English Antiquaries and that reason of Mr. Camden rendred for his conjecture is very plausible and satisfactory the often digging and turning up there of Roman Coins which of my certain knowledge is to this day very true and usual who have been owner of many as I am still of some pieces of old Roman coin had from hence The Roman tile or brick here also found some in buildings others by the clift-side where the sea hath wash'd and eaten away the earth as it daily doth to the manifest endangering of the Church by it's violent encroachments give like evidence of the place's Roman Antiquity whereof some are remaining in and about that little stone cottage without the Church-yard of some holden to be the remains of an old Chappel or Oratory and others not far off If this give not satisfaction let me here add that observation of the learned Antiquary Mr. Burton It is to be observed saith he that all places ending in Chester fashioned in the Saxon times arise from the ruines of the old Roman castra and therefore the ancient stations about the wall the carkasses of many of which at this day appear are called Chesters by the country people Very good to bring this observation home Reculver was of old in the Saxon's time as sometimes from the Monastery there called Raculf-minster so likewise other while from that Roman castle or garrison there in former time no doubt Raculf-cester As for instance in a Charter or Grant of Eadmund a Kentish King in the year 784. running thus Ego Eadmundus Rex Cantiae do tibi Wihtrede honorabili Abbâ—ti tuaeque familiae degenti in loco qui dicitur Raculf-cester terram 12. aratrorum quae dicitur Sildunk cum universis ad eum ritè pertinentibus liberam ab omni seculari servitio omni regali tributo exceptis expeditione c. Nor is that parcel of evidence resulting from and couched in the present and forepast name of the place to be slighted especially that more ancient name of it in the Saxon times Raculâ— altered since into Raculfre and Reculvre and which it now bears Reculver none of which but do retain a grand smack and quantity of that Roman name Regulbium Whereabouts at Regulbium this Castrum stood where the place of this Roman garrison or station was is not at this day so clear and certain but as it is well observed that all the Roman Colonies Towns Stations or Forts generally were set upon hills so I suppose this might be placed on that ascent or rising ground whereon the Monastery afterward stood and the Church now stands erected within I mean that fair square plot of ground converted to the Church-yard and environing the Minster or Church enclosed and circumscribed with a wall of stone The Minster I say for of a Royal Palace to which after the Roman time this Fort or station is said to have received a conversion by King Ethelbert upon his withdrawing thither from Canterbury in favour of Augustine and his company it became e're long a Monastery or Abby of the Benedictine Order of whose founder with the time of the foundation thus in the English Saxon Annals Anno DCLXIX 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. This year 669 King Egbert gave to Bassa Priest Raculf whereon to build a Monastery From thenceforth the place became called Raculf-minster and was at first governed by an Abbot Brightwald the 8th Arch-bishop of Canterbury from being Abbot there as Venerable Bede hath told us was preferred to the Arch-bishoprick This Abby or Minster with its whole revenue was afterward anno 949. by King Eadred made and granted over to Christ-church as in my Antiquities and in the first part of the Monasticon p. 86. where the Grant or Deed it self is at large recited with the bounds and extent of the sight and circuit reaching over the water into Thanet and laying claim to four plough-yards there The Monastery nevertheless it seems continued but with an alteration in the Governour 's title from that of Abbot to Dean as will also appear by my Antiquities from a Charter not many years antedating the Norman Conquest by what time it seems it 's Monastick condition ceased being changed into that of a Mannor as it still is of the Arch-bishop's in which state and notion we meet with it thus described in Doomsday-Book Raculf est manerium Archiepiscopi in T. R. E. se defendebat pro. VIII sull est appretiatum XL. II. Lib. V. sol tres minutes minus I shall close concerning Reculver with that account given of the place by Leland in Mr. Philpott's Villare Cantianum The old buildings of the Abby Church continues says he having two goodly spiring steeples In the entring into the Quire is one of the fairest and most ancient Crosses that ever I saw nine foot in height it standeth like a fair column The basis is a great stone it is not wrought the second stone being round hath curiously wrought and painted the image of our Saviour Christ Peter Paul John and James Christ saith Ego sum Alpha Omega Peter saith Tu es Christus filius Dei vivi The sayings of the other three were painted majusculis literis Romanis but now obliterated The second stone is of the Passion The third stone contains the twelve Apostles The fourth hath the image of our Saviour hanging and fastned with four nails sub pedibus sustentaculum the highest part of the Pillar hath the figure of a Cross. In the Church is a very ancient Book of the Evangelies in majusculis literis Romanis and in the borders thereof is a Crystal stone thus inscribed Claudia Alepiccus In the North-side of the Church is the figure of a Bishop painted under an arch In digging about the Church they find old buckles and rings The whole print of the Monastery appears by the old wall and the Vicarage was made of the ruines of the Monastery There is a neglected Chappel out of the Church-yard where some say was a Parish-Church before the Abby was suppress'd and given to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury And yet to do the place right for antiquitie's sake I cannot leave Reculver until I have given some further account of the dignity of the Church there the Parson or Rector whereof when in being and when petit Ecclesiastical jurisdictions under foreign Commissaries as they called them was in fashion now 300. years ago and upwards had the same jurisdiction within his own Parish and Chappelries annexed as afterward and at this day the Commissary of Canterbury exerciseth there I have seen Commissions to this purpose to the Rector there for the time being both from the Arch-bishop sede plenâ and from the Prior and Covent sede vacante And it was indeed a common practice with it and such other exempt Churches as like it were Mother-Churches in the Diocess in those days When why
business of his called those he devoted to his beloved search into the mysteries of time to which by the nature of his profession he seemed the more determined he himself observing that to the studie of Antiquities his particular calling did in some manner lead him He lov'd much and much frequented the Cathedral service where after his devotions were paid he had a new zeal for the honour of the House walking often in the Nave and in the more recluse parts not in that idle and inadvertent posture nor with that common and trivial discourse with which those open Temples are vulgarly profan'd but with a curious and observant eye to distinguish the age of the buildings to sift the ashes of the dead and in a word to eternize the memory of things and Men. His visits within the City were to find out the Ancestors rather than the present inhabitants and to know the genealogie of houses and walls and dust When he had leisure to refresh himself in the Suburbs and the fields it was not meerly for digestion and for air but to survey the British bricks the Roman ways the Danish hills and works the Saxon Monasteries and the Norman Churches At the digging up foundations and other descents into the bowels of the earth he came often to survey the Workmen and to purchase from them the treasure of Coins Medals and other buried reliques of which he informs us that many were found in almost all parts of the City some of which came to his hands Whenever he relaxt his mind to any other recreation it was to that of shooting with the long bow which no doubt he lov'd as much for the antiquity as for the health and pleasure of that manly sport He forgets not to give a worthy commendation of it to confess himself grounded in a good opinion of Archery and not unwilling to vindicate the undervaluing of it with other Men. He recommends to the Reader a judicious Elogie on this England's antient glory by Mr. John Bingham in his Notes upon Aelian's Tacticks which because the Book was dear and scarce he presents a true copy of that whole passage This was his diversion but his more constant delight was in classic Historians in old Manuscripts leiger-Leiger-books Rolls and Records Which made him so quickly known to be a man of use and service to his Country that upon the great questions in descent of families tenure of estates dedication of Churches right of tithes and all the history of use and custom he was consulted as a Druid or a Bard. While appeal to his judgment and deference to it satisfied contending parties and stopt litigious suits This honour and trouble done to him he modestly owns in the Epilogue to his Countrymen where he mentions the recourse which some of them had to him for satisfaction and information rejoycing to give content to them and others And truly I know no one part of humane learning that can render any Man a more agreeable Companion and a more beneficial friend than this knowledge of places times and people Whoever is thus accomplisht can never want information to strangers instruction to neighbours and a turn of diversion and profit to all society If he have prudence and good nature he may be as Mr. Somner was the Oracle of his Country But the soul of our Author thought it too narrow a Province to resolve the doubts of private Men and therefore would satisfie the whole inquisitive world Hence when he had digested his elaborate collections made for the honour of that ancient Metropolis and his good Affection to Antiquities he dedicates them in a humble unaffected stile to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury had them licens'd by his Chaplain Guil. Bray Octob. 23. 1639. aud the next year publisht under this title The Antiquities of Canterbury or a survey of that ancient City with the Suburbs and Cathedral containing principally matters of Antiquity in them all c. Sought out and publisht by the industry and good will of William Somner London 1640. 4â— In his Preface with wit and learning he celebrates the knowledge of ancient things confesses his own thoughts and affections to lie that way and owns the encouragement of worthy Friends of whom he names Dr. Casaubon one of the Prebendaries of the Church and Thomas Denne Esq This accurate performance is the more laudable because he could find no way but what he made There had indeed been two discourses of the like nature Spot's History of Canterbury mention'd by Bale and Collections of the Antiquities of Canterbury by Iohn Twine to which he refers in his Comment de rebus Albionicis but both these were lost to the use of our Author and we do not hear they are yet recovered So as he had no one writer to transcribe or imitate but all the labour and glory were his own And indeed this difficult honour is the reward of true Antiquaries they tread in steps unknown and bring to light the hidden things of past ages While most other Authors write over again in new words and do not discover but only represent In this useful book he forgets not to justifie his own profession He enquires into the institution of Notaries proves Ecclesiastical Courts to be Courts of Record c. He often shews his duty and zeal to his Mother the Church of England defends her discipline and justifies her constitution in his learned remarks on Church government on Archbishops on privilege of the Clergy on dedication of holy places mischief of Impropriations and such other subjects on which by the best of arguments reason and authority he vindicates the establishment which then began to shake And truly this justice must be done to Antiquities and the Church of England None have been perfect Masters of the one but what have been true Sons and servants to the other It was eminently so in those great names Camdeâ— Spelman Twisden Marsham Dugdals And might I mention the living I know many who by improvement in these studies have in the same way settled their judgment and improv'd their zeal For indeed there is a natural reason for this effects a good cause must appear best to those who look farthest back upon it Our Church cannot have more genuine Sons than those who by research into the primitive state of things can refute the impudence of those abroad who pretend to Antiquity and can expose the ignorance of those at home who affect Innovation These Men can stand in the ways and see the old paths and are fit guides to those who are but of yesterday and know nothing But of one providence which attended this work I must remind you It was done in such a juncture as preserv'd the memorial of many Epitaphs Inscriptions and proper observations which otherwise had soon been lost to all succeeding ages For immediately began that Rebellion and Sacrilege which
plundred and defac't most of the Cathedral Churches and among other sad examples of popular phanatic fury by the instigation of Richard Culmâ—r call'd in contempt Blew Dick the same I think who procur'd an Order from the House of Lords to Arch-bishop Lâ—ud in the Tower Feb. 4. 1642. to have the Rectory of Chartham conferr'd on him void by the death of Dr. Isaaâ— Bargrave Dean of Canterbury to which his Majesty by Letters recommended that Loyal sufferer Mr. Iohn Readingâ— this stately Cathedral was storm'd and pillag'd the beautified windows were broke the Tombs of Princes and Prelates were ravag'd and every graceful ornament despoil'd So that haâ—â— noâ— Mr. Somner took a faithful transcript before the originals were thus eras'd all had been lost in ignorance and oblivion The like providence has often watcht over and preserv'd many monuments of Antiquity just before the fatal ruine of them The days of defolation were coming on when that excellent Antiquary Mr. Iohn Leland obtain'd a commission from Henry 8 An. Dom. 1533. to authorise him to have access to all the Libraries of Cathedrals Abbles Priories and all other places wherein Records and ancient writings were repos'd for collecting and transcribing whatever pertain'd to the history of the Nation By virtue of this power he transmitted the knowledge of many Manuscripts and other evidences which might have been dissperst by the dissolutions which followed in the years 1536. and 1537. Thus the indefatigable Mr. Roger Dodsworth just before the late destructive wars transcrib'd most of the Charters and other Manuscripts then lying in St. Marie's tower in York which tower was soon after blown up and all those sacred remains were mingled with the common dust and ashes Thus again the worthy Mr. William Dugdale after honour'd and preferr'd for his perfection in these studies search'd over all the Manuscript Books original Charters old Rolls and other evidences relating to the Cathedral of St. Paul in London copied out the monumental Inscriptions and procur'd Sculptures of the whole Fabric and all the parts of it about the year 1656. when that Mother Church was converted into a stable and ten years after to a heap of rubbish So that had not that Antiquary drawn the image as it were before the loss of the original all had been forgot but what tradition had most imperfectly convey'd to us Thus are Antiquaries if not inspir'd yet guided by the counsel of Providence to remit to posterity the memorial of things past before their final period It was thus our Author recorded that flourishing beauty of holiness in that critical season which had it been omitted the Church had soon been lost within it's own walls I cannot forbear to recommend to you that ingenious Poem which on this occasion was wrote by Mr. Charles Fotherby Grandson of a worthy Dean of that Church It is inscrib'd Iâ—dâ—reptionem Metrâ—politicae Ecclesâ—e Christi Cantuariensis ad fidissimum antique probitatis virum deque Clero Anglicano optimè meritum Gulielmum Somnerum Heâ— lapidum vener anda strues sic corruis Aedes Sâ—â—rilegae has audent sic temerare manus 〈◊〉 fene strarum fracta est 〈…〉 Amplius vitreos nec pia turba stupet Caeruleo quoties me pictus daemon amictu Terruit Huic rabies Culmeriana favet Hinc quantum nostro Somnero Ecclesia debet Hic raptas nulla lege recenset opes Hic priscum templiâ— instaurat honorem Integra sunt scriptis monumenta suis. Pro veris hic molitur chartacea tempâ—a Et solidum marmor picta columna refert Vel templum pinxisse pium est Exempla nepotes Quae seri plorent quaeque imitentur habent Urbs satis antiqua haec non te Somnere silebit Ingrata ob librum ni velit esse tuum Nomine tu portas urbis signasque plateas Per te distinctas novimus ire vias This is but a part I refer you to the whole Poem as inserted in the Monasticon out of pure respect to Mr. Somner There were not wanting other pens to celebrate this first performance of our Author It has a just character given by a proper judge the learned Dr. Meric Casaubon a pious and laborious work and highly useful not only to those who desir'd to know the state of that once flourishing City but to all that were curious in the ancient English history The best Topographer since Camden when he comes to the Roman station at Canterbury does for its modern splendor and glory refer us to courteous Mr. Somner's description of it a very rational Gentleman c. Mr. Kilburne in his survey of Kent does only briefly touch upon the City of Canterbury because Mr. William Somner had so elaborately judiciously and fully wrote of the same that there was left but little if any thing observable which he had not there set down And Mr. Philpot who had reason to envy him breaks into this acknowledgement Canterbury hath so exactly in all the parts and limbs of it been describ'd and survey'd by Mr. Somner that I should exceedingly eclipse the labours of so industrious a Pen if I should go about to pourtray that in any contracted landskip which hath been before represented to the publick pencilled out in so large and exquisite a volume As this was the most ancient royal City and the first Episcopal Church of the Saxon Christians so had they both a new precedence in this honour they were the first whose Antiquities were publisht to the world And how few have been since conform'd to their example The history of St. Paul's Cathedral in London from its foundation c. is an absolute performance And the history of the Church of Peterburg will be it's everlasting monument But beside these two I know of none but mean attempts The historical account of the original increase and present state of St. Peter's or the Abby Church of Westminster is little more than a bundle of Epitaphs and Inscriptions The remarkable Antiquities of the City of Exeter are a dry collection full of mistakes The history of the Bishops and Bishoprick of Winchester with a description of that City I presume to be an imperfect work and therefore not publisht The brief account of the Monuments of the Cathedral of Norwich was wrote for private use and seems more to fear than to deserve an Edition The antient rites and Monuments of the Monastical and Cathedral Church of Durham is an ignorant and pitiful Legend The history of St. Cuthbert with the Antiquities of the same Church of Durham was drawn by a much better hand but the Edition of it that has crept abroad is false and spurious We expect the Author 's own exact and neat original to be publisht with fit notes and illustrations by an ingenious person of singular industry and great progress in these studies I hear of some others who are now designing the Antiquities of York
was so industrious as literally to answer his own name He had indeed with great charge and pains collected sufficient copies to have made up a second Tome which lay dead in the hands of his Executors till for a considerable sum they were purchas'd from them by that generous promoter of learning the right Reverend Father in God Iohn Fell Bishop of Oxford by whose encouragement some were publisht and by whose never enough lamented death others remain in private hands I have seen the following copies 1. Willielmus Malmsburiensis de Antiquitate Glastoniensis Ecclesiae ejusque Abbatibus Ex Libro Roberti Cotton quem ipsi dono dedit Tho. Allen Aug. 12. 1672. exam collat cum alio Manuscripto libro quem Richardus Tychburn eques Baronettus dedit Paulo Robinsono qui eandem inscripsit Bibliothecae S. Gregorianae Duaci Iul. 15. 1651. 2. Invictissimi Anglorum Franciaeque Regis Henrici quinti ad ejus filium Christianissimum Regem Henricum sextum vita per Titum Livium de Frulovisiis Ferrariensem edita Ex Libro Cottoniano collat cum alio Libro Manuscripto in Bibl. Bened. Cantab. 3. Historia de tempore primaevae inchoationis sedis Episcopalis Wellensis ejusdem Episcopis de Episcopis in sede Bathoniensi 4. Fragmentum Annalium Saxonum ab An. 726. ad An. 1055. 5. Fragmentum Annalium de rebus ad Hiberniam spectantibus ab An. 994. ad An. 1177. To most of these copies is a Postscript by the Amanuensis Mr. Ralph Iennings wherein he acknowledges the receipt of several sums of mony for his reward in transcribing and collating the said copies and promises to compare them with the original when desir'd What honour to the nation had it been if these and many other copies had been publisht in the same method with the former Volumes I am sure we have since had no one Edition of Historians with that exactness and that grandeur Nor can we hope for any so correct and so august till the same measures be taken of several hands joyning in the same work For any one undertaker has either not opportunity to discover all copies or not leisure to collate them or not the advantage of attending the press for correction or not patience to draw up what is the main benefit of a large book a full and faithful Index So that we have lame and inacâ—â—rate Editions for want of the wisdom of our forefathers to assist one another It is by this mutual help that the Societies in France give us such absolute Impressions And could we resume that practise here at home we should infinitely advance the good of letters and the glory of Britain I detract not from the public services of Mr. Fulman Dr. Gale and Mr. Wharton who seem to have done as much as private men can do Mr. Somner's reputation was now so well establisht that no Monuments of Antiquity could be farther publisht without his advice and helping hand Therefore when the noble Sir Henry Spelman had encourag'd Mr. Dugdale to joyn with Mr. Dodsworth to collect and publish the Charters and Monuments of Religious houses and had communicated to them his own originals and transcripts of the foundations in Norfolk and Suffolk when Mr. Dugdale in Oxford had got many materials from the Bodleian and College Libraries and in France had gathered from the papers of Du-Chesne several memorials of our Priories Alien When Mr. Dodsworth had preserv'd all that related to Yorkshire and most Northern Counties when they had both searcht the Tower of London the Cotton Library and other Archives they invited Mr. Somner to assist in that immense labour who return'd them the Charters of Christ-church and St. Augustin's in Canterbury with the ichnography of the Cathedral the draught of the Monastery and other Sculptures furnisht them with the original Charter of King Stephen to the Abby of Feversham then in his hands and inform'd them in many other queries relating to the City and County and then accepted the office impos'd upon him of bearing a peculiar part of the burden by translating all the Saxon originals and all the English transcripts from the Itinerary of Leland and other Records into plain and proper Latin a necessary and useful ornament to those admirable volumes Which service Sir Iohn Marsham commemorates in his learned Propylaeum There assisted in this work a man of the greatest knowledge in our Antiquities William Somner of Canterbury who has rendred into latin all the Saxon and the English of Leland To whose Glossary lately publisht with the English Historians the Reader is refer'd if any barbarous word creates him trouble The same person is now preparing for the press a curious Saxon Dictionary The first Volume of this Monasticon was publisht London 1655. The book which now stands in the Library of the Church of Canterbury has inserted after the Propylaeum a printed leaf in folio containing six copies of verses made by Kentish men in commendation of Mr. Dodsworth Mr. Dugdale and Mr. Somner who are there said to be the joint collectors of that glorious work The second Volume was deferr'd as a punishment to the ingrateful world to the year 1661. A third Volume of Cathedral and Collegiate Churches with Additaments to the two former was publisht An. 1673. In these books are promiscuously compris'd the most Authentic because most genuine and inartificial History of England There be materials enough disperst in several hands to complete a fourth Volume Dr. Hicks recites the title of many Charters in the Archives of the Church of Worcester of which he says none are inserted in the Monasticon I have seen many originals and Transcripts of omitted Charters and Monastic Annals in the hands of men of curiosity and public spirit who would contribute their additions to such a work when ever men of industry and courage dare to undertake it Mr. Somner's friends knew how farther to employ a useful man They observ'd it impossible to cultivate any language or recommend it to the industry of learners without the help of some Dictionary for a standing oracle in obscure and dubious words This was yet wanting to the Saxon language and was the reason why so few were masters of it For men care not to travel without a guide in lands unknown This was a burden that wanted heart and shoulders equal to it but they could impose it on none more able than Mr. Somner on him they lay the mighty task and adjure him to perform it Above all the Counsellor of his studies Dr. M. Casaubon us'd all his interest of friendship to press him to this labour as he thus informs us When Mr. Somner by several essays on the Saxon tongue had sufficiently prov'd himself a master of it I ceas'd not then to importune him that he would think of compiling a Saxon Dictionary by which work I did assure him he would best merit of that language and would receive infinite thanks from all that were studious
the dissolved Church But he would accept of nothing from those who had no right to give choosing rather to suffer affliction He could influence his whole family to the same principles Both his brothers were true and zealous in the same cause Iohn who was afterwards Wood-Reve to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and George a Major in the Militia of Kent who appearing at the head of a party in the last effort which was made by the Royalists in that County 1648. engag'd the rebels at Wye with very unequal force and tho' he might have safely retir'd or secur'd his life by asking he fought on and fell with honour Our Author's profession and genius had less adapted him for arms but he was no less zealous to assert the rights of the Crown and the Laws of the land by all the means which his capacity could use When no endeavours could stop the madness of the people nor save the effusion of Royal blood he could no longer contain himself but broke into a passionate Elegy The insecurity of Princes considered in an occasional meditation upon the King 's late sufferings and Death Printed in the year 1648. 4â—â— And soon after he publisht another affectionate Poem to which is prefixt the Pourtraicture of Charles the first before his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and this title The Frontispice of the King's book opened with a Poem annexed The insecurity of Princes c. 4 to He waited all opportunities to serve his banisht Prince but it was the fate of the honest Gentry to be disappointed in all attempts and draw down the greater persecution upon their own heads Mr. Somner had his share of sufferings from the jealous powers and among other hardships was imprison'd in the Castle of Deal for endeavouring to get hands to petition for a Free Parliament which he foresaw would restore the Church and King Within a month or two this method blesst by providence gave liberty to him and all the Nation If we next consider his zeal and affection to the Church of England we shall find them arising from a sense of conscience that no threats or flatteries could move His own primitive spirit inclin'd him to the Doctrine and discipline of true Antiquity and made him naturally averse to change and innovation He helpt to sustain the old foundations as far as his strength and art could do and when he found they must be overthrown he was content to be involv'd in the common ruines He murmured not but made a soft complaint that he was overtaken by the impetuous storm and necessitated to betake himself to other thoughts chiefly how he might secure himself against the fury in warding off the danger c. Yet his cares were more for the public interest than for his own fortunes as Keeper of the Archives he had been allway faithful in the trust committed to him But sacrilege and rapine when they had devour'd the holy things would have embezled or destroy'd all the Deeds and Records that convey'd and confirm'd them This was the practice of those blest Reformers At Peterburgh in April 1643. a Regiment of horse under Colonel Cromwell forc'd open the Church doors tore in pieces the Common-Prayer books took away the leiger-Leiger-book of the Church broke into the Chapter-house ransackt the Records broke the seals tore the writings and left the floor cover'd over with torn papers parchments and seals About the same time a party under command of the Lord Brooks storm'd and took the Cathedral Church of Lichfield broke and shot down all the ornaments of it and cast into flames all the Registers Charters Books and Vestments At Worcester Septemb. 24. 1643. the Army under command of the Earl of Essex prophan'd the Cathedral rifled the Library with the Records and Evidences of the Church The like outrages were committed in the Cathedral of Canterbury Aug. 26. 1642. by the countenance of Colonel Edwyn Sandys and the madness of Culmer and much greater spoil had been done to the Muniments and Histories of the Church if the courage and prudence of Mr. Somner had not diverted the thieves and conceal'd the treasure Some he reposited in unsuspected hands and kept others in his own custody and redeem'd others from the needy soldiers who like the old woman with Tarquin would have burnt them if the price had not been given Soon after professing That his great care should now be to secure and rescue old Records from that scorn neglect and contempt cast upon them in the days of so much novelty Nor did he only preserve the writings but other ornaments of the desolated Church Particularly when the beautiful Font in the nave of that Cathedral built by the right Reverend Iohn Warner Bishop of Rochester late Prebendary of Canterbury and consecrated by Iohn Lord Bishop of Oxon. 1636. was pull'd down and the materials carried away by the rabble he enquir'd with great diligence for all the scatter'd pieces bought them up at his own charge kept them safe till the King's return and then delivered them to that worthy Bishop who reedified his Font and made it a greater beauty of holyness giving to Mr. Somner the just honour to have a daughter of his own first baptized in it This Prelate was he whom the Fanatics of that age condemn'd for a covetous man His memory needs no vindication but give me leave to mention this certain relation of him When in the days of usurpation an honest friend paid a visit to him and upon his Lordship's importunity told him freely the censures of the world upon him as of a close and too thrifty temper the Bishop produc'd a Roll of distressed Clergy whom in their ejectments he had reliev'd with no less than eight thousand pounds and enquir'd of the same friend whether he knew of any other the like objects of charity Upon which motion the Gentleman soon after by letter recommended a sequestrâ—d Divine so whom at first address he gave one hundred pounds Let me go on and tell you that by his last Will An. 1666. he left a personal estate to build an Hospital for the maintenance of twenty Widows the Relicts of Orthodox and loyal Clergymen to each an exhibition of twenty pounds annual and fifty for a Chaplain to attend upon them He gave one thousand pounds to encrease the Library of Magdalan College Oxon. five hundred pounds to the Library at Rochester eight hundred to his Cathedral Church in addition to two hundred which he had before given one thousand and fifty pounds to the repair of St. Paul's in London two thousand to the buying in of Impropriations within the Diocâ—â—â— of Râ—chester twenty pounds to the Church of St. Clement â—â—nes twenty to Brâ—â—â—ly and a yearly pension to St. â—â—onyse Bâ—ckchurch and four score pounds yearly for the maintenance of foâ—â— Scholars of the Scotch Nation in Baliol Câ—ll-Oxon All this was the charity of one single Prelate who was depriv'd of his Ecclesiastic revenues
learned ashes should lye without a letter on them that he who rais'd the memory of so many great names should himself sleep in a place forgotten and after all his labours to eternize the tombs and epitaphs of others should have no such decent ceremony paid to his own dust Sure the time will come when some grateful monument shall be erected for him either by some one of his family whom providence shall enable to pay that duty or by some one generous lover of Antiquities or by that Capitular body to whom he did such great service and such great honour He was twice married His first wife was Mrs. Elisabeth Thurgar born of a good family in Cambridgeshire with whom he liv'd in love and peace about thirty years and had by her four children three daughters and one son all dead His second wife was Barbara daughter of Mr. Iohn Dawson a Kentish Gentleman a great sufferer in the long Rebellion by whom he had one daughter that died unmarried and three sons of which two are now living William Somner M. A. late of Merton Coll. Oxon. now Vicar of Liminge in Kent our worthy friend and Iohn who practises Chirurgery with good repute in those parts His last wife is now the mourning Relict of Mr. Henry Hâ—nnington late Vicar of Elham His many well selected books and choice Manuscripts were purchas'd by the Dean and Chapter who knew the great value of them and what a noble addition they would make to the public Library of that Church where they now remain an inestimable treasure The catalogue of his Manuscripts I will subjoin to his life in the same order and words wherein you have transmitted the account not doubting your care and exactness in it Many of his notes and looser papers were carried from his study to the Audit-house within the precincts of Christ-Church where they were unfortunately burnt by a fire which hapned in that place soon after his death By this and other accidents his letters and many memorials of his life are lost Had they continued to us we should have better trac'd his friendship and correspondence with most of the men of honour and learning in that age From the obscure hints that now remain I shall mention some of them First Arch-bishop Laud by whose favour and goodness he subsisted in his place and profession who made great use of him in his Articles and Injunctions sent to the French and Dutch congregations in those parts An. 1634. and in many regulations of the Diocese and Cathedral An. 1636. For which dutiful assistance Mr. Somner was publicly charg'd by those foreigners as accessory to their troubles and he bore from all Schisfmatic parties a greater share of calumny and persecution for being in the brethren's language one of Laud's creatures The great esteem that Prelate had for him was not so much for his faithfulness and dexterity in discharge of his office as for his profound knowledge of Antiquities For as no one part of learning was unrewarded by that Great Soul so he had a most particular respect to Historians and Antiquaries Sir Henry Spelman does gratefully report him a great encourager of his Edition of the Saxon Councils Mr. Ier. Stephens by the Arch-bishop's favour was made Prebendary of Bigleswade in the Church of Linc. as a reward of assisting Sir Henry Spelman in that labour Fr. Iunius that oracle of the Northern tongues at his first coming into England was recommended to the Earl of Arundel and retain'd in his family by the interest of Dr. Laud theâ— Bishop of St. Davids Iohn son of Sir Henry Spelman dedicates to the Archbishop his Latin Saxon Psalter and celebrates him for a Preserver of ancient Manuscripts and a Patron of the Saxon tungue The same excellent Prelate countenanc'd the like studies of Mr. Somner and made use of his assistance in collecting many of those various Manuscripts which he sent hither to adorn our Bodley Archives of which eighty at least are purely on the subject of National Antiquities And it is probable our Author was employ'd further in compiling or digesting that large book in vellam fairly written containing the Records which are in the Tower and concern the Clergy ab anno 20. Edw. 1. ad an 14. Edw. 4. which book the Arch-bishop got done at his own charge and left it in his study at Lambeth for posterity Iune 10. 1643. This was the prudence and honour of that Governour to consider useful and beneficial men and should indeed be the spirit of all Patrons to respect such as can serve them and the public For this dependance and these favours Mr. Somner was humbly grateful Of whom says he to speak is not a task for my pen I leave it to posterity hereafter and to better abilities to set forth his constant piety great wisdom and spotless justice Horobert what all men take unto themselves a liberty to speak of him I shall be hold to commemorate that never to be forgotten gift of his to the University Library of Oxford of an innumerable multitude of choice and rare Manuscripts with his great care and cost gathered from all parts not only of this kingdom but also of the whole world Arch-bishop Vsher may be justly esteem'd the next friend and Patron of Mr. Somner How infinite the learning and how large the goodness of this Prelate is not to be here observ'd It is only proper to remark his great zeal in restoring the old Northern Antiquities buried in the Gothic and Anglo-Saxon tongues He first mov'd Sir Henry Spelman to found a Saxon Lecture at Cambridge he made the proposal in Sidney College 1640 he recommeded Mr. Abr. Wheelock to that office he advis'd him the method of reading the Saxon Gospels he gave him direction and encouragement to publish his Saxon volume and inform'd him that the Doxology in the Lords Prayer was to be found in the old translation of the Gospels into Gothic He furnisht Fr. Iunius with a MS copy of Caedmâ—n's Paraphrase on Genesis and promoted the Edition of that work which very ancient Manuscript the Bishop first communicated to Mr. Somner for an account and more legible transcript of it On which occasion his Lordship was so well convinc'd of the abilities of our Author that he gave a public approbation to his Treatise of Gavelkind he encourag'd his attempts upon a Saxon Dictionary he recommended him to Roger Spelman Esq for enjoyment of the salary settled by his Grandfather on a Saxon Lecture and did him all the other true offices of friendship Sir Thomas Cotton of Connington Com. Huntin Baronet by an hereditary love of Scholars was a great Benefactor to Mr. Somner and his studies He maintain'd an Epistolary correspondence with him gave him free access to his immense Library lent him Glossaries and other remains of ancient letters entertain'd him in his house at Westminster some months to collect and digest
he findeth storied of the one to the other with Leland and Camden restrains it to that place half a mile distant from Sandwich northward which Alfred of Beverly calls Richberge and is at this day vulgarly called Richborough or Richborough Castle For my part with Florilegus of old and Pancirollus of late I perswade my self that Sandwich Town and Haven is the place intended under those afore-recited various names and titles not the whilst excluding Richborough as the proper seat of that Legion lying in garison in a Castle there purposely erected as in respect of the ascent or high rising ground whereon it stands of singular advantage both as a specula for prospect and espial of enemies and invaders and as a Pharus or high tower to set up night lights for the sea-mens better and safer guidance into the harbour For that Richborough-Castle was ever other or of other use in the Romans time I cannot believe Gildas tells us of the Romans erecting on this coast at convenient distances Watch-towers for such uses as I have intimated that of espial and discovery In litore quoque Oceani ad meridiem quo naves eorum habebantur quia inde Barbarorum irruptio timebatur turres per intervalla ad prospectum maris collocant c. So he and with him Venerable Bede And of these Watch-towers our County had I take it five in number one at Reculver a second here at Richborough a third at Dover a fourth at Folkstone and a fifth at Limne or Lim-hill of all which hereafter in due place Some will tell you what others take up more upon fancy and fabulous traditions than good authority that Richborough was a City the streets whereof say they are as yet visible and traceable at least in the spring and summer time by the thinness of the corn on those dry and barren tracts and places of the ancient streets which they call St. Augustin's Cross. But would you truly be informed of the cause of that Why then know that there was sometime indeed a Cross there a parcel I mean of the Castle ground about the middle or center of it layd out cross-wise and set apart for the building of a Church or Chappel there and such a structure at that place really there was and it was call'd Richborough Church or Chappel One Sir Iohn Saunder a Prebendary of Wingham then a College of Secular Canons Parson of Dimchuroh and Vicar of Ash in his Will dated Anno 1509. thus makes mention of it Item I bequeath to the Chappel of Richborough one Portuys printed with a mass-Mass-book which was Sir Thomas the old Priest's Item to the use of the said Chappel 205. to make them a new window in the body of the Church A Chappel then we see there was and intended it was and whilst it stood which no doubt it did till the Reformation when many such Chappels and some Churches by reason of the cessation of Offerings Obits Trentals Anniversaries almesses and the like Sacerdotal advantages were deserted was used for a Chappel of ease to some few inhabiting at or near the Castle and with those of Fleet and Overland depended upon the head or Mother Church of Ash as that on Wingham The rubbish whereof occasioned either by the demolition or decay of the building has rendred the soil whereon it stood of that more barren and less Fruitful nature and quality than the adjacent parts And this I take it and no other was the estate of Richborough until these later times whilst Sandwich doubtless was the Town and Port by Ritupia or Rhutupia and the like So that what Florilegus ascribeth and applyeth unto Sandwich under that name I am very confident doth rightly appertain unto it as that of Iulius Cesar's hereabouts landing and of Vespasian's attempt for landing here Anno gratiae 52. Advisedly then enough as I conceive are the Fryars Carmelites at Sandwich by Harpsfield called Rutupini sive Sanduichiani And considerable it is that as between this place Rutupium and Gessoriacum i. e. Bolen more anciently called Portus Iccius as I have elsewhere at large asserted it was that in those elder the Roman times the ordinary and usual passage lay between France and England as afterward between Witsand or Whitsand and Dover and in latter times between Calais and Dover so the distance between them according to the Itinerary was 450. stadia or furlongs or as Pliny has it 50. miles which is all one And a distance it is by modern proof and observation still continuing to this very day Hither I say made those who taking ship at Bolen were bound for Britain especially if London-bound Adultâ hyeme dux antedictus Bononiam venit quaesitisque navigiis omni imposito milite observato flatu secundo ventorum ad Rutupias ex adverso sit as defertur petitque Londinum So Ammianus Marcellinus speaking of Lupicinus sent Deputy into Britain And from hence happily this place losing and letting go its former British name of Ritupium or Rutupium became of the Saxons called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. the port of London as in likelyhood the place where those that traded either to London from foreign parts or from London into foreign parts made and had their prime resort and rendevouz Milthredae verò Abbatissae de Menstre in Insulâ Thaneti dedit libertatem thelonii ac totam exactionem navigiorum sibi antecessoribus suis jure publico in Londinensi portu primitus competentem cartâque suâ confirmavit as it is in a Book of St. Augustin's Abby at Canterbury making mention of Athelbald and Offa the Mercian Kings and Saxon Monarchs whose grant and Charter is afterward vouched and confirmed by Aldbert or Ethelbert one of the Kentish Kings in the line of the Saxon Heptarchy in his Charter to Minster-Abby Now that Kentish Sandwich and not London City is here intended and to be understood is plain by this passage in the laws of Lothaire and Eadric meer Kentish Kings recorded in that famous ancient monument called Textus Roffensis concerning Commerce at that place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. i. e. If any Kentish Man shall buy any thing in Lunden-wic let him take unto him two or three honest men or the Kings Portreeve to witness c. as if indeed this were not only a Market-town but the prime and most frequented Emporium or Mart-town in Kent in those days Somewhat elder yet is the place's mention under that name to wit in the days of Arch-Bishop Brightwold or as some call him Berhtwold i. e. Illustrious Ruler to whom by Ina the West-Saxon King with the advice of his Clergy Boniface afterward the first Arch-Bishop of Mentz in Germany an English man born and first named Winfrid was sent into Kent upon an Embassy This Boniface shortly after with that Arch-Bishop's consent not easily at first obtained