex, from whence it runs to Mayfield,
whence it flows on to Itchingham, and then running
near Salehurſt and Bodiam, it enters this county in the
pariſh of Sandhurſt; hence the Rother ſtill continues
its courſe eaſtward, ſeparating the pariſhes of Sand-
hurſt and Newenden from Suſſex, after which, at May-
tham-ferry, leaving its old channel, which formerly
was round the north ſide of the iſle of Oxney, by Aple-
dore, and ſeparating that pariſh, and thoſe of Rolven-
den and Tenterden from that iſland, the Rother now
takes its courſe round the oppoſite, or ſouthern fide of
the iſland, and at the ſouth-eaſt corner it falls into its
old channel again, which comes down from Apledore,
with whoſe waters it fows down into Rye-harbour, and
thence into the ſea.
The channel of this river, which formerly ran round
the north fide of this iſland from Maytham-ferry, as
above-mentioned, by Smallhith, Reading, and Aple-
dore, is now only a ſmall ſtream, which receives into
it a few brooks on the north ſide of it, and joins the
Rother at the ſouth-eaſt and weſt corners of the iſand.
This channel, in 1736, was become ſo choaked up
and contracted, that the waters could not find fuffici-
ent paſſage in it, which obliged the proprietors of the
adjoining marſh-land to purchaſe and cut a new chan-
nel through Witterſham level, from Maytham-ferry to
Blackwall, on the ſouthern ſide of the iſland, where
this river now runs, as above-mentioned.
Before the time of king Edward I. this river flowed
from Apledore ſtraight on to Romney, where forming
an harbour it emptied itſelf into the ſea, but in that
king's reign, anno 1287, the raging violence of the
ſea overflowed this tract, and made great deſtruction
of the people, cattle, and houſes in every part within
it, and entirely drowned Promhill, then a well fre-
quented town, at the ſame time it ſo greatly agitated
the



THE WEALD.
293
the channel of the Rother, that the waters of it, for-
ſaking their old courſe, took a new and nearer paſſage
from Apledore into the ſea at Rye, as they run at pre-
fent.
It appears, by an inquiſition, taken in the beginning
of king Edward III.'s reign, before William Truffell,
the king's efcheator, on this ſide Trent, that the tide
then ebbed and flowed up above Newenden, and ſo
ſtrong, that the bridge there was broken and demo-
liſhed by it, and the lands on each ſide the river were
greatly overflowed, and much damaged by the falt
water. To prevent which there were, from time to
time, ſeveral commiſſions of ſewers granted for the
new making, viewing, and repairing the banks on each
ſide of it, but there were, in conſequence of letters pa-
tent granted by king Edward III. ſome new banks
raiſed, which thwarted this river, and prevented fuch ſhips
and boats as uſed to paſs on it with victuals, and other
things, from divers places in Kent and Suſſex to Itch-
ingham, and were likewiſe of the greateſt prejudice to
the market town of Salehurſt, which had been ſup-
ported by the courſe of this water; the king therefore
revoked theſe letters patent, and commanded thoſe
banks to be demoliſhed.
There are, in different part of this county, beſides
the above rivers, ſeveral inconſiderable brooks, and
rivulets, which are not worth a particular deſcription
in this place, but each will be mentioned under the
heads of the ſeveral pariſhes where they take their riſe,

THERE are two diſtricts in this county, which
merit a particular deſcription, viz. Romney-marſh, and
the part of Kent called the Weald, the firſt of which
I ſhall take notice of when I come to ſpeak of that
part of the county, and the latter I ſhall take this op-
portunity of defcribing here.
The
U 3
294
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
The Weald of Kent was in former times nothing
more than a waſte deſart and wilderneſs, not furniſhed
with habitations, and peopled as the reſt of the county
was, but like a foreſt, ſtored with herds of deer and
droves of hogs only, in teſtimony of which, in the anti-
ent royal donations to the churches of Canterbury and
Rocheſter, which relate to the Weald, there is mention
made of the pannage for hogs in theſe parts, and of
nothing elſe. And in the antient rentals of the former
of thoſe churches, when they come to the tenants inha-
biting the wealdy country, there the rent only is fet
down, without ſhewing for what antient ſervice, what
manner of cuſtom, and for what ſpecial cauſe the fame
grew due and payable, as is expreſfed in all elſewhere.
From whence it may be preſumed, that even when the
Weald was at firſt made to belong to certain known
owners, as well as the reſt of the country, it was not
then allotted into tenancies, nor manured like the reſt
of it, but only as men were contented to inhabit it, and
by peace-meal to clear it of the wood, and convert it
into tillage.
This diſtrict was named of the Saxon word Weald,
fignifying a woody country. The Britons called it Coit
Andred, from its exceeding greatneſs, whence the
Saxons called it by a ſecond name, Andredeſleaz, in
Latin, Saltus Andred, i. e..the great chace or foreſt.a
There are diverſity of opinions touching the true li-
mits of this Weald, ſome affirming it to begin at one
place, and ſome at another, which uncertainty ariſes
from its having been from time to time made leſs and
leſs by induſtry, and being now in a manner wholly re-
pleniſhed with people, and interſperſed every where
with wealthy towns and villages, it may more reaſona-
bly be maintained, that there is no Weald at all, than
to aſcertain where it ought to begin or end. Yet



a
Lamb. Peramb. p. 223. Camb. Brit. p. 195. Somn. Rom.
Ports, p. 107 et feq. Flor. Worceſt. p. 545. H. Huntingd. p. 312,
351. M. Weſtm. p. 90, calls it Andredefwold,
there
THE WEALD.
295
there are certain privileges ſtill annexed to the lands in
the Weald, which induce the owners of them to con-
tend for their being within the limits of it, where their
lands in general pay no tithe of wood, and it is ſaid,
that within the Weald the proof of wood lands having
ever paid tithe lies on the parſon, to entitle him to take
tithe of it, contrary to the uſual cuſtom in other places,
where the proof of the exemption lies on the owner;
nor are the lands in it ſubject to the ſtatute of woods
nor has the lord waſte within the Weald, the timber
growing thereon belonging to the tenant, which cuſ-
tom of excluding the lord from the waſte is called
landpeerage.
It is the general opinion, that the Weald antiently
extended much farther than it is ſuppoſed to do at pre-
fent, and that the bounds of it formerly began at Win-
chelſea, in Suſſex, and reached one hundred and twenty
miles in length and thirty in breadth, however that might
be, it is certainly now contained in much ſtraighter li-
mits, which, according to the reputation of the coun-
try, are as follows in this county:
The Weald bounds on the weſt to Surry, and on the
ſouth to Suſſex; on the north, beginning at Surry, the
bounds are by the hill whereon Well-ſtreet ſtands ;
thence to the top of Ide-hill, River-hill, the hill above.
Fair-lane, and thence to Herſt-hill; thence to the top
of the hill above Watringbury, thence to Tefton, where
the river Medway comes in, but on the eaſt ſide of it
the hill begins again, and runs above Burſton, and
thence to the top of the hills above Linton, Boughton,
Chart Sutton, Town Sutton, and Ulcombe, thence to
the ſame hill at Boughton Malherbe, where Sir Horace
Mann's houſe ſtands, and there the hill breaks, and
from thence the bounds towards the eaſt run by certain

b Why Sylva cædua pays no tithe in the Weald, from an argu-
ment of Sir Robert Heath, in Com. Banc. among Harl. MSS.
No. 980-304.
c Robinſon's Gavelkind, p. 273.
churches,
U 4
296
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
churches, as thoſe of Egerton, Pluckley, Great Chart
and Kingſnoth, and from thence to the hill on the edge
of Romney-marſh, below Orleſtone, near Ham, and ſo
by Warehorné church, including the ſame, and from
thence by the bottom of the hill below Kednardington
church to Apledore, and ſo down the ſtream till they
meet the county of Suſſex. And here it may be noted,
that where pariſhes extend into the Weald, and their
churches ſtand above the hill, the land of theſe pariſhes
are called by the names of both Upland and Weald;
thus there is Sevenoke-upland and Sevenoke-weald,
Sundridge-upland and Sundridge-weald, and the like,
in a great number of inſtances.
The Weald, when viewed from the adjoining hills,
which command a proſpect over the whole of it, exhi-
bits the moſt delightful ſcene that can be imagined. It
appears to the eye an extenſive level country (the few
hills in it being ſo ſmall and inferior to thoſe from
whence it is viewed,) covered with all the richneſs of
both art and nature, the variety of ſmall incloſures of
corn and meadow, and the houſes, ſeats and villages
promiſcuouſly interſperſed among the large and tower-
ing oaks, which grow over the whole face of it, have
the moſt pleaſing effect, and repreſent to us, even at
this time, ſomething, though a great improvement of
its original ſtate, in the idea of an inhabited and well
cultivated foreſt.
Mr. Lambarde, in his Perambulation, gives this tract
of country a good character, both for health and fer-
tility, which indeed it well deſerves; he ſays, here are
at once to be found the commodities cæli and ſoli, both
of the air and of the ſoil. The ſoil is in general ſoft
under foot, moſtly clay, and full of marle, and this
ſoftneſs of ground enables them to perform all their
carriage and huſbandry buſineſs with oxen, and thoſe
unſhod. But though this is the general foil of the
Weald, yet there are other kinds in it, as ſand about
Tenterden, Cranbrook, &c, gravel about the lower part
of

THE WEALD.
297
of Eaſt Peckham and part of Hadlow; and at Betherſ-
den there is much broad ſtone, commonly called Be-
therſden marble, and in the parts near Suſſex there is
plenty of iron mines. The paſtures in it are very rich
and fertile, and great numbers of fine cattle are con-
tinually fatted on them, as well for the ſupply of this
county as the London markets, The ſoil of the Weald
is particularly adapted to the growth of the oak, which
in theſe parts increaſe to an amazing fize, one of which
was felled a few years ago at Penthurſt, in the park
there, which had twenty one tons of timber in it, or
eight hundred and forty feet. Every incloſure in the
Weald is ſurrounded with theſe trees, and every cop-
pice and wood is full of them, and though they yearly
afford a ſupply for the royal navy of Great Britain, yet
in all probability there will be ſufficient remaining for
the uſe of it for ages yet to come.
This great foreſt, being at firſt neither peopled nor
cultivated, and filled only with herds of deer and droves
of ſwine, belonging wholly to the king, for there is no
mention of it but in royal grants and donations. Hence
it had the appellation of Saltus regalis, ſylva communis,
&c. and it ſeems, at leaſt the greateſt part of it, not
to have been parcelled out into either pariſhes or ma-
nors, till after the time of the Norman conqueſt, there
being no mention in Domeſday of any independent
manors in the Weald, much leſs was it made any uſe
of in the time of the Romans, who, in all likelihood,
were kept out of it by the thickneſs of the woods and
the depth of the ſoil. But in the royal donations of
lands lying out of the Weald, as well to the religious
as to others, there is frequent mention made of pan-
nage for hogs in Andredeſweald; thus, if a prædium, or
poſſeſſion, a farm, feat, or manſion was given to any one
out of the Weald, in the nature of what we call a
manor or lordſhip, it was the uſual cuſtom to accom-
modate it with an additional grant of a common of pan-
nage in the Weald in the ſame deed; but this was with
a limitation



298
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
1
a limitation uſually, and with reference to ſuch and ſuch
a part of it, and theſe parts were called dens, denberies,
or wealdberies, which had particular names aſſigned to
them, and thus by degrees the Weald, being in this
manner portioned out, came to belong to certain known
owners, and began by little and little to be cultivated,
as the reſt of the country. After which, the lands in
it being appendant on manors elſewhere, the tenants of
them, in reſpect to their holdings and tenancies here,
became liable to the lord, of whom they held, for ſer-
vices and cuſtoms, as other tenants elſewhere, ſuch as
fealty, ſuit of court, reliefs, and other local ſervices and
cuſtoms. As a farther teſtimony of which I ſhall only
add, that in king Edward III. and Richard H.'s time,
the then archbiſhop of Canterbury, and the prior and
convent of Chriſt-church, moſt probably, among other
lords and owners of the wealdiſh dens, finding them-
felves aggrieved by their tenants there, and others, in
the waſting and making havoc of their woods, which
by the former feoffments they had expreſsly reſerved
to themſelves, to quit and rid themſelves of farther
care and trouble in relation to the wood, entered into
a compoſition with their tenants, and for a new annual
rent of aſſiſe (generally equal to what money was paid
before) made the wood over to them by indenture of
feoffment in perpetuity, either to be cut down or left
ſtanding, at the tenants choice, reſerving ſtill their old
accuſtomed rent, and all their former ſervices, except
what upon parting with their wood was unreaſonable to
require, pannage and danger, ever ſince which the inte
reſt of the lord ſo compounding has been taken off, as
to the wood itſelf, and nothing left remaining but ſo
much rent of aſſiſe, the new and the old, with the for-
mer ſervices, as above-mentioned.a
As to the people with which this county is inhabi-
ted, they conſiſt, as in others, of nobility, gentry, yeo-




a Somn. Rom. Ports, p. 108-115.
men
THE WEALD. 3
299

men, artificers, feafaring men, and labourers, whoſe
poffeßions in it were at firſt diſtinguiſhed by the names
of knights fee and gavel-kind, that is, the tenure of
knights ſervice and locage, the former appertaining to
the ſoldier, and the latter to the huſbandman. Which
focage tenure of gavelkind has now ſo entirely ſwal-
lowed up the other of knights ſervice, that all lands
within the county are preſumed to hold by it, except-
ing they are particularly proved to be otherwiſe, which
very rarely happens.
Although there are many antient families among the
gentry of this county, ſome of which derive their ori-
gin from the Saxons, yet there are not ſo many in it
as in thoſe parts of Britain at a diſtance from London;
the luxury of which having impoveriſhed many of our
gentry, they are forced to give place and are ſucceed-
ed by citizens, merchants, and lawyers, who, having
acquired wealth in that great city, and being deſirous
of procuring a permanent ſettlement ſomewhere, are
continually purchaſing their manors, houſes, and lands;
but with theſe the poffeffion ſeldom remains for more
than three generations, as may be ſeen by numberleſs
inſtances, in the account of them hereafter.
The gentry in this county are not only noted for their
civility and hoſpitality to ſtrangers, and their good
neighbourhood and convivial intercourſe with each
other, but for their liberal and generous carriage to
their inferiors; and as to their charities to the poor,
there are few counties where there are greater inſtances
than in this. They generally cultivate a large part of
their eſtates themſelves, as well for the profit and
maintenance of their families as for the pleaſure which
the employment brings with it. They are fond of the
country recreations of hunting, ſhooting, and fiſhing,
and take much pains to preſerve the game on their
manors, but this ſeldom breeds quarrels among them,
as it does in moſt other counties,
The



300
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
The yeomanry, which in moſt other parts of the king-
dom is confined to the common people only, as in-
deed the name fhews, for it is ſo called from the Saxon
word gemen, which fignifies common, is extended much
higher in Kent, for it here likewiſe comprehends the
principal farmers and landholders, who either from
their education or intercourſe of life, are not eſteemed
by the gentry of equal rank with themſelves, and yet,
in point of wealth and poffeffions, they are frequently
ſuperior to many of them, who, though they write
themſelves yeomen, yet are uſually and very properly
ſtiled gentlemen farmers, for beſides the largeneſs of
their holdings, which are from four hundred to twelve
hundred pounds per annum, they have in general good
eſtates and freeholds of their own, and ſome even to
the amount of what they hire. And as to their hofpi-
tality and expence of living, it is in general much ſu-
perior to that of their landlords.
Below theſe are the common yeomanry, on whom
thoſe above-mentioned look down, as of a rank much
inferior to themſelves, though if there is any diſtinc-
tion between them, it muſt have been in the luxury of
the times, and the accumulation of farms, that have
given them this fuperiority. O
The common yeomen appear in the honeſt homely garb
of their profeſſion, ſuch as their forefathers wore, and
moſtly content themſelves with the hiring of a ſingle
farm, and the addition of their own little eſtate, for
they are in general poſſeſſed of fome. Their manners
and behaviour correſpond with their dreſs, they are
juſt and civil in their dealings and behaviour, and en-
joy the domeſtic happineſs of their own homes. But
theſe yeomen or franklyns, the moſt uſeful and profit-
able ſet of men that this kingdom has in it, become
fewer every year, and if luxury and the monopoly of
farms increaſe, as they have within theſe few years paſt,
they will be very ſoon extirpated, not only from this
county, but from the kingdom in general.
From

THE WEALD.
:D
301
From theſe yeomen laſt mentioned come the la-
bourers, with which this county is fupplied, the eldeſt
ſon ſucceeds to his father's homeſtal, and the others,
in general, ſeek their livelihood by ſervice in the neigh-
bourhood, either in huſbandry or in the woods, and
each ſon fucceeding on his father's deceaſe to a divi-
fion of his freehold, by the cuſtom of gavelkind, which
everywhere prevails, every man becomes a freeholder,
and has ſome part of his own to live upon.
This diſtribution of freeholds cements a good under-
ſtanding between the gentry and yeomen, their lands
being everywhere ſo much intermixed one with the
other, obliges them to a mutual civility for their own
intereſt and convenience, nor are the latter ſo much
dependent on the gentry as the inhabitants of moſt
other counties, by copyhold or cuſtomary tenures, of
which there are very few in it, which ſtate of freedom
is productive of good will and kindneſs from the one
fort to the other, there being no part of the kingdom
where the people are more quietly governed, or ſub-
mit with more pleaſure to the laws and magiſtracy of
the country. thing asw. disw look
The number of freeholds in the county of Kent are
ſuppoſed to be about nine thouſand, which is ſurpri-
ſing, conſidering the large poſſeſſions which the two
epiſcopal dioceſes, the two cathedrals of Canterbury
and Rocheſter, and ſeveral of the colleges of Oxford
and Cambridge, and other bodies corporate are enti-
tled to in it; which, at a rack-rent, are computed at
upwards of 80,00ol. per annum, beſides parſonages
and portions of tithes. bevido ad aum
In the time of the Saxons the contents of this king-
dom were computed by the number of hides, in an
antient ſchedule of which Kent, called therein Cantwa-
rena, is eſtimated to contain fifteen thouſand hides.
Various are the conjectures of the meaning of the word




Vide Spelm. Glof. p. 292.
hide,
302
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
bide ſome taking it for a particular portion of land,
containing one hundred acres; others think it means
the ſame as carucata, a plough-land; others again will
have it meant for a family or a dwelling, with the lands
and appurtenances belonging to it, in nature of a ma-
nor'; which laſt opinion ſeems beſt calculated for the
above eſtimation. Sed blonlaani automoa
By modern calculations it is ſuppoſed to contain
1,248,000 acres, and about 40,000 houſes. There
are ſuppoſed to be in it about 200,000 inhabitants, of
which 60,000 are able-bodied men. ad gribas
In the reign of queen Elizabeth, annis 1574 and
1575, the muſter taken in this county was-able men
8960, armed men 6000, ſelected men 780, artificers
and pioneers 800, demi-lances 15, and light horſe 787.
Before the militia of this kingdom was new model-
led, there was, by the act of 12 Charles II. the ſum of
70,000l. per month raiſed on the ſeveral counties of
England and Wales, for the furniſhing ammunition
and other neceſſaries; of which ſum this county paid
36551. IIs. 2d. which was more than any other coun-
ty, excepting Suffolk, which was equal, and London,
which paid 46661. 135. 4d.racing
When the militia was altered to the preſent mode,
the return made from this county of able-bodied men,
fit to ſerve in it, was 16,757 in Weſt Kent, and 9164
in Eaft Kent, and in all, 25,921. According to which,
the proportion of militia-men allotted for this coun-
ty by parliament was, for Weſt Kent, 621, for Eaſt
Kent, including the city of Canterbury, 339, in all
960. It muſt be obſerved, that thoſe dwelling in the
cinque-ports, and their members were omitted, as well
as all feamen, ſeafaring-men, men employed in the
dock-yards, clergymen, and others excepted from this
fervice by the militia laws, who altogether make a very
conſiderable number.



Peck's Defid. Cur. vol. i. p. 23.
The
FEUDAL TENURES.NO
303
The number of houſes in this county paying chimney,
or hearth money, being all thoſe which were above the
annual value of twenty ſhillings, and without any land,
was, in the year 1685, 29,242. This tax was abo-
liſhed at the revolution, and the land-tax was eſta-
bliſhed, which proved a very heavy burthen, to this
county in particular ; for as the pretence for raiſing it
was merely to oppoſe the deſigns of the French, and
for carrying on the war againſt them at that time only,
many loyal perſons, and friends to the revolution in
this county, gave in the value of their eftates to the
crown affeffors, fent round among them for that pur-
poſe, at their real annual rent. Whereas others, more
cautious, knowing that a tax when once impoſed is
ſeldom taken off again, gave in the value of their eſtates
at an eighth, or a fourth, or a half of their annual rent;
by which means the eſtates in the northern counties of
this kingdom, whoſe inhabitants are noted for being
wary, even to a proverb,, are taxed at but an eighth,
or a fourth part in proportion to this county ; which
is in general aſſeſſed to the land-tax at two parts out
of three of the real rents, though ſeveral pariſhes are
affeffed at the full ſum for which they are let. wol
This county, with the city of Canterbury, and the
cinque ports, and their members, are aſſeſſed for
412,5661. and one penny farthing, and a fraction of
the third part of a penny rents, which, at one ſhilling
in the pound, amounts to 20,6281. 6s. id. farthing,
and the part of the ſaid fraction, being the proportion
allotted to it towards raiſing the ſum of 509,5271. 6s.
affeſſed upon this kingdom.
this kingdom.dodalardada
en antologo ebensborg



ALL property in the foil of this realm is derived
from the kings thereof; for at the beginning, all lands
were veſted in them: but they, willing to gratify and
reward their nobles and great men, for their ſervices,
granted
304
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
granted them large quantities of land, for them and
their heirs to dwell upon ; which by the Saxons were
ſtiled hida, familia, manſura, manſum, caſuta, &c. At
the ſame time the king empowered them to exerciſe
ſome juriſdiction, more or leſs, within their ſeveral
precincts, on their performing to him ſuch ſervices,
and paying ſuch yearly rents as their ſeveral grants re-
quired; and where the privileges of ſac, foc, tol, and
theam, &c. were conferred with land to any perſon, the
Saxons called it prædium, or villa, and the lords thereof
exerciſed a juriſdiction within his precincts, in his own
court, appertenant to it, and this is now called a court
baron.
But after William the Conqueror had gained the
battle at Haſtings, and had eſtabliſhed the crown upon
himſelf, a great change was made in the property of
this kingdom by that conqueſt ; for he ſeized all the
lands in it into his own hands, nroſt of which he pre-
fently gave to his great Normans, in conſideration of
their ſervices in that expedition ; at the fame time he
exerciſed the greateſt cruelties on the native Engliſh,
many of whom, being thus driven out of their poffef--
fions, were forced to betake themſelves to woods and
deſarts, where they were conſtrained to live as favages;
and all degrees of them were reduced to fuch miſery
and ſervitude, that it was held a diſgrace to be accounted
an Englifhman.
There was alſo diligent enquiry made, who had
fought againſt the king, and had ſaved themſelves by
fight ; from theſe, and the heirs of thoſe who had been
ſlain in that battle, all hopes were taken away of obtain
ing their lands or poffeffions again, nay, it was thought
a great favor that they were permitted to live. How-
ever, thoſe who had not taken up arms, nor had been
in the battle, obtained afterwards ſome favour from
their new lords, though for ſome time without hope,
that their children ſhould ſucceed therein ; yet, at
length, their ſons were ſuffered to retain their poffef-



fions,
VT FEUDAL TENURES. Hab 305

lions, at the will of the lord; but this was by agree-
ment for merit and ſervices, and not by defcent, in
which they were not allowed to challenge any thing,
Beſides the above, the Conqueror made uſe of other
oppreſſive means to ſecure his dominion. He built
caſtles in different parts of the realm, and under the
pretence of preventing tumults in the night-feaſon, he
not only diſarmed the Engliſh, but cauſed a bell to be
rung in every pariſh at eight o'clock in the evening
(which from thence was called the coverfeu :) at the
found of which, every one was to cover his fire and go
to reft: nay, he fo humbled the poor Engliſh, that
they were glad to imitate the Normans, even in the
cutting their hair and ſhaving their beards, and were
even forced to conform themſelves to the pattern of
their new maſters in their very cups and diſhes.
The Saxons obtained the original of their juriſdic-
tions from the grants of their princes; but the Nor-
mans had their manors from the feudal law: for who-
ever could diſpoſe of fees might give laws to their val-
fals, erect courts for paſſing eſtates, and take the other
privileges belonging to a noble fee.
120 The Conqueror, by introducing the feudal ſyſtem
into this kingdom, became poffeffed of a very conſi-
derable army for the defence of the realm, conſiſting
of upwards of 60,000 (for there were ſo many knights
fees) of his principal ſubjects ; a national militia, con-
liſting of barons, knights, and gentlemen, bound by
their intereſt, their honour, and their oaths, to defend
him and their country; under whom the reſt of his
lay-ſubjects were employed in tilling the ground, and
other domeſtic buſineſs; for there were at that time
but two ſorts of laymen in this country, military men
and huſbandmen : ſo that whilſt the former was called
Slamet lil si vd, onsm
bron
a Chauncy's Hertfordſh. p. 7, et ſeq. Brady's Hift. Eng. p.
155. Blackſtone's Comm. vol. ii. p. 86. Spelm. Gloff. Ibid.
pofth. Works, p. 5.
Davao
19. Once the
abroad
GUSTO
х
VOL. I.
2
306
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

abroad to perform his military ſervices, the latter ſtaid
at home, and performed his duty and ſervices in the
managing and cultivation of his lands.
Thoſe great Norman lords, to whom the king
made theſe grants, which were, many of them, of ſuch
great extent, that they comprehended perhaps the
greateſt part of a county, nay, fome the whole of
it, were all bound to hold the ſame by the performance
of ſome particular ſervice ; which, being ſo held im-
mediately of the king, as of his crown, and not of
any other mediate honour, caſtle, or manor, were called
tenures in capite; the moſt free and honourable of all
others.
oš bolg ons verb
Theſe lands, ſo holden, were called by the Saxons
thain land, and the holders of them thani majores, and
thani regis, and by the Normans barons, and baronies.
The ſervice which theſe immediate tenants of the king
were bound to yield was, either to attend the king in his
wars, according to the number of knights fees which
they poſſeſſed, or by doing ſome ſpecial honorable fer-
vice to the king in perſon; as, to carry his ſword, ban-
ner, or the like, or to be his butler, champion, &c.
which was called ſergeantry, and was a ſpecies of knights
fervice, as well as the former. robenia o osni
There were alſo lands held of the king in focage,
as of his crown; or in capite, as well as by knights
ſervice.
Gaiduk kocioni ado (293
The extenſiveneſs of theſe grants obliged theſe te-
in capite, after reſerving a conſiderable lordſhip
round their caſtle, or manſion, to create other manors
out of them, which were held by meſne tenants of the
above principal caſtle, or manor, by the ſervice of fo
many knights fees, according to the contents of the
lands granted, or otherwiſe, as ſtipulated by the firſt
lord; and theſe inferior manors, by the like example,
were again parcelled out into others to hold of the
above meſne Tord, by certain ſervices in the ſame man-
ner. All which manors were occupied by the loweſt
tenants,
nants
FEUDAL TENURES. TATA
307

وا
tenants, of them called tenants paravail, as being he
who is ſuppoſed to avail himſelf of the profits of the
land; theſe again held of the laſt lord, for the acres they
poffefſed, either by knights ſervice or in free focage, or
by copy of court roll. And in this manner were all
the lands in England held that were in the hands of
fubjects. Theſe manors or lordſhips were parcelled
out by each of theſe lords as follows: firſt, he reſerved
to himſelf the beſt part of his land, for his own uſe
and maintenance of his family, which was called terra
dominicalis, or demeſne land; after which, that he might
render his habitation complete, and ſupply it with all
manner of neceſſaries, he granted a certain portion of
ſome of the diſtant parts of it to his moſt truſty ſer-
vants or vaſſals, without any limited number, for their
aid and aſſiſtance in war, either by the finding a horſe
and arms, or the like, for that purpoſe, or going thi-
ther with him when he went in perſon with the king,
either himſelf, or a fufficient man in his place, there
to be maintained at his coſt ſo many days as were agreed
upon between the lord and the firſt tenant, at the
granting of the fee, which days were rated according
to the quantity of land ſo holden.*
To this were added homage, fealty, wardſhip, mar-
riage, aid, relief, and eſcheat, and this tenure was cal-
led knights ſervice, and the holding a knight's fee;
and if the ſame was not ſufficient in value and quantity
for hiring of one ſoldier, yet, according to the ſhare
and portion of it which they enjoyed, they contributed
ſuch a part towards the lord's military expences, or
performed the fervice only part of the time, that is,
half, a third, or fourth, and this was called holding
ſuch premiſes by the half, a third, or fourth part of
one knight's fee, which, in the reign of the Conqueror,
a
Chauncy's Hertf. p. 11. Spelman's Poſth. Works. Præf.
Blackſtone's Comm. vol
. ii. p. 59, 60, 90. Brady's Hift
. of Eng.
p. 158. Philipott, p. 39. Cowel's Law Interpreter. Spelman's
Works, p. 249. Coke's Inft. p. 69.
was
308
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

was ſtated at twenty pounds per annum ; the quantity
of the land was different, according to the quality of
it, and a certain number of theſe fees were requiſite to
make up a barony."
atlanul va
sho
Another part of his manor he diſtributed to ſuch as
were to perform for it all ruſtic and ſervile works to
his manſion and demeſne lands, ſuch as ploughing and
fowing his lands, reaping his corn, carrying it into the
barn, threſhing it, digging, hedging, and taking care
of his flocks, repairing his houſe, paling his park, and
the like, perhaps in the proportion of thirty, forty, or
fixty acres to each. Another part he allotted to thoſe
who were to furniſh him with proviſion, ſuch as capons,
hens, corn, pepper, and comin, with flowers, as roſes,
gilliflowers, &c. or with apparel, as ſpurs, gloves, or
the like, or to pay him a certain rent, and to be ſworn
to be his faithful tenant. All which tenures, not being
military, but certain ſervices (which have been long
fince turned into money or quit rents) were called te-
nures in focage. Spelman ſays, that lord Coke is mif-
taken, when he lays down, that land held in focage
was called by the Saxons reveland, in oppoſition to thain-
land, and farther, that reveland was ſuch land as had,
by the death of the thane, reverted to the king, and
was in the hands of his reve or bailiff, and thence cal-
led reveland;" of which kind, called tenures in focage,
were the lands held in antient demeſne, petit ſergeantry,
and burgage. Tenants in focage paid a relief certain,
to which is ſometimes added a heriot, according to the
cuſtom or ſervice of the manor, on death or alienation,
not as in the caſe of knights ſervice, but one or more
years rent, and no wardſhip, or other profit, accrued
to the lord.
A remaining part of the lands of the manor was
manured by his peaſants or bondſmen, the lord ap-
art
HO
Blackſtone, p. 62. Coke's Inſt. p. 69.
5 Spelman, part ü. p. 38.
2
Se
pointing
FEUDAL TENURES.
309

pointing the manner of their holding it at the courts of
his manor, making an entry of it in the rolls there,
though he had ſtill the power of taking it away from
them at his pleaſure, and therefore they were called
tenants at will by copy of court-roll. Theſe were thus,
in reality, bondſmen at the beginning, but having ob-
tained their freedom by degrees, and gained a cuſtom,
by uſe, of occupying their lands, inſomuch, that the lord
could not put them out, they were called copyholders.
- Some of theſe held for one, two, or three lives ſucceſ-
ſively, and others from heir to heir, for cuſtom rules all
theſe eſtates wholly. There was ſtill a reſidue of the
manor, which was termed the lord's waſte, which
ſerved for public roads and common paſture for the
lord and his tenants, be
* For the good order and government of fo large a
tract of land, and ſo many different tenants, it was but
reaſonable that the lord ſhould hold a court, which,
from the Norman uſage, was called a court baron, and
aſſemble his tenants at certain times by him to be ap-
pointed. In this court he was to be informed by their
oaths of all ſuch dues, rents, reliefs, eſcheats, &c. that
had happened to him, which information is called a
preſentment, and then his bailiff was to ſeize and dif-
train for the ſame, if they were denied or withholden;
and here alſo debts and treſpaſſes, under the value of
forty ſhillings, might be ſued for, and the freeholders
of the manor were to judge the cauſe, and therefore
they, as incident to their tenures, did hold by ſuit of
court, that is, by their attendance at this court, there
to judge between party and party in theſe actions, as
well as to make the preſentment on the behalf of the
lord, as above-mentioned.
The tenant in capite was, under the king, lord para-
mount over all the manors and diſtrict of country held
by his meſne tenants, as each of theſe were in turn over
thoſe who, in like manner, held under them; which
ſeignory of the firſt lord is frequently termed an honour,
X 3
eſpecially
310
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

eſpecially if it has belonged to ſome antient feodal
baron, or has been at any time in the hands of the
crown,
The inferior lords having, as above-mentioned, be-
gan to carve out and grant to others thefe ftill more
minute eſtates, to be held as of themſelves, were ſtill
proceeding downwards, ad infinitum, till the ſuperior
lords obſerved, that by this method of ſubinfeudation
they loſt all their feodal profits, which fell into the
hands of theſe meſne or middle lords, who were the
immediate ſuperiors of the tenant, or him who occu-
pied the land. This occaſioned the ſtatute of Weſt-
minſter, paſſed in the 18th year of king Edward I. and
named, from the two firſt words in it, Quia emptores, to
be made; by which it is enacted, that for the future no
ſubject ſhould create any new tenants to hold of him-
ſelf. From whence it is held, that all manors exiſting
at this day, muſt have exiſted by immemorial preſcrip-
tion, at leaſt before the making of that ſtatute ; for no
new manor can have been created fince, becaufe it is
eſſential to it, that there be tenants to hold of the lord.
Theſe inferior manors were increaſed to that degree
in this county, that every little farm, containing ninety
or an hundred acres of land, became a manor, and held
its court, but the expences attending the holding of
them greatly exceeding the profits accruing from them,
theſe courts have long been diſuſed, and the ſmall
rents and ſervices loſt, ſo that they are now ſtiled ma-
nors by repute, having no other privilege but the pre-
ſervation of game to their reſpective lords. At length,
by the degenerating of knights ſervice, or perſonal mi-
litary duty, into eſcuage, or pecuniary affeſſments, all
the advantages of the feodal ſyſtem were deſtroyed, and
only the hardſhips remained, Palliatives were ap-
plied from time to time by ſucceſſive acts of parliament
to relieve the nation from fo complicated a grievance,
and king James I. formed a plan for exchanging the
military tenures, and annexing a fee farm to the crown
as

SOCAGE TENURES.
311
as a compenſation in lieu of them, and king Charles I.
was obliged to part with the power of compelling his
tenants, who held by knights ſervice, to receive
knighthood. At length, at the reſtoration of king
Charles II. theſe military tenures, with all their ap-
pendages, were deſtroyed by the ſtatute of the twelfth
year of that reign, by which the court of wards and
liveries, and all wardſhips, liveries, º primer ſeiſins, and
oufterlemains, values and forfeitures of marriages, by
reaſon of any tenure of the king or others were totally
taken away, as were all fines for alienations, tenures
by homage, knights ſervice, and eſcuage, and alſo aids
for marrying the daughter or knighting the ſon, and
all tenures of the king in capite; and all ſorts of te-
nures held of the king or others were turned into free
and common focage, ſave only tenures in frank al-
moign, copyholds, and the honorary ſervices of grand
ſergeantry. During the continuance of military tenants
among us, upon the death of every one of the king's
tenants, an inqueſt of office was held, called, an inqui-
fitio poſt mortem, to enquire of what lands he died
feiſed, who was his heir, of what age, and by what ſer-
vice he held, in order to entitle the king to his ward-
ſhip, marriage, relief, &c. as the caſe might turn out.
This inquiſition was made by jury, by the king's ef-
cheator, aſſiſted by the feodary of the county, and to
ſuperintend and regulate theſe enquiries, the court of
wards and liveries was inſtituted by ſtatute in the 32d
year of king Henry VIII. and aboliſhed as above.b

L THE SOCAGE TENURES of Antient Demeſne
and Gavelkind claim our next remembrance. The
former of which conſiſts of thoſe lands and manors
which were the antient inheritance of the crown, and
a
Philipott, p. 39. Blackſtone, vol. ii. p. 75 et ſeq. Brady's Hif.
Eng. p. 159. Spelm. p. 10. • Blackſtone, vol. iii. p. 258.
actually
X4
312
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
actually in the hands of it in the time of king Edward
the Confeffor or William the Conqueror, and which
appear to have been ſo by the great ſurvey of Domef-
day, in the exchequer, in which they are entered un-
der the title of Terra Regis. Moſt of theſe have been
from time to time granted out to private ſubjects, but
the tenants of them, under the crown, were not all of
the ſame order and degree; ſome of them continued for
a long time in abſolute villenage, dependent on the will
of the lord, and thoſe that ſucceeded them in their
tenures now differ from common copyholders in only
a few points. Others were in a great meaſure en-
franchiſed by the royal favour, holding their lands by
the better fort of villein ſervices, all which are now
changed into pecuniary rents, in conſideration of which
they had many immunities and privileges granted to
them, as to try the right of their property in a peculiar
court of their own, called a court of antient demeſne, not
to pay toll or taxes, not to contribute to the expences
of the knights of the ſhire, not to be put upon juries,
and the like. The latter of theſe, the focage tenure of
gavelkind, prevails in-general over this county, to
which, within the bounds of it, there are certain ſpe-
cial cuſtoms inherent, called antiently Conſuetudines Kan-
tia, being the common law of Kent. Various are the
opinions of our antiquaries concerning the etymology
of the word gavelkind, but that which is moſt natural
and beſt ſupported, both by reaſon and authority, is
drawn from the nature of the ſervices. According to
this expoſition of the term, it is derived from the Saxon
word gafol or gavel, which ſignifies rent, or a cuſtom-
ary performance of huſbandry works, and therefore
they called the lands, which yield this kind of ſervice,
gavelkind; that is, the kind of land that yields rent.
In this opinion were Mr. Lambarde, Somner, and
Philipott. There are four treatiſes printed concerning
gavelkind-Mr. Somner's, which is confined to the
etymology of the name, and the original and antiquity



22. of
ISOCAGE TENURES.
313

of the cuſtom, with a few other ſpeculative points ;
Mr. Taylor's treats of the hiſtory and etymology of
gavelkind in general, without any particular regard to
the Kentiſh cuſtoms, to which he was an entire ſtrang-
er; Mr. Lambarde’s is intended only as a ſummary
account, moſtly confined to the points of the cuſtumal;
and Mr. Robinſon's, which is an excellent hook, for
it not only comprehends whatever is uſeful in the
others, but contains a full account of both tenure and
cuſtumal ; beſides which, it is a complete law treatiſe
on theſe heads, and is of ſuch authority in the courts,
that it is in general referred to by the judges, as a di-
rection to them to proceed in the knotty and before
unknown points of this tenure and cuſtom.
If this is the true etymology, it is plain, that gavel-
kind, taken in the ſtricteſt ſenſe of the word, denotes
the tenure of the land only, and that the partibility, and
other cuſtomary qualities, are rather extrinſic and ac-
cidental to gavelkind, from the cuſtomary laws of the
place, than neceſſarily comprehended under that term.
Gavelkind lands are not peculiar to the county of
Kent; there are many inſtances of them in different
parts of this realm, which are ſaid to partake of the
nature and cuſtom of gavelkind, a ſtile they have aſſu-
med ſince the diſgavelling ſtatute of the 3ift of king
Henry VIII. before which they are never mentioned
as gavelkind land, but only, that they were ſuch as
were partible, and had been parted ; and ſo peculiar is
this tenure eſteemed to be to this county, that, whereas
in all other places, the claimant is obliged to ſet forth
particularly the cuſtom whereon he founds his right
to the lands, as being of the nature and tenure of gavel-
kind; in this county it is ſufficient to ſhew the cuſtom
at large, and to ſay that the lands lie in Kent, and are
of the nature of gavelkind, of which all lands lying
within the county are preſumed to be, till the con-
& Blackſtone's Comm. vol. ii, p. 99.
trary
314
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.


trary be made to appear. And this is the reaſon why
the books call gavelkind in this county by a higher
appellation than is given to any other cuſtom, viz.
The common law of Kent. It is certain, that all lands
in this county which were antiently and originally
holden in focage tenure, are of the nature of gavel-
kind, of which fort were moſt of the terre tenants of
the ſeveral feignories in it, who held by that tenure,
notwithſtanding their chief lords held by military
ſervice.
The cuſtom of gavelkind cannot either be created
or taken away, by any change of tenure nor by any
other means, but by act of parliament; antiently, in-
deed, our kings exerciſed a prerogative of changing
the cuſtomary deſcent, together with the tenure, which
power was ſometimes delegated to others; for king
John, in his third year, by his charter, authoriſed
Hubert, archbiſhop of Canterbury, to change the
gavelkind tenures holden of the ſee of Canterbury
into tenures by knights ſervice.
The ſpecial cuſtoms incident to gavelkind, in Kent,
are—That the huſband, after his wife's death, enjoys
a moiety of her inheritance in gavelkind by courteſy,
whether he has children by her or not, until he mar-
ries again. The wife, after the death of her huſ-
band, has for her dower a inoiety of his lands in gavel-
kind, for ſo long time as ſhe ſhall continue unmarried
and in chaſtity; after which, faith the cuſtom,
He that does turn or wend her,
Origit and Let him alſo give unto her or lend her.
The tenant of gavelkind lands is kept in ward one
year longer than is permitted by the common law;
that is, till he is fifteen years of age, at which time
he is of ſufficient age to alien his eſtate by feoffment.
Lands in gavelkind, if the tenant commits felony,
and ſubmits to the judgment of he law, are not for-


feited
GAVELKIND TENURES.
315
feited, nor do they eſcheat to the king or other lord
of whom they are holden, which has given occaſion
to the proverbial expreffion, cells

The father to the bough,
And the ſon to the plough.
Nor has the king year, day, and waſte of lands in
gavelkind, holden of a common perſon, where the
tenant is executed for felony. onto
The tenant had a power of deviſing lands by will,
before the ſtatute for that purpoſe was made in the
32d year of king Henry VIII. yo
Lands in gavelkind deſcend to all the fons alike in
equal portions, and if there are no fons, then equally
among the daughters; and as to the chattels, it was
formerly part of the cuſtom of this county to divide
them, after the funeral and the debts of the deceaſed
were diſcharged, into three parts, if he left any law-
ful iſſue behind him, of which three, one portion
was to the dead, for the performance of legacies; ano-
ther to his children, for education; and a third to the
wife, for her ſupport and maintenance.
Furthermore, if the tenant of gavelkind lands with-
draws from his lord his due rents and ſervices, the
cuſtom of this county gives the lord a ſpecial and
folemn kind of ceſavit, called gavelet, by which, un-
leſs the tenant redeems his lands by payment of the
arrearages, and makes reaſonable amends for with-
holding the ſame, they become forfeited to the lord,
and he enters into them and occupies them as his
own demeſnes.
The tenants in gavelkind in this county claim the
privilege, that where a writ of right is brought con-
cerning gavelkind lands, that the grand aſſiſe ſhall not
be choſen in the uſual manner by four knights, but
by four tenants in gavelkind, who ſhall not aſſociate
to themſelves twelve knights, but that number of


tenants
316
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
tenants in gavelkind; and further, that trial by battle
ſhall not be allowed in ſuch a writ for theſe lands;
notwithſtanding this claim, one of the laſt inſtances
in our books, of battle joined in a writ of right, was
between Lowe and Paramour, for lands in Harty,
which were gavelkind. The pompous account of the
ceremony, preparatory to the combat, is worth read-
ing. Oo
There were ſome other privileges relating to gavel-
kind lands which are now obſolete, fuch as their ex-
emption from ſerving on juries in attaints, which was
taken away by ftatutę, anno 18 Henry VI. that no
man ſhould have common in lands of that nature ;
the privilege of driving off cattle found damage fe-
fant on gavelkind lands; and alſo a cuſtom peculiar
to the Weald, that the lords, of whom the drove-
dennes were holden in gavelkind, ſhould have all the
great oaks, aſh, and beech growing there, together
with the pannage thereof, and the tenants only the
underwood, or at moſt the oak, aſh, and beech, un-
der forty years growth ; and there remains no foot-
ing of this right at this đay, this claim being given
up by the lords by their agreement with their tenants
in the time of Edward III. and Richard II. The
Kentiſh cuſtumal likewiſe claims, as a cuſtom common
to all Kentiſhmen, that their bodies be free, as well
as the other free bodies of England, which was for-
merly, whilft many of the ſubjects of this kingdom
remained under a ſtate of hereditary bondage, a moft
glorious and valuable birthright. Probably this pri-
vilege might have its commencement from fome ſta-
tute made for this purpoſe, for Somner has ſhewn, be-
yond contradiction, by ſeveral antient records, that
there have been villeins in Kent ſince the conqueſt.
sidor
2 Coke's Entries, p. 182. Speed's Chron. p. 1166,
See above, p. CXXXV.
Higit power to
There



UTGAVELKIND TENURESIS
317
There remains yet another privilege, formerly
claimed by the men of Kent, redounding much to
the honour of their county, which is, that of being
placed in the vanguard of the army, whenever they
engaged in common with the reſt of their neighbours;
which right was granted to theni on account of their
gallant and noble behaviour in the encounters between
the Saxons and Danes, long before the conqueſt, and
I ſhould ſuppoſe they would ſtill have an equal title
to this honour, and am ſure they would as well de-
ſerve it, was the national force of this kingdom at any
time called out into actual ſervice againſt the com-
mon enemies of this kingdom.
rogurto
There are ſeveral copies of the Cuſtumal of Kent,
fome in French, and others in Latin, in which laſt
it is entitled, Conſuetudines and Conſtitutiones Kantiæ, all
the copies of which differ exceedingly in many eſſen-
tial matters. There is one in manuſcript in the king's
remembrancer's office, ſeveral in the Cotton library
and among the Harlean manuſcripts in the Britiſh
muſeum. Theſe copies, with the difference between
them, may be ſeen in Robinſon's treatiſe on this fub-
ject. Mr. Lambarde has given a copy of the Cuſtu-
mal in French in both of his editions, which differ
exceedingly; and he owns, in his laſt edition, that
the copy there printed is what he had procured ſince
the former, and that it was by far the moſt
per-
fect. It has, in moſt of the Latin copies, the high
appellation of ſtatutum de confuetudinibus Kancie, which
my lord Coke alſo gives it; but it has no other foun-
dation for this title than its being met with in old
collections of ſtatutes, as many other matters are,
which were never enacted by authority of parliament.
However, thus much muſt be faid for the preſent au-
thority of this Cuſtumal ; of whatever original it may
be, it has received ſuch a ſanction from its antiquity,


c Robinſon's Gavelkind, p, 276, 280.
.
that
318
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
that it has been admitted in evidence to a jury, even
from Lambarde's copy. mail o ter se d Barbuda
There were in former times repeated claims made
of theſe liberties and cuſtoms before the Kentiſh juf-
tices in eyre, particularly in the reign of king Hen-
ry III. and Edward I. on account of the continual
encroachments inade on them, as well by the ſheriffs
as the reſt of the crown officers, and the uſage of
them was continually allowed in theſe iters. In one
of which, on a general claim of theſe liberties and
cuftoms, which the reſt of the kingdom had not the
uſage of, as the record now in the Surrenden library
ſets forth, upon occaſion of ſome burthens laid on the
commonalty of this county, derogatory to them, af-
ter enumerating each particular cuſtom, and pleading
that this county ought of right to be free froin the
grievances therein complained of, the record con-
tinues, becauſe the ſaid county was not conquered
with the reſt of the kingdom, but ſurrendered itſelf
up to the Conqueror by a peace made with him, and
a ſaving to itſelf of all liberties and free cuſtoms be-
fore that time had and uſed. This tranſaction is
thus celebrated by the old poet, Michael Drayton, in
his poem :



...
O noble Kent, this praiſe doth thee belong,
Moſt hard to be controllid, impatienteſt of wrong,
Who, when the Norman firſt, with pride and horror ſway'd,
Threw'ſt off the ſervile yoke upon the Engliſh laid,
And with a high reſolve moſt bravely did reſtore
That liberty ſo long enjoyed by thee before;
Not ſuff'ring foreign laws ſhould thy free cuſtoms bind,
Then only ſhewd’ſt thyſelf of antient Saxon kind.
Of all the Engliſh fhires be thou furnamed the free,
And foremoſt ever plac'd when they ſhall reckon'd be;
And let the town which chief of this rich country is arti
Of all the Britiſh ſees be ſtill metropolis. ou
as
CHE FILO


The
Poly Olbion, ſong xviii.
TVSGAVELKIND TENURES,
319

The confirmation of theſe their antient privileges
from the Conqueror was, no doubt, neceſſary for
ſuppoſing gavelkind to have been the common law of
the kingdom, we find this county kept and ſtill en-
joyed it by this compoſition, when alınoſt all the reſt
of the kingdom loſt it, and were forced to ſubmit
to the new laws of the Conqueror, but whether this
was managed by means of the moving wood at Swanſ-
combe, or by treaty there or elſewhere, I own, I have
not yet met with any authority ſufficient to deter-
mine.
It is laid down as a rule, that nothing but an act
of parliament can change the nature of gavelkind
lands, and this has occalioned the paſſing of ſeveral,
for the purpoſe of diſgavelling the poſſeſſions of divers
gentlemen in this county.
The feveral ſtatutes made for this purpoſe are pri-
vate ſtatutes, none of which are printed in the ſta-
tute books, except that of 3: Henry VIII. They are
as follows: en blenipa
albal aslow
An act in the oth year of king Henry VII, for
diſgavelling the lands of Sir Richard Guldeford.
An act in the 15th year of king Henry VIII. for
the lands of Sir Henry Wyat only.
An act in the 31ſt of king Henry VIJI. for the
lands of the following perſons ; of which thoſe marked
are named both in this act and the following
one of the 2d and 3d of king Edward VI.
balad 107 moda
THOMAS lord Cromwell, Anthony Sandes, or 110
Thomas lord Burghe, etiup
Edward Ifaac, 1090 bis
George
Percival Harte,
abc Andrew lord Windfore, ado to
Edward Monyns,
*Sir Thomas Cheyne, corteple William Whétnall
, T %
ah Sir Chriſtopher Hales, lo John Fogg, i BETA
Sir Thomas Willoughby,
*Sir Anthony St. Leger,
* John Guldeford,
* Sir Edward Wotton,
antisepla 150 Sir Edward Bowton,
Edward Thwaites,
*Sir Roger Chomley,
*William Roper,
fonton TV. Sir John Champneys,
thus *
* Thomas Kempe, int 230V
* John
320
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT. .

ugadt: 107
*John Baker, eſq. led Thomas Moyle,
Reginald Scott, on
* Thomas Harlakenden,
Edward Fetiplace,
Godfrey Lee,
10 Thomas Hardres, sed sva * James Hales, groads.
- William Waller, roeid Henry Huffey, bigail od
*Thomas Wilford, Koi Thomas Roydon, bava
Ano besplatno
An act in the 2d and 3d of king Edward VI. for the
Seter lands of the following perſons : cuantas
ev Sir Thomas Cheyne, Loo *William Roper, 10 admoa
*Sir Anthony Seintleger, oda * Thomas Wylforde, tev ton
Sir Robert Southwell, * Thomas Harlakenden, nici
/*Sir John Baker,
William Twiſenden,
Sir Edward Wootton,
Thomas Darrel, of Scot-
b. * Sir Roger Cholmley, da opney, as dabeinis 10
1. *Sir Thomas Moyle, bogor Robert Rudſtone, seeba
Sir John Gate, consulte
Thomas Roberts,
Sir Edmund Walfingham, Stephen Darrell,
* Sir John Guldeford,
Richard Coverte, accoltag
-i Sir Humphry Style 01 abi Chriſtopher Blower,
* Sir Thomas Kempe, doir Thomas Hendley, tshsday
Thomas Harman, lood at
a *Sir James Hales,
Thomas Lovelace,
Sir Walter Hendley,
e Reginald Peckham, vollot 20
TOP Sir George Harper, de Herbert Fynche, fos A
Sir Henry Iftley, uho i William Colepeper, lovaglib
Sir George Blage,
To Thomas Colepeper, of
John Mayne,
go
1 Walter Mayne,
HDS A
Bedgbury, VIDEO IV Thomas Walton, ebastarla
er John Čolepeper, of gui John Tufton, at fusa
en Thomas White, odtio abuel
Thomas Colepeper, ſon Peter Hayman,
gult of the faid John,
Thomas Argal.
916 * aur
Labobo bao be on to ano
An act in the ift of queen Elizabeth for the lands
of Thomas Browne, of Weſt Becheworth, in Surry,
u boi non
and George Browne, eſquire.
An act in the 8th of the ſame reign for the lands
of Thomas Browne, eſquire.
An act in the 21ſt of king James I. for the lands
of,
OUW TOUT
credibly utol
Thomas Potter, eſquire,
Sir George Rivers, knight,
ested
The
Sir Martin Bowes, tall &
Do Aylesford,


Ingren Sir John Rivers, baronet
.
GAVEL KIND TENURES:
321
The words made uſe of in theſe ſtatutes are very ge-
neral, ſuch as, that all manors, lands, tenements, &c.
whatſoever, lying and being within the county of
Kent, of which the perſons mentioned in the acts
were at that time ſeiſed, which then were of the na-
ture and tenure of gavelkind, ſhould from thenceforth
be clearly changed from the ſaid cuſtom, tenure, and
nature, and be made to deſcend according to the
common law, as if the ſame had never been of the
ſaid nature of gavelkind. Notwithſtanding the gene-
rality of which words, the courts have deterinined,
that the ſtatutes of diſgavelling only took away the
partibility, and not the other qualities and cuſtoms
appertaining to lands in Kent.
The great length of time ſince theſe acts were paſ-
ſed, the continual change of property fince, the ex-
tinction of the court of wards, and the inquiſitiones
poſt mortem, the want of knowledge where records are
depoſited, and the great expence of ſearching for
them, the difficulty of proving what eſtates the per-
ſons named in the diſgavelling ſtatutes were feiſed of
at the time of making them, together with that of
Thewing what lands were formerly ſubject to military
tenures, which increaſes every day ſince the abolition
of them; theſe difficulties are become ſo great, that
the poffeſſors of lands entitled to the benefit of theſe
acts chooſe, in general, to wave the privilege of them,
and to let their lands paſs in common with thoſe of
their neighbours, rather than enter into ſuch a laby-
rinth of trouble and expence, ſo that it may be af-
ferted, that there is at this time almoſt as much land
in this county ſubject to the controul of the cuſtom,
as there was before the diſgavelling ſtatutes were
made.

a
2
Robinſon, p. 55, 77, 83, 299, et ſeq.
VOL. I.
THE
322,
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

THE RELIGIOUS in this kingdom, as well
biſhops as others, in the time of the Saxons, held their
poſſeſſions by a tenure, called in French, frankalmoign,
in Latin, libera eleemoſyna, and pura et perpetua elee-
mofyna, that is, in free alms, or pure and perpetual alms,
to them and their fucceffors for ever. This is the
tenure by which almoſt all the antient monafteries
and religious houſes held their lands, and by which
the deans and chapters, clergy, and many other ec-
cleſiaſtical and eleemofynary foundations hold them at
this day; for frankalmoign is excepted by name in the
ſtatute of king Charles II. for aboliſhing tenures, and
therefore ſubliſts, in many inſtances, at this day. It
is a tenure of a nature very diſtinct from all others ;
being not in the leaſt feodal, but merely ſpiritual,
and was materially different from what was called te-
nure by divine ſervice, in which the tenants were
obliged to do ſome ſpecial divine ſervices in certain."
It was an old Saxon tenure, and continued under the
Norman revolution (excepting as to the biſhops and
greater abbots, whoſe poſſeſſions were made ſubject
by the Conqueror to knights ſervice in capite, through
the great reſpect that was ſhewn to religion and re-
ligious men, whoſe prayers (as the laws of king Ed-
ward II. expreſs) ought to be looked upon as more
effectual than the aſſiſtance of the ſecular arm, which
is the reaſon that tenants in frankalmoign were diſ-
charged of all other ſecular ſervices, except the trinoda
neceſitas of repairing highways, building caſtles, and
repelling invaſions, like as the Druids, among the
antient Britons, had omnium rerum immunitatem.
The clergy of this realm, in antient times, were
of two ſorts, regular and ſecular. The former were ſo
04
a
Blackſtone, vol. ii. p. 102.
called
RELIGIOUS HOUSES.
323
called becauſe they lived under the certain rules of
ſome order, and made a vow of true obedience, perpe-
tual chaſtity, and wilful poverty, of which ſort were all
abbots, priors, and others profeſſing any of the reli-
gious orders, called in law hommes de religion, men of
religion, or religious. The latter were perſons ec-
cleſiaſtical likewiſe, but becauſe they did not live un-
der the certain rules of ſome of thoſe orders, nor were
votaries, they were, for diſtinction's fake, called ſe-
cular, of which fort were biſhops, deans, and chap-
ters, archdeacons, prebendaries, canons, parſons, vi-
cars, and the like.
To give a general hiſtory of the ſeveral orders of
the regular clergy, ſuch as monks, friars, canons,
nuns, &c. with their particular origin, habit, and
rules of each, would ſwell this work much beyond
my preſent deſign, I ſhall therefore content myſelf
with obſerving what relates to their diffolution; in
the courſe of which will be found the number of each
order in this county, the amount of their revenues,
and the tiine of their being ſuppreſſed, and I muſt
refer the reader for the time of their foundation, and
other local particulars, to the pariſhes in which their
ſeveral houſes were ſituated.
There were in this county, of the Benedictine or-
der, two abbies, three priories, and five nunneries;
of the Cluniac, one priory; of the Ciſtercian, one
abbey; of fecular canons, five colleges ; of regular
canons, four abbies and five priories, one of which
was. Premonſtratenſian. Of the different forts of fri-
ars; of the Dominicans, one priory and one nunnery;
of the Franciſcans, two priories; of the Trinitarians,
one priory; of the Carmelites, three priories; of alien
priories, four. Two commanderies of the knights of
St. John of Jeruſalem, and fifteen hoſpitals, beſides
ſeveral hermitages, chauntries, and free chapels.
Theſe houſes were ſuppreſſed at ſeveral different times.
The firſt of which, in this county (for I do not men-
tion





Y2
924
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

tion thoſe which were united to other houſes) was in
the reign of king Henry VI. a time when learning
had began to revive, and great men grew fond of
founding colleges and houſes of learning, which they
got leave to endow with lands given to the mainte-
nance of monks.
In the 16th year of the above reign archbiſhop Chi-
cheley founded All Souls college, in Oxford, and after
the example of William Wickham, biſhop of Win-
cheſter, in his foundation of New-college in that uni-
verſity, obtained leave to ſettle the revenues of ſeveral
alien priories on it, among which was one at New
Romney, in this county.
Several other colleges, both in Oxford and Cam-
bridge, were founded and endowed in the ſame man-
ner. And about the 21ſt year of king Henry VII.
anno 1508, Margaret, counteſs of Richmond and
Derby, began the foundation of St. John's-college, in
Cambridge, which her executors, one of whom was
· John Fiſher, biſhop of Rocheſter, carried forward, and
at his deſire the nunnery of-Littlechurch, alias Hig-
ham, and an hoſpital of Regulars at Oſpringe in this
county, were among others ſuppreſſed, and the reve-
nues fettled upon that college.
In the reign of king Henry VIII. cardinal Wolſey,
being deſirous of founding two colleges, one at Ipf-
wich, and another at Oxford, and finding there were
ſeveral mean monaſteries in England, where both the
revenues and the number of religious were too ſmall
to keep up regular diſcipline, church-ſervice, and hof-
pitality, obtained leave of the pope, in the 16th year
of that reign, anno 1524, for ſuppreſſing, with the
king's good will, as many ſmall monaſteries as were
needful to raiſe a revenue, not exceeding three thou-
fand ducats per annum. To this the king next year
conſented, and above thirty religious houſes, moſt of



Coke's Inft. part i. p. 93. Tan. Mon. Præf.
P.
xxxiv.
them
RELIGIOUS HOUSES.
325

them very ſmall, were ſuppreſſed for this purpoſe;
among which were the priories of regular canons at
Leſnes and Tunbridge in this county.
About the ſame time a bull was granted by the
pope to cardinal Wolſey, for the ſuppreſſing mona-
ſteries, where there were not above fix monks, to the
value of eight thouſand ducats per annum, for en-
dowing Windſor and King's colleges, Cambridge, and
two other bulls were likewiſe granted to cardinals
Wolſey and Campejus, for ſuppreſſing thoſe where
there were leſs than twelve monks, and annexing them
to the greater monaſteries; another was likewiſe
granted to the ſame cardinals, to enquire of abbies
to be ſuppreſſed, in order to their being made cathe-
drals, but nothing appears to have been done in pur-
ſuance of theſe bulls.
Afterwards another bull was granted to the ſame
two cardinals, with fuller powers relating to the new
cathedrals, for that ſome of the dioceſes were thought
too large, and wanted much to be reduced, as it was
ſaid, that the biſhops might the better diſcharge their
offices. The chief intent of cardinal Wolſey, and of
moſt others, in fuppreſſing theſe houſes, ſeems to
have been the promoting of learning, though proba-
bly ſome, both then and afterwards, might encourage
it with other views, Archbiſhop Cranmer, in parti-
cular, is ſaid to have been much for it, becauſe he
could not carry on the reformation without it; and
the increafe of learning having made the corruptions
of the church more viſible, many alſo might promote
the diffolution of them, as nurſeries of ſuperſtition.
But many other cauſes which concurred to bring on
their ruin; for many of the religious were certainly
looſe and vicious, though not near fo bad as the vi-
fitors repreſented them, who, to make their court to
their ſuperiors, and perhaps in conformity to private
inſtructions, made uſe of every art to run them down,
and ſet them in the moſt odious light. Lord Her-
Y 3
bert




326
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
bert tells us, that ſome ſocieties behaved ſo well, that
their lives were not only exempt from notorious faults
but their ſpare time was beſtowed in writing books,
painting, carving, graving, and the like exerciſes, ana
the preamble to the firſt act of diffolution ſets forth,
that in the greater monaſteries religion was right well
obſerved and kept up.
The caſting off the pope's
ſupremacy was urged as
another cauſe for the ſuppreſſion of theſe orders, who,
notwithſtanding their ſubſcriptions, were generally
thought to be againſt it in their hearts, and ready to
join with any foreign power that ſhould invade the
nation, whilſt the king was excommunicated by the
pope. Their revenues not being employed according
to the deſign and intent of the donors, was alſo al-
ledged againſt them. The diſcoveries of ſeveral cheats
in their images, miracles, and counterfeit reliques, is
ſaid to have brought the monks everywhere into dif-
grace, and to have contributed much towards their
overthrow, Yet, notwithſtanding theſe ſpecious rea-
fons were, and might well be urged, it is very likely a
principal inducement to their ruin was their large
revenues, and the moveables in money, jewels, &c.
which they were poffefſed of.
However, their ſuppreſſion being reſolved on, after
ſome debate in council, how to proceed with theſe
houſes, the king appointed commiſſioners to viſit
them, and take the value of every religious houſe in
the kingdom, their lands, and revenues; and the re-
port of theſe viſitors was ſuch, that when a motion
was made in parliament ſhortly after, that, in order
to ſupport the king's ſtate and ſupply its wants, all
the religious houſes, which were not above the clear
value of two hundred pounds per annum, might be
utterly ſuppreſſed, and the fame, together with their
lands, tenements, and other hereditaments, conferred
on the crown, after ſome oppoſition in the houſe of
commons, an act paffed for that purpoſe, in the 27th
year





W RELIGIOUS HOUSES.
327
year of king Henry VIII. which not only gave theſe
to the king, but all ſuch as within one year next be-
fore had been ſurrendered to the king, or otherwiſe
diffolved. OVIM
By this act, and the proceedings of the viſitors,
about three hundred and eighty houſes were diffolved,
and their revenues of upwards of thirty thouſand
pounds per annum came to the crown, beſides a hun-
dred thouſand pounds in plate and jewels. As to the
religious in them, though ſome were allowed to go to
the greater monaſteries, yet it is ſaid that ten thouſand
perſons were hereby fent to ſeek their fortunes in the
world, without any other allowance than forty ſhil-
lings and a new gown to ſome few of them. Among
the above was the Franciſcan priory at Greenwich,
which was ſuppreſſed Auguſt 11, anno 26 Henry VIII.
After which the following houfes were ſuppreſſed in
this county in the courſe of the next year:-Weſt
Langdon abbey, Folkeſtone priory, Dover priory, Bil-
ſington priory, Minſter in Shepey nunnery, Canter-
bury priory, St. Gregory's, Dover, St. Radigund's
abbey, and the priories of Cumbwell, Horton, Hed-
corne, Mottenden, Canterbury, Aylesford, Newen-
den, and Sandwich. prackostolstadt od
The ſuppreſſion of theſe houſes in different parts
of England, occaſioned great diſcontents, fomenied
probably by the ſecular as well as regular clergy,
which at length broke out into open rebellion, which
being appeaſed, the king thought it the propereft op-
portunity of putting his reſolution in practice, of fup-
preſſing the reſt of the monafteries, and thereupon
appointed a new viſitation of them, requiring the vi-
ſitors to examine whatever related either to their con-
verſation, or their affection to himſelf and the ſupre-
macy, or to their cheats, impoftures, or ſuperſti-
tions, or how they were affected during the late com-



a Tan. Mon. Præf. p. xxxv. xxxvi.
Y 4
motions,
328
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
motions, and in ſhort to diſcover all that was amifs
in them.
This cauſed the greater abbies to be ſurrendered
apace, for ſome of the religious having been faulty
in the late rebellion, were liable to the king's dif-
pleaſure, and ſurrendered their houſes and poſſeſſions
to ſave their lives. Some began to like the reforma-
tion, or, at leaſt, a ſecular life, or were perſuaded to
it by promiſes of penſions and preferments. Others,
ſeeing their diffolution approaching, had ſo much em-
bezzled their revenues, that they were ſcarce able to
keep up their houſes. A great many monks were
executed for having been in the rebellion; and many
were prevailed on, by the threats and promiſes of the
viſitors, to ſign their reſignations.? andy uvode od
In purſuance of this management the following
houſes were ſurrendered in this county: viz. Canter-
bury priory, Boxley abbey, Canterbury, St. Sepul-
chre's nunnery, in the 29th year of that reign, and
Faverſham, St. Auſtin's (Canterbury) abbies, and
Malling nunnery, in the courſe of the next year.
Many petitions were made, even by thoſe that were
for the reformation, that ſome of theſe houſes might
be ſpared, but a reſolution being taken at court to
extirpate them all, the petitions were rejected; and
though there was no law to oblige the abbots to reſign,
yet by means, ſome of which were not the moſt honeſt,
they were all wrought upon to do it. And the next
year, 31 Henry VIII. 1539, an act paſſed, by which
all the religious houſes which ſince the former act had
been ſuppreſſed or given up, or which after this act
might be ſurrendered or given up, were confirmed to
the king and his fucceffors, In which act is a clauſe
reſpecting privileges and exemptions, which was not
in the former one. This clauſe gave the houſes, lands,
and hereditaments to the king and his ſucceſſors, in




a Burn's Eccleſ. Law, vol. ii. p. 462,
as
RELIGIOUS HOUSES.
329
as full and as ample a manner as the governors of thoſe
houſes held the fame in right of their faid houſes ;
and that ſuch of their lands as before the diffolution
were diſcharged of tithes, ſhould continue in like
inanner diſcharged of the ſame afterwards.
By this act no houſes were ſuppreſſed, but all furren-
ders, which either were or ſhould be made, were con-
firmed. The mitred, or parliamentary abbots were,
moſt of them in being and preſent at the paſſing of it,
and were every one, ſhortly after, brought to ſurren-
der, except the abbots of Colcheſter, Glaſtonbury,
and Reading, who could not be prevailed upon ſo to
do, and were therefore accuſed of high treaſon, and
executed, and their abbies ſeiſed, as forfeited to the
king by their attainder, lo
The remainder of the religious houſes ſuppreſſed
in this county was, in Canterbury, Chriſtchurch pri.
ory, Dartford nunnery, Leeds priory, and in Rocheſ-
ter, St. Andrew's priory.
1. The next year an act paſſed for the ſuppreſſing the
order of the Knights of St. John of Jeruſalem, com-
monly called the Knights Hoſpitallers, in conſe-
quence of which, among the reſt of their revenues in
this county, there were two of their commanderies in
it given up to the king, viz. the commandery or
preceptory at Weſt Peckham, and the like at Swing-
field. od Quod
By the ſuppreſſion of theſe greater houſes by the
two above-mentioned acts, the king obtained a re-
venue of above one hundred thouſand pounds per
annum, beſides a very large ſum in plate and jewels.
However he was not in poſſeſſion of the whole of this
income; for the religious of moſt of theſe houſes had
fomething given them for their preſent ſubſiſtence,
and penſions aſſigned to them for life, or until they
ſhould be preferred to ſome dignity or cure, of as
great or greater value than their penſions, which were
generally





330
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
generally proportioned according to their readineſs to
promote the king's meaſures. Tous ber ute
In the 37th year of king Henry VIII, the parlia-
ment, in order to ſupply the king's wants, granted to
him all colleges, chantries, free chapels, hoſpitals, and
guilds, ſome of which had been before ſurrendered.
This act was made fo general that even the colleges
in the univerſities of Oxford and Cambridge, with
thoſe of Eaton and Wincheſter, were not exempted
in it; and upon the breaking up of the parliament in
February, notice was ſent to both univerſities, that
their colleges were at the king's diſpoſal, upon which
they petitioned for mercy, which was ſoon obtained.
But the commiſſioners, named in this act, for giving
the king poſſeſſion of the colleges, &c. had not time
to enter upon many of them before his death, which
happened in the January following ; ſo that moſt of
them remained till the firſt year of king Edward VI.
anno 1548, when they were granted by another act,
in which the colleges of both univerſities, thoſe of
Eaton and Wincheſter, were excepted, as ſome few
others were to the king; they were conſequently moſt
of them foon deſtroyed, to the number of ninety col.
leges, one hundred and ten hoſpitals, and two thou-
ſand three hundred and ſeventy-four chantries and
free chapels.
carbo
In this county were the following hoſpitals and col-
leges, in Canterbury, Eaſtbridge, Maynard's, and
Northgate hoſpitals; in Chatham, St. Bartholomew's
hoſpital; Harbledown, Hythe; in Sandwich, St.
Bartholomew's hoſpital; in Canterbury, St. Laurence
and St. Margaret's, poor prieſts, hoſpitals ; in Dover
St. Bartholomew and Maiſon Dieu hoſpitals; in
Thanington, St. James's hoſpital; Sevenoke, and
Strood hoſpitals, Bredgar, Maidſtone, Wingham, Cob-
ham, and Wye fecular colleges. Dette blood
de tela Dot73 Telera
The


RELIGIOUS HOUSES.
331

try.
The following is a liſt of the chantries, free chapèls,
guilds, fraternities, &c. in this county:
Aſh, by Sandwich, chantry. Orpington, Rufferth chan-
Bapchild, Radfield free chapel. try, in Crofton.
Chidingſtone chantry.
Penſhurſt chantry.
Cranbrook, Milkhouſe free cha- Pepenbury chantry.
pel,
Petham, Depden chantry.
Herne, Virgin Mary, chantry. Reculver, Holy Trinity chan-
Horton Kirkby, chantry.
Maidſtone Fraternity of Corpus Sandwich, in St. Peter's
Chriſti.
church, chantry.
Malling, Eaſt, a free chapel, cal. Sevenoke chantry.
led Newhyth,
Sittingborne chantry, and
Orpington chapel
, two chantries. Teynham chantry.
697
The total clear revenues of the above monaſteries,
and other religious foundations in this county, were
about nine thouſand pounds per annum ; and the
number of houſes ſuppreſſed, from firſt to laſt, were
three thouſand one hundred and eighty-two; and their
clear yearly revenue about one hundred and forty
thouſand ſeven hundred and eighty-five pounds; the
perſons they contained were eſtimated at forty-ſeven
thouſand ſeven hundred and twenty-one. od mene
As there were penſions paid to almoſt all thoſe of
the greater monaſteries, the king did not immedi-
ately come into the full enjoyment of their whole re-
However, out of what did come to him, he
founded fix new biſhoprics, and in eight other fees
he founded deans and chapters, by turning the priors
and monks into deans and prebendaries; among which
were thoſe of Canterbury and Rocheſter, He found-
ed two colleges in Oxford and Cambridge, and ſe-
veral profefforſhips in both univerſities, and was a mu-
nificent benefactor to the city of London. Beſides
which, he laid out great ſums in building and forti-
fying the forts and caſtles on the ſea-coaſt, and in-
tended to have done more, but by the continual
grants he made of theſe lands to his courtiers, and an
unbounded

venues.

332 GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
unbounded laviſhneſs in his expences, he foon waſted
the whole of this immenſe revenue, and nothing far-
ther was done by him.
It is much to be lamented, that, in the hurry of
this diffolution, great numbers of excellent books, and
other manuſcripts, were made away with and deſtroy-
ed, to the unſpeakable loſs of the learned world; for
there was ſcarce any religious houſe that had not a
library, and ſeveral of them had very good ones.
From their chronicles, regiſters, and other books re-
lating to their own houſes and eſtates, the hiſtory and
antiquities of the nation in general, and of almoſt
every particular part of it, might have been more
fully diſcovered. The many good accounts of fami-
lies, of the foundation, eſtabliſhment, and appropria-
tion of pariſh churches, and the endowment of their
vicarages; of the antient bounds of foreſts, counties,
hundreds, and pariſhes; of the privileges, tenures,
and rents of many manors and eſtates, and the like,
which we meet with in ſuch of their books as are ſtill
remaining, are ſufficient teſtimonies how great the ad-
vantage would have been had there been a greater
number of them preſerved,


hoa
sulloso
no
THE moſt authentic and moſt antient record in
this kingdom, being the fountain from which every
local hiſtory of it muſt derive its ſource, is DOMESDAY
Book, which was begun by William the Conqueror,
in the fifteenth year of his reign, anno 1080, and fi-
niſhed in fix years; for the univerſal eſtabliſhment of
tenures, in which, and the article of tallage, its autho-
rity ſtands unqueſtioned.
The antient univerſal method of trial in our law
courts is by jury, except when the evidence is Domeſ-
day; when this happens, the barons of the exchequer,
on proper writs being directed to them from the court
before

RECORD OF DOMESDAY.
333
before which the trial is to be, return thither that
part of Domeſday which concerns the matter in quef-
tion, atteſted by the proper officers, which record
alone determines the ſuit without any jury being had.
This manuſcript contains a general ſurvey of every
part of England, except the three moſt northern
counties, which were ſo ravaged by war, that no ac-
count could be taken of them. It was begun, in
imitation of king Alfred's policy, who, when he di-
vided his kingdom into counties, hundreds, and tith-
ings, had an inquiſition taken and digeſted into a re-
giſter, called Domeboc, which was repoſited in the
church of Wincheſter, and thence called Codex Win-
tonienfis.
This new ſurvey, therefore, was in imitation of
king Alfred's, and was for ſome time kept in the ſame
church. It ſeems to have been called by the ſame
name, allowing for the corruption of language, which
altered Domeboc into Domeſday Book. It was often
termed by Latin Writers, Liber Judicialis, from its
giving final judgment in the tenure of eſtates. a
This general ſurvey of the kingdom was taken be-
fore certain itinerant commiffioners, conſiſting of the
great men and bilhops, moſtly Normans, ſent from
court for this purpoſe. Theſe inquiſitors, upon the
oaths of the ſhrieves, the lords of each manor, the
preſbyters of every church, the reves of every hun-
dred, and fix villeins of every village, were to enquire
into the name of the place, who held it in king Ed-
ward the Confeſſor's time, who was the preſent pof-
feffor, how many hides or ſulings there were in the
manor, how many carucates in demeſne, how many
freemen, how many tenants in focage, how many in
villenage, how much wood, meadow, and paſture,
how many mills and fiſh-ponds, how much was ad-
ded or taken away, what was the value, and how



* Kennet's Paroch. Antiq. p. 63. Brady's Hiſt. Eng. p. 205.
much
334 GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.
much it was taxed for in king Edward's time, and
what then, and what was yearly received from it at
that time. This inquiſition was not finiſhed till the
twentieth of the Conqueror's reign, being regiſtered
in two books, called Great and Little Domeſday ;
theſe are now kept in the old chapter houſe, in the
cloiſters, adjoining to Weſtminſter-abbey, under the
care of the officers of the exchequer. The former is
a large folio, finely written on three hundred and eigh-
ty-two double pages of vellum, in a ſmall, but plain
character, and double columns. It contains thirty-
one counties. The latter is in quarto, written on
four hundred and fifty ſuch pages, in ſingle columns,
and a fair but large hand, containing Eflex, Norfolk,
and Suffolk. That part of the greater volume, which
relates to Kent, contains fourteen leaves, each having
four columns, each column containing fifty lines ;
the copy of which, for this work, atteſted by the pro-
per officer, at the uſual fee of four-pence a line,
amounted to forty-lix pounds thirteen ſhillings and
four-pence.
The method of entering this ſurvey in Domeſday,
ſo far as relates to this county, need not be particu-
larized here. It may be ſeen by the ſeveral parts of
the book, inſerted in the account of the pariſhes to
which they relate; in moſt of which it will be ob-
ſerved how much, in the orthography of names of
places, the Norman ſcribes were miſtaken, which is
not to be wondered at, as they ſeldom copied the
names from any other writing, but contented them-
felves with taking it from the mouths of the Saxon
informers, whoſe pronunciation could not be fit to
dictate to foreigners, who, beſides, might purpoſely
deprave and contract the Saxon words out of pure de-
teftation of that language, which their maſter had ſo
great a deſire to extirpate ; nay, the difference of
many of the names of places in this ancient record,
from thofe by which they are called at preſent, is ſo
great,


RECORD OF DOMESDAY.
335.
great, that ſeveral of them cannot now, with any
degree of certainty, be appealed to as the true and
proper names of them without conjecture.
The part of Domeſday, in which this county is
deſcribed, is entitled CHENTH, and begins with the
ſurvey of Dovre; then follow the ſeveral cuſtoms
claimed by the king, the archbiſhop, and others over
different parts and places in the county; the ſurvey
of the lands of the Canons of St. Martin's in Dovre';
the ſurvey of the city of Canterbury, and the ſeveral
cuſtoms claimed by the archbiſhop and others there-
in; the ſurvey of the city of Rocheſter, and the re-
maining part of the lands belonging to St. Martin's,
Dovre. Then follow the names of the ſeveral poffef-
ſors of the land, deſcribed in this ſurvey, being in
number thirteen.
1. King William.
7. The abbot of St. Auſtin's.
2. Archbiſhop of Canterbury. 8. The abbot of Ghent,
3. His monks and his ten 9. Hugh de Montfort.
ants.
10. Earl Euſtace.
4. The biſhop of Rocheſter. II. Richard de Tunbridge.
5. The biſhop of Baieux. 12. Hamo Vicecomes.
6. The abbot of Battel.
13. Albert Capellanus.
Theſe twelve were the king's principal tenants in capite,
who held immediately of him as of his crown. The
king's poffeffions are next deſcribed, under the title
of terra regis, or antient demeſne; under which are
comprehended Dartford, Hawley, Aylesford, Milton,
by Sittingborne, and Faverſham.. Then follow the
lands of the ſeveral tenants above-mentioned, in the
order there placed under their ſeveral titles, among
theſe the biſhop of Baieux's poffeffions were exceed-
ing great, more than all the others put together. In
the above ſurvey it is obſerved, there are many towns
and villages quite unnoticed, the reaſon of which
might be, that it was chiefly intended to give the king


2 Kennet's Par. Antiq. p. 64.
a true
336
GENERAL HISTORY OF KENT.

a true account of his own lands and demeſnes, and
what were held by his tenants in capite ; and many
names omitted in it, were, no doubt, comprehended
under the title of ſome larger manors, or were waſte
and of no account at the time of the ſurvey.
Having now treated of thoſe matters, which con-
cern the General Hiſtory of this County, as far as the
compaſs of this work would allow of, I ſhall begin
the deſcription of the ſeveral Laths, Hundreds, and
Pariſkes, within it, taking them in geographical or-
der, from the weſtern part of this county at the en-
trance of it at Deptford, and ſo proceeding on eaſt-
ward till I come to the land's end.

1

А
TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY,
OR
HISTORY
OF THE SEVERAL
LATHS AND HUNDREDS
IN THE
COUNTY OF KENT,
AND OF EACH
PARTICULAR TOWN AND PARISH
WITHIN IT.
VOL. I.
Z

Land we
The Northeast
View of the Remains of Eltham Palace
10 Sestd
THE LATH OF SUTTON AT HONEN
ATHS oj botimiiqonaqa plolol
Put your needa 290 de ada to akmer
THE FOLLOWING HUNDREDS :hqedo
1. BLACKHEATH. libet
als 291 11
odnon 3
CONTAINS
VI.
AXTANE.
II. { ENHAM.
S BROMLEY AND BECK-
VII. CODSHEATH.
VIII. S WESTRAM AND EA,
TONBRIDGE,
III. RUXLEY. balein ei
IV. LITTLE AND LESNES.
SDARTFORD AND WIL-
1 MINGTON,
IX.
SOMERDEN,
THE HUNDRED OF BLACKHEATH.
This bundred is called in Domeſday the hundred
of Grenviz (or Greenwich), which name it did not
keep long, for in the 7th year of king Edward I. it
was called by its prefent name, the king being then
lord of it. It is divided into two half hundreds—the
Upper and the Lower half hundred, each of which
has a conſtable, who has juriſdiction over the whole
of it; both are choſen at the court leet of the hune
dred.

2 2
IT

340
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
IT CONTAINS THESE PARISHES:
HES:
1. DEFTFORD, as far as lies
5. ELTHAM with MOTTING-
within this county,
HAM.
2. GREENWICH.
6. LEE.
3. CĦARLTON with Kid 7. LEWISHAM,
BROOKE.
And part of
4, WOOLWICH
CHESILHURST.
And all the churches of thoſe pariſhes, except Cheſilhurſt,
DEPTFORD,
AS far as lies within this county, is within the
hundred of Blackheath, and was ſo named from the
deep ford here over the river Ravenſborne, before the
bridge was erected. It was generally known in an
tient records by the name of Deptford Strond, alias
Weſt Greenwich, a name which, in later times, became
ſolely appropriated to the lower parts of it, on the
banks of the Thames, the upper town retaining that
of Deptford only
It lies almoſt four miles diſtant from London, on
the north-weſt verge of the county, on the bank of
the Thames, and adjoining to the county of Surry,
in which a ſmall part of it is ſituated. In the time
of the Romans it was little, if at all inhabited, the
tide, moſt probably, flowing at times over the greateſt
part of it; this might occaſion the Roman way to be
made to the ſouthward, and not through it, in the
direct line to London, as at preſent. But Deptford
continued little more than a mean fiſhing village,
notwithſtanding its contiguity to this road, and its
nearneſs to the metropolis till king Henry VIII. firſt
created a ſtore-houſe, and made the royal dock here,
from which time it has continued to increaſe both in
ſize and inhabitants, fo that it is now a large and po-
pulous town, though it has no market, being divided
into Upper and Lower Deptford, containing in the
2
? Rot. Excheq. anno 20 Edw. III. No: 66.
whole

DEPTFORD. 341
1041
DA
whole about three thouſand five hundred houſes and
fifteen thouſand inhabitants. Great part of it, as
well as its environs, is inhabited by people of good
faſhion and credit. Since the great increaſe of trade,
its vicinity to London, and its
ſituation on the bank
of the Thames, has been the occaſion of ſeveral con-
fiderable manufactories being eſtabliſhed in it, which
are moſtly ſituated in the Lower town, near the river.
Thefé, together with the royal and other docks, the
buſineſs of government attendant on them, and that
of the ſhipping in general, continually carrying on,
make it a place of much refort, traffic, and wealth.
However, the greateſt ſupport and conſequence of
Deptford certainly ariſes from the royal dock, where
at firſt the whole of the royal navy was, for ſome time
after it was eſtabliſhed, built and repaired, until it
was found more convenient to build the larger ſhips
at Woolwich and other places, where there is greater
depth of water. Notwithſtanding which this yard
has been from time to time enlarged to more than
double its original dimenſions, and great numbers of
hands are conſtantly employed in the different branches
of the fervice here.
It has a wet dock of two acres for ſhips, and ano-
ther of an acre and a half, with vaſt quantities of
timber and other ſtores, and extenſive buildings, as
ſtorehouſes and other offices for the uſe of the place,
and handſome houſes for thoſe officers who are obliged
to live upon the ſpot. There is no particular commif-
fioner appointed for this yard, but it is under the im-
mediate inſpection of the navy board, which has under
it in reſidence here a clerk of the cheque and ſurvey,
a ſtore-keeper, a maſter ſhipwright, or builder, and
other officers, clerks, and inferior ſervants, employed
in their reſpective ſtations in it. A geometrical plan
and elevation of the dock-yard, with part of the town,
was publiſhed by T. Milton, 1753. The vi&tualling-
office was, by accident, burnt down in 1749, and a great
quantity
z 3

34%
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
quantity of proviſions and other ſtores conſumed.
This building was intended to ſupply the place of
the old victualling-office on Tower-hill
, the leaſe
whereof was then almoſt expired.
Beſides the royal dock there are many private ones
in this pariſh and adjoining to it, ſome of which, from
their extent, the many ſhips continually repairing
and building in them, and the vaſt ſtores of timber,
tackling, and other neceſſaries laid up there, would
be eſteemed in any other country fufficient for the
navy of a kingdom; though they are here fully em-
ployed by the merchants and traders of Great-Britain;
and Stow, in his Survey of London, fays, that two
hundred and fifty acres of meadow, lying in Dept-
ford, next the river Thames, by the dock-yard, were
purchaſed about 1656, by Robert Stanton, Samuel
Moyer, and Charles Harris, and others, for making
harbours and moles for the riding of three hundred
fail of ſhips, without the uſe of anchor and cable ;
and where many conveniences were to be made for
building, repairing, and careening fhips ; towards
which much had been expended in digging one of the
moles, and cuts towards the other, and contracts
made, for proviſions and workmanſhip, to a great
value. This was confirmed by the parliament in the
ܪ
fame year.
What is called the Redhouſe, is a place fituated a
little to the north-weſt of Deptford, and was a noted
collection of warehouſes and ſtorehouſes, built of red
bricks, and from that circumſtance had its name. It
contained ſeveral ſorts of merchandizes, as hemp,
flax, pitch, tar, and other commodities of a ſimilar
kind; which were all conſumed by an accidental fire
in 1639. The loſs was incredible, for the materials
were ſo combuſtible, that nothing could be ſaved,
Vol. II. Append. p. 89.
ngr

DEPTFORD.
343
nor could the flames be extinguiſhed till they had no-
thing left to prey upon.
In the lower part of Deptford are the two churches
of St. Nicholas and St. Paul, as is the ſcite of the
antient manſion of Saye’s-court, long ſince demoliſhed,
the preſent building on it being made uſe of, as the
pariſh workhouſe of St. Nicholas, the only remains
of its former ſtate being two brick piers of a large
gateway. Near it is ſtill remaining the holly hedge
mentioned by Evelyn in his Sylva. The lands in this
part of the pariſh are very rich and fertile, and are
let at high rents to gardeners for the uſe of the public
markets.
The high road from London to Dover croſſes this
pariſh through the town of Upper Deptford; at the
Broadway, fouthward of which the lands rife to the
hills, being in general very poor and barren. Hence
the pariſh extends farther ſouthward to Brockley-farm,
adjoining to Lewiſham, near which it is much co-
vered with coppice wood.
At New Croſs, which is now eſteemed as the wef-
tern boundary of this county adjoining to Surry,
though great part of the pariſh of St. Paul, Dept-
ford, extends into the latter, the great London road
divides, the northern one leading through Upper
Deptford and the fouthern one over Loampit-hill,
towards Lewiſham; and here it muſt be obſerved that
the county of Kent formerly extended much farther
to the weſtward than it does ar preſent, having had
the whole of what is now contained in St. Paul's pa-
riſh formerly within its bounds, though now the ad-
joining county of Surry claims great part of it, for
the manor and ſeat of Hatcham, belonging to the
haberdaſhers company within this pariſh, though now
eſteemed to be within that county, is by moſt fuppo-
ſed to have been formerly within the county of Kent,
however the boundaries have been ſince altered, for
the name of this place ſhews its ſituation cloſe to the
confines
Z4
344
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED,
confines of both counties, the ſame as Kent-hatchi
,
in Weſteram, points out its ſituation at the very out-
ſide of this county; and ſeveral inquiſitions, taken
ſince the time of king Henry III. have found Hat-
cham to be in Kent. The manor of Bredinghurſty
at Peckham-rye, near Camberwell, though now held
to be in Surry, was likewiſe formerly held to be in
this county. The antient roll of the barony of Ma-
minot, before cited, mentions it as lying within it;
and part of the manor of Deptford Strond, now
accounted wholly within Surry, was ſo lately as
king Henry VIII.'s reign, deſcribed as lying within
the county of Kent. The reception of priſoners from
one county to the other, for a long ſpace of time, at
New-croſs, has moſt probably been the occaſion of
fixing the boundaries between them at this place;
but this is certainly, however now fixed by cuſtom,
erroneous, for of right thoſe of this county ſhould ex-
tend to a ſmall bridge beyond Hatcham, in the road
to London, near the way to Bredinghurſt, which, by
an inquiſition, taken in the ſeventh year of king
Richard II. was then reckoned to be in Kent.
In the town of Upper Deptford there is a hand-
ſome ſtone bridge over the river Ravenſborne (which
here empties itſelf into the Thames). It was ſome
years ago made much more commodious for paſſen-
gers at the expence of the public. Here was former-
ly a wooden bridge only, which was rebuilt at the
ſole coſt of king Charles I. in 1628 ; but in former
times it had been repaired at the charge of the adja-
cent country, as appears by a record in the Tower, in
which it is ſaid, that the reparation of it belonged to
the inhabitants of the hundred of Blackheath, and
not to thoſe of Eltham, Modingham, and Woolwich."
Over this bridge the high road leads up Deptford-hill

* Kent. Inquiſ. 7. Rich. II. No. 30. Poft. Mort. E. fil. Tho.
Dolfil. Phil. Ibid. Lamb. Per. p. 469. Lel. Itin. p. 15, 94.
to
DEPTFORD.ADA
345

to Blackheath in its way to Dover, at the land's end, on
the north fide of the above hill are very extenſive gra-
vel and ſand pits, which being ſo near the metropolis,
are productive of great profit; among them were dif-
covered, ſome years ago, ſome long fubterraneous paf-
ſages, fince called The Caverns, near which a houſe of
public entertainment has been built, to which the cu-
rious frequently reſort to ſee them.
2 In 1690, a Janus's head was found in the road to
New Croſs, near St. Thomas's watering place, one
ſide of which repreſented the countenance of a man,
bearded, with the horns and ears of a ram, a a jewel or
ornament hanging down near them on each ſide his
head, which was crowned with laurel; on the oppoſite
ſide was the countenance of a young woman, in antient
head attire, which at the ſame time that it covered the
head, projected from it. It was entire, and ſeemed
formerly to have been fixed to a ſquare column, or
to a terminus. It was a foot and a half high. It af-
terwards was depoſited in the collection of the learned
and curious Dr. Woodward. Below is the figure of it.
-See Horſley, Brit. Rom. p. 343.
ਤੋਂ ਵਧ tale decades
do AM 15011 in osnosti
brine ou But
logo
Wood




GAME
346
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

Our Botanists have taken notice of the follow-
ing rare plants, growing in and about this place:
Sinum majus anguſti folium, leſſer water parſnip.
Garyophyllus pratenſis, the Deptford or wild creeping
pink.
Engliſh cudweed.
Tragopogon luteum, yellow goatſbeard.
Bugloffum luteum, lang de beefe, in Latin, lingua bovis
et bugloſſum luteum, hieracio cognatum et bugloffa fyl-
veſtris, or wild buglofs.
Cicutaria paluſtris, wild water hemlock.a
Blattaria, moth mullin ; variat flore albo ; growing both
here and at Greenwich.
Dipſacus minor five virga paftoris, jhepherd's-rod.
Nummularia, money wort; flore purpurafcente.b
To this part of Kent, ſo fruitful to the herbaliſt,
that delight and ornament of our nation, Mr. Cowley,
before he removed to Chertſey, frequently retired ;
where every field and wood could ſhew him the real
figures of which he read, and from which he compoſed
his books of plants, herbs, and flowers ; the more
happy ſituation to him, as it was near Mr. John Eve-
lyn, of Saye’s-court, who was ever forward to commu-
nicate his art and knowledge for the benefit of others.
DEPTFORD was given by William the Conqueror to
Gilbert de Magminot, one of his favourites, together
with many other lands, in different counties, conſiſting
of twenty-four knights, fees, to hold of the caſtle of
Dover in capite by barony, by the performance of cer-
tain ſervices for the defence of it, and thefe together
made up the barony of Magminot.
Gilbert de Magminot (or Maminot, as this name
was afterwards more frequently ſpelt) fixed the ſcite of
Johnſon's Gerarde's Herb. p. 257, 594, 596, 644, 736, 798,
1064, and Merrett's Pinax. p. 22.
Merrett's Pinax. p. 16, 33.
Philipot, p. 160.
his
DEPTFORD. AS
347

his barony here, which therefore was afterwards ef-
teemed caput baronia, or head of the barony, and he
erected a caſtle on it, as was uſual in thofe days, every
part of which has been long ſince buried in its own
ruins; though ſome remains of ſtony foundations ſeem
to point out the ſituation of it, near Saye’s-court, in
Bromfield, on the bank of the Thames, near the maſt
dock. His grandſon, Wakelin, died without iſſue,
in the third year of king Richard I. having been a good
benefactor to the monks of Bermondſey, to whom, in
the year 1157, he gave ten ſhillings rent, out of the
mill of Deptford. On his death his ſiſter Alice be-
came his coheir, and brought this place, with much
other inheritance, to her huſband Geoffrey, ſecond ſon
of William de Saye,d who granted this manor of Weſt
Greenwich (as it was then called) with the advowſon
of the church and its appurtenances to the Knights
Templars, in pare and perpetual alms,
His fon Geoffrey regained the poſſeſſion of it by gi-
ving the Knights Templars that of Sadleſcombe, in
Suffex, for it. He ratified to the canons of Begham
the lands of Brocele, which were part of his barony,
and the church of St. Nicholas, at Greenwich, which
his father had given to them. Geoffrey de Saye, laſt
mentioned, being in arms againſt
, king John, with others
of the barons, in the 17th year of that reign, his lands
and fees, lying in Kent and elſewhere, were given to
Peter de Crohun, though after the death of the king
he was taken into favour, and his lands were reſtored
in the 8th year of king Henry III."
William his ſon ſucceeded him, and died anno 56
Henry III. holding this manor in capite by barony, and
the repair of a houſe in Dover-caſtle, called, from its
Pedigree of Magminot, atteſted by Camden, Clar. and St.
George, Norry. Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 511, 619. Dugd. Monaft.
p. 640, et ſeq.
Dugd. Mon. vol. ii, p. 555. Reg. Roff. p. 378, et feq. Dug.
Bar. vol. i. R. 511.
poffeffors,
e
348
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

poffeffors, Saye’s-tower. His ſon of the ſame name,
accounted at the Exchequer for twenty-ſeven fees of
the honour of Magminot; that is, twenty-ſix of the old
feoffment and one of the new, which ſhews the large
extent of his poffeſſions. He died anno 23 king Ed
ward I. poffeſſed of this manor, leaving Geoffrey his
ſon and heir," who married Idonea, daughter of William
de Leyborne (who ſurvived him) and died poſſeſſed of
it, in the 15th of king Edward II. leaving Geoffrey
de Saye, his ſon, who, in the 8th of king Edward III.
obtained the king's charter for free warren for all his
demean lands in his lordſhips of Greenwich, Dept-
ford, &c. with the view of frankpledge and other pri-
vileges, and died in the 33d year of it, leaving Wil-
liam his ſon and heir, and Maud his wife, ſurviving,
(daughter of Guy de Beauchamp; earl of Warwick)
and three daughters, who afterwards became their bro-
ther's heirs, as will be further mentioned.
William de Saye died in the 49th of king Edward III.
leaving John his ſon and heir, who died in his mino-
rity, and in ward to the king, in the 6th year of king
Richard II. being then poſſeſſed of this manor.b Upon
which Elizabeth his ſiſter became his heireſs, who
married firſt Sir John de Falleſley, who had poffeffion
granted of the lands of her inheritance, but he dying
foon after, ſhe married Sir William Heron, knight.
This family of Saye, from their long poſſeſſion of this
place, fixed the name of Sayes-court on the man-
fion or ſcite of this manor, which it ſtill retains. They
bore for their coat armour, Quarterly or and gules,
which bearing came to them from the Magminots ;
and again from the Sayes to the Peckhams, Parrocks,
and St. Nicholas's, but theſe bore it only in chief.
Sir William Heron above mentioned poffefſed this
manor in right of his wife, anno 19 Richard II. toge-
a Rot. Eſch. an. 56 Hen. III.
No. 37, p. 12
Þ Rot. Eſch. cor. ann.
• Camb. Rem. p. 215.
ther
CHAO DEPT FORD. OLT
349

ther with her, by the name of Elizabeth lady Saye, le-
vied a fine of it, with all other their manors and lands
in Kent, to the uſe of them and the heirs male of their
bodies; remainder to her own right heirs. Four years
after which ſhe died, f. p. Upon which this manor
came to Sir William Heron in her right, and he died
poſſeſſed of it in the 6th year of king Henry IV. f. p.
likewiſe, Sir Johnº ſon of his brother Sir John Heron,
being his next heir, all which was found by inquiſition
taken here at Deptford, and that it was held in capite,
and conſiſted of one capital meſſuage here and two hun-
dred and twenty-five acres of land, and of rents of af-
fize of free tenements ſeven pounds eight ſhillings and
two leets, and it was likewiſe found by an inquiſition,
taken after her death, that ſhe died, ſ, p. and that Sir
William de Clinton, ſon of Idonea, ſiſter of William de
Saye laſt mentioned; Mary wife of Otho de Worthing-
ton, and daughter of Thomas de Aldon, by Elizabeth,
another ſiſter of the ſaid William; and Maud, her fif-
ter; and Roger de Fiennes, ſon of William by Joane,
another ſiſter, who afterwards had Stephen de Valoines;
were her heirs and next of kin. They moſt probably
joined in the ſale of it, for in the 3d year of Henry V.
it was found that Sir John Philip and Alice his wife
held the reverſion of this manor, and that Sir Wil-
liam Philip was his brother and next heir.
William de la Pole, duke of Suffolk, at the time of
his death, in the 28th year of Henry VI. was poſſeſſed
of the manor of Weſt Greenwich, leaving John his
ſon, who, in the 3d year of king Edward IV. was re-
ſtored to the title of the Duke of Suffolk, void by his
father's attainder. His eldeſt ſon John ſeems to have
had the property of this manor veſted in him during
the life time of his father, and was, by a ſpecial char-


e Rot. Eſch. ejus ann.
His
will is in Reg, Arund. at Lam-
beth.
f Rot. Efch. anno 6 Hen. V.
Dugd. Bar. vol.ii. p. 189,
and Rot, Eſch, ejus ann.
ter,
350
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

ter, in the 7th year of king Edward IV. in regard of
his nearneſs of blood to that king, created Earl of
Lincoln, after which, being highly favoured by king
Richard III, and being ſo eminent a branch of the
houſe of York, he uſed his utmoſt endeavours to op-
poſe the earl of Richmond's attaining the crown. To
which end, raiſing an armed power, he marched to-
wards Newark-upon-Trent, and at Stoke, near that
place, being met by king Henry's forces, after a ſharp
diſpute, anno ad king Henry VII, his whole army was
routed, and he himfelf Nain there. This manor, thus
coming to the crown, did not remain long there, for
king Henry next year granted it to Oliver St. John,
who died poſſeſſed of it in the 14th year of that reign,
leaving the inheritance of it by his will, anno Hen-
ry VII." to his ſon, John St. John, who was likewiſe
found to own it at his death, in the 4th year of king
Henry VIII. Before the 29th year of which reign,
this manor feems again to have returned to the crown,
when, as appears by a deed in the augmentation-office,
it was ſtiled the king's manor of Saye’s-court, alias
Weſt Greenwich, and is mentioned in it, together with
his manor and ville of Deptford Strond, by which it
appears that there were then two diſtine manors, ſo
named as above. As to the latter, I find that Roger
Mortimer, earl of March, who was ſlain in Ireland,
in the 22d of king Richard II. was found to die pof-
ſeſſed of a certain ſcite, called Le Strond, in Green-
wich, and ſeventy-three acres of land in Deptford
Strond. His ſon Edmund, the laſt earl of March,
died anno 3 Henry VI. poffeffed of this fcite, called his
manor of Weſt Greenwich, alias the Strond. On
his death, without iſſue, Richard duke of York, ſon of
Anne his ſiſter, was found by inquiſition to be his next
heir. He died anno 3 Edward IV, being poſſeſſed of
IN
Book of Aids, manuſcript.
p. 274.
d Rot, Eſch. ejus ann.
Rot, Eſch. ejus ann. Petit's Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 151.
the
2 Rot. Eſch
D Coll. Peer. vol. vi.
DEPTFORD.de
351

the meſſage and premiſes of Deptford Strond, and was
ſucceeded in it by his ſon Edward, earl of March, af-
terwards king Edward IV. ſo that it became veſted in
the crown.
It was then eſteemed to lie partly within
this county, and the remainder of it in that of Surry,
within the pariſhes of Reddriff and Camberwell, but in
queen Mary's reign, 1555, it appears to have been ef-
teemed as ſituated wholly in thoſe pariſhes within the
county of Surry, owing probably to the change made
in the boundaries of the two counties, and as ſuch will
excuſe any farther notice of it in this place, excepting
that it is at preſent ſo called, and is now the property
of the reverend Mr. Hambly.
But the manor of Saye’s-court, alias Weſt Greenwich,
ſituated within this pariſh of Deptford and county
of Kent, notwithſtanding the ſcite of it, called Saye's-
court, was demiſed away, as will be farther mentioned,
appears to have remained in the hands of the crown
from the above time during the greateſt part of king
James I.'s reign, and to have continued ſo at the
death of king Charles I. in 1648.
The manſion of Saye’s-court appears to have been
granted before this, at the latter end of queen Eliza-
beth's reign, for a term to Sir.Richard Browne, who
died poſſeſſed of it in 1604, and lies buried in this
church with his wife, dame Johanna Vigors, of Lang-
ham, in Effex. He was a younger ſon of an antient
family at Hitchin, in Hertfordſhire, ſeated at Horſeley,
in Effex, and being taken into the ſervice of the crown
by Robert Dudley, the great earl of Leiceſter, went
governor of the United Netherlands, and was after-
wards, by queen Elizabeth, made clerk of the green
cloth, in which he contiuued under king James. He
left a ſon, Chriſtopher Browne, eſq. who died in 1645,
and lies buried in this church, with Thomaſin his wife,
daughter of Benjamin Gonſon, of Much Baddow, in
nai
f Rot. Efch. ejus ant.
Home
Effex,

352
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
Effex. Their only ſon and heir was Sir Rich. Brownė;
gentleman of the privy-chamber to king Charles I. and
clerk of the council; and reſident from king Charles I.
and II. at the court of France, till the Reſtoration, He
had been created a baronet in 1649, and dying in 1683,
was buried in this church-yard, cloſe to the wall of the
church, on the other ſide of which his father lies. He
married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Prettiman, of
Driffield, in Glouceſterſhire, who lies buried by him,
By her he had an only daughter and heir, Mary, as will
be farther mentioned below.' edisi
The arms on Sir Richard Browne's monument,
who died in 1605, are Quarterly, firſt and fourth, azure
a griffin paſſant or a chief of the ſecond; ſecond and third,
or a chief ſable. But his grandfon, Sir Rich. Browne, bt.
appears to have had an alteration granted to his arms;
for in the Britiſh muſeum is a warrant of Charles II.
given at Caſtle Elizabeth, in the iſle of Jerſey (Jan. 6,
1649) to Sir Edward Walker, garter, to prepare a
grant of an additional coat of arms, by way of augmen-
tation, for Sir Richard Browne, bart. viz. Or, a chief
ſable; and a canton ermine, to be borne before his pa-
ternal coat. This canton was afterwards omitted by
patent, and Sir E. Walker certified (July 24, 1663)
that the above augmentation without the canton, was
not, to his knowledge, borne by any family, nor extant
in any book of viſitation. After which he bore for his
arms, Quarterly, firſt, the above augmentation ; ſecondly,
Browne ; third, argent, a fret gules ; fourth, quarterly
indented or and gules, a creſcent,
for difference. do vd
After the death of king Charles I. the powers then
in being paſſed an ordinance to veft the royal eſtates
in truſtees, in order to their being ſurveyed and fold to
fupply the neceſſities of the ſtate ; by which ſurvey it
appeared that the quit-rents due to the lord of this ma-
See a further account of Sir Richard Browne, in Wood's Ath,
Ox. vol. i. faſti, p. 241.
Among Harleian MSS. No. 1172, 122, f. 74.
nor,

DEPTFORD.
353
nor of Saye’s-court and Deptford, and le Strond, alias
Weſt Greenwich, from the freeholders in free focage
tenure, amounted to one hundred and eighteen ſhillings
one penny halfpenny yearly, and that the court baron
and court leets, &c. were valued at fixty ſhillings. And
that James I. in conſideration of the ſervices done by
Chriſtopher Browne, gent. above mentioned, as well as
of the charges he had been at in repairing the manſion-
houſe of Saye’s-court, by letters patent, in his 8th year,
had granted to him that houſe, lying in Bromefield,
in Deptford, with the orchards, gardens, and cloſes,
then in his poſſeſſion, and ſufficient hay and paſture for
the keeping, feeding, and paſturing twelve kine, one
bull, and two horſes, in winter and ſummer, upon the
grounds at Sayes-court, for forty years, without any rent,
and that king Charles had directed his privy-ſeal to the
truſtees of his ſon Charles, prince of Wales, in conſe-
quence of which they granted, in his roth year, the pre-
miſes to him for twenty-four years, to commence from
the year 1651 (being the expiration of the former
leaſe). The premiſes were reported then to be in the
poffefſion of William Prettiman, gent. executor of
Chriſtopher, and guardian of Richard Browne, one of
his grandchildren, to whom, by his will, he had given
his intereſt in them;' that the yearly value was one
hundred and ſeven pounds, but that there were yearly
repriſes out of them to the vicar of Deptford, in confi-
derations of tithes, twelve pounds, and four loads of
hay, valued together at fix pounds. That he was like-
wiſe tenant to all the demeſne lands, by leaſe from the
commiſſioners of the public revenue, amounting to
about one hundred and fixty-four acres, at the yearly
rent of four hundred and twenty-four pounds eleven
ſhillings and ſeven pence three farthings.
After this the manor, with its appurtenances, and
other premiſes in Greenwich and Deptford, were ſold
• Augment. Off. Parl. Surveys.
VOL. 1.
А а
by
354
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

а
b
by the truſtees to John Bachfted, Ralph Cobbet, and
others; and the manor houſe to William Somerfield,
In which ſtate they continued till the reſtoration of
king Charles II. in 1660, when the manor and thoſe
demeſnes, undemifed by the crown, returned to the
l'oyal revenue, part of which, the manor itſelf, con-
tinues at this time. A court leet and court baron is ſtill
held for it.
But Saye's-court, by virtue of the above mentioned
leaſes, returned to the heir of Mr. Chriſtopher Browne,
in the perſon of Sir Richard Browne, bart. his only
fon, whoſe fole daughter and heir Mary having, in
1647, married John Evelyn, efq. before mentioned, and
brought him her father's intereſt in this ſeat as part of
her inheritance. King Charles II. under his great
ſeal, in his 15th year, granted to the above mentioned
John Evelyn his capital meſſuage, or ſcite of the ma-
nor of Saye’s-court, with its appurtenances in Deptford,
and lands belonging to it, for the term of ninety-nine
years, at the yearly rent of twenty two ſhillings and
ſixpence. This Mr. John Evelyn, a moft ingenious
and polite gentleman, and well verſed in uſeful learn-
ing," was the ſecond ſon of Richard Evelyn, eſq. of
Wotton, in Surry, and ſucceeded as heir to his elder
brother George, who died without iſſue, to the ſeat and
eſtate at Wotton, which he has ever ſince continued the
family ſeat of his deſcendants. He died at London, in
1906, and was interred at Wotton, in the chancel
there; leaving ſurviving one fon John, and a daughter,
Suſan, married to William Draper, efq. of Adge-
court, in Surry.
This family of Evelyn came originally from Eve-
lyn, near Tower-caſtle, in Shropſhire, whence they
came into Surry, ſome ages fince, along with the On-
a
H. 12.
Augment. Off. Roll of Par. Private act of 10 Geo. I.
& See an account of him in
• See the act of 10 Geo. I. : Wood's Ath. Ox. v. ii. p. 941,
flows
CAS DEPTFORD.
355

names.
I DOO
flows and Hattons, from places and ſeats of thoſe
There are ſome of this name both in France
and Italy, written Ivelyn and Avelyn, and in old deeds
Avelyn, alias Evelyn. One of this name was taken
priſoner at the battle of Agincourt.
John Evelyn, eſq. only remaining fon of John, as
above mentioned, was the ingenious author of the Sylva
and ſeveral other books, and having married Martha,
daughter and coheir of Richard Spencer, eſq. died in
his father's life time, in 1699, leaving one ſon John, and
a daughter Elizabeth, married to the honourable Si-
mon Harcourt. John Evelyn, laſt mentioned, by his
grandfather's will, became poffeffed, on his death, in
1706, of both the terms in Sayes-court, and the other
premiſes in Deptford, granted by king Charles II. In
July 1713, he was created a baronet, and was fellow of
the Royal Society, of which his grandfather had been
a principal promoter and benefactor.
King George I. in his icth year, granted the free-
hold of this eſtate (an act of parliament having paſſed
for that purpoſe) to Francis earl of Godolphin, and
Hugh viſc. Falmouth, in truſt for Sir John Evelyn and
his heirs for ever, on paying the yearly rent of il. 2s.6d.
as a quit rent, and a valuable conſideration beſides to
the crown for them. He married Anne, ſiſter of Hugh,
late viſcount Falmouth, and dying in 1763, left the
poffeflion of Saye's court to his ſon Sir John Evelyn,
bart, who died in 1767, on which this eſtate deſcended
to his only fon, Sir Frederick Evelyn, bart, of Wot-
ton, in Surry, the preſent poſeſor of it. The Evelyns
bear for their coat armour, Azure, a griffin paſſant and
chief or. In this houſe Peter the Great, czar of Muf-
covy, reſided for ſome time in 1698, when he, in this
yard, completed his ſkill and knowledge in naval ar-
chitecture.
Lasse
See an account of him in Wood's Ath. Ox. vol. ü. p. 1079.
Biog. Brit. vol. iii. p. 1849.
Camd. Brit. vol. i. p. 649. Collins's Bar. vol. v. p. 146.
BROCKLEY
A a 2
356
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED

BROCKLEY is a place ſituated partly in this pa-
riſh and partly in Lewiſham. It was once accounted
a manor, and was granted, with its appurtenances, by
the laſt Wakelin de Maminot, about the latter end of
king Henry II.'s reign, to Michael de Turnham, to
hold by the yearly rent of twelve pence, in lieu of all
ſervice, for which grant Michael became his feudatory
tenant, and paid him forty ſhillings. Michael de Turn-
ham afterwards ſold his land of Brocele, as his free ga-
vilkinde and ſtockinkinde, to the counteſs Juliana, wife of
Wakelin above mentioned, that ſhe might found a re-
ligious houſe here, Stephen de Turnham, his nephew,
conſenting to it. The religious of the Premonſtraten-
ſian order, who were firſt ſettled at Ottham, in Suſſex,
by Ralph de Dene, finding that place very inconveni-
ent, reſolved to quit it for one more ſuitable, and in
all likelihood it was theſe to whom the counteſs Juli-
ana and Michael de Turnham gave this place, in pure
and perpetual alms, for an habitation : which gift was
confirmed by Jeffry de Say, the land being part of his
barony. But they did not remain long here, for Ro-
bert de Turnham, nephew of Michael, gave them an
eſtate at Begham, in Suſſex, to which they quickly re-
moved, with the conſent of Ela de Sackville, daughter
of Ralph de Dene, and he confirmed to them his land
here at Brockley, in pure and perpetual alms, to hold
of Jeffry de Saye and his heirs, paying him the accuſ-
tomed rent in lieu of all ſervice and ſecular exaction;
which gift was confirmed by his brother, Stephen de
Thurnham. King John, in his oth year, confirmed
the land of Brokele to the abbot and convent of Beg-
ham. King Edward III. in his 2d year, granted to
them free warren in their lands at Brokele.
This eſtate remained with them till the diffolution of
their abbey, in the 17th year of king Henry VIII. when,
being one of thoſe ſmaller monaſteries, which cardinal
w Wolſey
DEPTFORD.
357
Wolſey then obtained of the king, by his letters patent
that
year, for the endowment of his colleges, it was
ſettled by him on his new foundation, called Cardinals-
college, in Oxford, where it ſtaid only four years, when
the cardinal being caſt in a præmunire, in 1529, all the
eſtates of this foundation were forfeited to the king,
and continned in the hands of the crown till 1532, ex-
cepting ſuch as were begged from time to time by the
hungry courtiers, which were not a few.b
That part of this eſtate which lies in Lewiſham is
now called Foreſt-place, alias Brockley-farm; a farther
account of which will be given under the deſcription
of that pariſh. The other part, ſituated in the pariſh
of Deptford, was granted by queen Elizabeth, by let-
ters patent, in her 10th year, by the deſcription of the
fcite and capital meſſuage of the manor of Brockhill to
Philip Conway. This is now called Hither or Upper
Brockley-farm, and is ſituated near New-croſs, in the
pariſh of St. Paul's, Deptford. It was for ſome gene-
rations in the family of Wickham, of Garſington, in
Oxfordſhire, who were poſſeſſed of a conſiderable ef-
tate beſides, both in this pariſh and that of St. Nicho-
las, Deptford; all which, by two female coheirs of that
name, paſſed lately in marriage to Thomas Drake
Tyrwhitt, eſq. and the reverend doctor John Drake,
the two younger ſons of William Drake, eſq. late of
Amerſham, in the county of Bucks, who in the right of
their reſpective wives are now poleſed of them.
There is an old houſe in Deptford, commonly cal.
led the Moated-place or Stone-houſe, or king John's-
houſe, from that king's having been ſuppoſed to be the
builder of it, but with what truth I know not; how-
ever, it has been at ſeveral times the reſidence of the
kings of England. King Edward III. reſided frequent-



a
Dugd. Monaſt. vol. ii. p. 638, 640. Rot. Cart. ejuſd. anni,
No. 1. Tan. Mon. p. 561. » Fiddes's Wolſey, p. 306.
ly
A a 3

358
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
ly here ; and king Henry IV. is ſaid to have reſided
here whilſt his leproſy was curing. This houſe re-
mained in the crown at the death of king Charles I.
in 1648 ; after whoſe death it came under the ma-
nagement of the truſtees appointed by parliament in
1649, for the ſale of the late king's lands, and was
by their ſurveyor certified to be within the county of
Surry," and as ſuch will excuſe further notice of it.
In the 38th year of king Henry VIII. Thomas Baf-
ſingburne held in capite a ineſſuage and dovecote, cal-
led Skinners’-place, with its appurtenances, in the pa-
riih of Deptford Strond, alias Weſt Greenwich, be-
ing parcel of the poſſeſſions of Thomas Becket's hof-
pital, within the borough of Southwark. Richard
Stoneley afterwards held Skinners’-place, but in the
I oth year of queen Elizabeth, the lady Anne Parry
was in poffeffion of it. won ai
10 gibi
In the 3d of king Edward VI. there was a decree
in the court of augmentation concerning the hermi-
tage in Deptford, which, I find was in being in the
4th year of king Henry IV. King Edward VI. in
his 6th year, granted to Edward lord Clinton and
Saye, lands in this pariſh, parcel of the guild of our
lady of Rounceval.esonin si se
Here are two hoſpitals belonging to the corporation
of the Trinity-houſe of Deptford Strond, in which the
men have an allowance of twenty ſhillings per week,
and the women fixteen. Theſe buildings were erec-
ted at two different times; the old part, which is
ſituated near the church, contains twenty-one houſes,
and the new, which fronts the ſtreet, in length, con-
tains thirty-eight. The latter, called Trinity-hoſpital,
is much the finer edifice, and has large gardens be-
longing to it, notwithſtanding which the other has
Rymer's Fæd. vol. 6. p. 68, c. Rot. Éſch. an. 10 Eliz.
638.
d Rym. Fæd. vol. viii. p. 296.
► Augm, Off, Parl. Surveys. e Augm. Off. Box, G. 34.
the
a а
DEPTFORD359
DO
.
the preference, on account of its antiquity, and the
meetings of the corporation, which the maſter and
brethren, hold their by there charter.
Sir Richard Browne, bart. of Saye's-court, elder
brother and maſter, in the year 1672, gave the inhe-
ritance of the land on which theſe alms houſes are
built. Captain Richard Maples, who died com-
mander of a ſhip in the Eaſt Indies, in 1680, left to
the Trinity-houſe thirteen hundred pounds, with
which
part
of theſe alms-houſes were built.
The Society of the Trinity-houſe was founded in the
reign of king Henry VIJI. by Sir Thomas Spert, com-
mandant of the great ſhip Henry, Grace de Dieu, and
comptroller of the navy, for the increaſe and encou-
ragement of navigation, for the good government
of the ſeamen, and the better ſecurity of merchant
Thips on our coaſts. It was incorporated anno 4th
king Henry VIII. who confirmed to them not only
the antient rights and privileges of the company of ma-
riners of England, but their ſeveral poffefſions at Dept-
ford, which, together with the grants of queen Eliza-
beth and king Charles II, were confirmed by letters
patent of the ift of king James II. by their firſt name
of, The Maſter, W'ardens, and Alftants of the guild or
fraternity of the moſt glorious and undivided Trinity, and
of St. Clement, in the pariſh of Deptford Strond, in the
county of Kent.
The corporation is governed by a maſter, four
wardens, and eighteen more elder brethren, but the
inferior members of the fraternity, named the younger
brethren, are of an unlimited number, for every mal-
ter or mate, expert in navigation, may be admitted as
ſuch ; and theſe ſerve as a continual nurſery to ſup-
ply the vacancy among the elder brethren, when re-
moved by death or otherwiſe, whereof the maſter and
two of the wardens are choſen annually every Trinity

f
Strype's Stow's Sury, vol. i.
Append. p. 89.
& Strype's Stow's Surv, vol. ii.
book v. p. 286, 287.
Monday,
A a 4
360
BLACKHEATH TUHU
HUNDRED.
Monday, uſually at their antient houſe at Deptford ,
Strond, the others being for life.
The maſter, wardens, aſſiſtants, and elder brethren
are by charter inveſted with the powers, among others,
of examining the mathematical children of Chriſt's
hoſpital, and of the maſters of his inajeſty's ſhips; the
appointing pilots to take charge, as well of the ſhips
of his majeſty's royal navy, as merchant ſhips ; the
fettling the ſeveral rates of pilotage, and the erecting
and maintaining light-houſes, buoys, and beacons,
and other ſea marks, upon the ſeveral coaſts of the
kingdom, and in the mouth of the river Thames, for
the better ſecurity of ſhips ; to which end, the bre-
thren frequently ſurvey the north and ſouth channels
leading to the river Thames; the granting licences to
poor ſeamen, not free of the city, to row on the river
Thames, for their ſupport in the intervals of ſea ſer-
vice, or when paſt going to ſea; to this corporation
belongs the ballaft-office for clearing and deepening
the river Thames, by taking from it a ſufficient quan-
tity of ballaſt, for the ſupply of all ſhips that fail out
of it. After the maintenance of their light-houſes
and other neceſſary expences of the corporation, the
remainder of their revenue is applied wholly to the
relief of poor decayed ſeamen, their widows and or-
phans, and none other; and of theſe there are relieved
by them about three thouſand, at the expence of
about fix thouſand pounds, by yearly, monthly, or
by other temporary charities, more or leſs, according
to their neceſſities.
The benefits and revenues to ſupport theſe chari-
ties ariſe from light-money, buoys, beconage, ballaſt-
age, and from the benefactions of the brethren and
others, which are contingent. And in conſideration
of their neceſſary ſervice to the public, and that their
ſhips and ſervants are to be at the call of government,
they have ſeveral privileges and exemptions, ſuch as



a
By act, anno 6 Geo. II.
not
DEPT FORD.
361
not ſerving the office of ſheriff, or upon juries and in-
queſts, and ſuch like burthens, which others are ſub-
ject to. And this favour is alike to all the brethren,
both elder and younger, their officers and ſervants.
Their coat of arms is, Between a croſs-gules, four ſhips
under ſail.
CHARITIES.
John Adder, maſter builder, of the king's-yard, Deptford,
(who lies buried in this church,) by his will, in 1606, gave 2ool.
for a perpetual annuity towards the relief of the poor of St. Ni-
cholas, Deptford, for ever, which was laid out in the purchaſe of
the Gravelpit-field, in Deptford, the ground being veſted in feof-
fees in truſt, and of the annual produce of 1261. 1os. 6d. and by
other donations, as after mentioned, and fines received on leaſes,
&c. in New South Sea annuities 1oool. veſted in truſt, of the an:
nual produce of 30l.
A PERSON UNKNOWN, about the ſame time, gave (by will, as is
preſumed) half a quarter of wheat, to be diſtributed every Good
Friday, for which there is now received 10s. and half a load of
ruſhes at Whitſuntide, and a load of wheaten ſtraw at Chriſtmas,
for which there is now received il. is.
John Rich, at what time unknown, and is preſumed by will,
gave to be diſtributed in bread weekly, after fermon every Sun-
day morning, a yearly ſum, charged on an eſtate at Upper Dept-
ford, of the annual product of 21. 12s.
Robert STOUT, at what time unknown, and is preſumed by
will, gave for the uſe of the poor of this pariſh, il. 6s. 8d per
annum, charged on a houſe in Upper Deptford.
WILLIAM Sewers, in 1640, gaye by will, to be diſtributed
in bread, on Michaelmas and Lady Days, a fum of money, charg-
ed on four acres of land and two tenements in Upper Deptford,
now of the annual product of il, 6s.
Mr. Joine, at what time unknown, gave to be diſtributed in
bread a ſum of money, received by Mr. Gibſon, of Loampit-
hill, and charged on land, of the annual product of 11.
The Rev. ABRAHAM Colfe gave by will, in 1658, a ſumn
of money paid by the Leatherſellers company of the yearly pro-
duet of 6s. 8d. though now 8s. 8d. and likewiſe to eight poor
boys, of Deptford, the privilege of being taught, and a title to
all the advantages belonging to any ſcholars educated in the
grammar-ſchool founded by him at Lewiſham.
Dr.Robert Bretton in 1670, gave by will zool. on a mort -
gage of the lands of Richard Maddox, the intereſt to be paid in
the public ſchool for teaching twelve poor children grammar and
writing to be laid out in the purchaſe of lands, the rents to be
for a ſalary to the maſters, and if any of his four children died
before they received the portion, he gave 2001. more out of the




faid

362
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
ſaid portion, for teaching twelve more poor children, the ſame
to be laid out in the purchaſe of lands or houſes; and if a ſecond
of his four children died before their portion due, he appointed
rool. more of the ſaid portion to be paid to the churchwardens,
to be laid out in the purchaſe of rents, to be paid to the ſchool-
maſter, for teaching fix more poor children. N. B. It ſeems
that only fool. of theſe bequeſts were received, and thoſe laid out
from time to time in various funds and ſecurities, and now, with
Mrs. Elizabeth Wilſhaw's and Mrs. Sarah Trott's legacies below
mentioned, make hool. Old South Sea annuities, now veſted in
truſt for this purpoſe; and Dr. Bretton, at the time of his death,
gave 2ol. to be diſtributed to the poor of this pariſh.
Esther Pope, in 1678, gave by will, to the vicar of this pa-
rifh 20s. per ann. to be diſtributed by him to the poor at Chriſt-
mas, charged on two tenements in Lower Deptford, now of the
annual value of il.
ROBERT Castle, in 1698, gave by will, to the feoffees of the
Gravel-pit rents, for the benefit of the poor, 2001. which has not
been paid.
Joseph Fownes, in 1708, gave by will, to the above men-
tioned feoffees, to the ſame uſe, the ſum of gol.
ELIZABETH WILSHAW, in 1709, gave by will, 120l. the pro-
duce to be yearly diſtributed on the day of her death, Nov. 11, to
ſuch poor widows as frequent this pariſh church.
Judith Frott, in 1713, gave by will, to this pariſh, 130l, the
yearly produce to be diſpoſed of in putting out apprentice one
poor child, born in this pariſh, annually for ever. N. B. Theſe
two laſt mentioned legacies, with Dr. Bretton's, make the fum, in
Old South Sea annuities, as mentioned in his legacy above, of
the yearly produce of 181.
Frances ATFEN, in 1713, gave by will, to the feoffees of the
Gravel-pit rents, vol. for the like uſes.
ISAAC LOADER, eſq. in 1714, gave by will, to the ſame feof-
fees, 2001. only rool. of which appears to have been paid.
WILLIAM Hosier, eſq. in 1717, gave by will a ſum of mo-
ney, the intereſt of it to be applied for the educating of poor boys,
which money is now veſted in 300l. Old South Sea annuities, and
is veſted in truſtees, and of the annnal produce of gl.
Mary GRANSDEN, in 1719, gave by will and deed, a farm
at Plaiſtow, in Halſted, in the county of Eſſex, and two houſes in
St. Bartholomew's-lane, London, and Sol. in maney, for the be-
nefit of poor children, educated and cloathed in the Subſcription
charity ſchools in Deptford, which fol. was laid out, being in-
creaſed by a number of ſubſcriptions, in building the ſchools ;
the ſame is vefted in feoffees in truſt, and is of the annual pro-
duce of 771. Mr. Robert Granfden, father of the teſtatrix, gave
in his life time the inheritance of the ground on which the ſchool
houſe ſtands.
Sie
DR.
Somoq oda fogwiwaya ya PR
CAM DEPTFORD. DAS 363

DR STANhope, by will, in 1727, gave, for putting out boys ap-
prentice, and every third year for cloathing and fitting girls for
ſervice, and for pious books, 6l. per annum, being at that time
150l. New South Sea annuities, at 4 per cent. now 250l. the
ſame being increaſed by a gift of 421. gs. 6d. by William Sherwin
and William Collins, and a donation of William Holt, as menti-
oned below, veſted in truſtees, and of the annual produce of 71. 105.
THIS PARISH has a right of preſentation of one poor perſon to
queen Elizabeth's college, in Greenwich, founded by William
Lambarde, eſq. veſted in the Leatherſellers company.
SIR. JOHN SCAMPION, ſcrivener of London, by his will, in
1563, and the ſame was eſtabliſhed by a commiſſion of charitable
uſes in 1609, gave 125. per annum towards the relief of the
poor
of Deptford, to be paid out of lands in it.
In this pariſh are two charity ſchools, for the cloathing and
teaching of fifty boys and twenty girls.
By the act of parliament, anno 3 George II. 1730, for providing
and maintenance of the miniſter of the new pariſh church of St.
Paul, built in the pariſh of St. Nicholas Deptford, in the coun-
ties of Kent and Surry, and for making the ſame a diſtinct pariſh,
it is enacted, that all gifts, charities, &c. before given to the pa-
riſh, and then the property of it, ſhould, after the confecration of
the new church, be equally divided, one moiety for the benefit
of the old pariſh, and the other for the benefit of the new one, in
which ſtate the above gifts and charities remain equally divided
between the two pariſhes at this time.
Since the above year, 1730, the following charities have been
expreſsly given to the one or the other of the two pariſhes by
name.
Thomas JENNINGS by will, in 1741, gave to be divided be-
tween the two pariſhes of Deptford, the intereſt to be diſtributed
at the church on Candlemas-day, vêfted in truſtees, the annual
produce to this pariſh of one moiety, being il. 105.
Sir John Evelyn, bart. in 1749, gave by deed, for the uſe,
benefit, and ſupport of the poor of St. Nicholas, Deptford, land,
preſumed to be veſted in his heir, and now of the annual produce
of ul. uis. In 1751, by the conſent of the donor, the two truſ-
tees, and an order of veftry, the churchwardens ſold to the truf-
tees of the Kentiſh turnpike road about twenty roods of the ſaid
land, to be laid into the road, for 10l. in money, which was veſted
in Bank annuities, in truſt, and is of the annual produce of 6s.
WILLIAM SHERWIN and WILLIAM COLLINS, by deed, in
3752, gave money to purchaſe lands, the rents of which ſhould
be applied to the educating and cloathing ſeven poor boys of
the two pariſhes of Deptford, of ſhipwrights, joiners, or houſe-
carpenters; and if none fuch, then other boys, and putting
out one apprentice every year to one of thoſe trades, but not to
exceed 141. in cloathing and apprenticing, which money is veſted
in
364
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
in Old South Sea annuities, being 16ool. and is of the afinua)
produce of 481. which is indiſcriminately applied to the uſe of
both pariſhes.
Thomas Fellows, eſq. gave by will, in 1752, the intereſt to
be applied to the educating and cloathing as many poor children,
boys and girls, as it would afford, the ſum of 1000l. 3 per Cent.
in the name of the accountant-general of the court of chancery,
out of which the pariſhes have not as yet received any benefit.
Mary Wiseman, widow, in 1758, gave by will, 2001. the in-
tereſt to be laid out annually for the cloathing of fix poor boys of
St. Nicholas and St. Paul, Deptford, to be cloathed in grey, which
money has not been received, it not being thought fufficient for
the purpoſe; and likewiſe the ſum of 201. Old South Sea annui-
ties, to be annually laid out and diſtributed to poor widows and
houſekeepers of St. Paul, Deptford, who do not take alms, but
are real objects of charity and members and communicants of
the church of England, on Feb. 19, yearly, veſted in truſt, and
of the annual produce of 128.
WILLIAM Holt, about the year 1766, gave by will, 10l. to be
added and applied to the purpoſes of Dr. Stanhope's donative
above mentioned, which was added to the fame Bank annuities
as his was.
RICHARD BROOKE, in 1767, gave by will, the intereſt to be
diſtributed to ſuch three poor men and three poor women, houſe-
keepers, not receiving alms, as the miniſter and churchwardens
ſhould think fit, equally ſhare and ſhare alike, the ſum of 100l.
Conſol. Bank annuities, of the annual produce of 31.
WILLIAM REYNOLDS, in 1768, gave by will, for the ſupport
of the charity ſchools in Deptford, and the benefit of the children
taught therein, four leaſehold houſes, ſubject to a ground rent of
21. 4. per annum, veſted in truſtees, and of the annual product
of 271. 105. which is indiſcriminately applied to the ule of the
poor boys of both pariſhes,
John CHASTER, in 1783, gave by will, to be transferred to
the ſeoffees of the Gravelpit rents, in Deptford, the intereſt to be
applied in putting out as apprentice every year, one poor boy,
out of the Subſcription Charity-ſchool; a bricklayer's ſon to
have the preference, the ſum of 300l. 4 per cent. Bank annuities,
veſted in his executors, and of the annual produce of 12l. which
is indiſcriminately applied to the uſe of both pariſhes.
RICHARD Philips, in 1784, gave by will, in truſt, for the
uſe of the Subſcription Charity-ſchools, Deptford, for educating
poor children, 50l. 3 per cent. confol. Bank annuities, of the an-
nual produce of 1l. 10s, which is indiſcriminately applied to the
uſe of both pariMhes.

DEPTFORD,
DEPTFORD.
365
DepTFORD, as far as lies within the county of Kent,
is within the ECCLESIATICAL JURISDICTION of the
dioceſe of Rocheſter and deanry of Dartford.
About ſixty years ago a ſecond church was built
here, and it was then divided into two diſtinet pariſhes,
now known by the names of St. Nicholas's pariſh, (the
old church, which before comprehended all Deptford,)
and St. Paul's pariſh, the modern church, to which
was annexed a diſtrict taken out of the former pariſh
of St. Nicholas.
The church of St. Nicholas, of Weſt Greenwich,
alias Deptford, was given by Juliana de Vere, widow
of Hugh Bigod, and wife of Wakelin de Maminot,
lord of this place, to the religious, then reſiding at
Brockley, in this pariſh ; which gift was afterwards
confirmed by Jeffry de Saye, and Alice his wife, ſiſter
of Wakelin, before-mentioned, who brought this in-
heritance to her huſband. Soon after which, perhaps
by their removal from hence to Begham, in Suſſex, the
patronage of this church again returned to Jeffry de
Say; who granted it to the Knights Templars, in pure
and perpetual alms. His fon Jeffry regained the poſ-
ſeſſion of it, in exchange for other lands, and by his
deed gave it to the canons at Begham."
Gualeranus, biſhop of Rocheſter, (about 1183)
appropriated this church to the abbot and convent of
Begham, which was confirmed, as well by pope Ho-
norius III. as by the cardinal legate here, by ſeveral of
the biſhops of Rocheſter, &c. By an antient valua-
tion, taken in the 15th year of king Edward I. this
church was eſtimated at fifteen marcs, and the vicarage
at ſix marcs and an half.blod dis di
The church remained with this abbey till its final
diffolution in the 17th year of king Henry VIII. when
being one of thoſe ſmaller monaſteries, which cardinal



* Regiſtrum Abb. de Begham, Mon. vol. i. p. 640. v. ii. p. 555.
Cart. 150, 154. ad Dugdale, Stev. Monaft. vol. i. p. 456.
Wolfey
366
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
Wolfey obtained of the king that year, for the endow-
ment of his colleges, it was ſurrendered, with all the
poffeffions belonging to it, into the cardinal's hands;"
to whom the king granted his licenče, by writ, in
his 18th year, to appropriate, conſolidate, and annex
the rectories, or churches, of Newington, Marden,
Tewdeley, Brenchley, Leigh, Yalding, Pepingbury,
and Weſt Greenwich, alias Deptford, in the county of
Kent, and others in other counties, all which were of
the cardinal's patronage, to the dean and canons of the
college of Thomas Wolſey, cardinal of York, by him
founded in the univerſity of Oxford," &c. But this
church ſtaid with them only four years; when that great
prelate being caſt in a premunire, in 1529, all the eſtates
of the college were forfeited to the king, and became
part of the revenue of the crown. vidi
Queen Elizabeth, by her letters patent, in her tenth
year, granted the church of Weſt Greenwich to Philip
Conway. The rent reſerved to the crown in the grants
of this rectory being 51. 6s. 8d. It was afterwards,
in the time of the uſurpation, granted in fee, under the
above rent, to Edmund Downing and Peter Afton.
The vicarage of St. Nicholas is valued in the king's
books at 121. 175. 31d. and the yearly tenths at
il. gs. 8d. There is no vicarage houſe.
The advowſon ſeems to have remained in the crown
from the year 1529, uninterrupted, till the death of
king Charles I. in 1648. Soon after which a commiſ-
fion of enquiry into the value of church livings, having
iſſued out of Chancery by order of the ſtate, it was
returned by preſentment, upon oath, that Deptford
was a vicarage, with an houſe and five acres of glebe
land, worth lixty pounds per annum, Maſter Mallorie
enjoying it. The preſentation to it afterwards bea
came veſted in the family of Wickham, of Garfington,
* Text. Roff. p. 6. fysioM terregni, Rolliv. No. 400
• Rymer's Fæd.vol. xiv.p. 173. € Bacon Lib. Regis.
c Ibid. vol. xviii. p. 686. f Parl. Surveys, Lambeth Li-
Fee-farm Rolls, Temp. In- brary, vol. xix.
in



DEPTFORD.
367
at this time.
in the county of Oxford, who continued in poſſeſſion
of it for many years. They were likewiſe owners of
the parfonage or great tithes of Deptford, ſo far as lies
in the county of Kent. By two female coheirs of the
name of Wickham, this advowſon, as well as the par-
fonage, paſſed in marriage to Thomas Drake Tyrwhitt,
eſq. and the reverend Dr. Drake, of Amerſham, in the
county of Bucks, the younger fons of William Drake,
eſq. of that place, who, in right of their reſpective
wives are now entitled to them, but the parſonage or
great tithes of that part of Deptford, which lies within
the county of Surry, which were lately and had been
for ſome length of time in the family of Bowyer, of
the county of Somerſet, paſſed by the will of one of
them, as well as by deſcent, into the name of Wind-
ham, of the county of Suffolk, in which they continue
The tower of St. Nicholas church ſeems 'very an-
tient. In 1780 it was repaired, and the great bell new
caſt, the appearance of the reſt of the building is very
unſightly, a medley of ſtones and brick, of Gothic and
modern building of different times, but the inſide is
uniform and handſome. The chancel is ſmall, and
railed off from the church, it is richly ornamented
with carving and paintings, one of queen Anne hangs
on the right ſide of the altar.
In 1630, the number of inhabitants being greatly
increaſed, it was found neceſſary to new build another
ille, on the north fide, to which the Eaſt India Com-
pany were good benefactors; and the chancel was en-
larged and beautified, partly at the coſt of Sir William
Ruſſell, treaſurer of the navy. But the church, be.
ing yet too ſmall, the pariſh becoming more populous
every year, and wanting much repair, they determined
to rebuild it, which was begun and finiſhed in 1697.
At the ſame time a handſome organ was erected, and
$ Philipott
, p. 161.
finiſhed,

368 BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
finiſhed, at the coſt of different perſons." The greateſt
benefactor towards this building was Iſaac Loader,
eſq. a generous inhabitant of this pariſh, who contribu-
ted upwards of nine hundred pounds towards the erect-
ing and ornamenting of it, and lies buried within it.
Notwithſtanding all this care and expence, the
church was ſtill incapable of holding the inhabitants of
this extenſive and moſt populous pariſh, which induced
them to petition for another church, to be erected for
them in ſome other part of the pariſh, by the public
bounty, under the acts of parliament for the building
of fifty new churches, in or near London or Weſtmin-
ſter. A new church was accordingly erected, being a
beautiful ſtone building with a lofty ſpire, and when
finiſhed, was dedicated to St. Paul, and conſecrated
on the 30th of June, 1730, by Edmund, lord biſhop
of London, and an act of parliament' paſſed for the pro-
viding a maintenance for the miniſter of this new
church, lately built in the pariſh of St. Nicholas, and
for making it a diſtinct pariſh. In which act the ſum
of three thouſand five hundred pounds was ſettled for
the miniſter's maintenance. The king was to preſent
to the firſt vacancy, and the patrons of the old church
for the future; and Dr. Norton, then miniſter of the
old church, was to continue rector of the new. The
rector of St. Paul's, Deptford, has no right to any
tithes whatſoever; the vicarial" tithes of all Deptford
being reſerved by the act to the vicar of St. Nicholas,
and the great tithes continuing a lay impropriation.
What is remarkable in the above act is, that out of two
thouſand acres of land, which Deptford conſiſted of,
near one thouſand nine hundred and ſeventy acres were
taken into the new pariſh of St. Paul, beſides which,
four acres of glebe were taken from the old pariſh, and
given to the churchwardens, for the time being, of the "
new pariſh, who pay the ſum of ſeventy pounds yearly,
a Strype's Stow's Survey, vol. ii. Append. p. 89.
as
DE SE DEPÍFORD.
369
as a farther maintenanance to the rector, over and
above the three thouſand five hundred allotted by
the act, which is veſted in the Old South Sea annui-
ties for that purpoſe. The conſequence of which
unequal diviſion of lands is, that whilſt the pariſh of
St. Paul maintains its poor at a yearly aſſeſſment of
about two ſhillings and four-pence in the pound, that
of St. Nicholas ſeldom maintains its poor for leſs than
five ſhillings and fixpence yearly affefſment. This
being a new church is, conſequently, not in charge in
the king's books. There is a handſome houſe built
for the rector of it.
In the church of St. Nicholas, among other monu-
ments and memorials, the whole of which are too
numerous to mention here, is a monument, in the
fouth iſle, for John Hughes, A. M. of Jeſus college,
in Cambridge, ob. 1710–for Mrs. Mary Granſden,
a benefaction to the poor of this pariſh, ob. 1719 ;
near it is a vault, in which lies Iſaac Loader, efq. In
the eaſt-croſs iſie, a monument for Peter Pett, eſq.
ob. 1652--for R. Evelyn, ſon of John, ob. inf. and
for Mary, eldeſt daughter of John Evelyn and Mary
his wife, ob. 1685, ætat. 19.--a monument for the
Brownes, of Saye’s-court. In the north iſle, a monu-
ment for John, eldeſt ſon of admiral John Benbow,
ob. 1762, ætat. 25. In the middle iſle, a monument
for Katherine, wife of captain F. Wivell, daughter of
captain Chriſtopher Gunman, ob. 1713, ætat. 40. In
the great chancel, a monument for G. Shelvocke, eſq.
ſecretary of the general poſt-office, and F. R.S. ob.
1760, ætat. 58, and lies buried with his father-for
R. Boyle, eldeſt ſon of Richard earl of Cork, ob. 1617
—for E. Fenton, eſq. of the body to queen Elizabeth,
ob. 1603—a monument for William Hawkyns, eſq.
of Plymouth, brother of Sir John Hawkyns, knight,
ob. 1589. Throughout the church are monuments
and memorials of the principal officers of the dock.
yard and their families, captains of the royal navy,
and



VOL. I.
Bb
370
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
4
and the like. Within the window of the chancel, above
the altar-piece, is a ſmall oval one, repreſenting the
nativity of our Saviour, finely executed in coloured
glaſs. In the third window, on the ſouth ſide, are the
following arms, firſt coat, Argent three caſtles quarterly,
anno 1698; ſecond coat, Or, fix mullets fable; the
arms of Lowden, anno 1698. In the ſecond window,
firſt coat quarterly, parted per pale argent and ſable, a
chevron between three martlets countercharged; ſecond,
fable, a beſant between three eagles heads eraſed or, a
chief indented ermine; third as the ſecond, fourth as
the firſt; over all, an eſcutcheon of pretence ſable, a feſs
between two chevrons ermine, in chief a covered cup or,
anno 1698. For Turner, Second coat, quarterly; firſt,
Argent on a bend quarterly, three eſcallops or ; fecond
quarterly, indented or, and quarterly, in the dexter quar-
ter a creſs lozengy; third, fable a lion rampant or ; fourth
as the firſt, impaling ſable a feſs dancette or, in chief
three fleurs de lis argent. Over the door of the char-
nel-houſe, in the church-yard, is a good piece of
ſculpture, in ſtone, repreſenting the Reſurrection.
In the church of St. Paul, on the ſouth ſide of the
chancel, is a ſumptuous monument for Matthew Finch,
gent. of this pariſh, ob. 1745, ætat. 70; and for Mr.
Benjamin Finch, his brother. On the north fide, is a
beautiful one, with an urn of Sisilian marble, for Mary
daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Finch, wife of Rich-
ard Hanwell, gent. of the city of Oxford, ob. 1754
ætat. 25. Arms, Finch impaling Hanwell.se
o anual ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH.
and
Proloog
PATRONS,
Or by whom preſented.
The Queen.
Robert Foſter, clerk, 19th Aug.
1561.
See the monuments and inſcriptions of this church deſcribed
at full length in Reg. Roff. p. 936. olisi olla bas bley
bor Rymer's Fæd, vol. xv. p. 168.




VICARS.
PATRONS
DEPTFORD
3.71
VICARS.
k
PATRONS, &C.
The Queen .......
Samuel Page, D.D. about 1603,
buried here 8th Aug. 1630.
The Lord Keeper ...... Robert Mercer, A. M. 9th Aug.
1630."
to wind orta mto Inte villa Henry Walentory
, ejezted for non-
-Do ya roquer do Hiror conformity, by the act, 1662.
tutor ni boll, Robert Bretton, D. D. obt.1672.5
grilarni bos2 Richard Holden, A.M. ob.1 700.
"
noun an 10 dan ort cach
George Stanhope, D.D. obt. Mar,
18, 1728.
OBOTOD P WOD William Norton, D. D. obt. May
Her ballo ao si aborchive 21, 1731.
Mrs. Wickham ....*******
...******
Ifaac Colman, reſigned in Jan.
1737
Thomas Anguiſh, Jan. 1737, obt.
enladenible toy ylion 1762.00
20 at 9 of William Worceſter Wilſon, D. D.
s tvirai Hirfw Brot 2762, obt. 1792.
dirin sow staw
John Drake, L. D. April 1792,
the preſent vicar.m
10 bo 90 vu balada
20 S
for ad no ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.
boiled wom siwo svod s no
PATRONS, &c.
By the act of Parliament, 1730. William Norton, D.D. by the
vt i balio bus 5 bin St. Nicholas, the old church,
A OA portone montirabt. 21ſt May, 1731.
The King, by the ſame acl § James Bate, B. D. obt. Septem.
Ms. Wickham
{
1775'
John Thornton, eſq. of Clapham Richard Conyers, L. L. D. ind.
Sets 993 sont to g Sept. 29, 1775, obt. Ap. 23,
230 koos balio 1786.
Mrs. Wickham.
John Eaton, 1786, the preſent
rector.
nome snit in dem es 1000000
c See account of him in Ath. Oxon. 1 i Dean of Canterbury and vicar of
vol. i. p. 546. alaysia Lewiſham, where he lies buried.
d Rym. Fæd. vol. xix. p. 261.
k And rector of the new church of
e Rym. Fæd. p. 264. St. Paul, Deptford, by the act.
f Vide Calamy's Life of Baxter, p. 1 I He exchanged the vicarage withi
286.
his ſucceſfor, for the rectory of Wefa
g He was reator of St. Martin's Lud- ton and the vicarage of Halworth, in
gate, and prebendary of Cadington Suffolk.
Minor, in St. Paul's. Newc. Rep. vol. m And rector of Amerſham, in the
1. p.
BE 35 din county of Buckingham.
h Rector of St. Dunſtan's in the A He was eldeſt ſon of the Rev. Js.
Eaſt. News. ibid. p. 334.
Bate, vicar of Chilham.
GREENWICH

RECTORS.
1

n

Bb 2
372
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
Desoder. OOOOooo.
GREENWICH

LIES next to Deptford eaſtward, on the bank of
the Thames, having Blackheath on the upper or fou-
thern ſide of it. It was called in Latin Grenovicum,
viridis finus a viridariis ; in Saxon Grenawic; i. e. the
Green Town, or dwelling upon the bank of the river ;
which laſt part of the word is now, by corruption,
written wich. In antient evidences it was called Eaſt
Greenwich, to diſtinguiſh it from Deptford, which was
called Weſt Greenwich.
It was not ſo famous formerly for its buildings (being
indeed only a fiſhing town fo late as the reign of
king Henry V.) as for the ſafe road which the river af-
forded for the ſhipping here, where the whole Daniſh
fleet, in the time of king Ethelred, lay for three or
four years together; whilſt the army was, for the moſt
part, encamped on the hill above the town, now called
Blackheath."
During this time, about 1011, they ravaged the
whole county, and having facked and ſpoiled the city
of Canterbury, they brought from thence Abp, Alphege
to their camp here ; where they ſlew him, becauſe he
could not raiſe the ſum which they demanded for his
ranſom. From this camp of the Danes there are ſe-
veral places in this pariſh ſtill called combes. Comb, as
well as comp, in Saxon ſignifying a camp, for they uſed
both words; the former was, moſt likely, the Saxon
word, and the latter:Daniſh, or corrupt Saxon.
On Blackheath, and within the walls of Greenwich
park, are ſeveral barrows, or tumuli ; many of which
are ſuppoſed to be the burial-places of ſome of the
Danes, who died during their encampment here.
a Lamb. Peramb. p. 470. Lamb. Dict. p. 128. Camd. Brit.
p. 219. Philipott, p. 160, 161. Coke's Inſt. part i. f. 4:
The
GREENWICH.
373
The town of Greenwich joins that of Deptford
weſtward. It is moſtly built along the bank of the
Thames, which is here very broad, and the channel
deep; though at ſome high tides the water of it is falt,
yet it is uſually ſweet and freſh. Great part of it joins
the northern ſide of the park; but the contiguous
buildings on the two avenues from it to Blackheath,
called Crooms, or Coomes-hill, on the weſtern, and
Meaſe-hill with Vanbrugh’s-fields on the eaſtern part,
now extend it quite up to that heath towards the ſouth,
the park intervening and filling up the ſpace between
them.
Greenwich is ſuppoſed to contain about two thouſand
houſes, is very populous, and reckoned one of the gen-
teeleſt and pleaſanteſt towns in England ; many
of its
inhabitants being perſons of rank and fortune. It was
greatly improved by the powers of an act paſſed in 1753.
The dryneſs and falubrity of the ſoil and air, the con-
veniency of the park, the general pleaſantneſs of the
adjoining country, and its near neighbourhood to the
metropolis, contribute to make it a moſt deſirable reſi-
dence for people of faſhion and fortune.
It has two weekly markets, held on Wedneſday and
Saturday, granted in 1737, to the Governors of the
Royal Hoſpital, for the benefit of the charity, but no
annual fair, though there are two on the neighbouring
heath.
The park is a moſt delightful ſpot of ground, ex-
tending as far as Blackheath ; it was enlarged, planted,
and walled round by king Charles II. It is well ſtocked
with deer, and has, perhaps, as much variety in it, in
proportion to its fize, as any park in the kingdom.
The views from it are beautiful beyond imagination.
The ranger of this park has a handſome houſe, for-
merly called the Queen's, or Houſe of Delight, for
his reſidence, which was once part of the old palace
of Greenwich.
Hollar engraved a proſpect of Greenwich for many
miles, to London, &c. in two ſheets, near a yard long,



Bb 3
in
374
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
in 1637-A north-weſt view was publiſhed by Buck-
Another from the Obſervatory, by Bigamy, was en-
graved by S. Toms; and another from One-tree-hill,
in the park, was engraved by J. Wood, from a painting
by Pond.
o no poniblind
b BLACKHEATH, ſo called, probably from the black
ſoil which extends over great part of it, is a beautiful
plain, lying on the ſouth ſide of Greenwich park. Here
is dug a gravel, conſiſting of ſmooth, even pebbles, fo
ſuperior to that of any other place for making walks in
gardens, when mixed with loame, that it is ſent for
from the moſt diſtant parts of England, and even from
France, for this purpoſe. The high road from London
to Dover croſſes this heath; and at the entrance of it
from Deptford-hill
, the houſes on each ſide form a
village of elegant and handſome buildings; particularly,
on the fouth fide is the earl of Dartmouth's, and on
the oppoſite fide, at the ſouth weſt corner of Green-
wich-park are the late duke of Montague's, now the
duke of Buccleugh's; the late earl of Cheſterfield's,
now Mr. Hulſe's, and ſeveral others, inhabited by per-
fons of diſtinction, which have a pleaſant double row
of trees, called Montague-walk, extending before them
almoſt as far as Coome's-hill. The ſouth ſide of the
heath is bounded by the grounds; late Sir Gregory Page's
park, now John Cator's, eſq. ſince the diſparking of
which feveral handſome houſes have been built on the
ſouth-weſt edge of it, next the road going down to Lee
and Eltham.
At the ſouth-eaſt corner of the heath, in a ſmall re-
ceſs, ſtands Morden-college, built for the ſupport of
poor and decayed Turkey merchants, which, as well
as the ſcite of Sir Gregory Page's late feat, are in
Charlton pariſh, and will be further mentioned here-
after,
u do Balora
Do At


GREENWICH.
375
At the north-eaſt corner of the heath, and almoſt
joining to Meaze-hill
, are Vanbrugh’s-fields, ſo called
from Sir John Vanbrugh, the architect of ſome build-
ings here, which he erected in a very particular man-
ner, to reſemble a fortification, with battlements, tow-
ers, &c. and a gateway of the like form, under which
you paſs in your approach to them. A principal one
of this fort, called the Caſtle, on Meaze-hill, was lately
the reſidence of lord Tyrawley, who fold it to Mr.
Charles Brett; as he again did to Henry Goodwyn,
eſq. who now reſides in it.
The Roman Watling-ſtreet way, leading to Dover,
is ſuppoſed to have croſſed this heath. Dr. Plot ſays,
in his time, it appeared pretty plain, pointing from the
top of Deptford-hill eaſt-ſouth-eaſt towards Shooter's
hiſl, and a little beyond the ſouth-eaſt corner of the
park-wall, leaving the high road on the left hand, and
ſhewing itſelf but faintly, it inclined eaſterly. At a
ſmall diſtance from the corner of the hedge, on the
right hand, where the road to Dover and that to Lee
parts, are the remains of three tumuli, or barrows; one
of which is a pretty large one, out of which ſome bones
have been dug. In 1710, there were dug up here a
great many urns, among them two of an unuſual form,
one globular, the other cylindrical, about eighteen inches
in length, both of them of a fine red clay. That,
globular, was very ſmooth and thin; its circumference
was fix feet three inches, it had aſhes in it, but no
coins under the rim ; about the mouth of it MARCUS
AVRELIVS IIII. was rudely ſcratched.
The other contained a great quantity of alhes, and
in the cavity, marked c. were ſix or ſeven coins, much
obliterated, but on one of them was legible the word
CLAVDIUS, and on another GALLIENVS, on the
next page are the figures of them.

B b 4
Dr.
376
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED,
be

ARCY
C.
0
Dr. Plot ſays that ſome years ago a curious glaſs
urn was found in a bed of hard gravel on this heath.
On the left hand ſide of the high road, near the gate
which leads to Coomes-hill, is a cluſter of theſe bar-
rows, amounting to above fifty. And there are about
the like number of them in Greenwich-park. In 1784
about fifty of theſe barrows in Greenwich park were
opened by Mr. Douglas, in which were found lumps
of iron and broad headed nails, with decayed wood
adhering to them, by which he conjectured the bodies
to have been interred in a very thick coffin. There
were likewiſe found human hair in quantities, ſpear
heads, knives, fragments of limbs and remains of wool-
len cloths. Thoſe in which no military weapons were
found it was not unreaſonable to conclude contained
female bodies. The graves were very ſhallow; the
ground in which was this cluſter of barrows was nearly
in a circular form, and the diameter about one hundred
feet. About ſeventy years before this, ſome ground
where theſe barrows are ſituated, was dug up, when
ſeveral things of value were found.
The
GREENWICH.
377

The ſame year Mr. Douglas explored another range
of barrows, near the gate which leads to Coomes-
hill, to a like amount, which he conceived to be lower
Britiſh, and on opening one, in which were ſimilar
beads to thoſe wherein he had found coins, dating
their age to be of the fifth and
beginning of the ſixth
century. He diſcovered the remains of a garment,
and a braid of human hair of an auburn colour, re-
mains of cloth, both woollen and linen, of different
fineneſs and texture; the graves were very ſhallow,
fome not exceeding three feet in depth.
From the turning to Lee till about half a mile on
this fide Shooter's -hill, there are no certain marks of
the Roman way. But the highway from thence to
Dover, within theſe fifty years, has been ſo much al-
tered, and the whole ſurface of it, as well as the ad-
joining ground, ſo entirely changed, that the remains
of the Roman way along it are not near fo frequent
and viſible as they were before.
On Blackheath the Daniſh army lay a great while
encamped, about the year 1011, as has been before
obſerved, and many trenches and other remains of the
lines of camps are viſible here; though theſe, in all like-
lihood, are moſt of them works of a much later date,
and have been caſt up by the rebels, who have en-
camped here at different times. In the year 1381,
thoſe infolent rebels, Wat Tyler, with Jack Straw,
and one John Ball, and their adherents, lay encamped
here, for ſome time, with a rabble of near one hundred
thouſand men. In the year 1450, Jack Cade, that
impoſtor, who pretended himſelf to be a Mortimer,
and kinſman to the duke of York, encamped here
twice with his rebellious followers. Once, when he
ſent from hence his impudent demands to king Hen-
ry VI. and again ſoon after, when, having defeated Sir
Humphrey Stafford and his brother, whom the king
had ſent againſt them, near Sevenoke, they marched
hither, and being joined by a large party from Suſſex
and

378
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
a
and Surry, they all encamped and entrenched them-
ſelves on this heath. King Henry VI. in 1452,
pitched his royal pavilion here, in the preparation he
had made to withſtand the force of his couſin Edward
duke of York, (afterwards king Edward IV.) And
here the baſtard, Falconbridge, encamped againſt that
king. In the reign of king Henry VII. anno 1497,
the Corniſh rebels, amounting to fix thouſand men,
headed by the lord Audley, one Michael Joſeph, a
farrier, and Thomas Flammock, a lawyer, encamped
on this heath; where, the king gave them battle, and
flew two thouſand of them on the ſpot, forcing the
reſt, with their leaders, to ſurrender at diſcretion.
Beſide theſe melancholy occurrences, there have
been ſome joyous meetings and coſtly ſhews held on this
heath.
Oblivit
About the end of the year 1400, Manuel Palæo-
gus, emperor of Conftantinople, arrived in England,
to intreat the king's aſſiſtance againſt Bajazet, emperor
of the Turks, and was met here by king Henry IV.
with great parade and magnificence. On Nov. 23,
anno 1415, the mayor and aldermen of London, with
four hundred citizens in ſcarlet, with red and white
hoods on, met their victorious prince, king Henry V.
here, after his memorable battle of Agincourt, in
France, and conducted him to London, amidſt their
repeated acclamations.
In the beginning of next year, they met the emperor
Sigiſmund on this heath, who was come over to me-
diate a peace between the crowns of France and
England. He was attended by the duke of Glou-
ceſter, and many other lords, with great pomp and
magnificence, and by them conducted to the king,
who met him at Lambeth.

a
Rapin, vol. i. p. 491. 515, 680, 738.
* Harris's Hiſt. Kent, p. 138, 516. Fiddes's Wolſey, p. 2041
bon
de la Torre Bed Forms In
GREENWICH. DAX
379
In 1474, the lord mayor and aldermen of London
in ſcarlet, with five hundred citizens, all in murrey
gowns, met king Edward IV. here, at his return from
France. In the tenth year of king Henry VIII. anno
1518, a folemn embaffy, conſiſting of the admiral of
of France, the archbiſhop of Paris, and others, with no
leſs than twelve hundred perſons in their train, were
met on this heath by the lord admiral of England, and
above five hundred gentlemen. Cardinal Campejus,
ſent into England by the pope as his legate, in the
year 1518, was received upon his arrival with great
pomp and teſtimonies of reſpect; being met at Black-
heath by the duke of Norfolk, and a great number of
prelates, knights, and gentlemen, and conducted by
them into a rich tent of cloth of gold, where he
ſhifted his habit, and having put on the cardinal's robes,
edged with ermine, rode from hence in much ſtate to
London. At this place king Henry VIII. in the 31ſt
year of his reign, met the princeſs, Anne of Cleve,
with much pomp and magnificence. In the reign of
queen Elizabeth, 1585, in April and May, the queen
being at Greenwich, the city militia, completely armed,
muftered before her for ſix or eight days, laying in-
trenched about Blackheath, to the number of four or
five thouſand men, many of whom dreſſed themſelves
with ſcarfs, feathers, &c.
Beſides the above, there have been many more re-
markable fhews and meetings held on this heath ; it
being the place where, in general, ſuch as were of any
diſtinction, coming from abroad, were met, in order
to be conducted with proper ſtate and pomp from
hence to London. But the above muft fuffice as an
example of the reſt, as the account of thoſe already
mentioned has been, I fear, too long, in the judgment
of many of my readers. Tento om bidang



© Strype's Stow's Survey, book v. p. 452,
There
380
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
There are two annual fairs on this heath; one on
the 12th of May, and the other on the 11th of Ocu
tober. Theſe are held on that part of the heath
which lies in Lewiſham. George lord Dartmouth
obtained a grant from king Charles II. to hold a fair
twice a year, and a market twice a week, upon that
part of this heath in the pariſh of Lewiſham, of which
manor he was lord. i This fair uſed to be held on the
12th, 13th, and 14th of May, and the 11th, 12th,
and 13th of October yearly; but by public notice
given by the earl of Dartmouth in 1772, it has ſince
been diſcontinued, except on May 12, and Oct. 11,
and then it is held for the ſale of cattle only.nl
In the pariſh of Greenwich was a royal magazine
for gunpowder, for the uſe of government; which
being repreſented as of a very dangerous conſequence,
not only to the town of Greenwich, but to the city of
London and its neighbourhood, it was removed by
authority of Parliament in 1760, to Purfleet in Effex,
where a regular branch of the 'ordnance is eſtabliſhed,
for the care and preſervation of it.
In the time of king Henry VIII. there was a print-
ing-office here, Dr. Plot having ſeen a book printed in
that reign at Greenwich.
bordonate
In the reign of queen Elizabeth, the aſſizes for this
county were held three times at Eaſt Greenwich;
viz. anno 1558, in the iſt year of that reign, before
ſerjeants-at-law-elect Carius and Chomley ; in the
third week in Lent, anno 1561, in the 4th of the
ſame reign, before ſerjeant Ralph Chomley, and the
attorney-general Gerard; and again in Lent, anno
1562, in the 5th year of queen Elizabeth before the
laſt-mentioned judges.
go vique
Eaſt Greenwich ſent two burgeſſes to the parlia-
ment, which met at Weſtminſter anno 4 and 5 Philip




a Kilburne, p. 399,
and
. GREENWICH.
381

and Mary, viz. Thomas Farnham and John Sackvill,
eſqrs. but this is the only return it ever made."
Chauncy, in his Hiſtory of Hertfordſhire, p. 251,
ſays, that as the ſending and maintaining burgeſſes in
parliament is no franchiſe, but a fervice, it cannot be
loft by diſcontinuance, as was reſolved by the houſe of
commons, in the 22d of king James I. (in the caſe of
the borough of Hertford, upon their petition to that
houſe to be reſtored to their antient right of ſending
burgeſſes to parliament,) after the committee appointed
to view the records had made their report to the
houſe, and great debate had ariſen, whether their long
diſcontinuance had not deſtroyed their right of election.
Domingo M Gondagi tom
The following ſcarce plants have been obſerved in
and near Greenwich.
it bir beer
Cochlearia Britannica, or common Engliſh fcurvy-graſs,
por spoonwort ; on the banks of the river Thames.
Anthyllis leguminoſa, kidney vetch.
Ornithopodium majus, the great birdsfoot.
Ornithopodiuin minus, ſmall birdsfoot; on Blackheath,
in the highway leading from Greenwich to Charlton.
Chamænerion, roſe-bay, willowherb; iz fome ſwampy
woods at Greenwich, ni baino
Sonchus tricubitalis fol ; cuſpidato; in the meadows
between Greenwich and Woolwich.
Lunaria, ar ſmall moon-wort ; upon the ſide of Blacka
heath, near the ſtile which leads to Eltham-houſe.
Cornu cervinum, or Hartſhorne; and Cornopus ruellis,
fwines creſſes, or buckſhorne.
DEN
Carlina fylvefuris major, the great white carline thiftle.
Aſperula quinta, fmall red flowered woodroof.
Fumaria alba latifolia claviculata ; hyacinthus An-
glicus; Engliſh harebells; all on the ſame heath,
STOM
Stellaria
pole Willis's Notit, p. 56.
382
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
Stellaria ſanicula major ; ladies mantle ; by the hedge-
fide between Greenwich and Charlton.a
Tibidino, din
Greenwich gave title to that eminent and illuſtrious
ſoldier, John Campbell, duke of Argyle, in Scotland ;
who, in the 4th year of queen Anne, was created Ba-
ron of Chatham and Earl of Greenwich ; and on the
zoth of April 1719, anno 5 king George I. in conſi
deration of his great ſervices to the nation, was ad-
vanced to the dignity of Duke of Greenwich. He died
in 1743, without iſſue male ; by which the titles of
duke and earl of Greenwich, and baron of Chatham,
expired with him. He lies buried in Weſtminſter-
abbey, under a moſt magnificent monument. The
girony of eight pieces, or and ſable, for Campbell; ſe-
duke bore for his arms, Quarterly, firſt and fourth,
cond and third, argent, a lymphad, or old-faſhioned
ship, with one maft, cloſe fails, and oars in action, all
Sable, with flag and penons flying, gules, for the lordſhip
of Lorn.
By his firſt wife, who died in 1716, he had no iſſue ;
but by his ſecond, Jane, daughter of Thomas War-
burton, of Winnington, in Cheſhire, eſq. he had five
daughters and coheirs ; of whom the lady Caroline
Campbell
, the eldeſt, married in 1742, Francis, earl of
Dalkeith, eldeſt ſon of Francis, duke of Buccleugh,
who died before his father in 1750.; by whom ſhe had
fix children.
She married, ſecondly, in 1755, the honourable
Charles Townſhend, ſecond ſon of Charles, viſcount
Townſhend; and on the 18th of Auguſt, anno 7
George III. by letters patent paffed, granting to her
the ſaid lady Caroline, commonly called counteſs of
Dalkeith, the dignity of baroneſs of Greenwich, to her
and to the heirs male of her body, begotten by the

a Johnſon's Gerarde's Herbal, p. 400, 1242. Merrett's Pinax-
p. 25. 115. Johnſon's Gerarde’s Herbal, p. 406, 427, 1159. Mer-
rett's Pinax, p. 11, 40, 64.
1
right
GREENWICH.
383
right honourable Charles Townſhend above-men-
tioned; who died the 4th of September following,
(being at the time a privy-counſellor and chancellor,
and under-treaſurer of the exchequer,) leaving by her,
two fons, Thomas-Charles and William-John, and
one daughter. The two fons died, ſ.p. before their
mother, who dying in 1794, without furviving male
iffue by her ſecond huſband, the title of baroneſs of
Greenwich became extinct.
nigd
The manors of Greenwich and Coombe likewiſe were
always appendages to the adjoining manor of Lewiſham,
and as ſuch were given to it by Elthruda, king Alfred's
niece, to the abbey of St. Peter, at Ghent, to which
Lewiſham became a cell, (or alien priory); which grant
is faid to have been renewed and confirmed, at the in-
ſtance of archbiſhop Dunftan, by king Edgar, in the
year 964, as it was again by king Edward the Con-
feffor in 1044, with the church, and ſeveral liberties
and privileges. Ons a bandhanaigibi adeta
There is no particular mention of this manor in
Domeſday; in all likelihood, being but an appendage
to another manor, it was comprehended, as part of the
abbot of Ghent's poffeffions, under the general title
Lewiſham. William the Conqueror again confirmed
this grant, as did ſeveral of his ſucceſſors, particularly
king Henry I. who granted many additional liberties
and privileges with it. gumoups as the mad os gnignol
Upon a plea of quo warranto, brought againſt the
abbot, &c. in the 21ſt of king Edward I. the abbot
claimed to have, in Lewiſham and its appendages,
view of frank-pledge, and all rights belonging to it;
and free warren, gallows, and amerciaments, as well of
the inhabitants as of his own tenants, and waife, &c.
TIWOT a Det al, rot Symbolega basi
cute Tan. Mon. p. 209. Dugd. Mon. vol. ii. p. 960.01 sehari
Scilt. 13 Hen. III. 11 Edw. II. 48 Edw. III. &c. See alſo
Efch. 12 Edw. II. Conceffio Hen. II. maner. de Leveſham et
Grenewich Abbatiæ de Gand. In Bod. Cat. Mfl. 196. See Dugd.
Mon. vol. i. p. 550.
all






c
384
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
all which the jurors allowed him and his predeceffors
to have been in poffeffion of time out of mind, ex.
cepting, that they had not free warren, only in their
demeſne lands.
bu The manor of Lewiſham, with Greenwich, &c. re
mained in this ſituation till the ſuppreſſion of the alien
priories throughout England, by the ſtatute of the ad
of king Henry V. (anno 1414,) when this of Lewiſham
being one of them was diffolved, on which the manor
of Greenwich, with the church and appendages, be-
came the property of the crown, where it did not con-
tinue long; for next year the king ſettled it, with the
church, on his new founded houſe, or Carthufian pri-
Cory
of Jeſus of Bethleem, of or near Shene.
But Greenwich having become a royal reſidence, this
manor, as well as that of Lewiſham, being in the poſ-
ſeſſion of the monks, could not but give continual um-
brage to the princely inhabitants of this palace. How-
ever, the religious remained in the quiet poffeffion of
them till king Henry VIII. leſs ſcrupulous in theſe
matters found means to obtain the ſurrendry of both,
and to annex them to the patrimony of the crown, in
his 238 year ; when John Joburne, the prior of Shene,
and the convent of it, granted to that prince their
manors and lordſhips of Lewiſham and Eaſt Green-
wich, with their appurtenances and the churches be-
longing to them ; excepting and reſerving to the prior,
&c. three tenements in Eaſt Greenwich, late belonging
to John Cole, ſub-dean of the king's chapel, and other
premiſes therein-mentioned.
This manor remained part of the royal demeſnes
till the death of king Charles I. in 1648, when it be-
came the property of the ſtate. After which an ordi-
nance was paſſed next year, for the ſale of the crown
lands; in which the honour and manor of Greenwich,
olla
I where H.
a Reg. Roff. p. 472. Tan. Mon. p. 544. Dugd. Mon. vol. i.
p. 974. Rym. Fæd. vol. xiv. p. 407. Augm. office.
among



GREENWICH.
385
among many other of the late king's manors, palaces,
parks, &c. was reſerved to its own uſe. In which
ſituation it continued till the 're-eſtabliſhment of mo-
narchy, and the reſtoration of king Charles II. in 1660;
when it again returned to the crown, as part of the
royal patrimony, where it has remained ever ſince.
There is a court leet and court baron now held
for it.
Old Court is a place in this pariſh, which, as its
name implies, is, no doubt, of great antiquity, and
inight, perhaps, be the very ſcite of the before-men-
tioned manor of Eaſt Greenwich. However that be,
it paſſed by the ſame deed of exchange from the prior
and convent of Shene to king Henry VIII. in his 23d
year, and became part of the poffeflions of the crown;
where it ſtaid but a few years ; for that king, in his
20th year, by his letters patent, granted to his ſervant,
Richard Long, for his life, his manor, called le Old-
court, in Eaſt and Weſt Greenwich, and the tenth part
or portion of hay, corn, and other tithes in thoſe
pa-
riſhes, appertaining to it, late belonging to the
priory of Shene, to hold without any account or rent
whatſoever. And the like grant on his death, was
made to Sir Thomas Speke, knight, by king Edward
VI. in his firſt year ; after which the king, by his let-
ters patent, in his fourth year, granted to John, earl
of Warwick, his manor of, otherwiſe, the Old-court,
and forty acres of upland, and the tenth of hay of
Eaſt Greenwich belonging to it, to hold in capite by
knight's ſervice; but the earl, in leſs than a fortnight.
afterwards re-conveyed them again to the king, who
next year granted them to Thomas Darcy, lord Darcy
of Chiche, to hold during life, without any accompt
or rent whatſoever.f


à
f
• Scobell's Coll. p. 634
Exch. T. ED. VI. Box G: 17.
Augtn, Off. In. of that year. Augth. Off. Inrolm. of Pen-
e Rot. Eſch. 4 Edw. VI. m. 7. fions and Leaſes. Parl. Surveys,
Augtn. Off. Deeds of Purc. and Augtn. off.
VOL. I.
At
386
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
At the death of king Charles I. in 1648, Old
Court, with ſome of the demeſne lands belonging to
it, ſtill remained in the poſſeſſion of the crown. In
1649, the parliament paſſed an ordinance for the ſale
of the lands,“ late belonging to the crown, in confe-
quence of which this manor, with its appurtenances,
parcel of the honour of Eaſt Greenwich, the parſon-
age-houſe, and ſeveral tenements and lands were ſold
to Robert Titchborne, who kept pofſeffion of them
till the reſtoration of king Charles II. in 1660, when
they again became part of the royal revenue.
Some years after which, this manor or ſcite, called
Le Old Court, with ſeveral demeſne lands belonging
to it, was granted by the crown, by letters patent,
anno 11 William III. to the truſtees, for the uſe of
Sir John Morden, bart. of Wricklesmarſh, in Charl-
ton, at the yearly fee-farm of 61. 135. 4d. and he,
by his will, in 1708, veſted it in truſtees, for the uſe
and benefit of his new erected college, adjoining to
Blackheath, ſince called Morden-college, where it ſtill
continues.
It has been already mentioned," that from the camp
of the Danes, in this pariſh, there are certain places
in it called. Combe, of which there are at this time
two; the one moſt commonly called Combe, and here-
tofore Nether-combe, alias Eaſt-combe; and the other
Weft-combe; and there was formerly, as antient evi-
dences ſhew, Middle-combe, alias Spittle-combe, the
name of which is now forgotten.d
COMBE, alias Eaſt or Nethercombe, was an ap-
pendage to the manor of Lewiſham, and was given
with that manor to St. Peter's abbey at Ghent,
where it ſtaid till the fuppreſſion of the alien priories
by king Henry V. in his 2d year, who ſettled it, with


Augm. Off. Inrolm.
+ See his will in Strype's Stow's
• Scob. Coll.p. 63. Aug. Off. Survey, b. i. p. 220. and his
Roll, of Parl. H. 13.
Peramb.
P.
128.
+ See Lamb. Dict. p. 470.
that
GREENWICH.
387

that manor, next year, on his new-founded priory, at
Shene, where it ſtaid till it was exchanged with king
Henry VIII. in his 23d year, by the prior and con-
vent, for other premiſes. From which time Combe
remained in the poſſeſſion of the crown till Charles I.
by his letters patent, in his 7th year, granted it, by
the name of the meſfuage or farm called Nether-
combe, alias Eaſtcombe, with the ſcite of it, being
part of the demeſne lands, belonging to the manor of
Old Court, in Eaſt Greenwich, to John Cooke and
Thomazine his wife, containing in the whole two hun-
dred and ſeventy-two acres, for three lives, at the
yearly rent of 421. 16s. 8d. and fifty loads of hay, to
be delivered yearly at the barn at Greenwich, for the
feeding the king's horſes, and paying, after the de-
ceaſe of the three nominees, fixty-fix ſhillings, in the
name of an heriot. Afterwards the king, by his let-
ters patent, in his 12th year, in conſideration of the
great damage ſuſtained by him, in the breach of the
Thames-wall, and the repairing of it, and of fifty
pounds, to be paid hefore hand, granted to him a
further leaſe for thirty one years, to begin immedi-
ately after the expiration of the former term, at the
like yearly rent; after which John Cooke above men-
tioned, and one Miles Newton, to whom both the
grants were aſſigned, by way of mortgage, in 1636,
conveyed their intereſt in both theſe grants to Peter
Fortree, gent. In which ſituation this eſtate remained
at the death of king Charles, in 1648, ſoon after which
there was a ſurvey of it taken by order of the truſtees,
appointed by parliament, for the ſale of the crown lands,
by which it appeared, that Leah, widow and execu-
trix of the above-mentioned Peter Fortree, deceaſed,
was then in poffeffion of thoſe grants ; that the value
of the fifty loads of hay, communibus annis, was 661. 13s.



e It appears by the Text. Roff. p. 230, there was formerly a
chapel at Combe. Augm. Off. Parl. Surveys.
¢ ¢ 2
which,
388
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
which, with the reſerved rent of 421. 16s. 8d. amoun-
ted to 1091. 1os. and that the value of the improved
rent of the farm, over and above the reſerved rent,
was 1591 13s. By virtue of the above ordinance, this
farm of Nethercombe, alias Eaſtcombe, and ſeveral
other lands, were ſold by the ſtate (ſubject to the
above grants) to Thomas French.a
On the reſtoration of king Charles II. the fee of this
eſtate returned to the crown, and the poſſeſſion of it
to the Fortrees; and James Fortree, ſon of Leah, in
1663, quitted his reſidence at this place, and built
Wombwell-hall, in Northfleet, where his family con-
tinued till very lately. '16
Afterwards Combe came into the poffeffion, and
was the reſidence of Sir William Sanderſon. This
family is ſaid to be deſcended from Robert de Be-
dick, of Bedick lordſhip in Waſhington, in the biſhop-
ric of Durham, who lived in the time of Maud the
Empreſs. James, third ſon of Alexander de Bedick,
being called Alexanderſon, was anceſtor of this fa-
mily, which from him came to be called Sanderſon.
They bore for their coat armour, Paly of ſix argent
and azure, a bend ſable.
The family of this name, in the biſhopric of Dur-
ham, bear a freord argent on the bend; and it is borne
with three mullets on the bend by others. Sir William
Sanderſon above mentioned was created a baronet in
1720, and was ſucceeded in his title and eſtate by his
ſon of the ſame name, who by his third wife Char-
lotte, one of the daughters of Sir Richard Gough, of
the county of Warwick, who ſurvived him, left an
only child, William Henry, who, on his father's
death, in 1754, ſucceeded him in title; on whoſe
death, in his 15th year, in 1760, it became extinct.
On the death of Sir William Sanderſon, the father,

Augm. Off. Parl. Surveys.
Baronetage, vol. v. p. 199. Guillim, p. 404.
his
GREENWICH.
389
his widow, lady Sanderſon, becaine entitled to this
ſeat and eſtate, which ſhe died poffefſed of in 1780 ;
when it came to the Rt. hon. Frederick Montague,
as heir at law, who is the preſent owner of it. Since
the Sanderſons, this feat has been the reſidence of
feveral different perſons. It was for many years occu-
pied by General Harvey, afterwards by John Hook
Campbell, eſq. lion king at arms. Rich. Edwards, eſq.
at preſent reſides in it. There is a fee-farm rent of
421. 175. paid to the crown for it.
In the 37th year of king Henry VIII. an act of
parliament paſſed, to make every perſon, who ſhould
be owner of Combe-marſhes, in the pariſh of Eaſt-
Greenwich, contributary, from time to time, towards
the reparation of them, according to the laws and
cuſtoms of Romney-marſh.
WESTCOMBE MANOR is held of the manor of
Dartford, alias Richmond's, and is called in the rolls
of it, the manor of Combe Weſt.
In the reign of king Edward II. this manor and its
appendant members were in the poffeffion of the fa-
mily of Badleſmere, but by the attainder of Bartho-
lomew lord Badleſmere, that great and powerful ba-
ron, who was executed for treaſon in the 15th year of
that reign, they eſcheated to the crown, and conti-
nued among the royal revenues till king Richard II.
granted them to Sir Robert Belknap the judge; upon
whoſe attainder, in the roth year of the ſame reign,
they again reverted to the crown;' and were, quickly
after, granted in fee by that king to Robert Ballard,
eſq. (pincernæ ſua) his butler ; that is, the manors of
Weſt-combe and Spittle-combe in Greenwich, and
two water-mills in Deptford, with their appurte-
nances in Charlton and Writtlemarſh.
In the 14th year of king Henry VII. Anne, wife of
the lord Audley, held theſe manors in Greenwich and





· Philipott, p. 163. Dugd. Baron, vol. ii. p. 58.
Charlton
Сс 3
390
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

Charlton of the counteſs of Richmond, but by what
ſervice was unknown; and William Ballard was found
to be her heir. In which name they continued till
the very beginning of the reign of Philip and Mary,
when Nicholas Ballard alienated Weſtcombe to
John Lambarde, eſq. draper and alderman, and for-
merly one of the ſheriffs of London;" who, dying in
1554, was buried in the church of St. Michael,
Wood-ſtreet, London. By Julian, his wife, daughter
and heir of William Horne, of London, he was father
of that ingenious and learned antiquary, William
Lambarde, efq, who ſucceeded him in this eſtate, and
reſided here. He was a bencher of the Society of
Lincoln's-inn, maſter in chancery, and keeper of the
rolls and records, and belonged to the alienation-of-
fice under queen Elizabeth, and was well known by
the many learned books which he publiſhed; of
which, in 1568, he wrote his Archionomia—in 1570,
his Perambulation of Kent-in 1581, his Eirenarcha,
or office of Juſtice of the Peace—in 1591, his Archeion,
or Diſcourſe upon the high Courts of Juſtice—and
in 1600, his Pande&ta Rotulorum-beſides ſeveral trea-
tiſes, ſome of which yet remain unpubliſhed; and
one, viz. his Topographical Dictionary, which was
firſt publiſhed in 1730. He founded and endowed
å college for the poor at Greenwich, in 1574, giving
it the name of Queen Elizabeth's college, and dying
at Weſtcombe, in 1601, was buried in Greenwich
church, where there was a handſome monument erec-
ted for him ; but when the old church of Greenwich
was pulled down, in order to build the preſent one,
the monument of Sir Multon Lambarde and his fa-
ther was removed at the charge of Thomas Lam-
barde, late of Sevenoke, eſq. and placed in that
church, with an additional inſcription, ſetting forth






a Rot. Eſch, ejuſd. anni. b Son of William Lambarde, of
Ledbury, in the co. of Hereford, gent. Viſtn. co. Kent, 1619,
Ped. Lambarde.
the
GREENWICH.
391
the reaſon of its being removed thither. The Lam-
bardes bore for their arms, Gules, a chevron vaire, be-
tween three lambs of the ſecond.
Mr. Lambarde had three wives; firſt, Jane, daugh-
ter of George Multon, of St. Cleres, eſq. by whom
he left no iſſue ; ſecondly, Silveſtria, daughter and
heir of Robert Deane, of Halling, in this county, and
widow of William Dalyſon, eſq. by whom he had
Multon, his only ſurviving ſon and ſucceſſor, and one
daughter, Margaret, married to Thomas Godfrey ;
and thirdly Margaret Reader, by whom he had no
iſſue. Sir Multon Lambarde, the ſon, married Anne,
daughter of Sir Thomas Lowe, bart. alderman of
London, and dying here, in 1634, was buried in
Greenwich church. He left Thomas Lambarde, efq.
his only ſon and heir, who reſided here, and being a
great Royaliſt, in the year 1648, was obliged to com-
pound for his eſtate, which had been ſequeſtered, at
ſo high a rate, that it occaſioned him to alienate this
of Weſtcombe to Hugh Forth ;" who quickly pal-
fed it away to Mr. Theophilus Biddulph, of London,
third ſon of Michael Biddulph, eſq. of Elmhurſt,
near Lichfield, in Staffordſhire.
The family of Biddulph derive themſelves from one
Ormus de Guidon, lord of Darlaweſton, who lived in
or near the Conqueror's time, ſome of whoſe deſcend.
ants aſſumed the name of Biddulph, from their re-
fidence at that village in the northern part of Staf-
fordſhire. The Biddulphs bore for their arms, Vert,
an eagle diſplayed argent.
Theophilus Biddulph, eſq. before-mentioned, re-
fided at Weſtcombe, and having been firſt knighted,
was created a baronet in the 16th year of Charles II.
By Suſanna, his wife, daughter of Zachary Highlord,
alderman of London, he left Sir Michael Biddulph,
bart, who on his father's death, fucceeded to this






Viftn, co. Kent, ibid.
d
Philipot, p. 163.
manor,
CC4
392
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED. .
manor, of which he died poſſeſſed in 1718, leaving a
fon and ſeveral daughters, his heirs, foon after his
death alienated the manor of Weſtcombe to Sir
Gregory Page, bart. who died poſſeſſed of it in 1775,
and by his will deviſed this, among the reſt of his eſ-
tates, to his nephew, Sir Gregory Turner, bart. of
Ambroſden, in the county of Oxford, who has ſince
taken the name of Page, and is the preſent owner of
it. Since the Biddulphs, this ſeat was inhabited by
Charles duke of Bolton, afterwards by the dutcheſs of
Athol, then by Mr. Halliday, ſince by Mr. Petrie,
and now by William Holmes, eſq. There is a court
baron held for this manor.
In the time of Edward the Confeffor, beſides the
manor of Eaſt Greenwich before mentioned, there
were two other manors here. The one held by earl
Harold, the other by one Brixi, both of which came
into the poſſeſſion of William the Conqueror, who
gave them, as one manor, to his half brother Odo,
biſhop of Baieux and earl of Kent, and as ſuch it was
held of him by the biſhop of Liſieux, in France, at
the time Domeſday was taken, anno 1080, where it
is thus entered:
In Dimidio Left de Sudtone. In Grenviz hund. Eps
Liſiacenſis ten de Epo baiocſi Grenviz. p. 2. Solins ſe
Defd. Tra. e.. In Dnio Sunt. 2. Gar. & 24.
Villi hnt Car & 4. Bord & 1 Cot & 5. Servi Ibi. 4
Mold de. 70. Sol. & 22. ac pti. && 40 ac paſiuræ &
Silva 10 porc.
Hi 2 Solins T. R. E. fuer. 2. m. unu tenuit Herold
& aliu Brixi & m Sunt in uno. T. R. E. & poft vale-
bant 8 lib & modo appciant 12 lib.
Which is: In the half of the lath of Sudtone in
Grenviz bundred, the biſhop of Lilleux bolds of the biſhop
of Baieux Grenviz. It was taxed at two ſulings. The
arable land is .... In demeſne there are 2 carucates,
and 24 villeins having 4 carucates, and there are 4
bora
derers,
4
Com
Simil

.
GREENWICH.
393
derers, and I cottager, and 5 ſervants. There are 4 mills
of 70 Billings value, and 22 acres of meadow, and 40
acres of paſture and wood for the pannage of 10 hogs.
Theſe 2 ſulings, in the time of king Edward the Con-
feſor, were 2 manors ; one earl Herold held, and the
other Brixi held, and now they are in one. In the time of
Edward the Confeſſor, and afterwards, they were together
worth 81. and now they are rated at 121.
This manor moſt probably reverted to the crown
on the diſgrace of the biſhop of Baieux, and became
part of the royal demeſnes, ſince which it has re-
mained, without interruption, in the poſſeſſion of the
royal family of England, becoming a ROYAL PALACE
and having been the delight and favourite reſidence of
many of our kings and queens.
King Edward III, founded a religious houſe adjoin-
ing to his palace here. King Henry IV. reſided much
at Greenwich, where he made his will, which is da-
ted from his manor of Greenwich, 22d Jan. 1408.
In the next reign Thomas Beaufort, youngeſt ſon of
John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaſter, by Katherine
Swinford, his third wife, obtained from his kinſman,
king Henry V. a grant of this manor for his life. He
was firſt created earl of Dorſet, and anno 4 Henry V.
duke of Exeter. He died at his manor of Greenwich
next year, and buried at St. Edınundſbury, as he had
directed. Soon after which this manor was granted
to Humphry duke of Glouceſter, the king's uncle. In
the uith year of Henry VI. a grant was made to that
duke to incloſe two hundred acres of land, paſture, &c.
in Greenwich, and to make a park; and in the 15th
year of the ſame reign, a like grant was made to the
duke, to incloſe two hundred acres more of land, paf-
ture, &c. in Eaſt Greenwich, and to make a park
there, to hold in fee; both grants reciting, that part


Philipott, p. 163. Weever, p. 339. Tan. Mon. p. 227, Harl.
MSS. No, 203.67. Dugd, Bar, vol. ii. p. 126.
of

394
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
of the land was parcel of the manor of Eaſt Green-
wich, belonging to the priory and convent of Shene,
and in the latter grant there is licence given for the
duke and Eleanor his wife, their manor of Green-
wich to embattle and build with ſtone, and to incloſe
and make a ditch and tower within it, and a certain
tower within their park, to build and edify, a
For it was not lawful for any man to fortify his
houſe, or raiſe a tower, or place of defence, without
licence from the crown, for fear of inward ſedition ;
and it was therefore inquirable before the eſcheator,
in the 24th article of his office. The word kernellare,
te einbattle, has its derivation from charneux, which,
in French, ſignifies the indented form of the top of a
wall, that has vent and creſt, commonly called embat-
tling, becauſe it was ſerviceable in fight to the defend-
ant within, who might, at the loops or lower places,
annoy the enemy, and ſhrowd himſelf under the
higher parts of it.
Soon after this the duke new erected the palace
here, on the ſpot where the weſt wing of the Royal
hoſpital now ſtands, imparked a quantity of land,
and built a tower within his park, ſince called Green-
wich-caſtle, and now the Obſervatory, (as will be
ſhewn below) and ſtiling this manor, from its moſt
pleaſant fituation, L'Pleazance, in Latin Placentia,
which name, however, was not commonly made uſe
of till the reign of king Henry VIII. But all theſe
came again into the poffeffion of the crown on his
death, which happened at St. Edmundſbury, in the
25th year of king Henry VI."
King Edward VI. took great delight in this pa-
lace, and beſtowed much coft in finiſhing and en-
larging it, and in his 5th year granted it to his queen,
Elizabeth, by the deſcription of the lordſhip and
2 Cott. Rec. p. 619.
> Sandford's Gen. Hift. p. 309, Dugd. Bar, vol. ii. p. 199.
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GREENWICH.
395

manor of Greenwich, with the tower of Greenwich,
and the parks there, and all lands, privileges, &c. to
the manor pertaining, in Greenwich or elſewhere,
within the county of Kent, together with all other
lands, rents, and ſervices, in this county, which be-
longed to Humphry, late duke of Glouceſter, to
hold for her life, in as ample a manner as the late
duke held them.
In this reign a royal juft was performed at Green-
wich, on the marriage of Richard duke of York, the
king's ſon, with Anne Mowbray, daughter of the
duke of Norfolk. In the 23d year of Edward IV.
Mary, the king's fifth daughter, died here. She was
promiſed in marriage to the king of Denmark, but
died before the conſummation of it. This manor,
with its appurtenances, coming into the poſſeſſion of
king Henry VII. either by the death or impriſonment
of queen Elizabeth, he enlarged the buildings, and
beautified the houſe with a brick front towards the
water ſide, and finiſhed the tower in the park, begun
by duke Humphry. He reſided here much; fre-
quently keeping his Chriſtmas in this palace, within
his royal manor of Greenwich. King Henry VIII.
as he exceeded all former kings in the ſumptuouſneſs
of his buildings, ſo he ſpared no coſt to render this
palace magnificent. Leland, the antiquarian, who
was an eye witneſs of its beauties, thus elegantly de
ſcribes them, in his Itinirary, vol. ix. p. 16.
Ecce ut jam niteat locus petitus,
66 Tanquam fidereæ locus cathedræ !
" Quæ faftigia picta! quæ feneftræ !
56 Quæ turres, vel ad aſtra fe efferentes!
- Quæ porro viridaria, ac perennes
66 Fontes! Flora finum occupat venuſta
66 Fundens delicias nitentis horti
66 Rerum commodus æftimator ille,
* Ripæ qui variis modis amenæ;
56 Nomen contulit eleganter aptum.”

LO!
396
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
}
Lo! with what luftre ſhines this wilh’d-for place!
Which ſtar-like might the heavenly manſions grace.
What painted roofs ! What windows charm the eye!
What turrets, rivals of the ſtarry ſky!
What conſtant ſprings! what verdant meads beſides !
Where Flora's ſelf in majeſty reſides.
And beauteous all around her, does diſpenſe,
With bounteous hand, her flowry influence.
Happy the man whoſe lucky wit could frame,
To ſuit this place, ſo elegant a name,
on Expreſſing all its beauties in the ſame.
At this manor of Pleazance, alias Eaſt Greenwich,"
(as it was now uſually called,) during the above reign,
and afterwards, many great feaſts and banquettings
were held, feaſts and elections of the Knights of the
Garter, royal juſts and challengings, particularly on
the 13th of May, in the 7th year of that reign, the
marriage of Mary, queen dowager of king Lewis XII.
of France, and that moſt accompliſhed lord, Charles
duke of Suffolk was publicly ſolemniſed in the church
of this palace. Great and ſolemn juſts were perfor-
med here on May 20, in the 8th year of that reign;
on Shrove-Tueſday, in the 18th year of it; and on
the 1ſt of May, in the 38th year of it, anno 1536.
On July 7th, anno 9 Henry VIII. in the year 1517,
a magnificent banquet was kept here. In 1527, be-
ing the 19th year of the ſame reign, the embaſſy
ſent by the French king to king Henry VIII, which,
that it might correſpond with our court in magnifi-
cence, conſiſted of eight perſons of high quality and
merit in France, attended by fix hundred horſe, was
received here by the king, at his manor of Pleazance,
with the greatet marks of honour, and entertained af-
ter a more ſumptuous manner than had ever been
ſeen before. In the 25th year of that reign, the lady

a Howel's Lond. p. 106. Harl. MSS. No. 69. 369, 13. Sandf,
Gen. Hiſt. p. 396. Philipott, p. 162. Cott. Bibl. p. 4.
Elizabeth
GREENWICH.
397
Elizabeth (afterwards queen) was chriſtened here; in
the 35th, the king kept a royal Chriſtmas here, as he
had done before in his 3d year; at which time he
royally feaſted and delivered (without ranſom)twenty-
one of the Scotch nobility, whom he had taken pri-
ſoners on the 24th of November before, in battle at
Salmon-mofs, near Carliſle."
Many royal perſons have been born in it, and,
among others, king Henry VIII. his brother Edmund,
king Edward VI. queen Mary, and her ſiſter, queen
Elizabeth, and afterwards ſeveral children of James I.
Here alſo died that moſt amiable and ever lamented
ſovereign, king Edward VI. Queen Elizabeth made
ſeveral additions to the buildings, and reſided much
here. In the 2d year of whoſe reign, on July 2d,
1559, the City of London entertained the Queen at
Greenwich with a muſter, each company ſending out
a number of men at arms, in all fourteen hundred, to
her great delight and ſatisfaction, which pleaſed the
citizens as inuch, and created a inutual love and af.
fection between them. On the iſt of July they
marched out of London in coats of velvet and chains
of gold, with guns, morris-pikes, halberts, and flags,
over London-bridge, to the duke of Suffolk’s park,
in Southwark, where they all muſtered before the
lord-mayor, and lay abroad in St. George's-fields that
night. The next morning they moved towards
Greenwich, to the court there ; and thence into the
park, where they ſtaid till eight o'clock, and then
marched down into the lawn, and muſtered in their
arins; all the gunners in ſhirts of mail. At five
o'clock at night, the queen came into the gallery,
over the park gate, with the ambaſſadors, lords, and
ladies to a great number. The lord marquis, lord-
admiral, lord Dudley, and ſeveral other lords and


” Fiddes's Wolſey, p. 428, Harl. MSS. No. 1107, 28. Kil-
burne, ut ſupra.
knights
398
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

knights rode to and fro, to view then, and to ſet the
two battles in array, to ſkirmiſh before the queen.
Then came the trumpets to blow on each part, the
drums beating and the flutes playing. There were
given three onſets in every battle; the guns diſchar-
ged on one another, the morris-pikes encountered to-
gether with great alarm ; each ran to their weapons
again, and then they fell together as faſt as they could,
in imitation of cloſe fight.
All this while the queen,
with the reſt of the nobility about her, beheld the
ſkirmiſhings and retreats. After all this, Mr. Cham-
berlain, and ſeveral of the commons of the city, and
the wiflers came before the queen, who heartily
thanked them and all the city ; whereupon the great-
eft ſhout was immediately given that ever was heard,
with hurling up of caps, &c. and the queen ſhewed
herſelf very merry. After this was a running at tilt,
and then they all departed home to London. The ioth
of the month, the queen being ſtill at Greenwich, and
well knowing how much pomps and ſhews, eſpecially
military, with her own preſence at them, delighted
her ſubjects, and perhaps herſelf too, cauſed a hand-
ſome banquetting houſe to be ſet up for herſelf in
Greenwich-park, made with fir-poles, and decked
with birch branches, and all manner of flowers, both
of the field and garden ; as roſes, julyflowers, laven-
der, marygolds, and all manner of ſtrewing herbs and
ruſhes. Beſides which, there were tents ſet up for the
kitchen, and for the officers againſt the next day, with
proviſions laid in of wine, ale, and beer. And there
was a place made up for the queen’s penſioners, who
were to run with ſpears; the challengers were three,
the Earl of Ormond, Sir John Perrot, and Mr. North,
and there were defendants of equal valour, with lances
and ſwords. About five in the afternoon the queen
came, with the ambaſſadors, and many lords and la-
dies, and ſtood over the park-gate, to ſee the exer-
ciſe; and after, the combatants ran, chaſing one ano-
ther.





SIE GREENWICH.
399
a
1
ther. After this ſhe came down into the park, and
took her horſe, and rode up to the banqueting-houſe,
and to the three ambaſſadors; and after that to ſup-
per. Then followed a maſk, and after it a ſumptuous
banquet, and great caſting of fire, and ſhooting of guns,
till twelve at night; when the whole ceaſed.
King James erected a new brick-work towards the
garden, and walled in the park, and laid the founda-
tion of the Houſe of Delight towards the park, (ſince
allotted to the rangers of the park,) which Henrietta
Maria, wife of king Charles I. finiſhed, and furniſhed
fo magnificently, that it by far ſurpaſſed all other houſes
of the kind at that time in England.
On Sunday, May 5, in the third year of king James,
the chriſtening of the princeſs Mary was performed
with great folemnity at the court in Greenwich. In
this reign, Henry Howard, earl of Northampton, had
a grant of the caſtle in the park, which he enlarged
and beautified; and being much taken with its plea-
ſant ſituation, made it his chief reſidence. He died,
unmarried, in the 12th year of this reign.
"
King Charles I. reſided much at this palace till the
year 1641, when he left it, with the fatal reſolution
of taking his journey northward ; after which, the
diſconrents of the times never ſuffered him to ſee it
again. On his death, in 1648, it was, with the other
royal eſtates, taken poſſeſſion of by the powers then in
being; who, though they paſſed an ordinance in 1649,
for the fale of the crown lands, yet they excepted to
their own uſe, among other the late king's honours,
palaces, and parks, the honour and manor of Eaſt
Greenwich; the houſe, called Greenwich houſe; the
buildings, called the Queen's new buildings, with the
gardens, orchards, &c. belonging to them; the park
adjoining, commonly called Greenwich-park, and the






a Strype's Annals, vol. i. p. 193, 194. b Philipott, p. 162. Col-
lins's Peerage, vol. iv. p. 131. Rym. Fød. vol. xix. p. 527.
caſtle
400
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
caſtle within it, known by the name of Greenwich-
caſtle, which was then accounted a place of ſome
ſtrength and conſequence; for when the parliament
thought proper to ſecure for their uſe the ſeveral forts
and places of ſtrength on each ſide the river Thames,
they paſſed an ordinance in 1642; for referring to the
Committee for the Militia in London, to take proper
courſe for ſecuring this caſtle, with the blockhoufes of
Graveſend and Blackheath. The extent of the royal
palace may ſtill be traced, by the names of ſeveral
ſtreets and places in the town of Greenwich, called in
the old pariſh books, the King's Houſe and Barne,
King's-barnes, Queen’s-barnes, King's mews, Queen’s-
mews, the Court, the Palace, and the Palace yard.
But the neceſſities of the commonwealth, ſometime
after, requiring money for defraying the expences of
the navy, their houſe of commons, in 1652, reſolved,
that Greenwich-houſe, park, and lands ſhould be im-
mediately fold.
Particulars were accordingly made out for the fale
of the hobby ſtables, and other trifling parts of the
royal garden and palace, but no further proceedings
as to the reſt ſeem to have been had at this time.
In 1654, the ſub-committee for the revenue finding,
that the houſe and park of Eaſt Greenwich, and other
palaces of the late king, which had been ſurveyed and
valued, then remained unfold, after ſolemn debates,
declared, that they were fit places for the accommoda-
tion of the lord protector, and, therefore, were not to
be valued at any groſs fum ; but might be allowed to-
ward the revenue, as returned in the ſurvey, at the
yearly rent of 12541. 135. 4.d. The beautiful grove
under Greenwich caſtle had been, ſome time before
this, demoliſhed in the general deftruction made of the
royal parks, woods, and foreſts.



a Scob. Aêts, p. 63.
Journals of the Houſe of Commons, vol. vii. p. 203.
On
GREENWICH.
401
On the reſtoration of king Charles II. in 1660, this
manor and palace, with the park, and other royal de-
meſnes here, returned again to the crown.
After which the king, finding the old palace greatly
decayed by time, and the want of neceſſary reparations
during the uſurpation, foon after his return to his do
minions, formed the deſign of erecting a moſt magni-
ficent one at this place, and completed one end of
à ſtately pile of building, of free ſtone, (now the weſt
wing of the hoſpital,) at the expence of 36,000l. but
proceeded no further towards finiſhing it. He likewiſe
enlarged, planted, and walled round the park, as at
preſent, and erected a royal obſervatory on the top of
the hill in the park, where duke Humphrey's tower
ſtood, and furnilhed it with all kinds of mathematical
inſtruments for aſtronomical obſervations, and allotted
it for the uſe and reſidence of an aſtonomer royal,
whom he placed here, with a handſome falary for his
maintenance. After which this place was ſucceſſively
the reſidence of thoſe celebrated aſtronomers, Mr.
Flamſted, Dr. Halley, and Dr. Bradley; from Mr.
Flamſted this obſervatory took the name of Flamſted
houſe, by which it is now commonly known. It
It is at
preſent in the poffeffion of the Rev. Mr. Nevil Maſke-
line, F.R.S and late fellow of Trinity-college, Cam-
bridge, who was appointed aftronomer royal to his
Majeſty in 1765, on the death of Dr. Nathaniel Bliſs.
In this unfiniſhed ſtate the palace remained till king
William's time ; who, being deſirous of promoting the
naval ſtrength of the kingdom, gave it, with ſeveral
edifices and ſome adjoining grounds, as AN HOSPITAL
for the uſe of thoſe Engliſh
ſeamen of his royal navy,
and their children, who, by age, wounds, or other ac-
cidents, ſhould be diſabled from further ſervice at ſea.
For which purpoſe the king and queen iſſued their
letters patent, in the 6th year of their reign, anno 1694 ;
by which they granted to Sir John Somers, lord keeper,
ſeveral of the great officers of ſtate, and others, a par-
cel
VOL. I.
Dd
402
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
cel of ground in Eaſt Greenwich, being part of their
Majeſties' manor of Eaſt Greenwich, containing eight
acres and upwards; and the capital meſſuage, lately
built by their royal uncle, king Charles II. and ſtill
remaining unfiniſhed, commonly called the palace of
Greenwich, and ſeveral other edifices and buildings,
ſtanding upon part of the ground: bounded by the ri-
ver Thames on the north, to hold, as of their manor
of Eaſt Greenwich, in free and common focage, by
fealty, only to the intent, that the premiſes ſhould be
converted into an hoſpital, for the above purpoſes ;
and that as ſoon as the buildings ſhould be finiſhed,
and the king and queen, ſhould eſtabliſh a corporation,
or body politique, for the government of it; then to
convey the premiſes to ſuch body politique, which be-
ing afterwards eſtabliſhed, the premiſes were, accord-
ingly, veſted in it.
The year after, the king again (the queen being
dead) iſſued his letters patent, for a commiſſion, which
ſet forth, that nothing would more effectually contri-
bute to the trade, navigation, and naval ſtrength of
this realm, than the making ſome competent provi
fion, that ſeamen, who, by age, wounds, or other acci-
dents, ſhould become diſabled for further ſervice at ſea,
and ſhould not be in a condition to maintain themſelves
comfortably, might not fall under hardſhips and mi-
ſeries, but might be ſupported at the public charge, and
that the children of ſuch diſabled ſeamen, and the wi-
dows and children of ſuch as ſhould be flain in the
king's ſervice, might in ſome reaſonable manner be pro-
vided for and educated.
To effect which, therefore, he commiſſioned George,
hereditary prince of Denmark, ſeveral of the great
officers of ſtate for the time being, and a great num-
ber more of the nobility, the biſhops, the aldermen of
London, the commiſſioners of the navy, and other gen-
tlemen, to meet together for the executing of this
commiſſion, and to conſider of proper methods for
performing
GREENWICH.
403
performing it; and he directed them in what manner
ſuch of the preſent buildings, as ſhould be thought fit
to ftand, might be fitted and prepared for the uſe and
ſervice of the hoſpital; to prepare niodels of the build-
ing, with ſuch ſchemes and draughts as might beft ex-
plain them; to draw up a charter of foundation, and
ſuch ſtatutes and orders as might be proper for it, and
to receive the king's yearly allowance towards this
building, and all gifts and ſubſcriptions, that any other
well-diſpoſed perſons ſhould contribute towards it.
After this commiffion, an act of parliament paſſed
for the more effectual forwarding and perfecting this
excellent deſign, and providing a ſufficient endowment
for it; in which, after ſeveral regulations, in regard
to the admittance of feamen into it
, it provided, that
every ſeaman, who ſhould ſerve his Majeſty, in any of
his Dips, ſhould allow out of his wages ſixpence per
month, for the better ſupport, and to augment the re-
venues of it.
On queen Anne's acceſſion to the throne, there had
been expended upwards of fifty thouſand pounds on
theſe buildings, and much more was wanting to finiſh
them; however, they were in ſuch forwardneſs, that
in 1705, one hundred diſabled ſeamen were taken into
the hoſpital. Queen Anne iſſued her commiſſion in
her third year, for the carrying on and finiſhing theſe
buildings, for ftating the accounts of them, and for
providing for ſuch other matters as ſhould be thought
neceſſary, with regard to the acts of parliament then,
or that ſhould afterwards be made, for the encourage-
ment of ſeamen.
In July 1708, the hoſpital was ſo far advanced as to
have three hundred and fifty poor and diſabled ſeamen
in it, the income of it then being computed at twelve
thouſand pounds per annum; of which one half was

* Strype's Stow's Survey, book i. p. 216.
Dd 2
allowed
404
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
allowed to the yearly maintenance of the poor ſeamen,
and the other half towards the buildings.
In the tenth year of queen Anne, an act paſſed for
the better collecting and receiving the revenues granted
for the ſupport of this royal hoſpital, and for the fur-
ther benefit of it. By which other ſeamen, though
not in the fervice of the crown, were made liable to
the payment of fixpence per month, for the better
ſupport of it; and as no ſeaman had, as yet, been ad-
mitted, but ſuch as ſerved in the royal navy, for the
future any feaman might be admitted, who ſhould
produce an authentic certificate of his being wounded,
maimed, or hurt in defending any ſhip of her Majeſty's
ſubjects againſt the enemy, or in taking any ſhip, and
of being diſabled by it for fea ſervice.
King George, in the firſt year of his reign, iſſued
a commiſſion, for carrying on, building, and providing
for this hofpital; therein revoking and determining
the former commiſſion or letters patent, and their
continuance, and removing the former governors ;
and being extremely deſirous to promote and carry it
on, he nominated, and appointed his ſon, George Au-
guftus, prince of Wales, and the ſeveral great officers
of ſtate for the time being, with a great number beſides,
to be commiſſioners for this hofpital, to meet together
for the execution of it; giving them power to proceed
and finiſh the building, to ſtate the account of the
works, and to make payment from time to time. To
provide for the maintenance of ſuch perſons as ſhould
be neceſſary, with regard to the acts of parliament for
encouraging of ſeamen.
That a general court ſhould be held quarterly, or
oftener, if found neceſſary, at which all officers for the
hoſpital ſhould be recommended to the lord high ad-
miral, who ſhould appoint all of them, except the
governor and treaſurer, all which officers, or others,
to be admitted for the future, ſhould be ſeafaring per-
fons; and that the general court, with the aſſiſtance of
the

GREENWICH.
405
the attorney and ſolicitor general, ſhould forthwith pre-
pare a charter and ſtatutes for the perpetual govern-
ment of the hoſpital ; that four and twenty perſons
ſhould be appointed, who ſhall be ſtiled Directors,
with powers to carry on the building, to ſtate the ac-
counts for the works; to make contracts for pro-
viſions and other neceſſaries for the houſe, and to
take in perſons by the approbation of the lord high
admiral ; that their proceedings ſhould be laid before
the general court, and the directors receive twenty
ſhillings for every actual attendance, to be paid out
of the revenue of the hoſpital. The lord high ad-
miral, or general court, when aſſembled, to nominate
and fill up the number of directors. That the go-
vernment of the houſe ſhould be in the governor,
with a council of officers, to be appointed by the lord
high admiral ;a and laſtly, the commiſſioners to finiſh
all matters left undetermined by the late commiſſion.
King George III. by his charter, in 1775, incorpo-
rated the governor of this hofpital, and others named
in it, as one body politic and corporate, by the name
of The Commiſſioners and Governors of the Royal Hoſpital
for Seamen at Greenwich in the County of Kent, and
granted, that they ſhould be governors of the goods,
revenues, &c. belonging to it; and that they and
their ſucceſſors, by the ſame name, ſhould have per-
petual ſucceſſion. Thus has the conſtant attention
of the crown and legiſlature to this noble charity
ſurmounted every difficulty, which the infant ſtate of
it laboured under,
The royal and national bounty have been from
time to time generouſly extended to it; for there
have been ſeveral private benefactions as well as public
made to this hoſpital ; a liſt of them, from the foun-
dation, according to the tables hung up at the en-
trance of the hall, amount to upwards of 58,2001. of



a Strype's Stow's Survey, book i. p. 217. Ibid. App. p. 94.
the
Dd 3
406.
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
the latter, in particular, queen Anne, in her 4th year,
was enabled by parliament to beſtow the effects of
William Kidd, a notorious pirate, to the uſe of this
hoſpital; king George II. was enabled, by ſeveral
acts, paiſed to allot ten thouſand pounds out of the
public fupplies, for the better maintenance of the fea-
men in it, worn out and become decripped in the ſer-
vice of their country, and the ſhares of prizes, not
demanded in three years, have, in the ſeveral wars of
thoſe reigns, been alloted by parliament to this cha-
rity. But the moſt munificent, even of the royal be-
nefactions, was made in the 8th year of George II.
when the rents and profits of the forfeited eſtates of
the earl of Derwentwater and Charles Radcliffe, eſq.
attainted for rebellion in 1715, then amounting to
upwarde of ſix thouſand pounds per annum (the in-
come of which is now increaſed to near thirty thou-
ſand pounds per annum) were given by parliament
towards the buildings of this hoſpital and the ſupport
of the ſeamen in it. In the 22d year of the ſame
reign, the abſolute fee and inheritance of them were,
by parliament, veſted in truſtees for the like ufes,
Since which, by an act of the 16th year of his pre-
ſent majeſty, theſe, as well as all other lands and ef-
tates held in truſt for the benefit of this hofpital, were
veſted in the commiffioners and governors of it, in-
corporated by letters patent,
Such a ſeries of care and liberality extended to-
wards this favourite object of the Britiſh nation, could
hardly fail of raiſing it to that wiſhed-for proſperity
we ſee it in at preſent. By degrees, this royal hof-
pital is now become not only one of the moſt mag-
nificent in its buildings, but the moſt extenſive cha
rity of its kind at this time in Europe.tr
The yearly revenues of it are ſo greatly advan-
ced of late years, not only from the improvements of





* This act was repealed by that of 16 Geo. III.
their
GREENWICH.
407
their eſtates, but from the conſiderable increaſe of the
duty of fixpence per month, which is ſtopped out of
the pay of all ſailors, whether in the royal navy or mer-
chants ſervice, and delivered in at the Sixpenny Re-
ceiver's-office, on Tower-hill; and from the great in-
creaſe of the royal navy, and of our trade and navi-
gation in general, now amounts to a large and very
conſiderable fum, inſomuch that they enable the
governors to maintain in it upwards of two thouſand
three hundred old or diſabled feamen, and about one
hundred and fifty boys, the fons of ſeamen, who are
inſtructed in navigation, and bred up for the ſervice
of the royal navy; and there are many out-penſioners,
the ſame as at Chelſea, each of whom receives ſeven
pounds per annum.
The governors are in number about one hundred,
conſiſting of the nobility, great officers of ſtate, and
perſonsin high poſts under the king. The chief officers
of it are the Governor, the Lieutenant-governor, the
Treaſurer, four captains, eight Lieutenants, two
Chaplains, a Phyſician and Surgeon, the Clerk of the
Cheque, the Secretary, and the Auditor; beſides a
number of clerks and other inferior officers, who have
each a handſome falary, proportionable to their rank
and ſervice; and there are upwards of one hundred and
fifty nurſes, the widows of ſeamen, for the care of the
penſioners and the children. Each of the mariners
has a weekly allowance of ſeven loaves, weighing ſix-
teen ounces each, three pounds of beef, two of mut-
ton, a pint of peas, a pound and a quarter of cheeſe,
two ounces of butter, fourteen quarts of beer, and
one ſhilling per week tobacco money. The tobacco
money of the boatſwains is two ſhillings and fixpence
a week each ; that of their mates, one ſhilling and
fixpence, and that of the other officers in proportion
to their rank. Beſides which, each common penſioner
receives, once in two year, a ſuit of blue cloaths, a
hat, three pair of ſtockings, two pair of ſhoes, five
neckcloths,



D & 4
408
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
neckcloths, three ſhirts, and two night-caps. The
governor's ſalary is 1000l. per annum, the lieutenant-
governor's, 400l. each captain's, 2301. each lieute-
nants 1351. and ſo on in proportion.
King Edward III. at the inſtance of Sir John Nor-
bury, his treaſurer, in the 51ſt year of his reign, anno
1376, founded a religious houſe here, for the order of
Minorites or Franciſcans, commonly called Grey
Friars, which was made an alien priory, ſubject to
the abbey of Ghent, in Flanders. But when king
Henry V. in his ſecond year, ſuppreſſed the alien pri-
ories throughout England, this at Greenwich became
involved in the general ruin, and the religious were
expelled from hence.
King Edward IV. perhaps by the perfuafion of his
ſiſter Margaret, dutcheſs of Burgundy, reſolved to
found a religious houſe or convent of the order of Ob-
ſervants here, contiguous to his palace, moſt probably
in the very place of the former one; and the Obſer-
vants being only a more reformed branch of the Mi-
norites, adds ſome ſtrength to this conjecture. Though
the king did not live to put the whole of this deſign
in execution, yet, about the year 1480, he granted
them a reſidence here, with a little chantry and cha-
pel, of the Holy Croſs, for their devoţions, which
pope Sixtus IV. that year, gave them leave to accept
of. They remained in this ſtate till king Henry VII.
in his ift year, by his letters patent, reciting, that
king Edward IV. had deſigned to found a convent of
the order .of Obſervants, and had alloted for that pur-
poſe a parcel of his land, with ſome antient houſes
built on it, in the town of Eaſt Greenwich, conti-
guous to his manfion or palace, founded, in profecu-
tion of fo pious an intent, this religious houſe at the
town of Eaſt Greenwich. Soon after this he new
built their houſe for them, from the foundation, which
ſtood




GREENWICH.
409
ſtood adjoining to the weſt ſide of the palace, where
the road, now known by the name of the Friars-road,
points out its ſituation.a King Henry VIII. was at
firſt a great admirer and favourer of the Obſervants,
till they fo openly and warmly eſpouſed the ſide of
queen Catharine, in the cauſe of her divorce. The
queen had always retained the higheſt opinion of the
piety and ſanctity of theſe friars, inſomuch, that ſhe
had one of them, father John Foreſt, for her confef-
for, and uſed, while at Greenwich, to riſe at mid-
night to the divine offices, and be preſent in the
Franciſcan church, during the time the friars were
ſinging their matins and lauds. This oppoſition to
the king's deſires enraged him ſo much, that from
henceforward theſe friars were continually perſecuted
and diſperſed; fome died in priſon, others were exe-
cuted under imputation of treaſon, and others forced
to fly, till the whole body of them was reduced almoſt
to nothing. On the sith of Aug, 1534, in his 26th
year, the king cauſed this houſe to be diffolved, at
which time the whole order was ſuppreſſed throughout
England. But, after near twenty years baniſhment, the
few remaining Franciſcans, by the acceſſion of queen
Mary to the throne, began to appear again in public,
and returning to Greenwich, began to form a com-
munity here again, and as they had been the firſt ex-
pelled, ſo were they the firſt reſtored by king Philip
and queen Mary, in 1555, when the queen new
founded their monaſtery, and cauſed it to be repaired
at her own coſt, in gratitude for the ſignal reſolution
they had ſhewn in afferting her mother's cauſe, and
brought in as many of the fraternity as could be

a
Philipott, p. 163. Weever, p. 339. Tanner, p. 227. Dugd.
Mon. vol. i. p. 1035. Hift. of Eng. Franciſcans, p. 207. Lamb.
Peramb. p. 473.-In this church of the Friars Minors was buried
Elizabeth, ſiſter of William, the firſt lord Sandys, and wife of
Thomas lord D'Arcy, of the North, who died in 1529. Dugd.
Bar. vol. i. p. 372.
b Rapin, vol. i. p. 804.
found,
410
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
found, and recruited them with new ones to a com-
petent number. But they did not continue long
here; for queen Elizabeth, in the ſecond year of her
reign, anno 1559, ſuppreſſed this monaſtery again ;
and the friars being put out from their houſe were
obliged to fly into Flanders, Germany, and other
parts beyond ſea. After which the ſeveral buildings
of this convent were, from time to time, made uſe of
as part of the royal palace, and continued ſo till, in
the interregnum, after the death of king Charles I. they
were fold, with ſome other parts of the palace, in the
year 1652, by the powers then in being, as has been
already mentioned, under the deſcription of the priory
buildings, parcel of Greenwich houſe, with a ftill-
houſe, and the priory garden, to Richard Babington.
Theſe premiſes returning to the crown again on the
reſtoration of king Charles II. in 1660, continued part
of the royal palace till king William, in the 6th year
of his reign, gave them, with the reſt of the palace
here, as an hoſpital for maimed and wounded ſeamen,
part of the ſcite of which remains at this time, as has
been already fully taken notice of before.
CHARITIES
MR. LAMBAR DE, the perambulator, in the year 1574, built
and founded an alms-houſe or hoſpital in this pariſh, called queen
Elizabeth's-college, for the benefit of twenty poor people, eight
of whom to be choſen from this pariſh of Greenwich, with an al-
lowance of 18d. per week, and a load of faggots monthly, to
each; and intruſted the care of it to the Drapers-company, to
which he was otherwiſe a good benefactor.
RALPH ROKEBY, of Lincoln's-inn, eſq. maſter of St. Catha-
rine's, &c. dying in 1596, among other charitable legacies, be-
queathed 100l, to this college, ſo that now the penſioners, be-
fides meat, drink, and lodging, are allowed is. 6d. a week, with
a gown every year, linen once in two years, and hats once in
four years.
There is another College, which ſtands at the end of the town,
fronting the Thames, having two acres of garden-ground belong-
Parol
a Aug. Of. Partic. Temp. Interreg. Roll, H. 7. Hift. Eng. Franciſ. p. 254-
b Kilb. p. 115. Ibid, book ill. p. 248. book v. p. 55. Strype's Stow's Survey,
beok v. p. 58.

ing
GREENWICH.
411

ing to it, for the maintenance of twenty decayed old houſekeep-
ers, and a maſter; of which twenty, twelve are to be of the pariſh
of Greenwich, and the other eight are to be alternately choſen
from Snottifham and Caſtle Riſing, in Norfolk. This is called
the Duke of Norfolk’s-college, though it was founded and en-
dowed, in 1613, by Henry Howard, earl of Northampton, the
duke of Norfolk's brother, and by him committed to the care of
the Mercers' company, by the name of Trinity-college, in Green-
wich. It has a handſome chapel, to which the Earl's body and
monument were removed in 1696, by order of the Mercers' com-
pany,
from the ruinous church in Dover-caſtle. See New court's
Rep. vol. i. p.693.
Atleg is
There are two Charity-ſchools in this pariſh; one founded by
Sir William Boreman, in 1673, and intrufted to the care of the
Drapers' company, for twenty boys, born in this town, who are
cloathed, boarded, and taught, for which uſe there is a large houſe
appropriated for the maſter and ſcholars. m
U
The other by Mr. John ROAN, who by will, in 1643, left an
eſtate in houſes near the church here, of 95l. per annum, in truſt
with the vicar, churchwardens, and overſeers of this pariſh, for
teaching twenty boys, born in this town, reading, writing, and
arithmetic, and allowing 21. for each boy's cloathing, until they
ſhould be of fifteen years of age, which eftate is now veſted in
truſtees, and now of the produce of 1731. 145. per annum.
- In the year 1700, there was a Charity-ſchool ſet up here for
girls, where the children were ſet to fpin, and to make their own
cloaths, both linen and woollen. It was ſupported by voluntary
fubfcriptions, amounting to about 6ol, and had the gift of 100l.
belonging to it, and one chaldron of coals yearly. in toba
John Baker by will, 1670, gave sol. to the poor, as did
ELISHA BAKER, 7ol. in 1674, both ſums veſted in truſtees ; of
which fol. was directed by a commiſſion of charitable uſes, to be
laid out towards the building of the free-ſchool, and a rent of 41.
per annum reſerved, to be paid towards Roan's charity. To
Dr. BRYAN Duppa, biſhop of Wincheſter, who died in 1662,
was a good benefactor to this pariſh. Biog. Brit. vol.iii. p. 1324.
Rev. THOMAS PLUME by will, 1704, gave two houſes, in
Deptford, to cloath and teach two boys in Roan's ſchool for ever,
veſted in truſtees, of the produce of 21. per annum; and likewife
four alms-houſes in Greenwich, for the uſe of the poor, but they
have many years ſince fallen down,
MARK COTTLE by will gave, for the benefit of Roan’s-ſchool,
and teaching the children there, 100l. to be laid out in lands and
tenements, veſted in truſtees, of the produce of 6l. per annum.
Sweete by will gave to the ſame ſchool, the amount in
money of 1231. gs. 2d. Eaſt India annuities, veſted in truſtees, of
the produce of 31. 13s. 10d. per annum.
WILLIAM HATCLIFFE by will, in 1620, gave to the poor of
Greenwich, Lewiſham, and Lee, i. e. two-fourth parts to the poor
of
412
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
poor and
of this pariſh, a moiety of ſeveral houſes and lands in Greenwich,
veſted in truſtees, of the produce of 451. 3s. per annum.
WILLIAM STANTON by will, in 1610, gave to the poor of this
pariſh, and of the college erected by William Lambarde, 40s.
payable out of a houſe in Church-ſtreet, veſted in truſtees, of the
produce of 141. per annum.
WILLIAM RIPPIER by will, in 1577, gave to the
needy people of this pariſh, reſident in it, a houſe, at Garden-
ſtairs, in Greenwich, veſted in truſtees, of the produce of 161. pe
annum.
promotion
THOMAS Ware by will, in 1612, gave to the uſe of the poor
of this pariſh, the moiety of a houſe in Lewiſham, veſted in truf-
tees, of the produce of ios. per annum.
William Corry by will, in 1625, gave to the poor of this
pariſh, one-third of the rent of a houſe in it, veſted in truſtees,
of the produce of il. 16s. 8d. per annum.
Joane Tallis, in 1587, gave by will to Lambarde’s-college,
a rent charge out of a houſe in Greenwich, veſted in truſtees, of
the produce of jos, per annum. onante
NICHOLAS SMithies by will, in 1692, gave 2ol. to purchaſe
2os. per annum, to be given to the poor inhabitants. Not known
in whom veſted, but of the produce of 20s. per annum.
SIR WILLIAM Hooker by deed, in 1691, gave a rent charge
of the produce of 61. per annum, out of a meſſuage in Greenwich,
now unknown, to be diſtributed among poor widows of this pa-
riſh, but which has not been received for many years.
NICHOLAS WIGSELL by will, in 1720, gave an annuity,
charged on a houſe in Turnpike-lane, to be diſtributed among the
poor inhabitants of this pariſh, in bread, on Candlemas-day
yearly, now of the annual produce of 61. and received by the
churchwardens.
John MASSINGER by will, in 1715, gave, for the relief of
decayed houſekeepers and other indigent perſons, pariſhoners of
Greenwich, 20s, each, towards the expence of meeting yearly,
and ios. for a fermon annually, which charity is veſted in Old
South Sea annuities, to the amount of 15331. 125. of the annual
produce of 461.
ABRAHAM Colfe by will, in 1656, gave an eſtate to the Lea-
therſellers company, to diſtribute two-penny wheaten loaves to
the
poor of this pariſh every Sunday, and gave a right to this pa-
riſh to ſend ten ſcholars, to be educated at the free-grammar
ſchool at Lewiſham, founded by him.
John WARDELL by will, in 1656, gave the ſum of 2s. 6d. to
be laid out in bread, and diſtributed every Sunday to fifteen poor
widows of this pariſh, charged on a meſſuage in Walbrook, veſted
in the Grocers' company, now of the annual produce of 461.
WILLIAM Raine by will, in 1766, gave for the relief of poor
people of this pariſh, 2os. a year each, iſſuing out of 4251. 4 per
tent,


GREENWICH.
413
cent. Annuities, veſted in truſtees, of the annual produce of 171.
Alice CLEMENTS by will, in 1710, gave 200l. South Sea an-
nuities, for the cloathing of fix poor widows of this pariſh yearly,
veſted in truſtees, of the annual produce of 61.
PETER WATTON gave, by will, 40s. per annum, to the eight
houſes of Greenwich poor, in queen Elizabeth's college, and 51.
ros. yearly to be diſtributed among the poor at Greenwich, being
2501. Old South Sea annuities, veſted in truſtees, of the annual
produce of 71. ros.
WILLIAM MACGILL by will, in 1775, gave 6ool. 3 per cent.
reduced Annuities, for the cloathing of poor widows of this pariſh
yearly, veſted in truſtees, of the annual produce of 181.
Dennis CHAPPEL, by will, gave 51. to defray the expences
of the receiver yearly, and the remainder to be diſtributed annu-
ally and equally among the poor of queen Elizabeth's college, the
warden excepted, which gift is veſted in truſtees.
Sir GREGORY Page, bart. who died in 1775, by his will, be-
queathed the ſum of 400l. to the poor of the pariſh of Eaſt Green-
wich, where he lies buried.
GREENWICH is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JU-
RISDICTION of the dioceſe of Rocheſter and the
deanry of Dartford. The church was, from the ear-
lieſt account of time, an appendage to the manor of
Greenwich, and as ſuch was given by Elthruda, king
Alfred's niece, to the abbey of Ghent, which grant
was ſaid to have been renewed and confirmed, at the
inſtance of archbiſhop Dunſtan, by king Edgar, anno
964, as it was by king Edward the Confeſſor in 1040,
with ſeveral rights and privileges belonging to it, and
all cimeteries, tithes, rents in fields and woods, in
meadows and paſtures, rivers, pools, fiſheries, fiſh-
ings, mills, and in all its appurtenances.a
William the Conqueror again confirmed this grant
to that abbey, as did ſeveral of his ſucceſſors, parti-
cularly Henry I. who, with the manor, confirmed to
it this church, and the cimetery, and all lands and te-
nements belonging to it, together with the tithes of
Andredeſwald, with its cuſtoms and rents, and all its
appurtenances, as the charters of king Edward, and
of king William his father, witneſſed.


a
Strype's Stow's Survey, book v. p. 45. Environs of Lond.
vol.iii. p. 68.
Dugd. Mon. vol. ii. p. 900.
The
414
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
.
The church of Ex Grene wich was appropriated by
Benedict, biſhop of Rocheſter, to the convent and
abbot of Ghent, after the death of maſter Nicholas,
then rector of it; which grant was confirmed by bi-
ſhop Richard, one of his ſucceſſors, in 1239, maſter
Nicholas being ſtill living.
King Edward III. in his 17th year, directed his
writ to the biſhop of Rocheſter, requiring him to re-
turn the names of all aliens beneficed within his dio-
ceſe, and the names of their benefices, and who of
them were reſident on them. To which the biſhop
made return, that the abbot and convent of Ghent
poſſeſſed, to their own proper uſe and behoof, the
churches of Lewiſham and Eſt Grenewich, and the
temporals annexed to them in thoſe pariſhes, and
that brother William Sergotz, the proctor of the ab-
bot and convent reſided there. A writ for the like
purpoſe was iſſued in the 20th year of that reign,
when the biſhop made return, that the abbot and
convent pofſeffed, to their own proper uſe, the church
of Ef Grenewiche, taxed at xx marcs, but that the
religious were not reſident in them.
The parliament, at Leiceſter, in the 2d year of
king Henry V. ſuppreſſing all the alien priories, the
poffeffions of the abbot and convent of Ghent, and
this church, as part of them, became veſted in the
crown, where it ſtaid only till next year, when the
king ſettling the manor of Greenwich on his new
founded priory of Shene, this church, as an append-
age, paſſed along with it at the ſame time.
In the regiſter of John Langdon, biſhop of Ro-
cheſter, in the 13th year of king Henry VI. it ap-
pears, that the prior and convent of Shene, holding
the churches of Leveſham and Eſt Grenzych appro-
priate, in Rocheſter dioceſe, paid to the biſhop a
penſion of forty ſhillings yearly at Michaelmas.
King Henry VIII. obtained the poſſeſſion of this
church from the priory of Shene, in exchange, in his

23d
GREENWICH.
415
23d year, when John Joburne the prior, and the con-
vent of that place, by deed, that year, granted to the
king their manors of Lewiſham and Eſt Grenewich,
with their appurtenances, and the advowſons and pa-
tronages of the churches, Vicarages, and rectories
of thoſe pariſhes. Since which the advowſon of the
vicarage of Greenwich ſeems to have continued, with-
out any interruption, in the poſſeſſion of the crown
to the preſent time. This vicarage is valued in the
king's books at 211. os. and the yearly tenths at
21. 2s. In the commiſſion of enquiry into the value
of church livings, in 1650, which iſſued from the
court of Chancery, it was returned, that Eaſt Green-
wich was a vicarage, with one houſe, and an acre and
one rood of glebe land, one Mr. John Sterne enjoy-
ing it. The vicar now receives the tithes of rods and
reeds, of all fruits, and of herbage or paſture ground.
He receives likewiſe a penſion of 5l. 25. 6d. yearly, in
conſideration of the tithe for the park.
The rectory or parſonage, after the exchange made
in the 23d year of king Henry VIII. remained in the
poffefſion of the crown till the 28th year of that
reign, when the king granted it, as has been already
mentioned above, in the deſcription of the manor of
Old Court, in this pariſh, among other premiſes, to his
fervant, Richard Long, for life, after which it paſſed
with that manor, under the ſame grants, till king Ed-
ward VI. in his 5th year, granted them to Thomas
Darcy, lord Darcy of Chiche, for life, without any
account of rent whatſoever, with all the profits, ad-
vantages, and emoluments belonging to them.
Theſe tithes, together with the manor of Old
Court, parcel of the honour of Eaſt Greenwich, the
parſonage-houſe, and ſundry other premiſes, late be-
longing to the crown, were ſold by the truſtees, ap-
la con
Reg. Roff. p. 126, 127, 136. Tan. Mon. p. 544. Ord. Vic.
Regift. Hamon de Heth. Ep. Roff. Rymer's Fæd. vol. iv. p. 407.
Bacon. Lib. Regis,
pointed
a
416
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
pointed by parliament, in 1649, for the ſale of the
lands belonging to the late king, to Robert Titch-
borne. But they returned again to the crown on
king Charles II.'s reſtoration, and have ſince paffed,
in like manner as the manor of Old Court before men-
tioned.
The church was dedicated to St. Alphege, archbi-
ſhop of Canterbury, who is ſaid to have been flain by
the Danes, in the year 1011, on the very ſpot where
this church was afterwards built. By length of time,
the building became ſo ruinous, that about midnight,
on Tueſday, Nov. 28, 1710, the roof fell in. Soon
after which, in the 9th of queen Anne, when the act of
parliament paſſed for building the fifty new churches
within the city of London and its ſuburbs, it was
expreſsly provided in it, that one of the new churches
ſhould be in the pariſh of Greenwich. The com-
miſſioners, under this act, ſoon afterwards began to
erect a new church here, which is a handſome ſtone
ſtructure, with a cupola ſteeple, and being finiſhed,
it was conſecrated on Sept. 29, 1718, by Dr. Francis
Atterbury, biſhop of Rochefter. In this church it
was inſiſted, that the king had a right to a pew, which
was agreed to by a veftry, held for that purpoſe. An
act paſſed in the 25th year of king George II. to en-
able the pariſhioners to depoſite corpſe in the vaults
or arches under the church, and to aſcertain the fees
to be paid for them.
In the old church, among others, in the chancel,
is a monument of a man in armour, kneeling at a
deſk, with eight fons behind him, and a woman kneel-
ing likewiſe, with ſeven daughters behind her, for Sa-
rah, wife of Francis Heiton, ob. 1600, ætat. 38. A
monument on the ſouth ſide of the choir, for William
Hatlecliffe, deſcended from thoſe of that name, in
Lincolnſhire, ob. unmarried, 1620, ætat. 57. In the
chancel, a braſs plate for Thomas Gallys and Joan his
wife; againſt the fouth wall, a braſs plate, with the
figures
GREENWICH. IA
417
figures of a man and woman kneeling, for Anthony
Lyle and his wife, which Anthony was gentleman-
uſher and daily waiter to queen Elizabeth, ob. 15793
againſt the eaſt wall, a monument for Anne Newton,
daughter of Sir Henry Newton, and dame Catherine
his wife, ob. 1600, ætat. 17. Col. Rich. Oxenden,
1697, ætat. 84, and Sarah his wife, 1700, ætat. 78;
within the rails, three flat ſtones, with braſs plates,
one for Rich. Bower, gent. of the chapel, and maſter
of the children to king Henry VIII. Edward VI. queen
Mary and Elizabeth, ob. 1561 ; another has a figure
of a man in the dreſs of the time, a chain of gold over
his right ſhoulder, and a mace and crown, with the
queen's ſupporters, on his breaſt, for John Whytte,
gent. one of the queen's footmen, ob. 1579; the third
for Henry Traifford, eſq. clerk of the green cloth to
queen Elizabeth, ob. 1585; Edward, ſon of Francis
and Catharine Bertie, ob. 1588, æt. 27. A table with
coats of arms and quarterings for John St. Amand,
eſq. of Nottinghamſhire, ob. 1664, ætat. 70, together
with John his eldeſt ſon and two children. In the
fouth iſle, in the eaſt wall, a monument, with the half
figure of a man in his alderman's gown, for Sir Wil-
liam Hooker, of Eaſt Greenwich, and Letitia, his firſt
wife, daughter of Francis Coppinger, eſq. of Middle-
ſex, he was lord-mayor in 1674, by her he had three
fons and four daughters; his ſecond wife was Suſanna,
daughter of Sir Tho. Bendiſh, bt. of Eſſex, ob. 1697,
ætat. 85; againſt the ſouth wall, formerly ſtood the mo-
nument of that learned antiquary, William Lambarde,
eſq. removed to Sevenoke as has been already menti-
oned. Memorials on ſtones for the eldeſt daughter of
William lord Sherrard, baron of Letrim, ob. 1648;
for Heſter, daughter and heir of Wm. Crayford, eſą.
ob. 1654 ; for Catharine, late wife of Marmaduke
Moor, eſq. ob. 1667; for Anne, widow of Sir Wm.
Tufton, bart. daughter of Cecil Cave, eſq. of Leicef-
terihire, ob. 1649. At the weſt end of the ſouth iſle,

VOL. I.
Еe
monuments
418
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
monuments for Sir John Clarke, ob. 1680; and Anne
Denew, ob. 1665, in the church yard, over the eaſt
door. This door was rebuilt by the feoffees of Wm.
Stanton, a good benefactor to this church, the poor of
the town, and poor of Lambarde’s-college, by giving
a perpetuity of 40s. per annum to each of them. An
inſcription over the body of Thomas Hixon, eſq. of
Greenwich, wardrobe-keeper to queen Elizabeth and
king James I. he married Margaret, daughter of Tho.
Manley, ſecond ſon of Tho. Manley, eſq, of Cheſhire,
and had five ſons and two daughters; his ſon, Hum-
phry Manley, eſq. of Greenwich, was afterwards keeper
of the ſtanding wardrobe there, and married Mary,
daughter of John Bradfhaw, of Leiceſterſhire. An in-
ſcription on a tomb for Wm. Boreman, eſq. ſervant
to queen Elizabeth, king James and king Charles I.
ſixty years, ob. 1646, ætat. 82; for Jane his wife, and
Suſanna and Jane, their daughters, and Dulcibella
Boreman, ob. 1675. By the great north door, inſcrip-
tions for ſeveral of the Warners, and in the eaſt church
yard for Suſanna, wife of Sir Robert Robinſon.
In the new church, there are no memorials but at
the eaſt end are two mural monuments, one for Sir
Henry Sanderſon, ob. 1760, æfat. 15, ſon of Sir Hen.
Sanderſon, bart. of Coombe, by Charlotte his third
wife, daughter of Sir Rich. Gough, of Warwickſhire,
the laſt heir of his name and family; for Sir Robert
Robinſon, ob. 1714, ætat. 84, and for his two wives;
the other monument for Sir James Creed, of this pa-
riſh, ob. 1762, ætat. 67, and Mary his wife, and fe-
veral of his children, who lie in a vault underneath.



2
CHURCH OF GREENWICH.
PATRONS,
RECTORS.
Or by whom preſented.
Richard (in the time of biſhop
Abbot and Convent of Ghent......... Gilbert de Glanvill, who died
in 1214.)
{
a See the monuments and inſcriptions at large, in Reg. Roff. p. 955.
PATRONS
GREENWICH.
419
PATRONS, &c,
"IRECTORS.
Abbot and Convent of Ghent........ Nicholas, rector at the time of the
appropriation in 1239.
PATRONS, &C.
VICARS.
The ſame........
Ranulph, in 1293.
Nicholas de Herlawe, exchanged
and reſigned, 1317
John de Trepingfeld, inſtit. Dec.
7, 1317.
John Jewcocke, 1366.
obou Richard Coſyn, exchanged and
reſig. 1410.
Robert Popejay, inſtit. June 17,
1410.
Prior and Convent of Shene.......... John Prata, exchanged and re-
ſigned.
Wm. Ewan, inſtit. Ap. 8, 1423.
Fohn Morton, collated Feb. 12,
1444, by lapſe.
Wm. Skinwill, Oct. 16, 1464.
Rich. Huttone, LL.D. obt. 1509.
Wm. Derlyntone, A. M. inſtit.
June 5, 1509, refig. 1526.
The Crozun ....
Thomas Hall, inſt. Dec. 28, 1526,
refig. 1535
Collab waJohn Cowde, A. M. inſtit. Nov.
27, 1535.
Richard Wheatly, in 1547.
Henry Hall, in 1548 and 1558.
John Regatt, alias Rigate, 1566.
John Kynde, A.M.inft. Oct. 159
1 590.
John Cotton, 1616.
John Creyghton, D. D. ibi
John Sterne, in 1650.
Thomas Plume, B. D. fubfcribed
the declaration of conformi-
ty, as vicar, July 28, 1662,
obt. Nov. 20, 1704.
E John Turner, A. M. inftit. Dec.
14, 1704, obt. Dec. 7, 1720.4




Ejected during the uſurpation. in 1660. He was of Trinity-college,
Walk. Suff. Clergy, part ii. p. 220. Cambridge, and afterwards maſter of
c He was archdeacon of Rocheſter, Blackheath-ſchool, prebendary of Lin.
and lies buried in Longfield church- coln and of Canterbury, where he died,
yard. Newcourt's Rep. vol. i. p. 182. and was buried in that cathedral. Wil-
d Born at Utoxeter, in Staffordſhire, lis's Cath, yol. ii.
Р. 216.
VICARS
420
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
VICARS.
PATRON
The Crown.
VICARS.
Ralah Skerrett, D. D. inſt. Jan. John Hinchcliffe, D. D. May 10,
13, 1720, obt. May 6, 1751.2 1766, reſig. Dec. 1769.
Samuel Squire, D. D. 1752. obt. Andrew Burnaby, D. D. Decem.
May 7, 1766.
1769. Preſent vicar.
a And rector of St. Peter's le Poor, Anne's, Weſtminfter, when he refigned
in London,
Topsfield; in 1760, he was made dean
b Born at Warminſter, 1714, and of Bristol; and in 1761, bishop of St.
educated at St. John's.college, Cam- David's. He held this vicarage in
bridge, archdeacon of Bath; in 1748, commendam.
preſented to Topsfield, Eſſex; in 1749, c In 1768, he was made maſter of
took his degree of D.D. in 1750, he Trinity-college, Cambridge; and after-
was collated to the rectory of St. wards biſhop of Peterborough.
CHARLTON.
EASTWARD from Greenwich, on the bank of the
Thames, lies CHARLTON, antiently written Ceorle-
tone, i. e. the town of huſbandmen; ceorl, in Saxon,
ſignifying an huſbandman, or "churl, as it was termed
in old Engliſh. It is uſually called Charlton near
Greenwich, to diſtinguiſh it from the other pariſh of
the ſame name near Dover.
CHARLTON is a pleaſant well-built village, having
many handſome houſes interſperſed throughout it. On
the edge of the hill, at a ſmall diſtance from the
church, was till lately houſes; one of which were in the
poffeffion of the late governor Hunter; the other was
erected by Robert lord Romney, who married Eliza-
beth, one of the daughters and coheirs of fir Cloudeſly
Shovel, knight. One of theſe houſes, near adjoining
to the church-yard, belonged to the late Joſeph Kirke,
efq. and afterwards to James Browne, eſq. Since
whoſe death, in 1787, it became the property of Francis
Maculloch, James Brown Bonnor, eſqrs. and Suſannah,
the wife of Robert Thompſon, on a demiſe, from
whom it became the reſidence of lord Arden, and
afterwards of George James, earl of Cholmondeley,
who
CHARLTON.
42-1

who pulled the houſe down, and erected another in-
ſtead of it in the wood further northward, in which he
now reſides. The other houſe is the property of fir
Thomas Spencer Wilſon, bart. but it is at preſent in
the tenure, for the remainder of a leaſe, of William
Henry Lambton, eſq. who reſides in it. The marſhes,
at the extremity of which is the Thames, bound the
north-weſt of this pariſh. The village is on the up-
land, nearly in the centre of it, having the church at
the eaſt end. Juſt beyond which is the noted cop-
pice, called Hanging-wood, in the road to Woolwich,
and at a ſmall diſtance ſouthward Charlton common,
which joins the high London road to Shooter's-hill, on
the other ſide of which, ſtill further ſouthward, is the
hamlet of Kidbrook.
The market (granted by king Henry III. to the
priory of Bermondſey, to be held here on a Monday
weekly) has been diſcontinued a long time, as well as
the fair, which was granted at the ſame time, as men-
tioned above. In the room of the latter there is a
fair held at this place yearly on St. Luke's-day, Oc-
tober 18, called Horn Fair, and at which there are
ſold rams-horns, and all ſorts of toys made of horn.
It conſiſts of a riotous mob, who, after a printed fum-
mons diſperſed through the ſeveral towns and country
round about, ineet at Cuckold's-point, near Deptford,
and march from thence in proceſſion through that
town and Greenwich to Charlton, with horns of va-
rious kinds upon their heads. This aſſembly uſed
formerly to be infamous for rudeneſs and indecency,
but it is now much leſs fo, by the endeavours of the
conſtables, who are ordered to attend. Of this fair
vulgar tradition gives this origin ; that king John, or
ſome other of our kings, being at the palace of El-
tham, in this neighbourhood, and having been out a
hunting one day, rambled from his company to this
place, then a mean hamlet, when entering a cottage,
he admired the beauty of the miſtreſs, whom he
found

Еe 3
422
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
found alone, and having prevailed over her modeſty,
the huſband ſuddenly returning, ſurpriſed them toge-
ther, and threatening to kill them both, the king was
obliged to diſcover himſelf, and to compound for
their ſafety by a purſe of gold, and a grant of the
land from this place to Cuckold's-point, beſides ma-
king the huſband maſter of that part of the hamlet.
It is added, that in memory of this grant, and the oc-
caſion of it, this fair was eſtabliſhed for the ſale of
horns and all ſorts of goods made of that material.
A ſermon is preached at Charlton church on the fair
day.
In a field near Greenwich, our herbalift, John Ge-
Tarde, found the Pumaria alba latifolia claviculata,
white broad-leafed fumitorie ; and fumaria tenuifolia,
fine-leafed fumitorie ; and in a lane beyond the village,
corciata, croſwort. Here is alſo found, in Charlton-
wood, anagallis lutea or flore luteo, the yellow pim-
pernel, and androfæmum hypericoides hirſutum, hairy
tutſan ; conferva plin. fetis porcinis fimilis, in the
marſh ditches near the Thames. Junceum marinum
ſpicatum, plentifully in the marſhy meadows here;
and myoſitis ſcorpoides latifolia hirſuta, in Charlton,
wood, and many other woods in this county,
In the reign of king Edward the Confeffor, this
place was eſteemed as two manors, and was granted,
after the conqueſt, by king William to his half bro-
ther, Odo biſhop of Baieux, under the general title
of whoſe lands it is thus entered in the general ſurvey
of Domeſday :
William Fitzoger holds of the biſhop (of Baieux ) Cer-
letone. It was taxed at one ſuling. The arable land is
5 carucates. In demeſne there is I carucate and 13 vil-
leins having 3 carucates. There are 2 ſervants and 8
acres of meadow. There is wood for the pannage of 5
bogs. In the time of king Edward the Confeſſor, and af-



a Johnſon's Gerarde's Herb. p. 1088, 1123. Merr. Pinax. p. 40.
terwards,
CHARLTON.
423
terwards, it was, and now is, worth 7 pounds. Two
brothers, Goduin and Alward, held this land of the king
for two manors.
[The original Latin of the record of Domeſday has
been given in the deſcription of Greenwich, as a ſpe-
cimen of it, but its being read and underſtood by ſo
very few, and the tranſlation of the ſeveral parts of it
being continued throughout the courſe of theſe vo-
lumes, will excuſe any farther repetition of it, eſpeci-
ally as it would only ſerve to increaſe the ſize of them.]
This place afterwards came into the poſſeſſion of Rob.
Bloett, biſhop of Lincoln, the king's chancellor,and was
given by him, in the 6th year of king William Rufus,
under the deſcription of the manor of Charlton, with
its appurtenances, to the monaſtery of St. Saviour of
Bermondſey, near Southwark. Henry III. in his 53d
year, granted to the prior of Bermondſey a market, to
be held at this manor on a Monday weekly, and a fair
for three days yearly, on the eve, the day, and the mor-
row of the Feaſt of the Trinity: In which ſituation
it remained till the reign of king Henry VIII. when
the abbey of St. Saviour being ſurrendered into the
Iking's hands, in the 29th year of it, this manor came
to the crown, and was confirmed to the king and his
heirs by the general words of the act, paſſed in the
31ſt year of his reign for that purpoſe.tabilsised
2 Queen Mary, in her 5th year, granted this manor,
with its appurtenances, to Thomas White, Roger
Martyn, and William Blackwell, to hold with other
premiſes, in capite, by the ſervice of a fortieth part of
one knight's fee. It was granted by queen Elizabeth
in her 5th year, to lady Anne Parre. King James I,
granted it to Sir Adam Newton, bart.' and tutor to
prince Henry, his eldeſt ſon, who built a noble manor



b. Dudg. Mon. vol. i. p. 640, Reg. Roff. p. 206.
© Rot. Eſch. 5 and 6 Phil, and Mary. Rot. 50. ibid. part iii.
Philipott, p. 96. Willis's Cath. vol. i. p. 254. Wood's Ath.
d
vol. i. p. 420.
Еe 4
4
houſe
424
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
houſe here, in the Gothic ſtile. He died in 1629,
having married Catherine, daughter of Sir John Puck-
ering, lord-keeper, by whom he left one fon, Henry,
his ſucceſſor in title and eſtate. He bore for his
arms, two coats quarterly, firſt and fourth, Azure, two
oſtrich feathers in ſaltire (being an augmentation, as
fervant to the prince of Wales) between three boars
heads couped argent, langued and tuſked or, by the name
of Newton; ſecond and third, fable, a bend fufile coti-
zed argent, by the name of Puckering. wowdies ylit
Sir Henry Newton, bart, on the death of his uncle,
Sir Thomas Puckering, bart. in 1636, and of Jane,
his only daughter, who was, againſt her will, feized
upon in Greenwich-park, and carried over ſea to
Dunkirk, by one Joſeph Welſh, who reported the was
married to him, but died without iffue, became by
deed of ſettlement, heir to a good eſtate in Warwick-
ſhire, and elſewhere, he removed to his uncle's feat,
the Priory, at Warwick, and took the name of Puck-
ering, being afterwards ftiled Sir Henry Puckering,
bart. alias Newton. He was a great royaliſt, and con-
fequently ſuffered much hy - fequeſtration and other
oppreſſion, inſomuch that he was neceffitated to ſell
this manor to Sir William Ducie, bart. of Tortworth,
in Glouceſterſhire, ſecond ſon of Sir Robert Ducie,
bart. alderman of London.
* Sir William Ducie, bart. was one of the knights
of the Bath at the coronation of king Charles II. by
whom he was created Viſcount Downe, of the king-
dom of Ireland. He died without iffue at his manor
houſe here, in 1697, and was buried at Torthworth
above mentioned. His executors ſold this manor to
Sir William Langhorn, bart, an Eaſt India merchant,
Torbaldon we owo dobu air ugeot
· Baronetage, Ed. 1720. vol.
« Scob. Coll. part ii. p. 421.
i. p. 369. vol. ii. p. 141. Chaun Collins's Peerage, vol.v.p.
cy's Hertf. p. 370. Dug. Warw. 348, 349.
p. 366...
How : Atkin's Glouceſ. p. 412. Coll.
Baronetage, vol. ii. p. 101.
who




Guill. p. 225
CHARLTON. DA
425
who died without iſſue, in 1714, and lies buried in
this church. On his death it came to his nephew and
heir, Sir John Conyers, bart. fon of Sir Chriſtopher
Conyers, bt. by his firſt wife, Elizabeth, eldeſt daugh-
ter of Williain Langhorn, of London, and ſiſter of Sir
William Langhorn, before mentioned. He bore for
his arms, Sable, a croſs argent, on a chief of the ſecond,
three bugle horns ſable, ftringed gules,
- This family was originally wrote Coigners, and was
ſo called from a place of that name in France. Roger
de Coigners came into England towards the end of
the reign of William the Conqueror, to whom the
biſhop of Durham, (William de Kaerlepho,) abbot
of St. Vincent's, in Normandy, gave the conſtable-
ſhip of Durham. diogoltni olish
" His grandſon, Sir John Conyers, bart. (ſon of Sir
Baldwin) dying without iſſue male, the manor of
Charlton went by entail, firſt to William Langhorne
Games, who dying likewiſe without iſſue male, it
came then to the reverend John Marryon, of Effex,
who left it by will to his ſiſter, Mrs. Margaretta Ma-
ria Marryon, in tail general ; ſhe carried it in marri-
age firſt to John Badger Weller, efq. of Hornchurch,
in Effex, by whom ſhe had an only daughter, Mar-
garetta Elizabeth, on his death the married John
Jones, eſq. who, in her right, was poffeffor of it, but
ſince her death, it is now become veſted in her daugh-
ter, by her firſt huſband, married to Sir Thomas
Spencer Wilſon, bart. of Eaſt Bourne, in Suſſex, late
one of the knights in parliamen for that county.
era The manor houſe, built by Sir Adam Newton be-
fore mentioned, ſtands at the entrance of the village :
it is a long Gothic ſtructure, with four turrets on the
top, before the court-yard there is a long row of cy-
preſs trees, which ſeem of great age, and are perhaps
the oldeſt in England; behind the houſe are large
magic and ai baimud asu
as bei
They bore for their arms, Azure on a maunch or.
gardens,



426
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
gardens, and beyond theſe a ſmall park, which joins
to Woolwich common. neonado abandonda
Dr. Plot ſays, there was a marble chimney-piece
in the dining room of this houſe, ſo exquiſitely po-
liſhed, that the lord of Downe could ſee in it a rob-
bery committed on Shooter's-hill, whereupon, iſend-
ing out this ſervants, the thieves were taken. nThus
in a chimney-piece, at Beauvoir-caſtle, he ſays, might
be ſeen the city and cathedral of Lincoln, and in ano-
ther, at Wilton, the city and cathedral of Saliſbury.
WRICKLESMARSH lies adjoining to the ſouthern
fide of Blackheath, and in early times was of ſome ac-
count, as appears by the ſurvey of Domeſday, in which
it is mentioned, as having been, in the time of king
Edward the Confeffor, in the poffeffion of one Anl-
chil. At the taking it, in thectime of the Conqueror,
anno 1080, it was part of the poſſeſſions of Odo, the
great biſhop of Baieux, under the general title of
whoſe lands it is thus deſcribed in that record foc
* The ſon of Turald of Rocheſter holds of the biſhop Wi-
fenemers. It was taxed at 1 fuling. The arable land
-is 4 carucates. In demefne there is a carucate and 11
villeins, with 2 cottagers, having a carucates. There are
4 acres of meadow, and wood for the pannage of 15 bog's.
In the time of king Edward the Confeſſor it was worth
100 ſhillings, when he received it 4 pounds, and now 100
Jhillings. Anſchil held it of king Edward. indicati
After this, for a long interval of time, I find no
mention of it, but that it came at length into the fa-
mily of Vere, earls of Oxford, one of whom, Robert
Vere, third ſon of John earl of Oxford, died at his
houſe at Wrickleſmarſh in 1598, and was buried in
this church; after his death it came into the poffef-
fion of Sir William Garway, of London, who con-
veyed it to his ſon in law, Edward Blount, efq. of the
Middle Temple, London, who died poſſeſſed of it in
1617, and was buried in this church. His pedigree


is
CHARLTON.
427
is in the heraldic viſitation of Kent, taken in 1619, in
which he is faid to be deſcended from Shropſhire.
At the latter end of the laſt century it was in the
poffeffion of Sir John Morden, bart. the founder of
Morden-college, near it, who dying in 1708, was
buried in the chapel of his own college. By his will,
he left his manſion-houſe, called Wrickleſmarſh, with
its appurtenances, and as many acres of land next ad-
joining to it as amounted to the yearly value of one
hundred pounds, to his wife, dame Suſan Morden,
for life, and afterwards according to the diſpoſition of
it in his will. Accordingly, ſoon after lady Morden's
death, in 1721, it was ſold to Sir Gregory Page, bart.
of Greenwich, who erected here a noble and magni-
ficent edifice of ſtone, in the modern taſte, being one
of the fineſt ſeats in England, belonging to a private
gentleman, and much admired for its fine fituation
and excellent air. It ſtood in the midſt of the park,
with a large piece of water before it, on a beautiful
riſe, at about a quarter of a mile diſtance from the
heath, which froin the pales of the park riſes again up
to the London road, which runs parallel to it at the
like diſtance.
Sir Gregory Page was the ſon of Sir Gregory Page,
bart, of Greenwich, who was advanced to that title
December 3, anno i George I. Sir Gregory Page,
the father, married Mary, daughter of Mr. Tho. Trot-
man, of London, and died in 1720, leaving two fons,
Sir Gregory Page, his ſucceſſor in title, before men-
tioned, and Thomas Page, eſq. of Batteſden, in Bed-
fordíhire, who left no iſſue; and two daughters, the
eldeſt of whom, Mary, married Sir Edw. Turner, bart.
of Ambroſden, in Oxfordſhire, by whom ſhe had one
ſon, Edward, and the youngeſt, Sophia, was the firſt
wife of Lewis Way, eſq. of Richmond, by whom the
had Benjamin Way, eſq. of Denham, in Buckingham-
ſhire. Lady Page died in 1729, and was interred in
a vault in Bunhill-fields,




Sir
428
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
was
!!! Sir Gregory Page, the ſon, married Martha, third
daughter of Robert Kenward, of Yalding, eſq. who
died 1767, without iſſue, as did Sir Gregory in 1775,
and was buried, according to his will, in his family
vault at Eaſt Greenwich; to the poor of which pariſh
he left a large benefaction, as well as other conſiderable
fums in charities elſewhere. He bore for his arms--
Azure a fefs indented between three martlets or. He
by his will deviſed this ſeat, as well as the reſt of his
eſtates in this county, to his great nephew, Sir Gre-
gory Turner, of Ambroſden, in Oxfordſhire, bart.
in tail male, who has ſince taken the name of Page."
This family of Turner came out of Leiceſterſhire ;
net on Auguſt 24, anno 7 king George II. leaving by
Mary, one of the ſiſters of the late Sir Gregory Page
as above-mentioned, one ſon, Edward, who ſucceeded
him in title and eſtate, and two daughters, Elizabeth,
now dowager viſcounteſs Say and Sele, and Caſſandra,
married to Edward lord Hawke. Sir Edward, the ſon,
married Caſſandra, daughter of William Leigh, of
Addleſtrop, in Glouceſterſhire, eſq. by whom he had
the preſent Sir Gregory Turner Page, bart. two other
fons and two daughters. This eſtate having thus paſſed
into the poſſeſſion of Sir Gregory Turner Page, bart.
he obtained an act of parliament in 178 1 for the ſale of
the eſtates of Sir Gregory Page, bart. In conſe-
quence of which in 1783 this manſion, with the park
and incloſures adjoining, was fold for twenty-two thou-
fand five hundred and fifty pounds to John Cator, of
Beckenham, eſq. who has ſince ſo far pulled down the
manſion, that the bare walls only remain of it. He
has likewiſe diſparked the park, and ſold ſeveral parts
of it to different perſons, who have built a number of
genteel houſes on the north-weſt verge of it, near the
road going down towards Lee and Eltham.

· He bears for his arms, Argent, a fer de moline pierced ſable.
MORDEN
DES CHARLTON. DIE
429

Morden College ſtands adjoining to Blackheath,
a little to the eaſtward of Sir Gregory Turner's late
park, and was ſo named from its founder, Sir John
Morden, of Wrickleſmarſh before-mentioned, a Tur-
key merchant, who brought home a good fortune with
him from Aleppo. Several years before his death,
taking pattern by the biſhop of Rocheſter's college at
Bromley in this neighbourhood, he erected this build-
ing, in form of a college, not far from his own habita-
tion, for the ſupport of poor, honeſt, decayed mer-
chants; for whoſe relief, among all the charitable
foundations in and about London for diſtreſſed people,
there had been none erected before : and this college
may now, from its ſituation and ample endowment,
be ſaid to be one of the moſt comfortable retreats for
the aged and unfortunate, that charity affords in this
kingdom. The college conſiſts of a large brick
building, with two ſmall wings, ſtrengthened at the
corners with ſtone ruſtic; having an inward ſquare
ſurrounded with piazzás, and'a chapel and burying-
place adjoining, for the members of the college. The
founder, according to his will, was buried in a vault
within this chapel, under the altar.
Sir John Morden died in 1708 ; and by his will,
in 1702, and a codicil afterwards, endowed this col-
lege, after his lady's deceaſe, with a conſiderable real,
copyhold, and perſonal eſtate, to the value of about
thirteen hundred pounds per annum.
The founder of this noble charity placed in it twelve
decayed Turkey merchants in his life-time; but after
his deceaſe, lady Morden, finding that the ſhare allotted
her by her huſband's will, was inſufficient for her de-
cent ſupport, ſome parts of the eſtate not anſwering
ſo well as was expected, ſhe was obliged to reduce the
number to four. Upon her death in 1721, the whole
eſtate coming to the college, the number was again in-
creaſed, and there have been, at times, thirty poor
gentlemen in it, though now there are not ſo many ;
grib9
but



430
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
any
a
but the number not being limited, it is intended to be
increaſed as the eſtate will afford; for the building
will conveniently hold forty.
Sir John Morden appointed by his will, lady Mor-
den his executrix, and three others, Turkey merchants,
to be truſtees of his eſtate ſettled for this purpoſe, and
fole managers and viſitors of this college, as they ſhould
ſee occaſion. The firſt truſtees, upon the deceaſe of
of them, are to chooſe and nominate others, to the
number of ſeven; all to be Turkey merchants; the
furvivors of them to chooſe others of the ſame com-
pany, from time to time, to fill up the number. Or,
if at any time hereafter, there ſhould be a failure in the
Turkey Company, then the election to be made out
of the Eaſt-India Company, of which the founder was
alſo a member.
Seven Turkey merchants have accordingly now the
direction of this college, and the nomination of the
perſons admitted into it.
The penſioners have each twenty pounds a year, and
at firſt wore gowns, with the founder's badge; but this
has not been for ſome years. They have a common
table to eat and drink together at meals ; and each has
a convenient apartment, with a cellar. The treaſurer,
chaplain, and penſioners, are obliged to reſide in the
college, and no penſioner can be admitted who cannot
bring a certificate, to prove his being upwards of fifty
years of age.
In 1771 an act paſſed to compromiſe the diſputes
between the king and the truſtees of this college, con-
cerning the property of Maidenſtone-hill, in Green-
wich, claimed by them, but given up as belonging to
the royal manor of Greenwich. In which act there is
a clauſe to increaſe the ſalaries of the treaſurer and
chaplain of the hoſpital, not exceeding fifty pounds per
annum; and the penſion of each poor merchant, not
de buis bio
a Strype's Stow's Survey, book i. p. 219. Dann
exceeding


CHARLTON.IN
431
exceeding forty pounds per annum ; notwithſtanding
Sir John Morden's will limited the treaſurer's ſalary to
forty pounds; the chaplain's to thirty pounds, and each
poor merchant's to twenty pounds, which, left by a
codicil, was reduced to fifteen pounds per annum.
Sir Gregory Page, who died in 1775, deviſed, by
his will, three hundred pounds towards the repair-
ing or ornamenting the chapel of this college. I bound
The marſhes in this pariſh, called Charlton-level,
contain one hundred and forty-five ares; of which the
whole belonged to Sir Henry Puckering, bart. excepting
twenty-two acres, which belonged to the dean and
chapter of Weſtminſter, and Henry Gilbourne, eſq.
the whole being within that commiſſion of ſewers which
extends from Lumbard's-wall down to Graveſend-
bridge, in this county. Otoban
ĐI HUYỆN
CHO CÁC NHÀ
CHARITES.
There are four alms-houſes belonging to this pariſh, but it is
not known when, or by whom given, but they were rebuilt by
Sir Richard Raynes.
Sir WILLIAM LANGHORN, bart. by will in 1714, gave for the
uſe of ſuch poor people as ſhould be placed in the alms-houſes be-
longing to this pariſh, rool. in money, in the hands of the ac-
comptant-general of the court of chancery, being of the annual
produce of 21. 175. 8d. and for the uſe of a charity ſchool, di-
rected by his will to be kept at Charlton, 300l. in the ſame ac-
comptant's hands, being of the annual produce of 8l. 158. 2d.
He, in his life-time, built a ſchool-room over the veftry in the
church-yard, for teaching the poor children of this pariſh.
THOMAS RUSSELL, in 1656, by will, gave an annuity of
21. 125. to be laid out weekly in bread, for fix poor houſeholders,
not known in whom veſted, and it has not been paid for ſeveral
years.
The Rev. WILLIAM Corry, by will, gave two thirds of a
houſe in Greenwich, for the uſe of the poor of this pariſh, now
of the annual produce of 31: 135.4d.
The Rev. ABRAHAM Colfe, by will, in 1656, gave to be
laid out weekly in two penny loaves of wheaten bread, to be diſ-
tributed to two poor houſeholders of this pariſh, a fund veſted in
the Leather-fellers Company, of the annual produce of 8s. 8d.
THIS PARISH has the right of nominating two perſons, out of
which one to be choſen by the Draper's Company, to be pro-
vided for in the college of William Lambarde, at Greenwich.
Charlton


House
432
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
Charlton is within the eccLESIASTICAL JURISDIC-
tion of the dioceſe of Rocheſter, and deanry of Dart-
ford.
bition ose moslasloods abeo
The church of Charlton (Cerlentone) was antiently
valued at one hundred ſhillings.a boots Hothes
In the time of king Edward I. an aſlize was brought
to determine what patron, in the time of peace, pre-
ſented the laſt parſon to this church, then vacant by
his death, the advowfon of which the prior of Ber-
mondſey claimed, againſt Thomas, biſhop of Ro-
cheſter; and the biſhop allowed the prior his preſen-
tation for that turn; reſerving to him his right, when
at any time he ſhould bring his plea for it. Upon
which the prior had his writ directed to the biſhop,
that, notwithſtanding the above, he ſhould, for this
turn, inſtitute a fit parſon to it. Which plea was in-
rolled before Thomas de Weyland, and his aſſociates,
juſtices of the King's-bench at Weſtminſter, in the
fifteenth year, and the beginning of the ſixteenth of
king Edward I.
By the commiſſion of enquiry of the value of church
livings, in 1650, out of the court of chancery, it was
returned, that Charlton was a parſonage, with a houſe
and glebe land, worth ninety pounds per annum ; one
maſter John Pemberton enjoying it.
The church of Charlton was valued in the king's
books at iol. 7s. 8 d. and the yearly tenths at il. gžd."
The church is dedicated to St. Luke, and ſeems to
have been ſurrendered to the crown with the manor of
Charlton, and the reſt of the poſſeſſions of the mo-
naſtery of St. Saviour's of Bermondſey, at its diffolu-
tion, anno 29 king Henry VIII. and to have remained
part of the royal demeſnes, till king James I. granted
it, with the manor, to Sir Adam Newton, who de-
figned to have enlarged and beautified this church ;





с
2 Stev. Mon. vol. i. p. 456.
p. 207,
Lambeth Surveys.
Bacon's Lib. Regis.
Reg. Roff.
posted
but
CHARLTON.
433

but dying before he could accompliſh his intention, he
left the care of doing it to his truſtees, who moſt amply
diſcharged that truſt; for they new built great part of
it, and erected a new ſteeple from the ground, furniſh-
ing it with a good ring of bells, and decorating it fo
handſomely within and without, that when finiſhed, it
ſurpaſſed in beauty moſt churches in the county. Od
The patronage of it continued in the poſſeſſors of
the manor of Charlton, till Sir William Langhorn
gave it, at his death in 1714, to Robert Warren, D. D.
then rector of it; whoſe fon, Langhorn Warren, like-
wiſe rector, fold it to Thomas Chamberlaine, A. M.
whoſe ſon of the ſame name, who as well as his father,
were ſucceſſively rectors of this church, died poſſeſſed
of this advowſon in 1789, on which it became veſted
in his widow Mrs. Chamberlain, and Mr. Maule, as
his executors, and they are now entitled to it.
In the twelfth year of queen Anne an act paſſed for
the exchange of the parſonage-houſe and cloſe adjoin-
ing, in lieu of another houſe and lands there,
to In this church are the following monuments and
memorials ; among others, a monument at the weſt end
of the iſle, for John Griffith, eſq. brigadier, obt. 1713,
he married the widow of Wm. Halton, eſq. of Lin-
colnſhire. A ſmall ſtone near the font for lady Char-
lotte Percival. In the chancel a monument for Tho.
Beardmore, A. M. eldeſt ſon of John Beardmore, rector
of Whitwell, in Derbyſhire, and fifteen years rector of
this pariſh, obr. 1702, æt. 43; and for his wife, daugh-
ter of Mr. Robert Maundwell, of Wiltſhire, gent. obt.
1707, leaving a ſon, Thomas, aged five years. On
the ſouth-ſide of the altar is a ſuperb monument, with
the figure of a man in armour as large as life, holding
a truncheon in his right hand, with trophies, &c. for the
hon. brigadier Michael Richards, ſurveyor-general of
the ordnance, obt. 1721 jæt. 48 ; this monument was
erected by his three nieces, daughters of James Craggs,
efy. Near the above monument is a braſs plate in the
VOL. I.
wall

Ff
434
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
wall for Geo. Segar, gent. obt. 1594. On an antient
ftone near it, fixed in the wall, are theſe arms fixed in
the centre, party per feſs embattled three demi griffins, im-
paling a chevron charged with an annulet, for difference,
between three martlets; over all, on an eſcutcheon of pre-
tence, a croſs moline between four mullets argent ; at each
corner of the ſtone are fhields of the ſame arms in ſmall.
Over the veſtry door a monument for Elizabeth, wife
of James Craggs, eſq. obt. 1711, æt. 49. Near the
ſmall door on the ſouth ſide is a monument for Robert
Veer, efq. third ſon of John earl of Oxford, obt. 1598.
In the north chancel an elegant monument, with the
buſt of a woman, and an infcription for Elizabeth,
daughter of Henry Thompſon, of Kerby-hall, in York-
ſhire, eſq. wife of Robert Dingley, of London, mer-
chant, who left two ſurviving children, Suſanna-Ce-
cilia and Robert-Henry, obt. 1759, æt. 50. On a
braſs plate a monument for Edward Blount, of Middle
Temple, London, eſq. who married firſt, Syſtine,
daughter of William Dormer, of London, by whom he
had three daughters; fecondly, Fortune, daughter of
Sir William Garway, by whom he left ſurviving only
four fons, obt. 1617, æt. 48. On the north ſide a
ſtately monument for lady Catherine Puckeringe,
youngeſt daughter of Sir John Puckeringe, and wife
of Sir Adam Newton, bart. who was afterwards buried
near it, obt. 1629, leaving a fon and four daughters.
Adjoining to the above is another ſtately monument for
Grace viſcounteſs Ardmagh, ſecond daughter of John
earl of Rutland; who married ſecondly, Sir Wm. Lang-
horn, bart. obt. 1700, æt. 60; Sir William Langhorn
was buried near it obt. 1714, æt. 85. The ſeveral
windows are filled with coats of arms, of Puckeringe,
Newton, Blount, and their matches. In the eaſt win-
dow were the figures at large of Moſes and Aaron,
with the two tables, but the heads of the figures only
are remaining ; beneath are the arms of the fee of Ro-
chefter impaled, firſt and fourth quarterly, per bend
indented

CIAKUM CHARLTON.
. CA
435

The King ......
indented argent-ánd fable, trio fleurs de lis, or ; fecond
and third, vert, a croſs ingrailed argent ; at the bottom,
an inſcription that this window was glazed at the charge
of James Newton, uncle to Sir Henry Puckeringe
Newton, bart. obt. 1639.
Henry Oldenburgh, a man of fome note in the an-
nals of literature, and fellow and ſecretary of the Royal
Society, at its firſt foundation, died at Charlton in 1678,
and was buried in this church; as was Edw. viſcount
Coke, ſon of Thomas, earl of Leiceſter, who died at
Greenwich in 1753.
VIUD to anon
to antonso bas tona
bbandos any
CHURCH OF CHARLTON. (Pattaya
wat
IV, PATRONS,
Or by whom preſented.
RECTORS.
do
The Queen ...............
Robert Wylye, Oe. 10, 15539
obt. 1636.
w dooidb
John Denniſon, A. M. July 13,
1636, obt. 1636.
to bonito tow brie Fohn Hume, A. M. preſented
Bisodi to blow synge on Nov, 24, 1636, ſequeſtered
doet ei tot gist en Fohn Pemberton, in 1650."
To
smo ob John Wheler, admitted in 1657.8
100w Tomsods to bois John Crafty, 1685.
(r15091 Tod: Jonathan Jenner, 1688.
Thomas Beardmore, A. M. 1688,
So o inadimios su obt. O&. 26, 1902.
milio nel brosol as Robert Warren, D.D. inſt. March
- 15 sidor doi mi-a 28, 1904, refig. !736.'
INVocotit bre Langhorn Warren, inſtit, Nov.
1736, obt. 1752.
19 and
not acord Thomas Chamberlayne, 1752, obt.
ito ads 16 tudi
1781.9
100
gilt dortw fabricated Thomas Chamberlayne, A. M.
- DIETA W tej
ve otoi boins Henry Roper, A. M. 1789, the
BEESWISE Hool alw i moi preſent re&tor.
16515 HOID Dwodowy
Walker's Suff. Cler. part ii. p. 183.
church at large in Reg. Roff. p. 841.
b Wood's Ath.Ox.v.ji. Faſti, P114.
i He retired to Exeter, where he died
c Rym. Fæd. vol. xv. p. 347.
k He had this reétory on the relig.
in. 29 nation of hīs father.
touston
Ff 2
The
a See the monuments, &c. in this
h He lies buried in this church.
that year.
d Ibid. vol. xx. p. 137.
e Ibid. p. 139.
f Lambeth Surveys.
436
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED. .

а
The LIBERTY OF KIDBROOKE, uſually ſo called,
lies adjoining to Charlton, on the ſouth ſide of the
London road, a ſmall diſtance froin Blackheath. It
was antiently written Cicebroc, and it was once a pariſh
of itſelf, though now eſteemed as an appendage to that
of Charlton, having one overſeer of the poor appoin-
ted for it.
Cecilia, counteſs of Hereford (daughter of Pain
Fitz-John, and wife of Miles Fitz-Walter, earl of
Hereford) gave all her land of Ketebrook, with the
advowſon of the church of the pariſh, with all other
its appurtenances, to the prior and canons of St. Mary
(Overies) of Sudwerc; and this grant was confirmed
by king John, in his 8th year, and again by Henry VI.
by inſpeximus, in his 19th year.
tz At the diffolution of this monaſtery, anno zoth
Henry VIII. the manor of Kidbrooke, with the de-
menſe lands and premiſes above-mentioned, became
part of the royal revenues, and was confirmed to that
king, and his heirs, by the general words of the act,
paffed in the 31ſt year of his reign for that purpoſe.
Queen Elizabeth granted a leaſe of the ſcite of the
manor, the rectory, and parcel of the manor woods,
(ſhe having granted part of them to Thomas French)
to Bryan Anneſley, of the adjoining pariſh of Lee,
(grandſon of Bryan, who was ſecond ſon of William
Annefley, efg. of Rodington, in Nottinghamſhire, an-
ceſtor to the earls of Anglefea and viſcount Valentia,
by Robert Anneſley, his fourth ſon, a younger brother
of Bryan laft mentioned);but the fee of this eſtate
Temained in the crown till king James I. who, in the
beginning of his reign, granted it to Sir William Gar-
way, of London, by whom it was ſoon afterwards
conveyed to his ſon-in-law, Edward Blount, eſq. of
a
Dugd. Baron. vol. i. p. 536, 538. Ibid. Mon. vol. ii. p. 86.
ob
Strype's Stow's Survey, book iv. p. 9.
Aug. Off. Grants and Leaſes T. Eliz.
Iriſh Peerage, vol. ii. p. 172.
Wrickleſmarſh,
CHARLTON. MAE
437

Wrickleſmarſh, who fold the fee-ſimple (the above
leaſe ſtill ſubſiſting) to the above mentioned Bryan
Anneſley, eſq. He left three daughters his coheirs,
Chriſtian married to William lord Sandys, of the Vine,
Southampton; Grace to Sir John Wildgooſe, of
Iridge court, in Suflex; and Cordelia, married to Sir
William Hervey, who brought her huſband this ef-
tate as part of her inheritance.
betinato
The furname of Hervey, or Harvey, antiently writ-
ten Fitzhervey, is ſuppoſed to be derived from Ro-
bert Fitzharvey, a younger ſon of Harvey, duke of
Orleans, who is recorded among thoſe commanders,
who accompanied William the Conqueror in his ex-
pedition into this kingdom in 1066.
Sir William Hervey, of Kidbrooke above menti-
oned, (from whoſe eldeſt brother, John of Ickworth,
were deſcended the earls of Briſtol) was ſon of Henry,
eldeſt ſon of Nicholas Hervey. Having firſt ſignali-
ſed himſelf in the memorable engagement of the
Spaniſh arinada, in 1588, he was knighted, with many
other perſons of note. After which he eminently
diſtinguiſhed himſelf on ſeveral occaſions, and was
created a baronet by king James, in his 17th year,
and the year following a peer of Ireland, by the title
of Baron Hervey, of Rofs, in Wexford county, and
laſtly, on account of his farther eminent ſervices, both
at home and abroad, in the 3d year of king Charles I.
a baron of this realm, by the title of lord Hervey of
Kidbrooke, in Kent. He married firſt Mary, relict of
Henry Wriotheſley, earl of Southampton, by whom
he had no iffue; fecondly, Cordelia, daughter and
co-heir of Bryan Anneſley, as before mentioned, by
whom he had three ſons, who died before him, with-
out iſſue, and three daughters, of whom only Eliza-
beth, the youngeſt, ſurvived hiin, and became his fole
• Coll. Peer. vol. iii. p. 231. Ibid. laſt edition, vol iy. p. 343,
Philipott, p. 96.
Ff3
heir
438
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

heir, and married John Hervey of Ickworth, eſq.*
On the death of William, lord Hervey, in 1642, John
Hervey of Ickworth, eſq. in right of his wife, became
intitled to Kidbrooke, from whom it paffed by ſale
to Edward lord Montague of Boughton, in North-
amptonſhire, ſon of Sir Edward Montague, who was
created lord Montague, baron of Boughton, by letters
patent, anno 19 Jaines. I.
The ſurname of this family was antiently written,
in Latin, De Monte-acuto, and in Old Engliſh, Mon:
tacute, as is evident, not only from Domeſday book,
but from other antient records.
Drogo de Monteacuto was one of thoſe noble war-
riors, who came over with William duke of Norman-
dy, in the retinue of Robert earl. of Moreton, half
brother to the Conqueror, as appears by the poſſeſſions
he held under that great earl, at the time of the ge-
neral ſurvey. From him, through a long train of
illuſtrious anceſtors paternally, and from the Bruces,
kings of Scotland, maternally, was deſcended Edward,
lord Montague, poſſeſſor of Kidbrooke, before menti-
oned, who died in 1683, and was ſucceeded in title
and eſtate by his ſecond and only ſurviving fon,
Ralph lord Montague, who, for his eminent abilities,
was created Viſcount Monthermer and Earl of Mon-
tague, in 1689, and marquis of Monthermer, and
duke of Montague, by queen Anne, in her 4th year,
anno 1705. The duke bore for his arms thoſe of
Montague and Monthermer quarterly. He died in
1709, his only ſurviving ſon John ſucceeded him, and
in the year 1717, procured an act of parliament to
veft the manor of Kidbrooke, the capital meſſuage
there, and the fcite of the manor, with alll their ap-
purtenances, and the rectory or parſonage of Kid-
a Collins's Peerage, laſt edition, vol. iv. p. 349. Kimb. Bar,
vol. ii. p. 130.
brooke,
CHARLTON. HOE
439
brooke, and all the houſes, glebe lands, and tithes be-
longing to it, in truſtees, to be fold towards the pay-
ment of debts, who foon paſſed away this manor and
rectory, with the reſt of the premiſes as above men-
tioned, to James Craggs, fenior, efq. joint poft-maſter
general, on whoſe death, in 1721, without male iſſue,
his only fon, James Craggs, eſq. one of the principal
fecretaries of ſtate, dying before him, this eſtate de-
ſcended to his three daughters and coheirs; Anne, firſt
married to John Newſham, by whom ſhe had one fon;
ſecondly to John Knight, efq. of Effex; and thirdly,
in 1736, to Robert Nugent, of Gosfield-hall, in that
county, afterwards created viſcount Clare and earl
Nugent, of the kingdom of Ireland ; Elizabeth, in 1718,
married to Edward Eliot, efq. of Cornwall; and Mar-
garet, married firſt to Samuel Trefufis, efq. of Trefuſis,
in Cornwall, by whom ſhe had no iffue; and ſecondly
to Sir John Hind Cotton, bart. by whom ſhe had only
one daughter, who died young.. On her deceaſe, in
1734, ſhe left her third part of this eſtate to her two
ſiſters. The family of the Craggs bore for their arms,
Sable, on a bend or, three croflets of the field between three
mullets ermine.
In 1756, Anne, wife of Robert Nugent, efq. died,
and being a feme covert, by deed of appointment veſted
her moiety in truſtees for different uſes, with remainder
to the honourable Robert Nugent, her huſband, in tail.
Mrs. Eliot, on her death, in 1765, bequeathed her in
tereſt in it to truſtees, to pay divers ſums out of the an-
nual profit of it, with remainder, after the death of her
nephew, James Newſham, only ſon of her eldeſt ſiſter
Anne, by John Newſham, efq. who had taken the fur-
name of Craggs, to his iffue, remainder to Edward
Eliot, efq. her ſon, and his iſſue.
James Newſham Craggs, efq. married the eldeſt
daughter of Henry lord Teynham, but died without
iſſue, at Liſle, in Flanders, in 1769, on which the ma-
nor and rectory of Kidbrooke came, by the virtue of the
Ff4
above


440
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
above entail, to Robert Nugent before mentioned, af-
terwards earl Nugent, who took the ſurname of Craggs;
and Edward, ſon of Edward Eliot, eſq. by Elizabeth
Craggs, his wife who, on January 10, 1784, was created
a baron of this realm, by the title of Lord Eliot
of Port Eliot, in the county of Cornwall. Earl Nugent
died in 1788, on which, by the ſettlements above-
mentioned, this eſtate became wholly veſted in Edward
lord Eliot, who has ſince taken the name of Craggs,
and is the preſent poffeffor of it. Lord Eliot, who is
deſcended from a family long reſident in Devonſhire and
Cornwall, married Catharine, fole daughter and heir
of Edward Elliſon, eſq. of Southweald, in Effex, by
whom he has iſſue Edward James, who married Har-
riot, ſiſter of the preſent earl of Chatham, John and
William. He bears for his arms, Argent a feſs between
four cotizes wavy gules.
The church of Kidbrooke, called, in the Textus
Roffenfis, the chapel of Chitebroc, was antiently valued
at one hundred ſhillings. The patronage of it was,
from the earlieſt times, annexed to the manor; an ac-
count of the poſſeſſors of which has been already given.
This church being vacant was, upon the petition of the
prior and convent of St. Mary of Southwark, appro-
priated to it by John Langdon, biſhop of Rocheſter,
with the king's licence, in the 5th year of king Hen-
ry VI, the biſhop reſerving to himſelf and his ſuccef-
fors, the annual penſion of two ſhillings from it, which
was confirmed by John Lowe, biſhop of Rocheſter, in
1459. cob
The church has been entirely demoliſhed for many
years, for the vicarage not being endowed, it fell into
neglect and decay, and the inhabitants not being able
to repair it, the building foon became ruinous, and
they have for many years reſorted to Charlton church,
to which it became annexed by compoſition. Anda


a Reg. Roff. p. 136, 142, 456.
I find
WOOLWICH. DAX
441
on I find only two rectors of this place, viz,
Test Richard de Wake, exchanged in 1348.
Simon de Barlings, 1348.6

wooden
WOOLWICH
IS the next pariſh to Charlton eaſtward. It lies
on the bank of the river Thames, and was called, in
the time of the Saxons, Hulviz, which, in the lan-
guage of that nation, ſignified the dwelling on the
creek of the river. By this name it is called in the
furvey of Domeſday, in the Textus Roffenfis, it is
written Wlewic.
It ſeems in former times to have been a ſmall fiſh-
ing place, but very thinly inhabited, owing probably
to the lowneſs of its ſituation, and the overflowings of
the river, before it was imbanked.
A ſmall part of this pariſh lies on the oppoſite fide
of the river Thames, adjoining Effex, but yet within
the county of Kent. Probably haimo, vicecomes or ſhe-
riff, of this county, in the time of the Conqueror,
being poffefſed of Woolwich on this ſide the river,
as well as the lands adjoining to it on the other ſide,
procured them, either by compoſition or grant from
the king, to be annexed to his juriſdiction, as part of
his county, and then incorporated them with it; and
an old manuſcript mentions, that the pariſh of Wool-
wich had, on the Eſſex fide of the Thames, five hun-
dred acres of land, ſome few houſes, and a chapel of
eaſe. There are ſeveral inſtances of different coun-
ties in this kingdom being at this time ſeparated from
ſmall diſtricts belonging to them, by parts of adjoin-
ing ones intervening."

b
He exchanged the vicarage of Harmanſworth, in Middleſex,
for this church, 23 Edw. I. Newcourt's Rep. vol. i. p. 634.0
© Harris’s Hiſtory of Kent, p. 340.
Camden, p. 21. Chauncy's Hertf, p. 599. Dugdale's Warw.
P. 481, and others.
on och till THE

442
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
THE TOWN OF WOOLWICH is ſituated on the
bank of the river, is very populous, and has been
much improved of late years; it is wholly taken up
by, and in a manner raiſed from the yards and works
erected here, for the naval ſervice and the ordnance.
At high water, the Thames is about a mile over, and
the water falt upon the flood, and as the channel lies
direct eaſt and weſt for about three miles, the tide runs
very ſtrong, and the river is entirely free from ſhoals
and ſands, and has ſeven or eight fathoms water; fo
that the largeſt ſhips may ride with ſafety, even at
low water. In the year 1236, anno 21 Henry III.
the marſhes near Woolwich were overflowed by the
fudden riſe of the Thames, in ſuch a manner, that
many of the inhabitants periſhed, together with a great
number of cattle ; and in the reigns of James I. ano-
ther inundation happened, by which many acres were
laid under water, ſome of which have never been re-
covered. Among the patent rolls in the Tower, are
many commiſſions, which iſſued in the reign of king
Henry III. and in the ſucceeding ones, for overſeeing
and repairing the breaches, walls, ditches, &c. in dif-
ferent places and marſhes between Greenwich and
Woolwich, which are now under that commiſſion of
fewers, which extends froin Lombarde’s-wall to Gravef-
end-bridge,
Woolwich has a market weekly on Friday, but no
annual fair. The pariſh extends fouthward as far as
the high London road, near Shooter’s-hill, adjoining
to which is Woolwich-common.
The dock at Woolwich claims fome preference be-
fore all others in the kingdom, as well in ſeniority, as
its importance to government, having had moſt of
the largeſt ſhips built at it for ſeveral reigns paſt; one
of which, in the firſt year of queen Mary, called the
Great Harry, of 1000 tons, was burnt here by acci-
dent; in the reign of queen Elizabeth, when the buſineſs
of the royal navy increaſed, and larger ſhips of war
were built than were uſually employed before, new
docks
WOOLWICH. DAN
443

docks and launches were erected here, and places pre-
pared for the building and repairing fhips of the largett
fize, becauſe here was a greater depth of water and
freer channel than at Deptford.
On July 3, 1559, queen Elizabeth honoured this
place with her preſence at the launching of a fine ſhip,
newly built, and called by her own" name, Elizabeth.?
In the year 1637, the Royal Sovereign was built in
this dock; a fhip which was the glory of this nation,
and the wonder of the world. She was 1637 tons
burthen, beſides tonnage ; 128 feet long, 48 broad;
from the fore-end of the beak-head to the after-end
of the ſtern, 152 feet; from the bottom of the keel
to the top of the lanthern, 76 feet. She had five
lantherns, the largeſt of which would hold ten perſons,
upright; three fluſh-decks, a fore-caſtle, half-deck,
quarter deck, and round-houſe. The lower tier had
60 ports, the middle one 30, the third 26; the fore-
caſtle 12, half-deck 14, and as many more within,
beſides ten pieces of chace ordnance forward, and ten
right off, and many loop-holes in the cabin for muſs
quets; eleven anchors, one of which weighed four
thouſand four hundred pounds. This royal ſhip was
curiouſly carved and gilt with gold, and the Dutch,
from the flaughter and havoc her cannon made among
them, gave her the name of the Golden Devil. A
deſcription of this ſhip was publiſhed by authority,
at London, in quarto, in 1637, by T. Haywood, the
celebrated actor, who was employed in contriving the
emblematical devices about it.
The dock-yard, and the buildings belonging to it
are encompaſſed with a high wall, and are ſpacious
and convenient, and abundantly filled with all ſorts
of ſtores and naval proviſions. Here is no commif-
fioner reſident, but the whole is under the immedi-
ate inſpection of the navy-board, which appoints of
ficers for the manageinent of this yard, who have
word
Strype's Annals, vol. i. p. 163.
handſome
a
444
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

handſome houſes to reſide in, and a number of infe-
rior clerks and ſervants under them, which are much
the fame as thoſe of Deptford, excepting, that their
ſalaries are not ſo large. Es 250
Here is a large rope-walk, where the biggeſt cables
are made for the men of war, and on the eaſtern, or
lower part of the town, is the Gun-yard, commonly
called the Park, or the Gun park, where there is a
great quantity of cannon, of all ſorts, for the ſhips of
war, every ſhip's guns lying in tiers, or rows apart,
heavy cannon for batteries, and mortars of all ſorts
and ſizes, inſomuch, thar there has been ſometimes
laid up here, at once, between ſeven and eight thou,
fand pieces of ordnance, beſides mortars and ſhells
almoſt beyond number.
med
There is both a civil and MILITARY BRANCH
of the OFFICE OF ORDNANCE eſtabliſhed at Wool-
wich. i de banda
o sbb
90
The civil branch is under the management of a
Storekeeper, Clerk of theSurvey, Clerk of the Cheque,
Clerk of the Foundery, and other officers, who have
many inferior ſervants and workmen under them.
The military branch of the office of ordnance is un-
der the direction of a chief engineer, who ranks as
colonel; two directors, who rank as lieutenant-colo-
nels; four ſub-directors, as majors. The engineers
in ordinary rank as captains; the engineers extraor-
dinary as captain-lieutenants, and the ſub-engineers
as lieutenants; beſides which there are ſeveral practi-
tioner engineers.
dcbitstraldana
Under this office, in a place, called the Warren, ar-
tillery of all kinds and dimenſions are caſt; and the
fame, before the building of the powder magazine at
Purfleet, uſed to be frequently proved here, before
the principal engineers and officers of the board of
ordnance, to which many of the nobility and gentry
are often invited, who are afterwards fumptuouſly
entertained by them. Gunpowder likewiſe, contrac-
ted





1

and WOOLWICH. Ata
445
ted for by the office of ordnance, is proved here, as
to its ſtrength and goodnefs, and whether it is fit for
the public ſervices Belonging to this office there is
a laboratory, under the direction of a controller, a
chief fire-maſter, a fire-maſter's mate, a clerk, and
other workmen and labourers. V Under theſe the com-
panies of matroſſes are employed in the compoſitions
and making up of fireworks and cartridges, and in
charging bombs, carcaſes, granadoes, and ſuch like
matters, for the public ſervice.115 med end to
A royal academy is eſtabliſhed here, under the board
of ordnance, for the inſtructing and edifying young
gentlemen, intended for the office of engineers in the
military branch of that office; theſe are called cadets,
and are appointed by that board. They are taught
in it the principles and art of fortification, and every
branch of military ſcience relating to it, beſides the
French and Latin tongues, writing, fencing, and
drawing. There are belonging to this academy, a
governor, lieutenant governor, and maſters in each
reſpective branch of ſcience and literature. 5o conto
TO Moſt of the officers, under both branches of the
ordnance, have handſome houſes and apartments and
other accomodations allotted to them here, according
to their reſpective ranks and ſtations. sofistes osad
The GRAVEL-PITS, at Woolwich, have been for
many years the common place for fimpling amongſt
the apothecaries and druggiſts of London. Our her-
balift, Gerarde, takes notice, that the thalietrum five
thalictrum majus et minus, great and fmall baſtard
rhubarb, grows at Woolwich and its neighbourhood
on the banks of the river.4 19ig als bricoidonos
1. In king Edward the Confeffor's confirmation of the
gift of Ethruda, king Alfred's niece, of the manor of
Lewiſham, and its appendages, to the abbey of St.
Peter of Ghent, in Flanders, made in 1044, Wulewic
.it 09.1qEa Johnſon's Gerarde's Herbal, p. 1252.
15
446
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED

is mentioned as one of them, belonging to that manor,
but the fucceeding grants, relating to Lewiſham
manor, make no mention of this place ; and in the
7th year of king Edward I. the king was lord of El-
tham and Woolwiche.b flow of
The MANOR OF WOOLWICH, which is coexten-
five with the pariſh, has for many years been eſteemed
a member of the manor of Eltham, though it holds
a ſeparate court, and has a ſeparate jury and homage.
That it has been eſteemed a member of that manor
for ſome time is plain from the ſurvey taken in 1649,
by the truſtees appointed by parliainent for the ſale
of the crown lands, of the manor of Eltham and its
members, in which there is an account of quit-rents
due to the lord of that manor, from the ſeveral free-
holders within the townſhip of Woolwich.
Sir John Shaw having purchaſed a ſubfiſting term
of the manors of Eltham and Woolwich, Charles II.
in conſideration of the eminent ſervices performed by
him, and promiſes made before, granted him, in 1663,
a new and longer term of thoſe premiſes, which about
thirty-five years ago was renewed, and this manor,
together with that of Eltham, is now in the poſſeſſion
of his great-great-grandſon, Sir John Gregory Shaw,
bart. as lefſee under the crown, to whom the inheri-
tance belongs. diwoo W1s @TIVATO
There is a court leet and court baron held yearly
for the manor of Woolwich, ſeparate from that of
Eltham, and a jury and homage ſworn and charged
out of the reſidents and tenants of it, to enquire
within the manor. At this leet the jury appoints two
conſtables and ale-taſters for the town and pariſh of
Woolwich. In the court baron the tenants are all
free tenants. to oggin e barlang berada trg
There is an eſtate here, formerly called the MANOR
OF SOUTHALL, alias WOOLWICH, for it once bore
• Dugd. Mon. vol. ii. p. 900. Rot. Fæd. Milt. Capt. eo an.
• Parl. Surveys, Augmentation Office,
the
SO WOOLWICH.
447

the reputation of a manor, and was ſtiled, in the Fe-
dary Books of this county, the Manor of Wulwiche.
In the ſurvey of Domeſday, taken in 1080, it is
thus deſcribed, under the general title of the poſſeſſions
of Haimo Vicecomes: doobs
In the half of the lath of Sudtone in Grenviz hun-
dred, there Haimo has 63 acres of arable land, which
belong to him in Woolwich. William Accipitrarius held
them of K. Edward the Confeſſor. There are u bor-
derers paying 41 pence. The whole is worth 3 pounds.
Gilbert de Mariſco held it about the beginning of
king Edward I. and aſſumed the name of De Mariſco,
from the eſtate which he enjoyed in the marſhes. He
held this manor of Warren de Munchenſi, Baron of
Swanſcampe : after him Sabina de Windleſore pof-
ſeſſed it, about the 17th of king Edward II. being held
of the Barony of Munchenſi; which was again held of
the king."
vuode
1. The next in ſucceſſion to her was John de Pulteney,
who held it in the 20th year of that reign, in like man-
ner as ſhe had held it before.
This Sir John de Pulteney, ſon of Adam de Pulte-
ney and Maud his wife, was a perſon of great accounts
having been four times Lord Mayor of London. He
was much in favor with king Edward III. and is noticed
by our hiſtorians for his piety, wiſdom, large poſſeſ-
fions, and magnificent manner of living.
hr Humphry de Bohun, earl of Hereford, in the 21ſt
year of that reign, conveyed to Sir John Pulteney,
among other premiſes, his intereſt in the manor of
Southall in Woolwich. od to
01
10. By the inquiſition taken after his death, it
appears
that he died in the 23d of king Edward III. poſſeſſed
of this manor ; and that William de Pulteney was his
Philipott, p. 371. le Book of Aid, anno 20. Edw. III.
Collins's Peerage, vol. iii. p. 617.
fon
448
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED. .
ſon and heir. Margaret, his widow, ſurvived him,
and afterwards married Sir Nicholas Lovain. o VTS
z Sir William de Pulteney, the ſon before-mentioned,
by his deed, dated at Penſhurſt, in the 36th year of
the ſame reign, granted to John, biſhop of Worceſter,
and others, in truſt, this manor of Southall. Sir Wil-
liam de Pulteney died, without iſſue, in the 40th year
of that reign, and left Robert de Pulteney, his kinſman,
his heir ; who was anceſtor to the late earl of Bath.
By two indentures, in the 48th year of that reign,
John, ſon of William Revel, in purſuance of a truſt,
as it ſeems, created by the above-mentioned Sir Wil-
liam de Pulteney, confirmed this manor to Sir Nicholas
Lovain, Aubrey de Vere, and others." Tonna ajablon
- This family of Pulteney, who bore for their arms,
argent, a fefs dancete gules, in chief were three leopards
faces, ſable; was ſucceeded in its poſſeſſions in this place,
about the latter end of king Richard II. by William
Chichele, citizen and grocer, of London, (third ſon of
Thomas Chichele, by Agnes, daughter of William
Pyncheon), and youngeſt brother of Henry Chichele,
archbiſhop of Canterbury. He was ſheriff of London
in 1409, and afterwards an alderman ; and dying in
the 4th year of king Henry VI. was buried, in the pa-
riſh of Higham Ferrers. He married Beatrice, daugh-
ter of William Barret, eſq. by whom he had two ſons,
William and John, and two daughters. The ſecond
fon, John, who had this manor, was a citizen and
chamberlain of London, and married Margery, daugh-
ter of Sir Thomas Knollys, by whom he had twenty-
four children; one of whom, Agnes, the eldeſt daugh-
ter, married John Tatterſhall, eſq. and brought her
huſband this manor, among other good eſtates in this
neighbourhood ; as appears by an inquiſition taken in

à Coll. Peer. ibid. p. 620.621.
620.621. Stem. Chich. præf.
c
Philipott, p. 171.
the
b
WOOLWICH.
449

the 25th year of king Henry VI. in which it was found
that John Tatterſhall
, jointly with Agnes his wife,
poffeffed the manor of Woolwiche ; conſiſting of two
meſfuages, three tofts, three hundred and forty-two
acres of arable, meadow, marſh, and wood, and thirty
ſhillings rent in Woolwiche; and that John Tatter-
ſhall was his ſon and heir. He alienated it in the latter
end of the reign of king Edward IV. to Boughton, of
Burwaſh-court in the adjoining pariſh of Plumſted;
in which family it remained, till it was ſold to Hey-
don, and his deſcendant, Sir Chriſtopher Heydon, of
Baconſthorp in Norfolk, poffeffed it in the 15th year
of queen Elizabeth. He alienated it to Sir Nicholas
Gilbourne, of Charing, who was ſheriff of Kent in the
9th year of king James I. and his deſcendant, Henry
Gilbourne, eſq. poſſeſſed it at his death, about the year
1681. His heirs paſſed away this eſtate, about the
year 1701, to Richard Bowater, deſcended from thoſe
of Warwick, when it at leaſt pretended to the repu-
tation of a manor, and to be exempt from the royal
manor of Woolwich; but on a hearing of this claim
in 1702, before the lord chief baron Ward, and the
barons of the exchequer, they decreed, that the royal
manor of Eltham extended over all and every part of
the pariſh of Woolwich. Upon which the above-
mentioned Richard Bowater agreed for himſelf and his
heirs, to pay a yearly rent to that manor for this eſtate,
of which his deſcendant, John Bowater, efq. fon of
Edward, who died in 1777, is the preſent owner and
reſides here. They bear for their arms, Argent, an
eſcutcheon fable, within an orle of martlets gules.
The manor of Jeffrys in this pariſh, in the beginning
of queen Elizabeth's reign, was in poſſeſſion of Henry
Cheney, and was then held in capite.
a Rot. Eſch. ejus anni.
b Philipott ibid.
• Rot. Efch, ejus anni.
d Ibid.
VOL. I.
King
450
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
a
b
King Henry VIII. in his 31ſt year, granted to
Martin Bowes a large meſſuage in Wolwyche, to hold
in capite,
Sir Edward Boughton, anno 37 king Henry VIII.
conveyed to that king two parcels of land, called Bow-
ton's Docks, and two parcels, called Our Lady. hill,
and Sand-hill, in this pariſh.
The monaſtery of Stratford Langthorne, in the pa-
riſh of Ham in Eſſex, was poſſeſſed of lands in this
pariſh, (lying, moſt probably, contiguous to their man-
fion in that part of this pariſh and county of Kent,
which lies on the Eſex ſide of the Thames,) called
Wiklonds, the tenths of which were given, in 1155,
by William, ſon of Henry de Elthanı, to the monaſtery
of Bermondſey, in Southwark.
After the diffolution of the monaſtery of Stratford
Langthorne, king Henry VIII. in his thirty-ſecond
year, granted theſe paſtures, called Wykelond, con-
taining fifty acres, in Wolwych, to Roger Chomley, to
hold in capite.
It appears by the rolls of the 25th of queen Eliza-
beth, that Francis Bacon poſſeſſed much of this part
of Woolwich, which joins to Effex; lying in Wool-
wich in Kent, and in Eaſt and Weſt Ham in Efex.
There was a family of good account ſettled in this
pariſh, about the latter end of queen Elizabeth's reign,
of the name of Barnes, or Barne, for I have ſeen it
written both ways; one of which, Sir William Barnes,
was a juſtice of the peace in the year 1596, (a time,
Mr. Lambarde ſays, when only perſons of the higheſt
reputation, and the beſt gentry, being in the commif-
ſion, it was an honour to every one who was named in
it.) He married Dorothy, daughter of Sir Peter
Manwood, of St. Stephen’s, near Canterbury, knight

a
Aug. off. Roll of Particulars,
box E. 34•
Dugd. Mon. vol. i. p. 640.
© Rot. eſch. ejus anni.
of
WOOLWICH. .
451
of the Bath, and bore for his arms, Azure, three leopards
fates argent.
There is a neat alms-houſe, with a brick turret, in
Woolwich, built for the habitation of poor widows.
CHARITIES.
Sir MARTIN Bowes, a reſident of this pariſh in king Henry
the VIIIth's time, gave a ſum of money from an eſtate for the
lodging and ſupport of five poor widows, of which no inforina-
tion can be got from the company of Goldſmiths, in which it is
ſuppoſed to be veſted, but there is paid to the churchwarden for
the poor in money, as of Sir M. Bowes's gift, by that company,
75. vid. annually.
Mr. RICHARD SIMMS, and Ann his wife, in 1621, gave by
will, for an habitation for poor people for ever, four tenements,
fince fallen down, the ſcite now of the annual produce of 31.
Rev. ABRAHAM Colfe, in 1657, gave by will, a ſum to be
annually diſtributed to the poor in bread, veſted in the Leather-
ſeller's company, of the annual produce of 8s. 8d. dental
WILLIAM HAWKES, in 1662, gave by will, for the like pur-
poſe, an acre of marſh land, let on leaſe for 999 years, now in
the occupation of William Bugden, at Plumſted, at the yearly
rent of 11. and the ſum of 271. the intereſt to be annually diſtri-
buted for the like purpoſe, in the hands of the churchwardens,
of the annual produce of 1l. 7s.
Bude
Mr. Philip ROBERTS, in 1639, gave by will, for the like
purpoſe, a houſe recovered by a law luit, of the annual produce
of il.
Sir RICHARD Pritchard, in 1687, gave by will, for an ha-
bitation for poor people for ever, a houſe, called the Old-Market
Houſe, which being a nuiſance, was, by the ſurveyors of the
highways tåken down, and a watch-houſe erected on the ground
Mrs. ANN WITHers, in 1 753, gave by will, for a ſchool-
houſe, rool. in money, and for a falary for a miſtreſs to teach
thirty poor girls of this pariſh reading and needle-work, in money
1100l. Old S. S. Annuities, veſted in the executors of the late
Mr. Healey, of Deptford, of the annual produce of 331. and like-
wife 300l. the intereſt to be annually diſtributed to the poor
in bread.
Mrs. Mary Wiseman, in 1758, by will gave, to educate,
cloath, and 10l. to apprentice fix orphan boys (children of ſhip-
wrights) of this pariſh, to fhipwrights in his Majeſty's yard at
Woolwich, in money ioool. veſted in the miniſter and principal
officers of his Majeſty's dock-yard at Woolwich, increaſed to the
ſum of 1550l, and two boys added to the original number, of
the annual produce of 461. 1os.
G g 2
In

in 1774.
452
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

In 1731 truſtees were, by order of the veſtry applied to take
down three tenements belonging to the pariſh, ſituated at the eaſt
end of the town, and in the room thereof to erect a workhouſe,
for lodging, maintaining and employing the poor of this pariſh
therein.
This PARISH is entitled for ever to place one widow in queen
Elizabeth's college in Greenwich, who does not receive any aſlife
tance from this pariſh.
This pariſh is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDIC-
TION of the dioceſe of Rocheſter, and dearry of Dartford.
The church which is dedicated to St. Mary, was given,
with the whole tithe, to St. Andrew Gundulph, biſhop of
Rocheſter, and the monks there, by king Henry I. and
he afterwards by another charter confirmed it to them.
Biſhop Gundulph, when he had feparated his own
maintenance from that of the monks, afligned them this
church, among others, for their ſupport, &c." and he
afterwards granted them the free diſpoſition of the vi-
carage of it. The church was confirmed to the priory
of Rocheſter by archbiſhop Anſelm, and ſeveral of his
fucceffors, and by king Henry II. Biſhop Gilbert de
Glanville, about the beginning of king Richard I's
reign, on pretence that his predeceſfor, biſhop Gun-
dulph, had impoveriſhed his fee by his too large dona-
tions to the priory, divefted them of all right and title
to it. However, he reſerved and confirmed to them
their antient and accuſtomed penſion of ſeven ſhillings
yearly, to be received out of the profits of it, which was
confirmed by ſeveral of the fucceeding biſhops of Ro-
chefter.
The feaſt of the dedication of this pariſh church
having been for a long time held on the vigil or eve
of St. Laurence, which frequently happened, in the
time of autumn, to be a day of faſting and abſtinence,
on which account it could not be celebrated with the
folemnity and reverence with which it ought. There-
fore John Langdon, biſhop of Rocheſter, by his let-
ters, in 1429, transferred the feaſt to the sth of Octo-

a Dugd. Mon. vol. iii. pol.
Reg. Roff. p. 6.
ber,
WOOLWICH.
453
ber, to be held on that day yearly. Since which, the
patronage of this church has continued part of the poſ-
feſſions of the biſhopric of Rocheſter, and remains fo
at preſent.
At the diſſolution of the priory, anno 32 Henry VIII.
the penſion of feven ſhillings from the church of Wool-
wich came with the reſt of the revenues of the priory
of St. Andrew into the king's hands, who, the next
year, fettled it, by his letters patent, among other pre-
mifes, on his new-erected dean and chapter of Rochef-
ter, who are now entitled to it. The church was an-
tiently valued at ten marcs. It is now valued in the
king's books at 71. 125. 6d. and the yearly tenths at
I gs. 3d. iud olid
By virtue of the commiſon of enquiry into the value
of church livings, in 1650, out of chancery, it was re-
turned, that Woolwich'
was à parfonage, with a houſe
and fome glebe land, worth fifty-five pounds per an-
num, one mafter William Hawks enjoying it. Wil-
liam Prene, rector, who died in 1464, cauſed the cha-
pel and bell-tower of this church to be made, and was
otherwiſe a good benefactor to it.
This church falling to decay, and from the great in-
creaſe of inhabitants of late years, becoming much too
ſmall to contain thoſe who uſually attended divine ſer-
vice, they obtained of queen Anne her letters patent,
by virtue of which the fum of 11411. 11s. 3d. was ga-
thered by charitable contribution to repair it, and Dr.
Lindſey, lord-primate of Ireland, and other well diſ-
poſed perſons, gave 380l. 145. 8d. for the like pur-
poſe. But the building being found, upon a ſurvey,
incapable of being repaired and enlarged, fufficiently
to anſwer the purpofe, it was determined to rebuild it;
and accordingly, in 1726, a piece of ground was pur-
chaſed for the ſcite of a new church, and a new foun-
dation was made of it; but the inhabitants ſtill finding


ce Stev. Mon. vol. i. 456.
à Bacon's Lib. Regis.
themſelves
Gg3
454
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
themſelves unable to raiſe a ſufficient ſum of money to-
wards the finiſhing of it, petitioned the parliament for
their aid towards completing it; and an act accordingly
paſſed, anno 5 George II. for rebuilding this pariſh
church, as one of the fifty new ones, directed to be
built by the two acts of queen Anne, and directing that
the ſum of three thouſand pounds fhould be paid to-
wards it, out of the funds ariſing by the powers given
by thofe acts; and in the 12th year of that reign another
act paſſed for applying a fum of money given by the
will of Daniel Wiſeman, eſq. deceaſed, for finifhing
this new church at Woolwich. Accordingly a new
church has been built, which ſtands, on an eminence
above the town; it is a handſome brick building, or=
namented with ſtone, and has a ſquare tower or ſteeple
at the weſt end, with a good ring of bells in it.
In this church, on the fouth ſide of the chancel, is a
handſome monument for Daniel Wiſeman, eſq. menti-
oned before as a good benefactor to the rebuilding of
it, who lies buried in this church yard, obt. 1739, ætat,
65; there are no other worth mentioning in it. Ons log
hoog s dodao
WOOLWICH CHURCH. bundkorid
Patron, or by whom preſented.---The Bishop of Rochester.
by
RECTORS. O
John Capellanus, before 1214. Harrington Bagshaw, inft. April
William Prene, ob. Sep.1, 1464.5 16, obt. May 29, 1739.
William Harney or Hawkes, in Robert Simms, induct. 1739.
1650, eject. Aug. 1662.C
Kingsman, 1740.
Thomas Lindeſay, A. B. 1692. Sir Peter Rivers Gay, bart. 1752,
Philip Stubbs, A.M. 1695, reſig. obt. July 20, 1790.5
Sep. 1699.9
G. A. Thomas, 1791. Preſent
Tho. Gregory, ob. Mar.29, 1706. rector,
AND bidhaa
a See Reg. Roff p. II.
to that of Raphoe, from whence he was
Þ He was afterwards rector of Lym- tranſlated to the archbithopric of Ar-
mynge, but was buried in this church. magh, and primate of all Ireland.
• Vide Calamy's Life of Baxter, W. He exchanged this church for the
ii. p. 88r. 1104
rectory of St. Alphage, London.
d Ath. Ox. vol. ii. p. 881. 1104. f Alſo curate of Bromley.
and Faſti p. 210. He was afterwards g Made prebendary of Wincheſter
D.D. dean of St. Patrick's, then pro- in 1766, and rector of Chelmsford, in
moted to the biſhopric of Killaloe, then Ellex, in 1774.



RECTORS.

P. 286.
ELTHAM
EL THAM.
455
001

ELT HAM
LIES next to Woolwich, ſouthward, on the oppo-
ſite ſide of the great London road. It takes its name
from the two Saxon words, eald and ham, ſignifying the
old town or habitation; this is about two miles acroſs
each way. The town of Eltham, as it is called, ffands
in the centre of it. The high road through Farning-
ham to Maidſtone, leads through it; at the eaſt end of
it is Park-place Farm, near which the road branches off
on one fide to Bexley, and here the land is dreary and
barren, and much covered with coppice wood of oak;
the other leads through the hamlet of Southend, in this
pariſh, towards Footſcray, and on to Maidſtone. The
church ſtands in the town on the north ſide, and farther
behind it Wellhall, and the large tract of woodland, as
far as Shooter's-hill, bounding the high road there to
Dover. The great lodge and park in which it ſtands
join the ſouth ſide of the town, at a ſmall diſtance weſt-
ward from which are the ruins of the antient palace of
Eltham, and the great hall of it, called king John's-
barn, ſtill remaining entire, weſtward from which are
the lodges of Middle and Horn, alias Lee parks, where
the lands are very low and wet; at the ſouth bounds of
the pariſh is the hamlet of Modingham, where the
ground riſes towards Chiſelhurſt, having a fine view of
the neighbouring country.
Eltham is a pleaſant well-built town. Its nearneſs
to the metropolis, and the healthineſs and pleaſantneſs
of its ſituation, makes it much reſorted to by mer-
chants and people of fortune, for their ſummer reſi-
dence, either in their houſes or in handſome lodgings.
In the 12th year of king Edward I. John de Veſci had
the grant of a market, to be holden on a Tueſday
weekly, within this manor of Eltham, and a fair there
yearly on the feaſt of the Holy Trinity. Henry VI.
granted
G84
456
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
granted a confirmation of this market to his tenants in
Eltham, and one fair alſo to be held there yearly on
the feaſt of St. Peter and St. Paul. The market has
been long ſince diſcontinued, but there were four an-
nual fairs, held on Palm Monday, Eaſter Monday,
Whitſun Monday, and the roth of October, for horſes,
cattle, and toys, kept here within memory, but theſe
likewiſe have been diſcontinued for fome time.
At the NORTH-EAST extremity of this pariſh lies
Shooter's-Hill, over which the high road leads from
London to Dover. The northern ſide of which is
moſtly in Plumſted pariſh. It was ſo called, in all
probability, from the archers frequently exerciſing
themſelves here in ſhooting. It always was a place of
much danger and dread to travellers, from the narrow-
neſs of the road over it, and the continual lurking neſts
of thieves among the woods and coppices, with which
this hill, eſpecially towards the fouth and eaſt, was
much overſpread. To remedy which, in ſome mea-
ſure, an order was taken, in the 6th year of king Ed-
ward II. for enlarging the highway over it, according
to the ſtatute made in the time of king Edward I. and
king Henry IV.. granted leave to Thomas Chapman to
cut down, burn, and ſell all the woods and underwoods
growing and adjoining to Shooter's-hill, on the ſouth
fide, and to beſtow the money raifed thereby upon
mending the highway. Notwithſtanding which, this
road continued fo hollow, and narrow too, on the eaf-
tern deſcent of the hill, that it was impoſſible for a,
paſſenger, if way-laid, to eſcape falling into the ruf-
fians hands, which gave occaſion to continual robberies
being committed here, even at noon-day. To remove
this nuiſance as far as poſſible in ſo public a road, the
truſtees, authoriſed by parliament, for amending and
improving it, in 1739, began to lay out a new road of
conſiderable width, in the room of the old one, which

Pat, ejus anni, No. 6, 38, Philipott, p. 136,
may
ELTHAM.
457

may ſtill be ſeen a little to the north of it; this they at
length completed, with no ſmall expence, care, and
labour, to the univerſal ſatisfaction and emolument of
every traveller paſſing this way.
On the ſummit of Shooter's-hill, on the north ſide,
in Plumſted pariſh, there is a ſmall hamlet of houſes,
among which, as you deſcend weſtward, is a handſome
feat, built by John Lidgbird, efq. ſheriff of this county
in 1741, the year before which he had this grant of
arms, being then ſtiled of Plumſted, in the county of
Kent, and of Roughem, in Suffolk, viz. Quarterly gules
and azure, a chevron ermine in chief tuo eagles diſplayed
argent. On his death, about 1767, the property of
this ſeat deſcended to his ſon, Henry Lidgbird, eſq. the
preſent owner of it, but it is now inhabited by demiſe.
from him, by John Stanley, eſq.
At a ſmall diſtance below which, on a field which
commands a moſt beautiful and extenſive proſpect, a
plan was formed ſome years ago, for building a ſuperb
town, and a few houſes were erected and finiſhed, but the
greatneſs of the undertaking, and the inability of thoſe
who had engaged in it, put an end to this deſign, and it
has been for ſome time laid aſide. On the top of this
hill is a mineral ſpring, which is ſaid conſtantly to over-
flow, and never to be frozen, in the ſevereſt winters.
An account of it by William Godbid, was printed at
London, in 1617. Near the high road, though en-
tirely obſcured by the woods on the ſouthern ſide of
the eaſtern fummit of the hill within the bounds of
this pariſh is a ſeat, called Nightingale-hall, having a
beautiful proſpect towards the fouth, now the reſidence
of Mr. Montague; and in the wood, on the weſtern
part of the ſummit of it is a triangular tower, built
in the Gothic ſtyle, erected, not many years ſince, by
lady James, to the memory of her huſband, Sir Wil-
ļiam James, bart. of this pariſh, which from its ſingular
appearance, cannot eſcape obſervation, and is ſeen for
many miles round the country,
TO


458
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
To this place of Shooter's-hill, king Henry VIII.
and his queen, Catherine, came in great ſplendor from
Greenwich, on May-day. They were received here
by two hundred archers, all clad in green, with one
perſonating Robin Hood, as their captain. He firſt
ſhewed the king the ſkill of his archers in their exqui-
ſite ſhooting, and then leading the ladies into the wood,
gave them an entertainment of veniſon and wine, in
green harbours and booths, adorned with gaudy page-
ants, and all the efforts of the romantic gallantry, then
practiſed in that luxurious court.a
About forty years ago an antient piece of money
was found at Eltham. The coin was very fair and
well preſerved, owing to its remaining ſo long in the
ſtratum of white ſand, wherein it was found. The
weight of it was fifteen grains and a half; and the figure
underneath will give the beſt deſcription of it.

duoque
Blo
WEMA
go
Mr. Charles Clarke, late of Baliol-college, Oxford,
in 1751, publiſhed Some Conjectures, endeavouring to
prove it a coin of king Richard I. which were follow-
ed the next year by Remarks on the above Conjec-
tures, by G. North, M. A. and F. S. A. to fhew the
improbability of the above notion, and that this coin
was not of king Richard I. nor from the royal mints
in any other reign, but a piece of baſe money, denomi-
nated Penny-yard pence, from their being ſtamped or
made at Penny-yard, a place near Rofs, in Hereford
Harris's Hift. of Kent, p. 117. stole
ſhire,
ELTHAM.
459
ſhire, about the time of king Henry III. when this ſort
of money is ſuppoſed to have begun to be made at the
forges there, for the currency of the workmen em-
ployed at them.
The botaniſts have obſerved the following ſearce
plants in and about this pariſh:
Trachelium minus, or ſmall Canterbury bells, near the
park at Eltham, and in moſt parts of the hedges between
Greenbith and Canterbury.
Tapſus barbatus ; mullein, or higtaper; near the old
palace here.
Lathyrus major latifolius, everlaſting wild pea, in the
broad towards Bridgin, on the right hand, about a mile
from Eltham.
Alſine cochleariæ longa facie, found between the two
parks here.
Bupleurum auguſtifolium monſpelienſe, narrow leaved
hare's ear, growing between Eltham and Bromley.
Juncus capite globoſo amplo, found on Shooter's-hill."
In a garden on the north ſide of the town of Eltham,
lately occupied by the Rev. Dr. Pinnell, there is a green
houſe, in which were formerly kept the exotics of that
eminent botaniſt, Dr. James Sherard, a liſt of which
was publiſhed at London, in 1752, in folio, under the
title of Dillenii Hortus Elthamenſis feu Plantæ rariores
in horto Jac. Sherard, Elthami in Cantio, 2 vol. cum fi-
guris. Another edition of this book, Cum de Nomina-
tionibus Linnæanis, was pulliſhed at Leyden, in 1775.
In the time of William the Conqueror, Eltham was
part of the poſſeſſions of that great prelate, Odo, biſhop
of Baieux and earl of Kent, the king's half brother, of
whom it was then held by Haimo, vicecomes or ſheriff
of the county. Accordingly it is thus entered in Domef-
day, under the general title of that biſhop's lands:
Haimo the ſheriff holds of the biſhop (of Baieux) Al-
teham. It was taxed at i ſuling and a half. The ara-

Johnfon's Gerarde's Herbal, p. 449, 773. Merrett's Pinax,
P. 4, 17, 67
ble
460
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
cates.
ble land is 1 2 carucates. In demeſne there are 2 caru-
cates and 44 villeins, with 12 borderers having 11 caru-
There are 9 ſervants, and 22 acres of meadow.
There is wood for the pannage of 50 hogs. In the time
of king Edward the Confeſor it was worth 16 pounds,
zhen he received it 12 pounds, and now 20 pounds. Al-
wold held it of the king.
On the difgrace of the biſhop of Baieux, about four
years after, all his eſtates were confiſcated to the crown,
This palace afterwards belonged partly to the king and
partly to the Mandevils, from whom it came to be
called Eltham Mandevil. King Edward I. gave his
part of Eltham, with lands in Northumberland, and
other places, in the 9th year of his reign, to John, ſon
of William de Vefci, a potent baron of the north, who
had the year before married Iſabel de Beaumont, queen
Eleanor's kinfwoman. In the 12th year of that reign
he procured a charter for a weekly market here on a
Tueſday, and a fair yearly on the eve of the Holy Tri.
nity and the two following days. In the 14th year of
it, having obtained the king's conſent, he gave the ſixth
part of the manor of Luton, in Bedfordſhire, in ex-
change to Walter de Mandevil for his part of Eltham,
and died without iſſue in the 17th year of the ſame
reign, holding the manor of Eltham of the king by
knight's ſervice, and leaving William his brother his
heir, and Iſabel his wife, ſurviving.
ONA
William de Veſci was fummoned to parliament in
the 23d year of that reign, and having married Iſabel,
daughter of Adam de Periton, widow of Robert de
Welles, had by her an only ſon, John, who died with-
out iſſue in his life time, upon which, having no lawful
iffue ſurviving, in the 24th year of that reign he enfeof-
fed that great prelate, Anthony Beke, biſhop of Durham
and patriarch of Jeruſalem, in ſeveral of his eſtates,
among which was the inheritance of Eltham, then held
by Iſabel, widow of John de Veſci, afterwards wife of
Adam de Welles, for her life, upon the ſpecial truſt,
that

ELTHAM.
461
that he ſhould retain them for the uſe of William de
Veſci, his baſtard ſon, by Dergavile, his concubine,
daughter of Dunwald, a petty prince in Ireland, the
year after which he died at Malton. This William the
baftard, commonly called William de Veſci of Kildare,
married Maud, widow of Thomas Nevil, of Chetham,
and was flain in the battle of Strivelin in Scotland,
(commonly called the battle of Bannockſburne) in 8th
king Edward II. having been ſummoned to parliament
in the 6th year of that reign. He bore for his arms,
Gules a crofs argent.
The family of Veſci was defcended from Yvo de
Vefci, a Norman, who came over with the Conqueror,
and through his power married Alda, only daughter
and heir of William Tyfon, lord of the large baronies
of Alnwicke, in Northumberland, and Malton, in York-
fhire, and ſon of Gilbert Tyſon, who was Nain fighting
for king Harold, in the battle of Haſtings; by her he
had an only daughter and heir, Beatrix, who married
Euſtace Fitz-John, one of the chief peers of England,
and of intimate familiarity with king Henry I.
On the death of William de Veſci the baftard with-
out iffue, (who does not ſeem to have ever been in pof-
feſſion of Eltham-houſe, as will be fhewn below) the
manor of Eltham deſcended to Gilbert Aton, by the
diſpoſition of his kinſman, William Veſci, the father,
whoſe right heir he was.
This Sir Gilbert de Aton, lord Vefci, bore for his
arms, Barry of ſix or and azure, on a canton gules a croſs
flory argent." He granted the manor of Eltham Man-
devil, with all thoſe hereditaments in the county of
Kent, which had been part of the poffeffions of Wil-


d


a This grant is among the MSS. of Mr. Roger Dodſworth, in
the Bodleian library, No. 4172. vol. xxx. as marked in the printed
Catalogue.
• Philipott, p. 139. Dugd. Baron. vol. i. p. 94,95.
c Camb. Brit. P. 911.
d Cook's Bar. MSS.
Dugd. Bar, vol. i. p. 90. and vol. ii. p. 98. Cook's Bar. MSS.
Harl. MSS. No. 6111-13.
liam
462
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
liam de Veſci, of Kildare, to Geoffrey le Scrope; of
Malham, who obtained the king's confirmation of them
in the 11th year of king Edward II. But it ſeems he
had only a term in this manor, for when Edward III. in
his 4th year, took him into favour, and again made
him chief juſtice of the King's-bench, of which he had
been diſpoſſeſſed for his too great credit with the late
king, he gave him the inheritance of this manor of El-
tham Mandevil, to hold by the accuſtomed ſervices.
He was afterwards advanced to the dignity of a ban-
neret, with the grant of two hundred marcs per annum,
for the ſupport of that honour, and died in the 13th
year of that reign, at which time the court of this ma-
nor, ftiled Curia de Mandevil, was then held ſometimes
at Eltham, and at other times at Woolwich. Soon
after which, but by what means I have not found, this
manor came into the poſſeſſion of the crown, where
the inheritance of it has continued ever ſince, but there
have been ſeveral grants inade of it from time to time,
ſome for terms of years, and others for lives, by the
ſucceſſive kings and queens of England.
King Henry VIII. in his 14th year, granted the
farm and lands of Eltham and other premiſes, for the
term of forty years to Sir Henry Guildford. In the
latter end of that reign, the manor of Eltham was in the
poffeffion of Sir Thomas Speke, on whoſe death, king
Edward VI. by his letters patent, in his 5th year, gran-
ted to Sir John Gates, among other premiſes here, this
his manor, with all its appurtenances, as well within his
parks of Eltham, as without, and all other franchiſes,
courts, and views of frankpledge, belonging to it, which
came into the king's hands by the death of Sir Thomas
Speke, to hold for life, at the yearly rent of 3ıl and
2od. In the roth year of queen Elizabeth, William
Cromer, eſq. was poſſeffed of the queen's manor of
Eltham. In the reign of king Charles I. the earl of

* Coll. Bar, vol. v. p. v.
► Aug. Off. Inrolments.
Dorſet
ELTHAM.
463
Dorſet ſeems to have been in poſſeſſion of thoſe lands
belonging to this manor demiſed by the crown, which,
after the king's death, were in the poſſeſſion of Sir
Thomas Walſingham, who was high-ſteward of it.
The manor of Eltham was in the hands of the crown
at the death of king Charles I. in 1648, and became
afterwards vefted in the ſtate, who paſſed an ordinance
the next year for the ſurvey and ſale of it, for the be-
nefit of the public. After which, the manor, with its
appurtenances, the manor-houſe, parks, lodges, and
the other premiſes, late belonging to the king, were
ſold to different perſons, in whoſe poſſeſſion they con-
tinued till the reſtoration of king Charles II. in 1660,
when they again became part of the royal eſtates.
Sir John Shaw having purchaſed a ſubſiſting term
of this manor, king Charles II. in conſideration of the
eminent ſervices performed by him, and of promiſes
made before, had granted to him, in the year 1663,
a new and longer term of it, which, about thirty-five
years ago, was renewed, and it is now in the poſſeſion
of his great-great grandfon, Sir John Shaw, of Eltham-
lodge, bart. as lefſee under the crown, to whom the
inheritance belongs.
This manor extends over all the pariſh of Eltham,
the hamlet of Mottingham, the townſhip of Wool-
wich, and the ſouth ſide of Foot's-cray, in the pariſh
of Cheſilhurſt. The jury appoints two conſtables and
two ale taſters for Eltham, a borſholder for Motting-
ham, and a borſholder for the part of Foot's cray with
in its juriſdiction, and the tenants of the manor are all
free tenants.
The King's-HOUSE, or ELTHAM-PALACE, was built
moſt probably on part of thoſe premiſes which were
granted by king Edward I. in his oth year, to John de
Veſci, as has been mentioned before, and perhaps on
the very ſcite of the houſe where king Henry III. in
his 55th year, kept his Chriſtmas publicly, according



to
464 BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

to the cuſtom of thoſe times, being accompanied by
the queen and all the great men of the realm.“
In the next reign of king Edward I. Anthony Beke,
biſhop of Durham, in whom the lands and poffeffions
of Veſci, in Eltham, were then veſted after referving
to himſelf an eſtate for life, granted the reverfion of
Eltham-houſe, with its appurtenances, to the crown.”
He died here in the 4th year of king Edward II. after
having beſtowed great coſt on his buildings at this
place. The biſhop of Durham being dead, king Ed-
ward II. kept his reſidence here; where, in his oth year,
his queen was delivered of a fon, called, from the place
of his birth, John of Eltham. About which time the
Statutes of Eltham, which contain precedents for the
government of the king's houſe to this day, were made
at this palace.
King Edward III. in his 4th year, called a parliament
to meet at Eltham; for adjoining to ſeveral of the an-
tient palaces of the kings of England, there was a large
room or hall for the accommodation of the parliament,
and other large meetings and feſtivities, which in ſome
was called the parliament chamber; in others, the hall
of the reſpective palace ſerved for theſe purpoſes, of
which laſt fort was Weſtminſter-hall, and the hall of
this palace of Eltham, in which moſt likely theſe par-
liaments were held; the latter is ſtill ſtanding, and is a
noble and ſpacious building of free-ſtone, well adapted
to the purpoſe of holding fo large an aſſembly. It is
now converted into a barn, and is commonly called
King John's barn, and ſtands on part of the ſcite of the
old palace. The ſame king, in his 38th year, intending
to give a princely reception to king John of France,
who had been his priſoner in England, and then came
over to viſit him, received him at Eltham, where he
entertained him with great magnificence. Edward III.
a. Matt. Paris, p. 858. -b Camb. Brit. p. 222. Philip: P: 1353
again
ELTHAM.
465

again held a parliament here in his both year, when the
lords and commons attended him with a petition, among
other matters, to make his grandſon, Richard of Bour-
deaux, fon and heir of Edward, (late prince of Wales
and heir apparent of the realm)Prince of Wales. Leo-
nel, third ſon of king Edward III. and guardian of the
realm (the king being at that time carrying on his wars
in France) kept his Chriſtmas here, in the 20th year of
that reign.
King Richard II. reſided much at his manor of El-
than, taking great delight in the pleaſantneſs of the
place; in the roth year of whoſe reign, the king, with
his queen and court, keeping their Chriſtmas here with
much feſtivity, received Leo, king of Armenia, who had
been driven out of his dominions by the Turks, and
entertained him fumptuouſly.
King Henry IV. reſided much here, where he kept
his laſt Chriſtmas, and being taken fick, was carried
to London, where he ſoon after died. His ſon and fuc.
ceffor, king Henry V. in his 3d year, lay here, with a
deſign of keeping his Chriſtmas with much feaſting, but
was forced to leave the place abruptly, on the diſcovery
of a plot, in which ſome had conſpired to murder him.
King Henry VI. made it his principal place of reſi-
dence, keeping his Chriſtmas royally here, with much
fplendour and feaſting, in his 8th year. In his 17th
year, he renewed, by charter, to the tenants of his
manor of Eltham, their market, with large additional
privileges, as may be ſeen in the original record of that
year, in the tower of London.
King Edward IV. repaired this houſe with much
coſt, and incloſed Horne-park, ſo called from its being
the ſcite of the manor of Horne, which was antiently
the king's demeſne, as appears by the grant of king Ed-
© Lamb. Peram. p. 579. Rym. Fød. vol. iv. p. 422, 423. Sel-
den on Parliaments, p. 23. Cót. Rec. p. 123.
Rym. Fæd. vol. viii. p. 536 et ſeq. Kilb. p. 95. Rap. vol. i.
p. 462. Philipott, p. 135. Lamb. Per. p. 579.
VOLL
нь
ward
466
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
ward III. in his 21ſt year, to all his tenants of this ma-
nor to be toll-free throughout England. Bridget, this
king's 4th daughter, was born here, in the 20th year of
his reign, and the next day was baptized in the chapel
here, by the biſhop of Chicheſter. She afterwards
became a nun at Dartford, in this county. Two
years afterwards that king kept a fplendid Chriſtmas,
here, with great feaſtings, two thouſand people being
fed at his expence every day.
King Henry VII. built a handſome front to this
palace, towards the moat, and was uſually reſident
here, and, as appears by a record in the office of arms,
moſt commonly dined in the great hall of this place,
and all his officers kept their tables in it. King
Henry VIII. neglecting this palace, built much at
Greenwich, though he ſometimes reſided here, par-
ticularly in his 7th year, when keeping his Whitſun-
tide at Eltham, he created Sir Edward Stanley, knt.
for his good ſervices performed againſt the Scots, at
Flodden-field, Lord Monteagle, at which time, by rea-
fon of ſome infection then reigning in London, none
were permitted to dine in the King's-hall
, but the
officers of arms, who, at the ſerving in the king's ſe-
cond courſe of meat, according to cuſtom, came and
proclaimed the king's ſtile, and then that of the new
lord. The king kept his Chriſtmas royally here, with
balls and much feaſting that year, as he did again
in 1527, yet being more pleaſed with his neighbour-
ing palace of Greenwich, he neglected this more and
more, ſo that in a few years it was in a manner totally
deſerted by the royal family.
By the ſurvey, taken by the ſtate after Charles I.'s
death, in 1648, it appears, that the capital manſion-
houſe, built with brick, ſtone, and timber, called El-
tham-houſe, conſiſted of a fair chapel, a great hall,
thirty-ſix rooms and offices below ſtairs, with two



2
Lamb. Per. p. 579. Philip.p.135. Sandf. Gen. Hiſt. p. 396.
large
ELTHAM. BU
467
large cellars; and above ſtairs, in lodgings, called the
king's fide, ſeventeen lodging rooms, and on the
queen's fide, twelve lodging rooms, and on the prince's
ſide, nine lodging rooms, in all thirty-eight, with va-
rious other neceſſary rooms and cloſets, and thirty-
five bayes of building round the court-yard, which
contained one acre of ground, and the ſaid bayes of
building contained about ſeventy-eight rooms, uſed
as offices. The whole being much out of repair, the
materials were valued at 27531. excluſive of the charge
of taking down. That the great park contained five
hundred and ninety-ſix acres; that the deer were all
deſtroyed, and the park diſparked by the ſoldiery and
common people, and the trees in this park (beſides
ſuch as were marked out for the uſe of the navy)
were a thouſand and fixty, being old and decayed ;
that there was due to the vicar, in lieu of tithes in
the great park, the running of one horſe or gelding,
or the keep of two cows, worth four pounds per an-
num, excepting which, all the premiſes were tithe
free; that the little or middle park, adjoining to the
other next Mottingham, contained three hundred and
thirty-three acres; that the lodge belonging to it lay
in the middle of it, but the park was deſtroyed as
well as the former ; that the trees in it (beſides thoſe
marked for the navy, being one thouſand) were three
hundred and twenty-four; that the parcel of impaled
ground, called Horne, alias Lee-park, in Eltham and
Lee, contained three hundred and thirty-ſix acres;
that the deer in it were deſtroyed as well as in the
others, and the trees in it were two thouſand ſix hun-
dred and twenty, old and worn out; that the de-
meſne lands, with the parks, &c. mentioned above,
were one thouſand fix hundred and fifty-two acres, of
which the total value was 860l. 19s. 2d. and im-
provements of them, 2021. 6s. 7d. and that the fum
of forty ſhillings was payable always to the vicar, for
or in lieu of tithes of hay, by reaſon of certain mea-
dows





H h 2
468
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
a
dows and paddocks, laid into the middle or little
park.
After this ſurvey, the manor, with its appurtenances,
the houſe, parks, the lodges, and other premiſes, were
ſold to different perſons, in whoſe poffeſfion they re-
mained till the reſtoration of king Charles II. in 1660,
when the inheritance of them returned again to the

crown.

Sir John Shaw was then in poffeſfion of the manor of
Eltham, the king's houſe, the three parks, the great,
the middle, and Weſt Horne, alias Lee parks, and the
demeſnes above mentioned ; and Charles II. in confi-
deration of his eminent ſervices, granted to him a long
term of them, which has been from time to time re-
newed, ſince which this family have conſtantly reſided
here, at the great manor lodge, which ſtands in the
great park, adjoining to the town of Eltham. This
lodge has been fitted up and greatly improved within
theſe few years, and is now the reſidence of Sir John
Gregory Shaw, bart. the great-great grandſon of him
before mentioned. There is a yearly fee farm rent
paid for the great park to the crown of 1531. 35. 4d.
The family of Shaw derive themſelves from the
county palatine of Cheſter. Hugo de Shaw, of that
county, behaving himſelf well under the earl of Chef-
ter, in an enterpriſe againſt Lewellin, prince of Wales,
near the caſtle of Ruthin, had ſeveral manors, and a
daughter of the earl given him in marriage.
Randal de Shaw, his ſon, of Haflington-hall, mar-
ried a daughter of Reginald Venables, of Agdon, in
that county ; from whom, in a lineal deſcent, after
ſeveral generations, was Robert Shaw of Haflington-
hall, whoſe defcendant was Robert Shaw of London,
and of Shaw's-court, in Surry, who had by Chriftiana,
daughter of William Donnelaw, merchant, three ſons,
Robert, Sir John Shaw, and George of Antwerp.


2 Parl. Surveys, Augmentation Off.
Sir
ELTHAM.
469
Sir John Shaw, beſides other conſiderable rewards,
had the dignity of a Baronet conferred on him by
letters patent, dated April 15, 1665, for the aſſiſtance
he had given king Charles II. at Bruſſels and Ant-
werp, during his exile. He had two wives, firſt,
Anne, daughter of Sir Joſeph Aſhe, by whom he had
Sir John, his ſucceſſor, of whom hereafter ; he mar-
ried ſecondly Bridget, relict of Charles, viſcount Kil-
morey, and daughter and coheir of Sir
William Drury
of Beſthorp, in Norfolk; by whom he had ſeveral
children, from whom there are no deſcendants now
remaining. Sir John Shaw, bart. only ſon by the firſt
wife, ſucceeded his father, who died in 1721, in title
and eſtate, and married two wives, firſt Margery,
daughter and fole heir of Sir John Peake, lord mayor
of London, by whom he had Sir John, his ſucceſſor,
and two daughters. His ſecond wife was Sarah, one
of the daughters and coheirs of William Paggen of
London, merchant, by whom he had three ſons, Wil-
liam Shaw of Cheſhunt-houſe, in Hertfordſhire; Pag-
gen and Peter Shaw, merchants; and fix daughters.
Sir John Shaw, bart. eldeſt ſon by the firſt wife, ſuc-
ceeded his father in dignity and eſtate, and married
Anna Maria, eldeſt daughter and coheir of Sir Tho.
Barnardiſton, bart. of Ketton, in Suffolk, by whom
he had Sir John, his ſucceſſor, and a daughter, Anna
Maria, married to Peter Delme, eſq. He died in
1739, and was ſucceeded by his only furviving ſon,
the late Sir John Shaw, bart. of Eltham-lodge, who
married Elizabeth, daughter of William Hedges of
Alderton, in Wiltſhire, by whom he left no iſſue ;
he married ſecondly Martha, daughter and heir of
John Kenward, eſq. of Yalding, by whom he left two
ſons, John Gregory, the preſent baronet, born in i
1756,
and John Kenward, now of Town Malling, and vicar
of this pariſh. Sir John Shaw, bart, died in 1779, and
was ſucceeded by his eldeſt ſon, Sir John Gregory
Shaw, bart. who, in 1782, married Catharine, ſiſter of
John

Hh3
1
470
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
John lord Monſon, by whom he has iſſue feveral chil-
dren. He bears for his arms, Argent, a chevron be-
tween three fufils, ermine."
HENLEY's was antiently a place of ſome note in
this pariſh. In the reign of king Edward III. it was
eſteemed a manor, and belonged to John de Henley,
- whoſe houſe here was moated round. On his death,
without iffue, it came by his gift to king Edward III.
and was annexed to the manor of Eltham by William
de Brantingham, his feoffee. The houſe was ſituated
below the Conduit-head, in a field, at this time called
the Conduit-field.
The MANOR OF EASTHORNE and the MANSION
of WELLHALL were, in the iſt year of king Hen-
ry I. pofſefled by Sir Jordan de Briſet, a wealthy and
pious man, who was lord of Clerkenwell, where he
founded a nunnery. He afterwards gave the nuns
there ten acres of land, in his lordſhip of Welynghall,
in Kent, in return for ten acres which they had gran-
ted him, on which he founded his hoſpital of Knights
Hoſpitallers of St. John of Jeruſalem, being the firſt
of that order eſtabliſhed in England. He bore for
his arms, A grifin volant.
Sir Jordan de Briſet died in the uth of Henry I.
and was buried in the chapter-houſe of the hoſpital of
St. John, as was Muriel his wife afterwards. By her
he left three daughters and coheirs, the two youngeſt
of whom died without iſſue. The eldeſt, Lecia, mar-
ried firſt Sir Henry Foliot, from whom came the fa-
mily of that name in Worceſterſhire ; ſecondly Sir
William Mountenay of Eflex, from whom deſcended
the Mountenays of that county.
In the reign of king Edward I. Matthew de Heg-
ham hel this eſtate, ſituated within the manor of
Horne, by reaſon of Dower, of Arnold de Mandevil.







a
Coll. Baronetage, vol. iv. p. 465. Kimb. Bar. vol. ii. p. 320,
” Philipott, p. 135.
c Dudg. vol. ii. P. 505,
In
ELTHAM.
471
In the 20th year of king Edward III. Sir John de Pul-
teney (a man of great account at that time, and owner
of large poſſeſſions in this neighbourhood) held it in
like manner. He died in the 23d year of the ſame
reign, leaving William de Pulteney his fon and heir ;
Margaret his widow ſurviving afterwards married Sir
Nicholas Lovain. William de Pulteney, the fon,
was afterwards knighted, and died without iſſue in
the 40th year of that reign, and left his kinſman, Ro-
bert de Pulteney, his heir.
This family was ſucceeded in its poſſeſſions in this
place, about the latter end of Richard II.'s reign, by
William Chichele, citizen and grocer of London, third
ſon of Thomas Chichele, and younger brother of the
archbiſhop of that name. He died in the 4th year
of king Henry VI. leaving by Beatrice, his wife,
daughter of William Barret, eſq. two ſons and two
daughters. John, the youngeſt ſon, had this eſtate.
He was a citizen and chamberlain of London, and
married Margery, daughter of Sir Thomas Knollys,
and by her had twenty-four children, of whom Agnes,
the eldeſt daughter, inarried John Tatterſall, eſq.
and brought her huſband the manor of Eaſthorne
and Wellhall, beſides other eſtates at Woolwich and
elſewhere in this neighbourhood. By the inquiſition
taken anno 25 king Henry VI. after the deceaſe of
John Tatterſall, he was found to die pofſeffed of the
manor of Eaſthorne and Wellhall, and that John Tat-
terfall was his ſon and heir, of whom I can find no
farther mention.
Agnes, widow of John Tatterſall the father, after-
wards married Sir William Kene, who was ſheriff of
Kent anno 26 Henry VI. and reſided at Wellhall,
which he held in her right.d By her former huſband,
John Tatterſall, ſhe had two daughters and coheirs,
Anne married to Sir Ralph Haſtings, and Margery to





a Philipott, p. 135.
H h 4
John
472
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
John Roper of Swacliffe, who in her right became
poſſeſſed of the inheritance of the manor of Eaſthorne
and Wellhall.a
This family of Roper derived their original from
Haculf Mufard, who, in the Conqueror's time, was
as eminent for his virtue and piety as for his opulence.
His manors, from his being ſeated at Miſerden, in
Glouceſterſhire, were in general, though lying in dif-
ferent counties, comprehended under the name of Ba-
fonia de Miſerden. He was ſucceeded by his ſon,
Richard, who died anno 33 Henry II. whoſe younger
fon, William, was ſurnamed Rubra Spatha, and Rou-
geſpe, which was afterwards contracted to Roper,
from one of whofe pofterity, about the reign of king
Edward I. as fome antient evidences affirm, the Ro-
pers of the county of Kent derive their deſcent, and
from whom likewiſe the Ropers of Nottinghamſhire
and Derbyſhire, who continued till king Henry VI.'s
reign, derived their original; at which time Ifolda,
only daughter of John Roper of Turndich, marrying
Richard, eldeſt ſon of Richard Furneaux of Beighton,
in Derbyſhire, he covenanted, that his ſon and all
his iſſue by her ſhould thenceforth forſake their pa-
ternal name, and affume that of Roper, from whence
deſcended the Ropers, viſcounts Baltinglafs, barons
of Bantre, in Ireland, and thoſe of Hull, in York-
ſhire.
Men
Among others of this name, who flouriſhed in thofe
early times, was William Roſper, or De Rubra Spa-
tha, who in the reign of king Henry. III. was a great
benefactor to St. Martin's priory, in Dover, John de
Rubra Spatha or Rofper, did eminent ſervice in
Scotland, under king Edward III. who rewarded him
and William Clifford (as appears by a pedigree recorded
in the duke of Dorſet's pedigree) about the 29th year
Philipott, p. 95, 135. Atk. Glouc, p. 293. Dugd, Warw,
p. 312. Rym. Fæd. vol. vii, p. 278, 211,
of




a
ELTHAM.
473
of his reign, with the third part of thoſe forfeitures
which were due from the Jews then inhabiting in
London, for the violation of ſome penal ſtatutes,
which had been enacted againſt them. In the ift
year of king Richard II. the king calling on his fub-
jects for money on an emergency, John Ropere of
Canterbury, lent forty pounds to furniſh out a fleet
againſt the French and Scots ; and Henry Ropere of
Redyng, next year lent the king twenty pounds for
the like occaſions.
The heraldic viſitation of this county, taken by John
Philipott, rouge dragon, in 1619, begins the pedigree
of this family with Edwin Roper, of the county of
Kent, whoſe fon, Adam Roper, had two fons, Tho-
mas, and Edmund, who was prior of Bilfington, in.
this county.
Thomas Roper married the daughter of Thomas
de Apuldore, and by her had one fon and heir, Ralph,
who was twice married, firſt to Beatrix, daughter of
Sir Thomas Lewknor, and ſecondly to the daughter
of Thomas Kempe of Wye.
By his firſt wife he had John, who died without
iffue, in 1401; Agnes, married to Walter Culpeper,
eſq. of Bedgbury, and Edmund, who was of St. Dun-
ſtan's, and an eminent man in the reigns of Henry IV.
and V. under whom he was a juſtice of the peace for
this county, He died in the 12th year of Henry VI.
and was buried in the church of St. Dunftan’s, leaving
two ſons, John Roper of Swacliffe, efq. and Edmund.
John Roper, the eldeſt ſon, was of Swacliffe, and
fucceeded his father likewife at St. Dunftan's. He
was one of the ſurveyors of the cuſtoms of the cinque
ports under king Henry VII. in his 19th year. He
married Margery, daughter and coheir of John Tat-
terfall before mentioned, and died in the end of the
year 1488. He had by her two ſons, John Roper,
who in right of his mother, who ſurvived her huſ-
band, and dying, anno 10 Henry VIII. was buried




in
474
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

in the antient chancel of the Tatterſalls, in this church,
became pofſeffed of the manor of Eaſthorne and
Welhall, and Thomas, to whom his father left, by
his will, Brenley, in Boughton-under-Blean, and a
daughter, Margery, wife of John Boys of Nonington,
in Kent. John Roper, the eldeſt ſon, was of Well-
hall and St. Dunſtan's; he was iheriff of this county in
the 12th year of king Henry VIII. and afterwards at:
torney-general and prothonotary of the King's-bench,
as appears by the inſcription on his monument, in
St. Dunſtan's church. He died in 1524, leaving by
Jane his wife, daughter of Sir John Fineux, chief-
juſtice of England, ſeveral fons and daughters. Of
the fons, Chriſtopher the younger was feated at Lin-
ſted-lodge, from whom deſcended the Ropers, lords
Teynham, and the late Trevor Roper, lord Dacre.
William Roper, the eldeſt fon, born in 1495, was
prothonotary of the King's-Wench, and ſucceeded his
father in his eſtate here and at St. Dunſtan's, whoſe
lands were diſgavelled by the acts paſſed in the gift
of king Henry VIII. and in the ad and 30 years of
king Edward VI. He was ſheriff of Kent in the iſt
and 2d years of Philip and Mary, and married Mar-
garet, daughter of Sir Thomas Moore, lord chancellor
of England. He died in 1577, aged 82, and was
buried in the vault under the chapel, joining to the
chancel, in St. Dunſtan's church, next to Margaret
his wife, who, as her inſcription informs us, was a
woman moſt learned in the Greek and Latin tongues.a
He left by her two ſons and three daughters, of the
former, Anthony, the youngeſt ſon, ſettled at Far-
ningham in this county; and Thomas the eldeſt fuc-
ceeded his father, as well in his eſtates of Eaſthorne
and Wellhall, and St. Dunſtan's, as in his place of
prothonotary of the King's-bench. Thomas Roper,
efq. the eldeſt ſon, was of Eltham, and married Lucy,
Wood's Ath. vol. i. p. 42, der
fifter
CERELTHAM.
475

liſter of Anthony Browne, viſc. Montacute, by whom
he had ten ſons and ten daughters. He died in 1597.
William Roper, the eldeſt ſon, ſucceeded his fa-
ther at Wellhall and St. Dunſtan's, and was after-
wards knighted. He married Catharine, daughter
and coheir of Sir Anthony Browne, of Ridley-hall,
chief-juſtice of the court of common-pleas, by whom
he had two ſons, Anthony Roper of Well-hall, in
Eltham, and Thomas, who married Suſan, daughteſ
of John Winchcombe of Henwick, in Berkſhire, and
one daughter.
Anthony Roper ſucceeded his father in the manor
of Eaſthorne, and in Wellhall, in this pariſh, and in
St. Dunſtan's before mentioned, and married three
wives, firſt Maria, daughter of Williain Gerarde, eſq.
of Trent, in Somerſetſhire, by whom he had one
daughter, Margaret; ſecondly Dorothy, daughter of
Thomas Holte, eſq. of Warwickſhire, by whom he
left no iſſue; and thirdly a daughter of Sir Henry
Compton of Bramble-tye, in Suſſex, a younger bro,
ther of William, firſt earl of Northampton, by whom
he had iſſue Edward his fucceffor. Edw. Roper, eſq.
was of Wellhall and St. Dunſtan's, and married Ca-
tharine, daughter of James Butler, eſq. of Suſſex, by
whom he left a daughter, Elizabeth, who married Edw.
Henſhaw, eſq. of Hampſhire, and becoming her fa-
ther's ſole heir, brought her huſband this eſtate of
Wellhall, as well as the antient paternal ſeat and in-
heritance of the Ropers, in St. Dunſtan's. This elder
branch of the family of Roper bore for their coat ar-
mour a coat of twelve quarterings; viz. 1. Roper per
fefs azure and or, a pale and three roebucks heads eraſed
counterchanged; 2. Apledore ; 3. St. Lawence ; 4. Tat-
terſall; 5. Apulderfield ; 6. Appleton; 7. Twite; 8,
Browne ; 9. Swan; 10. Francis; 11. Champneis; 12.
Roper, as before. Theſe twelve quarterings were at-
teſted to belong to this branch of Roper by John
Philipott, Somerſet herald.
Mr.

476
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

Mr. Henſhaw died in 1726, leaving three daugh-
ters and coheirs; Catharine married to William Strick-
land, efq. Elizabeth to Sir Edward Dering, bart. and
the third daughter to Sir Rowland Wynne, bart.
They joined in the ſale of the manors of Eaſt-
horne and Wellhall, about the year 1733, to Sir Gre-
gory Page of Wrickleſmarſh, bart. who pulled down
the manſion of Wellhall, and built a handſome farm
houſe in the room of it, which, with the demeſnes
belonging to it, continued in Sir Gregory Page's pof-
feffion at his death, in 1775, and he, by his will be-
queathed this eſtate to his nephew, Sir Gregory Tur-
ner Page, bart. of Oxfordſhire, in tail, the preſent
poffeffor of it.
Wellhall farin now conſiſts of about two hundred
acres of land, let at about two hundred pounds per
annum. In the great hall of this manſion was a moſt
valuable painting, done by 'Hans Holbein, of Sir
Thomas More, lord chancellor, and his family, in all
about twelve figures, all drawn with great ſtrength
and beauty, and ſo large as to take up almoſt the
whole end of the hall. It was valued at one thou.
fand pounds, and had remained here from the time
of its being painted till the year 1731, when Sir Row-
land Wynne removed it from hence, about the time
the eſtate was fold.a
Corbye, alias CORBYN-HALL, was once a place of
fome account in Eltham, though the name of it at
preſent is hardly known by any one. It was once the
feat of a family of the name of Corbie, who, as early
as the reign of king Henry III. had an eſtate likewiſe
at Whithurſt, in Marden, in this county. Their ef-
tates, by Joan, daughter of Robert Corbie, came to
Sir Nicholas Wotton, who, anno 3 Henry V. was
mayor of London. But in the reign of Edward VI,
* Granger's Biog. Hiſt. vol. i. p. 76, where there is an ac-
count of this picture.
this
ELTH AM.
477
this place was in the hands of the crown, for that
king, by his letters patent, in his 5th year, granted,
among other premiſes, to Sir John Gates, for his
life, the houſe or tenement called Corbye, alias Cor-
byn-hall, with its appurtenances, in Eltham, and one
cottage, with the garden and appurtenances near the
ſcite of the pariſh church at Eltham, at the yearly
rent of 6s. 8d. and then in the king's hands, by the
death of Sir Thomas Speke;' and queen Elizabeth,
in 1592, granted a leaſe of it to the lord Cobham,
fince which this houſe feems to have.continued in the
crown, and to have been blended with the reſt of its
poffeſſions in this pariſh.
PARK-PLACE FARM is a ſeat in this pariſh, ſitu-
ated near the eaſt end of the town of Eltham, at no
great diſtance from the high-road. It was formerly
in the poſſeſſion of Mr. Richard Nunn, whoſe widow
Sarah on his death became poffeffed of it for her life,
and reſided in it. At her deceaſe it came to the lady
Mary Henrietta, the wife of John viſcount Hinching-
brooke, their grand-daughter, being the only ſurvi-
ving child of their daughter Henrietta, by lord Harry
Powlett, afterwards duke of Bolton, and ſhe poſſeſſed
it by inheritance, by virtue of her grandfather's will.
She fold it to Thomas Lucas, efq. of Lee, who quick-
ly afterwards again diſpoſed of it, about the year 1775,
to William James, eſq. M. P. for Weſt Looe, and a
director of the Eaſt India company, who having al-
moſt rebuilt the houſe, and incloſed a park round it,
gave it the above name of Park-place farm. On July
25, 1778, he was created a baronet, and dying in
1784, left the poſſeſſion of it to his widow, who is
now entitled to it, but it is demiſed by her to Sir
Benjamin Hammett, who now reſides in it.
The HAMLET of SOUTHEND, in this pariſh, is
ſituated about a mile eaſtward from the town of El-

• Harris's Hift. Kent, p. 117. Augin. Inrolm.se
tham,
478
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
tham, on the high road to Maidſtone, on which there
is a ſeat, which formerly was the reſidence of Sir
William Wythens, the ſon of Robert Wythens, ſhe-
riff of London and alderman, deſcended from the
county palatine of Cheſter. In his deſcendants it
continued down to Sir Francis Wythens, ſergeant at
law, who died poſſeſſed of it in 1704, bearing for his
arms, Gules a chevron embattled between three
martlets
or, which arms were confirmed to them by Sir Wil-
liam Dethie, garter, in 1593.
This eſtate foon after
came into the poffeffion of Rich. Comport Fitch, eſq.
who reſided here, by whoſe daughter and heir, Anne,
it went in marriage to Sir Thomas Fitch, who, in
1688, had been created a baronet, and died not many
days after, on which it deſcended to Sir Comport
Fitch, bart. of this place, whoſe ſole daughter and
heir, Alice, carried in marriage, in 1740, to Sir John
Barker, bart. of Sproughton, in Suffolk, who in 1759
married Lucy, daughter of Sir Richard Lloyd. He
died without iſſue, and left it by his will to Robert
Naſſau, only brother of the honourable Rich. Savage
Naſſau, eldeſt ſon of the earl of Rochford, who fold
it to Mr. Burgeſs, who not long afterwards alienated
it to Mrs. Anne Greene, widow, who now reſides in it.
MOTTINGHAM is a hamlet which lies partly in
this pariſh and partly in that of Cheſilhurſt, at about
a mile diſtance fouthward from Eltham church. It
was antiently called Modingham, from the Saxon
words modig, proud or lofty, and ham, a dwelling.
In king Edward the Confeffor's confirmation of
the gift of Elthruda, king Alfred's niece, of the ma-
nor of Lewiſham, and its appendages, to the ab-
bey of St. Peter of Ghent in Flanders, in 1044, Mo-
dingeham is mentioned as one of them belonging to
that manor, but the ſucceeding grants of Lewiſham




* Viſitat. Co. Kent, an. 1619, Pedigree, Wythens.
manor
ELTHAM.
479

manor make no mention of this place. In the reign
of Edward I. it paſſed as an appendage to the ma-
nor of Eltham, in the grant made by that king to
John de Veſci, fince which it has always been con-
fidered as part of it, which at this time claims over
the whole of this hamlet. The bounds and extent of
the hamlet of Modyngham are thus deſcribed in an
antient manuſcript, remaining among the regiſters of
the biſhops of Rocheſter.
- Memorandum. That the lordſhip of Modynham be-
gins at Readhelde, and extends to the wood of the
lord biſhop, called Elmyſtediſwood towards the fouth,
and to the field, called Charlesfield, towards the weſt,
and to the woods and lands of the king in Eltham
towards the north and eaſt.”
In the beginning of the reign of King William Ru-
fus, Anſgotus of Cheſilhurſt, the king's chamberlain,
was poffefſed of the fee of this hamlet, and then gave
the tithes of it to the priory of St. Andrew, in Ro-
cheſter, as will be further mentioned. In the be.
ginning of king Edward III.'s reign, a family of the
name of Legh was poſſeſſed of certain tenements, with
the lands and appurtenances belonging to them, in
Modingham and Cheſilhurſt. From one of that
name they paſſed to Thomas de Bankwell, who, at
his deceaſe in the 35th year of that reign, was found
to die poſſeſſed of certain tenements, late Leghs, in
Modingham and Cheſilhurſt, held of the king in ga-
velkind, as of his manor of Eltham, by the ſervice of
145. 11d. per annum rent, and performing ſuit to the
king’s-court of Eltham. Theſe premiſes, in the 24th
year of king Henry VI. were in the poſſeſſion of Ro-
bert Cheeſeman, of Lewiſham and Eaſt Greenwich,
who, by his marriage with Joane, daughter of Ber-
nard Cavell of Cheſilhurſt, had conſiderably increaſed
his property in this place.





b
Reg. Roff.
P: 346.
Theſe
480
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

Theſe Cavells were poſſeſſed of lands in that part of
Modyngham which lies in Cheſilhurſt, as early as the
reign of king Edward I. for John Mayo, jun. by his
deed, anno 18 Edward I. conveyed ſeveral premiſes in
that part of this hamlet to Bernard Cavell, ſenior, of
Cheſilhurſt. The laſt of the Cheeſemans, who held
this eſtate, was Thomas Cheeſeman, whoſe heir, Alice,
carried it in marriage to Robert Stoddard, and his
ſon, George Stoddard, and Anne, his wife, in the year
1560, built the preſent manſion-houſe, called Mot-
tingham-place, which, with the lands belonging to it,
continued in their deſcendants till Nicholas Stoddard,
eſq. dying in 1765, unmarried and inteſtate, there
appeared many claimants to the inheritance of it; but
after a long litigation in the court of chancery, this
feat, with the eſtate, was adjudged to an heir by the
female line, William Bowreman, eſq. of Newport, in
the iſle of Wight, who paſſed away his intereſt in it
to Mr. Dyneley, who has almoſt rebuilt this feat in a
very handſome ftile, and now reſides in it. In the
old houſe were the following dates and coats of arms,
On the inſide of the turret, 1560; on a chimney,
1561 ; on an outward gate, 1635. In the glaſs of
the windows theſe arms- Argent, a mullet pierced fa-
ble, on a chief embattled ſable, two mullets pierced ar-
gent-Party per chevron embattled ſable and argent,
three mullets pierced and counterchanged-And on a
chimney-piece this coat, Argent, three etoils of eight
points impaling or, on a feſs azure three garbs of the firſt,
between two chevrons gules, charged with three eſcallops
of the firſt.
At no great diſtance from Mottingham-place, to
the eaſtward, is a ſmall feat, called FAIRY-HILL,
which was honoured with the temporary reſidence of
Henry earl Bathurſt, when lord high chancellor of
Great Britain. He was the ſecond but eldeſt ſurvi-
ving fon of Allen earl Bathurſt, and being bred to the
profeſſion of the law, having been firſt made a juſtice
of
DELTHAM.
481

of the court of common-pleas, was, in 1771, farther
promoted to be lord high chancellor of Great-Britain,
and ſworn of the privy council; and on the 22d of
that month, created baron Apfley of Apſley, in Suf-
ſex. On the death of his father, in September 1775,
he ſucceeded him, as his eldeſt ſurviving ſon and heir,
in the titles of Earl, Viſcount, and Baron Bathurſt,
and in the family eſtate, of which the chief feat is at
Cirenceſter, in Glouceſterſhire. Having reſigned the
ſeals he retired to his family ſeat at Circenceſter, where
he died in 1794, and was ſucceeded by his eldeſt ſon
the right honourable Henry, now earl Bathurſt, who
ſucceeded him in the poſſeſſion of this ſeat, which
afterwards became the reſidence of Mr. Nelſon of
London, with whom it now continues.
A ſtrange accident liappened at Mottingham, on
Auguſt 4, 1585, in a field, which then belonged to
Sir Percival Hart. Early in the morning the ground
began to ſink fo much, that three large elin trees
were ſuddenly ſwallowed up in the pit. The tops of
them falling downward into the hole, and before ten
o'clock they were ſo overwhelmed, that no part of
them could be diſcerned, the concave being ſuddenly
filled with water. The compaſs of this hole was
about eighty yards, and ſo deep, that a founding line
of fifty fathoms could hardly reach the bottom.
At
about ten yards diſtance from the above, there was
another piece of ground which funk in like manner,
near the highway, and ſo near a dwelling-houſe as
greatly to terrify the inhabitants of it.a
The tithes of the hamlet of Mottingham were given,
in the reign of king William Rufus, by Anſgotus,
the king's chamberlain, then owner of this place, to
the priory of St. Andrew, in Rocheſter. This gift
was afterwards the occaſion of frequent contentions,
fo
VOL. 1.
Philipott, p. 136.
I i
as
482
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
as well between the prior and convent of Rocheſter,
and the rectors and vicars of Eltham, as between them
and the rectors of Cheſilhurſt. But theſe diſputes
only ſerved to ſtrengthen the right of the priory to
theſe tithes, which were adjudged and confirmed to
the monks of St. Andrew from time to time, by the
ſeveral biſhops of Rocheſter and archbiſhops of Can-
terbury.
The prior and convent of St. Andrew, Rocheſter,
by their leaſe, anno 5th Edward III. demiſed to Sir
Henry de Reddlynton, chaplain, Laurence de Sutton,
and Robert de Voyle, all the tithes of ſheaves ariſing
within the hamlet of Modynham, within the pariſhes
of Cheſilhurſt and Eltham, and the like tithes ariſing
in Bertrey, in the pariſh of Codham, at the yearly
rent of eight marcs ſterling
The tithes of Mottingham continued in the poſ-
ſeſſion of the prior and convent above mentioned till
the final diffolution of the inonaſtery, which hap-
pened in March, anno 32 king Henry VIII. when
they came, with the reſt of its pofſeffions, into the
king's hands, who the next year ſettled theſe tithes,
by his letters patent, on his new erected dean and
chapter of Rocheſter.
After the death of king Charles I. an ordinance
paſſed, in 1649, for the abolition of deans and chap-
ters, and the ſale of their poffeffions, for which pur-
poſe theſe tithes of Mottingham were ſurveyed, and
the following return was made of them :-All that
portion of tithes, great and ſmall, ariſing out of the
hamlet of Modingham, in the pariſhes of Cheſilhurſt
and Eltham, let by the dean and chapter, anno 15th
king Charles I. for twenty years, at the yearly rent of
five pounds to Nicholas Buckeridge, but worth, up-
on improvement, twenty pounds per annum.


a
Reg. Roff. p. 47, 59, 87, 138, 228, 346, 353, 528. Scob.
Coll. ch. xxiv. Parl. Surveys, Lambeth-library, vol. xiv.
On
ELTHAM.
483
On the reſtoration of king Charles II. and the re-
eſtablishment of the church of England, this portion
of tithes returned again to the dean and chapter, who
now poffeſs the inheritance of them.
Eltham had the honour of giving the title of Earl
to his late royal highneſs Frederick (afterwards Prince
of Wales, and father of his preſent majeſty) who was
created Earl of Eltham by his grandfather, king
George I. on July 21, in the 12th year of his reign.
He died March 20, 1751, and was ſucceeded in this
earldom by his eldeſt ſon George, born May 24, in
1738, afterwards created Prince of Wales, and who,
on his grandfather, king George II.'s death, October
25, 1760, ſucceeded to the imperial crown of theſe
realms, being his preſent moft excellent majeſty king
George III.
CHARITIES.
Thomas Philpot by his will, in 1680 (confirmed by a decree
of the court of chancery in 1685) founded an alms-houſe, which
is ſituated at the eaſt-end of Eltham-ſtreet, on the north fide, for
fix poor people, that is, four of this pariſh and two of Cheſil-
hurit
, the land with which it is endowed being veſted in truſtees,
and of the annual produce of 311.
King Henry VII. by deed, in 1442, eſtabliſhed by a com-
miſſion for charitable uſes, in 1674, gave, for the uſe of the poor
inhabitants of Eltham, for and towards the payment of their fif-
teenths, lands veſted in feoffees, in truſt for that purpoſe, of the
annual produce of 561. 9. N. B. Thirteen acres, part of this
eſtate, is let with other chiarity lands, given by John Pafley, men-
tioned below, and computed to be of the rent of ul. kr RA
Henry Keightley by will, in 1620, gave for the repairing
of certain highways, and to pay yearly to twelve poor men of this
pariſh 12d. out of the land veſted in truſtees, and of the annual
produce of is.
JOHN PAssey by will, in 1509, gave out of the profits of cer-
tain lands, 26s. 8d. yearly, i. e. 13s. 4d. for the king's tax, cal-
led head ſilver, and the remainder for maſſes, obits, &c. and orna-
ments of the church, the reſidue of the yearly rent of the land to
be at the diſpoſal of his wife Agnes, which land is veſted in truf-
tees, of the annual produce of bol. 1os. N.B. The whole rent
has been applied for time immemorial to the uſe of the poor
of
THOMA'S INE SAMPSON, widow, by will in 1624, eſtabliſhed
by a commiſſion for charitable utes, in 1626, and enrolled in
chancery,





Eltham. Son
484
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

chancery, by which the application is directed, gave lands, out of
which fhould be paid 41. yearly among the moſt needy poor of
this pariſh, and 41. for putting out the children of poor perſons
of this pariſh apprentices, the land veſted in truſtees, and of the
annual produce of 141.
Thomas Ropër, eſq. and WILLIAM Roper, his ſon and
heir apparent, anno 25 Elizabeth, gave by indenture, in exchange
for other lands, which belonged to the inhabitants of this pariſh,
other lands therein mentioned, for the uſe of the ſame inhabitants,
veſted in truſtees, and of the annual produce of 81.
NICHOLAS HAGLEY, gent. gave in 1671, by deeds of leaſe
and releaſe, certain land for the uſe and benefit of the poor of
Eltham, veſted in truſtees, and of the annual produce of iol.
ELIZABETH Leggett, widow, by will in 1714, gave for teach-
ing poor children of this pariſh to read and write, and caſt ac-
counts, land veſted in truſtees, and of the annual produce of 181.
Dame Sarah PriTCHARD by will, in 1707, gave for ten ſuch
poor widows and maids equally, inhabitants of this pariſh, as the
miniſters and churchwardens ſhould direct, in money, part of the
intereſt of Sool. in the orphans fund in London, veſted in
trul
tees, and of the annual produce of 21. 10s.
MARY CLAPHAM, widow, by will, in 1733, gave to be laid
dut in coals, and diſtributed yearly among twenty poor
houſe-
keepers of Eltham, 1ool. in money, reduced Bank annuities, veſ-
ted in truſt, and of the annual produce of 31.
WILLIAM SMITH, eſq. by will, in 1731, gave to be laid out,
in purchaſing religious books yearly, for the pariſhioners of El-
tham, and in purchaſing coals to be diſtributed among the poor
houſekeepers of Eltham, in money 200l. reduced Bank annuities,
veſted in truſtees, of the annual produce of 61.
Dorothy SMITH, widow of the above William Smith, by
will in 1754, gave for the ſame purpoſes, in money, 100l. in the
ſame annuities, veſted in truſtees, of the annual produce of 3l.
ABRAHAM Colfe, clerk, by will in 1756, gave two ſtout
penny wheaten loaves of good bread, to be diſtributed every Sun-
day weekly in the year, to two of the godlieſt and pooreſt houſe-
holders of this pariſh, at church after morning ſervice, in money,
among other charities, veſted in the Leatherfellers company, and
of the annual produce of 81. 8s.
RICHARD SLYNN by will, gave for bread, to be diſtributed
to the poor inhabitants of this pariſh, on November 5th, yearly,
an annuity, ifluing out of certain houſes and land, veſted in truſt,
and of the annual produce of 125.
WILLIAM Hewitt by will, in 1779, gave to the churchwar-
dens of this pariſh, for keeping up the tombſtone of his late grand-
father, Robert Street, and the ſurplus to be laid out in bread
among the poor inhabitants of this pariſh gol. reduced Bank an-
nuities, veſted in truſt, and of the annual produce of al. 1os.
THIS
ELTHAM.
485

THIS PARISH is entitled for ever to place three poor people
in queen Elizabeth's college, in Greenwich, who do not receive
any aſſiſtance from the pariſh.
Two dweLLING HOUSEs in this pariſh have been appropri-
ated time immemorial for the habitation of poor pariſhioners,
choſen in veftry, the donor and time unknown.
There were TWO CHARITY SCHOOLS ſet up here more than
ſeventy years ago, for twenty boys and ten girls, who are cloathed
and taught in them, by the voluntary ſubſcription of about 6ol.
per annum, and the gift at the beginning of them of 181. per an.
num, as mentioned above.
Eltham is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURIS-
DICTION of the dioceſe of Rocheſter and deanry of
Dartford. The church, which ſtands at the weſt end
of the village, is dedicated to St. John the Baptiſt.
William earl of Glouceſter, on his founding the
priory within his manor of Keinſham, in Somerſet-
ſhire, about the year 1170, granted, as patron and
lord of the ſoil, to the church of St. Mary and St. Pe-
ter of Ganeſham, and the canons regular there, in
free and perpetual arms, the church of St. John of
Haultham, with its appurtenances. His grandſon,
Gilbert de Clare, earl of Glouceſter and Hertford,
confirmed this gift, as did John, biſhop of Bath and
Wells, in 1314," and king Edward II. in his with
year, in his general confirmation of the poſſeſſions of
the priory to them.
The church of Eltham was appropriated to the ab-
bey of Keinſham by Richard de Wendover, biſhop
of Rocheſter, in the year 1242, ſo that the canons,
during the life of Robert de Londone, then parſon of
it, ſhould receive the ſum of one hundred ſhillings,
to be paid by him in the name of the parſonage, with
licence for them, after his death or reſignation, to en-
ter into full poſſeſſion of it, ſaving nevertheleſs to the
biſhop, in all things, his right of dioceſan, and of in-
ſtituting a perpetual vicar, to be taxed in it, with the
affent of the above mentioned abbot.
2 Tan. Mon. p. 469. Reg. Roff. p. 345. Dug. Mon. v. ii. p. 299.
Ii 3
The
486
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED

The church was, anno 15 king Edward I. valued
at twenty fnarcs, and the vicarage at one hundred
ſhillings. King Edward III. in his 7th year, directed
his writ to the biſhop of Rocheſter, to return the
names of all aliens beneficed within his dioceſe, and
the names of the reſpective benefices, and who of
them were reſident on them. To which the biſhop
made return, that Sir Peter de Boileau, an alien, held
the vicarage of the church of Eltham, and reſided on
it. A like writ was iſſued in the 20th year of the
fame reign, when the biſhop made return, that Sir
Peter de Boileau, an alien, held the vicarage of the
church of Eltham, taxed at one hundred ſhillings, and
that he reſided on it.
An exchange was made, anno 43 Edward III. be-
tween the king and the prior and convent of Rocheſ-
ter, by which the latter granted to the king and his
heirs for ever, among other premiſes, all the tithes of
every kind, which they, in right of their church or
otherwiſe, were entitled to, and had within the king's
park of Eltham, for which the king gave them tene-
ments and rents, in the pariſh of St. Bride, in Fleet-
ſtreet, late Hugh Stubby's, and certain ſhops, tene-
ments, and rents, in the parish of St. John Zachery,
London, late Walter de. Hendon's, all which were
worth twenty marcs and fixteen pence per annum,
and became forfeited, and in the king's hands, by the
deviſe of the ſaid Hugh and Walter in mortmain,
contrary to the ſtatute, and without the king's licence.
On the diffolution of the abbey of Keinſham, anno
30 Henry VIII, the church of Eltham, and advow-
ſon of the vicarage, came to the crown with the other
poſſeſſions of that monaſtery,"
King Henry VIII. in the 36th year of his reign,
granted the rectory of Eltham to Sir John Hendley,



a Stev. Mon. vol. ii.p. 456. Reg. Roff. p. 126, 127, 344, 553,
Willis's Mitred Abbies, vol. ii. p. 198. Rot. Eſch, an, 36 Hen.
37
Hen. VIII. pt. 3
3.
ta
ry VIII.
pt. 22, and
ELTHAM.
.
487

to hold by fealty only. He died without iſſue male,
leaving three daughters and coheirs, one of whom,
Helen, brought this rectory to her huſband, Thomas
Colepeper, eſq. of Bedgbury, who fold it to William
Roper, eſq. of Wellhall, and he, in the reign of king
Edward VÍ. reſerving the advowſon of the vicarage,
conveyed the rectory of Eltham to Oriel college, in
Oxford, with a ſtipulation that, on paying one hun-
dred pounds as a fine, and a yearly rent of fourteen
pounds, the college ſhould grant a leaſe of it, either
for three lives or thirty-one years, to him and his heirs
of the family of Roper.
Anthony Roper was the laſt life in the leaſe, and
his ſon Edward being left an infant, his truſtees neg-
lected to renew the term, on which the college
granted the rectory in leaſe to Richard Coinport,
gent. of Eltham, who had a grant from Sir Edward
Walker, garter, in 1663, of the following arms, viz.
Argent, on a chevron gules three quarterfoils of the firſt
between three torteauxes. His only daughter and heir
married Sir Thomas Fitch, and brought her huſband
this rectory; and on his death, in 1688, it deſcended to
his fon, Sir Comport Fitch, who died poſſeſſed of it in
1720; his daughter and heir, Alice, carried it in mar-
riage to Sir John Barker, bart, of Suffolk, ſince which
it has paſſed in the fame manner as his eſtate at South-
end, in this pariſh, by the deviſe of his ſon, Sir John
Fitch Barker, bart, to Robert Naſſau, eſq. who is the
preſent lefſee of it.
The advowſon of the vicarage ſtill continued, as
has been mentioned before, in the patronage of the
Ropers, in which family it deſcended to Edward
Roper, eſq. of Wellhall, the laſt heir male of this
branch, who died in 1722, fince which it paſſed in
like manner as Wellhall, and the reſt of his eſtates in
this pariſh, as has been more fully mentioned before,


► See the grant in the Harleian MSS. No. 1172-44-97,
Ii 4
to
488
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
to Sir Gregory Page, bart, who at his death, without
iſſue, in 1775, bequeathed it by his will to his great-
nephew, Sir Gregory Turner Page, bart. of Oxford-
ſhire, the preſent owner of it.
The vicarage is a diſcharged living, in the king's
books, of the clear yearly certified value of 321. 8s.
the yearly tenths being 6s. 2d.
By virtue of the commiſſion of enquiry into the value
of church livings, in 1650, out of chancery, it was
returned, that Eltham was a vicarage, worth 271. 55.
per annum, one maſter Overton enjoying it, under the
ſequeſtrators, Mr. Chatterton and others.”
It was, anno 1734, augmented by the governors of
queen Anne's bounty, at which time Sir Gregory
Page, bart. contributed one hundred pounds for the
like purpoſe.
In the year 1767 this church was modernized and
beautified, at no ſmall expence, when being found
too ſmall to contain the pariſhioners, it was much
enlarged, by which the antient chancel of the Tatter-
falls was deſtroyed.
In this church, among others, on the ſouth ſide of
the altar, is a monument for Richard Peter, clerk,
vicar of this church, ob. Jan. 18, 1748, æt. 75.
A
monument for Anne, wife of Dr. Richard Owen, ob.
1652, and ſeveral of their children; Dr. Owen was
driven hence by the rebels, but buried here. On a
hatchment, anno 1664, Two pields lozengy, firſt,
Philipott, quartered with ſeven other coats, impaling
Glover, and three other coats; and an inſcription, that
near it lies buried Suſan, late wife of John Philipott,
eſq. Somerſet herald, deſigned Norroy, and daughter
and fole heir of William Glover, eſq. and Elizabeth
his wife, daughter and coheir of Henry Harlackenden,




a Bacon. Lib. Regis.
Þ Parl. Surveys, Lambeth-libr. vol. xix. E&. Theſ. p.
xxiii.
Wood's Ath. Ox, vol. i. Faſti, p. 35. Harleian MSS. No. 1106.
efa.
ELTHAM. SOAL 489
eſq. as likewiſe Suſan, her eldeſt daughter. Monu-
ments for ſeveral of the Cookes. In the chancel, a
memorial for Margery, late wife of Ed. Ilham, eſq. of
Walmer, daughter and coheir of John Fletcher, eſq.
of Suſſex. A memorial round the verge of a flat ſtone
for John, ſon of Edw. Colleton, gent. of Milverton,
Somerſetſhire, ob. 1635, æt. 87. In the middle iſle,
a inemorial for Clement Hobſon, vicar of this church,
ob. Oct. 31, 1725, æt. 91; alſo his mother, wife, and
three children, and four grand children, by his daugh-
ter Jane, wife of Wm. Bofville, eſq. of Bradbourn.
Memorials for ſeveral of the Smiths and Bowles. The
following inſcriptions were on braſs plates, on the
pavement, now entirely loft—for dame Margerie, late
wife of John Roper, eſq. daughter and one of the heirs
of John Tatterſall, eſq. ob. 1518—for John, ſon and
heir of Margaret Morton, of Aſhby de la Zouch, in
Leiceſterſhire, late wife of Tho. Squier, ob.—for Tho.
Pierle, ob. 1369, and for John Paſley, yeoman, porter
to king Henry VIII. and Agnes, his wife, ob. 1509.
In the family vault of the Burtons, in this church, are
interred the remains of the worthy and excellent Dr.
George Horne, late biſhop of Norwich, who died
much lamented and admired by all, Jan. 17, 1792,
æt. 62, of whom more will be mentioned in the ac-
count of the deans of Canterbury, in the future courſe
of this hiſtory. It may not be deemed improper to
inſert here, that the before mentioned John Phili-
pott, eſq. born at Folkeſtone, was a great loyaliſt,
and followed the king to Oxford, but being ſeized by
the rebels, was brought priſoner to London, where
he was ſoon releaſed, and lived afterwards in theſe
parts, in much obſcurity. He died, and was buried
within the precincts of St. Paul's-wharf, in 1645, ha-
ving written ſeveral books, and among others, Villare

See the monuments and infcriptions in this church at large
in Reg. Roff, p. 949.
Cantianum,
490
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

Cantianum, or Kent illuſtrated and ſurveyed; which his
ſon, Thomas Philipott, had the honeſty to rob his
father of the merit of, publiſhing it under his own
name, in folio, at London, 1659.
King Richard III. granted a falary of ten marcs
per annum to Sir Henry Brokas, chaplain, within the
manor of Eltham.
King Henry VIII. by his letters patent, in his 19th
year, granted to Robert Burfte, chaplain, the perpe-
tual chantry within his manor of Eltham, and the
manſion there, called the chantry prieſt's houſe, ſitua-
ted in the farther part of his manor, which chantry
and manſion Richard Store, the laſt chaplain, poffef-
ſed, and the king appointed him perpetual chaplain
there for his life, to ſay maſs, &c. daily for his own
welfare, that of his confort, queen Catharine, and all
other their progenitors, and to have the annual ſalary
of ten marcs ſterling.
King Edward VI. in his sth year, granted to Sir John
Gates the reverſion of the above premiſes and ſalary.
An obit was founded in the church of Eltham, by
the will of Elizabeth Hogeſon, and another by the
will of John Collin. The pofſeffions were called
Dennys-mead, Colly-acre, and Crowches-croft, and
were of the clear yearly value of 16s. 8d, as appeared
upon the ſurvey, taken in conſequence of the acts
paſſed in the iſt year of king Edward VI. and in the
37th of king Henry VIII. for the ſurrendry of chan-
tries, lights, obits, &c.
Roos
CHURCH OF ELTHAM,
PATRONS,
Or by whom preſented.
William Earl of Glouceſter Adan de Bromleigh.
Picard, in the reign of Hen. II."
DEREN D Robert Londone, the laſt rector in
1242, when this church was
od overseth appropriated to Keinſham-
abbey.


RECTORS.
......
a Reg. Roff. p. 353.
b Ibid. p. 47
c Ibid. p. 344
PATRONS,
ELTHAM.
491
Church of Eltham. Continued.
PATRONS, &c.
VICARS.
Prior and Convent of Keinſham .... Robert.d
Sir Peter de Boyleau, in 1342.°
Henry Underwood, 1549.
William Roper, eſq. and his de- Ş Thomas Thirwind, buried Jan.
ſcendants.....
2 26, 1584.
Richard Tyler, buried May 29,
1585.
James Twiſt, buried Feb. 18,
1597:
John Foord, A.M. induct. 1597,
obt. Mar.19, 1627.
The Univerſity of Oxford .....
....... Robert Forward, B. D. reſigned
Nov. 10, 1635.
Edward Witherſton A. M. 1635,
refig. Feb. 16, 1636.8
Richard Owen, B. D. inducted
February 2, 1636, reſigned
1658."
Edward Roper, eſq.....
eſq........... Clement Hobſon, admitted No-
vember 13, 1658, obt. Octo-
ber
31, 1725.
Charles Henſhaw, eſq............... Richard Peter, A. M. inſtituted
April 4, 1726, obt. Jan. 18,
1748.
Sir Gregory Page, bart.............. Peter Pinnell, D.D. 1749, obt.
Aug. 16, 1783.
Fohn Kenward Shaw, A.M.1783.
Preſent vicar.


d Reg. Roff. p. 348.
ferred to North Cray, where he died
e Ibid. p. 126.
in 1683, and was buried in the chan-
f Fellow of Oriel college. He re cel of this church. Wood's Ath. Ox.
figued this vicarage, being preſented vol. ii. f. 729. Walk. Suff
. of Clergy.
to preferment in Irelard, he was, in pt. ii. p. 173. Newcourt's Rep. vol. i.
1640, dean of Dromore, chanter of i He died in his 9:ſt year, and lies
, &c.
buried in the middle ifle ofthis church.
college
k .
ſigued it for the vicarage of Bysfrome, in the chancel of this churchHis
in Herefordthire, and was afterwards father, John Peter, gent. lies buried
rector of Little Marcley, in the ſame at Lewiſham.
county.
1 And rector of Bermondſey, in
h Of Oriel college. He was in. Southwark, by diſpenſation, which he
ducted into the church of St. Swithen, reſigned on being preſented to the vi-
London, in 1639, and afterwards ex carage of Shorne. In 1775 he was
pelled this church in the time of the made a prebendary of Rocheſter, and
uſurpation. About 1656, he was pre died in 1783.
,
LEE
492
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
LEE

IS the next pariſh weſtward from Eltham. It was
antiently written Legheart, and in old Latin, Laga,
i. e. a place which lies ſheltered.
The pariſh of Lee is but ſmall, it lies low and flat,
excepting towards the north, where the hill riſes to-
wards Blackheath; the lane, called Burnt-afh-lane,
bounds it weſtward, and ſeparates the two manors of
Lee and Eltham. The village ſtands nearly in the
middle of it, on the high road towards Eltham, and
thence to Maidſtone. It is very healthy and pleaſant,
and is well-built, the houſes being all inhabited by gen-
teel families of fortune. On the north fide is the an-
tient ſeat of Lee-place; at the weſt end a houſe, which
has been many years the reſidence of the family of
Papillon, oppoſite to which are the alms-houſes, built
by the Boone family. Northward of the village the
hill riſes, nearly on the ſummit of which is lady Dacre's
feat, moſt pleaſantly ſituated, the church, the parſonage
cloſe to it, and other houſes.
There is a little bourn, or rivulet, which takes its
riſe in this pariſh, and ſometimes, on ſudden rains,
ſwells ſo much, as to riſe near ten feet in height, where
it croſſes the high road, which made it ſo dangerous,
or rather impaffable, at thoſe times for paſſengers, that
within theſe few years there had been a bridge built
over it, and a high cauſeway raiſed for a conſiderable
length at each end of it, at the public expence. This
brook, running from hence, paſſes along by the foot
of the wall of the old feat of the Anneſley's, long ſince
quite ruined; about the ſouth ſide of which it ſeems to
have made a kind of moat, and afterwards diſcharges
its waters into the river Ravenſborne in the adjoining
pariſh of Lewiſham. The meadow lands in the valley
lying
LEE.
493

rucates.
lying on each ſide of this ſtream are very rich, and let
at high rents. Theſe Anneſleys above-mentioned,
bore for their arms, Paly of fix pieces argent, and
azures on a bend gules, a creſcent, for difference.
In the time of William the Conqueror, Lee was
part of the poſfellions of Odo, biſhop of Baieux and earl
of Kent, of whom it was held by Walter de Doway.
It is thus deſcribed in Domeſday, under the general
title of the biſhop's lands :
Walter de Dowai holds Lee of the biſhop (of Baieux).
It was taxed at half a ſuling. The arable land is 4 ca-
In demeſne there are 2 carucates, and 11 vil-
leins, with 2 cottagers having 2 carucates. There are 2
ſervants and 5 acres of meadow. There is wood for the
pannage of 10 hogs. In the time of K. Edward the
Confeſſor, and when the biſhop received it, it was
worth 3 pounds, now 100 Mhillings. Alunin held it of
As early as in the reign of king Edward I. this place
was the reſidence of an antient family, called Bankwell,
written, in the biſhop of Rocheſter's Regiſter, Bakwell,
Bacwell, and Banquelle; which, probably, acquired
that ſurname, from a place in this pariſh, formerly
written Bankwells, but now, called Bankers.
In the 31ſt year of that reign, John de Banquel had
a grant, to him, Cicele his wife, of free warren in all
their lands in Lee, Lewiſham, Bromley, and in Bro-
kiſham.
In the firſt year of king Edward II. John de Banquel
was appointed one of the barons of the king's exche
quer; and in the return of John de Shelving, ſheriff,
in the 16th and 17th year of that reign, of all the
knights and men at arms within it, William de Banquel
is mentioned in the ſecond degree. He died in the
20th year of king Edward III. and left Thomas Ban-
the king.
a
a
Philipott, p. 212. Pat. anno 31 king Edw. I. No. 47.
Pat. ejus an. pars i ma.
quel
494
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED,

quel his heir; who died in the 35th year of that reign,
poffeffed of Lee, and a large quantity of lands beſides,
in Modingham, Sherfholt, ſince corruptly called Shraw-
field, Littlecroft, Bankers, and Wickham by Bromley.
He left three ſons, John, William, and Robert, who
became heirs in gavelkind to all his inheritance; and
upon the diviſion of it, Lee, Bankers, and Sherfholt,
or Shrawfield, fell to the ſhare of John Bankwell, the
eldeſt : but this family ending in a female heir, ſhe car-
ried theſe eſtates in marriage to John Arrapon ; whence
they were, in the next reign, of king Richard II. ſold
to Sir Thomas Stury, who continued in poſſeſſion of
them till the reign of king Henry VI. when they be-
came the property of Richard Widville, or Woodville,
who, in the 26th year of king Henry VI. was created
Baron Rivers, and made knight of the Garter, and af-
terwards, in 1465, Earl Rivers and Conſtable of Eng-
land, by king Edward IV. who had married his daugh-
ter Elizabeth, widow of Sir John Grey. His great
favour with the king brought on him the hatred of the
Lancaftrians, who ſeized him, with his ſon John, and
carried them to Northampton, where they were both
beheaded, in the 9th year of king Edward IV. By
Jaquet de Luxemburgh his wife, widow of John, duke
of Bedford, he had ſeveral fons and daughters. Of the
ſons, Anthony, the eldeſt, ſucceeded his father in his
honours, and likewiſe in theſe manors and eſtates. He
had married, in his father's life-time, Elizabeth, daugh-
ter and heir of Thomas lord Scales, and had ſummons
to parliament in the iſt year of king Edward IV. as
baron Scales. He was beheaded at Pontefract-caſtle
in 1483, under the pretence of treaſon, by order of
Richard duke of Glouceſter, afterwards king Rich-
ard III. He died without legitimate iſſue; upon which
Richard Woodville, his brother, ſucceeded hii titles
and eſtates. But dying unmarried, anno 7 king Hen-

a
Philipott, p. 212. Dugd. Baron, vol. ii. p. 231 and to 233.
ry VII.
O LEE. AMANTE 495

ry VII. by his will he appointed Thomas Grey, marquis
Dorſet, his nephew, his heir, as was found by inquifi-
tion, taken after his death, and that he died poſſeſſed
of the manor of Lee, with five hundred and ſeventy
acres of arable, meadow, wood, and paſture, in Lee
and Lewiſham, held of the king by fealty, and the ſer-
vice of performing ſuit at the court of the ſheriff, held
at Sutton-at-Hone, in lieu of all ſervices, and of the
manor of Lee-Shroffold, with one hundred and fix acres
of arable and meadow in Shroffold, and of the manor of
Bankers ; both which were held of the prior of St.
John of Bethlehem of Sheene, in Surry.
Sir Thomas Grey, marquis Dorſet, was eldeſt ſon of
Elizabeth, eldeſt daughter of Richard Widville, or
Woodville, earl Rivers, (afterwards married to king
Edward IV.) and ſiſter of the laſt-mentioned earl, by
Sir John Grey. He was, anno 11 king Edward IV.
created Earl of Huntingdon; and in the 15th year of
that reign, Marquis Dorſet, only per cin&turam gladii,
et capæ honoris et dignitatis ispoſitionem, the coronet
being omitted.
. After the death of king Edward IV. he was, in reſ-
pect of his near relationihip to the young king Edward,
attainted of high treaſon, by the duke of Glouceſter
but he found means to ſteal away privately, and eſcaped
into Brittany, with many other perſons of note, to the
aid of Henry earl of Richmond; where he ſtaid till
the overthrow of king Richard III. at Boſworth, when
he returned, and king Henry VII. fully reſtored him,
and made him one of his privy-council
. He married
Cecilie, daughter and heir of William lord Bonville,
(afterwards married to Henry earl of Wiltſhire,) by
whom he had ſeveral fons and daughters, and died anno
17 king Henry VII. having given by his will to Tho.
mas, his eldeſt ſon, among other manors, thoſe of the
Lee-Shroffold, and the Lee-Bancors and Levilham.
3
• Dugd. Bar, vol. i. p. 719. and ſeg,
He
496
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

He kept them but a few years ; for he granted to king
Henry VIII. in his third year, the manors of Lee,
Bankerds, and Shrofolde, with the advowſons of the
church of Lee, and all other lands and tenements, of
his inheritance in the towns of Lee, Bankerds, and
Shrofolde, with all liberties, &c. in exchange for other
manors and lands in Leiceſterſhire..
In the reign of queen Elizabeth theſe manors were
in the tenure of Thomas Sackville lord Buckhurſt,
afterwards earl of Dorſet, and lord high treaſurer ;
whoſe grandſon, Richard earl of Dorſet, exchanged
his intereſt in them with king James I. and his fucceffor,
king Charles I. granted the royalty and fee-ſimple of
them, (the advowſon of the rectory being excepted) at
the yearly rent of 871. 1os. 2d." to Ralph Freeman of
Aſpeden, in Hertfordſhire, who was afterwards knight-
ed, and in 1633 lord-mayor of London. He married
Joan, fourth daughter of John Crowch of London,
clothworker, and had by her an only daughter and heiry
Joan, with whom he gave theſe manors in marriage to
Sir George Sondes of Lee's-court; in Sheldwich, knight
of the Bath, afterwards created Earl of Faverſham.
By her he had three fons, alf of whom died without
iſſue ; he afterwards married Mary, daughter of fir
William Villiers of Brokeſby, in Leiceſterſhire, bart.
by whom he left two daughters and coheirs ; Mary,
married to Lewis Duras, marquis of Blanquefort, who
ſucceeded to the title of earl of Faverſham ; and Ca-
therine, to Lewis Watſon, earl of Rockingham, who,
in her right, inherited theſe manors on the death of
the earl of Faverſham, without iſſue.
On the death of Lewis, earl of Rockingham, in
1724 his grandſon (ſon of Edward, viſcount Sondes,
by Katherine his wife, one of the daughters and coheirs
of Thomas earl of Thanet, who died in his father's
dos
Augtn. Off. Inrolments. b See Philipott, p. 212.
Aug. Off. Fee-farm Rolls, T. Interregni, Roll 99. No. 425.
2
life-

LEE.
497
life-time) ſucceeded him in titles and eſtates ; but dying
without iſſue in 1745, he was ſucceeded by his next
brother, Thomas, who dying without iſſue likewiſe,
deviſed theſe, among his other eſtates, by will, to the
Hon. Lewis Monſon, ſecond ſon of John Monſon lord
Monſon, by Margaret, third and youngeſt daughter of
the firſt Lewis earl of Rockingham, with an injunction
for him to take and uſe the ſurname and arms of Watſon.
Lewis Monſon Watſon above-mentioned was, in
the year 1760, being the laſt of king George II. ad-
vanced to the title of Baron Sondes of Lees-court, in
the pariſh of Sheldwich in this county, and he in 1788
ſettled this eſtate on his eldeſt ſon the Hon. Lewis Tho-
mas Watſon on his marriage, who, in 1795, on the
death of his father, ſucceeded to the title of lord
Sondes; and is the preſent proprietor of this manor of
Lee, and its two appendages of Bankers and Shrawfield.
LEE-PLACE is an antient well-built ſeat, which for-
merly belonged to, and was the reſidence of the family
of Boone, in which it continued till Thomas Boone,
eſq. dying in 1749, it came by his will to his natural
daughter, married to Charles Cornforth, eſq. who died
poffeffed of it in 1777, when it went, by the limitations
in Mr. Boone's will, to his nephews, fons of his bro-
ther, one of whom, Charles Boone, eſq. now poffefſes
it, but Benjamin Harriſon, eſq. treaſurer of Guy's hof-
pital at preſent reſides in it.
About a quarter of a mile towards the north-weſt,
from the village of Lee, on the aſcent of the hill, ſtands
an elegant modern-built ſeat, late belonging to Sir
Thomas Fludyer, who died poſſeſſed of it in 1769,
bearing for his arms, Sable, a croſs flory, between four
eſcallops argent, each charged with a croſs flory of the
field; which arms were granted in 1739. He left, by
Mary his wife, daughter of Sir George Champion,
alderman of London, a daughter and heir, Mary, who
in 1773 married Trevor Charles Roper, eſq. and
brought him the poffeflion of this feat. He was the
eldeſt
VOL. I.
K k

498
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
eldeſt ſon of the Hon. George Roper, the ſon of Henry
lord Teynham, by his ſecond wife Anne, daughter and
coheir of Thomas Lennard earl of Suſſex, and baro-
neſs Dacre, whoſe ſecond huſband he was. Her firſt
huſband having been Thomas Lennard Barret, eſq. by
whom ſhe had a ſon, the late Thomas Lennard Barret,
lord Dacre, on whoſe death, S. p. in 1786, Trevor
Charles Roper, eſq. above-mentioned, ſucceeded to
that title, and became lord Dacre. He died at this
ſeat in July 1794, S. p. and was buried in Lee church,
leaving the poſſeſſion of it to his widow Mary, lady
Dacre, who now reſides in it.
CHARITIES.
At the weſt end of the village of Lee is a row of alms-houſes,
with a chapel adjoining to them, built and endowed by Chris.
TOPHER Boone, of London, merchant, and MARY his wife;
who, by their deed, in 1683, enfeoffed the maſter and wardens of
the Merchant-taylors in London, in a parcel of land in this pa-
riſh ; on which were built a chapel and four houſes, for a ſchool-
miſtreſs, to teach poor children to read and work, and fix poor
antient alms-people; and in a piece of ground for a garden plat.
And they alſo enfeoffed them in twenty-three acres of land, lying
near Blackheath, let for 151. per annum; and in an annual rent
of 421. per annum, out of the fee-farm rent of the city of Here-
ford, in truſt, that they ſhould pay yearly the ſalaries, &c. to the
ſeveral members of this charity. And likewiſe furniſh firing,
gowns, and certain neceſſaries for the uſe of the poor people and
children. The reſidue of the income, to be a ſtock to defray the
charge of repairs, and augment the allowances of the members
of it. The maſter and wardens to viſit them every year, on the
firſt Thurſday in July.
The rector of Lee to be chaplain ; or, if he refuſed, or removed,
then the vicar of Lewiſham ; or, if he refuſed, or miſbehaved, any
other miniſter of the church of England.
The ſchool-miſtreſs to teach twelve poor children, to be
pre-
ſented by the rector and churchwardens of Lee. The alms people
to be men or women, two in a houſe, of the pooreſt people of this
pariſh, who had lived orderly, and ſupported themſelves by their
honeſt labour in their younger days, or if there were not enough
ſuch found, then of the pariſh of Lewiſham; and if not there,
then of Greenwich.
a Sce more of his deſcent under Teynham,
The

SOM LEE.ALDAJE
499
in
The Rev. ABRAHAM Colfe, in 1656, gave by will, to be
diſtributed in bread at the church every Sunday in the year,
money veſted in the Leatherſeller's-company, of the annual pro-
duce of 8s. 4d. and a free ſcholarſhip for one boy, in the free-
ſchool of Lewiſham, veſted in the ſame company.
William HATCLIFFE gave by will, for the relief of indigent
perſons, by the diſtribution of 1os. per annum each, a ſhare of
certain land, veſted in truſtees, of the annual produce of
221. Is. 6d.
THIS PARISH is entitled for ever to place one poor perſon in
Queen Elizabeth's college, in Greenwich, founded by the will of
William Lambarde, etc. and veſted in the Draper's company, of
the annual produce of 81. 135. 4d.
Lev
Lee is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION
of the dioceſe of Rocheſter and deanry of Dartford. The
church is dedicated to St. Margaret; it ſeems an an-
tient ſtructure, the church-yard is crowded with tombs
and monuments, many of them of excellent ſculpture ;
among which is a plain table tomb for Dr. Edward
Halley, the famous aſtronomer,who lies buried under-
neath it.
Among other monuments and memorials in this
church, in the iſe, is a monument in braſs, with the
effigies of a woman, for Elizabeth Conkyll
, obt. 1513.
At the eaſt end of it a monument for Abraham Sher :
man, A. M. miniſter of God's word in this pariſh, who
rebuilt the parſonage houſe in 1636, obt. Oct. 5, 1654.
On the north ſide of the altar a fumptuous monument,
with the figures of a man in armour, and his wife lying
at full length, and an inſcription, for Bryan Anſlye, eſq.
late of Lee, and Awdry his wife, only daughter of Ro-
bert Tirrell, of Effex, eſq. by whom he had one ſon and
three daughters, Brian, who died . p. Grace, married
to Sir John Wilgorfe; Chriſtian to lord Sandes, and
Cordell to Sir William Hervey. The ſaid Brian the
father died in 1604, being one of the gentlemen pen-
fioners to queen Elizabeth ; the faid Awdry died in
1591. Erected by Cordell their daughter. On the
ſouth ſide of the altar a monument, with effigies in braſs
of a man in armour, kneeling at a deſk with a book open
KK 2
before

500
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
before him, and an inſcription in black letter for Ni-
cholas Anley, ſerjeant of the cellar to queen Elizabeth,
obt. 1593, æt. 58 ; and an inſcription was here formerly
for George Hatcliffe, eſq. the king's treaſurer in Ire-
land, and one of the clerks of the king's houſehold,
obt. 1514.
The church was antiently eſteemed as an appendage
to the manor, and ſeems to have continued ſo till king
Charles I. granted the fee of the manor to Ralph Free-
man, reſerving the right of the patronage of the church
to the crown, where it continues at this time.
The church of Lee was valued, in the 15th year of
king Edward I. at ten marcs. It is valued in the king's
books at 31. 11s. 8d. and the yearly tenths at 7s. 2d.
The parſonage-houſe was rebuilt by Abrahain Sher-
man, rector of this pariſh in the year 1636.
By virtue of the commiſſion of enquiry into the value
of church livings, in 1650, out of Chancery, it was re-
turned, that Lee was a parſonage, with a houſe, and
fifteen acres of glebe land; all worth ſeventy pounds
per annum, one maſter Abraham Sherman enjoying it.
CHURCH OF LEE.
PATRONS,
Or by whom preſented.
ERECTORS. hade
{ ,
Family of Bakewell ....
Richard de Tofte, inſt. March 22,
1320.
William de Ardenne, adm. Sept.
Sordo
13, 1330, obt. 1332.
smo bol byl John Moyne, adm. Jan. 8, 1332,
foto gather reſigned 1335.
mi bashkoje su baten barato,
John de Lenne, 1335, another in-
duction March 9, 1338.


a See a full account of the monu b c d Regift. Hamo de Hathe.
ments and infcriptions in this church e And vicar of Timington, non dior,
in Reg. Roff. p. 850.
in which he exchanged for this rectory.
PATRONS
1990 blood supplier baba hangi ato
LEE.
501
po
m
PATRONS, &c.
RECTORS.
Family of Bakewell
William Drayton, admitted Oet.
that it
8, 1349.
938 Bubai bacoa
John Kinge, adm. April 28, 1353,
Pipou bongile
reſigned 1362.8
de son
net & John de Somerbye, adm. O&tober
do 20 26, 1362.h
Richard Holewaye, reſig. 1390.
Sir Richard Story
John Clerk, adm. May 17, 1390,
reſigned eod. ann.
William Glaſtynbery, Dec. 5,
1390, reſigned 1391.
1890 M A hoss. Hugo ap David, adm. May 24,
Wide
1391, reſigned 1402.
Şir Robert Story
John de Bardenage, adm. July
do so
1402, reſigned eod. ann."
William Howet, adm. Sept. 5,
INGA YA 1402, reſigned 1403.°
Thomas Talbott, April 7, 1403,
reſigned 1405,
John Gyffard, adm. Jan. 17,
1405, obt. 1406.9
bila bastits
William Cowpere, adm. April
ulicant boite o gosta
26, 1406."
Robert Pejonn, obt. 1425.9
John Hoo, adm. Nov. 23, 1425.
Richard Wydville
Richard Moore, adm. October 3,
1452, reſigned 1459."
Lord de Riverside
Thomas Clote, March 20, 1459.
Anthony Wydville
John Mellory, adm. Nov. 10,
NE
1462, reſigned 1463.
Lord de Seales
Robert Ayward, adm. Sept. 2
blog
1463.*
John Walronde, July 15, 1495,
reſigned 1497

f Regift. Hamo de Hathe.
n Regiſt. W. Botleſham.
Sous
& Regift. Joh. de Shepie.
o Ibid.
h And vicar of Brokeſborne, Lon p Rector of Bentley, Norwich dioc.
don diocefe, which he exchanged for which he exchanged for this rectory.
this rectory. Reg. Wittleſey.
Ibid. Regift.
M
i Regift. w. Botleſham.
9 Rector of Eaſt Iccleſworth, Win
k lbid. and vicar of Pevenſey, Ceciſt. ton dioceſe. Ibid. Regiſt.
dioceſe, which he exchanged for this r Reg. Botletham.
rectory.
s Regiſter J. Langdon.
1 He exchanged the free chapel in
t Ibid.
the church of Leiceſter for this rec u Regiſter J. Low.
tory. Ibid Regift.
v Ibid.
m Rector of Tynterne, Lincoln dioc. w Ibid.
which he exchanged for this reétory.
x Ibid.
Ibid. Regift.
y Act Cur. Confift.
PATRON
this re
Kk 3
502
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
2* PATRON. Thomas, Marquis Dorfet.
Robert Houghtone, inſtit. June 2, Thomas Robyns, inft. June 10,
1497, obt. 1498.a
1503, ſecond induct. Sept. 9,
Roger Abraham, inftit. Sept. 29, 1504, reſigned 1509.0
1498, ſecond induct. O&t.
9,
Simon Templeman, inſt. Oet. 31,
1500, obt. 1501.5
1509, obt. 1526.
William Lambe, inft. Nav. 10,
1501, obt. 1503.
bonita
PATRON. The Crown.

Robert Hale, alias Hales, inſtit. John Jackſon, A. M. inſt. Dec.
Sept. 14, 1526, reſig. 1569. 18, 1672, obt. 1701."
Wm. Brooke, inſt. Oet. 6, 1569, John Ovington, I. T. P. inſt. Dec.
Hugo Probart, deprived 1579. 18, 1701, obt. June 1731.º
Fohn Stoner, inft. June 12, 1579.8 Richard Atkins, A. M. inftit.
obt. June 1599.
Aug. 28, 1731, obt. April
William Tyler, A. M. inſt. July 24, 1745.
16, 1599, obt. March 13, John Lawry, A. M. inſt. May
1632.1
3, 1745, obt, Aug. 20, 1773.
Abraham Sherman, inſt. O&t. 2, Henry Reginald Courteney, L.L.D.
1632, obt. O&t. 5, 1654.k inſtituted Septem. 1773, lord
Hiccocks, ejected 1662. biſhop of Briſtol. The pre-
George Shawe, B. D. inſt. O&. fent rector.
1
24, 1662.m
a Regiſter Spiritual Roff.
p Archiv. Archid. He was buried
b Ibid. and Act Cur. Confift.
in the chancel.
c Ibid.
Mos
9 And prebendary of Rocheſter in
d Act vis Archid.
1745. He had a diſpenſation for
e Ibid.
holding the vicarage of Boughton
f Late canon of Leſnes, ibid. Monchelſea with this rectory, and af-
g Regiſter Epi.
terwards reſigned the former forAyles-
h Archiv. Archid.
ford vicarage.
i Regiſter Epi. Regiſter Paroch. r Alſo prebendary of Rocheſter in
k He lies buried in this church, Reg. June 1774.
June 1774. He was inducted into
Paroch.
the rectory of St. George's, Hanover-
1 He was ejected by the Bartholem. fquare, which he held with this rec .
Act. See Calamay's Life of Baxter, po tory by diſpenſation, on which he re-
286.
ſigned that prebend, and in 1783 he
m Archiv. Archid. Regiſter Epi. was again inducted as a prebend in that
n And Libr. Subſcript.
church, fince which he has been con-
• Regiſter Sprat. He was buried in fecrated biſhop of Briſtol, and holds
this church. Regiſter Paroch.
this rectory in commendam.
зохиол
This liſt of rectors was kindly communicated by the Rev. Mr. Samuel
Denne, of Wilmington,
LEWISHAM.
LEWISHAM,
503
bord de
nowe,
Badoo
LEWISH AM

IS the laſt pariſh undeſcribed in this hundred, be-
ing the next weſtward from Lee. It adjoins weſt-
ward to Surry, and ſouthward to the hundred of
Bromley and Beckenham.
This place, called in antient deeds, Leveſham, de-
rives its name from its ſituation, Leves, or Leſwes, in
Saxon ſignifying paſtures, and ham, a town or village.
This pariſh lies low and flat. The river Ravenſ-
borne directs its courſe through it northward, at a
ſmall diſtance weſtward of the village or ſtreet of Lew-
iſham, which ſtands on the roads to Beckenham and
Bromley, and extends up to the Eltham road, beyond
which it extends, northward, up the hill to Blackheath,
which is a ſmall part of it within its bounds, on which
there is a large hainlet of houſes, which reaches as
far as Deptford-hill on the London-road, many of
theſe are handſome, and ſome inhabited by the nobi.
lity, particularly one by the earl of Dartmouth, lord
of this manor.
Lewiſham-ſtreet is more than a mile in length,
which, as well as the hamlets and environs near it,
are in great meaſure inhabited by opulent merchants
and Londoners, the vicinity to the metropolis making
this place a moſt agreeable and convenient receſs.
In the ſtreet, oppoſite the rookery, there ſtood a
great houſe, once the habitation of Sir William Wild,
knt. and bart. recorder of London, and afterwards one
of the juſtices of the common-pleas and king's-bench,
in the reign of king Charles II. It was held under a
term from the corporation of London, which expi-
ring ſome years ago, it was then pulled down. Far-
ther on, at the corner of the lane going up to Brock-
ne by the tail of pe
s Coke's Inſt. lib. i. cap. i. fol. 4.
Kk4
ley,
504
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

ley, by the church and vicarage houſe, is a handſome
manſion, which was for ſome generations owned by
the family of Lethieullier, the firſt of whom was Sir
John le Thieullier, a Hamburgh merchant, who had
raiſed himſelf by his induſtry and trade, in whoſe de-
ſcendants it continued till his great grandſon, John
Greene Lethieullier, eſq. alienated it in 1776, to Mr.
Sclater of Roterhithe, who now entitled to it.
At the ſouth end of the ſtreet is the hamlet of
Ruſhy-green, and farther on, at near a mile's dif-
tance, on the road to Beckenham, that of Southend,
noted for thoſe engines on the river, by which the
late Mr. Ephraim How made thoſe knife-blades fo
famous throughout England; on the oppoſite or
weſtern ſide of the river, on higher ground, is the
hamlet of Brockley; and nearer the river a great
houſe, uſually called the Place-houſe, which once be-
longed to George Plantagenet duke of Clarence, king
Edward IV.'s brother, and came to him by marriage
with Iſabel, daughter and coheir of Richard Neville,
the great earl of Warwick, in memory of which the
duke's arms, impaled with her's, were put up in the
windows of this houſe, where they remained till very
lately, by which it ſhould ſeem, that he at ſome time
reſided here. Near this houſe is the hamlet of Pery-
ſtreet, and at ſome diſtance, farther ſouthward, the
much more conſiderable one of Sydenham is ſituated
at the ſouth-weſt corner of it, adjoining to Surry. It
was formerly written Cypenham, and among the bene-
factors to the priory of Rocheſter, John Befevile is
recorded to have given the land of Sipeham, in this
pariſh, to that priory ;" and about one hundred years
ago had only a few farm-houſes and cottages in it,
built round the common. The increaſe of its inha-
bitants, and proſperity fince, has been owing to the
diſcovery of ſome ſpricgs of medicinal purging water in
abou
162 : db
Reg. Roff. p. 116,
gautos
100 g
a
it,
LEWISHAM.
505

and more
it, which, from their nearneſs to Dulwich, bear the
name of Dulwich-wells, though there are ſome of
the ſame kind in that pariſh, but they are of an infe-
rior quality, and not ſo plentiful in quantity. Theſe
ſprings in this hamlet are at the foot of a hill, about
twelve in number. The hill and ground adjoining is
a ſtiff clay, with ſome wood upon it. Theſe are next
to thoſe of Epſom, being diſcovered about the year
1640. The hole dug is about nine feet deep, and the
water about half a yard deep, when emptied every
day. The bottom is a loam, as is the hill, and where
the water iſſues in, is found the lapis lutofo-vitriolicus,
which glitters with vitriolic ſparkles, and is divided
into parcels by the trichitis. This water purges very
quick; it is bitter like the Epſom waters, it curdles
with ſoap or milk, equal to them, and much more
than thoſe at Richmond.
Dr. Allen publiſhed his account of theſe wells in
1699, though there had been before, in 1681, a trea-
tiſe on them, publiſhed at London, in 12mo. by Dr.
John Peter, phyſician, under the name of Lewiſham,
vulgarly called Dulwich-wells, in Kent, and in No.
461 of the Philoſophical Tranſactions, is an account
of a new purging ſpring at the Green Man, at Dul-
wich, in 1739, by Mr. Martyn. In 1472, a great
ſpring broke out of the earth in this
pariſh.
Between Lewiſham ftreet and Dulwich, is a hill
with an oak on it, which was called The Oak of Ho-
nour, becauſe queen Elizabeth dined under it, though,
indeed, the old tree has been long ſince gone, and a
new one planted in its room, and another tree planted
juſt by, to ſupply the future defect of that likewiſe.
The following ſcarce plants have been obſerved in
this pariſh:
Androſæmum clampoclarenſium, on the hedge ſide be-
yond Lewiſbam.
ndoa
Aquilegia cærula ; blue columbine; five aquilegia
vulg. fimplex; between Lewiſham and Bromley.
Viola
506
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED,

Viola fol. trachelii ſerotina hirſuta radice lignoſa, in
the way to Lewiſham, in a great gravel-pit.
Some antiquities having been found on the edge of
the heath, particularly next the town of Lewiſham,
has induced an ingenious gentleman, Mr. William
Harriſon, to conjecture that Lewiſham was the No-
viomagus mentioned in the Itinerary of Antonine, but
in this he has not been followed by any one.
In the heraldic viſitation of this county, bêgun by
John Philipott, rouge dragon, in 1619, is the pedigree
of Colfe, beginning with Amand Colfe of Calais, who
married Catherine, daughter and heir of Bradfield
of Calais, by whom he had five ſons, William, Rich-
ard, Joſeph, and two others, and a daughter, Beatrix,
wife of Barnaby Turner, miniſter of the goſpel. Of
the fons, Richard, born at Calais, was prebendary of
Canterbury, and D.D. He died in 1613, and was
buried in that cathedral, having martied three wives ;
firſt, the daughter of Thornton; ſecond, Alice, daugh-
ter of — Strughill; and third, Mary, daughter of
Richard Rogers. By the firſt he had iſſue Abraham,
who was vicar of Lewiſham, and in the great rebel-
lion was much reverenced here by the orthodox par-
ty for his religion and learning; he had likewiſe the
rectory of St. Leonard, Eaſtcheap, which the reſtleſs
Preſbyterians forced him to give up to one who was
ſcribe to their aſſembly of divines. After which he
retired hither, where he founded a free-ſchool and
alms-houſe. He died, and was buried at Lewiſham,
in the church-yard, cloſe to the ſouth wall of the
chancel. Iſaac, the next brother of Abraham above
mentioned, married the daughter of George Elſin;
and Jacob, the third, was vicar of Herne. By the
ſecond wife, he had Joſeph, and a daughter, Eliza-
beth, wife of Thomas Man, of London. And by the
third, four fons, Joſeph, another ſon of Amand, ſet-
a Merrett's Pinax, p. 8,9.
• Newc. Rep. p. 391.
tled
.
LEWISHAM. SA
507

is that in the deteri
tled at Canterbury, where he was an alderman, and left
iſſue. Their arms were, Quarterly, Colfe and Brod-
field, viz. firſt and fourth, Or, a feſs between three colts
currant ſable ; ſecond and third, Vert, a croſs pale per
croſs or and gules, between four mullets or.
The MANOR of Lewiſham was given, with its appen-
dages of Greenwich and Combe, by Elthruda, king
Alfred's niece, as has been already mentioned, to the
abbey of St. Peter at Ghent, to which Lewiſham then
became a cell, or alien priory; which grant is ſaid to
have been confirmed by king Edgar, in 964, and by
Edward the Confeſſor in 1044, with the addition of
many privileges.
In Domeſday book this place is thus deſcribed, un-
der the title of the poſſeſſions of the abbot of Ghent,
which is : 12 enfonov na ot
no VIO
In Grenviz hundred the abbot of Ghent holds Leve-
Sham of the King, and he held it of King Edward the
Confeſſor ; and it then was, and now is taxed at 2 ſu-
lings. The arable land is 14 carucates. In demeſne
there are 2 carucates, and 50 villeins, with 9 borderers,
having 17 carucates. There are three ſervants, and it
mills, with the rent of the focmen, amounting to 81. 128.
Of the profit of the haven 40 Millings. There are 30
acres of meadow. Of wood, pannage ſufficient for 50
hogs. The whole manor in the time of K. Edward was
zworth 16 pounds, and afterwards 12 pounds, and now
30 pounds. ol 5-15910
William the Conqueror, and ſeveral of his ſuc-
ceſſors, confirmed this manor and its appendages to
the above abbey; with which they remained till the
ſuppreſſion of the alien priories throughout England,
by the ſtatute of the ad year of king Henry V. when
they became veſted in the crown, and were the next
year ſettled by the king on his new-founded houſe, or
d
• Wood's Ath. vol. i. p. 257. Faſti, 179, 180; vol. ii. p. 189.
Dugd. Mon. vol. ii. p. 900. Tan. Mon. p. 209.
Carthufian
508
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

Carthufian priory, of Bethlehem, of or near Shene.
Notwithſtanding which, king Henry VIII. found
means to obtain the ſurrendry of this manor, with the
rectory and advowſon of the vicarage, and annexed
them to the crown in his 23d year.
in John, earl of Warwick, eldeſt ſon of the duke of
Northumberland, afterwards poſſeſſed this manor ; on
whoſe attainder it efcheated to the crown, from whence
it was, in the 5th year of queen Elizabeth, granted to
his brother, Sir Ambroſe Dudley,a who had been re-
ſtored in blood by queen Mary, and in the 4th year of
queen Elizabeth, had been created baron L'Iſe, and
the next day, earl of Warwick. He foon after ex-
changed it for other lands with that princeſs; and ſhe,
in the 18th of her reign, granted this manor and rec-
tory, for forty years, to Sir Nicholas Stoddard, of
Mottingham; which term expiring in 1605, king
James granted another leaſe of it for forty years more,
to Sir Francis Knolles, who being a perſon very zea-
lous for the reformation, was much efteemed by queen
Elizabeth ; inſomuch, that in the 1ſt year of her reign,
he was made one of her privy-council, and ſhortly
after that, vice-chamberlain of her houſehold, captain
of her guard, treaſurer of her houſehold, and laſtly,
knight of the Garter. He married Katherine, daugh-
ter of William Carie, eſq. and had by her ſeveral chil-
dren ; of whom William, the eldeſt ſurviving fon, was,
in the iſt year of king James I. created lord Knolles
of Grays, in Oxfordſhire, and within a ſhort time after,
knight of the Garter ; in the 14th year of that reign,
he was raiſed to the dignity of viſcount Wallingford ;
and in the 2d year of king Charles I. he was created
earl of Banbury. They bore for their arms, Azure
cruſele, a croſs moline voided throughout, or.no parla
ald to go on yd balsat 1998
Augm. off. Fee-farm Rolls, Temp. Interregni, Roll. xiii. No.
26. Philipott, p. 217. Dug. Bar. v. ii. p. 220. / Ib. p. 412.
005 MT Dom lov nomb
-King
a
A LEWISHAM. ALL
509

King James, after granting the above-mentioned
leaſe, granted the fee-ſimple of this manor and rectory
to John Ramſey, earl of Holderneſs, who had been a
page to king James, and attending him to the houſe
of earl Gowry, at Perth in Scotland, in 1600, had the
good fortune to diſcover the conſpiracy, which the earl
and his brother Alexander, had then deſigned againſt
the king's life ; for which ſervice he was advanced to
the title of viſcount Hadington; and for an augmen-
tation of honour, had An arm holding a naked ſword,
with a crown in the midſt thereof, with an heart at the
point, given him, to impale with his own arms,
In the 18th year of that reign he was created baron of
Kingſton upon Thames, and earl of Holderneſs, with
this ſpecial addition of honour, that on the 5th day of
Auguſt annually, (the day of the diſcovery) he and
his heirs male for ever, ſhould bear the ſword of ſtate
before the king, in remembrance of his happy deli-
He died before the expiration of the above
leaſe, and leaving no iſſue, gave his intereſt in this eſtate
to his brother, Sir George Ramſay, who was natura-
lized by Parliament, anno 7th of James I. whoſe fon,
John Ramſay, when the former leaſe was worn out,
which was about the year 1645, fold the fee-ſimple
to Reginald Grahme, eſq.' and he, in the latter end of
king Charles II's reign, ſold this manor, with the reces
tory, church, parſonage, and advowſon of the vicarage,
to George Legge, eſq. admiral of the royal navy, af-
terwards created baron Dartmouth of Dartmouth, in
Devonſhire.
196
An anceſtor of this family is ſaid to have been Tho-
mas Leggy, who lived in the reign of king Edward
III. and was of the Skinners-company of London, and
was ſheriff of that city in the 18th year of that reign,
and twice lord-mayor. He was ſeveral times returned
one of the citizens in Parliament for London, and gave
verance.
a
Philipott, p. 217.
for
510
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.

for his arms, A buck's head caboſhed, on a chief three
croſles patoncee. By Elizabeth his wife, one of the
daughters of Thomas Beauchamp earl of Warwick, he
had two ſons, Simon and John.
The direct deſcendant of the former was William
Legge, who eminently diſtinguiſhed his loyalty to
Charles I. on every occaſion, and had ſo general a re-
putation of integrity and fidelity, that he never fell
under the leaſt imputation or reproach with any man.
After the unfortunate death of the king he ſuffered
great hardſhips, which did not hinder him from eſpouſ-
ing the intereſts of king Charles II. after whoſe reſto-
ration he received many marks of royal favour, and had
many honourable and lucrative employments conferred
on him.
He died at his houſe in the Minories in 1670, and
was buried in the vault in the Trinity chapel there with
great folemnity, where a monument is erected to his
memory. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir
William Waſhington of Packington, in Leiceſterſhire,
by whom he had three fons, George, William, and
Edward, and two daughters.
George Legge, the eldeſt ſon and heir, who, as has
been before-mentioned, purchaſed this manor of Lew-
ilham, and its appendages, was early in life ſent to ſea,
under the care of his kinſman, Sir Edward Spragge,
and was commander of ſeveral of the king's ſhips of
war. In 1673 he was made governor of Portſmouth,
maſter of the horſe, and gentleman of the bedcham-
ber to the duke of York; maſter of the ordinance,
and ſworn of the privy-council; and on December 2,
in the 34th year of king Charles II. he was advanced to
the title of baron Dartmouth of Dartmouth, in De-
vonſhire, to him and his heirs male, with remainder
Coll. Peer. laſt edit. vol. iv. p. 300. Strype's Stow's Survey,
vol. ij. book v. p. 111, and Append. 2. p. 8.
to
ja s LEWISHAM
LEWISHAM.DAT
511

ments.
to his next brother, William Legge, in like tail. Hav-
ing ſingular ſkill and experience in military and naval
affairs, he was afterwards honoured with the poſt of ad-
miral of the royal navy; in which capacity he was em-
ployed both in that and the next reign. During the
reign of king James II. beſides other poſts, he was
maſter of the horſe, general of the ordnance, conſtable
of the tower, and a privy-counſellor. He commanded
the royal fleet in the year 1688, at the time of the
prince of Orange's landing in this kingdom: yet, not-
withſtanding he brought the fleet ſafe home, and had
acted by order of the king, he was deprived of all his
employments at the revolution, and in 1691 committed
priſoner to the tower of London ; where, after three
months impriſonment, he died ſuddenly of an apoplexy.
By the expreſs order of king William, he had the ſame
reſpect paid to him at his funeral, that would have been
due to him, if he had died poſſeſſed of all his employ-
He was buried near his father in the vault in
the Minories, where a monument was erected to his
memory, by Barbara his wife, who died 1718, and was
buried in the ſame vault with him. By her, who was
daughter and coheir of Sir Henry Archbold of Stafford-
ſhire, he had one ſon, William, and ſeveral daughters.
William Legge, the only ſon of George lord Dart-
mouth, was raiſed by queen Anne to ſeveral poſts of
honour and truſt, and was of her privy-council; and on
Sept. 5, 171, was advanced to the dignities of viſcount
Lewiſham, and earl of Dartmouth. He married the
lady Anne Finch, third daughter to Heneage earl of
Aylesford, who died in 1751, and by her had fix fons
and two daughters. Of the ſons, George the eldeſt,
viſcount Lewiſham, died in his father's life-time, as
will be further noticed.
Heneage Legge, ſecond ſon, was one of the barons
of the exchequer. He married Catherine, daughter and
one of the coheirs of Mr. Jonathan Fogge, merchant,
of London, by whom he had iſſue, and died in 1759.
Henry
TO
512
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
Henry Legge, fourth ſon,
n, who took the name of
Bilſon, was a perſon of great abilities, both as a ſtateſ-
man and financier, and went through moſt of the great
offices of government with reputation and integrity,
and quitted them to the great regret of the nation in
general. He died in 1764, having married in 1750,
Mary, only daughter and heir of Edward lord Stawel,
who, in 1760, was created baroneſs Stawel, with re-
mainder to her heirs male by her ſaid huſband ; by
whom ſhe had one fon, the Hon. Henry Stawel Legge,
born in 1757, now lord Stawell. She afterwards re-
married Wills, late earl of Hillſborough, afterwards
marquis of Downſhire, and died in 1768.
Edward Legge, the fifth fon, was a commander in
the royal navy, and died in the Weſt-Indies in 1747.
The earl died at his houſe at Blackheath in this pa-
riſh, in 17.50, and was ſucceeded in honours and eſtate
by William, his grandſon and heir, only ſon of his el-
deſt ſon, George, viſcount Lewiſham, who had married
Elizabeth, fole daughter and heir of Sir Arthur Kaye
of Yorkſhire, bart. and died in 1732, in his father's
life-time. By her (who remarried with Francis, earl
of Guildford) he had William, now earl of Dartmouth ;
and two daughters; which William earl of Dartmouth,
is the preſent poffeffor of this manor, rectory, and ad-
vowſon of the vicarage of Lewiſham, and reſides at his
ſeat on Blackheath, in this pariſh.
The earl of Dartmouth married in 1755, Frances-
Catherine, only daughter and heir of Sir Charles Gun-
ter Nicholl, K. B. and by her has ſeveral children;
of whom George, the eldeſt, lord viſcount Lewiſham,
was born in 1755, and married in 1782 lady Sarah,
ſiſter of the earl of Aylesford.
He bears for his arms, Azure, a buck's head coboſhed
argent. For creſt, in a ducal coronet or, a plume of five
oftrich feathers, party per pale, argent and azure. And
for fupporters, on the dexter fide, a lion argent, ſemé
of

yet
LEWISHAM.
513
of fleur de lis fable, and crowned, as the creſt; on the
liniſter, a buck argent, ſemée of mullets gules.
George lord Dartmouth, obtained from king
Charles II. a grant, to hold a fair twice a year, and
a market twice a week, upon Blackheath in this pariſh.
The former of which uſed to be held on the 12th of
May, and the IIth of October ; but it has ſince the
year 1772, been diſcontinued, (excepting for the ſale
of cattle) by public notice, given by the earl of Dart-
mouth, as lord of the manor.
CATFORD is a manor in this pariſh, which was anti-
ently the inheritance of a family of the name of Abel,
who dwelt at Hering-hill in Erith; one of whom, John
Abel, had a charter of free-z'arren, for his lands here
at Lewiſham, and in Hachecham and Camberwelle,
in the 23d of king Edward I. Soon after this it came
into the poſſeſſion of that great prelate, Anthony Beke,
biſhop of Durham, at whoſe death it eſcheated to the
crown; but in the 4th of king Edward III. it was
granted, with other manors and lands, to Sir William
de Montacute, a knight banneret, and his wife Kathe-
rine, in tail, with remainder to the king, &c. as a re-
ward for having apprehended Roger Mortimer at
Nottingham ; and he obtained, the next year, a charter
of confirmation for free warren in this manor. In the
Ioth year of king Edward III. he was conſtituted ad-
miral of the king's feet, weſtward ; and having ſerved
the king with great ſucceſs in his Scottiſh wars, he was,
the next year, in a full parliament held at London,
advanced to the title and dignity of earl of Saliſbury.
After which he obtained a grant, dated at Antwerp in
the 12th year of that reign, of the office of marſhal of
England, void by the death of Thomas, earl of Norfolk.
The year after which the manor of Catford became
by his gift, part of the poffeffions of the chantry or
college of St. Laurence Poultney in London, then
newly founded by Sir John Poultney, knt. a man

Rot. Cart. ejus an. No. 21.
b
Dug. Bar, v. i. p. 645 to 675.
L1
of
YOL 1.
514
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
of great account at that time, as well for his wiſdorn as
large riches; and it remained in the poſſeſſion of the
college till its ſuppreſſion, in the reign of king Ed-
ward VI. when it was granted, among other lands, by
the deſcription of a capital meſſuage, called Catford,
of the clear yearly value of 31. 145. Id. to Henry
Polſted and William More, for 20341.a
Theſe Polſteds were of a family of great antiquity
in the county of Surry; for Hugh de Polſted gave
lands, called İnwood, in the 16th year of king John,
to the abbey of Waverſley in that county. They
bore for their arms, as appears by the viſitation of
the county of Surry, Argent fretty Jable.
Catford continued in the name of Polſted till Francis
Polſted, couſin and heir of Richard, fold it, in the 20th
year of queen Elizabeth, to Brian Anneſley, eſq. of the
adjoining pariſh of Lee, in reverſion, after the death of
Elizabeth, the wife of John Wolley, and widow of
Richard Polſted above-mentioned. Brian Anneſley
died without iffue male, leaving three daughters his
coheirs, Chriſtian, married to Williamı lord Sandys ;
Grace, to Sir John Wildgorfe, and Cordelia, to Sir
William Hervey, the two laft of whom ſhared the in-
heritance of this place between them. From them it
paſſed by fale to Edward lord Montague, of Boughton,
in Northamptonſhire, ſon of Sir Edward Montague,
who was created lord Montague, baron of Boughton,
by patent, anno 19 king James J. His deſcendant
and great grand-fon, John duke of Montague, in 1717,
procured an act of parliament to veft the manor of
Catford in Lewiſham, with appurtenances, and the ca-
pital meſſuage and appurtenances called Catford, with
the lands, &c. belonging to it, in Lewiſham, Lee, and
Deptford, and the moiety of the manor or farm, ſome
time called Foreſt-place, and then Brockley-farm.
The other moiety, ſituated in Deptford, being called


2. Strype's Stow's Survey, book ii. p. 189, and Augtn. off. fale
of chantry land T. Edw. VI.
Philipott, p. 218.
Hither
LEWISHAM.
515
Hither or Upper Brockley, with its appurtenances in
Brockley and Lewiſham, with all rents, ſervices, &c.
belonging to it, and the capital meſſuage called Bank-
ers and Great Hatchfield, with their lands and appur-
tenances in thoſe pariſhes, (which laſt-mentioned eſtate
had been before the property of the family of Birde,
and before that of that of Banquelle or Bankwell, of
the adjoining pariſh of Lee); being then the eſtates
of Ralph, late duke of Montague, and then of John
duke of Montague, his fon, in truſtees, to ſell the ſame,
towards the payment of debts.
The truftees accordingly paſſed away theſe manors
and capital meſfuages, with the reſt of the eſtates as
above-mentioned, to James Craggs, fenior, efq. joint
poft-maſter-general ; on whoſe death in 1721, without
iſſue male, (his only fon, James Craggs, eſq. one of the
principal ſecretaries of ſtate, dying on February 16,
preceding,) they deſcended to his three daughters and
coheirs, married to Newham, 'Eliot, and Trefuſis ;
ſince which they have continued in the fame clue of
ownerſhip that Kidbrooke, in the pariſh of Charlton,
has, and as ſuch are now veſted in the right honourable
Edward lord Eliot, of Port Eliot, in Cornwall.nonds
The manor of Billingham in this pariſh was poffeffed
by the Ciſtercian monaſtery of Stratford Langthorne,
founded at Weſt Ham, in Effex, by William de Mont-
fitchet, about the year 1134. . After which, in the 15th
year of king Edward I, the temporalities of the abbot
at Levelham were valued at 71. 11s. 8d. per annum.
at the diffolution of which it came to the crown, and was,
in the iſt year of queen Mary, granted to Rich. Wheatly,
to hold in capite, His daughter and heir Philippa, mar-
ried John Rocheſter, who afterwards poffefed this manor
and levied a fine of it in Eaſter term, anno 17 Elizabeth.
In whoſe poffeſfion it paſſed afterwards I have not found
for ſome length of time, only that it came fome years
ſince into the poſſeſſion of Thomas Inwin, efq. whoſe




• Tan. Mon.
P.
126.
d Stev. Mon. vol. i. p. 455.
daughter,
L12
$16 BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
daughter, Sarah, viſcounteſs Falkland, (whoſe firſt
huſband was Henry earl of Suffolk) died poffefſed of
it in 1776, and by her will deviſed it for life to her
huſband, Lucius lord Falkland, and the remainder in
fee to Francis Motley Auſtin, eſq. of Wilmington, ſince
of Kippington, in Sevenoke, who ſince purchaſed
lord Falkland's intereſt in it, and is the preſent pof-
feſſor of this manor.
As to THE PRIORY here, ſo much has already
been ſaid of it before, in the account of the manor of
Lewiſham, that little more need be particularized of
it, farther than, that on the grant of the manor of
Lewiſham and its appendages, to St. Peter's abbey,
at Ghent, by Elthruda, king Alfred's niece, the ab-
bot and convent built a manſion here, afterwards
called the Priory of Lewiſham, under the government
of one who had the title of Prior, and being thus
connected with St. Peter's abbey, it was eſteemed a
benedictine cell, or alien priory, to it.
There were not many formal foundations of theſe
cells; the courſe being for the moſt part, after a grant
of land, or other poſſeſſions here to a monaſtery
abroad (as by a multitude of inſtances may be ſhewn)
for the monks beyond fea, either with an intention to
increaſe their own order, or perhaps rather to have
faithful ſtewards of their revenues, to build convenient
houſes for the reception of a ſmall convent, and then
to ſend over ſuch a number of their order as they
thought proper. Some of theſe cells were conven-
tual, and conſiſted of a certain number of monks,
who had a prior ſent them by the ſuperior abbey ;
others were permitted to chooſe their own prior, and
theſe were entire ſocieties within themſelves, and re-
ceived the revenues belonging to their ſeveral houſes
for their own uſe and benefit, paying only perhaps a
yearly penſion, as an acknowledgement of their ſub-
jection, or what was at firſt, the ſurpluſage to the fo-
reign houſe. In ſuch cells as had their priors ſet over
them





LEWISH AM.
517
them, their monks were moſtly foreigners, and remove-
able at pleaſure, and they returned all their revenues
to the foreign head houſes ; for which reaſon their
eſtates were ſeized generally during the wars between
England and France, and reſtored to them again
upon the return of peace.
kod
The firſt public ſeizure of this kind, at leaſt upon
authority, was in the 23d of king Edward I. as ap-
pears by the roll of that year, in which the particular
perſons of each county, to whom the cuſtody of theſe
houſes was committed, are recorded. They were to
retain them in their hands during the king's pleaſure,
anſwering to his exchequer the profits of them, ac-
cording to the directions and orders made by the king
and his councilAnd it was uſual for the king, after
ſuch ſeizures in the time of war, in conſideration of a
rent to be paid him yearly into the exchequer, to com-
mit theſe cells, with what belonged to them, to their
reſpective priors, to hold during his pleaſure.
In the 4th year of king Henry IV. there was a new
conſideration had in the parliament then held, touch-
ing theſe priories alien, that they ſhould be again
ſeized into the king's hands, excepting thoſe that
were conventual; upon which the ſheriff of each
county had command to give warning to the priors
of theſe cells, within their reſpective limits, to appear
in their proper perſons at Weſtminſter, and to bring
with them all their charters and evidences, by which
the king himſelf and his council might be fatif-
fied, whether they had been priories conventual time
out of mind, or not.” The priory of Lewiſham ſeeems
to have been one of theſe conventual alien priories,
and is ſaid to have paid a rent-ſervice of forty ſhil-
lings per annum to its ſuperior monaſtery at Ghent,
in the 12th year of king Richard II. In which ſitu-
ation it continued till the general ſuppreſſion of the
Tan, Mon. Præf. p. xxvii. Dugd. War. p. 24, 25, 605.
alien





2
113
518
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
alien priories throughout England, in the 2d year of
king Henry V. when, in the parliament held that
year at Leiceſter, one hundred and forty-two of them
were ſuppreſſed, and their houſes and poſſeſſions given
to the king and his heirs. Though this act is not in
the ſtatute book, it is mentioned among the
patent
rolls of 3 Henry V. It recites, that the commons
having conſidered that the head abbies beyond ſea,
poſſeſſing the lands and revenues of theſe alien prio-
ries, great ſums of money were carried out of the na-
tion, and foreſeeing, that when the war was begun
with France, all the ſubjects of England, holding
lands in that kingdom, would be diſpoſſeſſed, they,
therefore made this act to difſeize theſe foreign mo-
nafteries of the priories alien, and veſt the ſame in
the king and his heirs for ever. The next year after
the ſuppreſſion of this priory, the king ſettled it on
his new erected Carthuſian monaſtery, at Shene, in
Surry, as has been before-mentioned. One ovinekut
CHARITIES.
ABRAHAM Colfe, vicar of Lewiſham, who died in 16579
founded in his life-time, Two Free Schools, one for teaching
Engliſh, and the other for teaching Latin, with ſeveral yearly al-
lowances to the ſchoolmaſters, and towards the maintenance of
ſome of the ſcholars at the univerſities, the overſight and govern-
ment of which he committed to the company of Leatherfellers of
London. He likewiſe founded an Alms-houſe in this pariſh,
and in the 16th year of king Charles II. an act paſſed for fettling
the charitable gift of Abraham Colfe, clerk, for erecting and en-
dowing two free-ſchools and an alms-houſe, at Lewiſham, in
Kent. This free-ſchool is now commonly called Blackheath-
ſchool, from its ſituation near it, upon the declivity next to Lewi-
ſham, and maintains a good reputation for learning and the edu-
cation of youth. When a maſter is to be choſen, the truſtees,
(the Leatherſellers company) meet at the ſchool-houſe, where the
candidates are ſtrictly examined in the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew
languages before the head maſters of Weſtminſter and Merchant
Tailors ſchools, the learned deputies of the preſident and aſſif-
tants of Sion-college, and the clergy of Blackheath hundred.
The endowment now paid on account of theſe charities by the
Leatherſellers company, is for the teaching thirty-one boys of



a Philipott, p. 217. Rapin's Hiſt, vol. i. p. 509. note 4.
this
LEWISHAM.
519
this pariſh.
this hundred, zol. for an uſher (beſides a houſe to live in) 20l.
for ſeven poor ſcholars, to be ſent to the univerſity yearly, 7ol.
to buy books, 11. 45. for teaching thirty-one boys in the Engliſh
ſchool, 2ol. for books for dittc, 31. for the maintenance of five
alms-people, 221. 155. and for a gown for each, 21. gs. Beſides
the above, Mr. Colfe left by his will, for the benefit of the
poor of this pariſh the annual produce of 21. 4s. for poor perſons
attending prayers at church, houſes and land of the annual pro-
duce of il. to be paid to a maid ſervant, on her marriage, the
amount of 5s. for certain houſes and lands, for placing out ap-
prentices, to be paid out of houſes and lands, the annual ſum of
31. and for books, for poor perſons, from the like, the annual
produce of 1l. all likewiſe veſted in the ſame company.
MARGARET, firſt wife of Jaſper Valentine, and afterwards of
Abraham Colfe, vicar of this pariſh, gave by will, 2os. yearly to
the poor of this pariſh for ever.
STEPHEN BATH, in 1547, gave by will, to be laid out for the
poor in bread, land veſted in truſtees, of the annual produce of 2s,
John GLYNN, vicar, in 1564, gave jool. towards a ſchool in
RICHARD Grimes, in 1570, gave by will, for the like pur-
poſe, lands veſted in truſtees, of the annual produce of 5s.
WILLIAM LAMBARDE, in 1576 gave, by will, three alms-
plots for poor perſons, veſted in the 'Drapers company.
THOMAS WARE, in 1612, gave for the poor to live in, a
houſe, veſted in the overſeers of this pariſh and Greenwich.
WILLIAM HATCLIFFE, in 1620, gave by will, for the bene-
fit of poor perſons of this pariſh, certain houſes and land, veſted
in truſtees, now of the annual produce of 221. 11s. 6d.
GEORGE HATCLIFFE gave by will, 1os. to the miniſter of
this pariſh, for a ſermon on New year's day, 1os. to the church-
wardens, and ros. to the poor for ever on the ſame day.
HUMPHRY STREET gave by will, in 1623, to be diſtributed
in bread to the poor, a houſe, veited in the vicar and church-
wardens, of the annual produce of 41. and another houſe, for
the like uſe, veſted in truſtees, of the annual produce of il.
PRISCILLA Jones, in 1625, gave by will, for the benefit of
the poor, to be diſtributed in bread, a like gift, veſted in the Lea-
therſellers company, and of the annual produce of 11.
EDMUND STYLE, in 1626, gave by will, for the like uſe,
houſes and land, veſted in truſtees, of the ann, produce of 11l. 8s.
Bevil MolesWORTH, in 1630, gave by will, for the like
uſe, a houſe, veſted in the vicar and churchwardens, of the an-
nual produce of il. 58,
Thomas Mann, in 1642, gave by will, for the like uſe, a
houſe, veſted in the Leatherſellers company, of the annual pro-
duce of il. ios.
Walter Hull gave by will, for the like nſe, certain houſes
and lands veſted in the vicar and churchwardens, of the annual
value of el. 55.
WILLIAM


L14
520
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
WILLIAM BOND, in 1671, gave by will, for the benefit of poor
perſons, certain lands, veſted in truſt, of the ann. produce of 81.
VALENTÍNE SPARROW, in 1726, gave by will, to be diſtri-
buted in bread to the poor, the ſum of 1391. 35. 6d. 3 per cent.
Bank annuities, veſted in truſtees, and of the annual produce of
21. 12s.
Dean George STANHOPE, vicar of this pariſh, in 1727, gave
by will, and the pariſh of Lewiſham by gift, gave 2 gol. new South
Sea annuities, veſted in truſtees, and Anne Stanhope, in 1730,
gave by will, sol. old South Sea annuities, the product of the
zool. being gl. per annum, the whole of the fame towards the
ſupport of the charity ſchool, in this pariſh, which had been ſet
forward in 1704, for thirty girls, and had been ſupported by the
voluntary ſubſcriptions of ſeveral perſons, to the amount of 20l.
per annum.
James Brooks, in 1750, gave by will, for the uſe of the poor
in bread, 100l. veſted in truſtees, of the annual produce of 31.
RICHARD BROOKS, in 1767, gave by will, for the benefit of
fix poor houſekeepers, 100l. 3 per cent. Bank annuities, veſted
in truſtees, and of the annual produce of 31.
Bartło Tayer, in 1768, gave by will, for fix alms people,
in money, 100l. 3 per cent. Bank annuities, veſted in the Leather-
ſellers company, and of the annnal produce of 31.
SUSANNA Brett, in 1773, gave by will, for the uſe of the
poor in bread, 100l. old South Sea annuities, veſted in truſtees,
and of the annual produce of 31.
Lady SARAH FALKLAND, in 1776, gave by will, for the uſe
of the poor, in bread, 250l. old South Sea annuities, veſted in
truſtees, of the annual produce of 71. Ios.
Dr. BRYAN DUPPA, biſhop of Wincheſter, who was born in
this pariſh, and died in 1662, was a good benefactor to the poor
of it.
Lewiſham is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURIS-
DICTION of the dioceſe of Rocheſter and deanry of
Dartford. The church is dedicated to St. Mary. It
was, from the earlieſt account of time, an appendage
to the manor of Lewiſham, and as ſuch was given by
Elthruda, king Alfred's niece, to the Benedictine ab-
bey of Ghent, which was confirmed at times by ſe-
veral of our kings, particularly by king Henry III.
with the churches, church-yards, lands, tithes, and
appurtenances.
It was appropriated by Gilbert de Glanville, biſhop
of Rocheſter, in king Henry II.'s reign, to the abbot
and convent of St. Peter of Ghent, with all its ob-
ventions,



LEWISHAM.
521
ventions, to be poſſeſſed by them, in perpetual alms,
and to be converted by them to their own proper
uſe, ſaving a ſufficient ſupport for a curate, together
with a clerk (capellanus cum clerico) to be preſented to
the biſhop, and to ſerve in the church ſo long as he
ſhould be uſeful to the monks, and ſaving to the bi-
ſhop all epiſcopal right, &c. To which grant was
witneſs, among others, Sigon, prior of Lewiſham.
This was confirmed by biſhop Benedict, and after-
wards by biſhop Richard, in 1239. On an inquiſi-
tion, taken of the profits and revenues of the biſhop-
ric of Rocheſter, in the 53d year of king Henry III.
it was returned, that the biſhop was entitled to re-
ceive a yearly penſion of four marcs from this church,
King Edward III. in his 17th year, directed his
writ to the biſhop of Rocheſter, to return the names
of aliens beneficed within his dioceſe, and the names
of the reſpective benefices, and who of them were re-
ſident on them. To which the biſhop made return,
that the abbot and convent of Ghent pofſeffed to
their own proper uſe this church, with the temporals
and ſpirituals annexed to it, and that brother William
Sergotz, the proctor of the abbot and convent, reſi-
ded here. A like writ was iſſued in the 20th year of
the ſame reign, when the biſhop made return, that
the abbot and convent poffefſed to their own proper
uſe this church, taxed at twenty marcs, but that they
were not reſident on the ſame.a
In the parliament held at Leiceſter, in the 2d year
of king Henry V. an act paffing for the ſuppreſſion of
all theſe alien priories, by which their houſes, lands,
and poffeffions were granted to the king and his heirs,
this church, as part of the poſſeſſions of the abbot and
convent of Ghent, became veſted in the crown, where
it ſtaid only till the next year, when the king ſettling
this manor of Lewiſham, with its appurtenances, on
his new-founded Carthuſian monaſtery at Shene, the



a Reg. Roff. p. 126, 127. Tan. Mon. p. 544.
church,
522
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
church, as an appendage, paffed with it at the ſame
time.
In the Regiſter of John Langdon, biſhop of Ro-
cheſter, in the 13th year of king Henry VI. and of
biſhop Fiſher, in 1508, it appears, that the prior and
convent of Shene, holding the church of Lewiſham
appropriate, paid to the biſhop a penſion of forty ſhil-
lings yearly."
Several diſputes having ariſen between John Bo-
kynham, prior, and the convent of Shene, appropria-
tors of this church, and maſter William Frome, per-
petual vicar of it, concerning the right of taking the
tithes of hay of the demeſne meadows, and the tithes
of filva cædua of the demeſne wood of Leveſham, a
compoſition was made between them, with the con-
fent of John biſhop of Rocheſter, who by his inftru-
ment, under his ſeal, anno 1431, decreed, with the
conſent of both parties, that the prior and convent,
and their ſucceffors, poffeffors of this church, ſhould
take yearly for the future all the tithes of hay of the
demeſne meadows, and thoſe of ſylva cædua of the
demeſne woods of the town and pariſh of Leveſham,
as before pofſeffed by them, and that maſter William
Frome, vicar, and his fucceffors, in recompence of
the right which they, as vicars of this church, had or
might claim in it, and of the loſs which the vicarage
of this church, and the vicars of it might undergo
from the not taking of the tithes aforeſaid, and for the
promoting of peace and quietneſs between the parties,
ſhould peaceably and quietly take and have from that
time, the half part of the wax offered in the church,
on the feaſt of the Purification of the Bleſſed Virgin
Mary, which half part of the wax ſo offered, either
by right or compoſition, or by the ordination of the
vicarage antiently made, was due to the proprietaries
of this church. And the parties granted for themſelves
and their fucceffors for ever, that it ſhould be lawful

* Reg. Roff. p. 136, 142.
for
LEWISHAM.
523

for the biſhop of Rocheſter for the time being, or his
vicar general, his official, or the keeper of the ſpiritu-
alities of the biſhopric, in the vacancy of the ſee, by
ſequeſtering the profits either of the church of Lewi-
ſham or the vicarage of it, canonically to compel
both or either of the parties to the keeping of this
compoſition. King Henry VIII. in his 23d year,
obtained the poffeſfion of this church and vicarage
from the above priory in exchange, when John Jo-
burne, the prior of Shene, and the convent of the fame
place, by deed dated in their chapter houſe, granted
to the king their manor of Lewiſham, with its ap-
purtenances, and the advowſon and patronage of the
church, vicarage, and rectory of Lewiſham.
Since which the rectory or parſonage, and the ad-
vowſon of the vicarage, have paſſed, with the manor
of Lewiſham, through the ſame proprietors to the
right honourable the earl of Dartmouth, who is the
preſent owner of them. In the 15th year of king
Edward I. the church of Lewiſham was valued at
twenty marcs, and the vicarage at ten marcs,6
To By virtue of the commiſion of enquiry into the value
of church livings, in 1650, out of the court of chan-
cery, it was returned, that Lewiſham was a vicarage,
worth one hundred and twenty pounds per annum,
maſter Abraham Colfe then enjoying it ; that the
houſe, and fifty-four acres of glebe land, were worth
beſides fifty pounds per annum. The vicarage is
valued in the king's books at 231. 195. 2d. and the
yearly tenths at 21. 75. 110.a
In the year 1774, the church of Lewiſham requir-
ing great repairs to ſupport it, and becoming too
ſmall to contain the numerous inhabitants of this
pariſh, the pariſhioners applied to parliament for
powers to rebuild it. Accordingly an act paſſed that
с
23.1. 195. 24
.
b Stev. Mon. vol. i. p. 456.
d Bacon's Lib. Regis.
c Parl. Sur. Lam. lib. v. xix.
year
524
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED.
year to enable commiſſioners to take down and re-
build it, and to raiſe a ſum for that purpoſe, by an-
nuities or lives, not exceeding five thouſand pounds.
In purſuance of which the old church was pulled
down, and a new one has ſince been erected on the
ſame ſpot, in which ſervice was firſt performed on
Sunday, September 7, 1777. Within a few days af-
ter which part of the eaſt ſide of it fell to the ground,
which was quickly afterwards repaired and made good.
In the old church, among others, on the north fide,
was a monument for John Perry, eſq. of Blackheath,
ob. 1732, æt. 92; and for his wife, ob. 1733, æt. 72.
On the ſouth ſide, one for Thomas Dyer, eſq. barri-
fter at law, and Catharine his wife; they both died
in 1748. In the chancel, a memorial for Suſan, wife
of Reginald Grahme, lord of this manor, and ſecond
daughter of Sir William Waſhington, ob. 1698, æt.
81. Two memorials for two infant daughters of Sir
William Wylde, knt. and bart, and dame Frances
his wife, in 1666 and 1668. Within the altar rails,
a memorial for George Stanhope, S. T. P. dean of
Canterbury and vicar of this church, 1728; another
with the figure of a man, in braſs, for George, ſon
and heir of William Haltecliff
, eſq. one of the king's
treaſurers in Ireland, and one of the clerks of his
houſehold, ob. 1514. On the north ſide, a monu-
ment for Margaret, firſt wife of Jaſper Valentine, af-
terwards of Abraham Colfe, paſtor of Lewiſham, ob,
1643 ; another for Thomas Jones, efq, common fer-
geant of the city of London, ob. 1625, and Priſcilla,
his wife, who died the ſame year. On the north ſide,
one for dean Stanhope above mentioned, thirty eight
years vicar of this pariſh and twenty-ſix of Deptford ;
another for Olivia, daughter of Charles Cotton, eſq. of
Staffordſhire, and wife of dean Stanhope, ob. 1707,
In the ſouth chancel, a memorial for ſeveral of the Dy-
ers; two monuments for the family of Symes, of
Blackheath


و
LEWISHÁM.
525
Blackheath; a monument for the fanıily of Dyer. At
the back of the pulpit were the arms of Valentine,
carved on the wainſcot. On the north ſide of the chan-
cel was an antient ſtone coffin, caſed over with board,
which forms a ſeat of two pews, near the rails of the
altar; it probably contained the remains of one of
the priors of the cell in this pariſh. On the ſouth
wall of the church, on the outſide, near the eaſt end,
was a ſmall monument for Abraham Colfe, late mi-
niſter of Lewiſham, ob. 1657.*
There were two chantries founded at Lewiſham, one
by Richard Walker, for one prieſt to celebrate maſs
at the altar of the Trinity, for the founder's ſoul; the
other by Roger Fitz, who, by the appointment of his
will, anno 17 king Henry VII. deviſed his two houſes,
the Lion and the Ram, in the Stews, on the Bank-
fide, near London, to be ſold to build the chantry-
houſe, and endow it with maintenance for one prieſt,
to celebrate at the altar of the Trinity, in Lewiſham
church, for the founder's foul.



bu isla CHURCH OF LEWISHAM.
VICARS.
PATRONS,
Or by whom preſented.
Abbot and Convent of Ghent........ Richard, firſt vicar, 1267,
Prior and Convent of Shene ......... Willian Frome, 1431.
John Witton, obt. 1444.5
Ook andere behang William Helwiſe, in 1476, and
in 1483.
Roger Tochett, in July 1483, re-
figned 1530
John Crayford, inſtituted 5 July,
1530.
The Crown.....
John Glynn, Oct. 11, 1545.º
Fohn Bungay, 1568, ob. 1595.

a See an account of the monuments
and memorials at large, in the old
church of Lewiſham, Reg.Roff, p. 845.
b His will was proved June 20th,
1444
c Buried in the chancel, Nov. 1758.
d And prebendary of Canterbury.
Anth. Wood ſays, that Jeffry Duppa
was vicar here in 1580. See Ath. Ox.
vol.ii. p.271.
PATRONS,
526
BLACKHEATH HUNDRED, &C.
Church of Lewiſham. Continued.
PATRONS, &C.
VICARS.
The Crown.....
Hadrianus de Saravia, D. D. re-
figned 1610.a
Abraham Colfe, inducted May 1,
1610, obt. Dec. 5, 1657.5
George Legge, ela.
Alexander Davidſon, A. M. in-
ſtituted March 2, 1677, obt.
1688.
George Stanhope, A. M. inftitu-
ted Aug. 3, 1689, obt. Mar.
18, 1728.
William Legge Earl of Dart- John Inglis, A. M. Ap. 5,1728,
mouth
obt. Oet. 18, 1739.
William Lowth, B. D. inducted
Decem. 15, 1739, obt. Feb.
1795
de Hugh Jones, A. M. Sep. 1795
Preſent vicar.

d

Anno 5 king George III. an ast paſſed for the
more eaſy and ſpeedy recovery of ſmall debts within
the hundreds of Blackheath, Bromley, and Becken-
ham, Rokeſley, and Little and Leſnes; and in the
Ioth year of it, another act paſſed to explain and
amend the ſame.
15, 1612.
a And prebendary of Canterbury, ried in the chancel of this church.
where he lies buried. He died Jan. d Alſo vicar of St. Margaret's, Ro-
cheſter, and prebendary of Winchef-
b See page 5o6.
ter, in 1759, and elder brother to the
< He was alſo vicar of Deptford late biſhop of London.
and dean of Canterbury, and lies bu.
THE
W( 527 )
YUMOS
THE
amesto,
HUNDRED
florio.com
OE
BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM.
THIS HUNDRED lies next fouthward from
that of BLACKHEATH, and is called, in the general
furvey of Domeſday, the hundred of Bronlei, by which
name it continued to be called in the 7th year of
king Edward I. but in the 20th year of Edward III.
it was known by its preſent name, the addition of the
naine of Beckenham being in fact no more than the
name of one of the two half hundreds, into which
this hundred was divided. Two conſtables have ju-
riſdiction over it. In the 7th year of king Edward I.
the king and the biſhop of Rocheſter were lords pa-
ramount of it.

IT CONTAINS THE PARISHES OF
I. BECKENHAM.
2. BROMLEY.
And the churches of both theſe pariſhes.
0001OO...
TOS
BECKENHAM,
THIS PARISH is ſituated wholly within the
county of Kent, though its bounds extend weſtward
to that of Surry.
It is called in Domeſday, BACHEHAM, and in the
Textus Roffenſis, BeccEHAM, being ſo called from its
ſituation on the river Ravenſborne, Becc, in Saxon,
ſignifying a river, and ham, a village or dwelling.
The

528 BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.

The pariſh of Beckenham, like thoſe already der
fcribed, is interſperſed throughout with handſome
feats and buildings, moſtly inhabited by perſons of
faſhion and opulence, too numerous to be particu-
larly mentioned here. Its ſmall diſtance from the
capital, and its pleaſant and healthy ſituation make it
a moſt deſirable retreat from the hurry and confuſed
buſtle of the town. It is watered on the eaſtern ſide
by the river Ravenſborne, and the middle of it by a
ſmall ſtream, which being joined by another, at the
north-weſt corner of the pariſh, meets the above men-
tioned river below at Lewiſham. The village is ſitu-
ated on the northern ſide of the pariſh, having the
church and Fox-grove, near the eaſt end of it, and at
a ſmall diſtance northward, Beckenham-place and
park, the houſe of which only is in this pariſh, the
out offices being in that of Bromley. Southward of
the village ſtands the ſeat of Kelſeys and the Temple,
both belonging to lord Gwydir, the latter inhabited by
his ſiſter the dutcheſs of Hamilton, beyond which is
the reſidence of lord Gwydir, which ſtands on an ef-
tate which belonged to Mr. Cator, and was exchanged
by him for other lands, for which an act paſſed in
1793. The houſe was originally built by Mr. Kirk-
man of London, but there have been great addi-
tions and improveinents made to it ſince, and a ſhrub-
bery walk and communication with Langley-park,
which is at about a quarter of a mile diſtance; at
the extremity of the park, near the north-weſt corner
of the pariſh is the hamlet of Elmer's-end, and near
it is the ſeat of lord Auckland; thoſe of Penge-green
and Kent-houſe are at the boundary of it towards Sy-
denham. The foil is much given to gravel and clay,
in the middle of it is moſtly a red ſand, though to-
wards Bromley there is ſome ſtrong fertile land.
Some have conjectured, that the great council, com-
poſed of the clergy and nobility, which is faid to have
been convened at Becanceld, in the year 694, by Wi-
thred


GRUA MBECKENHAM. A MOLT 929

thred king of Kent, was held at this place, but Mr.
Camden, Dr. Plott, Mr. Johnſon of Cranbrooke, and
others have, with much more probability, ſuppoſed it
to have been held at Bapchild, about a mile and a
half eaſtward from Sittingborne, on the high road
from London to Canterbury, and midway between
the coaſt of Kent and London, and therefore a much
more convenient place for a Kentijh council. 98 ans
At the time of taking the general ſurvey of Domeſ-
day, by William the Conqueror, in the year 1080,
this place was part of the poſſeſſions of Odo, the great
biſhop of Baieux, under the general title of whoſe
lands it is thus deſcribed in it: it out
In Brunlei hundred Anfgotus de Rocheſter holds of the
biſhop (of Baieux) Bacheham. It was taxed at 2 ſu-
lings. The arable land is eight carucates. In demeſne
there are 2 carucates, and 22 villeins, with 8 borderers,
having 8 carucates and a half. There are 12 acres of
meadow, and 4 ſervants, and 1 mill, and wood for the
pannage of 60 hogs. In the time of king Edward the
Confeffor, and afterwards, it was worth 9 pounds, now
13 pounds. Anſchil beld it of king Edward, Dil bas
In the beginning of the above ſurvey, Anfchillus
de Bacheham above mentioned is ſaid to have had
the liberties of ſac and ſoc within his lands, in the lath
of Sutton.
DOE-nowo mi
In the reign of king Edward I. the manor of Beck-
enham was held by a family, called in old Latin re-
cords, De Rupella, in French, De la Rochell, and in
Engliſh, Rokele, who came originally from Rochell,
in France. Richard de la Rokele died pofſeffed of
it in the 5th year of king Edward I. when it was found
by inquiſition, that he held it in capite, as one knight's
fee. He was ſucceeded in the poſſeſſion of this ef-
tate by Philip de la Rokele, who held it at his death,
a See Wilkins's Councils, vol. i. p. 56. Philipott, p. 63.
• Rot. Eſch. ejus anni, No. 6.
VOL. I.
in
Mm
530 BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.

in the 23d year of that reign, and left it to his fole
daughter and heir, Iſolda, and ſhe carried it in mar-
riage to Sir William Bruyn. In memory of which
match, the arms of Bruyn quartering thoſe of Rokele,
viz. Azure, a croſs-moline or, quartering Lozengy, er-
mine and gules, were ſet up in one of the windows of
Barham church, in this county. Theſe two coats of
arms are now borne, with the other quarterings, by
the earl of Derby."
His deſcendant, Sir Ingelram, or Ingram Bruin, knt.
of South Okendon, in Effex, died poſſeſſed of this
manor and the advowſon of this church in the year
1400, and lies buried with his anceſtors in that church,
and his widow, Elizabeth, was owner of them at her
death, in the 8th year of king Henry IV. the ſame
being the inheritance of Maurice their ſon. His de
ſcendant, Sir Henry Bruin, about the beginning of
king Edward IV.'s reign, left two daughters and co-
heirs, Alice and Elizabeth, each of whom hąd three
huſbands. The former married firſt Robert Harleſ-
ton, eſq. of Effex; ſecondly Sir John Heveningham;
and laſtly William Berners, eſq. The latter married
firſt William Malory, eſq. by whom ſhe had no iſ-
fue; ſecondly William Brandon, eſq. who was after-
wards knighted, and ſtandard-bearer to Henry VII.
in Boſworth-field, where he was ſlain, by whom ſhe
had iffue Sir Charles Brandon duke of Suffolk. He
was the flower and perfection of the Engliſh no-
bility of that time, who fometimes kept his reſidence
at this place (not, I imagine, as proprietary, but as
lefſee) where he entertained king Henry VIII. with
great pomp and magnificence, as he went to beſtow a
viſit at Hever, on his repudiated wife, Anne of Cleve.
She married laſtly Thomas Tirril, eſq. of Herne, in
Effex, whoſe family is ſaid to have enjoyed the honour
a Philipott, p. 63.
5 Cooke's Bar. MSS.
Toc Rot. Eſch. ejus an.
Philipott, p. 63.
of
BECKENHAM.
531

of knighthood in a direct line for more than four
hundred years, and to be deſcended from Sir Walter
Tirrill, who held land in Effex at the time of the ge-
neral ſurvey, and is ſaid to have ſhot king William
Rufus in the New foreſt. The ſeveral branches of
the Tirrills bear the ſame coat, with their reſpective
differences, viz. Argent, two chevrons azure within a
bordure engrailed gules.e
Theſe two daughters of Sir Henry Bruyn divided
this manor and the advowſon of the church between
them; and their huſbands ſucceſſively, in right of
their wives, poffefſed the ſame in moieties. By an
inquiſition, taken in the 13th year of king Edward IV.
it was found that Alice, late wife of John Hevening-
ham, held at her death the half part of the manor of
Begenham, and the moiety of the advowfon in capite;
and that John Berners, ſon of John Berners, was her
fon and heir, and in 1742, there was a licence from
Richard III. in his firſt year, to Sir John Hynyng-
ham, to entre in the manoir of Bekyngham,' &c. by
reaſon of the ſaid John Berner's minority.
In the 22d year of king Henry VIII. Henry Har-
leſton of Cookſale, alienated this his moiety, with its
appurtenances, and the moiety of the advowſon of the
church, to Robert Leigh of London, merchant;' and
his deſcendant, Mr. Robert Leigh, about the middle
of king James's reign, alienated it to Sir Henry Snel-
grave, from whom it deſcended to his grandſon, Mr.
Henry Snelgrave, who, in the latter end of Charles I.'s
reign, paffed it away to Mr. Walter St. John. The
Snelgraves bore for their arms, Or, three oak trees
pulled up by the roots vert.
Elizabeth, the ſecond daughter of Sir Henry Bruin
poffefſed the other moiety; and it ſeems as if her fe-
e
Guillim, p. 71. Cambden, f Inquiſ. ejus an. Among the
Britan. p. 1010. Guillim, pt. Harl. MSS. No. 433.
8 Rot. Eſch. ejus an, pt. I.
ii. 189.
M m 2
cond
532 BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.

cond huſband, Sir William Brandon, by promoting the
intereſts of the earl of Richmond, had forfeited his in-
tereſt in this manor, for in the 2d year of king Rich-
ard III. there was an agreement made by the king,
with Edmund Shaa, Thomas Tyrelle, Richard Fitz-
Hughes, and Humphry Tyrelle Squires, touching the
manors of South Wokington, in Eſſex, and Bekeng-
ham, in Kent, which late belonged to William Bran-
don Squire," which they had purchaſed of the king;
however it appears by an inquiſition, taken in the 7th
year of king Henry VII. after the death of Elizabeth
before mentioned, wife of Thomas Tyrril, eſq. that
ſhe died pofſeffed of this moiety of both manor and
advowſon, which were held in capite. Their defcen-
danı, Thomas Tyrril, afterwards held this eſtate, and
in the reign of queen Elizabeth, John Dalſton, in
right of his wife Elizabeth, ſiſter and heir of Thomas
Tyrril, held this moiety of the manor of Eaſt Beck-
ingham, and of the church, of the queen as above
mentioned.
From him this moiety deſcended to Sir George
Dalſton of Cumberland, who about the middle of
Charles I.'s reign, alienated it to Sir Patrick Curwin
of Workinton, in the ſame county, who had been
created a baronet, anno 1626, whoſe anceſtors are
ſaid to be deſcended from Goſpatrick earl of Nor-
thumberland, who took that name from Culwen, vul-
garly called Curwen, a family of Galloway, the heir of
which they had married. They bore for their arms,
Argent a fretty gules a chief azure. He, at the latter
end of the ſame reign, conveyed his intereſt in it to
Sir Oliver St. John of Batterſea, in Surry, from whom
it came to Mr. Walter St. John, afterwards a ba-
ronet, on the death of his nephew, Sir John St. John,
bart. ſon of Oliver before mentioned, who having
before purchaſed the other moiety of this manor and

* See the original among the Harleian MSS. No. 433-2169.
advowſon
BECKENHAM.
533

advowſon of Mr. Henry Snelgrave, as has been already
related, now poffefſed the entire fee of them both.
This family of St. John is paternally deſcended
from the Ports, lords of Baſing, in Hampſhire, in the
time of the Conqueror. At the time of the general
ſurvey made in that reign, Hugh de Port held fifty-
five lordſhips of the king in that county, whereof
Baſing became the head of his barony, beſides other
manors in Dorfetihire and Cambridgeſhire. One of his
deſcendants William, ſon of Adam de Port, in the
reign of king John, aſſumed the name of St. John
from his mother Mabell, daughter of Reginald de
Aurevalle, by Murielle, daughter and heir of Roger
de St. John, who was lineally derived from Wil-
liam de St. John (fo narned from the territory of St.
John, near Rouen, in the province of Normandy)
who entered England with the Conqueror, apno 1066,
and is ſaid to have been ſuperviſor of the
carriages in that expedition ; for which reaſon the
horſe-hemes (or collar) was borne for his cognizance,
and his name occurs in the roll of Battle-abbey,
among thoſe who were with the Conqueror, when he
obtained the memorable victory near Haſtings.
Of this family was that ancient branch of the St.
Johns, feated at Stanton St. John, in Oxfordſhire,
which it is probable came firſt to poffefs the lordſhip
of Bletſho about the time of Henry VI.'s reign, Sir
Oliver St. John then marrying Margaret, fiſter and
fole heir of John de Beauchamp, knt. of Bletſho, a
junior line of the Beauchamps of Powick, by whom
likewiſe Lydiard Tregoze, the antient inheritance of
the Beauchamps, came into this family. From the
eldeſt of their ſons, Sir John St. John of Bletího,
deſcended the St. Johns, earls of Bolingbroke, now
extinct, and the preſent lord St. John of Bletſho.
And from Oliver their ſecond ſon, of Lydiard Tre-

waggons and

Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 463. Coll. Peer. vol. vi. p. 270.
goze,
M m 3
534
BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.

goze, deſcended the preſent lord viſcount Bolingbroke
and St. John. He was, anno 2 king Charles 1. crea-
ted lord St. John, baron Tregoze of Highworth, in
Wiltſhire; and next year obtained of the king the
manners of Batterſea and Wandſworth, in Surry.
He died without iſſue, in the 6th of king Charles I.
by which the dignity of baron Tregoze became ex-
tinct, and John, his nephew, the ſon of his eldeſt bro-
ther, Sir John St. John, became heir to this eſtate,
as well as to that of Lydiard Tregoze, and was firſt
knighted, and then created a baronet, on May 22,
1611, being the 17th in precedency by creation.
He was a zealous royaliſt, having three of his ſons
killed in the civil wars, fighting for the king. By
his firſt wife, Anne, daughter of Sir Thomas Leigh-
ton of Feckenham, in Worceſterſhire He had fe-
veral children, of whom Oliver, the eldeſt ſon, pur-
chaſed the moiety of Beckenham of Sir Patrick Cur-
wen, and died in the life time of his father, having
married Catharine, daughter and coheir of Horatio,
lord Vere of Tilbury, by whom he had Sir John St.
John, bart. who died before he came of age, unmar-
ried, and was ſucceeded by his uncle, Sir Walter St.
John, in the title of Baronet, and in his eſtates at
Lydiard Tregoze, Batterſea, and Wandſworth, and
in the moiety of this manor of Beckenham and ad-
vowſon of the church, of which, having before pur-
chaſed the other moiety, poſſeſſed now the entire fee
of them. He died at his feat at Batterſea, in 1708,
and was interred there, leaving an only fon Henry,
who was on July 2, in the 2d year of king George I.
created baron St. John of Batterſea, and viſcount St.
John, and died about the goth year of his age,
in
1742, and was ſucceeded in the poſſeſſion of this ma-
nor and advowſon by Henry St. John, viſc. Boling-
broke, his only ſon by his firſt wife Mary, ſecond
2 Stow's Survey. Append. p. 77,
daughter
BECKENHAM.
535

daughter and coheir of Robert Rich earl of Warwick.
By his ſecond wife, Angelica Magdalene, daughter of
George Pilleſary, a French officer under Louis XIV.
he had three ſons and one daughter ;) of which ſons
John, the ſecond, will be mentioned hereafter, as
continuator of the male line; the other two died un-
married.
Henry St. John, the only ſon of the lord viſcount
St. John, by his firſt wife, being one of the miniſters
of ſtate to queen Anne, and of her privy council,
was, in the 11th year of that reign, created Baron St.
John of Lydiard Tregoze, in Wiltſhire, and Viſcount
Bolingbroke, in Lincolnſhire, with remainder, for
want of iſſue male, to Sir Henry St. John, his father,
and the heirs male of his body. In 1715,
the ad
year
of king George I. his honours were forfeited by at-
tainder, but he was reſtored in blood in 1723, and
two years afterwards an act paſſed, enabling him and
his iſſue to inherit the family eſtate, notwithſtand-
ing his attainder. He died in 1751, in the ſeventy-
ninth year of his age, having been twice married ;
firſt to Frances, daughter and coheir of Sir Francis
Windebank, bart. of Berkſhire; and ſecondly to
Mary Clara des Champs de Mareſilly, marchioneſs de
Vilette, relict of the marquis Vilette, and niece to the
celebrated madam de Maintenon, wife to Louis XIV.
but having no iſſue by either, his titles and eſtates
deſcended to his nephew, Frederick, the third lord
viſcount St. John, viz. ſon of John, ſecond and only
ſurviving fon of Henry, viſcount St. John, by his fé-
cond wife Angelica, before mentioned,
John viſcount St. John, married in 1729, Anne,
one of the three daughters and coheirs of Sir Robert
Furneſe, bart, of Walderſhare, in this county, and
had by her Frederick before inentioned, and Henry,
• See Lord Bolingbroke’s Life. Biog. Brit. vol. v. p. 3559.
M m 4
now
536 BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.

now a lieutenant-general in the army, and two daugh-
ters. usb
o
Frederick, the eldeſt ſon, on his father's death,
which happened in France, in 1749, ſucceeded to his
titles and eſtates, and upon the death of his uncle,
above mentioned, inherited his dignities of viſcount
Bolingbroke, and baron of St. John of Lydiard Tre-
goze; in 1757, he married the lady Diana Spencer,
eldeſt ſiſter of George, the preſent duke of Marlbo-
rough, (which marriage was diſſolved by act of par-
liament, anno 8 George III.) by whom he had two
ſons, George and Frederick,
Frederick viſcount Bolingbroke, in 1773, paſſed
away the manor of Beckenham, and its appurtenances
(in which conveyance the advowſon of the church
was excepted) an act having paſſed for this purpoſe,
by ſale to John Cator, eſq. of this pariſh, who is the
preſent owner of it.
FOXGROVE is a manor in this pariſh, which had
antiently owners of that furname, as appears by the
Book of Aid, in the 20th year of king Edward III.
in which the heirs of John de Rokeley and John de
Foxgrove accounted for it as half a knight's fee. To
which family ſucceeded 'Bartholomew de Burgherſh,
a man of great eminency in thoſe times, who poſſeſſed
this inanor at his deceaſe, in the 29th year of king
Edward III. leaving Bartholomew his ſon and heir ;
Henry, a younger ſon, and one daughter, named
Joan." Bartholomew de Burgherſh, the ſon, in the
43d year of the ſame reign, paffed it away, with much
other land in this county, to Sir Walter de Paveley,
in whoſe family it remained until the latter end of the
reign of king Richard II. and then it was conveyed
to Vaux of the county of Northampton," written in
old deeds, De Vallibus, an antient family, who bore
a Rot. Efch. ejus an. No. 44. Dugd. Bar. vol. ii. p. 35.
Camb. Brit. p. 1039. Cooke's Bar. MSS,
for
GCH BECKENHÁM. A MOS 537

for their arms, Chequy, argent and azure. The fe-
veral branches of it all bore the chequy in their arms,
though different. Thus, the lord Vaux of Gille-
ſland, bore; A bend chequy, or and gules; and lord
Vaux of Harowdon, bore, Argent and gules chequy,
on a chevron azure three roſes or. In the name of
Vaux this manor remained till the latter end of king
Henry VI.'s reign, when it was alienated to John
Greene, eſq. in whoſe family it continued till the be-
ginning of king Henry VIII.'s reign, when it was de-
miſed by ſale to Beverſea; and Humphry Beverſea
held it in the 18th year of it. His deſcendant paſſed
it away to Luke Hollingworth, who, about the be-
ginning of king Edward VI.'s reign ſold his intereſt
in it to Sir John Olyffe, alderman of London, on
whoſe death, in 1577, Joane, his only daughter and
heir, married to John Leigh, eſq. of Addington, in
Surry, entitled her huſband to it; his direct deſcen-
dant, Sir Francis Leigh of Hawley, in this county,
on his death in 1711," ordered this manor by his
will to be ſold, which was accordingly decreed by the
court of chancery, in 1716, and it was then purchaſed
by Mr. John Tolſon, from whom it defcended to
Lancelot Tolſon, and from him to Launcelot Tol-
ſon Tilly, and he by his will left his eſtate in this pa-
riſh in three parts; Foxgrove, as will be mentioned
below, to Timewell; Stone-farm to Mrs. Tilly; and
his woodlands to Mr. Benjamin Browne, which, as
well as Stone-farm, have been ſince purchaſed by
John Cator, eſq. lord of the manor of Beckenham,
and he at preſent poffefſes them ; but he deviſed this
manor of Foxgrove to Timewell for his life, and af-
terwards to John and Edward Brydges of Wotton, el-
quires, in this county, who, about the year 1765, con-
veyed it by fale to Jones Raymond, eſq. of Langley,
§ Philipott, p. 64, da
See more of this family of Leigh, under Eaſt Wickham.
Beyond
in
538 BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.

in this pariſh, on whoſe death, in 1756, it came by
deviſe to Amy his ſiſter, widow of Peter Burrell, eſq.
late of Beckenham, and William and George Evelyn,
eſquires, ſons of William Glanville, eſq. by Bridget,
another ſiſter of James Raymond above mentioned ;
ſoon after which the two latter alienated their inte-
reſts in this manor to Mrs. Amy Burrell, widow of
Peter Burrell, eſq. as above mentioned, who, at her
death, left it to her ſon, Sir William Burrell, bart.
and he fold it to his nephew, Sir Peter Burrell, knt.
and bart, ſince created lord Gwydir, who, in 1792,
exchanged it for other lands, in this pariſh, with John
Cator, eſq. of Beckenham-place, the preſent pofſefſor
of it,
Kelseys is a ſeat of note in this pariſh, which as
early as the reign of king Henry III. had owners of
that name, as appears by deeds written in a character
ſeemingly of that time, wherein John de Kelſey, Wil-
liam de Kelſey, and others of that ſurname, are de-
ſcribed as having an intereſt in this feat. After this
family had deſerted the poſſeſſion of this place, which
was in the reign of king Richard II. the Brograves
(ſometiines written Boroughgrave) were by purchaſe
become owners, and reſided at it.
An anceſtor of this family was Sir Roger Brograve,
who lived in the reign of Edward I. and was of War-
wickſhire, who bore for his arms, Argent three lions pal-
ſant guardant gules ; from whom deſcended William
Borgrave of Beckenham, to whom, in 1479, licence
was granted by the biſhop of Rocheſter (as appears
by the records of that church) to erect an oratory,
or chapel, at his manor houſe of Kelſeys, the ruins
of which are not now even to be traced out. on
At length, a deſcendant of this name and family,
John Brograve, ſome ſmall time before the year 1688,
а
Chauncy's Hertf. Viſtn. Co. Kent. 1619 Ped. Brograve.
conveyed
BECKENHAM.
539

conveyed this eſtate by fale to Peter Burrell, eſq. who
was the ninth ſon of Walter Burrell, eſq. of Holm-
ſtead-houſe, in Cuckfield, in Suſſex, whoſe anceſtors
are ſaid to have been originally feated in Northum-
berland as early as the reign of king Edward I. but
Randulphus Burrell, ſon and heir of Randulphus,
having married Sermonda, daughter and coheir of
Sir Walter Woodland of Devonſhire, anno 19 king
Edward II. became in her right poſſeſſed of a great
eſtate in that county. His direct deſcendant, John
Burrell, was a man of eminence in the reign of king
Henry V. and left ſeveral fons, of whom Walter, the
eldeſt, ſucceeded him in his eſtates; and Gerardus,
the youngeſt, ſettled at Cuckfield, in Suſſex, anno
1446, being vicar of that church, and archdeacon and
refidentiary of Chicheſter. He died in 1508, leav-
ing his eſtate to his nephew, Ralph, who ſettled at
Cuckfield. Thomas, his ſon, by Dorothy Weſton,
his wife, had Ninian Burrell, eſq. of Cuckfield, who
married Jane, daughter of Henry Smith of Surry, af-
terwards remarried to Peter Courthope, eſq. of Dan-
ny, in Suſſex, and died in 1614, leaving ſeveral fons
and daughters.
Of the ſons, Walter, the eldeft, married Frances,
daughter of John Hooper of Stockbury, eſq. in this
county, by whom he had nine ſons and three daugh-
ters. Of the former, Peter Burrell, eſq. the ninth
fon, purchaſed the manor of Kelſeys, fome few years
before the Revolution, as mentioned above. He af-
terwards ſettled here, and married Iſabella, the ſecond
daughter of John Merrick, eſq. of Eſſex, by whom
he had fix ſons and four daughters. He died in
1718, and was buried in this church, leaving only
two of his ſons, Peter and Merrick, and three daugh-
ters, ſurviving ; of whom, Frances married Richard
Wyatt, eſq. of Egham, in Surry; Iſabella married
Thomas Dalyſon, efq. of Hampton, in this county;
song Ab .
Bestel.
• Kimb. Bar. vol. iii. p. 23.
and
540 BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.
and Anne married Richard, brother to Sir Hugh
Ackland, bart. of Devonſhire.
Merrick Burrell, the youngeſt ſon, was of Weſt
Grinſted-park, in Suſſex, and was created a baronet
in the 6th year of George III. to him and his heirs
male, and in default of ſuch, to his nephew, Peter
Burrell, eſq. of Beckenham, ſince deceaſed, and his
heirs male. On Sir Merrick Burrell's death, f. p. the
title of baronet deſcended to his great nephew, Sir
Peter Burrell, the preſent baronet, ſince created Lord
Gwydir, as will be farther mentioned below. b
Peter Burrell, eſq. the eldeſt ſon, ſucceeded his fa-
ther in this eſtate, and reſided at Beckenham. He
ſerved the office of high-lheriff of this county in
1722, and died in 1756. He married Amy, eldeſt
daughter of Jones Raymond of Langley, eſq. in this
pariſh, by whom he had four ſons and two daughters.
Of the former, Peter Burrell, eſq, the eldeſt ſon, ſuc-
ceeded himn in this eſtate, and was of Beckenham ;
Raymond, the ſecond ſon, died young; and William,
the third, was bred to the civil law, commenced Doc-
tor of Laws, and was chancellor to the biſhops of
Worceſter and Rocheſter. He married Sophia,
daughter of Charles Raymond of Valentine-houſe, in
Effex, who was created a baronet in 1774, with re-
mainder, in default of iſſue male, to William Burrell
above mentioned, and his heirs male by Sophia his
wife, which title, on his death, deſcended to Sir Wil-
liam Burrell, bart. above mentioned, who died in
1796, leaving his widow ſurviving, and by her two
ſons and one daughter. Of the two daughters, Ame:
lia married Tobias Frere, eſq. and Iſabella died young.
Peter Burrell, eſq. inarried Elizabeth, daughter and
coheir of John Lewis, eſq. of Hackney, by whom he
had one ſon, Peter, and four daughters, of whom
Elizabeth-Emelia married Richard Henry Alexander
Bennett, eſq. of Cambridgeſhire; Suſanna married
lord Algernon Percy, ſecond ſon of the late duke of
I Northumberland,




BECKENHAM.
541

Northumberland, now lord Lovaine; Frances Juliana
married Hugh earl Percy, now duke of Northumber-
land; and Elizabeth, the fourth daughter, married
Douglas duke of Hamilton. He died pofſeffed of
Kelſeys, in 1775, being ſucceeded in it by his only
fon and heir, Peter Burrell, eſq. of Beckenham, who
was afterwards knighted; and at length, on the death
of Sir Merrick Burrell, bart. ſucceeded to that title
by the limitation of the patent. He married in 1779,
the lady Elizabeth Priſcilla Bertie, eldeſt ſiſter of Ro-
bert late duke of Ancaſter. on whoſe death, f. p. ſhe
fucceeded to the title of Baroneſs Willoughby of
Ereſby, and in her own right and perſon to the office
of Lord Great Chamberlain of England, the office
being executed by her huſband Sir Peter Burrell, knt.
and bart. who was, in May 1796, created Lord
Gwydir of Gwydir, in Carnarvonſhire. By her he has
a ſon, Peter Robert, born in 1782, and other chil-
dren, and is the preſent poſſeſſor of this eſtate. He
bears for his arms, Vert three plain ſhields argent, each
þaving a bordure ingrailed or.
LANGLEY-PARK is a ſeat of eminent account in this
pariſh, which was formerly accounted a manor, and in
the reign of the Conqueror was part of the vaſt eſtate
of Odo, biſhop of Baieux, and earl of Kent; and is
thus, if I miſtake not, deſcribed in the general ſurvey
of Domeſday taken in that reign :
Goisfridus de Ros holds of the biſhop (of Baieux)
Laſela. It was taxed at 7 Shillings. The arable
land is
In demeſne there are 3 carucates,
and 31 villeins, with. 14 borderers having 16 carucates.
There are 10 ſervants, and one fiſhery producing four-
Score and 10 eels; wood for the pannage of 55 hogs.
The whole manor was worth, in the time of king Ēd-
ward the Confefjor, go pounds, when he received it 16
pounds, and now 24 pounds, what Goisfridus held; what
Richard of Tonbridge held in his lowy was rated at 6
pounds;

.


542
BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.
De

pounds ; what the king held of this manor, 22 ſhillings.
Brixi Cilt held it of king Edward.
This place afterwards came into the poſſeſſion of the
family of Malmaines, who were ſettled at Walderſhare
in this county, in the time of the Conqueror. John
de Malmaines obtained a charter of free warren for
his lands in Begenham, in the 12th year of king Ed-
ward II. which was renewed to Henry Malmaines, of
Cliffe, in the 3d year of king Edward III.a
It appears by the Book of Aid, in the 20th
year
of
king Edward III, that Nicholas Malmains held half a
knight's fee of the king in Begenham. He died, in
the 23d year of that reign, poffeffed of much land in
this county ; before the end of which, the property
of this manor was transferred by fale to Langley, a name
moſt probably taken from this place, though the fa-
mily itſelf has been long ſince extinct. Theſe Lang-
leys of Beckingham were, moſt probably, a diſtinct family
from thoſe of Knowlton in this county, who were ori-
ginally deſcended from a family of that name in the
couniy of Warwick.
The laſt of this name here was Ralph Langley, who
died in the 30th year of king Henry VI. and by his
will directed Langley, with the reſt of his demeſnes in
Beckenham, to be fold for diſcharging his debts ; in
purſuance of which it was paſſed away by fale to John
Violett, who bore for his arms, Gules, three coronets, or,
whoſe deſcendants enjoyed it until the beginning of the
reign of king Henry VIII. when it was conveyed to
John Stile, alderman of London.
He was the ſon of William Style of Ipſwich, was
afterwards knighted, and of the Drapers company, and
dying in 1500, was buried in Allhallows Barking church,
London. He married Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of
Sir Guy Wolfton of London, by whom he had Sir Hum-


• Rot, Efch. No. 160,
à Philipott, p. 63.
Philipott, p. 64.
С
phrey
CLAUDE BECKENHAM. YA DA 543

phrey Style, of Langley, who was one of the eſquires of
the body to king Henry VIII. and ſheriff of this county
in the 35th year of the fame reign. He died in 1557,
and was buried in Beckenham church. He procured
a grant from Sir Thomas Wriotheſley, garter principal
king at arms, reciting, that not being willing to bear
arms in prejudice to the other branches of his family,
he had petitioned for a coat, with a proper difference,
which the ſaid king at arms, in 1529, granted, under
his hand and ſeal, viz. Sable, a feſs engrailed between
three fleurs de lis, within a bordure or, the feſs fretted of
the field.
He procured, with others, an act of parliament in
the ad and 3d years of king Edward VI. for the dif-
gavelling of his lands in this county."
By his firſt wife, Bridget, daughter of Sir Thomas
Baldrey, he had three fons; Edmund, born at Langley,
in 1538; Oliver, who was ſheriff of London, and
anceſtor of the Styles, of Watringbury, barts, and Ni-
cholas, who was knighted.
From Edmund Style of Langley, eſq. before-men-
tioned, eldeſt ſon of Sir Humphrey, deſcended Sir
Humphry Style of Langley, eldeſt ſon of William,
who was gentleman of the privy-chamber to king
James, and cupbearer to king Charles I. and was cre-
ated a baronet, by privy-ſeal, on the 20th of May,
1627. But though this branch was the elder to thoſe
of Watringbury, yet theſe laſt were the ſenior baro-
nets, being created April 21, 1627, anno 3 Charles I.
He died in 1650, and was buried in the vault at Beck-
enham church, and leaving no iſſue, his title became
extinct, and he was ſucceeded in this eſtate at Langley
by his half-brother, William, the eldeſt ſon of William
d The ſeveral charities of theſe Styles to the city of London
may be ſeen in Strype's Stow's Surveys, book i. p. 268, 272; book
ii. p. 40, 81, 168 ; book iii. p. 32; book v. p. 57.
Rym. Fæd, vol. xviii. p. 986.
e
Style
544
BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.
Style by his ſecond wife, Mary, daughter of Sir Ro-
bert Clarke, one of the barons of the exchequer.d als
This Williain Style of Langley, eſq. was bred a
barriſter at law, and was of the ſociety of the Inner
Temple. He married Elizabeth, fole daughter and
heir of William Duleing, by whom he had two fons,
and two daughters, and dying in 1679, was buried in
this church. I
Of the fons, the ſecond, but only ſurviving fon Hum-
phry, ſucceeded his father at Langley, in whoſe time
there were ſeveral coats of arins, as well of this family
as of thoſe they had intermarried with, painted in the
windows of this houſe, but dying without iffue male, his
only daughter and heir, Elizabeth, carried it in mar-
riage to fir John Elwill, bart," who died in 2 1727,
without iſſue by her. This family of Elwill was of
Exeter in Devonſhire, who bore for their arins, Ermine
on a chevron engrailed, between three eagles diſplayed
gules, three annulets or, and were advanced to the dignity
of a baronet, in the perſon of Sir John Elwill, in the 8th
year of queen Anne's reign. He was twice married,
but left iſſue only, by his ſecond wife, the daughter and
heir of — Leigh of Egham, in Surry, by whom he
had two ſons, Sir John above-mentioned, and Edmund,
who ſucceeded his brother in title and in this eſtate of
Langley, and in 1732 transferred his property in it,
together with the houſe, called Langley-houſe, the
park, and alſo the north and ſouth iſles of the pariſh
church of Beckenham, to Hugh Raymond of Great
Saling, in Effex, eſq. who ſettled them on his only fon,
Jones Raymond, eſq. in tail general; remainder to
his eldeſt daughter, Amy, who married Peter Burrell,
eſq. and her iſſue male. On his death his ſon, Jones
Raymond, eſq fucceeded to this eſtate, and kept his
ſhrievalty for this county at Langley in 1738, in which
year he died, and was ſucceeded by his fon, of the ſame


a See Kimber's Bar. vol. i.
P.
So.
name
SIA BECKENHAM. A
TIMOTA 545
hame, who died unmarried in 1768, on which it de-
fcended, by the intail before-mentioned, to his ſiſter,
Amy, before mentioned, whoſe huſband, Peter Burrell,
eſq. in her right, became poſſeſſed of it. He died in
1756, having had by her, who ſurvived him, four fons
and two daughters. Mrs. Burrell, his widow, after:
wards reſided here, and died in 1794, on which this
ſeat deſcended, together with her other eſtates in this
pariſh, to her grandfon, fir Peter Burrell, bart. ſince
created lord Gwydir, of whom a full account has al-
ready been given, and he is the preſent poſſeffor of
this feat, with the park and grounds belonging to it.
KENT-HOUSE is ſituated on the very edge of this
county, towards Surry, and ſeems to be ſo called either
from its having been once the outer bounds of this
county, or from having been formerly the firſt houſe
on the entrance into this pariſh within this county,
from that of Surry. It was for ſome generations in
the poffeffion of the family of Lethieullier; the firſt
of whom was Sir John Le Thieullier a Hamburgh
merchant, who had raiſed himſelf by his induſtry in
trade, and ſettled in this pariſh. He deviſed it at his
death to his ſon, William Lethieullier, of this pariſh,
eſq. who by his will gave it, with his manſion and other
eſtates in Beckenham, to his ſecond ſon, Manning Le-
thieullier, eſq. whoſe ſon, John Greene Lethieullier,
eſq. alienated it, in 1776, to Thomas Lucas, of Lee,
in this county, eſq. who died poffeffed of it in 1784)
leaving his widow ſurviving, who re-marrying John
Julius Angerſtein, of Charlton, efq. he is, in her right,
at this time poffeffed of it.
much trang og
CHARITIES.
At the ſouth-eaſt corner of the church-yard of Beckenham,
three ſmall alms-houſes were erected by ANTHONY RAWLINS,
eſq. in 1694, for the uſe of the poor of this pariſh.
EDWARD STYLE and NICHOLAS STYLE, eſqrs. and SIR
HUMPHREY STYLE, bart. in 1694 gave 6ol. for two ſermons to
be preached yearly, 13s. 4.d. each; the reſidue for bread to be


VOL. I.
Na
diſtributed
546 BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.
81. 155.
diſtributed weekly to the poor; which money was afterwards laid
out in land, veſted in truſtees, and of the annual produce of
STYLE, of Langley, gave to this pariſh land in it of
the annual produce of 21.
* A perſon unknown gave land to this pariſh of the annual
produce of 31.
Another perſon unknown gave land to it of the annual pro-
duce of ios.
Captain LEONARD Bower gave, for teaching poor children
to read, a bond, which was ſold in 1732, for which it received
the annual produce of 41.
This pariſh is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURIS-
DICTION of the dioceſe of Rocheſter and deanry of
Dartford.
The church, which ſtands on a riſing ground, a little
to the eaſtward of the village of Beckenham, is dedi-
cated to St. George, and may be conjectured to have
been built about the reign of king Edward III. from
its being dedicated to that faint ; few of our churches
being dedicated to him before that reign. In this
church there are many coats of arms carved, and
painted hatchments and penons, belonging to the fa-
mily of Style, of Langley. It antiently conſiſted but
of one iſle, till it was increaſed by the addition of a
large chapel or ille on each ſide, both which were
built by Oliver Style, of Wateringbury, eſq. Under
the ſouth iſle he built a vault for the ſole uſe of Lang-
ley-houſe, and the family there, though he himſelf was
buried at Wateringbury. It is a neat building, hav-
ing a handſome ſpire ſteeple at the weſt end of it, co-
vered with ſhingles, in which is a ring of five tuneable
bells. But on Thurſday morning, December 23,
1790, a great ſtorm of thunder and lightning deſtroyed
the ſpire of it, and the greateſt part of the church by
fire ; it has been ſince repaired, and reſtored to its
former ſtate.
In this church, among others, are the following mo-
numents and memorials :- In the chancel, a braſs plate
and inſcription, for William Danyell, alias Malham,
rector

GATE BECKENHAM.
547
mon
2

rector, obt. June 24, 1458. A memorial for Eliza-
beth, wife of John Chriſtmas, one of whoſe daughters,
Joan, wife of John Storer, miniſter here, obt. 1653,
one for Richard Hale, and Sarah his wife, he died
1678. Another for Elizabeth, daughter of William
Skinner, LL. D. chancellor of Hereford, and vicar of
this church, obt. 1642, æt. 18. On braſs plates ſeveral
coats of arms, and the figure of a woman, for dame
Margaret, the wife of Sir William Damfell
, obt. 1563,
and for Elee, alias Ellen Berney, her ſiſter, both daugh-
ters of John Berney, of Redham, in Norfolk, eſq. by
his firſt wife Margaret, daughter of Reade, obt. 1609.
On the north wall a monument for Benjamin Burdett,
merchant, obt. 1710. On the north wall are ſeveral
braſs plates of arms, and the effigies of a man, two
women, and eleven children, (viz. nine to the firſt, and
two to the ſecond), and an inſcription for Sir Hum-
phry Style, and dame Bridget, his firſt wife, daughter
of Sir Thomas Bauldry, ſometime mayor of London;
he left ſurviving his ſecond wife, Elizabeth, daughter
of George Peryn, eſq. he died in 1557, and the faid
Bridget in 1548. In the nave, on the eaſt wall, a
monument for Peter Burrell, efq. obt. 1718, æt. 69.
In the ſouth chancel, on the weſt wall
, a monument and
inſcription, ſhewing, that in a vault near it is buried
William Style, of Langley, efq. counſellor at law, and
ment near the former, ſhewing that in the ſame yault,
appropriated to that family, lies Sir Humphry Style,
owner of Langley, in this pariſh, knight and bart. of
England and Ireland, obt. 1659, æt. 64. Another
for Thomas Style, LL.D. obt. 1677. On the ſouth
wall a monument for Oliver Style, of London, eſq.
ſometime ſheriff thereof, fecond ſon of Sir Humphry
Style, of Langley, who lies buried at Wateringbury,
at his proper coſts and charges built this iſle, and the
vault therein, for the ſole uſe of the Langley houſe
and family. On the walls of this ifle are ſeveral coats
of

Nn 2
548 BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.
of arms of the Style family, their matches and quar-
terings, as there are on the weſt wall of the north
iſle; on the north wall of which is an inſcription for
Oliver Style, of London, eſq. above-mentioned.
It ſeems always to have paſſed as an appendage to
the manor of Beckenham, till Frederick, viſcount Bo-
lingbroke, in 1773, alienated the manor to John Ca-
tor, eſq. reſerving the patronage of this church to
himſelf. He died in 1787, and his ſon, George viſ-
count Bolingbroke, fold it to the reverend William
Roſe, who is the preſent owner of it.
In the fifteenth year of king Edward I. it was va-
lued at twenty-five marcs."
It is valued in the king's books at 161. 185. gd. and
the yearly tenths at il. 135. 1ozd."
By virtue of a commiſſion of enquiry into the value of
church livings, in 1650, iſſuing out of Chancery, it
was returned, that Beckenham was a parſonage, with
an houſe and forty acres of glebe land," worth thirty
pounds per annum, and that the profit of the other
tythes was worth one hundred and ten pounds per an-
num; maſter John Storer, enjoying the ſame, being
put in by the parliament.
In the reign of queen Anne ſeveral queries were
ſent by the archbiſhop of Canterbury, to every incum.
bent, concerning the ſtate of their livings, and the re-
venues of them: when William Aſheton, B. D. then
rector of this pariſh, returned, among other matters,
that this church was endowed with all ſorts of tythes ;
but that there had been no augmentation, or benefac-
tion whatſoever, made to it.
The preſent rector, Mr. Roſe, has new built the
parſonage-houſe on a large ſcale, and in a very hand-
ſome manner.

a Stev. Mon. vol. i. p. 456. + Bacon's Lib. Regis.
Parl. Surveys, Lamb. libr. vol. xix.
CHURCH
ZERTAR
549
BECKENHAM. TYTO SIA
CHURCH OF BECKENHAM.
180
RECTORS.
PATRONS,
Abby
Or by whom preſented.
Lords of the Manor of Beckenham John Matham, in the reign of
king Henry 1.
William de Knapton, anno 22d
Edward I.
John Buſh, anno 35 king Ed-
ward I. 1306.
William Danyell
, alias Malham,
obt. June 24, 1458.titor
Henry Sherelocke, clerk, buried
May 3, 1541.
Peter Racwiche, buried Dec.
16, 1545;
Nicholas Rokewood, 1551.
Robert Coozine, alias Cuyſhen,
entre per period bortland 1552.
Fohn Smith, buried Sept. 15,
1557
Hugh Tayler, buried O&. 16,
de care se 1560.
Hugh Calverley, buried July 4,
1576.6
de tots Peter Punter.
William Skinner, LL. D. 1628,
sesiad lobt. 1644."
Blog ,
John Storer, in 1650.
Roger Clifold, in 1659, obt. Aug.
dans son retour en tu 15, 1676.
William Aſheton, D. D. 1676,
y obt. Sept. 9, 1711.
Holland, D. D. obt. Dec,
30, 1730.



k
a Prynne, p. 394.
h Chancellor of Hereford. Reg.
e In the 25th year of king Edward Roff. p. 815. Wood's Ath. Ox. vol. i.
1. maſter John Bush, parfon of the Falti, p. 205, 232.
church of Beghkinghum, had a grant i He was put in by the Parliament,
of free-warren in all his demeſne k His life was written by Mr.
lands for the term of his natural life. Watts, vicar of Orpington. He was
Rot. Cart. ejus an. No. 28.
prebendary of Knareſborough cum
He lies buried in the chancel of Bickhill in York cathedral. See Wil-
this church.
lis on Cath. vol. i. p. 147. He died in
8 He was archdeacon of Rocheſter. the 70th year of his age, and was bu-
See Wood's Ath. Oxon. Fafti, vol. i. ried in the chancel of this church.--
See Biog. Brit. vol. i. p. 238.

P: 82.
Nn3
PATRONS,
550
BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.
....
1
PATRONS, &c. 200 RECTORS.
Lords of the manor of Beckenham.. Thomas Clerk, 1731.
Frederick viſcount Bolingbroke William Fraigneau, A. M.
1765.
William Roſe, A. M. 1778, the
Valga
preſent Rector.
I by
byste
a In 1765 a diſpenſation paſſed for b In October 1778, a diſpenſation
his holding this rectory with the vi- paſſed for his holding the vicarage of
carage of Batterſea in Surry. He was Carſhalton, with this rectory.
formerly Greek profeſſor in the uni-
verſity of Cambridge.

BROMLEY

IS the other pariſh in this hundred, lying the next
eaſtward from Beckenham. It was antiently writ-
ten in Saxon Bromleag, and Bromleah, in Latin Brom-
lega ; which ſignifies a field or paſture, avhere broom
jawhich
grows.
The pariſh is of a large circumference, being near
four miles in length. The lands in it are in general
very thin and poor, the ſoil being much inclined to
gravel. The river Ravenſbourne directs its courſe
northward along the weſtern part of it; about a quarter
of a mile eaſtward of it ſtands the town of Bromley,
having the church on the weſt ſide of it. It is built on
each ſide of the high road leading from London, through
it to Farnborough, and thence to Sevenoke, paſſing
over Maſon's, alias Gravel-hill, near the entrance to
Bromley-common, the extremity of which and South-
borough are the ſouthern boundaries of this pariſh,
Between the river and the ſouth end of the town is
Simpſon's-place, and about a quarter of a mile on the
oppoſite ſide of it, the biſhop's palace. Towards the
north eaſt the pariſh ſtretches a long way among the
woods, which extend along this whole ſide of it; cloſe
to



UH MA BROMLEY.
551
a remona

to them ſtands the ſeat of Sundridge, now called Waſhers
in the Woods, from its ſituation among them. There
are ſeveral hamlets in this pariſh, among which thoſe
of Plaiſtow and Widmore are the two principal ones,
in which are ſeveral genteel houſes; in the latter is an
elegant manfion called Bickley, which was erected about
fourteen years ago, by John Wells, of Deptford, efq.
who left it at his death to his brother William Wells,
eſq. who now reſides here, and another ſince built by
John Harriſon, eſq. called Shawfield, in which he now
reſides.
Bromley is a populous well-built town; the buildings
of which are continually increaſing. Its ſituation is
pleaſant and healthy, and among its inhabitants there
are many opulent gentlemen's families, which, together
with the college, ſituated at the north end of it, the
biſhop of Rocheſter's reſidence near it, and its well
frequented market, ſupport it in a moſt Aouriſhing
condition.
woods enred
The market, as will be further mentioned below,
was granted to the biſhop of Rocheſter in the 25th and
26th years of king Henry VI. to be held weekly within
his manor of Bromley. It is now much reſorted to for
the ſale of corn, live cattle, and every kind of provi-
fions. At the ſame time were granted two fairs, one
on the feaſt of St. James the apoſtle, in the village of
Bromley, now kept on the 5th of Auguſt, and the other
on the day of St. Blaze, the 3d, now the 14th of Fe-
bruary
Color
There is a well in the biſhop's grounds, near his gar-
den, called St. Blaze's well, which, having great reſort
to it antiently, on account of its medicinal virtues, had
an oratory annexed to it, dedicated to that ſaint. It
was particularly frequented at Whitſuntide, on account
of a remiſſion of forty days injoined penance, to ſuch
as ſhould viſit this chapel, and offer up their oriſons in
it, on the three holy days of Pentecoſt.
This
Nn4
552 BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.
This oratory falling to ruin at the refomation, the well
too came to be diſuſed, and the ſcite of both in pro-
cefs of time, became totally forgotten, and continued
fo till the well was again diſcovered in the year 1754,
by means of a yellow ochrey ſediment remaining in the
tract of a ſmall current, leading from this ſpring to the
corner of the moat, with the waters of which it uſed to
mix. In digging round the well, there were found the
remains of the old ſteps leading down to it, made of
oak-plank, which appeared to have lain under ground
a great many years.
The water of this ſpring is chalybeat, and riſes at the
foot of a declivity, at a ſmall diſtance eaſtward from
the biſhop's palace. The foil, through which it paſſes
is gravel, and it iſſues immediately from a bed of pure
white ſand. The courſe of the ſpring ſeems to be about
north-north-eaſt and fouth-ſouth-weſt, from its aper-
ture; its opening is towards the latter, and as Shooters-
hill bears about north-north-eaſt from its aperture, it
probably comes from thence. The water of this ſpring
being thus found to be a good chalybeat, was, by the
biſhop's orders, immediately ſecured from the mixture
of other waters, and incloſed, in hopes it might prove
beneficial to ſuch as ſhould drink it. Since which
numbers of people, eſpecially of the middling and
poorer ſort, have been remarkably relieved by it, from
various infirmities and diſeaſes, which were not only
afficting, but ſome of them dangerous. duljine
Between Bromley and Eltham there grows Bu-
pleurum anguſtifolium monſpelienſe; the narrow-leaved
hares ear.agavatharko DNA bere
Ethelbert, king of Kent, gave to biſhop Eardulph
and the church of Rocheſter, land in Bromley, con-
taining fix ſulings.
bonsoir US
Eliado uno a Merrett's Pinax, p. 17.
Apograph. Dering Library of the

b
King
BROMLEY. A TALMOST
553

King Edgar, in the ninth year of his reign, anno
967, granted to St. Andrew, and the church of Ro-
cheſter, certain land at the place, commonly known by
the name of Æt Bromleage, containing ten hides, called
by the Kentiſhmen, ſulings, with all liberties and emo-
luments whatſoever ; excepting the repelling invaſions,
and the repairing of bridges and fortifications, which
privileges were granted on account of the great price,
which biſhop Alfftan had paid for this land ; being no
leſs than eighty marcs of the pureſt gold, and ſix pounds
of fine ſilver, and thirty marcs of gold beſides to the
king's præfeat.
e At the end of this grant is a liſt of the ſeveral woods
or denberries in Andredreſwald, or the Weald, the
commodity of which belonged to this land of Bromley.
Part of this land might probably be the ſame which was
given before by king Ethelbert; for in the donations
of the Saxon kings, the fame manors and eſtates are
frequently recorded as having been given by different
kings, which happened by their diſſentions and con-
tentions with each other, with various ſucceſs, and one
while taking away the poſeſſions of the church, and
another while regranting them again. Beſides, it is to
be obſerved, that when different kings have given
ſmall parcels of land in the ſame pariſh or manor, as
appears by many inſtances in the Saxon codicils, they
have been ſaid to have given the whole of ſuch pariſh
or manor, inſtead of ſuch ſmall part of it..
King Ethelred, ſon of Edgar, on ſome diſpute with
the biſhop of Rocheſter, laid waſte the lands belong.
ing to his ſee, and in 987 gave to his miniſter, Æthel-
fine, (by whoſe advice he had taken ſeveral eſtates from
it) ten plow lands at Bromley.
bob
© The date of this charter in the Textus Roffenſis is miſprinted,
viz, in the 9th year of king Edgar, anno 955; for that king did
not begin his reign till 959; and Dunſtan, who, as one of the
witneſſes, ſigns himſelf archbiſhop of Canterbury, did not come
to that ſee till the year 960. à Reg. Roff. p. 5.
But
554 BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.
.

But afterwards, he, with much contrition, in- 998,
in the preſence of the convent of Rocheſter, and his
principal nobility, declared what he had done was by
the advice of this Æthelſine ; and then reſtored to the
church fix plow lands here, together with the privilege
of the woods in the Weald, &c. *
At that time the Weald acknowledged no private
lord or proprietor, but belonged wholly to the king;
ſo that on the royal donation of a parcel of land out of
the Weald to any perſon, in the nature of what is ſince
called a manor or lordſhip, it was the uſual cuſtom, in
order to render it the more complete, to accommodate
it with an additional grant in the deed, of a common
of pannage, or liberty of feeding and keeping hogs in
the Weald, not at large, but with a reſtriction to a
particular part of it. And there is ſcarce any ſuch an-
tient grant to the churches of Canterbury and Ro-
cheſter, or St. Auſtin's monaſtery, in their regiſters,
of any conſiderable portion of land out of the Weald,
without this additional liberty." option from
One Birtrick, a Saxon nobleman, and Elfswithe,
his wife, of Meopham, in this county, bequeathed by
their teſtament, made in the time of Alfſtan, biſhop of
Rocheſter, who died in 984, their land at Bromley,
after Britware's life, to St. Andrew's priory in Rocheſ-
ter, as Elfric their lord had bequeathed it for him and
his anceſtors.
1979 she
obchodoved
After the conqueſt, Odo, the great biſhop of Baieux,
the king's half brother, ſeized on the poffeffions of the
church of Rocheſter at Bromley, among many other
eſtates belonging to it; but archbiſhop Lanfranc did
not ſuffer him to keep them long, for he recovered
them, in the ſolemn aſſembly of the whole county,
held on this occaſion, by the king's command, at Pi-
nenden-heath, in 1076, and afterwards reſtored them
any one inghill o ruoy on sitt ni si
* Text. Roff. p. 130. ob Somn. Roman Ports, p. 108..
• Reg. Roff. p. 442.
to
BROMLEY. TIMORE 555

to biſhop Gundulph, and the church of St. Andrew;
which donation was confirmed by archbiſhop Anſelm,
and ſeveral of his ſucceſſors. In the reign of king
Edward the Confeſſor Bromley continued to be eſti-
mated at fix ſulings. Whether the whole of them
came into the hands of the biſhop of Baieux, I do not
find; but it is certain only three of them returned after
the above abjudication to the church of Rocheſter.d
Accordingly this eſtate is thus entered, under the
general title of the biſhop of Rocheſter's lands, in
the ſurvey of Domeſday, taken in the year 1080.
In Bronlei hundred the ſame biſhop (of Rocheſter)
holds Bronlei. It was taxed at fix ſulings in the time
of king Edward the Confeſor, and now at three. The
arable land is - 13 carucates. In demeſne there are two
carucates, and 30 villeins, with 26 borderers, having
II carucates. There is one mill of four ſhillings, and
two acres of meadow. Wood for the pannage of 100
hog's. In the time of king Edward the Confeſör, and
afterwards, it was worth 12 pounds and 10 ſhillings,
Now 18 pounds, and yet it yields 21 pounds, all but two
Mhillings. n
Biſhop Gundulph, moſt probably ſoon after this,
erected a manſion or palace here, for himſelf and his
fucceffors, which ſeems to have been but a mean and
inconvenient habitation; at leaſt it was in the time of
biſhop Gualeranus, who died in 1184, become ſo ru-
inous, that his ſucceſſor, biſhop Gilbert de Glanvill,
found it neceſſary to rebuild it in a more commodious
SA
On a taxation of the biſhop of Rocheſter's manors,
anno 40 king Henry III. it was returned that Bromley
was worth, as it was then let to farm, in annual rent,
twenty-three pounds, that the buildings could not be
ſuſtained, but from the rent, becauſe the arable lands
manner.
d
Reg. Roff.
P. 442
e Ibid. p. 442, et ſeq.
did
556 BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.

did not repay the neceſſary expences laid out annually
about them; and that the buildings required the ex-
pence of fixty ſhillings yearly. There is an account
in a manuſcript in the Cotton-library, of the ſtock and
houſehold furniture which ought to remain on the fe-
veral manors of this biſhopric, after the deceaſe of
each biſhop, and among others of this of Bromleghe,
but that the latter on this, as well as thoſe on the other
manors belonging to the biſhop, being in the cuſtody
of the archbiſhop, during the vacancy of the ſee, were
uſually deſtroyed or loſt; but now, continues the ma-
nuſcript, by the long vacancies of this ſee, and the re-
ſervations of that of Rome, they will be all made away
with, and not only this, but the buildings themſelves
too will probably run to ruin, the temporals will be di-
miniſhed, and the woods will be deſtroyed.
In the 21ſt year of king Edward I. Thomas de
Woldham, biſhop of Rocheſter, claimed certain liber-
berties, viz. the return of the king's writs, aſſize of
bread and ale, view of frank-pledge, and pleas of wi-
thernam, in his manor of Bromley, as well of his own
tenants, as thoſe of the parſon of that pariſh ; and he
complained, that Abel de St. Martin, parſon of Brom-
ley, cauſed, in like manner, amerciaments to be levied
of the tenants of his church, when it happened they
were amerced at the biſhop's view of Bromley for
breaking the aflize. Notwithſtanding which, the bi-
ſhop cauſing the fame to be levied by his bailiffs too,
the tenants were twice puniſhed for the ſame default';
whereupon the jury found upon oath, that the biſhop
had a right to thoſe liberties, and that he found his
church poffeffed of them upon his coming to it.
Upon which the parſon ſubmitted, and was fined half a
marc, &c.
The ſame year the biſhop of Rocheſter was ſum-
moned to anſwer the king in a plea of Quo warranto,


a
Reg. Roff. p. 11, 61, 64, 65, 89, 132.
why
CINEMAM BROMLEY. GVA TOHIMOTE 557

why he claimed to hold pleas of withernam, and to
have return of the king's writs, aſlize of bread and ale,
and view of frank-pledge, in his manor of Bromley;
and the biſhop appeared and claimed the above liberties
in this manor; and as to the return of writs, &c. he
ſaid, that the manor was within the precinct of the li-
berty of the archbiſhop, and that the bailiffs of the
biſhop received ſuch return by the hands of the arch-
biſhop's bailiffs ; therefore he prayed judgment, &c.
And as to the other liberties, the biſhop ſaid, that he
and his predeceſſors, beyond the time of memory,
had them in this manor, and uſed them without in-
terruption : on which the jurors found for the biſhop,
&c. And the record of theſe pleas was, at the requeſt
of John de Shepey, biſhop of Rocheſter, exemplified
by inſpeximus, under the great ſeal, in the 30th year of
king Edward III.
Anno 14 king Edward II.' biſhop Hamo de Heth
was neceffitated to ſell the wood of Elmſted in Brom-
leigh, which he did for two hundred marcs, to pay the
debts which his church had incurred, in foliciting the
affairs of it at the court of Rome. In the 25th and
26th years of king Henry VI. the biſhop of Rocheſter
had a moſt ample confirmation of all former charters
and liberties, and a grant of a market in his manor of
Bromley, on a Thurſday weekly, and one fair in the
village here, on the feaſt of St. James the apoſtle, and
another within this manor, on the day of St. Blaze.
In the great rebellion the parliament paſſed an ordi-
nance, in 1646, for the aboliſhing archbiſhops, and bi-
ſhops, &c. and for ſettling their lands and poſſeſſions
in truſtees, to be diſpoſed of according to the appoint-
ment of both houſes ; and another for the ſale of them,
to ſatisfy the debts due from the ſtate upon the public
aith. In conſequence of which the manor of Bromley,
with its appurtenances, as part of the poſieſlions of the






• Reg. Roff. p. 662. Ang. Sac. p. 361. Rot. Cart.
bifhopric

558 BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.
biſhoprick of Rocheſter, was ſold in 1648, to Au-
guſtine Skinner, for 56651. Iis. 11d." in which ſitua--
tion it remained till the reſtoration of king Charles II.
in 1660, when it returned again, with the palace, to
its right and lawful owner, in the perſon of Dr. John
Warner, biſhop of Rocheſter ; in whoſe fucceffors they
have both continued ever ſince ; being now in the
poffeffion of the right reverend the lord biſhop of this
dioceſe.
The palace, which is moſt pleaſantly ſituated, is at
preſent the only one belonging to the fee of Rocheſter,
which, as the biſhops have conſtantly reſided at it ſince
the reformation, had many additions made to it from
time to time. But among its late benefactors we may
reckon biſhop Sprat, who pulled down and rebuilt the
chapel, and much improved the grounds about it, and
biſhop Atterbury, who made ſome expenſive additions
to it.
But the greateſt benefactor to it was biſhop Wil-
cox, whoſe reparations of the buildings, and im-
provements of the gardens and grounds about the houſe,
were executed with no ſmall coſt and elegance. After
which it remained with little alteration till the late biſhop
Thomas, on his promotion to this ſee in 1774, finding the
houſe much dilapidated, pulled the whole of it down,
and erected a ſmall neat brick edifice on the ſcite of
the old palace, which was completed in 1776, and was
afterwards made uſe of by him, as it is now by his ſuc-
ceffor, for his epiſcopal ſummer reſidence.
In the 4th year of king George III. an act paſſed
for extinguiſhing the right of common upon certain
commonable lands and grounds within the manor and
pariſh of Bromley. tons
Roger Forde, abbot of Glaſtonbury, a man of great
learning and eloquence, was killed at this palace, in the
time of biſhop Laurence de St. Martin, on a journey,
• Hift. of Rocheſter, 1723, p. 119.99%
which
video
LAUREN BROMLEY. WAWILI
559

which he undertook to defend the rights of his church,
anno 1261. tattoo
SUNDRIDGE is a manor and feat, ſituated towards the
north-eaſt corner of this pariſh, among the woods, and
was formerly the reſidence of a noted family of the
name of Blund, or Blound, who were antiently lords
of Guines in France. One of them had three ſons, /
who came into England with William the Conqueror;
of theſe, one returned into France again, and the other
two, Sir Robert and Sir William, remained in Eng-
land, the former ſettling in Suffolk, and the latter in
Lincolnſhire. From theſe the ſeveral families of
Blount in this kingdom are deſcended. Of a younger
branch of them was Peter le Blund, who was owner of
this place in the reign of king Henry III. in the 39th
year of which he was made conſtable of the tower of
London. His deſcendant, Edward de Blund, was pof-
feffed of Sundridge, in the 20th year of king Edward
III. as appears by the book of aid made that year; in
which Edward de Blund was aſſeſſed for one quarter of
a knight's fee, which John de Blund before held in
Bromleigh of the biſhop of Rocheſter. Soon after
which this family ended in a female heir, who carried
this ſeat in marriage to Willoughby; from which name,
after ſome years, it paſſed, by purchaſe, to Booth,
whoſe defcendant, William Booth, was found by in-
quifition, taken in the 1ſt year of king Henry VII. to
die poſſeſſed of the manor of Sundrigg, held of the bi-
ſhop of Rocheſter, as of his palace of Rocheſter, by
knights ſervice, and by the ſervice of making fuit at
the court of the palace, and that Robert Booth was his
fon and heir ;' who was, with one hundred other gen-
tlemen of this county, made knights of the Bath, in the
17th year of that reign. In whoſe deſcendants Sun-
dridge continued till Sith Booth, eſq. dying without
• Bar. vol. ii. p. 367. Dugd. Bar. vol. i. p. 518, 519.
į Rot. Efch. ejus anni.
male
560 BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.
on
male iſſue, one of his daughters and coheirs carried it
in marriage to Thomas Bettenham, of Shurland, in
Pluckley, eſq. whoſe great-grandſon, Stephen Betten-
ham, of Bromley, gent. gave it in marriage with his
daughter Anne, to Robert Pynſent, third ſon of John
Pynſent, of Chudleigh, in Devonſhire, and prothono-
tary of the court of common-pleas, who bore for his
arms, Gules, a chevron ingrailed between three mullets
argent. He died here in 1679, without iſſue, and was
buried in the chancel of this church. He was fuc-
ceeded in the poffeffion of this ſeat and eſtate by Tho
mas Waſher, of Lincoln's-Inn, eſq. formerly of Lyne-
ham, in Devonſhire, whoſe arms were, Barruly argent
and gules, over all a lion rampant ſable, crowned or
whoſe death in 1720, it came to his ſon, John Waſher,
of Lincoln’s-Inn, eſq. who dying in 1749, without
male iſſue, his only daughter and heir carried it in mar-
riage to William Wilſon, eſq. ſheriff of this county in
1766. He died poſſeſſed of it in 1776,-leaving three
ſons and two daughters, of whom the eldeſt ſon, Wil-
liam Wilſon, eſq. alienated it to Edward George Lind,
eſq. who is the preſent owner of this ſeat and manor,
and now reſides at it. From the family before men-
tioned, and its ſituation amongſt the woods, this ſeat ac-
quired the name of Waſher's in the Woods; by which,
I believe, it is generally known among the common
people at preſent. i to negli artimi
SIMPSONS is an eſtate in this pariſh, which was for-
merly of much greater account than it is at preſent. It
was antiently owned by the Bankwells, a family of good
repute, who reſided at Lee in this neighbourhood, as
has been already taken notice of. In the gift year of
king Edward I. John de Banquel was poſſeſſed of this
eſtate, and had that year a grant for free-warren in all
his lands in Bromley, Lee, &c. to him, Cicele his wife,


a Coll. Baronetage, vol. v. p. 17.
" See Guillim's Heraldry, p. 403.
© Philipott, p. 84.
and
BROMLEY.
561

and their heirs. William de Banquel died poffeffed of
it in the 20th year of king Edward III. and left Tho-
mas Banquel his heir, who paid aid for it that year,
as the fixth part of a knight's fee in Bromley, which
John de Bankwell before held there of the biſhop of
Rocheſter. He died, in the 35th year of that reign,
poffefſed of much land here, and in this neighboura
hood, and left three fons, John, William, and Robert
Bankwell, who became his heirs in gavelkind, and on
the diviſion of their inheritance, William, the ſecond
fon, became entitled to his father's eſtate in Bromley.
After this family was extinct here it came next into
the poſſeſſion of the Clarks ; one of whom, William
Clark, in the reign of king Henry V. having obtained
the king's licence, erected a ſtrong, but ſmall building
here, of ſtone, with an embattled wall
, and encircled
it with a deep moat. His pofterity did not continue
long in the poſſeſſion of it; for about the latter end of
the next reign of king Henry VI. John Simpſon re-
fided here, by right of purchaſe, and having much
improved the manſion, it adopted his name, by which
it has been called ever ſince.d
In the 11th year of king Edward IV. Robert Simp-
fon died poſſeſſed of this ſeat ;º his deſcendant, Ni-
cholas Sympſon, the king's barber, alienated Sympſons
to Alexander Baſſet, who, in the reign of king VIII.
conveyed it by fale to Sir Humphrey Style, of Langley,
ſon of John Style, alderman of London ; this eſtate
being then held in focage.
His deſcendant, Humphry Style of Langley, efq.
dying without male iſſue, his only daughter and heir,
Elizabeth, carried this eſtate in marriage to Sir John
Elwill, bart. who dying in 1727, without iſſue, Edmund,
his brother, ſucceeded him, and abort 1732, conveyed
Sympſons to Hugh Raymond of Great Saling, in


d. Philipott, p. 84.
Ef Rot. Efch, ejus an.
Manuſcript papers of Sir Humphry Style.
e
VOL I.
Oo
Effex,
562 BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.
Efex, efq. who ſettled it on his only ſon, Jones Ray-
mond, eſq. in tail general, with remainder to his eldeſt
daughter Amy, married to Peter Burrell, eſq. and her
iſſue male. On the death of James Raymond, eſq.
ſon of Jones Raymond before-mentioned, in 1678,
without iſſue, Peter Burrell, of Beckenham, eſq. in
right of his wife became intitled to it; after the death
of whoſe widow it deſcended to her grandſon, Sir
Peter Burrel, knt. and bart. ſince created lord Gwydir,
and he is the preſent owner of it.
Bromley college, a charity as unexampled at the time
of its inſtitution, as it has been without compare ſince,
was founded by Dr. John Warner, biſhop of Rocheſter,
who died in 1666, and by his will, proved that.year,"
directed the foundation of an HOSPITAL or COLLEGE,
for twenty widows of loyal and orthodox clergymen,
and a chaplain. To accompliſh this noble and gene-
rous deſign, he directed his executors to raiſe, out of
his perſonal eſtate, a building proper for this purpoſe,
and he charged his manor of Swayton with an annual
payment of four hundred and fifty pounds for their
maintenance. Of which ſum each widow was to re-
ceive twenty pounds yearly, and the remaining fifty
pounds was for a ftipend to the chaplain, who was al-
ways to be appointed from Magdalen-college, in Ox-
ford, where the biſhop himſelf had been educated.
The biſhop had alſo expreſſed a deſire, that this
hoſpital ſhould be fixed as near as conveniently might
be to the cathedral of Rocheſter ; but there being a
neceſſity for applying to the legiſlature, for an expla-
nation of ſome parts of the will, which were rather
obſcure, and of others not quite practicable, the exe-
cutors obtained leave, by an act paſſed anno 22d
Charles II. to build upon any other ſpot within the
dioceſe, where they thought proper.


a Will in Prerogative-office, lib. i. p. 14. See Newcourt's Rep.
vol. i. p. 330, and Wood's Athenæ, vol. ii. p. 374, and Hiſtory
Rocheſter, anno 1772, &c. Ken. Improp. p. 282.
This

BROMLEY
563
This college, or hoſpital, was accordingly built,
adjoining the north end of the town of Bromley,
and has ever ſince been known by the name of
Bromley-college.
There was, however, a defect in the biſhop's ori-
ginal plan ; for by a clauſe in his will, ſo much was to
be reſerved out of the widows exhibitions, as would
be neceſſary to keep the buildings in good repair,
which would in general have been a larger drawback
upon their ſmall incomes, than could well have been
fuſtained. The parliament, therefore, to prevent this,
charged, with the conſent of the heir at law, the before-
mentioned manor of Swayton with the additional fum
of five pounds for repairs ; though as this was thought
too ſmall for the maintenance of ſo large a building,
the two executors immediately gave one hundred
pounds each towards it. With which the truſtees pur-
chaſed a fee-farm rent of ten pounds, but ſtill this re-
venue was found very inſufficient for the purpoſe, and
the truſtees have at times been much embarraſſed, how
to preſerve the college in a decent and ſubſtantial ſtate,
and ſomewhat more than fifty years ago, they were
under the neceſſity of foliciting voluntary contributions
towards it, from the clergy of the dioceſe, and of the
peculiar juriſdiction of Shoreham.
The kindneſs of the benefactors has hitherto made a
fecond application of this nature needleſs, and in the
liſt of thoſe well-diſpoſed perſons who have contributed
to this charity, are the reverend doctor Plume, arch-
deacon of this dioceſe, who dying in 1704, left by his
will one hundred pounds to it; archbiſhop Teniſon,
who by his will left one hundred guineas, half to the
repairs of this hoſpital, and the other half to the wi-
dows in it. Joſeph Wilcocks, eſq. ſon of the biſhop
of Rocheſter of that name, who completed the inclo-
fure of the college-grove, at the expence of one hun-
dred and twenty pounds, and Mrs. Wolfe, mother of
the late brave general
, who dying in 1765, bequeathed





002
by
564 BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.

by her will to the truſtees five hundred pounds, to
enable them to put it in a thorough ſtate of repair.
Since which this charitable eſtabliſhment has been in-
creaſed by ftill further benefactions. Theſe have been
from the two worthy and beneficent brothers, the late
Jeffry Hetherington, eſq. of North Cray and the Rev.
Mr. William Hetherington, of Farnham-Royal, his
only remaining brother and heir. The former of
whom allowed, for ſome years before his death, in
1767, the intereſt of 2000l. to be applied every winter,
in providing the widows with coals and candles. This
ſum, in old South Sea annuities, the latter gentle-
man (among other almoſt unparalleled acts of munifi-
cence and charity) foon after his brother's death, ſet-
tled upon it as a perpetuity, the intereſt of it from time
to time, to be applied for the like purpofe.
Biſhop Pearce gave, in his life-time, five thouſand
pounds, old South Sea annuities, to the widows and
chaplain of this college, from which the latter receives
ten pounds per annum. Since which, Mrs. Rogers,
who ſome time inhabited; at a yearly rent, the apart-
ment in the north wing, called the Truſtees Houſe,
directed by her will her furniture to be fold, for the
benefit of the widows, in any manner the truſtees ihould
appoint, they received one hundred and twenty pounds
upon this account, which they appropriated to the
building fund. The reverend Mr. Bagſhaw, late chap-
lain of the college, who died in 1787, left by his will
two hundred pounds ſtock in the three per cents. to in-
creaſe the ſalary of the chaplain. Mrs. Helen Beten-
ſon, only ſiſter and heir of Sir Richard Betenfon, bart.
late of Bradborne, in Sevenoke, by will in 1788, gave,
among otherextenſive charities, the ſum of ten thoufand
pounds, with which ten new apartments have been
erected for as many additional widows, who receive each
twenty pounds per annum on this foundation, nor has
it any proviſion at preſent for repairs. Dr. John Tho-
mas, late biſhop of Rocheſter, who died in 1793, left
by




in BROMLEY.
che 565
by his will one hundred pounds, to be divided among
the widows of the old foundation, who might inhabit
the college at the time of his deceaſe, which was ac-
cordingly paid to them; he likewiſe left by his will
three hundred pounds to be funded, the intereſt of it
to be applied for repairs.
Since which, a very large legacy has been paid into
the hands of the truſtees, left conditionally, to the col-
lege, by Mr. Pearce, brother of biſhop Pearce, to his
great nephew and great niece, in caſe they ſhould die
without iſſue, which they both did about three years
ago, on which event happening, he directed that twelve
thouſand pounds ſhould be paid to the truſtees of this
college, for the purpoſe of building ten additional
apartments, and that the chaplain ſhould receive twenty
pounds per annum out of the intereſt of that ſum.
Theſe buildings are not as yet erected, and it ſeems to
be the determination of the truſtees not to begin them,
till by an accumulation of intereſt, a ſufficient ſum ſhall
have been laid by, for the purpoſe of repairs, and at
the ſame time to make ſome addition to the chaplain's
ſalary. The income of the widows on this founda-
tion will not be leſs than thirty pounds per annum.
Thoſe on the old foundation receive at this time thirty
pounds ten ſhillings per annum, which ariſes as follows:
£
£ s. d.
From biſhop Warner 20 Mr. Hetherington
.... biſhop Pearce 7oo Lady Gower 10
Another benefaction (for ſo I muſt call it, though it
took not the deſired effect) ought not to paſs unno-
ticed ; which was that of Mrs. Street, of Dartford,
who a few years ago bequeathed three hundred pounds
to this college. But the good intentions of the teſta-
trix have been unhappily defeated; ſhe having inad-
vertently charged the legacy on a real eſtate.
This charitable inſtitution of biſhop Warner, was
the firſt of the kind in England; however, the plan
has been followed in other dioceſes, by ſeveral eſta-
bliſhments


s. d.
3
O
до го

566
BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.

bliſhments of a ſimilar nature, particularly, at Win-
cheſter and Saliſbury, and by Sarah, ducheſs dowager
of Somerſet, in the alms-houſe, ſo nobly and munifi-
cently endowed by her at Froxfield, in Wiltſhire.
Bromley.college was exempted from payment to the
land-tax, by act anno 30 king George II. In the cha-
pel is a fine whole length picture of the founder.

CHARITIES,

Join BUCKERIDGE, biſhop of Ely, by his will, bequeathed
the ſum of zol. to be employed for ſome yearly benent of the
poor of this pariſh'; with which, and the addition of ſome little
money beſides, a purchaie was made of a houſe in Nichol-lane,
rented at 40s. a year; which ſum, neceſſary repairs being firſt
deducted, was to be diſtributed every Good Friday (or near that
time) amongſt the pooreſt and moſt neceflitous inhabitants.
JASPER Greene, vicar of Woodneſborough, by his will in
1660, gave 2os. yearly to the poor of this pariſh.
The Rev. GEORGE WILSON, late rector of Cheſilhurit, at
his death, left by his will, 200l. to be diſpoſed of in a purchafe,
the annual income of which he directed to be appropriated to
the ſole uſe and benefit of the charity-ſchool in this pariſh, for
ever.
Dr. John WARNER, biſhop of Rocheſter, bequeathed by his
will, 201. in money, for the benefit of the poor of this parith, .
Bromley is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDIC-
TION of the dioceſe of Rocheſter and deanry of Dart-
ford. The church, which is dedicated to St. Peter
and St. Paul, ſeems to have been erected at different
times ; the eaſtern part appearing much the moſt an-
tient. At the weſt end is a tower, in which hang five
tuneable bells.
Among other monuments and memorials in this
church, in the chancel, is a monument and memorial
on braſs, for John Yonge, biſhop of Rocheſter, obt.
1605; two for John Flavell and his wife ; ſeveral for
the Youngs, of London, merchants ; a braſs plate for
Jane, wife of Henry Bodenham, of Follton, in Wilt-
ſhire, obt. 1625; another for Anthony Chalthorp,
eſq. obt. 1594 ; feveral for the Thornhills; a memo-

rial
BROMLEY
567
rial for Robert Pynſent, of Sundridge, gent. obt.
1679. In the nave, a monument againſt the north
wall, for Peregrina, wife of lieutenant Bufy Manſel,
obt. 1721. In the ſouth iſle, a monument againſt the
eaſt wall, for John Maunſell
, of Chichely, in Bucking-
hamſhire, eſq. obt. 1625; another for Abigail, wife
of Hamington Bagſhaw, clerk, and three daughters,
and a French inſcription for Walter de Henche, par-
ſon of Bromleghe, obt. 1360.-
Dr. John Buckeridge, firſt, biſhop of Rocheſter,
and afterwards of Ely, who died in 1631, was buried
here, but had no memorial whatever put over him ;!
Dr. Zachariah Pearce, late biſhop of Rocheſter, who
died at Ealing in 1774, was likewife buried here. In
the wall of the church once, was, as is reported, the
portraiture in ſtone of Richard de Wendover, biſhop
of Rocheſter, and rector of this pariſh, who died in
1250 : yet it is ſaid, his body was buried at Weſtmin-
fter by the king's ſpecial command, being accounted
a very holy and virtuous man.
This church has always been conſidered as an ap-
pendage to the manor, and as ſuch was recovered with
it from Odo, biſhop of Baieux, by archbiſhop Lan-
franc, in the aſſembly of the whole county at Pinen-
den-heath, in the reign of the Conqueror, and imme-
diately reſtored to biſhop Gundulph, and the church
of Rocheſter. Which gift was confirmed to that bi-
ſhop, and the church of St. Andrew, by archbiſhop An-
felm, in 1101, and afterwards by ſeveral of his ſuccef-
fors in the fee of Canterbury, as has been already ta-
ken notice of.
In the 15th year of king Edward I. the church of
Bromley was valued at thirty marcs.



b
a See the monuments, epi.
taphs, arms, &c. in this church,
defcribed at full length in Reg.
Roff. p. 811 ,
See Willis Cath. v. ii. p.363.
· Weever, p. 338, 482.
d Stev. Mon. vol. i. p. 456.
Anno
568 BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.

Anno 35 king Henry VI. Richard Fryſton, clerk,
parfon of the church, brought his writ of Juris utrum
in the court of common pleas, againſt one Henry
Ferrour, for the recovery of a meſſuage, with its ap-
purtenances, in Bromleigh, which he claimed to be
long to his church in free alms, and he recovered ſeiſin
of it, by view of the jurors impannelled thereupon.*
In 1534 this church was a rectory, and then valued
at thirty-nine pounds twelve ſhillings, ſoon after which
it became appropriated to the biſhop of Rocheſter, in
which ſtate it remains at this time, the church being
ſerved by a curate appointed by the biſhop. It is not
in charge in the king's books."
On the abolition of epiſcopacy, at the latter end of
the reign of king Charles I. thoſe revenues were ſeized
on by the ruling powers, and ſoon after the king's
death, were by the parliament ordered to be ſurveyed
and fold, to ſupply the neceſſities of the ſtate. Ac-
cordingly, in 1650, it was returned on a ſurvey, that
the rectory of Bromley had a manor belonging to it,
and a good manſion-houſe, with a gate-houſe, a large
barn of eleven bayes, two ſmall barns, and other build-
ings, and fifty-one acres of glebe land; which altoge-
ther were worth fifty pounds per annum; and the quit
rents of the manor eight ſhillings and nine-pence yearly;
that the tythes were worth one hundred and thirty
pounds per annum ; and a ſmall tenement two pounds
and upwards. All which (the tenants of the manor here
having common of paſture in the glebe land, and com-
mon inead, which laſt contained about ten acres, from
Lammas-day to Michaelmas-day) were let by John, bi-
fhop of Rocheſter, from 1639, for twenty one years,
at the yearly rent of fixty pounds per annum, and forty
quarters of oats; and it was returned, that the ſame,
tythes and all, were worth, to be let by the tenant, one
hundred and eighty-three pounds per annum.
a Coke's Entries, p. 401.
b Bacon lib. Regis.
Parl. Surveys, Lamb. libr. vol. xiv and xix.


CHURCH
DI RUVUM MAI BROMLEY569
UMOWA
.
5 CHURCH OF BROMLEY. THE
PATRONS
Or by whom preſented.
Biſhop of Rocheſter ...
RECTORS
..
Richard de Wendover, or Wen.
dene, 1226 and 1238.4
told John Sudbury, in the reign of
king Henry III.
Abel de San&to Martino, in 1292.
John de Frendeſburie, deprived
in 1329.
Hugh de Penebregg, collated
1329.8
Walter de Henche, obt. in 1360.h
William Fryſton.
Richard Frejton, in 1456.
Wynando, in 1465.
CURATES.CF
James Dyer, 1604. bei
Stephen Conſtantine, 1607.
John Preſton, 1608.-1 wg
Jaſper Greene.
Williain Wallis, buried Sept.
29, 1624.
John Hodges, A. B. 1627.
Noah Webb, 1628.
Robert Rainsford, 1630.
Richard Rathbone, 163.4.
Thomas Smith, buried Sept. 22,
1639.
Robert Antrobus, 1640.
Joſeph Jackſon, 1647.
Henry
Arnold, 1656, ejected
TOUJO 1662.k
Thomas Pike, 1666.
David Barton, 1667,


d He was, when parfon of this Rocheſter, for inobedience, and the
church, conſecrated biſhop of Rochef- biſhop placed Hugh de Penebregg in
ter, Nov. 21, 1238, and died in 1250. his room; notwithſtanding which,
Le Neve's Fafti, p. 248. Reg. Roff. this John thruſt him out by force.--
P. 95
Wharton's Anglia Sacra, v. i. p. 369.
e Coke's Entries, p. 401.
hH, lies buried in this church.
f Reg. Roff. p. 193, 194.
i Coke's Entries, p. 401.
& Ibid. p. 113. This John de Frinſ k Ejected by the Bartholomew A.
burie was deprived by the biſhop of Calamy's Life of Baxter, p. 286.
CHURCH
Pp
570
BROMLEY AND BECKENHAM HUNDRED.
PATRONS, &C. OTTO E CURATES.
Biſhop of Rockeſter
Edmund Lees, 1670.
S. Graſcomes, 1681.
George Wilſon, 1682.
Thomas Johnſon, 1684.
Edward Roman, 1686.
Henry Maundrel, B. D. 1680.m
Samuel Bowles, 1695.
Harrington Bagſhaw, 1698, obt.
May 29, 1739."
Joſeph Simms, A. M. June,
1739.
Thomas Bagſhaw, 1744, obt.
1785.
H. Smith, 1785, the preſent
Curate.

1 Afterwards vicar of Chefilhurſt, n Alſo rector of Woolwich.
and in 1718 was buried there.
• In 1778 he was preſented to the
m Fellow of Exeter college, Oxon. rectory of Southflect, which he held
and chaplain to the factory at Aleppo, with this curacy
and published a curious account of his
travels to Jerufalem.

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