and Hornes-place Kenington in the Hundreds of Chart and Longbridge was a Mannor which alwaies related to the Crown as is intimated by the Name where lie tacitly couched some Hints of those who were Proprietaries of it And Keningbrooke which is circumscribed within the Limits of this Parish was annexed by William the Conqueror to his Royal Mannor of Wye and was looked upon as an Appendage to it and followed the Fate of it at the common Dissolution when the other was plucked away from the Patrimony of Battell Abby in which ever since the Original Donation of William the Conqueror it had been resident and was with the Mannor of Wye by Queen Elizabeth granted in the first year of her Raign to her Kinsman Henry Cary Lord Hunsdon and his Grand-child Hen. Earl of Dover not many years since passed it away by Sale to Sir Tho. Finch Father to Heneage Finch now Earl of Winchelsey in whose Revenue it is at this instant setled Bibrooke is a second Place in Kenington which claims some Consideration It was as appears by very old Evidences the Patrimony of a Family called Godwin which flourished here in the Raign of King John Henry the third and Edward the first but after this it began to wither and before the latter end of Edward the third was altogether crumbled away the last of whom that I find by publique Record to be invested in the Possession was William Godwin who enjoyed it at his Death which was in the thirty second year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 93. The next Family after this which was entituled to the Possession was Belknap but Sir Robert Belknap being infortunately attainted and banished in the tenth year of Richard the second to whose Cause and Quarrel he had wholly vowed his Life and Service and his Estate as to the principall part confiscated in which this lay involved the same Monarch in the thirteenth year of his Raign granted it to William Ellys who was at that Time one of the Conservators or Justices of the Peace of this County whose Capital Seat was at Burton in this Parish though in very old Deeds it is written Burston as being indeed the Seat of a Branch of that Family from whom it came over about the latter end of Edward the second to Ellys but in the Name of Ellys the Title of Bibrooke was not long-liv'd for about the Beginning of Henry the sixth I find it by Purchase invested in Shelley by whose Heir General it devolved in the Time of Edward the fourth to May from whom not long after it was alienated to Tilden where it continued until about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth and then the same Revolution transported the Title to Best who about the latter end of that Princesse passed it away by Sale to Hall Ancestor to Mr. Nevill Hall the present Lord of this Mansion but Burton was more constant to the Family of Ellys and remained linked to the Patrimony of that Name until that Age which bordered upon our Fathers Remembrance and then it was demised by Sale to Hall in whose Descendant Mr. Nevill Hall the Propriety is at present resident Keston in the Hundred of Rokesley belonged in the twentieth year of William the Conquerour as the Pages of Dooms-day Book inform me to Gilbert de Magninot and there it is written Cheston and continued in his Name untill the latter end of King John and then by the Heir Generall of this Family it came to be possest of Say of Says-court in Deptford but stayed not long in this Name for in the twenty fourth year of Edward the first Alexander de Cheyney dyed possest of it as appears Rot. Esc Num. 26. But in his Posterity likewise it had no long Residence for about the Beginning of Edward the third it was conveyed to Stephen de Ashway and he in the thirty eighth of this Prince obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor of Keston And here the Title fixed untill the Beginning of Henry the fourth and then it was alienated with Baston which had still the same original and successive Proprietaries with Keston to Squerris of Squerries-court in Westerham and here it made its aboad untill the latter end of Henry the sixth and then it devolved by Dorothy Daughter and Coheir of Thomas Squerrie to Richard Mervin of Fountell in Wiltshire who passed away Keston and Baston both which accrued to him upon the Division of Squerrie's Estate to Philp Reynolds and Thomas Tregarthen as his Trustees and they in the eighth year of Edward the fourth convey them both to Richard Scroope and Stephen Scroop from whom about the latter end of Edward the fourth they came to Henry Heyden Esquire and he in the first year of Richard the first as is manifest by an old Court-rol held a Court here at Keston and from him did the Propriety by the Steps of several Descents come down to that worthy Person Sir Christopher Heydon who about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth demised all his Interest in Keston and Baston to Sir Samuel Lennard whose Son Sir Stephen Lennard is still entituled to the Fee-simple of them Mr. Camden conjectures in his Britannia something of the Name of Caesar to be couched in the Etymologie of this place because at Baston adjoyning there is an ancient Camp stupendious for the heighth of double Rampiers and depth of double Ditches hardly paralleled elsewhere and questionlesse the work of many Labouring Hands Of what Capacity it was is not now exactly to be discerned much of it being overgrown with a Thicket but very vast it was as may be collected from its remains which are yet apparent And most probable it is that Camp which Julius Caesar pitched when the Britons with their united strength gave him the last Battle and then the successe being not equall to their Courage retired and gave him way to pierce into Surrey and so towards the Thames by Noviomagum or Woodcott where he planted a spatious City and standing Camp Kingsdown in the Hundred of Wrotham is spread into two Mannors called Northcourt and Southcourt both which anciently acknowledged themselves to be parcell of the Demeasne of Fitz Bernard who flourished here under the Notion and in the Degree of Barons and had this Mannor by Grant from Henry the first and with it had these priviledges annexed to it Toll and Theam Sac and Soc Furcas in Latrones Captos that is Infangthef and Outfangthef Tumbrell and Pillory and lastly Assisam Panis Cerevisiae that is a power to take Cognizance of the Weights and Measures of Bread and that Beverage which was then in use within the Precincts of this Mannor and all these were allowed to Ralph Fitz Bernard as granted before by Henry the first by the Judges Itinerant in the seventh year of Edward the first and this Man was Son to John Fitz Bernard who was rated after the value of a whole Knights Fee for his Mannor of Kingsdown as appears by Testa
wing and gaping for Breath but when Time began to invade this Family and break it into parcels one part of this Seat was sold to Sir John Baker Predecessor to Sir John Baker who is now the possessor of it but the other parts of it stayd longer in this Name for Heronden not long since sold some part of it to Mr. John Austin lately deceased and the Remainder was passed by the same conveyance to Mr. Short Pitlesden is the second which requires our Notice it gave Seat to a Family so called which remained in possession of it till Stephen Pitlesden died and left a Daughter and Heir whose Name was Julian who by marrying with Edward Guldeford made this parcel of the Revenue of that Family and here without any Interruption was the Inheritance planted till Iohn Guldeford Esquire transferred his Right by Sale to Sir Iohn Baker one of the Privy Councel to Queen Mary whose Grandchild Sir Iohn Baker Knight and Baronet Father of Sir Iohn Baker Baronet now of Sisingherst in Cranbroke did some years since alienate the possession of it to Mr. Jasper Clayton of London Mercer Lights Notinden and East Asherinden are two other Mannors in Tenterden which belonged partly to a Chauntry founded here by Iohn Light and partly to Brooke near Wye and were upon the suppression of the One and Dissolution of the Priory of Christ-church to which Brooke related granted by Henry the eighth to Sir Iohn Baker Atturney General to that Prince Edward the sixth and Queen Mary and from him are they now devolved by paternal Right to Sir Iohn Baker of Sisingherst Baronet There is a place in this Parish called Finchden which in our Grand-fathers Memory was purchased by Sir Edward Hales Ancestor of the Family of Finch from which Mr. Edward Finch now of Tenterden is originally descended which in Times of an elder Character gave Sirname to a Family called Finchden one of whom called William de Finchden was Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in the Time of Edward the third and sometimes in the old law-Law-books which have an Aspect on his reign is written Finchden and sometimes contractedly Finch and it is probable the Name was originally Finch only Den was added to it which was customary and usual in elder Times because this Family had their Dwelling in some Habitation whose Situation was near some Valley Tenterden was governed by a Port-reve or Bayley as the original Patent informs me from the thirty sixth year of Henry the sixth until the forty third year of Queen Elizabeth and then it was by Patent from that Princesse ordered to be governed by a Major and Jurates and so it hath ever since continued I had almost forgot Elarinden which is the last place of Note in Tenterden and celebrates it self to be parcel of the Mannor of Frid or Frith in Bethersden and was involved in that Revenue which did confess the Signory of the Noble Family of Mayney and was found to be in the possession of John de Mayney at his Decease which was in the fiftieth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 39. and lay couched in that Demeasne which related to this Name until the reign of Henry the sixth and then it was passed away to Darell and remained involved in the Patrimony of this Family until the seventeenth year of Henry the eighth and then it was alienated by John Darell Esquire to Sir John Hales one of the Barons of the Exchequer and from him by a Devolution of successive Descent is it now come down to Sir Edward Hales of Tunstall Baroner Tilmanston in the Hundred of Eastrie has divers Seats within the Verge and Boundaries of it not only of Reputation and Account in Respect of their own Antiquity but likewise in Relation to those Persons who were possest of them First there is North-court and Dane-court both were anciently under the Dominion of one Person and continue interwoven still though they have borrowed these several Names in Respect of their opposite Situation John de Sandherst made a Claim of Liberties in North-court the sixth year of Edward the first Christian his Daughter and Heir was married to William Langley of Knowlton who in her Right possest this Mannor and by a new Insâ—ection had the former Liberties exemplified the thirty seventh year of Edward the third Pat. 37. pars prima Memb. 21. and after that the possession of this place had by an even Line of Descent been drawn thorough this Family it did at last by an Heir General devolve to Peyton and by a Derivative Title from him does Sir Thomas Peyton of Knowlton Baronet hold the instant enjoyment of it But Dane-court was passed away by Langley to Fenell and from him by the like Transition it came over to Thomas Cox Customer of Sandwich and he by Sale invested the Interest of it in Fogge Ancestor to my Noble Friend Richard Fogge Esquire now Possessor of Dane-court a Person to whom for that Intelligence he has contributed to me in Relation to the Noble Families of Crioll and Valoignes whose Heirs General matched with Fogge and who formerly by those Alliances annexed a vast Revenue in this County to this Name I am signally obliged South-court in this Parish was in Times of eldest Inscription as appears by a Survey of this Parish taken in the eighteenth year of Edward the third and which lies now in the Hands of Mr. Anneslow Gardiner of Haling in Croyden Sir John de Tittesden but certainly the possession was not long resident here for not long after I find the Lord Martin of Devon to be Proprietary of it from whom in the reign of Henry the sixth the Right of it was by Sale conducted down to John White after made Sir John White a Merchant of the Staple at Canterbury and when this Name deserted the possession of this place the next who succeeded in the subsequent Series was Cox from whom by purchase the Right came into Fogge and from that Name by the Fate of Sale was it made the Inheritance of Peyton from whom by Communicative Derivation and Descent it is incorporated into the Demeasne of Sir Thomas Peyton Toniford in the Hundred of West-gate did afford both Seat and Sirname to a Family which came under that Appellation and there is mention in the Book of Aide of John Toniford who lived here about the beginning of Edward the third but this Family was worn out about the latter part of that Prince's Reign And the next in Order who was Lord of the Fee was Sir Thom is Fogge who flourished here in the reign of Edward the third and Richard the second and after it had been for sundry Descents fixt in this Name and Family the Interest which they had here was by purchase brought over to claim Vane for its Possessor where likewise the Title was as unstable for not many years are consumed since it was alienated from their Revenue and made by Sile the Demeasne of Captain Collin
they were carryed away by Purchase to the noble Family of Stafford Dukes of Buckingham and Earls of Stafford in which Name they had not long continued when Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham in the thirteenth year of Henry the eighth being convicted of high Treason for consulting with a Wizard and a Monke touching the Succession of the Crown forfeited his Estate here and his Life together and then King Henry the eighth by royall Concession planted the Propriety of these Places in Sir John Rainsford one of his Privie Councell and his Son Sir Henry Rainsford passed them away to Sir Henry Isley and he having infortunately enwrapped himself in the unhappy Design of Sir Thomas Wiat an Attempt which was plausible and specious enough in the Intention of it as being enamel'd and guilded over with the glorious Pretences of asserting the Orthodox Religion and defending the publick Libertie against the Eruption of Strangers but very ruinous and disastrous in the Effects and Consequences of it as was very visible upon this worthy Person who in the first year of Queen Mary was convicted of high Treason and executed at Sevenoke where he dyed with as much Constancy and Alacrity of Spirit as he had lived with Integrity upon whose untimely Exit the Crown seised upon his Estate and that Princesse in the same year he was destroyed granted his Estate here to Sir John Baker her Attorney Generall from whom the Title and possession of Berming is flowed down to his Successor Sir John Baker Baronet who in Right of this Descent is now entituled to the Patrimony of both these Mannors Halls Place in this Parish gave Seat and Sirname to a Family so stiled who in ancient Deeds were written At-Hall from their Habitation at some more eminent Mansion but before the end of Edward the third this Family was vanished and the Signory of this Place surrendered to Colepeper of Preston yet some part of it I find by old Deeds was passed away to Clive which Jo. Clive about the seventh of Henry the fourth alienated to Peter Colepeper and he in the tenth year of the abovesaid Prince conveyed Hall Place to Sampson Mascall originally extracted from a place called Mascalls in Brenchley and in this Family the Possession was fixed untill the latter end of Queen Elizabeth and then it was conveyed to Alchorne the Cradle or Fountain of whose Family was at Alchorne in Rotherfield and in this Name is the Fee-Simple of this Place still resident though the use and profits of it be for a long Series of years made over to Mr ......... Cook late of Stepney and his Descendants West-Bere stiled so in Opposition to Bere in St. Margarets nere Dover with the Appendant Mannor of Hopland is situated in the Hundred of Blengate the last of which was not called so from the growth and production of Hops there formerly planted as the vulgar Tradition affirms the Introduction of Hops into this Nation being not of that Antiquity but from a Family exceeding ancient who as appears by Deeds without Date were in elder Times possessors of it but before the end of Edward the first this Family was mouldered away and and then the eminent Family of St. Lawrence who likewise were Lords of West-Bere by purchase from Hugh de Bere and about the latter end of Edward the first were invested in the Tenure of both claimed the propriety and Thomas St. Lawrence and John de Swalclive paid Reliefe for their Lands at West-Bere and Hopland as the Book of Aid instructs us in the twentieth year of Edward the third and in this Family of St. Lawrence did the Propriety of both these Mannors reside untill the Beginning of Henry the sixth and then Hopland was conveyed to John Isaac in which Name it was resident untill the latter End of Queen Elizabeth and then it was conducted down by Sale to acknowledge Tourney of Saltwood and he by a like Alteration transplanted his Interest in it not many years since into Steed but West-Bere came by the Daughter and Heir of this Family to Apulderfield and again by the Female Heir of Sir William Apulderfield to Sir John Phineux and he setled it on his second Brother the Heir Generall of whose Descendant not many years since being wedded to Sir John Smith it is now become the Possession of his Grandchild Philip Viscount Strangford Bersted in the Hundred of Eythorne was the Seat of the noble Family of Crevequer before they removed to Leeds Castle their Seat and Residence and in Doomsday Book where there is a particular Account taken what Mannors Hamon de Crevequer was possest of in the twentieth of William the Conquerour it is written Briested which could not be meant of Brasted which was the Signory and Possession of Gilbert de Clare in the Reign of Henry the first as appears by the Records of Christ-Church in Canterbury where this Earl and his Successors are said to hold the Mannor of Brasted as Senescalli Archiepiscopi Cantuariensis in sua Inthronizatione whereas this Mannor had never any such Tenure united to it and remained parcell of the Patrimoniall Demeasne of Crevequer untill Hamon de Crevequer having embarked himself in the Quarrell of Simon de Montfort Earl of Leicester made Shipwrack of his Estate here at Bersted which was wrung from him by Henry the third and though he was pardoned by the Pacification of Killingworth made in the fiftyeth of that Princes Reign yet I do not find that he was ever reinvested in Bersted so that it remained in the Crown untill the tenth year of Edward the second and then it was exchanged for other Land with Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer but he having by an ambitious Defection forfeited this and much other Land in the fifteenth year of Edward the second it lapsed back again by an early Confiscation to the Crown and lay involved there until the fourth year of Edward the sixth and then being looked upon as wrapped up in the Mannor of Leeds Castle as indeed it had been in Appendage unto that and the Castellans of it it was granted at that Time to Sir Anthony St. Leger from whom it descended to his great Grandchild Sir Warham St. Leger who about the latter end of King Iames exchanged it with Sir Richard Smith for Salmeston in the Isle of Thanet and two thousand pound in Money to poise the Exchange and make the Ballance even and he not long after passed it away to Sir Thomas Colepeper of Hollingbourn who hath lately enstated it on his Son and Heir Sir Cheyney Colepeper who is entituled to the present Signory of it Milgate in this Parish was anciently a Mannor though now by Intermission the Homage is lost and shrunk into Disuse and Oblivion It was in Ages of a more Antiquity the possession of a Family called Coloigne Robert de Coloigne was possest of it and the Record taken after his Decease will inform you that he dyed seised of it in the thirty fifth year of Edward
Poynings died seised of both these Mannors in the thirteenth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc 148. whose Sole Heir Elianor was married to Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland whose Successor Henry Earl of Northumberland in the Reign of Henry the eighth in the twenty ninth year of that Prince bequeathed by Testament these Mannors to the Crown where they lay involved till the same Prince by Grant made them the Inheritance of Sir Roger Cholmeley one of his Judges who not long after alienated them to Sir Martin Bowes and he had Issue VVilliam Bowes who concluded in two Daughters and Coheirs Elizabeth married to Mr. VVilliam Buggin Esquire and Ann married to Sir Bdmund Fowler who shared his Patrimony but Northcrey and Rokesley upon the partition was annexed to the Demeasn of Buggin from whom it is descended to Mr. William Buggin his Son in whom the Possession is now resident Jackets Court in this Parish was a place which gave Seat and Sirname to Gentlemen of this Name I have seen an old Roll of Kentish Arms wherein Jacket of Jackets Court is recorded but the Arms were of so antiquated an Aspect that I could not distinguish neither the Colour nor Charge from Jacket by Sale it went away to Switzer a Name of signal Antiquity in this Track though never under the repute of Gentlemen one of which in the Reign of Q. Elizabeth conveyed it to Edmund Cook Esquire whose Son Mr. Lambert Cook passed it away to Alderman Leman and he surrendred his Right in it to Whiffen by whose Daughter and Heir it is lately come to be the Inheritance of Mr. Thomas Bales Esquire Barrister at Law Rokesley and Northcrey were formerly two distinct Parishes till Cardinal Reginald Pole when he visited Kent which was in the year 1557 finding it convenient by reason of their Situation and the narrowness of the Demeasn to lay them together united them into one so that Rokesley the Church by disuse being languished into decay hath been ever since esteemed an Appendage to Northerey Pauls Crey or Paulins Crey lies in the Hundred of Rokesley and gave Sirname to Sir Simon de Crey who was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports in the third and fourth year of Edward the first and afterwards in the twenty eighth year of that Princes Reign accompanied him in his victorious Expedition into Scotland and is in the Register of those Kentish Cavaleirs who were embarqued in that successfull Design After this Family was worn away Champneys a Name of celebrated Note in the County of Somerset was Lord of the Fee Hugh de Champneys is mentioned in the Book of Aid to have paid some respective supply for this Mannor at the making the Black Prince Knight in twentyeth year of Edward the third and Champneys Field so called at this day which lies in Sir Thomas Walsinghams Park and hath been for many Descents the Walsinghams was belonging to this man From Champneys it came down to Scroop a Noble and Ancient Family extracted out of the North-Riding of Yorke-shire Sir Henry le Scroope died possest of it in the fifteenth year of Richard the second and Thomas Scroope after him held it at his Decease which was in the fifteenth year of Edward the fourth after Scroope was gone out I find Talbot which was in the Reign of Henry the seventh to be fixed in the Possession of this place and is in some Deeds written Talbot of Grafton by whose Daughter and Heir it devolved to Danbie in the time of Henry the eighth descended from the Danbies of Middleham Castle in Yorke-shire in which Family after the Possession for divers years had inhabited it was about threescore years since sold away to Mr. James Smith of London who deceasing without Issue Male this by Mary his Sole heir is come to acknowledge Mr. Edward Waller of Beaconsfield Esquire for its instant Possessor Kitchin-Grove is a small Mannor in this Parish which for many Ages since was the Demeasn of Ferby written in ancient Deeds Ferbey from whom sundry Descents since it came by purchase to Heron but was not of that continuance here as in the former Family for after some fifty years Possession it was in the Reign of Henry the seventh alienated to Walsingham of Scadbury Ancestor to Sir Thomas Walsingham in whom the Proprietie of it is at this instant resident John Dynley had license here in the sixteenth year of Edward the third to build a Bridge over the River leading to his Demeasn Land at Hockenden in this Parish which with Walkelins hath been for above two hundred years the Inheritance of Sir Leonard Ferby and his Predecessors Pat. Anno 16. Edw. tertii Part. prima Votes-Crey in the Hundred of Rokesley taketh that Denomination from one Vote the owner thereof in the Conquerours time in Ages of a more modern Descent the Rokesleyes were Proprietaries of it and Gregorie de Rokesley was seised of it at his death which was in the twenty ninth year of Edward the first and left it to his Son Roger de Rokesley who by a fine levied in the thirty third year of the abovesaid Prince passed it away to John Abel Margerie his Wife and Walter his Son which Walter after by the same Devolution translated his right in it to Sir Simon de Vaughan who in the twentieth year of Edward the third paid respective Aid for it at the making the Black Prince Knight Then this Mannor came to Warner whose Successor John Warner was Sheriff of Kent in the twentyeth year of Henry the sixth and 't is probable by some empaled Coats in the Church windows that the Heir General of Vaughan was married to Warner but the two Statues upon an Altar-tomb in the Church likewise which the Injuries of Time and impious Sacriledge together have almost demolished belonged to Sir Simon de Vaughan and were when Mr. Robert Glover made his Collection of the Kentish Monuments entire after the Coheirs of Warner wedded to Jo. Herne and Denham divided his Inheritance at this place and upon the partition this accrued to Herne and Christopher Herne Esquire in the twenty first year of Henry the eighth passed it away to William Walsingham Esquire who upon his decease gave it to his Son and heir Sir Francis VValsingham principal Secretary of Estate to Q. Elizabeth who about the middle of this Princesses Government alienated it to Mr. John Gellibrand from which Name and Family the possession is at this instant it came down to Mr. John Gellibrand of London Chellesfield in the Hundred of Rokesley afforded in elder time both Seat and Sirname to a Family of principal Account who obtained a Market to this their Mannor weekly on the Monday and Simon de Chellesfield upon his Plea of prescription before the Judges Itinerant in the seventh year of Edward the first had an Allowance of it and William de Chelsfield had a Charter warren to his Lands in Chelsfield Shoram Nockholt and Orpington in the twelfth year of Edward the
inhabiting at Hougham not far distant and Robert de Hougham dyed seised of it in the forty first year of Henry the third In the Reign of Edward the second I find the Clintons possest of it and William de Clinton Earl of Huntington dyed seised of it in the twenty eighth year of Edward the third and from him it descended to his Kinsman John de Clinton great Grandfather to John Lord Clinton who about the Beginning of Henry the seventh sold it away to Davis from which Family by a Daughter and partly by Purchase it came over to Lessington and he in our Fathers Remembrance alienated his Concernment in it to Hopday whose Son is the instant Possessor of it Bredmer or Berdmer is the last place worthy any Consideration It is partly situated in Folkston and partly in Cheriton that there was a Family of this Name was most certain For in ancient Deeds and Court Rolls of Valoigns who was Lord of Cheriton after Scotton I find frequent mention of severall of this Name who held Land of this Family But in the Book of Aid I find William de Brockhull held the fourth part of a Knights Fee in Cheriton which was this in the twentieth year of Edward the third From this Name by Elizabeth Heir of Thomas Brockhull it came to be the possession of Richard Selling Esquire and here it rested untill the Beginning of Henry the eighth and then it was passed away to Edmund Inmith a Retainer to Thomas Lord Clinton who gave it to his second Son Edmund Inmith and he was extinguished in two Daughters and Coheirs one was married to Reyner and the other to Baker who in her Right shared this place and in the Reign of King James passed it away by Sale to Ben who holds the instant Possession of it G. G. G. G. DEptford in the Hundred of Blackheath and Lath of Sutton at Hone so called from the deep Channel of Ravens-purg'd The River that here slydeth into the Thames was heretofore called West-Greenwich from the turning of the River Thames in such a crooked Compass and the green Meddows adjacent Gislebert Magminot or Magminiot for he was a great Favorite to William the Conquerour was one of those eight Barons and Trustees that were joyned to John de Fiennes for the sure Guard of Dover Castle and were assigned competent Lands for the maintenance of that Service his Castle or Scite of his Barony hath been long time buryed in its own Ruines yet some remains of Stony Foundations make me conjecture it stood nere Says Court in Bromfield upon the Brow of the Thames Bank neere the Mast Dock where the Skeleton of Sir Francis Drake's Ship was layd up and in a very short time nothing left of her but the Fame of her Captain and Steersman cannot perish so long as History shall last But to return to the former Subject it may appear by the Quire of Dover Castle transmitted on Record in the King's Exchequer that it had the Reputation of a Barony and these Knights Fees were held of it Pevinton Kanc. duo Feeda Militum Estswale Kanc. unum Feedum Militis Davinton Kanc. duo Feoda Militum Cuckleston alias Cuckston Kanc. unum Feodum Militis Waldeswareschare Kanc. 3. Feoda Militum Leckhamsted-Bucks unum Feodum Kennington-Hert duo Feoda Militum Gothurst Northampton unum Feodum Militis Hertwell-Northampton duo Feoda Militum Brandiston-Suffolk duo Feoda Militum Hecchesham-Surrey duo Feoda Militum Whitfield Kanc. unum Feodum Militis Coudham-Kanc duo Feoda Militis Bredinghurst Kanc. unum Feodum Militis Thornham Kersoney tria Feeda Militum Bingbery Kanc. tria Feeda Militum Brickhill-Buck unum Feodum Militis Haec sunt Feoda de Baronia de Magminot quae tenentur de Willielmo de Say quae ipse tenet de Rege per Baroniam Et reddunt Wardam ad Castrum Dovoriae Per 32. Septimanas You may find mention of Walkelme Magminot in the Catalogue of the Lord Wardens But the Daughter and Heir of this Line was married to Say from whom it came to be called Says-Court which Name it still retaineth And was by reason of the Commodiousnesse of the Meadows belonging to it and Stalls there erected made a place in the Time of the late King for feeding Sheep and Oxen served by Composition for the Kings House William Duke of Suffolk held the Mannor of West-Greenwich and one Messuage in Deptford Anno 29. Hen. 6. by West-Greenwich which was ment by that which we now call Deptford Strand and by Deptford is ment the upper Town where a fair strong Stone Bridge lately erected doth acknowledge the sole Royal bounty of K. Charles by this Inscription This Bridge was re-edified at the only charge of King Charles in the fourth year of his Reign Anno Dom. 1628. In former Times it w as repaired at the Charge of the Contry adjacent For I find by a Record in the Tower Esc Anno. 20. Edw. 3. n. 66. Quod Reparatio Pontis de Depeford pertinet ad homines Hundredi de Blackheath non ad homines Villarum de Eltham Moding-ham Wolwich The Treasurer of the Navy hath here a commendable and convenient House for his Residence at the Dock to view the building and repayring the States Ships and what is most expedient for the Manufacture of Cordage Anchors and other Provisions for Ships by which means the Town is so greatly increased in small Tenements and the Statute for Cottages excepting Market-Towns and such places as are used for building of Ships that for number of Inhabitants and Communicants it may compare with diverse Counties in the Kingdome which great Increase of the Parish caused them to new build another Isle on the North-side the Church to which the East-Indian Company of Merchants were good Benefactors And the Chancel enlarged with beautifull Additions partly at the Cost of Sir William Russell Knight and Baroner Treasurer of the Navy and the circumspection of Doctor Valentine the late learned and worthy Incumbent of the place Adjoyning to the Church The Company of Navigators and Seamen incorporated by King Henry the eighth have a Hall or House for their meetings and Consultations Certainly the use of this Society is most considerable and commendable for the Common-wealth upon all Occasions may from them receive necessary Intelligence of all the Roads Waterings Depths and Conveniences of most part of the Maritime places in the Known World One thing more I have to mention and that is Hacham which was in K. Hen. the seconds Time the Seat of Hacham lying upon the Confines of Kent and Kent-fields or Kent-lands within this County as Kent-Hatch in Westerham is the very out-side of this Shire As that place towards Surrey called Kent-House designs the Bounderies of this County between Bekenham and Croydon Divers Inquisitions taken since that time have found Hacham to be in Kent And I believe the Mannor of Bredingherst before mentioned was formerly in this Shire which is now slipt into Surrey
Warden of the Saxon Shore by Pancerollus in his Book called Notitia Provinciarum under the Name of Anderida and sometimes written Anderidos and here was the Castle which the Saxons called Andreds Ceaster and the great Wood which stretched out in length from hence into Hampshire 80. miles was named Andreds-wald and by the Britons Coid Andred other reasons are laid down for the Identity of the place extracted from the Name which the English Saxons gave it who termed it Brittenden that is The Britons Vale from whence the whole Hundred adjoyning is called Sellbrittenden that is The Britons Woody Vale. Here for Defence of the Coast against the Eruptions of Saxon Rovers the Romans placed the Prapositus Numeri Abulcorum and hither the River of Lymen long fince called Rother was sufficiently Navigable But soon after the Romans deserted Brittain it shrunk into Decay being ruined by the English Saxons and yet a marke of the Losse is covertly couched under the Name of the principal Mannor called Losenham of which something is to be remembred when we have done with the History of this place which I have thus abbreviated Hengist being fully determined to expell all the Britons out of Kent and thinking it would much conduce to the improvement of his Design to recruite his Army with Troops of his own Nation called Ella the Founder of the South-Saxon Kingdome and his three Sons with a strong Power out of Germanie and then gave a sharp Assault against this Anderida but was intercepted at that instant in his Designe by those vigorous Impressions which the Britons out of their Ambushments in the Woods then made upon him In Fine after many Prejudices and Losses both given and taken Hengist divided his Army and not onely discomfited the Britons in the adjacent wood but also at the same Time forced the City by Assault and became so enflamed with revenge that nothing but the Extinction of the Inhabitants by a publick slaughter and the totall demolishing of the Town could supersede or allay so great an Animosity The place lying thus desolate was shewed as Henry of Huntingdon reports many Ages after to inquisitive Passengers till in the year 791 King Offa gave this and other Lands to the Arch-bishop and Monks of Canterbury ad Pascua Porcorum for the Pannage of their Hoggs In the Time of the Conquerour the Arch-bishops and Monks of Canterbury held this Mannor of Newenden and it was rated in the extent of it but at one Sulling and was an Appendage to Saltwood and in the Patrimony of the Church did the Title of it remain locked up till the general Dissolution in the Raign of Henry the eighth and then it was unloosned and by Act of Parliament fastned to the Revenue of the Crown where till these infortunate Times it did successively continue Losenham in this Parish was the ancient Seat of the Auchers an eminent and numerous Family this was both in Kent Sussex Nottingham and Essex where they made Coppt-Hall by Epping the Seat and Head of their Barony and it is very probable they derive this their Name from Aucherus that was Consul or Elderman of Kent and led the power of the County wherewith at Richborough nere Sandwich he foiled and defeated the Danes as Alfred of Beverley writes In the Book called Nova Feoffamenta collected in the Raign of Henry the second it is there recorded that that Prince Rot. pipae de Scutagio Walliae An. 42 Hen. 3. gave William Fitz Aucher the fourth part of a Knights Fee in Essex called Lagfare Richard Fitz Aucher his Grandchild is in the Number of those Kentish Gentlemen who were engaged with Henry the third in his Expedition into Wales in the forty second year of his Raign Will. Fitz Aucher See Camdens Britannia pag. 307. another of this Family held the Mannor of Boseham in Sussex by Grant from William the Conquerour and his Rent-service or Acknowledgement was to pay into the Exchequer in whose Time he lived forty pound of tryed and weighted Silver Henry Fitz Aucher fills up the Roll or Inventory of those Kentish Gentlemen who assisted Edward the first at his Seige of Carlaverok in Scotland in the twenty eighth year of his Raign and for his Service there was made Knight Banneret Peter Aucher or Auger for so in old Records they are promiscuously written was Valet to King Edward the second an Office equivalent in its Trust and Dignity to those we called Gentlemen of the Bed-chamber to our late Kings and it seems was mistaken for a Knight Templer in the fourth year of that Prince because he nourished a spreading Beard in that Age an eminent Adjunct of that Order but Edward the second rectified this Mistake and affirmed that his diffused Beard did not evince he was a Knight Templer as appears Pat. 14. Hen. 2. parte secunda Memb. 20. And if it could any way multiply or improve the Eminence of a Family that was so deeply rooted in Antiquity before I could tell you that sundry of this Name and Family were Conservators of the Peace and concerned in other Comissions both to levy Taxes imposed by Parliament and to have Inspection into Sewers both in the Raign of Edward the third and Richard the second but I avoid the recital lest this Book might swell into too large a Bulk by these curious and unnecessary Disquisitions It is enough to inform you that after this Mannor had for many Centuries of years been wrapt up in the Patrimony of this Family it went away by Ann Sole Daughter and Heir of John Aucher of Losenham to Walter Colepeper second Son of Sir John Colepeper of Bayhall in Pepenbury from which Alliance Sir John Colepeper created Lord Colepeper at Oxford by the late K. Charles claims at this instant the Inheritance and Lordship of Losenham There was in this Parish a House of Carmelite Friers called so because they came from Mount Carmel in Palestine and was the first Seminary of that Order here in England who by their Rule were styled Brothers of Mary the blessed Virgin to whom this Covent was dedicated It was founded in the year of our Lord 1241 and in the twenty sixth year of the Government of Henry the third by Sir Thomas Alcher or Fitz Aucher for the Name was often promiscuously written so but never Albuser as Mr. Camden and Mr. Speed have printed it though I do not deny but such a person might be a Benefactor to the Foundation Newenham in the Hundred of Feversham was parcell of that Demeasn which related to the Abbey of Boxley and continued united to it till the Suppression by Henry the eighth and then it was granted by that Prince to Sir Thomas Wiatt in the twenty eighth year of his Government and he by his unhappy Defection in the first year of Queen Mary forfeited it to the Crown where it remained till Queen Elizabeth by royal Concession invested the Possession in her faithfull Servant John Astley Esquire
as a Limb of the Estate thus acquired who in the fiftieth year of his reign setled it on the Abby of St. Mary Grace on Tower-hill of his Foundation and Endowment and having remained treasured up in the Revenue of that Cloister untill the general suppression it was then plucked off and by King Henry the eighth granted in the thirty first of his Reign to Thomas Green Esquire whose Descendant in our Fathers memory passed away his Concernment in it to Apsley Ham Sharpenash and West-court are three little Mannors situated within the Circuit of this Parish and were parcel of that Patrimony which related to the Abby of St. Augustins which upon the Dissolution of that Fraternity the vast Demeasn which appertained to it being more hainous in the Eyes of Henry the eighth than those Crimes and Offences though peradventure of a Complexion dark enough which were charged upon the Covent He I mean the Prince abovesaid ravished them away from the patrimony of the Church to incorporate and interweave them with the Revenue of the Crown where their Title and proprietie was not long lodged for K. Hen. the eighth conveyed them by Grant to Will. Hach descended from Hach of Aller in Devon who not long after passed them away to Tho. Green Esq written in his Deeds alià Norton where after the possession of them had some years continued the Interest of all these Mannors was by the Mutation of Sale transported into Aldersey Ancestor to Captain Terry Aldersey of Swanton Court in Bredgar now Lord of the Fee and Signory of these above recited places W. W. W. W. WAldershare in the Hundred of Eastry was in elder Times the Seat of an eminent Family called Malmains John de Malmains is recorded in an Ancient Roll of those Gentlentemen which entred England with William the Conquerour and engaged with him at the Battle of Battle John de Malmains as Mr. Fuller in his Ecclesiastical History does represent to us was Standard Bearer to the Norman Footmen and was joyned by William the Conquerour as an Assistant Knight to Otho one of the Monks of Ely Henry Malmains is registred in the Bed-roll of those Kentish Gentlemen who assisted Richard the first at the Siege of Acon See more of this Family of Malmains in the Catalogue of Sheriffs John de Malmains is registred in the Pipe rolls amongst those who were Recognitores Magnae Assisae in the reign of K. John a place of that Latitude of Trust and Authority that those who managed it were frequently selected out of the chiefest Knights and most eminent Gentlemen of the County Sir Nicholas de Malmains was engaged with Edward the first at the Siege of Carlaverock in Scotland in the twenty eighth of his reign and for his worthy undertaking there received the Dignity of Knighthood and from him did Waldershare descend to Nicholas de Malmains who died possest of this and much other Land in the twenty third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 160. and from him descended Henry Malmains his Grand-child who dying about the beginning of Henry the fourth without Issue Male left his Estate here at Waldershare to Agnes his sole Daughter and Heir matched to Thomas Goldwell of Great Chart yet had this Henry a Kinsman called Thomas Malmains Son of John Malmains who had a considerable share of this Mannor of Waldershare which by his Heir General devolved to John Monins Esquire who about the beginning of Henry the sixth purchased all that Demeasn and Interest which Tho. Goldwell was entituled to here and so became sole Lord of Waldershare This John Monins was descended from John Monins who in the twentieth year of Edw. the third held Lands at Swink-field as appeats by the Book of Aid by the Title of Esquire and was allied to William Monings or Monins for in old Records they are written so promiscuously who was several times Knight of the Shire for Norfolk as appears by the Record in the Tower whose Title is De Expensis Militum in the time of Richard the second and John Monins this Mans Son was a person of so eminent Notice in this County that he obtained an Indulgence under the Seal of Sixtus the fourth bearing Date 1474 to carry along with him a Priest and a portable Altar for celebration of divine Offices in his necessary Journeyings and John Monins this Man's Grand-child and Son of Robert compounds with Tho. Hobbys in the twentieth year of Hen. the seventh for ten Marks as part of his Fine to be excused from being made Knight of the Bath at the creation of Henry his Son Prince of Wales Edward Monins Esq was Justice of the Peace for Kent the latter part of the reign of Henry the eighth and he was Ancestor to Sir William Monins who was made Knight and Baronet the twenty ninth day of June in the ninth year of K. James by the Name of Sir William Monings of Waldershare and from him is not onely this Title but likewise the signory of this Mannor now devolved by paternal right to his Son and Heir Edward Monins Baronet Walmer is a Member of Sandwich and so in no Hundred It was one of those principal Seats which owned the jurisdiction and signory of the noble and spreading Family of Crioll written frequently likewise Keriel The first whom I find to be possest of it was Matilda de Criol Widow of Simon de Crioll and she in right of Dower was in possession of it at her Death which was in the fifty second of Henry the third Rot. Esc Num. 34. The next of this Name whom the Beams of publick Record represent to me to be possessor of it was Nicholas de Crioll who enjoyed it at his Death which was in the thirty first of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 39. In Ages of a nearer Approach unto us Iohn de Crioll in the forty ninth year of Edward the third died seised of it and so did William Keriell in the first year of Henry the fifth Rot. Esc Num. 21. and left it to his Son Sir John Crioll of Sarre in Thanet who as an old Pedigree of this Family informs me was in eminent Command under Henry the fifth in his successful Expedition into France having the Conduct of several Kentish Squadrons at the Battle of Agincourt and died laden more with Honour then with Years in the ninth year of Henry the sixth and left Sir Thomas Crioll or Keriell Knight of the Gatter Heir both of his Estate and Virtues of whom because our Chronicles speak so much I shall not be silent He was Governor of Gourney in Normandy in the ninth year of Henry the sixth under John Duke of Bedford the Regent not farre from which Place he defeated the Earl of Britaine and in that discomfiture slew six Hundred and took two Hundred Prisoners In the fourteenth year of Henry the sixth the Duke of Burgundy infested Crotoy with a Siege which being successefully raised by the Lord Talbot Sir Thomas Keriell
de Audley in right of his Wife Sister and Heir to the abovesaid Gilbert whom our Printed Books of Nobility call Isabell though in the Inquisition taken after his Death which was in the twenty first of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 39. She is styled Margaret entered upon the Inheritance of this place but the Fatality of the other Family did likewise cleave to this for the Spindle prevailed against the Spear Margaret being Sole Daughter and Heir to this Hugh Audley in whom the Name at this place met with a sad enterment and the Estate by her matching with Ralph Stafford Earl of Stafford found another Proprietary and he in her Right held it at his Decease which was in the forty sixth year of Edward the third and transmitted it to his Son Thomas Earl of Stafford who likewise was in the enjoyment of it at his Death which happened in the sixteenth year of Richard the second and from him was the Possession transported along by an unbroken Thread of Descent to Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham and Earl of Stafford a Man magnificent but infortunate who being accused of high Treason attainted and beheaded in the twelfth year of Henry the eighth and his Estate here confiscated in the thirteenth and rested in the Crown untill the abovesaid Prince in the thirty first year of his Reign granted it to Paul Sidnor and he not long after passed it away by Sale to William Lambert Esquire who setled it upon the Colledge of Alms people at Greenwich which is vulgarly called Q. Elizabeths Colledg with a Limitation reserved that the Heirs male of his Line might hold it in Lease for ever and in case they might fail that the last might dispose of it by Testament or Deed to whom he pleased by virtue of which Reservation Mr. John Lambert of Sevenoke Esquire is at this instant Lessee to the Colledge for this Mannor Bokinfold in this Parish is an eminent Mannor which belonged to that Chauntry and Chappel which was founded here by Hamon de Crevequer and confirmed as appears by the first Book of Compositions kept amongst the Records of the Church of Rochester with the Demeasne appertaining to it in the forty first year of Ed. the third and continued being thus forseited and secured by the Royal Charter untouched untill the generall Suppression and being dissolved the Revenue which anciently supported it was in the thirty first of Henry the eighth carried of by Grant to Paul Sidnor Esquire who not long after passed it away to Sir John Gates to whom it was again confirmed in the first year of Edward the sixth but he being infortunately attainted in the fourth year of the abovesaid Prince as being one of the Partisans of the Duke of Somerset to whose Service and for whose Cause he sacrificed his Head this returned to the Crown and dwelt in its Revenue untill Queen Elizabeth granted it away again to Katharine Tong who suddenly after alienated her Interest in it to Revell and he about the latter End of Queen Elizabeth passed it away to Colepeper from whom in our Fathers Memory it went away to Dyke and very suddenly from him again to Mr. Benedict Barnham by one of whose four Daughters and Coheirs it came to be the Patrimony of Soam who lately hath demised his whole Concernment in it to Mr. George Brown formerly of Spelmonden in Kent now of Buckland in Surrey There was formerly a Park at this Place for in the second year of Edward the second Bartholomew de Badelesmer held the Mannor and Park of Bockinfold in Fee by grant from that Prince and the advowson of the Free Chappel of the same and Edward the second in the nineteenth year of his Reign being on his way to France to do his Homage for the Dutchy of Apuitain suddenly drew back his Foot and retired to this Place where he reposed himself and caused many to be indicted for their unlawfull and irregular hunting in the Park at Bokinfold nor hath Time so dismantled or disparked it but that yet there are some Memorials or Vestigias remaining which attest the Truth of the Premises Criolls Court is another Manor in Brenchley which by Joan Daughter of Bertram de Crioll and Heir Generall of her Brother John de Crioll it came to Sir Richard de Rokesley and by his Daughter and Heir Joan to Thomas de Poynings whose Successor Sir Ed. Poynings dying in the twelfth year of Hen. the eighth without Issue or any collateral Alliance in the fourteenth year of that Prince it escheated to the Crown afterwards it was granted in the thirty first year of that Prince to Paul Sidnor Esquire employed as Agent to that Prince into Spain and he not long after alienated it to William Lambert Esquire who setled it upon the Colledge of poor people at Greenwich of his Erection with a Reservation that the Heits male of his Line might hold it in Lease for ever by virtue of which limitation it is now enjoyed by Mr. John Lambert of Sevenoke Esquire Parrocks in this Parish was anciently a Mannor relating to a Family of that Denomination which continued Lords of the Fee untill the latter end of Henry the seventh and then it was by Sale conveyed to William Hextall Esquire who dying without Issue male Margaret his sole Daughter and Heir brought this and much Land beside to be the Inheritance of William Whetenhall Esquire from whom the right of Descent wafted it down to his Successor Sir Richard Whetenhall who in the twelfth year of Queen Elizabeth demised it to William Brooke Lord Cobham who not long after passed it away to Sir Thomas Nevill Grandfather to the right honorable Mildmay Earl of Westmerland now Possessor of it Mascals Capgrove or Capgrave and Chekeswell are three Mannors in Brenchley also which as the Book of Aid informs me were in the tweneieth year of Edward the third in the possession of John de Capgrave and it is probable that John Capgrave an eminent Monk an Ornament to Learning and to the Priory of Christ Church who flourished in the year 1484 and is mentioned with so much Honour by Pitseus was descended from this man in whose Name these Mannors were not after this long permanent for as the learned and laborious Sidrach Petit does informe me in his Inquest of Kent they fell in the Reign of Richard the second under the Signory of Vaux whose Successor about the latter end of Henry the sixth alienated his Propriety in them to Humphrey Stafford Duke of Buckingham whose infortunate Grandchild Edward Duke of Buckingham being attainted in the twelfth year of Henry the eighth these with the Residue of his Estate escheated to the Crown from which not many years after they were passed away to Edward Ferrers Esquire and he conveyed his Right to Whetonhall who about the beginning of King James demised them to Ouldsworth who not long after sold them to Bartue and he almost in our Memory transmitted them by Sale to
Aldersey of Swanton Court in Bredgar Esquire Castwisell is a third place in Biddenden worth our Consideration it was in Times very ancient Parcel of that Estate which did in this County relate to the Moiles extracted from Moiles Court at Bodmin in Cornwall and certainly did as high acknowledge the Signory of this Knightly Family as any Land they held in this County for though by some old Deeds not bounded with any date I find the Name of John de Castwisell affixed as Teste yet by those old Deeds and Muniments which have an Aspect upon this Mannor I discover that Walter Moile Knight in the sixth year of Edw. the third did grant to Reginald and William Sand all those Lands Tenements Rents and Services which Simon Gidinden ad Formam late held of the said Sit Walter as of his Mannor of Castwisell and by a subsequent Deed dated in the twenty third year of Henry the sixth I find that Margaret Widow of William Scapis of Burmersh did grant to Walter Moile which was the Judge all that Messuage and Land she held in Biddenden and by a Deed of a more modern Inscription that is one which comences from the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth I find that Thomas Moile of Eastwell Gentleman afterwards dignified with the order of Knighthood by the abovesaid Prince conveyed it to Stephen Rogers Gentleman and from him is Mr. Jonathan Rogers now possessor of this place originally descended Bidborough is the last place which shuts up the Lowy of Tunbridge here were Lands which were the Inheritance of a Family called Chauney the first of whom with whom I meet with in Record is Thomas le Chauney who paid respective Aid for it at making the Black Prince Knight as appears by the Book of Aid in the twentieth year of Edward the third and continued in his Family divers years after his Exit for in the latter end of Henry the fourth I find George Chauney possest of it but after him I can trace out no more of this Family who held it the next who succeeded in the Possession were the Palmers as is manifest by some old Court Rolls which represent one Thomas Palmer to have been Lord of the Fee in the Reign of Ed. the fourth and Henry the seventh but made no long stay in this Name for about the Beginning of Henry the eighth it was alienated to John Vane Esquire and the descendant of this Family Sir Ralph Vane being attainted in the fourth year of Edw. the sixth it escheated to the Crown and Queen Elizabeth in the first year of her Rule granted it to Henry Cary Lord Hunsdon of whom more hereafter Ramhurst is another little Mannor in Bidborough which the Book of Aid informs me in the twentieth year of Ed. the third to have been possest by a Family called Warehall and remained in their possession until the Reign of Henry the fourth and then it was passed away to Colepeper whose Ancestor John Colepeper died seised of some Estate here in the forty eighth year of Edward the third as appears Rot. Esc Num. 29. and in this Family was the Propriety resident until the latter end of Henry the eighth and then it was transferred by Sale to Lewknor from whom in that Age which came within the Verge of our Grand-fathers Remembrance it was alienated and demised to Dixon in Right of which Conveyance it is the instant Possession of Mr. Edward Dixon Esquire There is an House in this Parish called Bounds and in ancient Deeds called Bunds which as Tradition avers was the utmost Margin or Limit which bounded that League of Earth which hath been since known by the Name of the Lowy of Tunbridge and was given by Will. Rufus to Gilbert Earl of Briony and Eu because his Castle of Briony had been before by Violence torn from him by Robert Duke of Normandy because this Earl had been a Promoter or at least a Fomenter of the Designs of his Brother King William The Mannor of Bidborough it self had the same owners with that of Tunbridge as namely the Earls of Clare Audley and Stafford and escheating by forfeiture to the Crown upon the attaint of Edw. Stafford Duke of Buckingham in the twelfth year of Hen. the eighth it was by Q. Elizabeth granted in the first year of her Reign to Henry Cary Lord Hunsdon whose Son George Cary Lord Hunsdon dying without Issue Male his onely Inheritrix Elizabeth wedded to Thomas Lord Barkley linked it to his Patrimony and he in the Beginning of King James conveyed it to Sir Thomas Smith Grand-father to Robert Smith Esquire who lately died possest of it Bilsington in the Hundred of New-church was folded up anciently in that Patrimony which acknowledged the Dominion of John Mansel a man of eminent Note in the Reign of Henry the third as appears by that Chain of offices which adorned his Greatness for he was Constable of Dover-Castle Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Provost of Beverley for the abovesaid Prince and Queen Eleanor his Wife and Treasurer of the Church of York but he not long enjoyed it for he in the twenty seventh year of Henry the third made God his Heir and devested himself of the propriety of it to settle it on the Priory of Bilsington which was of his Foundation and Endowment and by dedication entituled to the Patronage of the Virgin Mary and was furnished with white Canons or Canons Pramonstratenses and in this condition did it remain until not onely this but all other Orders in this Nation having warped and revolted from their original Integrity and those closer Engagements and narrower Restraints the Rules of their primitive Institution tyed them up in a dissolution of Mannors called for a Dissolution of Demeasn but now whether those who did so zealously pretend to correct their Lives did not more seriously intend to reform the Ecclesiastical Patrimony and arraign them not according to the Guilt of their Crimes but the Hainousness of their Estates will fall under a sober Consideration that the Excesses of the Romish Clergie were high their Imperfections many and their Irregularities clamorous is without controversie now what the Causes were which unfastned the Ligatures of streighter Discipline which like so many Nerves did both move and tie together all the Limbs of the Body Ecclesiastick I shall now briefly discover The first Cause of this Depravation was the removing and abating those Persecutions which had so long with a sad and bloody pressure grated upon Christianity under the Scepter of ten Heathen Tirants and we know that the Fable tepresents to us that when the Laurell the Guerdon and Salary of Triumphs and the Sweat of the Laborious shoulder withered and shrunk into Decay the Figgettee sprang up our of its Ruines which is the Emblematick Type of Softness and Effeminacy and we read that the Lamps of Tullia and Terentia burnt with a clear and uninterrupted Flame as long as they were Recluse to the Cloisters of their
came after to be the Possession of Roger Lord Leybourne and from him did descend to Juliana Leybourne his Sole Heir who matching with William Clinton Earl of Huntington made it his Inheritance but he deceasing in the twenty eighth of Edward the third without Issue and his Lady after dying and leaving no visibleor avowed Alliance knit to her by the indisputable tye of Consanguinity to claim it it escheated to the Crown and K. Richard the second in the twenty first of his Reign granted it to the Royal Chappel of St. Stevens in Westminster where it remained till the Dissolution and then it was granted in the second year of Edward the sixth to Sir Edward Wotton from whom by a successive Right of Descent it was transmitted to his great Grandchild Thomas Lord Wotton of Marley whose Widow the Lady Mary Wotton does at this instant possess it Lastly Chilston is an eminent Seat and Mannor likewise situated within the Precincts of this Parish In the fifty fifth year of Henry the third Henry Hussey had a Charter of Free-Warren to his Mannor of Chilston and his Grandchild Henry Hussey died seised of it in the sixth year of Edward the third and in this Family was the Inheritance in an undivided Succession resident till our Grandfathers Memory and then Henry Hussey by Sale translated the Proprietie into John Parkhurst whose Successor Sir William Parkhurst alienated it to Richard Northwood whose Son Mr. Oliver Northwood by the same transmission passed it over to Cieggat he very lately disposed of his Concernment in it to Mr. Manly of London who very lately hath conveyed it to Mr. Edward Hales Grandchild to Sir Edward Hales of Tunstal Knight and Baronet Buckland in the Hundred of Feversham was as Sidrach Petits Inquest into the Mannors of Kent informs me as high as the Reign of Henry the third the Possession of John de Buckland who it seems extracted his Sirname from hence and is likewise mentioned in Testa de Nevil to have held Land in this Track in the twentieth year of Henry the third But before the end of Edward the second this Family was vanished from this place and immediately after they were gone out the Frogenhalls of Frogenhall in Tenham were entituled to the Possession and Richard Frogenhall was seised of it at his Decease which was in the thirty fourth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 37. and from him did it descend to John Frogenhall Esquire who was with Edmund Brook Lord Cobham then Ceneral of the Kentish Forces under Richard Earl of Warwick at the Battle of North-Hampton where the House of Lancaster by that vigorous Assistance the Kentish men that day afforded the House of York received so fatal a Wound that all the Art of the Lancastian Partisans could hardly ever after close it and this Man had Issue Thomas Frogenhall who about the Beginning of Henry the seventh passed it away to Gedding and Thomas Gedding in the twenty fifth year of Henry the eighth held this Mannor and conveyed it by Deed to Henry Atsea of Herne and he in the thirtieth of Henry the eighth was possest of it at his Death and from him did the Thread of Descent guide the Title down to his Grandchild William Atsea who in the tenth year of King James conveyed it by Sale to ....... Saker of Feversham Gentleman whose Son Mr. Christopher Saker in our Fathers Memory alienated it to Sir Basill Dixwell of Terlingham in Folkstone Knight and Baronet who upon his Decease about the year 1641 gave it to his Kinsman Mr. John Dixwell Esquire in whom the Possession is still resident Buckland by Dover is situated in the Hundred of Bewsborough and was a Branch of that spacious and wide Demeasn which made the Patrimony of Hamon de Crevequer so considerable in this County and he held it at his Decease which was in the forty seventh year of Henry the third Rot. Esc Num. 33. Afterwards I find the Wilghebies or Willoughbies invested in the Possession and Thomas de Willoughbie was seised of it at his Decease which was in the seventh year of Edward the second But the Title had no long residence in this Family for in the Reign of Edward the third I find it in the Tenure of Barrie of Sevington for Agnes Wife of William Barrie was possest of it in Right of Dower as appears by an Inquisition taken after her Death in the forty eighth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 7. After the Barries were worn out the Callards or Calwards now vulgarly called Collard became Lords of the Fee a Family of deep Extraction in this Track and who were in elder Times entituled to the Possession of Land and Houses in Canterbury as appears by a Composition made between the Monks of St. Austins and those of Christ Church in the forty first of Edward the third recited by Mr. Somner in his Survey of that City Pag. 192. wherein it is mentioned that the Abby of St. Austins had purchased Land and Houses of Iohn Calward But to proceed after this Family had for divers Descents held this Mannor in a fair repute John Callard Esquire being one of those who accompanied Sir Henry Guldford of this County to serve Ferdinand of Castile in his War commenced against the Moors where for some Signal Service performed against those Infidels he had this Coat assigned to him and his Posterity by Clarenceux Benolt vid. Girony of six pieces Or Sables over all three Blackmores Heads decouped in our Fathers Memory they surrendred the Possession of this place by Sale to Fogge who not many years after passed away his Concernment in it by the same conveyance to Mr. William Sherman of Croyden Esquire Steward both to George Abbot and William Laud Successively Arch-Bishops of Canterbury Dudmanscombe is another Mannor in this Parish which in elder times made up the Revenue of the Priorie of St. Martins in Dover and continued annexed to that Cloister until the general Suppression and then being torn from the Church it was again exchanged with Thomas Cranmer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury by Henry the eighth in the twenty ninth of his Reign and so remained wound up in the Demeasn of that Sea untill that ruinous and fatal popular Tempest which arose in these Times supplanted it and cast it into the Possession of a secular Interest Burham in the Hundred of Lark field is in Doomsday Book written Burgham and was in the twentieth year of William the Conquerour held by Ralph de Curva Spina In Ages of a lower Approach to us I find it under the Signorie of Jeffrey de Say and he died possest of it in the twenty third year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 48. and for the future remained so chained to the Propriety of this Family that it was esteemed Parcel of their Barony of Birling and when Jeffrey Lord Say in the Reign of Richard the second ended in two Female Coheirs one matched to John Lord Clinton
Burgherst of Plumsted Sir Fulk de Peyferer Sir William de Peyferer of Ottringden Sir Robert de Shurland of Shurland in Shepey Sir Alexander de Cheyney of Patrick bourn Cheyney Sir Thomas de Bicknor Sir John de Bicknor of Bicknor Sir Robert de Septuans of Milton Septuans Sir Henry Fitz-Aucher of Losenham in Newenden Sir John de Hadloe of Court at Street Sir VVilliam de Valoigus of Repton in Ashford Sir William de Basing of Kenardington Sir Simon de Crey Sir William de Crey of Pauls Crey Sir Stephen de Gravesend of Nutsted Sir John de Champneys of what place is not mentioned but it is probable of Champneys in Pauls Crey Sir Robert de Eastangrave of Eastangrave in Eden Bridge Sir John Abell of Hering Hill in Erith Sir Nicholas de Malmains of Malmains in Stoke Sir Richard de Rokesley of Rokesley in North Crey Sir Jeffrey de Camuill of Westerham Sir John Segrave of Folkston Sir VVilliam Peche Sir Robort Peche of Lullingston Sir John de Newenham of Newenham Coldred in the Hundred of Eastrie was a Branch of that Estate which related to the Fraternity of the Maison de Dien in Dover to which in the fourteenth year of S. the first they obtained a Charter of Free warren which was looked upon in that Age as a priviledge of vast extent and circumference upon the Dissolution in the reign of Hen. the eighth it was by royal Concession from that Prince added to the Demeasn of Rich. Monins Esq great Grandfather to Sir Edw. Monins Baroner to whose Signory and Jurisdiction the propriety of this place at this instant submits it self Popshall in this Parish was anciently wrapt up in the Demeasn of Orlanston of Orlanston William de Orlanston held it as appears by an Escheat-roll marked with the number 86 in the reign of Hen. the third and transmitted it to his Son Will. de Orlanston who in the fifty first year of the above-mentioned Prince obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Lands at Orlanston and Pophall from him it descended to Will. de Orlanston who had Issue Jo. de Orlarston who held it in possession at his Decease which was in the forty sixth year of Edw. the third and had Issue VVill. Orlanston who by Sale transplanted the Interest of this place into Rich. Berham in which Family after the Title had for some Generations been resident a Vicissitude of the same Resemblance with the former cast it into the possession of Horne branched out from the Hornes of Horns-place in Apuldore who after some years investiture in the propriety of Popshall determined in a Daughter and Heir who was espoused to John Diggs from whom in a direct Line Sir Dudley Diggs of Chilham-castle was extracted who alienated his right in this place to Sir Will. Monins Knight and Baronet whose Son Sir Edw. Monins Baronet enjoys the instant Fee-simple of it Coldham in the Hundred of Rockesley is in the Pages of Doomsday Book written Caudham which denotes the bleak and chil situation of it In the twentieth year of VVill. the Conquerour it was parcel of the Demeasn of Gilbert de Magninot being involved in those Knights Fees which were assigned to him to be assistant to Jo. de Fiennes in the defence of Dover-castle And in this Name after it had some three Descents been lodged this Mannor went away about the beginning of K. Stephen to VVill. de Say with the Daughter and Heir of this Family VVill. de Say this Mans Son is in the Front or Van of that register which comprehends the Names of those Kentish Gentlemen who were embarked in the holy Quarrel with Rich. the first at the Siege of Acon Geffrey de Say was one of the Recognitores magnae Assisae in the second year of K. Jo. the Nature of which office and the Latitude of its Authority I rust and Concernment I have before unsolded at Cobham * Will. de Say was with Henry the third in his expedition into Gascony in the thirty seseventh year of his Rule Geffrey de Say was with Edw. the first at the Siege of Carlaverock in the twenty eighth year of his reign and for his noted Actings there was honoured by that Prince with Knighthood and dyed possest of this Mannor in the fifteenth year of Edw. the second and had the repute of a Baron at his Decease as had all his Successors likewise holding Birling Couldham and other places by that Tenure which is styled per Baroniam Geffrey de Say had view of Frank-pledge here in the eighth year of Edw. the third and was engaged with that Prince in the thirteenth of his reign in his triumphant Designs upon France Sir VVill. Say was his Son and Heir who went out from his Tabernacle of humane frailty in the forty third year of Edw. the third Rot. Esc Num. 43. and bequeathed his Estate here at Coldham to Geffrey de Say his only Son surviving who going out in two Daughters and Coheirs Joan one of them was matched to Sir VVill. Fiennes from whom descended Ja. Fiennes his second Son who was summoned to Parliament at Bury as Baron Say and Seale the first of March in the twenty fifth year of the abovesaid Prince and * This Ric. Fiennes was created Baron Dacres in the seventh of Henry the sixth Rich. Fiennes eldest Son who matched with Joan Sole Heir of Tho. Dacres eldest Son of Tho. Lord Dacres of Hurstmonseaux who had this Mannor by Descent from his Father from whom in a continued Series it came down to Gregory Fiennes Lord Dacres who in the thirty sixth year of Q. Elizabeth dyed without Issue and so Sampson Lenard Esquire by marrying with Margaret his Sister and Heir became Heir to Coldham and a large Inheritance besides and his Son Hen. Lenard in the reign of K. James was created Baron Dacres from whom Francis Lenard now Lord Dacres and proprietary of this Mannor is lineally extracted The Mannor of Apulderfield by contraction now called Apurfield lies in the precincts of this Parish which was long time possest by Gentlemen that took their Sirname from thence and branched numerously into divers parts of this Shire Hen. de Apulderfield in the thirty eighth of Hen. the third obtained a grant of a Fair and Market to his Mannor of Apulderfield In the eleventh year of Edward the second Iohn de Insula had a Charter of Free-warren granted to his Mannor of Apulderfield which was renewed to Stephen de Ashway in the thirty eighth of Edward the third who had a free Chappel annexed to it and in this Family of Ashway did the Title of this place for many Generations settle till at last the common vicissitude of Purchase made it the Demeasn of Denny from whom it came over by the same Alienation to Fiennes and is now in right of Margaret Fiennes Sister to Gregory Lord Dacres matched to Sampson Lenard devolved to his great Grandchild Francis Lenard the present Lord Dacre The Hamlet of Bettred is
alienated both the Title and Demeasn to Allen and he in our Memory sold one moitie of it to Ford and setled the other proportion of it upon his Daughter and Heir who was matched to Giles Down-Court in Dodington is an ancient Mannor which in elder times owned the Signorie of Simon de Dodington who flourished here in the Reign of K. John and Henry the third and was entituled likewise to the Patronage or Advouson of the Church but he determined in an only Daughter called Matilda de Dodington who in the forty first of King Henry the third as appears by a Fine levied in that year passed away her Interest here to John de Bourne in which Family the Title many years after rested untill about the latter end of Henry the sixth it was conveyed to Dungate of Dungate-Street in Kingsdowne And Andrew Dungate the last of this Name at this place dying without Issue male his sole Daughter and Heir was marched to Killigrew who likewise about the entrance of Henry the eighth expired in two female Coheirs whereof one was wedded to Roydon the second to Cowland In Roydon The Pssession was but brief for he about the latter end of Henry the eighth alienated his Proportion to Adye a Name deeply rooted in this Track whose Successor Mr. John Adye still enjoyes the capitall Messuage or Mansion called Down-Court but the Mannor it self which accrued to John Cowland upon the Division of the Estate was by his Will made 1540. ordered to be sold to discharge Debts and Legacies and was according to the Tenure of the premises not long after conveyed to Allen Ancestor to him who is the instant owner of it Downe in the Hundred of Rokesley is so called from its eminent situation it was in times of elder Aspect the Habitation of a Family which passed under that Sirname Richard de Downe who flourished under Edward the first and Edward the second lies buried in the Chancell of the Church but with no date upon his Tombe Soon after this Family was expired the Petleys became Lords of the Fee and Stephen Petley is Recorded in the Book of Aid to have paid an Auxiliary supply for Lands at Down at making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth year of Edward the third and in this Family was the Title of this place successively wrapped up for many Generations untill about the latter end of Henry the eighth it melted away with the Name For Jo. Petley resolved into four Daughters and Coheirs Agnes the eldest was matched to Jo. Manning the second was espoused to Bird the third was wedded to Casinghurst of Valous and the fourth was married to Childrens and upon partition of the Estate this Mannor fell to be the Inheritance of Manning and in this Name for many years it remained constant untill in our Fathers Remembrance it went away by Sale to Sir Nicholas Carew of Beddington in Surrey and his Son Sir Francis Carew conveyed it to Ellis of London who not many years since alienated his Right in it to Colonel Richard Sandys third Son of Sir Edward Sandys of Northbourne but Down-Court was long before passed away by Manning to Palmer which was separated from the Mannor of Downe and singly sold by it self The Arms of Philipot and Petley are extant in the South-window of the Chancell with this Inscription affixed to the Pedestall of their two Pourtraicttures Orate pro Animabus Jo. Petley Christiana Uxoris Jo. Petley Aliciae Filiae Tho. Philipot ........ ac Parentum corum E. E. E. E. EGerton in the Hundred of Calehill hath two places within the Verge of it remarkable The first is Barmeling which was the Seat of a Family of that Sirname Robert de Bermeling and in old datelesse Deeds called Sir Robert de Barmeling he held it at his Decease which was in the fifty third year of Henry the third and left Issue William de Bermeling who was also in the enjoyment of it at his Death which was in the twenty second year of Edward the first and so did Robert de Bermeling who made his Exit the thirty first of Edward the first and here in this Family hath the Propriety by an undivided Track of Succession been so fixed and permanent that it is yet the unseperated Inheritance of this Name of Barmeling The second is Bruscombe This was a Branch of that Demeasn which formerly acknowledg'd the Chitcrofts for its Possessors a Name of very great Antiquity both here and at Lamberherst Agnes wife of Richard Chitcroft held it at her Death which was in the eighteenth year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 198. After Chitcroft was worn out the Beaumonts were invested in the Possession and John de Bellemont or Beaumont deceased in the enjoyment of it in the twentieth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 14. But not long after this the Title ebbed away from this Name and by a successive Channel of Vicissitude was powred into Baron a Family originally extracted out of the West where they are yet in being John Baron died seised of Bruscombe the second year of Henry the fifth The Family which succeeded this in the Inheritance upon their Recesse which was about the latter end of Henry the sixth were the Wottons of Boughton Malherbe in which Family the Title and Propriety hath been ever since so constantly resident that it still rests in the Descendants and Heirs of Tho. Lord Wotton of Marley Eltham in the Hundred of Black heath anciently called Ealdham did anciently belong in part to the King and partly to the Mandevills from whence it came to be called Eltham Mandeville King Edward the first granted that Moiety which belonged to himself to John de Vescy a potent Baron in the North in the ninth year of his Reign and in the twelfth year ennobles his former Concession and gives him a new Grant to hold a Market weekly and a Fair yearly at his Mannor of Eltham In the fourteenth year of the abovesaid Prince John de Vescy with his Knowledge and Consent made an Exchange with Walter de Mandevill for that Proportion of Eltham in which he was Interessed and gave the sixth part of the Mannor of Luton in Bedfordshire for one Messuage with the Appurtenances in Eltham and Modingham This John de Vescy died without Issue in the eighteenth of Edward the first and William his Brother succeeded in the Possession and was Lord Vescy and had Issue by Isabell Daughter of Robert Perington Widow of Sir Robert de Wells William de Vescy his lawfull Son born in the year 1269 who died without Issue in his Fathers life Time at Conway and was buryed at Malton Then William de Vescy having a base Son called William Vescy de Kildare born at Compston in the County of Kildare 1292 * Fines de Anno 24. Ed. primi VVill. de Vescy sold to Anth. Beck Bishop of Durham the Mannor of Eltham with the Appurtinances which Isabell the Widow of
of which Name which held this place was Tho. Chesman whose Female-heir Alice brought this Seat to her Husband Rob. Stodder Ancestor to Will. Stodder Esq not long since deceased who was proprietary of it A strange and marvellous Accident happened at this place upon the fourth day of August 1585 in a Field which belongeth to Sir Percival Hart. Betimes in the morning the ground began to sink so much that three great Elme-Trees were suddenly swallowed into the Pit the tops falling downward into the hole And before ten of the Clock they were so overwhelmed that no part of them might be discerned the Concave being suddenly filled with water the Compass of the hole was about 80. yards and so profound that a sounding line of fifty Fathoms could hardly find or feel any bottome ten yards distance from that place there was another piece of ground sunk in like manner near the high-way and so nigh a dwelling house that the Inhabitants were greatly terrified therewith Edenbridge in the Hundred of Westerham was ever esteemed a Chappel of ease to the Parish of Westerham The first that I discover by the beams of Record to have been possest of Edenbridge were the Stangraves who had here their capital Mansion which was known by their Name John de Stangrave obtained a Charter of Free-warren to Edenbridge in the twenty sixth year of Edw. the first Sir Rob. de Stangrave was his Son and Heir who was with Edw. the first at the Siege of Carlaverock in Scotland and there for his generous Service received the Order of Knighthood and dyed seised of Edenbridge and Stangrave the twelfth year of E. the third Rot. Esc Num. 52. After the Stangraves were vanished the Dynleys were setled in the Signory of these above-mentioned places Jo. de Dynley had a Confirmation of the Chatter of Free-warren to Eden-bridge in the fourteenth year of Edward the third and immediately after passed away his Interest here to Hugh de Audley Earl of Gloucester Lord of the Mannor and Castle of Tunbridge by whose Daughter and Heir the Lady Margaret Audley Stangrave and Edenbridge came to acknowledge the Signory of Ralph Stafford Earl of Stafford and he dyed seised of them in the forty sixth year of Edward the third and in this Family of Stafford as they were successively Earls of Stafford and Dukes of Buckingham was the propriety of these places resident untill the twelfth year of Henry the eighth and then Edward Duke of Buckingham Lord high Constable of England having unadvisedly consulted with a Monk and a Wizzard touching the Succession of the Crown fomented so Vast a Stock of Fears and Jealousies in the Brain of that Cautious Prince that they could not be extinguished but by his Blood which was poured out on a Scaffold as the last expiation of that Treason which was by Cardinal Wolsey pinn'd upon him and likewise of his Prince's Fury Upon this his untimely Exit his Estate escheated to the Crown and King Henry the eighth not many years after granted Westerham Eden Bridge and Stangrave which were parcell of the Confiscation to Sir John Gresham Knight from whom they by Descent are now devolved to Marmaduke Gresham Esquire who enjoys the instant Possession of them Delaware is a Seat of very venerable Account in this Parish It was the Seat of Gentlemen of that Name as high as the Reign of Henry the second as appears by old Evidences now in the Hands of Mr. Seyliard of which Robert de la Ware was the last who about the latter end of Edward the third went out without Issue-male so that Dionysia Delaware who was matched to William Paulin became Heir to this place In Paulin it remained constantly resident till the beginning of the Rule of Henry the sixth and then William Paulin determined in a Daughter and Heir likewise who was wedded to John Seyliard of Seyliard in Hever which is still in the Possession of Mr. Seyliard of Gabriells in this Parish and who descended from Ralph de Seyliard who flourished about the Reign of King Stephen In an old Pedigree of Seyliard now treasured up amongst the Evidences of Delaware there is enrolled the Coppy of a Deed without date by which Almerick d'Eureux Earl of Gloucester who flourished in the Reign of Henry the third demises Lands to Martin at Seyliard and other Lands called Hedinden to Richard at Seyliard who were Sons of Ralph from which Ralph John Seyliard Esquire now Proprietary of this anâ—â—ent Mansion of Delaware by a Steady and unbroken Current of many Descents in a Direct Line is originally extracted The Mannor of Sharnden in this Parish was parcell of that Estate which belonged to the Lords Cobham of Sterborough Castle not far distant and continued folded up in the Patrimony of this Family till the Government of Edward the fourth and then Thomas Lord Cobham of Sterborough deceasing without Issue-male Anne matched to Edward Lord Borough of Gainsborough became his Heir in which Name and Family the Title of this place successively streamed down till almost our Times and then the Lady Katharine Borough to whom it was assigned by Thomas Lord Borough her Husband to defray Debts and other Uses passed it away to Sir Edward Richardson Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench whose Grandchild the Lord Edward Richardson Baron of Cromartie in Scotland does now possesse the Signory and Inheritance of it Elham in the Hundred of Lovingborough is anciently written Helham which denotes the Situation of it in a Valley amongst Hills Though now the Magnificent Structures which in elder Times were here be dismantled and have only left a Masse of deplored Rubble to direct us were they stood yet in Dooms-day Book it is written that the Earl of Ewe a Norman and neere in Alliance to the Conquerour held it and left the Reputation of an Honour unto it as the Record of the Aid granted at the making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth of Ed. the third doth warrant For the Mannor of Mount adjacent to Elham is said to be held of the Honour of the Earl of Ewe by Knights Service In Testa de Nevill there is mention of Gilbert Earl of Ewe who then paid respective Aid in the twentieth year of Henry the third at the Marriage of Isabell that Prince's Sister From this Gilbert Earl of Ewe it went away to Edward eldest Son to Henry the third who obtained a Market and Fair to Elham by Charter in the thirty fifth of Henry the third and after he had fortified it with these Priviledges in the forty first year of the abovesaid Prince conveys it by Sale to Boniface of Savoy Arch-bishop of Canterbury Boniface to decline the Envy and Emulation of his English Opposites which he and the rest of those Forreiners and Aliens had contracted upon themselves by their practicall Turbulencies in the Managery of the principal Affairs of State under Henry the third passed it away by Sale to Roger Lord Leybourne a great Partisan and
to a Family who held it as appears by Testa de Nevill in the twentieth year of Henry the third In Times of a lower Descent it was the Possession of a good old Family called Groveherst William de Groveherst paid respective Aid for it at making the Black Prince Knight and from him it devolved to his Successor Richard Groveherst who in the Reign of Henry the fourth determined in three Daughters and Coheirs espoused to Richard Tickhill Richard Hextall and John Petit who about the Beginning of Henry the sixth passed one Moiety of it to John Martin whose Successor and Descendant Edward Martin above-mentioned passed it away with Franks mentioned in Horton Kirkby in whose Revenue it lyes now couched about the beginning of Q. Elizabeth to Alderman Bathurst from whom with Franks it is now devolved by Descent to be the Inheritance of Sir Edward Bathurst Ralph de Fremingham obtained a Weekly Market to his Mannor of Farningham on the Tuesday and a Fair yearly to continue for four Days the Vigil the day of St. Peter and Paul and two days after by Grant from Henry the third in the fifty fifth year of his Reign Pat. An. 55. Hen. 3. Memb. 12. Which Grant was renewed and confirmed to John de Fremingham in the seventh and eighth years of Richard the second Chimbham is another Mannor in this Parish which did give Name to a Family of that Appellation for I find in the Book of Aid that when John de Fremingham pays Aid for his Mannors of Farningham and Chimbham there is a Recitall of Lawrence de Chimbham which formerly held it in the Reign of Henry the third But it is evident both by that Record and by the Inquisition taken after his Death which was in the twenty third year of Edward the third that John de Fremingham held it and transmitted it to his Son Ralph de Fremingham whose Son and Heir John Fremingham dying without Issue Ann his Sister entred upon the Possession of this as his next Heir and brought it with her to her Husband Roger Isley of Sundridge And so this Family became concerned in it and kept their Interest here until the Reign of Henry the seventh and then it was passed away to Sibill of Littlemoat in Ainsford in which Name the Propriety had not been long wrapt up when this Family found its Sepulcher in a Female Heir For Ed. Sibell the last of this Name resolved into a Daughter and Heir matched to Hide and he not many years since conveyed it by Sale to Alderman Bunce of London Fairfield in the Hundred of Langport was given to the Church of Christ-Church in Canterbury by St. Edm. Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of the University of Oxford about the year 1238 and more to fortifie the Donation affixed his Seal Sigillo suo confirmavit say the Records of Christ-Church to the originall Grant This upon the Suppression was upon the Institution of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury by Henry the eighth confirmed by Grant to them Faukham in the Hundred of Acstane was the Seat and gave the Sirname to an ancient Family called Faukham The first whom I find upon Record is Walleran de Faukham who flourished here in the Reign of Henry the second as appears by the Book called Nova Feoffamenta taken in that Princes Reign and kept in the Exchequer Afterwards in Times of a more modern date it acknowledged the Signory of the Lord Grandison Baron of Ferneborough and Otho de Grandison is said in the Book of Aid with Gilbert de Kirkbie to have held one Knights Fee in Faukham of the Bishop of Rochester which Rose de Faukham and William de St. Clere of Ford in Wrotham formerly held and this Otho Lord Grandison held it at his Death which was in the thirty third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 41. And left it to his Son Thomas Grandison who dyed without Issue in the forty ninth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 36. So that his Estate here and in other places was divided between his Sisters and Coheirs whereof this came to be possest by Sir John Northwood in Right of Agnes one of his Sisters from whom by a constant Line of Succession it was guided down to his Son Sir Roger Northwood who was extinguished in a Female Heir called Albina Northwood matched to John Diggs of Diggs Court in Berham Esquire who was Sheriff of Kent in the second year of Henry the fourth and so in her Right this Mannor devolved to this Family and lay couched in their Estate until the latter end of Henry the eighth and then it was passed away to Barham of Berham-Court in Teston In which Name the Propriety had not been long resident when Thomas Barham Esquire concluded in a Daughter and Heir called Ann who was espoused to Sir Oliver Boteler who cast this into his Revenue from whom it is now come down to Sir Oliver Boteler Baronet only Son of Sir William Boteler slain at Cropready Bridge in asserting the Royall Quarrell Frendsbury in the Hundred of Shamell hath severall places in it worthy of our Cognisance The first is Eslingham which was given to the Church of St. Andrews in Rochester by Kenulfus King of Mercia as the Book called Textus Roffensis informs me But by the Registers of that Church I find that John de St. Clere held it in Lease of the Covent about the ninth year of Edward the third and after him a Family called Neal who had large Possessions about Higham were Lessees to the Cloister In the sixth year of Henry the sixth I find John Rykeld held it and kept his Shrievalty at this place after him a Family called Frogenhall was by Right of Lease in the Reign of Henry the seventh possest of it but upon the Suppression of this Monastery of St. Andrews in the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth this Mannor was found to be Lease to Audley and Fisher and then the Fee-simple in Reversion was granted to Thomas Lord Cromwell Earl of Essex who being by the Malice of his Enemies who had raised all their Black Engines of Mischief upon him aspersed with the Calumnious Reproach of high Treason was attainted in the thirty second year of Henry the eighth and made a Peace-offering to the Fury of his irreconcileable Adversaries then this by Escheat returns back to the Crown after which that Prince by his Royall Concession makes it the Inheritance of Sir Will. Drury of Norfolke in which Family it remained untill Times of our Knowledge and Remembrance and then the Interest was by Sale translated into Henry Clerk Esquire Serjeant at Law and late Recorder of Rochester from whom it is now come down to his Son and Heir Francis Clerk Esquire collaterally descended from that eminent Souldier Sir John Clerk of Willoughby in Warwick-shire who took Lewis de Orleans Duke of Longueville Prisoner in that memorable Encounter commenced between Bomy and Spours Villages not far
at Peckham Rey in Camberwell The Reception of Prisoners from the County of Surrey being for a good Space used to be at New Cross hath begot an opinion that there was the out-side of Kent but those that will justly denote the Ambitus and Bounds must not think it begins at Kent-street because it is so called of the Road-way into Kent Nor that Kentish Town by High-gate is part of this Shire though it pertake of the Customes of Gavel-kind Nor at Sir Thomas Waterings Kanc. Inq. 7. R. 2. n. 30. post Mort. E. fillii Tho. Dolsil where the Pilgrims to St. Thomas of Canterbury that disobedient and pertinacious Arch-bishop watered their Horses But a small Bridge beyond Hatcham in the Road to London neere which is a Road or Way to Bredingherst which by an Inquisition taken in the seventh of King Richard the second appeareth to be in Kent In the forty third of Edward the third it appears that the Mannor of Hachesham was granted to the Prioresse of Dertford Caus 43. E 3. M. 6. and many parcels of Land that came by Escheat as held of that Mannor lying in Surrey after the Death of Jo. the Son of Jo. Adam were confirmed to that Foundation by the King all which returning into the Hands of Henry the eighth upon the publike Suppression this Mannor with its Appendages was for ever setled by the Crown on the Company or Brother-hood of the Haberdashers in London East-Greenwich is the next Town to Detford so called because it standeth more East-ward then the other formerly spoken of In Latin named Viridis Sinus in Saxon Grenawic that is the Green Town upon the Turning Creeke of the River In the Time of the Danes Invasion they often made their Road at this place and made it remarkable by their Cruelty shewed unto Ealphege Arch-bishop of Canterbury whom in the year of our Lord a thousand and twelve they cruelly executed with most exquisite Torments whose Death together with the cause thereof Ditmarius Mersepurgius who about the same time lived hath thus in the eighth Book of his Chronicles described I understood saith he by the relation of Sewald a pitifull Deed and therefore memorable namely that the perfidious Crew of Norman Souldiers under Thurkill as yet their Captain took that excellent Prelate Arch-bishop of the Citty of Canterbury named Ealphege with the rest and them after their wicked manner imprisoned and bound yea and put him to endure Famine and unspeakable pains This good man moved with humane Frailty promiseth unto them a Summe of Money and for the obtaining thereof did set down a Time between That if in this Space he could not by some acceptable Ransome escape this momentary Death he might yet in the mean while purge himself with many a Grone to be offered as a lively Sacrifice unto the Lord. But when as the Time and space appointed were come and gon this greedy Gulph of Pirats called forth the Servant of the Lord and in threatning-wise demand this Tribute promised unto them to be speedily and out of hand paid Then he as a Meek lamb Here am I quoth he ready to undergo even for the Love of Christ whatsoever ye presume now to do against me that I may deserve to become an example of his Servants and nothing am I troubled at this day And whereas I seem unto you a Lyer it is not my own Will but great need and Poverty that hath done it This body of mine which in this Exile I have loved over much I present as culpable unto you and I know it is in your Power to do with it what yee intend but my sinfull Soul that regardeth not you I humbly commend to the Creator of all things As he was thus speaking the whole Rabble of these prophane Wretches hemmed him round about and getteth together diverse and sundry weapons to kill him which when their Leader Thurkill saw a far off he came quickly running and crying do not so I beseech you and here with my whole heart I deliver unto you all my Gold and Silver and whatsoever I have here or can by any means come by save my Ship only that you would not sin against the Lord's annointed But this unbridled anger of his Mates harder then Iron and Flint was nothing mollified with so gentle Words and fair Language of his but became only pacified by shedding his innocent blood which presently they altogether confounded and bleanded with Ox-heads Stons as thick as Hail and Billets hurled at him And to the memory of this said Ealphege is the Parish Church here consecrated But far more splendid hath this sumptuous Pallace been ever since Humphrey Duke of Gloucester Brother to King Henry the fifth builded the same and called it Placence And likewise the Castle and inclosed the Park For doing them both he had the King's Charter XI Hen. 6. Rex concedat quod Humfridus Dux Glocestriae Elianora uxor ejus possdent Karnellare Manerium suum de East-Grenwich Imparcare CC. Acras terrae inter Manerium suum praedictum For it was not lawfull for any man to fortifie his House or raise a Castle or place of Defence without Licence from the Crown for Fear of inward Sedition and was therefore inquirable before the Escheator in the twenty fourth Article of his Office Item de Castellis Dominicis Karnellatis sine Regis licencia The word having its derivation from Charneux whichin French signifieth the indented Form of the Top of a Wall which hath vent and crest commonly called Imbattelling because it was very serviceable in fight to the Defendant within who might at the loops or lower places and other cranies in the Walls and Bulworkes annoy the Enemy that assayled the same and might also shroud himself under the higher Parts thereof Afterward King Edward the fourth bestowed some cost to enlarge this work Henry the seventh followed and beautified the House with the Addition of the Brick Front to the water side But King Henry the eighth as he exceeded all his Progenitors in setting up sumptuous Houses so he spared no Cost in Garnishing Greenwich Queen Ann in the time of King James builded that new Brick-work towards the Garden and laid the Foundation of the House of Delight towards the Park which Queen Mary hath so finished and furnished that it far surpasseth all other of that kind in England In Memory of the many Camps that have been here Certain places within this Parish are called Combes namely East-Combe where that godly good Gentleman William Lambert Esquire dwelt that gave us the first Description of this Country in his Perambulation and made this work the more easy to any that should endevour further Progresse therein Facile est inventis addere difficile invenire Westcombe with its Appendant Members related to the noble Family of Badelesmer and upon the Attainder of artholomew Lord Badelesmer escheating to the Crown they lay clasped up in its Revenue untill King Richard the
second granted them to Sir Robert Belknap the Judge upon whose Attainder they were granted in Fee to Robert Ballard Esquire Pincernae suo his grand Boteler That is the Mannors of Westcombe and Spittlecombe in Greenwich two Watermills in Detford with their Appurtenances in Charlton and Writle-mersh after which that Name continued a long time in this place of whom you may read more among the Sheriffs of Kent untill about the fourth of Philip and Mary Westcombe was altenated by Nicholas Ballard to John Lambert Esquire whose Successor Thomas Lambert not many years since alienated it to Hugh Forth from whom it is lately gon over by Sale to Mr ...... Biddulph of London Soon after the Conquest this Greenwich was parcell of the Possessions of the Bishop of Liseux in France and bore Service to Odo then Bishop of Baieux and Earl of Kent After the Mannor belonged to the Abbot of St. Petres of Gaunt in Flanders till such time as King Henry the fifth seising into his Hands by occasion of War the lands of the Priors Aliens bestowed it together with the Mannor of Lewsham and many other Lands also upon the Priory of the Brotherhood to the Monks of Shene which he had then newly erected to which it remained till the Time of King Henry the eighth who annexed it to the Crown unto which it now belongeth and is called the Honor East-Greenwich Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth were both born here and King Edward the sixth a Miracle of Princely Towardnesse ended his Life in the same House King Edward the third 1376 in the fifty first year of his Reign founded the Religious House of Friers Aliens or Dominican Friers Sir John Norbury Knight high Treasurer of England is reckoned a Benefactor to the same after the Dissolution of this House and its Annexion to Shene by King Henry the eighth Another House of observant Friers was erected here by King Edward the fourth as we read in Jo. Rosse Circiter Annum Regni Edwardi quarti venerunt Fratres observantes Ordinis Minorum ad Greenwich habebant Cantariam Capellam Sancti Crucis And King Henry the seventh builded that House for them adjoyning to the Pallace which is yet there to be seen There are moreover in the Town two Colledges or Almes houses for the Sustentation of poor Persons the one builded by William Lambert Esquire which he named the Colledge of Queen Elizabeths poor People and as the Prying Adversaries of out Religion then observed was the first Protestant that built an Hospital The other standing by Thames-side was founded by Henry Howard Earl of Northampton Lord Privy Seal Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports and Knight of the Garter And inlarged and Beautified the Castle which is famous in the Spanish Fables from whence there is a most fair and pleasant Prospect open to the River winding in and out almost redoubling of it self the green Medows and Marshes underlying the Citty of London and Country round about Described by Berkley in his Euphormio And also for a L'env'oy to Greenwich you may read the Verses of Leland the Antiquarian Poet adjoyning to Greenwich Blackheath of which the Hundred taketh the name so called of the colour of the Earth or Bleacheath of the high and cold Situation for bleak signifieth cold Also Campus Martis it may well be called for besides the Burthen of the Danish Camps it hath born three rebellious Assemblies One in the time of King Richard the second Moved as shall be farther declared in Offham by John Tylar whom William Walworth then Maior of London slew with his Dagger in Smithfield and thereupon upon the Tradition comes that the City had given them for an Augmentation to their Eschochen a Dagger in the Dexter-point or Canton so to be born by them for ever Jack Cade that Counterfeit Mortimer and his Crew conducted the second who araying themselves here and passed to London where they did to Death the Lord Say and others and executed their malice upon the Records and Monuments of the Law Burning down the Office of Armes which was then kept at Cole-Harbour burning destroying their Rolls Registers and Books of Armory Their main Drift and Design being to bring in Parity And their Insurrection was here assembled by Michaell Joseph Black-smith and the Lord Audley under the Reign of King Henry the seventh at which time they and their Complices received their just Desert the Common Numbers of them being discomfited and slain and the Leaders themselves taken drawn and hanged Of this last there remaineth yet to be seen upon the Heath the place of the Smith's Tent called commonly his Forge and of all there the great grave-Hills of such as were buryed after the overthrow These Hills in the West-Country upon diverse Champions and Plains where is no small Store of the Like are called Barowes of the old English word Burghes which last word melted into Buryings being a Spring of the old Stock we do yet retain alive The first and last of these Commotions were stirred of Griese the Common people conceived for the Demand of two Subsidies Of which the one was unreasonable because it was taxed upon the Polls and exempted none The other was unseasonable for that it was exacted when the heads of the common people were full of Perkin Warbeck The third and middlemost grew upon a grudge that the People took for yielding the Dutchie of Aniou and Maine to the King of Sicily The coming of whose Daughter after that the King would needs have her to Wife notwithstanding his precontract made with the Earl of Armenac was not so joyfully embraced by the Citizens of London upon Blackheath wearing their red Hoods Badges and blew Gowns as in Sequele the Marriage and whole Government it self was known to be detested of the Country Commons by bearing in the same place Harnesse Bowes Bills and other Weapons Thus far the Story of Blackheath proves but sad and tragical That which remains is of a more glorious and splendid condition consisting of Ovations and Triumphs for when the Emperour of Constantinople came to require Aid against the Turks King Henry the fourth with all Princely respect went to meet him at this place and so conducted him to London And when King Henry the fifth returned from his victorious Conquest of France the Lord Maior and Citizens of London went forth in their best Equipage to attend his Reception at this place at which time the King made many Knights Bannerets And K. Hen. the eighth that excelled in all Triumphal matters met Anne Cleve daughter to the Dake of Cleve Graveney in the Hundred of Boughton was in the year of our Lord eight hundred and eleven by Archbishop Vlfred bought of King Kenwolfe as the Book of Christ-church sets it forth ad opus Ecclesiae Christi to the repair of the Cathedral In the year of Grace eight hundred and thirty Werhardus a Priest of much Power in England by the injunction of the Arch-bishop gave Graveney
untill King Henry the eighth tore it off by the Publique Dissolution and united it to the Royall Revenue where it had its fixed aboad untill the thirteenth year of King James and then it was granted to Mr. William Salter who not many years after passed it away to Mr. James Crispe from whom in our Memory partly by Purchase and partly by Exchange it went over to Mr. Jo. Child in whose Descendant the Propriety is still permanent Gravesend had anciently a Market on the Thursday and a Fair yearly on the Day of St. Edward the Confessor both granted to this Town in the thirtieth year of Edward the third Gillingham was a Mannor always relating to the Arch-bishops of Canterbury though the Donation by the Book of Christ-church be not specified If we survey the Pages of Dooms-day Book they will give us this Gilling ham est proprium Manerium Archiepiscopi in tempore Ewardi Regis se defendebat pro VI. Sullings est appretiatum hoc quod Archiepiscopus habet inde in Dominio VIII lb. c X.s. The Arch-bishops of Canterbury had here an eminent Pallace and held their Residence at it and gave Consecrations here to Bishops as we find it recorded in the Book called Textus Roffensis or the Text of Rochester East-court and West-court in this Parish were anciently knit together and resided in a Family called Gillingham Richard de Gillingham Son of Thomas de Gillingham held it at his Death which was in the twelfth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 176. And left it to his Son Thomas Gillingham who resolved into two Daughters and Coheirs Margaret married to John Thorpe who in her Right had West-court and Isabell matched to William Crensted who brought along with her East-court But as all things have their Fate and Vicissitude they did not long acknowledge the Dominion of either of them for Thorpe sold West-court to Nicholas Lawson of Whoorn-place in Cuckston who not long after by the same Devolution passed it away to Duling of Rochester by whose Female Heir it is now come over to Mr. Stephen Alcock but Thorp Ferme on which he had planted his own Name he alienated to Short and from this Family it went away again by Sale to May of Rochester Greensted endowed Benedict Webb his Sisters Son and in that Relation his Heir with the Title and Propriety of East-court whose two Grand-children Thomas and Christopher Webb by a mutuall and joynt Concurrence devested themselves of their Right and by Sale surrendered it up to Will. Painter Esquire Great Grand-father to Mr. Allington Painter the instant Proprietary of it Twidall is another Mannor of eminent Account and had Owners likewise of that Appellation The first that I find of the Name in Mr. Painter's Evidences which held both this and Dane-court is Robert de Twidall and he slourished here about the Reign of Henry the first and he had Issue Adam de Twidall from whom was lineally extracted Richard de Twidall who in the fourth year of Richard the second passed away this and Dane-court to John the Son of Robert de Beaufitz originally descended from Reade in Marden But in this Family the Possession was not very permanent for in some Descents after the Name went out into into Joan Beaufitz and other Coheirs and she by matching with Robert Arnold of Sussex did enstate the Possession of both these places upon this Name and Family and he bequeathed them as Dower to his Daughter Elizabeth Arnold and shee in the thirteenth year of Henry the seventh conveys them over to her Brother Henry and his Son William Arnold in the eighteenth year of Henry the eighth transports his Right in them by Sale to Thomas Benolt Clarenceux King of Arms from whom the like Conveyance in the twentieth year of that Prince brought itto Sir Hen. Wiatt one of the Privie Councel to Hen. the 8 whose Son Sir Tho. Wiat in the thirtieth year of that King exchanged them for other Lands with the Crown from which immediately after they were conveyed by Grant to Christopher Sampson who not many years after transplanted his Interest by Sale into Thomas Parker who conveyed away his Right in Twidall to William Painter Esquire great Grand-father to Mr. Allington Painter who now enjoys it but Dane-court was by Purchase brought over to Short in whom it had not long continued but the same Fatality carried it away to May of Rochester The Grange in this Parish sometimes written Grench did in the Conquerours time appertain to the old Lords called Hastings Ancestors of the Lord Hastings now Earl of Huntington In the Book called Testa de Nevill kept in the Exchequer we read that one Manasser de Hastings held Grench by Serjeanty under King Hen. the third and the particular Office in some more modern Records is described viz. that it is held of the King and not of the Cinque-ports as some do suggest by Serjeanty to find two men and two Oars in the Ship which carries over the King from Dover to Whitesand by Callis From Hastings it came over by Purchase to Richard Smelt Alderman of London whose Daughter and Heir Margaret Smelt carried it away to Richard Croyden likewise an Alderman of London in whom the male-line failing Margery his Sole Heir was matched to John Philipott Esquire Alderman of London in the Reign of Edward the third and Lord Maior of London in the Reign of Richard the second by which Prince he was invested with the Order of Knighthood for being so signally instrumental in the Ruine of Wat Tiler Jack Straw and his seditious Complices and had after the Addition of Gules A plain Crosse between four Swords Argent Pomell'd Or as a Coat of Augmentation annexed to his Paternal Coat viz. Sable a Bend Ermin for setting out a Fleet of Ships at his own expence and vanquishing John Mercer and his piratical Rabble who had so infested the narrow Sea that the Trade of the Merchant was brought into a deplorable Condition and had sunk had he not buoyd it up again by his Care and Magnanimity Yet how laudable soever the work were it escaped not the Envy of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster who questioned him at the Couucel-Board for that he being a private Person had embarked himself in an Attempt of so much Concernment without Order and Licence first obtained by the State but by the noble Favour he received from his honorable Friends there especially Rychard Fitzallan Earl of Arundell whose Arms he placed in his House as a Monument of Gratitude and left him a Legacie in his Will he was fetched off with Reputation But to proceed in Right of the former Alliance he was planted in the Possession of this Mannor and from him it devolved to his Grandchild John Philipott Esquire And he in the eleventh year of Henry the sixth exchanged this Mannor with Sir Richard Bamme Son of Adam Bamme Lord Maior of London for Twiford in Middlesex and from him it
it at making the Black Prince Knight And here is much Land in this Parish which bears the Name of Pend a probable Argument of the Antiquity of it in this Track nor did it yeild to Time or desert the Possession of this Place but was constant in the Tenure of it until that Age we call our Grand-fathers and then it was alienated to a Family called Dominie alias Fullaker the last of which Name at this Place was Christopher Dominie alias Fullaker who not many years since passed it away to Mr. John Hulks of Newenham whose Son and Heir Mr. Stephen Hulks does now possesse the Signory of it Herietsham in the Hundred of Eyhorne was anciently a Limb of that Estate which was entituled to the Possession of the Noble Family of Crescy Hugh de Crescy died seised of the Mannor in the forty seventh year of King Henry the third and his Grand-mother Margery was Daughter of William de Cheyney of Patricksbourne Cheyney as appears Claus 52. Henrici tertii Memb. 6. in Dorso But he deceased without Issue and so his Brother Stephen de Crescy became his Heir and Lord of Herietsham and in this Family it continued until the latter end of Edward the second and then the Possession of this Place went from Crescy into Northwood as is manifest by the Book of Aid where Roger de Northwood is represented to have held this Mannor and have paid a proportionate Aid for it at making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth of Edward the third and he deceased seised of it in the thirty fifth year of that King's Raign And in this Name it remained fixed until the Beginning of Henry the fifth and then it was transplanted into the Interest of a Family called Adam who had large Possessions in Essex and bore for their Paternal Coat vert a Plain Crosse Or and John Adam held it at his Death which was in the ninteenth year of Henry the sixth and left it to his Son John Adam after whom I do not find any more of the Family possest of it for in the Raign of Edward the fourth I discover by some Court Rols that James Peckham of Yaldham Esquire was Lord of the Fee and Reginald Peckham his Son that was Sheriff of Kent in the last year of Henry the seventh kept his Shrivalty at Herietsham but after this it was of no long continuance in this Family for in the fifteenth year of Henry the eighth Reginald Peckham passes it away by Sale to Edward Scott Esquire and he not long after transmits it by the same conveyance to John Hales one of the Barons of the Exchequer and from him one Moiety of it went away by Sale in the twenty eighth of Henry the eighth to John Norton Esquire and the other not long after to Sir Anthony St. Leger Norton conveyed his proportion to Ashburnham of Sussex and both St. Leger and Ashburnham in the Time almost of our Fathers Remembrance by a concurrent Sale demised their joint Right in it to Sir John Steed whose Successor Doctour ...... Steed Doctour of the Civil Law is the instant Proprietary of Herietsham East Farbon and Bentley are two little Mannors in this Parish which belonged to the Priory of Leeds and upon the suppression were made parcel of the Revenue of the Crown and remained there until King Edward the sixth in the fourth year of his Raign granted them to Sir Anthony St. Leger whose great Grand-child Sir Warham St. Leger about the Beginning of King James passed them away to Mr. ........ Steed Father to Doctour Steed who upon the Decease of his Nephew Cromer Steed without Issue Male as Reversioner in Entail is now settled in the Possession of these two Mannors West Farbon sometimes in old Deeds called little Herietsham lies likewise in this Parish and was granted in the two and fiftieth year of Henry the third to William de Valentia Earl of Pembrooke But after him I track no more of the Family at this place For in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight it was held by John Pennington and in the fourth year of Henry the fourth when Blanch that Prince's Daughter was married it acknowledged it self to be under the Signory of the above mentioned Family and continued divers years after united to their Interest But in the Raign of Henry the eighth I find them quite vanished from the Possession and a Family called Hede or Head entituled to the Inheritance and in this Name did it make its abode until the Raign of Edward the sixth and then it was conveyed by Sale to St. Leger where it rested until the Beginning of King James and then it was alienated by Sir Warham St. Leger to Mr. Benedict Barneham who left four Daughters and Co-heirs matched to Audley Constable Doble and Soame who equally shared his Estate and this upon the distinguishing of it into just Proportions augmented the Revenue of Constable Harbilton is another ancient Mannor in Herietsham It was in the twentieth year of Edward the third the Inheritance of Thomas de Malmains for at that Time as appears by the Book of Aid he paid a subsidiary supply for this and other Lands at making the Black Prince Knight After this Family was mouldred away which was before the End of Richard the second I find the Family of Maris was settled in the Inheritance William Maris who was Esquire first to Henry the fifth and after to Cardinal Kempe was Possessor of it and so was his Son William Maris Esquire who was Sheriff of Kent in the one and twentieth year of Henry the sixth After this Family I find the Moils about the latter end of the former Prince's Government to have stept into the Inheritance the first of which was Walter Moile who was Justice of the Peace for this County in the Raign both of Henry the sixth and Edward the fourth and left this and a spatious Patrimony besides to his Heir John Moile Esquire whose Son Robert Moile about the Beginning of Henry the eighth alienated it to Geffrey St. Leger Esquire from whom the Title for many years streamed into this Family until in that Time which fell under our Grand-fathers cognizance it was passed away by Sale to Steed Ancestor to Doctour Steed who is the instant Possessor of it Marley and Hopme Mill and in other Copies written Holme Hill did with their Income support the Chaunter of the Canons of Pauls to whose office they were annexed A Place certainly in elder Times of important Account for in the Records of Christ-church from whence Pitseus hath collected his Inventory of the English Writers there is mention of one Joannes de Teneth a Man as exemplary for his Piety as he was eminent for his Learning who was Chaunter to that Covent but this Office being entombed in the Ruines of those Canons of Paul in the General suppression the Revenue which upheld it was fixed in the Crown until King Edward the sixth
of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 59. in right of his Wife Juliana Sole Heir of Roger de Leybourn Lord of Leybourne Castle and she after him likewise was in possession of it at her decease which was in the forty third year of Edw. the third Rot. Esc Num. 47. But this after her departure for want of Heirs either direct or collateral escheating with a wide and opulent patrimony to the Crown it made its aboad there untill Rich. the second in the Beginning of his reign granted it to Sir Simon de Burley Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports and Knight of the Garter who being infortunately attainted in the tenth year of Rich. the second this Mannor by escheat reverts to the Crown and that Monarch in the eleventh year of his reign grants the Custody of Langley Park to William Arch-B of Cant. which his Grand-father K. Edw. the third had in the ninth year of his reign by a special Grant indulged to Will Lord Clinton and Julian his Lady licensed to be inlarged with 200 Acres of Land but the Mannor it self was granted to the Dean and Canons of St. Stephens in Westminster in the twelsth year of his reign as appears by an Inquisition taken at that time Rot. Esc Num. 159. and amply confirmed in the twenty first year of the abovefaid Prince as appears Pat. 1. Memb. 35. Parte tertia and remained folded up in their revenue until the general Suppression in the reign of H. the eighth dislodged the Title and planted it in the Crown and then that Prince by a new Concession made it the demeasn of Leven Buffkin descended from an ancient Family of that Name in Sussex and his Successor in our Fathers memory passed it away to Nat. Powel Esq and he not many years since demised his Interest in it by Sale to Sir Edw. Hales Knight and Batonet from whom it is now descended to his Grandchild Sir Edw. Hales of Tunstall Baronet Brising is another Mannor in Langley worthy the remembrance even in this that it gave Seat and Sirname to a Family of that denomination Sarin de Rising held in the twentieth year of Edw. the third and paid respective Aid for it at making the Black Prince Knight In times of a more modern Character the Astrys were invested in the possession And Jo. Astry held it at his decease as appears by an old Will in the fourth year of Edw. the fourth of this Family was Ralph Astry who was Sheriff of London in the first year of Richard the third and likewise William Astry who dyed seised of it in the thirty fifth year of Henry the eighth but after his Exit the Title was of no longer date in the Tenure of this Family for the Vicissitude of purchase about the Beginning of Edw. the sixth brought it from this Name to own the Signory of Leven Buffkin Esq one of the Justices of the Peace of this County and in his posterity did it reside until those Times which were of our Fathers Cognisance and then it was conveyed by Sale to Powel from whom not many years since the same revolution hath devolved it back into the possession of the instant proprietary Mr. Leven Buffkin Lee in the Hundred of Blackheath in Barbarous old Latine written Laga was the residence of an ancient generous Family called Bankwell and there is a place in this parish called Bankers by Corruption of the Name which in Orthography of more Antiquity and Truth was written Bankwells from whence certainly at first issued this Sirname In the thirty first year of Edward the first John de Bankwell had a Grant by the King's Charter to have Free-Warren to all his Lands in Lee Levesham and Bromley And in the return of John de Shelving High Sheriff of Kent in the sixteenth and part of the seventeenth year of Edward the second of all the Knights and men at Arms in this Connty William de Bankwell is mentioned in the second degree he dyed the twentieth year of Edward the third and left Thomas Bankwell his Heir who in the thirty fifty year of that Prince's Government deceased possest of Lee and a very large proportion of other Land in Modingham Sherfholt now I think corruptly called Shrawfield Littlecroft Bankers both in Lee Bromley Levesham Eltham Chiselhurst Detling Langshot and Wickham by Bromley and left three Sons according to the Custome of Gavelkind Heirs to his Inheritance which were John William and Robert Bankwell but upon the distinguishing the Estate into parcels Lee Bankers and Sherfholt now corruptly called Shrawfield fell to be the patrimony of John Bankwell and in this Mans Lineage did the Inheritance of these places divers years reside till the Name was circumscribed in a Female Heir who being wedded to John Arrapon brought this place to be an adjunct to his Inheritance And here I confess for want of information either from publick or private Record I am at a losse and cannot discover whether by Arrapon it was sold to the Crown and from the Crown transmitted to Woodvill or else immediately passed away by sale to Richard Woodvill Earl River who enjoyed it but upon his Son 's untimely death on a Scaffold at Pomfret being by the malice and subtlety of Richard the third blasted with an Aspersion of Treason that fatal Stroke which separated his Head from his Body divided his Estate here from this Name and Family and united it by Escheat to the Crown In whose Revenue it was resident until King Henry the eighth as is manifest by the original Patent granted it to Sir Thomas Wroteley In times of a more modern Aspect that is about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth I find it in the Tenure of Thomas Sackvill Lord Buckhurst but how it devolved to him I confesse I know not and from him it descended to his Grandchild Richard Sackvill Earl of Dorset who exchanged it with King James whose Successor King Charls sold the Royaltie and Fee-simple of it to Ralph Freeman Lord Maior of London who gave it in Marriage with his Daughter and Heir to Sir George Sonds of Leeze-Court in Shelvich Knight of the Bath who by a Right derived from that Match is the present Lord of Lee and its two Appendages Bankers and Shrawfield Leeds Town and Castle lies in the Hundred of Eyhorne and were by William the Conquerour in the twentieth year of his Reign as appears by the Text of Dooms-day Book assigned to Hamon de Crevequer whom he had constituted one of the Trustees to assist his Cousin John de Fiennes in the Conservation and Guard of Dover Castle who chose this for the Capital Seat of his Barony of Crevequer or decrepito Corde for so it is rendered in Latin and of Chetham near Rochester for of that place likewise he and his posterity sometimes writ themselves Barons and here erected a stupendous Castle which because it was environed with Water was called the Moat Hamon de Crevequer married Matilda Sole Daughter and Heir of William
old German practise is also asserted by Tacitus And that it was customary amongst the Danes Several Urns discovered in Jutland and Sleswick not many years since do easily evince which contained not only Bones but many other Substances in them as Knives peeces of Iron Brass and Wood and one of Norway a Brass guilded Jews-harp When this Custome of Burning of the Dead languished into Disuse is incertain but that it began to vanish upon the Dawning of Christianity as Vapors and Mists scatter before a Morning Sun is without Controversie but when the Light of it did more vigorously reflect like a Meridian Beam on all the gloomy Corners and Recesses of Paganism and Infidelity then this Use of Urn-Burial was wholly superseded and found a Tomb it self in the more sober and severer practise of Christianity And thus much shall be said concerning these Urns digged up at Newington The Mannor of Levenoke in this Parish ought in the last place to be taken Notice of but the Deeds being dispersed into the Hands of those who are Strangers both to this County and my Design I cannot give the Reader that satisfaction in this particular that I aime at Only thus much I can inform him that by an old Court Roll in the Hands of Mr. Staninough of this Parish lately deceased I discovered that in the Raign of Edward the third and Richard the second it was the possession of John Beau Fitz and it is probable by the Heir General of this Name it devolved to Arnold of Rochester and more to fortifie this some ancient Country people at my being there did assure me they had it by Traditional Intelligence from their Predecessors That that Knight purchased it of one Arnold but of that there is no certainty only this is positive that about the latter end of Henry the eighth that Knight enjoyed it and in this Name it remained until almost our Memory and then it was conveyed to Gouldsmith and he alienated it to Barrow whose Descendant having morgaged it to Mr. ...... Alston of London he very lately hath transplanted all his Right by Sale into Mr. ........ Lisle of Middlesex now deceased Nockholt in the Hundred of Ruxley was a Branch which was incorporated into the Revenue of the Lord Say William de Say died possest of it in the twenty third year of Edward the third and from this man was it transmitted to his Grand-child Geffrey Say who concluded in a Sole Daughter and Heir called Elizabeth who was married to William Fiennes Esquire and so in her Right was Nockholt united to the possession of this Noble Family from this man was Richard Fiennes descended who enjoyed this Mannor successively from him and married Joane the Sole Female heir of Thomas Lord Dacre of Hurstmonceaux in Sussex who was extracted from Edward Lord Dacre who was summoned to Parliament by the Title of Lord Dacre of Hurstmonceaux in the Raign of Edward the second and in her Right was this man summoned to Parliament by the Name of Richard Fiennes Lord Dacres in the Government of Henry the sixth And here did both the Barony of Dacre and the Inheritance of Nockholt continue till Gregory Fiennes Lord Dacres deceased in the thirty sixth year of Queen Elizabeth and left by Testament Margaret his Sister matched to Sampson Lennard Esquire he having no Issue Heir to his large possessions amongst which this Mannor was involved from Sampson Lennard who was created Lord Dacres in the second year of King James it is now come down by Successive Inheritance to be the instant Patrimony of his Grand-child Francis Lord Dacres the present Baron of Hurstmonceaux There are two other Mannors in this Parish but of small importance called Brampton and Shelleys-court or at Ockholt both which had Owners who engrafted their own Sirname upon them There is a recital in the Book of Aide of one John de Brampton who held Land at Nockholt and Ditton in the Raign of Edward the first From this Family Brampton came by a Female Heir to be the Inheritance of Petley who about the latter end of Henry the sixth conveyed it to Oliver alias Quintin and hath been for almost two Hundred years as appears by the Evidences now in the Hands of Mr. Robert Oliver of the Grange in the Parish of Leybourn in the Tenure and Possession of that Name and Family Shelleys Court called in the Evidences likewise at Ockholt was as high as the Raign of Edward the third as the originall Deeds now in the Hands of Mr. Rob. Austin of Bexley inform me the Inheritance of Shelley and remained united to the Possession of that Family till the Government of Queen Mary and then by Sale the whole Demise was passed away by Sir John Champneys Lord Maior of London by William Shelley the last of this Name at this place from whom it devolved to his Son Sir Justinian Champneys who left it to his Son Mr. Richard Champneys Esquire and he almost in the Remembrance of that Age we live in alienated his Concernment in it to the present Possessor Mr. Gooday of Suffolk Nonington in the Hundred of Wingham and Eastry hath diverse places in it of considerable Repute The first is Fredville called in old Deeds Froidville from its bleak and eminent Situation Times of an elder Inscription represent it to have been the Possession of Colkin vulgarly called Cokin who it is probable erected the ancient Fabrick and brought it into the Shape and Order of an Habitation this Family was originally extracted from Canterbury where they had a Lane which bore their Name being called Colkins Lane and likewise had the Inheritance or Propriety of Worth-gate in that City William Colkin founded an Hospital neer Eastbridge which celebrated his Name to Posterity and was called Colkin's Hospital he flourished in the Time of K. John and was a liberal Benefactor to the Hospitals of St. Nicholas St. Katharine and St. Thomas of Eastbridge in Canterbury as is recorded by Mr. William Somner in his Survey of that City Page 116. But to proceed John Colkin dyed possest of Fredvill the tenth of Edward the third and in his Posterity was the Title resident untill the latter end of Richard the second and then it was conveyed to Thomas Charleton and he by a Fine levyed the second of Henry the second transplants his Interest into John Quadring in whose Name it made its aboad untill Joan Quadring the Heir General of Thomas Quadring this man's Successor carried the Title along with her to her Husband Richard Dryland and he about the latter end of Edward the fourth alienated it to John Nethersole who by Fine levyed in the second year of Richard the third conveyed it to William Bois Esquire descended from I. de Bosco or de Bois so written in some old Copies of the Battle Abby Roll and in others R. de Bosco or de Bois who entered into England with William the Conquerour which William had Issue Thomas Bois who dying in the
Demeasne where it continued couched till Queen Elizabeth first granted it in Lease for Life to her Foster-brother Saunders so he was styled because his Mother had been her Nurse upon whose Decease it reverts to the Crown and King James upon his first Ascending the English Throne granted the Demeasne to Sir Edwin Sandys The Mannor was sold the 1630. to Mr. Edw. Bois Father to Jo. Bois of Betshanger Esq a Person who had performed some exemplary Service for him upon his first admission to the Scepter of this Nation which obliged him to this Concession from whom it is now by Descent transferred to his Grand-child Son to Colonel Sandys who in the late intestine Contests between the King and his two Houses received a mortal wound in a vigorous encounter betwixt him and Prince Rupert at Worcester of which some time after he languished away and deceased There was when Leland made his Survey of Kent which was in the Raign of Henry the eighth the Reliques of an old Stone-house which the Tradition of that Age did affirm to have been the Pallace of the above mentioned Eadbald And there was not many years before the same Author made this perambulation as he in the same Manuscript does assert a Wall broken down by which Hole or Inlet was discovered a little Cell or Chamber into which it opened where were found the Fragmentary Remains of two Children who had in that gloomy Repository been as was then conjectured for many preceding Ages been mured up and which did improve the wonder in one of these obsolete Skeletons was descried a stiff Pin of Latine Tikenhurst in this Parish now by Corruption of the first Etymology called Ticknes in elder Times was the Revenue of a Family known by that Sirname some of whom are Witnesses to Deeds of a very high Date now in the Hands of Mr. Richard Fogge of Dane-court in Tilmanston After this Family which had left its Name ingrafted upon this place was worn out which was before the Raign of Henry the sixth Little Mongcham was given by King Edbert under the Notion of 6 Ploughed Lands to the Abby of St. Austins the Stoddards from whom the Stoddards of Modingham near Eltham were originally extracted became Possessors of the Fee and in the Patrimony of this Family was the Title of this Place for several Generations involved till in our Grand-fathers Memory it was by Sale transplanted into the Propriety of Peyton of Knowlton so that it is in Right of that Purchase now incorporated into the Income of Sir Thomas Peyton Baronet who is the present Lord of the Fee Northfleet was alwaies a Branch of that Revenue which fell under the Spiritual Signory of Christ-church By the Pages of Doomes-day Book we may take a brief Prospect of what it was in the Time of the Conqueror Northfleet saies that Record in T. E. R. se defendebat pro VI. Sullingis nunc pro V. est manerium appretiatum XX. VII lb. That is Northfleet in the Time of Edward the Confessor did defend it self for six Sullings or Ploughed Lands but now that is in the Time of William the Conqueror only for five and upon the appraisment was rated at twenty seven pound and thus did it continue riveted by the Charters of several Princes which had confirmed the Patrimony of Christ-church in Canterbury into the Estate of the Church till that Whitlwind which arose in the Time of Henry the eighth threw it into the common Dissolution and then by publique Authority it was united to the Revenue of the Crown and there was fixed till the year One thousand six hundred and eight and then the Title was torn off Ifeild Well Cosington and Shinglewell are four small Mannors which are circumscribed within the Limits of this Parish They were in Ages of a more venerable Aspect the Patrimony of Hever of Hever William de Hever had a Charter of Free-warren granted to his Lands at Ifield and Shinglewell and other Lands in Northfleet in the ninth year of Edward the first which was renued to Thomas de Hever in the fourth year of Edward the third but he left no Heits male to enjoy this priviledge for he and his Name expired in Females whereof Joan one of his Coheirs was espoused to Reginald Cobham who was summoned to Parliament by Writt as Baron of Sterborough in the twenty second year of Edward the third and the other was matched to Iohn Brocas but his Estate at these above-mentioned places was upon the Partition annexed to the Patrimony of the Lord Cobham from which Family about the raign of Henry the fourth it came over to Iohn Rykeld who with his Son William Rykeld lyes entombed in Northfleet Church but it seems this last mentioned William deceased without Issue-male for Rose his Sole Daughter and Heir was married to Edward Limsey descended from Ralph de Limsey who held the Mannor of Budbrook in Warwickshire the twentieth of William the Conquerour as is testified by Dooms-day Bookâ— and this Man had Issue Iohn Limsey to whom Ifield Shinglewell and the other two places in right of his Mother did successively devolve But it seems the Title of Wells Cosington and Ifield did not long dwell in Iohn Limsey for in the first year of Richard the third he alienated them to Iohn Young from which Family in the middle of the raign of H. the eighth they came back again to acknowledge the Signiory of Limsey in whom again the Possession was as transitory as formerly for before the latter end of H. eighth they were conveyed to Rainsford from whom about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth they were by Sale passed away to Alderman Garret of London and in this Family was the Inheritance lodged untill allmost those Times which fell under the Cognisance of our Remembrance and then they were disposed of by Sale to Child Derndale is another ancient Seat in Northfleet which in old Evidences some of which are not bounded with any date is styled Derendale as having in elder Times as it appears by old Deeds Possessors of that Name and when they had deserted the Possession which was before the latter end of Edward the third it became the Inheritance of William Wangford whose Son William Wangford was Serjeant at Law and a great Benefactor to Rochester Bridge and he being his Heir to this place in the fifteenth year of Henry the sixth passed it away to John and William Flucke from whom suddenly after it came over by purchase to Iohn Rouse descended from William Rouse of Birling whose Son Iohn Rouse demised Land in Northfleet as appears by an old Deed to Iohn Rouse in the thirty third year of Edward the third and this above-mentioned Iohn Rouse in the tenth year of Edward the fourth demised his Right in this place to Thomas Wombwell and Iohn Clifton Esquire and this Iohn Clifton dying without Issue in the year 1471 bequeaths his Interest in it by Will to Thomas VVombwell and
legible wherein at the Foot of it there is mention of one Edward Filmour so he was written in that Age from whom it is probable though now the Name by Time and prescription be in the last Syllable of it something violated the present Sir Edward Filmer eldest Son to that Learned Loyal and Worthy Person Sir Robert Filmer lately deceased is primitively extracted and this is confirmed by their own private Evidences which represent them for many Cenerations even till this present Possessors of this Place and wherein the Name is frequently written Filmor aswel as in latter Escripts Filmer There is another Mannor in Ottringden which anciently was reputed so though now by Disuse and Intermission it hath lost that Estimate and is called Hall-place by a very Ancient Court-roll Sans date now in the Hands of Mr. Paine It is represented in those Times when it had Tenants and Services belonging to it to be the propriety of one Roger Rev and in that Roll there is mention of one Thomas Franklin who held some Lands of this Mannor by paying yearly the Tribute or Rent-service of one Red Rose as the Symbol of his Homage And now for want of farther Light from the Ancient Deeds and Evidences I must make a leap to the raign of Henry the seventh and then I find Eugenius Cock in the nineteenth year of that Prince sels it to John Bunce of this Parish Gentleman in which Family the possession rested until very lately it was by Sale alienated to Mr. Paine Monkton is the last place in this Parish of Note It belonged before the suppression to the Nunnery of Davington and was given to that Cloyster by Matthew Son of Hamon Atfrith upon the first Erection of it which was in the thirty ninth year of Henry the third Upon the suppression and final Dissolution ' of this Covent of Davington by Henry the eighth it was by that Prince granted to Sir Thomas Cheney whose Son the Lord Henry Cheyney so fugitive is the Tenure of Church-Demeasne in the entrance into the raign of Queen Elizabeth passed it away to Godden who so small a space was resident in the possession that he hath only left us Notice that he sold it to William Lewin descended from the Lewins of Norfolk whose Son Sir Justinian Lewin concluded in a Daughter and Heir who was matched to Rogers of the County of Somersett and so in her Right it became interwoven with his Demeasne but remained not long thus involved in the Interest of this Name for in our Memory he deceased and left only a Daughter and Heir who is lately matched to Charles Cavendish Lord Mansfeld eldest Son to William Lord Marquess of Newcastle so that Monkton in his Ladies Right is now united to his Inheritance There are two Chappels in the Parish Church of Ottringden that on the North-side of the Chauncel is called Ottringdens Chappel where the Remains of several of the Ottringdens St. Legers Auchers and Lewins lie enterred that on the South-side is termed Bunces Chappel where the Ashes and Reliques of several of that Family slumber who were of no contemptible Note in this Parish where they had a Mansion which in old Evidences is called Bunces Court which hath been in their possession as appears by their own Deeds some Hundreds of years and from hence are the Bunces of Throuley likewise originally issued forth P. P. P. P. PAdlesworth in the Hundred of Lovingborough is so obscure and inconsiderable a Village that it should not have filled a place in this Register but that it was a portion of that wide Estate which lay spread over the Face of all the adjacent Territorie and acknowledged it self to be under the Jurisdiction of the Criolls Bertram de Crioll died about the middle of Edward the first and left Joan his Sole Heir who had been before matched to Sir Richard de Rokesley of Rokesley Court in Northcrey and so Padlesworth became the Rokesley's but did not long cleave to that Name for he expired likewise in two Female Co-heirs whereof one of them called Joan was matched to Thomas de Poynings and he left Issue Michael Poynings from whom it came down to his descendant Robert Poynings who passed it away by Sale to Fogge of Sene in Newington in which Family the Title for many Descents lay involved even until our Fathers Remembrance and then it was alienated to Dynley who is the instant Lord of the Fee Padlesworth in the Hundred of Larkefeild was as high as the raign of H. the third the Possession of a Family called Chetwind who immediatly after exchanged it with Hamon de Gatton for the Mannor of Hocklin in the County of Bedford but kept it not long for after it had continued some smal Interval of Time in this Family it was alienated to the Noble Family of Huntingfeild after whom succeeded Bele and then it went away by Sale to Bullock who by the same Devolution surrendred the possession to Diggs where it had but a very transitory aboad for he conveyed it away to Peckham from whom the ordinary Mutation made by Purchase brought it to own the Propriety of Vineley who translated his Interest by Sale unto William Clifford of Bobbing-court and he about the beginning of Henry the fixt fixed the Title and Possession by Sale in Robert Bambergh Where it is to be noted that this quick and suddain Revolution of the Title of this place in those Families which intervened between Huntingfeild and Bambergh happened in lesse then a Circle of fifty years as appears by the original Conveyances now in the Hands of Mr. Marsham But to advance in that Discourse where I broke off Robert Bambergh above-mentioned was not long settled in his new Acquists but he deceased and left it to his Daughter and Heir who was matched to Nicolas Wotton Esquire from whom in a direct Line it came down to Thomas Lord Wotton who settled it in Marriage upon his Daughter and Co-heir Katherine Wotton with Henry Lord Stanhop eldest Son and Heir apparent to Philip Earl of Chesterfeild and this Lady hath since passed it away to my Noble Friend John Marsham of Whornes-place in Cuckeston Esquire from whose Deeds and Papers I have drawn my present Intelligence Patricksbourn in the Hundreds of Bredge and Pet-ham in Ancient Records hath still the Addition of Cheyney annexed to it for indeed it was the first and original Residence of the Cheyneys before they translated their Habitation to Shurland in Shepey by matching with the Heir of Shurland Alexander de Cheyney is registred in the Catalogue of those Kentish Gentlemen who accompanied Richard the first to the Siege of Acon In Testa de Nevill an Ancient Book kept in the Exchecquer there is mention of Gulielmus de Casineto so they are written in Latine that is William de Cheyney who paid respective supply in the twentieth year of Henry the third at the Marriage of Isabell that King's Sister for his Lands at Patriksbourn Cheyney
which menaced it upon the removal of the Body of St. Mildred in the year 1116 obtained from Henry the first a Charter to hold a Market weekly at his Mannor of Minster which by disuse and intermission shrunk into neglect and oblivion But the greatest blow which was given to it was the final suppression of the abovesaid Abby and then it was rent from that Covent and came to own the Signory of the Crown and was lodged in its revenue untill the ninth year of King James and then it was with the appendant Mannors of St. Johns St. Peters and St. Laurence granted to Sir Philip Cary and John Williams Esquire whose Sons and Heirs Sir John Williams and John Cary Esquire do now divide the Inhetitance of it Sheriffs-court in this Parish but more anciently styled in old Records Sheriffs-hope was the possession of Reginald de Cornhill who had the Custody of this County so long that it was almost hereditary to him so that he lost his own Name and assumed that of le Sheriff from whence this place borrowed the Appellation of Sheriffs-hope but this could not so fence-in the title or chain the possession to this Family but that about the Beginning E. the third it came to confesse the Corbies for proprietaries and Robert de Corbie held it at his death which was in the thirty ninth of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num 9. and had Issue Robert Corbie in whom the Male-line was wound up so that Joan his Daughter and Heir by matching with Sir Nicholas Wotton twice Lord Maior of London annexed it to the demeasn of that Family and from him did the title by an unintercepted Current of Descent glide down to Thomas Lord Wotton who setled it in marriage upon his eldest Daughter Katharine Wotton wedded to the Lord Henry Stanhop and she not many years since conveyed it by Sale to Mr. Hen. Paramour lately deceased Brother to Mr. Thomas Paramour now Lord of the Fee Monkton is a Mannor that almost from the first Infancy of Christianity in this Island was wrapped up in that demeasn which was under the Signory of the Monks of Christ-church in Canterbury and as the Book of Christ-church informs me was given to that Church by Ediva or Edgiva mother of Edmund and Eadred or Edred both Kings in the year 961. And if you will see how it was rated in the Conquerours time the Pages of Dooms-day Book will inform you Monkton says that Register est Manerium Monachorum sanctae Trinitatis that is Christ-church est de Cibo eorum in tempore Edwardi Regis se defendebat pro XX sulling is nunc se defendebat pro X VIII est appretiatum XL lb. This upon the surrender of the patrimony of Christ-church by the Monks of that Cloister into the hands of Henry the eighth in the twenty ninth year of his reign was by him not long after enstated on his new erected Dean and Chapiter of Christchurch and continued untill these Times annexed to their Revenue Monkton had Liberty to keep a Market weekly which was obtained by Grant from Henry the sixth in the seventeenth year of his Rule by John Salisbury then Prior of Christ-church Stonar is the last place to be taken Notice of in this Island and although it be a Parish now without Inhabitants and a member of the Cinque-ports belonging to Sandwich and hath not enough left of its former Buildings to direct you to its original Situation yet was it formerly a Haven-Town and had a Fair held there yearly five Days together before the Feast of the Translation of St. Austin which was granted to this place in the year 1104. In the reign of William Rufus about the year 1090 there arose a Suit in Law between the Londoners and the Abbot of St. Augustins to whom this Mannor was given with the residue of that revenue which belonged to the Nunnery at Minster by King Canutus upon the translation of the Body of St. Mildred to that Cloister as touching the right of the Haven of Stonar wherein by the favourable Aid of the Prince the Citizens as Spot Chronicler to that Abby reports had the overthrow But the utter ruine and subversion of the Town happened in the year 1385 about the ninth of Richard the second at what time the French with 18 Sail of Gallies designing to infest the Maritine parts of Kent landed and layed this Town of Stonar in Ashes which ever since hath found a Sepulcher in its own Rubbish And accuses the bad Government of Sir Simon de Burley the then Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports and Constable of Dover-Castle as cheif Author thereof For when his demands were utterly refused and denyed and not suffered to have the inestimable Ornaments and Riches of St. Thomas Beckets shrine and the Jewels of St. Augustins removed to Dover-Castle upon pretence of safe-keeping them there then he grew slack and remisse in securing the Sea-Coast and Isle of Thanett so that when the Abbot of St. Augustins had raised a considerable Strength of his Tenants about Northburn and bending towards the Island endeavoured to have passed over at Sandwich Sir Simon de Burley would not permit him so that he was constrained by a long and redious March all Night to go about by Fordwich and Sturrey into the Island and made such vigorous resistance that the Enemies fled to their Gallies without doing any farther prejudice to the Islanders Then Sir Simon procures the King to send out his Mandate under the great Seal of England requiring all that had Lands or belonged to Sandwich to be Commorant there and to find competent Arms according to the Quality of their Estates and Faculties upon pain of Imprisonment and Forfeiture of all they had to loose And sends in the Kings Name to the Abbot to remove with his Forces from Thanet to the Guard of Sandwich as a place of more Importance But the Abbot saith Thorne that continued the Chronicle of Spot neither astonished with the power of the Enemy nor seduced with the Inticements or terrified with the Menaces of the Traytor Burley remained in the Island to defend his own and his Tenants possessions After this there is nothing observable at this place untill the Suppression of the Abby of St. Austins and the Resignation of its Revenue into the hands of Henry the eighth when this Mannor with the rest of their demeasn having improved the patrimony of the Crown it was in the fourth and fifth of Philip and Mary granted to Nicholas Crispe Esquire from whom it is now descended to Mr. Nicholas Crispe his Successor the instant Lord of the Fee There was in elder times a Guard assigned for the security of the passage between Sandwich and Stonar for I find that Ed. the second granted VVill. Turke for Life in the seventh year of his reign the passage between Stonar and Sandwich and the Perquisites and Emoluments emergent from it which Grant was in the eighteenth
year of that Prince renewed by Patent and invested for Life with all its adherences in Ralph St. Laurence of the Isle of Thanet And then again in the thirteenth year of Edward the third I find that that Prince grants John Giboun Marmario suo those are the words in the Latine Record but what they import in English I confesse I am ignorant of the profits of the passage betwen Sandwich and Stonar for the defence and protection of it I shall wind up this Discourse with informing the Reader that the cheifest Scenes both of War and Peace have been laid in or neer this Island Rutupis or Richborough on the opposite Shore was an eminent Fortresse of the Romans and the first presidiary Station that Antiquity represents them to have erected within Britain When Hengist arrived with his Saxons to support the harrassed and afflicted Britons against the eruptions of the Picts he first landed in this Island and when his Forces were broken by Vortimer at the Battle of Alresford he made Thanet his Retreat and Shelter When Austin the Monk arrived here in England with the light of Truth to dispel the mists of Paganisme and Infidelity and disseminate the Christian Religion amongst the Saxons he found his first Reception in this Island How often the Danes made Thanet a Winter Station for their Navies when they made their barbarous Impressions on the Maritime Coasts of this Nation I think our Chronicles do sufficiently inform us And lastly when Lewis the Dolphin was called in by the mutinous English Barons to assert their Quarrel with additional Supplies against King John he laid the first Scene of that War in this Island which he afterwards scattered on the Face of this unhappy Nation The ETYMOLOGY DERIVATION and DEFINITION of all the Hundreds and Parishes mentioned in the Map of KENT as they are derived from some Saxon Radix BLackheath is from a Saxon Radix Bleach is turned into Bleke which suites with the high open and cold â—ituation of the Heath which gives name to the Hundred Bromley in old English from Brome and Leah which is Pasture now called Ley and is the same with Bromefield Lesnes at present called Lezen denoteth Meadow-Pasture in old English Axtane suitable to the nature of Soyl full of loose Stones which yet is covered with Okes Ake in Saxon being an Oke Rookesley in old Eng. a Pasture in which Rooks do Breed as here they do frequently Codsheath that is the Heath on the hanging hill commonly called Godsheath Westerham that is The Town standing in the Western Limits of the Shire Somerden that is The fruitfull green hill in the Valley Hoo and sometimes written How is of Saxon derivation from their word Hougen which signifieth high and sorteth well with the Situation of this Hundred that is mounted aloft and proudly overlooketh both the Rivers of Thames and Medway Shamell written in Saxon Scamell is deduced from Schamell in Saxon a Stool and it is possible there was much Fish and Flesh exposed here to Sale on such Seats Toltingtrough written in Dooms-day Book Toltentreu derived from the Saxon word Tealtrean to Totter and Treow a Tree the many Hills and Vallies in this Hundred making it seem as if the Trees tottered Chetham in old English written Cetteham The dwelling placed on a rising hill Wrotham that is Wortham so named from the plenty of worts that is Holsome hearbs and plants growing there Lark-field in Saxon written Learchenfeud that is the Archersfield Twyford from the Situation within the two Rivers that insulate the whole Hundred well-neer Watchlingstone that is from the plenty of whetstone digged in this Hundred Brenchley that is Pastures full of well branched Hedg-towes in old writing called Branchesley Marden in old time written Mireden it broke well that name for it stands in a Myry dirty Den. Eyhorne formerly written Heihorne and signifies the turning of water Maidston in the Romans time was called in the Notitia Medio vagum in the Sâ—xons Medwegston from the River supposed to run through the midst of the Province Milton truely Midleton so the Saxons rendred it and truely too because it lieth towards the midst of the County as it runs in longitude Tenham written anciently Teinham that is the Town within the inclosure from Tein Septum Ham Vicus seu Oppidum Feversham as unhealthy as Tenham carries the very Tokens of it in the name Boughton hath the Radix of the wooddiness of the down or hill under which it standeth and this definition may suffice for all other of this Name elsewhere in Kent Felborough gives name to an Hundred but where the place is cannot I yet discover near to Chilham it must be and if I should shew you my conceipt of the place you might haply descant as much on me as I do on it Yet in regard the Barrow or grave where Jâ—lâ—us Laberius Fieldmarshall to Julius Caesar is yet remaining in view there it were no great torture to fetch it from thence for Barrow is used for a grave or little hill where burials have been Chart-magna was anciently granted by a Saxon King to Christ-Church in Canterbury and as we call places held by such devise Bocland so came this to be called Chart and Cert in Saxon. Wye so named from the water springing there and falling into Stour a greater River Bircholt that is The Birchen wood Holt is the Saxon word for wood Calehill written Ceale hill from its naked and bleak Situation Ceale in Saxon signifying Callow Ashford Originally Eshetisford implying the great plenty of Ashen Trees growing about the Forde Blackborne is of as easie definition as Blackwater the colour of that Element giveth Addition to both Tenterden see more of it in the Parishes Barkley that is the Pasture planted with Trees yielding Bark for Tanne the Teutonicks or Saxons call a Tanner Barker Cranebroke so called from the frequent resort of Cranes to the Brook there Rolvinden the Valley which rowls in and out Selbrittonden that is the Brittons woddy Den. East and West Bernfield may either seem to be derived from Barren which in English signifies likewise Barren contracted into Bern or else from Beorn which in Saxon signifies a Noble man and it is possible the custody of these two Hundreds was committed to one of that Rank Newynden that is the New Town in the Den. It being risen forth of the Ashes of Anderida a Roman City thereby called by the Saxons Andredswald Ringesloe corruptly for Kingesloe the Kingshill Blenegate that is the way to the Blene or Common of Hearbage Whetestable that is a stedfast place for wheat Westgate that is the West Gate of the City of Canterbury Downhamford that is a Ham upon a descent of an Hill by a Forde Preston that is The Priest-Town Bridge that is The Town where there is a Bridge Kinghamford that is now called Kingston near Berham down that belonged to the King and all about it to the Arch-Bishop and Church Sea-Salter from its
situation on the Salt Sea Wingham from its position between two Rivolets that incompass the Eastern part of it like wings Corniloe that is The Corney Hill loe that is Cumulus Bewsborough now called Bewfield and Whitfield from the French word Beau for white and fair Longport that is Long Town by Canterbury toward Sandwich Folkestone that is a Town Populous and full of Folk so was this for in it there were four Churches a Monastery and some out-Chappels Lovingboroe however different in Orthography This name be now from Lyminge it must be found there or no where else And because Opinion without proof is but discourse and descant Harken to the Evidence at Lyminge which Edmerus a Monk of Christ-Church in Canterbury calls Lovingborough and the Records of that Church Nonnesborough was the first house of vailed Virgins in England called Nunnes and though the name of Lyminge was forlet and forlorn and Nuneborough passed currant and in short space one liquid being changed into another N. into L. Loneburgh and that by a second mutation in Lovingborough you have the disquisition and true result Stowting so called from some old Fortresses and Roman ramperes there Heane in British signifieth old Birchholt Franchise or Barony is by that addition known from a former Hundred where the name is Etymologized Street that is A place where the Romans Praetorian way lay from Lyme to Cant. now called Sonestreets began in place of which we call the viaregia Worth signifies a place made strong and Teneable by fortifying Ham that is Home Capitale Messuagium Langport ut ante St. Martine A place of Account heretofore by Romeney New Church that is of later foundation Aloe bridge written antiently Alulphs bridg that is the Bridge of Alulphus some Saxon. Oxney the Oxens water Ackridg that is The Ridg of Okes which in old English are called Akes Addesham from the old English and that is the old ham and so is this in Records Addington of like Radix onely Ham implies an open place as Ton an inclosed one from Tinan the Saxon word to hedg and inviron Alkham written Healkham the Town in a Corner from Healk in Saxon a Corner Allington is derived from the River Aigle contracted into Ayl Aldington here antiquity gives the Name for Aud we say Ald and now call it it Allington Allhallows from the Churches Dedication which some call All Saints but the first is in the Hundred of Hoo the second in Shepey Apuldore written in Saxon Records Apuldre that is the Town fruitful in Apples Ash from that kind of Tree Ashhurst a wood of Ashes Aylesford from the Ayl River so called after past Maidstone which imparteth its name to Aynesford originally written Anglesford The English mens Ford. Badelesemere that is in old Eng. the Circuite of Bad unfertile Pasture Badchild written in Saxon Bekenceld the chill or unhealthy water Bapchild in Saxon Beckchill the unhealthy chill water a small stream they called a Becks and Chill implieth cold and Aguish Berfreiston the Friers Court-Town Bereham derived from Bere a Court and Ham a Village Barming woody Pasture or rather Berme-Ing the moist pasture Berme importing moisture Becksbourne for distinction from the other Bornes taking its Name from the Family of Beke that held part sometime call'd Livingebourn from Arch-Bishop Livinus that built a Pallace here for himself and his Successors Beausfield from the fair open prospect which it hath to Sea and Land Bekenham from the Beke or small stream arising there Belsington The fair Prospect or rather the Town by the watry pasture from Eyle in Saxon importing watry Benenden from the Saxon word Binan within or two-fold The Parish hath several Dennes in it Bethersden written anciently Beatrixden that is Beatrix's Valley Betshanger originally Vitalshanger from one Vitalis owner of it near the conquest hanger because seated on the hanging hill Berested I find it near the Conquest to be of the possession of the Crevequers of Leeds and I might deduce it from Bury or Bere old English for the Lords Court or dwelling and then it fignifies the place where the Court is as Berewick is the way to the Court if you consider the Soil you may call it Barren Sted Bexley contracted from Bekesley Beke signifies a stream and Ley pasture Bicnor and Bicknore from Becn and Nor Becn signifies a sign or symboll and Nor the North from whence the Saxon word Beacnan to beckon or give some sign Becn signum seu symbolum Becnan signum dare Bidborough that is by the Borough of Tunbridge called Southborough the Saxon th being turned into d. Biddenden in old English Bithanden by the Denns for so is the situation of it in the weld of Kent Birchington The Town where the Birch grew Berling that is The Court lying on the Pasture Bishop borne the Borne belonging to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Blackmanstone written Bleachmanstone that is Man 's bleak Town Bobbing it is probable is deduced from an old Dutch word called Boban which signifies to extend or stretch it self out and Ing a Meadow Bocton that is the Town held by Book or Charter Boughton and Malherbe ill Pasturage Bocton that is Boughton Aloulph from Alulphus a Saxon owner of it Bonington the Town bounded with the Lawnds from the Saxon word Bonna importing the bound Borden from the Breed of wild Bores on the Chesnut hills thereby Burham the Ham by or in the Borough Burmarsh written anciently Burghmersh the Marsh by the Borough Borefield The Bores field Boughton Montchelsey from Montchensy the old Lord of Swanscomb was Lord of this place also Boxley that is the Pastures full of Box trees Brabourne from Bradebourne East and West the Broad Bourne Bradhurst that is the Broad Wood. Bradsted vel locus latus Bredgare the broad way Brenset from the brakish and brinish water Brooke from its being seated near some Brook Brookeland that is Land by the Brook or water Course Bromefield where the Fields are troubled with Broome Buckland that is Bockland Boc is a Book or Charter by which Land was granted Canterbury written Canterberig The Kentish-Men's Berg or Fortress Capell that is de Capello Chart-ham that is the Town held by Charter Great and Little Chart written anciently Cert which in Saxon signifies a Charter Chalk de Calce Challoke that is De Quercis Nudatis Charleton that is Ceorlton in Saxon The Grange or lusty Husband-mans Town from this Radix Churle cometh Charing written anciently Cering extracted from the Saxon word Cerran to turn there being divers wents and wandrings at this place Chellesfield The Chill and cold place Chepsted that is the Market place Locus nundinarius Cheriton that is from the growth of Cheries there Chevening from its lying under that great hill which runneth to Guldeford in Surrey which our Ancestors called Chevins Chidding stone in Sax. Ced-ingston that is the Town on the Brow of the Lawnd Ced in Saxon importing the Brow or Descent Or it is possible from Cedwine some
Saxon Owner Chilham Some have distilled something of Julius Caesar's name conjecturing it to have been called Juliham for Julius-ham Indeed there he lost Julius Laberius Durus Camp-Master or Field Marshal Chillenden so called from the cold place it stands in Chiselhurst from the growth of wood so called Chistelet in the infancy of Christianity was given to the Church of Canterbury by the Name of Cistelet that is the chosen lot or portion Cliffe from the situation upon the Cliffe in the Hundred of Hoo famous for a Synod held there Cobeham Hall and Cobeham Town anciently Coptham that is the Head-Village from the Saxon Copt an Head Coldred a village that standeth high and Bleak in East Kent and may brooke the name of Cold-rode Cosmus Bleane The Churches Dedication is to St. Cosmus and Damian Cowden from that sort of Beast called Cows which are in other places called Keyne Coudham The Cold-ham near Baston Down Cowling The Cow's pasture Crayford in old Deeds Crecanford from the Ford or River Crecan which gives name to St. Mary Crey Pauls Crey North Crey and Footes Crey from one Votes that held it in the Conqueror's time Cucston in Doomsday Book written Cocleston Coclecoe is an old priviledge to be free from answering in a place forrain to where he inhabits Crundall The Dale under a high-Crown'd hill Darent named so from the River on which it stands Dartford contracted from Darentford on which it standeth Davington or Devington extracted from Dew which imports Dew or Moisture Ing a Meadow and Ton a Town Deale sometime written Dale shews the situation to be in a plain valley Denton the Town in a Descending place Deptford that is the Deep Ford. Detling that is lying deep under a high hill Dimchurch written anciently Demchurch that is the Church upon the Dam. Ditton from Dike which in old time was written Dyghton and from thence the contract Ditton Dodington The Town on the Sedgy Lawnd from Dod that signifies the Sedge on the Bank of a River or rather from Duda some Saxon Owner Dover by the Romans called Dubris from the British word Dufir which signifies steep Downe a small Town high situated Eastbridge that is from its Easterne standing in the Marsh East-Church in Shepey from the like Situation Eastwell from the low situation in a bottome pag. 354. Edenbridge that is from the Bridge and River Eden Eden so called quasi Aqua i.e. Ey Saxonicè vallis i. e. Den The Riveror water in the Den or Valley Egarton a Parish bleakly sharply situated Eigtham called so from the eight Hams or Boroughs contained within it pag. 140. Elmesley The Elmey pasture Elmested denominated from Elmested locus Elmeston The Town among Elmes Elham or Helham quia inter Colles locatur Eltham Eldham the old Town Eseling quia in Orienti parte jacet Estling Ewell the watery bottome Eythorne olim scribitur Eigthorne The eighth Thorn Fairefield in the Marsh de bello Campo East and West Farleigh were written Ferneleigh from Ferne Ferne and leigh a Shelter or Covert Farneburgh from the Soil about it yielding Fearne and Brakes Farmyngham The ancient name is Fremingham from the stream running through it as Fremington in Devon from a small stream running through it into Tawe Faulkeham and Falkeham villa populi Fleet both North and South that is from the Thames that sometime came up Fordwich that is the crooked turning river Frensted and vulgarly Wrensted Freons-sted the Freemans place Frittenden derived from Frith a Chace and Den a valley Frensbery anciently Freons-Berig the Freeman's Court. Gillingham derived from some Gill or Rivolet passing through it and emptying it self into the Medway Godmersham Land given to God and that Church bounded by Meres Goodneston that is a good fertile Town and Country Gowdhurst anciently and properly writtten Goodhurst The good Wood. Graveney expounded by the ensuing Town Gravesend quasi Grevesend the Limits of the Liberty The other expressing a moist and watery place of like Liberty Grainey Isle from Corn Greyn so called Greenwich the turning of the River through the Green Meadows Grome the Bridge over a small stream called Grome and by it a Mansion house so called Guston that is Goston where Goss and Furres did grow Hadlow from Heafod contracted into Head and Low importing the small Head or knob Cumulus in Latin Hakington now called St. Stephens the land proportioned into Hages Haga in Saxon denoting a Circle High Halden written anciently Healden that is the Healthful Valley Halling written Healling Heathful Meadow Halsted that is Hail or Healthy place Halstow written Haly stow Holy place High Halistow Holy place given to provide Service Books for Christ-Church in the Saxons time Ham by Sandwich Signifie small Homes or dwellings Ham by Warhorne Signifie small Homes or dwellings Harbledown that is The Hill of pasture and Herbage Upper and Nether Hardres are derived from Erd the earth and Reys little Rils or Brooks Haretsham written Heretsham the Lords Town Hartie Island lying in the Form of a Hart Insula Cordis vel Cordialis or rather from Herets-Ey in Saxon the Lords water Hartley Herets-ley the Lords pasture Hartlip Labium Cordis Hastingleigh is derived from two Saxon words Heastan which signifies the Highest and Leah campus or Locus Hawkhurst that is Hawkeswodd where Hawkes had Eyeries Hawking that is Hawks Meadow Hawtes Bourne The Hawtes after Shelving owed Bourne Hearne so called from the Breeding of Hernes there Bede translates Herne by Casa as if Herne signified a House Hearnehill distinguished from the former by the situation under Boughton hill Hedcorne famous for the best and chief Corn and biggest Poultry Heys yielding plenty of Hay Hever deduced from two Saxon words Hey water and Over signifying some passage over the water Higham that is Highly seated Hinxell that is Hynds-hill Hythe that is Portus a Haven for Ships to arrive in Hollingbourne the Bourn rising in the hole Hoo from Hough in Saxon high Hope in Romney Marsh Ecclesia spei Horsmanden The Horsmans Valley Horton Kirkby that is by the Church Horton by Chartham Horton Monkes the Durty Town from Hore which imports any Filth Hoathfield that is Heathfield Hougham The high Town Hucking anciently Houge-Ing the high Lawnd Hunton or Huntington The Town to hunt in from the Saxon word Huntan Ifield written Eyfeld that is the watry Field Ightham See Eigtham Ickham anciently Yeockham the Town of arable Land from Yeock an Acre of Land Ivychurch written anciently Eyvey Church that is the Church by the water Iwade vulgarly originally Eywade The passage over the water Kempsing from some Camp or Fortress Kenardington from Kein-Erd-ington no Earth in the Town from the Moorish Situation It is probable likewise it might derive its Name from one Cyneward a Saxon Owner Kennington from Cinningston the Kings Town Keston Keysers Town by Baston the old Roman Colonie Kingsdown by Farningham Kingdowne by Milsted The Kings Hill Kingston by Barham The Kings Town Kingsnoth the Kings portion
was transplanted by Sale into John Norden who in our â—â—â—â—dfathers memory demised it to Pordage Predecessor to Mr ........ Pordage of Râ—â—â—ersham who is now entitled to the Fee-simple of it Mere-Court is a third place of Account in this Parish calle◠〈◊〉 from its Situation near the Sea which our Saxon Ancestors called Mere and is câ—â—â—â—marily used in that sense for any wast heap of Waters as Lakes and Pools that are 〈◊〉 all sides lockt in by the Land by the Dutch to this day But I cannot find that it evâ—â— had any Possessors that extracted their Sirname from hence for in the Raign of Edward the third I find Arnold de Savage held it and so did his Grandchild Eleanor Savage who was matched to William Clifford and he by this Alliance became invested in the Possession and in this Family did the Title lie couched untill the beginning of Henry the seventh and then I can track no farther Evidence of their Possession of this place In the Raign of Edward the sixth I find it to be invested in the Name of Croft and remained tied to the Patrimony of that Family untill David Crofts died in the twenty second year of Queen Elizabeth and left it to Jo. Croft Helen and Margaret his Daughters and they upon the death of their Brother who was an Ideot becomming Joynt-heirs to this place in the forty second year of Q. Elizabeth passed it away to Mr. Stephen Hulks who bequeathed it to his Son and Heir Mr. Jo. Hulks and he upon his Decease which was not many years since gave it to his second Son Mr. Charles Hulks who now is in Fruition of it N. N. N. N. NAtindon in the Hundreds of Bridge Petham and Whitstaple is an obscure Village not far remote from Canterbury and only calls for some Remembrance in this respect that the Mannor of Staplegate is situated within the Limits of it which was the Seat of an eminent Family which bore that Sirname who were Lords not onely of this Place but of much other Land in Romney Mersh and had certainly this Denomination ingrafted originally upon them because they collected the Kings profits and Customes arising out of the Staple of Wooll fixed at Staplegate in Canterbury The first of this Family whom I find eminent is Edmund Staplegate who paid respective Aid for his Mannor of Bilsington and his other Lands in Kent in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight and he was Father to Edmund Staplegate who at the Coronation of Richard the second held that signall Contest before John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster then High Steward at that solemn Inthronization with Richard Earl of Arundell about the Office of Chief Butler as I have before mentioned in Bilsington But to return to that Discourse from whence this emergent Controversie did divert me Edmund Staplegate in the thirteenth year of Richard the second enjoyed this Mannor at his Death but after his Deeease the Title was not long liv'd in this Name for in the Raign of Henry the fifth and Henry the sixth as appears by the Testimony of ancient Court Rolls it was in the Possession of Leichfield who was Master of much Land about Tilmanston and Betshanger and in the twenty second year of Ed. the fourth it was by Roger Lichfield passed away by Sale to William Haut Esquire Father to Sir William Haut in whom the male-line determined so that by Elizabeth his Daughter and Coheir it came to be the Inheritance of Sir Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury who about the first year of Edward the sixth alienated it to Philip Chowte Esquire and from him the like Fate bore off the Title to Sir Anthony Aucher and he about the latter end of Edward the sixth disposed of his Right in it to Sir James Hales of the Dungeon Ancestor to Sir James Hales of the same place who not many years since demised the Premises to Mr. Smith of High-Gate upon whose late Decease the Title like a Pythagorean-Soul is transmigrated into his Heir Nettlested in the Hundred of Twyford was the ancient Seat of the noble and ancient Family of Pimpe William de Pimpe paid respective Aid for this Mannor and other Lands which lay not far distant from this place which he held by a whole Knights Fee at the making the Black Prince Knight the twentieth of Edward the third Reginald Pimpe was his Son and Heir and served out the Office of high Sheriff of Kent for him in the forty ninth year of Edward the third in which year he dyed It is probable that this William was knighted because there is a Tombe in Nettlested Church with this Inscription affixed to his Tombe-stone Hic jacet Domina Margareta de Cobham quondam Vxor Willielmi Pimpe Militis quae obiit 4 Septembris 1337. From whence it may be probably collected that the above recited William Pimpe though he is not mentioned as a Knight in the Register of the Sheriffs yet afterwards for some exemplary Services by him performed and managed might be invested with the Order of Knighthood From this Man in the continued Succession of a direct Line See more of Pimp in my Discourse of Sea-watches did Reginald Pimpe descend who determined in Ann Pimpe who was his Sole Heir and so this ancient Family which had under a venerable Character of Antiquity for so many Ages flourished at this place as the Monuments in the Church not yet dismantled do sufficiently evince was about the latterend of Henry the seventh extinguished and Nettlested fell under the Patrimony of John Scott of Scotts Hall from whom Edw. Scot Esquire is lineally extracted and in Relation to this Alliance is the instant Proprietary of Nettlested Lomewood is a second place of Account in Nettlested it belonged formerly to a Cloister of black Cannons in Oxford dedicated to St. Friswith which being suppressed by Cardinal Wolsey in the year 1525 when he intended to erect the magnificent Fabrick of the Colledge of Christ-church this Mannor was resigned up to the Crown and was by King Henry the eighth in the twenty seventh year of his raign granted to Sir Edward Nevill who gave it in Martiage with his Daughter Katharine Nevill espoused to John Roydon Esquire of Roydon-Hall in great Peckham and he determining in Elizabeth Roydon his Sole Heir she by matching with Roger Twisden Esquire planted it in his Revenue and from him hath the Interest of Descent transported it along to his Grandchild Sir Roger Twisden of Roydon Hall Knight and Baronet Newenden in the Hundred of Selbrittenden was erected in the place where the old Roman City of Anderida was situated and was called by the Britons Caer Andred very aptly by Leland styled in Latine Noviodunum from the Saxon Nywandun in English by Corruption called Newenden which in the original imports as much as The new Hill in the Valley This was that Station and City of the Romans mentioned in the Banner of the Count or Lord
Sheriff of Kent in the thirty fourth year of Henry the eighth and again in the fifth year of Edward the sixth but being unhappily entangled in the dysastrous Attempt of Sir Thomas Wiat was upon the frustrating of that Designe and the Dissipation and Discomfiture of those Forces who were to support it in the second year of Queen Mary convicted and attainted of high Treason and executed at Sevenoke upon whose Tragedy this Mannor with all its Appendages escheated to the Crown but was the same year restored to his Son William Isley Esquire who was Sheriff of Kent part of the seventh year of Queen Elizabeth after whose decease the Title of this place which had so many Centuries of years like an Inmate dwelt in this Name and Family ebbed away to another Proprietary for in our Fathers Memory it was alienated by Sale to Brooker who not many years since passed it away to Mr. John Hide second Son to Mr. Bernard Hide one of the Commissioners of the Custome-house to his late Majestie Brook-place in Sundrich so called from its contiguous Situation neer some Drill of Water did acknowledge for many discents the Signory of Isley the last of whom who dyed possest of it was William Isley Esquire who held it at his Decease which was in the fourth year of Edward the fourth Rot. Esc Num. 34. After whose Exit it came to John Isley Esquire who not long after passed it away to John Alphew and he determinig in two Daughters and Coheirs one of them by matching with Sir Robert Read Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the reign of Henry the seventh linked it to his Patrimony but he likewise went out in four Daughters and Coheirs Katharine one of which was matched to Sir Thomas Willoughbie Lord Chief Justice likewise of the Common Pleas and so he in her right was possest of this place from whom it came down to his Successor Thomas Willoughbie Esquire who about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth conveyed it by Sale to Mr. Hoskins of Oxted in Surrey descended from an ancient Family of that Name in Hereford-shire whose Successor Mr. Charles Hoskins being lately deceased the Fee-simple rests now in his Son and Heir Hethenden or Henden is another Mannor in Sundrich which was folded up in the Demeasn of the powerful and illustrious Family of the Clares who were Earls of Gloucester and Lords of Tunbridge by whose Heir general it devolved to Audley and this Family by the same Fatality languishing into a Female Inheritrix she by matching with Stafford cast this Mannor into his Revenue and in this Name was the Propriety resident untill Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham was infortunately attainted in the thirteenth year of Henry the eighth it was by escheat annexed to the Demeasn of the Crown and made its aboad there untill King Henry the eighth in the thirty fifth year of his reign granted it to Sir John Gresham and he dyed possest of it in the first year of Queen Elizabeth after whose Decease it remained constant to the Interess of this Family until the latter end of Queen Elizabeth and then it was alienated to Sir Thomas Hoskins of Oxsted in Surrey in the Descendants of which Family the Signory and Propriety is at this instant remaining The Roman Fosse or Way which extended or stretched out it self from Oldborough in Igtham to Baston in Heys and afterwards to Woodcot in Surrey did cut thorough this Parish for not many years since in digging near Come-banke a Seat so called which did formerly relate to the Isleys and is situated in Sundrich were discovered many Roman Urns of an antick Shape and Figure from whence we may probably collect thus much that there was formerly erected some Fortresse at or near Combe-banke its Situation being fitted for such a Design by the Roman Generals to secure their forces in their March to Noviomagum or Woodcot against any Impression or Eruption of the Britons Sturrey in the Hundred of Blengate was a Mannor by a Prescription of many Generations wrapt up in the Patrimony of Apulderfeild a Family whom we shall have occasion often to mention thoroughout the Body of this Survey and here it continued till this Name met with its Tomb in a Daughter and Heir known by the Name of Elizabeth who was wedded to Sir John Phineux and although he likewise concluded in a Female Heir matched to John Roper Esquire who drew along with her a great portion of the Estate yet this still remained fixt in this Name and Family even till our Fathers Memory and then John Phineux Esquire died and left this and other vast possessions to his Daughter and Sole Heir Elizabeth Phineux who brought them over to her Husband Sir John Smith eldest Son of Sir Thomas Smith and Grand-father to Philip Smith Viscount Strangford who by Right planted in him by so worthy a Predecessor does entitle himself to the Interess and possession of it Mayton in this Parish though now of no great Importance yet formerly gave both Seat and Sirname to a Family that passed under that Appellation from whom by Sale the Inheritance was transplanted into Diggs where for some Descents without any Interval it made its abode till it was by Leonard Diggs Grand-father to Sir Dudley Diggs sold to Goodhugh by whose Daughter and Heir it became the Demeasne of Baggs which Name likewise going out here into a Daughter and Heir she by matching not long since to Farmer has made it to own him for its instant proprietary Sutton by Walmer lies in the Hundred of Cornilo and was the Inheritance of a good old Family called Stroude Peradventure it assumed its Denomination from the Shore not far distant and was sometimes in the Saxon Denomination called Strond and as often Stroude John de Stroude held it as the Book of Aide denotes in the reign of Edward the first and when this Family was worn out the next who were invested in the possession were the Criols and Nicholas Criol or Keriel held it at his death which was in the third year of Richard the second whose Grand-child Sir Thomas Keriel being an active Champion of the Cause and Quarrel of Edward the fourth against the House of Lancaster was slain in the second Battle of St. Albans where the Title of both Parties was put to the bloody decision of a Field who leaving only two Daughters and Co-heirs one matching with John Fogge Esquire incorporated this into his Revenue from whom by purchase the Right was setled in Whitlock where it tarried not long but was by the like devolution transplanted into Maycot from which Name the same Fate of Sale carried it into the possession of Stokes who in our memory by the like alienation transmitted his Interess here to Meryweather Sutton commonly called East-Sutton lies in the Hundted of Eyhorne and was formerly the Braybrookes Henry de Braybrooke one of the Lord Wardens of the Cinque Ports had Lands here and in this Track as the
Book of Aide and the Book called Feoda Militum in the Exchequer do both inform us his Son was Gerard Braybrooke and his Grand-child was Reginald Braybrooke whose Heir Joan Braybrooke married to Thomas Brooke of the County of Somerset but whether this Reginald Braybrooke gave this Mannor to pious Uses or not and principally to the Abby of Leeds adjacent I cannot positively determine upon the Suppression it was granted as being parcel of the Demeasne of the Convent of Leeds by Henry the eighth in the thirty seventh year of his reign to John Tufton Esquire who passed it away by Sale to Mr. Richard Argall whose Heir Elizabeth Argall being married to Edward Filmer Esquire made it the possession of that Family and by a communicative Right from him does his Grand-child Sir Edward Filmer Son to Sir Robert Filmer lately deceased now hold the possession and propriety of it Sutton Valence and Chart by Sutton both lie in the Hundred of Eyhorne the last of which contracted the Appellation from formerly owning William de Valence Earl of Pembroke to be Lord of the Fee who certainly instituted that Castle that now even in its Reliques and Fragments with much of venerable Magnificence overlooks the Plain And when Aymer de Valence his Son concluded in a Female Heir Isabell she was wedded to Lawrence Lord Hastings who in relation to her became not only Earl of Pembroke but Lord of Sutton-Valence also and from him did it descend to his Grand-child John Hastings Earl of Fembroke the last Earl there of that Name who transmitted his Title of that place to Reginald Grey and Richard Talbot who flourished here about the reign of Henry the fourth and they had this Mannor by Testamentary Donation in the fourteenth year of Richard the second In the next Age subsequent to this I find the Cliffords of Bobbing-court to be the Proprietaries and to this Family was the Inheritance in a constant Union fastned till Nicholas Clifford Esquire deceased without Issue-male and left only one Daughter and Heir called Mildred who was first married to Harper secondly to More thirdly to Warren and lastly to Blount but she had only Issue by Harper and More for in her Right Edward Lord More of Mellifont in Ireland and Sir Edward Harper divided the Possession but the first desiring to contract his whole Revenue into Ireland and the other to make this adjacent to his principal Seat of Ruspar-hall in the County of Derby Sir Edward Harper alienated this to Sir Edward Hales Knight and Baronet and the Lord More Chart by Sutton to the same worthy Person Grand-father to Sir Edward Hales Baronet who not only enjoyes the Title of his Ancestors Dignity but that of the Possession in these places likewise Cheyneys-court in this Parish hath been adopted into that Name since it for many Descents acknowledged the Jurisdiction and propriety of that Family and I could unravel a Successive Series of many of that Name but that it is superfluous who were Lords of the Fee it is enough that Sir Thomas Cheyney sold it to Iden which Name suddenly after resolving into two Daughters and Co-heirs one matching with Brown and the other with Barton the last made it parcel of the Patrimony of that Family and when some years it had been continued in the possession of Barton it was in our Memory by Sale brought over to be the Demeasne of Wollett and it is now but whether by Purchase or by the Right of a Female Heir or not I cannot ascertain my self the propriety of Jordan Sutton at Hone lies in the Hundred of Acstane and gives Denomination to the whole Lath wherein it is situated It was long since a Mannor relating to the Revenue of the Knights Hospitallers who had here a Mansion-house called St. Johns where they often made their Retreat when they visited their other Demeasne Land which lay circumscribed within the Verge of this County but their Estate here was much inforced and improved by the Addition of the Mannor of Grandison which whether it came to them by Purchase or Donation from Thomas Lord Grandison who died the forty ninth year of Edward the third is incertain Upon the Suppression of the Alberge of these Knights of St. John of Jerusalem here in England their Revenue was assumed into the possession of the Crown and King Henry the eighth bestowed by Grant on Sir Maurice Dennis St. John's and to him does that magnificent and elegant Pile where now the Countess of Leicester makes her Residence owe the first Institution of its Shape and Beauty though it has been since extreamly inlarged by the Additions both of Bulk and Ornament by Sir Thomas Smith But to proceed St. Johns was conveyed from Sir Maurice Dennis by his Coheir to Thomas Cranfeild whose Grand-child Vincent Cranfeild has lately alienated his Right to Mr. Hollis of London Merchant Haly Sawters is another Mannor in Sutton in Hone a place though now obscure in it self and not re-presented to our Remembrance but by Annals and Record yet in elder Times it was raised up to a higher degree of Estimate when it had Proprietaries whose Nobility and Title added both Value and Lustre unto it The first of which Register whom I trace in Record to be entituled to the Possession was Laurence de Hastings Earl of Pembroke and he died seised of it in the twenty second year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 47. from whom the Title came down to his Son John de Hastings and he likewise was in the enjoyment of it at his Decease which was in the forty ninth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 70. After this Family had deserted the Inheritance I find Richard Fitz Allen Earl of Arundel to be invested in the Possession and he died in the Tenure of it in the one and twentieth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 2. From whom it devolved to Joan his Daughter and Co-heir matched to William Beauchamp Baron of Aburgavenny whose Son Richard Lord Beauchamp dying without Issue Male Elizabeth his Sole Daughter espoused to Edward Nevill Baron of Aburgavenny in her Right be came his Heir and he in the sixteenth year of Edward the fourth died possest of this Mannor of Sawters And here for want of Light both from publick or private Record I cannot discover to my Reader or my self whether or not it passed away immediately from Nevill to Maio whom I find about the beginning of Q. Elizabeth to be planted in the Possession though the Affirmation of some old people of this Parish who derived that Knowledge they have of it from the Tradition of their Ancestors that assert it did Thomas Maio in the twenty eighth of Q. Elizabeth passed it away to Rich. Paramour and he presently after disposed of it by Sale to Sir Henry Brooke who conveyed it to Robert Wroth Esquire and he to Edmund Hunt Esquire who alienated Haly and Sawters to Mr. William Hewson in the thirty fourth year of