say than that as the inhabitants of this Marish Countrey were of the English Saxons called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. viri palustres marsh-men or fen-men and the Region it self 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in Ethelwerd Anno 795. and Mersware as in King Offa's fore-recited Charter or Grant of Lyd to the Arch-bishop and Merseware as Hoveden if rightly printed Anno 838. so were the same inhabitants also called Limware and the whole Lath since and to this day called Shipway as in doomsday-Doomsday-book often Limwarebest and Limeware-leth and the like which if derivative from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Limware is of the same sense and signification with that other Merscware It the Port was also called Romeney Rumeney and sometime Rumenal by the same misrule that Oxney Graveney Pevensey c. are of old called Oxenel Gravenel Pevensel c. The eldest mention that I find of Romney is in that Grant or Charter of Plegmund the Archbishop in the year 895. Whence that name might come various also are the conjectures Some latine it Romanum mare as if it were sea in the Romans time Indeed much more of it formerly than at present has been under water as overflowed by the sea whence I read of Archbishop Becket's Baldwin's Boniface's and Peckham's Innings to which I may add what bears the name to this day of Elderton's Innings Wibort a Prior and his Covent of Christ-church Canterbury near upon 500. years since grant to Baldwyn Scadewey and his heirs as much lands at Mistelham in the Marish about Ebeny I take it as he could inne at his own cost against the sea gratis for the two first years and at 4d the acre per annum afterwards Others perhaps fetch it from the Saxon Rumen-ea the large water or watry place to which I subscribe though some perhaps meeting with the Tyber's ancient name of Rumon whereof Marlianus in his Topography of Rome and the etymology of it from rumino quasi ripas ruminans exedens may fancy the same etymology for this of Romney especially considering how if not the river yet the sea impatient of restraint within the channel of our narrow seas all along this coast hath been and is very apt to eat away the shore and either breaking through or swelling over the banks and walls to overwhelm and drown much of the level as the inhabitants and owners of land there find by woeful and costly experience HAVING had so much occasion to mention Appledore I may not part from hence without giving some further account both of place and name The first mention I find of it is in the year 893. when as in that fore-cited place of our Saxon Annals it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ethelwerd recounting the same story calls it if not mis-printed a Poldre for Atpoldre or Apledore according as it is also named in a Charter or Grant of it to Christ-church by one Aedsi a Priest becoming a Monk there with the consent of his Master King Cnute and his Queen in the year 1032. where also it is written Apeldre and the like before in the Charter or priviledge of K. Ethelred about the year 1006. and in doomsday-Doomsday-book where said it is to lye in Limewareleth or the Lath of the men of Limene or Lime the same which is since as was said called Shipway Since which time undoubtedly there hath been some alteration of the Laths and other divisions of our County for as there Niwenden also is said to be in the same Lath so both it and Appledore both in that elder record of Knight's-fees of Henry 3d. or Edw. 1's time and in that latter of the 13. of Queen Elizabeth exemplified by Mr. Lambard are said to be in the Lath of Scray or Sherwinhope as called at this day but of old as in Doomsday-book Wimare-lest i.e. the Lath of the men of Wye and are accordingly placed by Mr. Kilburne in his Alphabetical Kentish tables and his Survey The place the soil is moorish boggy and fenny such as our Ancestors here at home with some of their neighbours abroad have usually called Polder we have a place near Canterbury lying by the river's side of that name and another of a moorish situation at Herbaldown a word of Kilianus in his Teutonick Dictionary turned palus marina pratum littorale ager qui è fluvio out mare eductus aggeribus obsepitur i.e. a marish fenn a meadow by the shore side a field drain'd or gain'd from a river or the sea and inclosed with banks To all which qualities and properties our Appledore fully answereth being a kind of meer bogg or quagmire bordering on the water and often overlaid of it Witness the great innings securing and improving of it at several times by the care and at the charge of the Church of Canterbury whereof in their accompts and other records Whilst therefore others fetch it without all probability in my apprehension from the Saxon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 malus pomus an Appletree a plant for which the soil is nothing proper nor scarce for any other I rather would derive it from that other name Polder to which 〈◊〉 being as in the names of most places prefixed by the Saxons it was originally called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in process of time wearing out the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as since and at present more corruptly Appledore from their seat or abode at or about which place the families name of Apâ—ldorfield Some perhaps may fancy a Latin derivation of the name from appello to arrive or land and hence probably it is that some do hold the place to have been sometime a Haven or sea-town or Port and consequently a landing place or a place of ships arrival But to this I first answer that the name is not found until the Saxon times and they never used to borrow or be beholding to the Latin for any whether local or other name Next although now and of latter years that arm or aestuary of the sea flowing in by Winchelsea and Rye reach up as high as Appledore-town yet questionless of old it did not so so long ago at least as there is mention made of Appledore which out-dates the first institution and original of the Ports referred at the furthest no higher up than Edward the Confessor's time at what time had it been since and at this present a maritime place and used as an Harbour or Haven-town it could not in all probability have escaped the being taken in as a limb or member at least either as Winchelsey and Rye of Hastings or as Lyd and Promhill of Romney or some other of the Ports But no marvel that it is not it being more than likely that till some such great flood or inundation as that spoken of before hapning in the year 1287. or some other about the
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
infirmity of great men when their first thoughts have laid the scheme of any work to take occasion of proclaiming their design to raise and deceive the expectation of the world Prudence should temper this vain desire of glory An imprinted promise is a very sacred thing and men should not engage their faith to the public unless they are sure to discharge it How often are men weary of a warm resolution How oft do second thoughts correct the former and when the scene is laid it must be took away How oft do mens labours encrease upon their hands till the undertaking prove above their strength How many accidents of business sickness and mortality may intervene So as what wise man would enter into obligation when it is such a hazard whether he shall be able to pay But this mention of the few Saxon Glossographers is only to do justice to the memory of Mr. Somner by inferring what small assistance he had in so large a work He had not that easy task of adding to things invented or improving an old book but was to compose all and be properly an Author We have been taught at School to honour the Lexicon of I. Scapula and yet Vogler has call'd him the Epitomator of Henry Stephens and another eminent writer says he cannot be absolv'd from the crime of Plagiarism and concealment We admire the laborious Volumes of I. I. Hoffman and yet it is observ'd with great indignation that he has arrogated to himself the interpolated and depraved works of other men suppressing the names of the true Authors And a great Critic animadverts on him for transposing the whole Lexicon of Baudrand into the first Tome of his work Nay Baudrand himself is by Sanson accus'd of theft from his own Father without any dutiful mention of him Nothing has been more familiar than to hear Holyoak borrowed most from Rider and he from Eliot and so on But I will give you one instance which I have more lately observ'd Tho. Cooper's Thesaurus Linguae Romanae c. first publisht London 1565. greatly rais'd the reputation of that writer and is said to have prefer'd him to his great station in the Church Yet this mighty work is very little more than a pure Transcript of the Dictionarium Latino Gallicum by Charles Stephens at Paris 1553. I have collated them in most parts and find them literally the same in allmost all words and the direct order of them and in every classic phrase with this only difference that those phrases are rendred in French by Stephens and in English by Cooper whose disingenuity is much the greater because in his preface and Dedication he mentions the Bibliothece of Sir Tho. Eliot and the Thesaurus of Rob. Stephens but speaks not a word of this other Dictionary of Charles Stephens which was the copy I assure you that he transcrib'd verbatim When Mr. Somner had made an immense collection of materials in order to compile his Dictionary and had methodiz'd them in two large Volumes now remaining in the Canterbury Archives he sent up his papers to Oxford and the Impression was here made for the Author Apr. 1659. with an elegant inscription to all Students in the Saxon tongue a grateful dedication to his Patron Roger Spelman Esq and a proper useful Preface The Author and his work recommended by the ingenious verses English and Latin of Iohn de Bosco Henry Hugford Ioshua Childrey and Will. Iacob Physitian with an Appendix of the Grammar and Glossary of Aelfric And at the end of all is a Catalogue of those worthy persons who contributed to thâ— great charge of the Impression whose names and example he commends to the present age and to posterity for the perpetual honour of Philologers and as a testimony of the Author 's grateful mind Let none be offended that so excellent a work was forc'd to be thrown upon the public stock and brought up on common charity Till the men on curiosity encrease their number this must be the fate of the best books that they shall not bear the charges of their own Impression It is this has stifled the conception of many glorious designs to see exquisite Volumes thrown back upon an Author 's empty hands while Plays and Pamphlets reward the trifling writers What else was the reason that most of our old Historians were first printed beyond the seas but only that cheaper methods and quicker sale made the Editors to gain abroad what they must have lost at home What induc'd Sir Walter Raleigh to burn the second part of his admirable History but only a fordid complaint that the first five books were a burden to the printer What inclin'd Sir Henry Spelman so long to suppress the second part of his incomparable Glossary but this only that when he offer'd the copy of the first part to Bill the Kings Printer for five pounds in books that light proposal was rejected and he was forc'd to make the Impression at his own great charge How could Dr. Brian Walton have carried on those six stupendous volumes of the Biblia Polyglotta An. 1657. if there had not been a public fund and Treasurer appointed to collect and dispose the contributions of worthy men In a word it was a credit to this work of Mr. Somners that it appear'd so little the interest of the writer and deserv'd so much the charity of public benefactors Especially at a time when the oppressed Royalists were more tempted to write for bread than for glory and were drove upon a double necessity to beg for the support of themselves and the Edition of their books For this indeed is a farther honour to the work and the Author of it that it was done in the days of Anarchy and Confusion of Ignorance and Tyranny when all the Professors of true Religion and good literature were silenc'd and opprest And yet Providence so order'd that the loyal suffering party did all that was then done for the improvement of letters and the honour of the nation Those that intruded into the places of power and profit did nothing but defile the press with lying news and Fast-Sermons while the poor ejected Church-men did works of which the world was not worthy I appeal to the Manasâ—icon the Decem Scripâ—ores the Polyglot Bible and the Saxon Dictionary I need not tell of the good reception this labour met with among men of judgment nor how the great progress in the knowledge of this tongue was owing most to this one work I would onely remind you that our eminent Linguist Dr. Tho. Mareshall in the Preface to his Saxon Gospels refers the Reader upon all doubtful words to this complete Dictionary which Mr. Somner compos'd with great diligence And our first excellent Grammarian does gratefully acknowledge that he collected many critical observations which lay disperst in this work It is true this first public essay on the construction of the Saxon tongue was
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-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
for more years than he enjoy'd them He was a peculiar friend to Mr. Somner and the chief contributor to the Impression of his Saxon Dictionary his name standing in the front of those encouragers of learning Let us lastly reflect on Mr. Somner's integrity to all the world or This alone can prove Loyalty and Orthodoxy not to be the affectation of a 〈◊〉 but the conscience of a Christian. Men may profess any faith or adopt any cause but it is innocence and honesty alone that can prove it a belief and not a pretension This proof was given by Mr. Somner who in all his writings had been so plain and sincere that he would not dissemble a truth nor suggest a false invention His profession was That he loved truth the end of all science for itself and was all together anbiast with any by respects whether of vain-glory singularity or the like making it his constant endeavour that truth alone might triumph ever falshood Antiquity over novelty How do most Historians betray a partial regard to their Nation or their party How many pretenders to Antiquity have conceal'd the notice of whatever oppos'd their own fancy and rais'd the apparition of Records to justifie the cause for which they wrote Especially how do most describers of their native soil take pains to flourish and disguise and like Sir Henry Wotton's Embassador think it even a merit to lie for the honour of their Country Mr. Somner had a probity and excellence of spirit that made him abhor all such artifice and guile Let one short instance serve There were two specious traditions that seem'd much to illustrate the credit of our County 1. That the Kentish-men were the only English who maintain'd their privileges against William the Conqueror and under the conduct of Stigand Arch-bishop and Aegelfina Abbot of St. Augustaines march'd with boughs and made their composition at Swanscoâ—â—â— 2. That of all Counties Kent alone enjoy'd an immunity from the tenure of villenage a priviledge continued to them by the said Conqueror Tho for the honour of his mother County he might have been glad to defend these titles yet having found them false he scorn'd to appear an Advocate for them but refutes them as Monkish figments and politicly devis'd Mr. Somner's whole life was like his writings void of prejudice and passion he had that civility which Caesar observ'd to have been peculiar to the inhabitants of Kent and that firm resolution which made our Country-men claim an ancient privilege of being plac'd in the front of a battel He was courteous without design was wise without a trick and faithful without a reward Humble and compassionate moderate and equal never fretted by his afflictions nor elated by the favours of Heaven and good men It was his charity and purity of heart that prefer'd him to the Mastership of St. Iohn's Hospital in the suburbs of Canterbury An. 1660. In which station he did not substract from the pietance of the poor nor use any arts to rob the spittle but was tender of their persons and zealous of their rights By his interest and courage he recovered some parts of their endowment of which by the Commissioners on the Stat. 37. of Henry 8. it had been fleeced at other like places by the sacrilegious pilferies of those ravenous and wretched times It was for the same plain and open honesty that at the Restauration he was appointed Auditor of Christ-church Canterbury by the Dean and Chapter to whom he was a Father and friend more than an honorary servant He entertain'd them in his own house till their own were clear'd from the Fanatic intruders and made convenient for them He deliver'd back all their preserv'd writings inform'd them of all their late alienated lands receiv'd all their Fines and digested all accounts to universal satisfaction This settled him such an interest in that Body and all the members of it that no private man had an equal influence and authority which he never employ'd but to promote some act of charity and justice He was frequently entrusted by the Dean and Prebendaries to supervise the public School to examine Lads that should be elected King's Scholar's and upon the like trial to judge who were most fit for removal to the Universities in which his enquiries were exact and his favours were impartial His endeavours were to advance the interest and honour of the School to as high a pitch as while he was himself a member of it when his master Mr. Iohn Ludd some years before he died affirm'd he had thirty seven Masters of Arts of his own bringing up Dr. Tho. Turner the worthy Dean had a most peculiar esteem for him and paid him the frequent visits of a most familiar friend All the neighbouring Clergy whom he knew to be of good principles and honest conversation he assisted with his knowledge his interest and his free advice I remember to have often heard my Honour'd Father dwell much upon the fair character of Mr. Somner and represent him as a Patron and protector of all the regular Clergy Of his resolute and incorrupted honesty there can be no greater argument than this Among all his temptations in several offices to high and arbitrary fees among the easy advantages to be brib'd and the just expectances to be rewarded among the many opportunities of sharing in the Churches treasure and taking leases of their land among the most ready and effectual means to raise an estate and advance a family He left but a small competence which if not frugally manag'd could never have answered the support of his Widow and the education of his Children By his last Will he gave several Legacies to the poor and a kind remembrance to Mr. Stockar then Minister of St. Aelphege Canterbury In the beginning of his last illness he took an opportunity to tell his Wife that through his whole life he had never been let blood nor taken any phisic which is a just argument not only of his happy constitution but of his exact temperance and sobriety The day of his birth was the day of his death March 30. 1669. aged 63. years according to the account given by his Wife and Son who report it from tradition and some better grounds But a Certificate from the register-Register-book of St. Margaret's Canterbury under the hand of of Mr. Tho. Iohnson represents him to be baptiz'd Novemb. 5th 1598. by which his age must reach to seventy years five months c. Which length of days had allmost made him as Queen Christina said lately of her self and Rome one of the Antiquities of the City He was buried Apr. the 2. within the Church of St. Margaret's where many of his Ancestors lay interr'd His grave is distinguisht by no stone or inscription on it An omission that I presume was more owing to his own modesty than any disrepect of his surviving friends Yet I cannot but admire and lament that such