Martins night the Englishe men should all at once set vpon the Danes before they had disgested the surfaite of that drunken solemnitie and so vtterly kyll and destroy them This his commaundement was receaued with suche liking entertained with such secreacie and executed with such spéede and celeritie that the Danes were sodainly in a manner wholly bothe men women and children like the Sonnes in Lawe of Danaus oppressed at once in a night only a fewe escaped by Sea into Denmarke and there made complaint of King Etheldreds boucherie For reuenge whereof Sweyn their King bothe armed his owne people waged forreigne aide and so preparing a houge armie tooke shipping and arriued first here at Sandwiche and after in the Northe Countrie the terrour of whose comming was suche that it caused the Countrie people on all sides to submitte them selues vnto him in so muche that King Etheldred séeing the cause desperate and him selfe destitute fled ouer into Normandie with his wife and children friendes familie After whiche his departure although both he him selfe returned and put Canutus the next King of the Danes to flight and Edmund his Sonne also fought sundrie great battailes with him yet the Danes preuailed so mightely vpon them that thrée of them in succession that is to say Canutus Haroldus and Hardicanutus reigned Kings here in England almoste by the space of thirtie yeares together so muche to the infamous oppression slauery and thraldome of the English Nation that euery Dane was for feare called Lord Dane and had at his commaundement wheresoeuer he became bothe man and wyfe and whatsoeuer else he found in the house At the lengthe God taking pitie vpon the people tooke sodainly away King Hardicanute after whose death the Nobilitie CoÌ„mons of the Realme ioyned so firmely and faithfully both hartes and hands with their naturall and Liege Lord King Edward that the Danes were once againe and for euer expulsed this Countrie in so much that soone after the name Lord Dane being before tyme a woord of great awe and honour grewe to a terme and bywoord of foule despight and reproche being tourned as it yet continueth to Lourdaine besides that euer after the common people in ioye of that deliuerance haue celebrated the annuall day of Hardicanutus deathe with open pastime in the streates calling it euen till this oure time Hoctuesday in steade as I thinke of Hucxtuesdaeg that is to say the skorning or mocking Tuesday And nowe thus muche summarily being saide as concerning the trueth of the Danes being here who ruled in this land almoste thirtie yeares and raged without all rule aboue three hundreth and fiftie I will returne to Sandwiche disclosing therein suche occurrents of the Danishe doings as perteine to my purpose In the yeare eight hundreth fiftie and one after Christ Athelstane the Sonne of Ethelwulfe King of Kent whome Mathewe of Westminster taketh or rather mistaketh for a Bishop fought at the Sea before Sandwiche against a great Nauie of the Danes of whiche he tooke nine vessels discomfited the residue Against another Fléete of the Danes whiche landed at Sandwiche in the yeare one thousand and sixe King Etheldred made this prouision that euerie thrée hundreth and ten Hydes of Land whiche Henrie Huntingdon Mathewe Parise and others expound to be so many plowlands should be charged with the furniture of one ship and euery eight Hydes should finde one iacke and sallet for the defence of the Realme By whiche meane he made redy a mighty nauie to the Sea But what through the iniurie of sudaine tempest and what by the defection of some of his Nobilitie he profited nothing King Canutus also after that he had receaued the the woorse in a fight in Lincolneshyre whiche drewe to his ships that laye in the hauen at Sandwiche there moste barbarously behaued himselfe cutting of the handes and féete of suche as he had taken for hostage and so departed al wrothe and melancholike into Denmarke to repaire his armie The same man at his returne hither tooke land with his power at this towne and so did Hardicanutus his sonne after him Furthermore in the dayes of King Edward the confessour two Princes or rather principall Pirates of the Danes called Lochen and Irlinge landed at Sandwiche and laded their ships with riche spoyle wherewith they crossed ouer the seas to Flaunders and there made money of it At this place landed Lewes the FreÌ„ch Dolphine that ayded the Englishe Nobilitie against King Iohn as we shall hereafter haue cause to shewe more at large Finally in the reigne of King Richard the seconde certeine Frenche ships were taken at the Sea whereof some were fraught with the frame of a timber Castle suche another I suppose as WilliaÌ„ the Conquerour erected at Hastings so soone as he was arriued whiche they also ment to haue planted in some place of this Realme for our anoyaunce but they failed of their purpose for the Engyne being taken from them it was set vp at this Towne vsed to our great safetie and their repulse Eastrye HAuing somewhat to say of Eastrye I trust it shal be no great offence to turne oure eye a little from the shoare and talke of it in our way to Deale It is the name of a Towne and Hundreth within the Last of Sainct Augustines and hath the addition of East for difference sake from Westrye coÌ„monly called Rye nere to Winchelsey in Sussex Mathewe of Westminster maketh report of a murther done at it which because it tendeth much to the declaration of the auncieÌ„t estate of the town I will not sticke to rehearse so shortly as I can After the deathe of Ercombert the seuenth King of Kent Egbert his Sonne succéeded in the kingdome who caused to be vertuously brought vp in his Palaice which was then at this Towne two young Noble men of his own kinred as some say or rather his owne Brethren as William of Malmesbury writethe the one being called Ethelbert and the other Etheldred these Gentlemen so prospered in good learning courtlike manners feates of actiuitie méete for men of their yeares and parentage that on the one side they gaue to all wel disposed persons and louers of vertue great expectation that they would become at the length men worthie of muche estimation and honour and on the other side they drewe vpon them the feare mislyking and vtter hatred of the naughtie wicked and malicious sort Of the whiche nuÌ„ber there was one of the Kings owne houshold called Thunner who as vertue neuer wanteth her enuiers of a certaine diuelishe malice repyning at their laudable increase neuer ceassed to â—lowe into the Kings eare moste vntrue accâ—sations against them And to the end that he might the rather prouoke the King to displeasure he persuaded him of great daunger toward his estate and person by them and for as muche as the common people who more commonly worship the Sunne rising then going downe
composition betwéene them the which he published vnder his broade seale to this effect first that eache of them should fréely and without empeachement of the other beare vp his crosse in the others Prouince but yet so that he of Yorke and his successours for euer in signe of subiection should within two monethes after their inthronization either bring or sende to Canterbury the Image of an Archebishop bearing a crosse or some other Iewell wrought in fine golde to the value of fourtie poundes and offer it openly there vpon Sainct Thomas Beckets shryne then that in all Synodes of the clergie and assemblies where the King should happen to be present he of Canterbury should haue the right hand and the other the lefte finally that in broade streetes and highe wayes their crossebearers should go togeather but that in narrowe lanes and in the entries of doores and gates the crossier of Canterbury should go before and the other followe and come behinde So that as you sée the Bishoppes of Canterbury euermore preuayling by fauour and obstinacie they of Yorke were driuen in the end to giue ouer in the plain field for very dispaire wanhope and weerinesse But heare by the way I woulde faine for my learning knowe of these godly Fathers or rather since themselues can not now make answer of some of their vngodly fauourers whether this their Helena this crosse for the bearing whereof they contended so long and so bitterly that a man might doubt with the Poet Peceat vter Cruce dignius whether I say it were exalted as the signe of that Crosse whereon Christ triumphed ouer the Diuel or els but for a flagge and antsigne of their owne pride whereby they sought to triumphe and insult the one ouer the other And againe if it were Christes crosse then why they did forbid it to bee aduaunced at any time by any person or in any place Or if it were but their owne then why they did and yet doe commaund vs simple soules not only with greate humilitie but with diuine honour also to prostrate our selues and to adore it I am sure they may be ashamed to affirme it to bee the one I thinke they wil be ashamed to confesse it to be the other I wil ceasse therfore to vrge it any further wil prosecute the Catalogue of the Archebishoppes of this See since the arriual of Augustine In the which the first seuen be of that number which Pope Gregorie sent hither out of Italie The next twentie thrée and Stigande were Saxons all the residue Normanes Englishmen And bycause there is some variance as touching the times of their continuance and sitting I purpose to shew vnder one view the opinion of two sundrie authours so farre foorth as they haue spoken therof that is to say William of Malmesbury and an auncient Chronicler of Couentrie whose name I haue not hytherto learned and in the residue to follow our owne late and receaued writers The beginnings of their gouernements after the Annales of Canterbury The yeres of their Continuance in gouernment after the opinion of An. Do.  Wil. Malm. Chro. Couen 599. Augustine whome our Louanistes call the Englishe Apostle 16. 16. 612. Laurence 5. 5. 617. Mellite 5. 5. 624. Iustus 3. 9. 626. Honorius 26. 20. 653. Deusdedit or Deodat the first Saxon. 10. 9.  Wighard whiche dyed at Rome before his consecration   668. Theodore a Graecian borne and the last of those that came out of Italie 22. 22. 691. Brightwald 37. 38. 731. Tatwine 3. 4. 737. Nothelinus or Iocelin 5. 7. 741. Cuthbert the first that was buryed in Christeschurche and that obteined churchyards for England 17. 17. 759. Bregwine 3. 3. 774. Lanbright or Ianbright in his time the See was translated to Lichefield 17. 17. 790. Aethelwardus he recouered the See to Canterbury againe  23.  Wulfredus or Wifred 28. 28. 830. Fegeldus or Swithredus thrée monethes 831. Celnothus or Eilnothus 41. 41. 890. Etheredus or Etheldredus 18. 18.  Pleimundus one of the learned men that instructed king Alfred 34. 34. 925. Athelmus 12. 13. 947. Wulfhenius or Wulfhelmus 13. 14. 956. Odo or Odosegodus 5. 20. 958. Elfsius or Elfsinus or Elsinus whiche dyed before his consecration in his iourney towardes Rome in reuenge as they say bicause he came in by Simonie and sporned at the Tumbe of his predecessor    Brithelmus was elected but king Edgar reiected him   970. Dunstanus the famous Iuggler  26. 989. Ethelgarus 1. 1. 991. Siricius by his aduice King Etheldred gaue to the Danes a great summe of money 5. 5. 996. Alfricus   1004. Aelfegus hee was slaine by the Danes 6. 6. 1012. Liuingus or Ethelstanus 7. 7.  Eilwardus   1020. Egelnothus 18. 18. 1038. Eadsius or Edsinus who for siknes cōmitted the charge to Siwardus the Abbat of Abingdon after Bishoppe of Rochester whiche neuerthelesse vouchesafed not to finde him necessaries 11. 11. 1050. Robertus Gemeticensis the first Norman aduaunced by King Edward the confessor 12. 12. 1053. Stigandus deposed by the conquerour 17. 17. 1072. Lanfrancus in his time the Bishoppes Sees were first remoued from villages to Cities 19. 19 1093. Anselmus in his time lawe was first made to diuorce Priestes from their wiues 16. 16. 1114. Radulphus Roffensis surnamed Nugax  9. 1122. Willimus de Corueil he crowned Stephan against his fayth giuē to Maude the Empresse  15. 1138. Theobaldus he was endowed firste with the title of Legatus Natus by Pope Innocent the second  23. 1162. Thomas Becket the first Englisheman after the Conquest  8. Robertus the Abbat of Bec was elected but he refused it   1173. Richardus the Pryor of Douer  9. 1183. Baldwinus the bishop of Worcester he dyed in the expedition that king Richard the first made into Syria was before at great contention with the Monkes  7. Reginaldus he dyed before consecration   1193. Hubertus  13. 1205. Stephanus de Langton the cause of the trouble of king Iohn  21. 1228. Gualterus de Euesham elected but refused bothe by the King and Pope for the insufficiencie of learning   1229. Richardus Magnus  8. 1233. Iohannes the Sub-prior of Christs churche was elected after the Pope had refused one Ralph Neuel but this Iohn resigned in whose place Iohn Blund was chosen but that election also was repealed   1234. Edmundus de Abingdon the one twentie Bishop of Cant. that the Popes had canonized He departed the realme died for anger of a repulse  7. 1244. Bonifacius vncle to Elenor the wife of Henrie the thirde  16. 1270. Willelmus de Chillenden elected but he resigned to the Pope who chose Kilwardby   1272. Robertus Kilwardby Friar preacher  6. 1278. Iohannes Burnel Bishop of Bathe elected but the Pope refused him and appoynted Friar Peckam   1279. Iohannes de Peckam a friar Minor born in Sussex  13. 1292.
dayes together And thus it stoode with the Portes for their generall charge in the sixte yeare of his reigne for then was this Chartre sealed But as touching the particular burthen of eche one I haue séene two diuers testimonies of whiche the first is a note in Frenche bearing the countenance of a Record and is intituled to haue bene renued in the two and twentie yeare of the Reigne of the same King by Stephan Penchester then Constable of Douer Castle in whiche the particular charge is set downe in this manner The Port of Hastings ought to finde thrée ships The lowie of Peuensey one Buluerhithe and Petit Iahn one Bekisborne in Kent seuen Grenche in Kent two men and armour with the ships of Hastings The towne of Rye fiue To it was Tenterdene annexed in the tyme of King Henrie the sixt The towne of Winchelsey ten The Port of Rumney foure Lydde seuen The Porte of Hythe fiue The Port of Douer ninetéene The towne of Folkstone seuen The towne of Feuersham seuen The Port of Sandwiche with Stonor Fordwich Dale c. fiue These Ships they ought to finde vpon fourtie dayes summons armed and arrayed at their owne charge and in eche of them twentie men besides the Maister of of the Mariners all whiche they shall likewyse maynteine fiue dayes together at their owne costes giuing to the Maister sixe pence by the day to the Constable vj. pence and to eache other Mariner iij. d. And after those fiue dayes ended the King shall defray the wages The other is a Latine Custumall of the towne of Hyde the whiche although it pretend not so great antiquitie as the first yet séemeth it to me to importe as muche or more likelyhode and credit It standeth thus These be the Fiue Portes of our soueraigne Lord the King hauing liberties which other Portes haue not Hasting Romenal Hethe Douer Sandwiche the chiefe Townes The seruices due by the same Hasting shal finde .21 ships in euery ship .21 men and a Garcion or Boye whiche is called a Gromet To it perteine as the members of one towne the Seashore in Seford Peuenshey Hodeney Winchelsey Rye Ihame Bekesbourne Grenge Northie Bulwerhethe Romenal 5. ships In euery ship .21 men and a Garcion To it perteine as members thereof Promhell Lede Eastwestone Dengemareys olde Rumney Hethe .5 ships as Romenal before To it perteineth the Westhethe Douer .21 ships as Hasting before To it perteine Folkstane Feuersham and Sainct Margerets not concerning the land but for the goods and cattailes Sandwich .5 ships as Romenal and Hethe before To it perteine Fordwiche Reculuer Serre and Dele not for the soyle but for the goods Summe of the Ships 57. Summe of the men 1187. and 57. Garcions This seruice the Barons of the Fiue Portes do acknowledge to owe to the King vpon summons yearely if it happen by the space of .15 dayes together at their owne costes and charges accounting that for the first day of the .15 in whiche they shall spread their sayles to goe towards those partes that the King intendeth and to serue so long after .15 dayes as the King will at his owne pay and wages Thus muche out of these auncient notes whereby your self may easely discerne the difference but whether the one or the other or by reason of some latter despēsation neither of these haue place at this day I must referre to them that be priuie of counsell with the Ports and so leauing this also vndecided holde on the waye wherein I am entred This dutie of attendance therfore being deuised for the honourable transportation and salfe conduct of the Kings owne person ouer the narrow Seas the Portes haue not onely most diligently euer since that time performed but furthermore also valiantly behaued them selues against the enemie from time to time in sundry exploits by water as occasion hath ben proffered or the necessitie of the Realme required And amongest other feates not vnworthy perpetuall remembrance after such time as Lewes the French Dolphen had entered the Realme to ayde Stephan Langton the Archebishop and the Nobilitie in the life of King Iohn and had sent into Fraunce for newe supply of souldiers after his death Hubert of Borough then Captaine of Douer following the opinion of Themistocles in the exposition of the Oracle of the wooden walles by the aide of the Port townes armed fourtie tall ships and méeting with eightie saile of Frenchmen vpon the high Seas gaue them a most courageous encounter in whiche he tooke some sounke others and discomfited the rest King Henrie the thirde also after that he came to riper age had great benefite by the seruice of the Cinque Portes And King Edward the first in his Chartre maketh their continuall faythfull seruice and especially their good endeuour then lately shewed againste the Welshmen the principall cause and motiue of that his liberall graunt Furthermore about the midst of the reigne of the same King a hundreth sayle of the Nauie of the Ports fought at the Sea with a fleete of .200 Frenchmen all whiche notwithstanding the great ods of the number they tooke and slewe and sounke so many of the Maryners that Fraunce was thereby for a long season after in manner destitute both of Seamen and shipping Finally and to conclude this part in the dayes of King Henrie the fourth the Nauie of the Fiue Portes vnder the conducte of one Henrie Paye surprysed one hundreth and twentie Frenche Ships all laden with Salte Iron Oyle and no worse Merchandize The priuiledges of these Portes being first graunted by Edward the Confessour and William the Conquerour and then confirmed and increased by Williā Rufus Henrie the second Richard the first Henry the third king Edward the first be very great considering either the honour and ease or the freedome and exemption that the inhabitaunts haue by reason of the same For they sende Burgesses to the Parleament whiche by an honourable name be called Barons They beare the foure staues of the Canapie ouer the Kings head at the time of his coronation and they dyne at the vppermost table in the great hall on his right hand They themselues be exempted from all payments of subsidie And theyr Heires fréed from wardship of body notwithstanding any tenure They bée empleadable in their owne Townes also and not elsewhere They haue amongst themselues in eache Porte their particular place of iustice and at Shipwey the general courte of their assemblie where the Lord Warden taketh his othe at his first entrie into the office where they ought of right to holde all their generall Plées also although they sit now for the moste part at Douer They haue power if iustice be not done them to take the inhabitaunts of other Townes and Cities in Withernam to gouerne Yarmouth by their Baylife for one season of the yeare to doe iustice vpon criminall offendours To holde Plée in Actions reall and personall to take Conusance by fine to
William Becley in the reigne of King Henrie the sixt But nowe lately to repaire the losse of that dissolution Maister Roger Manwoode a man borne in the Towne and aduaunced by vertue and good learning to the degrée of a Serieant at the Lawe hathe for the increase of Godlinesse and good letters erected and endowed a faire Free Schoole there from whence there is hope that the common wealth shall reape more profite after a fewe yeares then it receaued commoditie by the Carmelites since the time of their first foundation This only is that whiche I had to say either of the present or passed estate of this place whiche done I will procéede to the narration of suche other thinges as long since happened thereaboutes partly for the illustration of the antiquitie of the towne partly for the setting forth of the cōmoditie of the hauen but chiefly for the obseruation of the order whiche I haue beegonne whiche is to pretermitte nothing woorthie note that I finde in stoarie concerning the place that I take in hand But bycause that whiche I haue to say dependeth altogether or for the greater parte vpon the Hystorie of the Danes whiche many yeares together disquieted this land it shal bée fitte aswell for the better explication of the thinges presently in hand as also for the more easie vnderstanding of other matters that must hereafter followe to disclose so compendiously as I may the first beginning procéeding and ending of the Danishe affaires warres and troubles within this Realme Aboute the yeare after Christe seuen hundreth foure score and seuen thrée vessels of the Northe East Countrie men whose ancestors had before within the compasse of one hundrethe and fourtie yeares sacked Rome in Italie foure seuerall times and whose ofspring afterward wonne Normandie from the Frenche King shewed them selues vpon the westerne shoare of England being sent before hand as it is supposed to espie the cōmoditie of the hauens the aduauntage of arriual the wealthe and force of the inhabitants to the end to prepare the way for greater powers then were appoin to followe These had no sooner set some of their men on lande but the Reeue or officer or Beorhtricke or Brictricke then King of the West Saxons had knowledge therof who came vnto them and demaunding the cause of their arriual would haue carried them to the Kings presence but they in their resistance slewe him wherevpon the people of the Countrie adioyning addressed themselues to reuenge and assembling in great numbers beate them backe to their ships not without the losse of some of their company And this was the first attempt that euer the Danes for so our hystories cal by one general name the Danes Norwais Gottes Vandals others of that part made vpon England after whiche tyme what horrible inuasions miseries calamities and oppressions followed shall appeare anone Not long after this enterprise a fewe ships of them made the lyke assay in Scotland and within short space after that also some other of them entred Tynemouth Hauen in the North parte of England and taking some small booties retourned to their vessels Now by this experiment they had gained sufficient knowledge of that for whiche they first came therefore thinking it fit tyme to assay further they rigged vp a greater numbre of ships armed more store of chosen souldiers entred the Riuer of Thamise with fiue and thirtie sayle landed in despight of the people fired spoyled herried and preuailed so farre that Egbert who then had the Monarchie ouer all England was faine to come with all his power to the reliefe and rescue But suche was the will of God for the punishement of Idolatrie and superstition which then ouerwhelmed this Realme that the Danes in stead of being discomfited by the Kings repaire were merueilously encouraged by his misfortune For after that they had once gotten the better in the field against him they were so embouldened therby that notwithstanding he afterward and some other valiant Princes following by great prowesse abated their furie in parte yet adioyning themselues to the Britons that then were in great emnitie with the Saxons and swarming hither out of their owne Countrie in such flightes that the number of the slaine was continually supplied with greate aduauntage they neuer ceassed to infeste the Realme by the space of thrée hundreth yeares and more during the reignes of fiftéene seuerall Kings till at the last they had made Etheldred flye ouer into Normandie leaue them his Kingdome During all whiche time howe mightely their forces increased vnder Hinguar Hubba Halfden Guthrum Aulaf and Hasten their Nauie being rysen from thrée ships to thrée hundrethe and fiftie at the least howe pitiously the East West Southe and Northe parts of the Realme were wasted the townes Cities religious houses and Monasteries of eache quarter being consumed with flames howe miserably the common people were afflictted men women and children on all sides going to wracke by their tempestuous furie howe marueilously the Kings were amased the arriualles of these their enemies being no lesse sudaine then violent howe barbarously the monuments of good learning were defaced the same suffering more by the immanitie of this one brutishe Nation then by all the warres and conquestes of the Pictes Scots Romanes and Saxons and finally how furiously fire and swoord famine and pestilence raged in euery place God and men Heauen and the elements conspiring as it were the fatall destruction of the Realme I may not here stand to prosecute particularly but leauing eache thing to fitte place I will procéede with King Etheldred and so to my purpose This man aboue all other was so distressed by their continual inuasions that since he wanted force to make his longer defence he thought it best to giue money for their continuall peace And therefore charging his people with importable tributes he first gaue them at fiue seuerall payes 113000. l. afterward promised thē 48000. yearely hoping that for asmuch as they seemed by the manner of their warre rather to séeke his coyne then his kingdome to rob then to rule at the least this way to haue satisfied their hunger but like as the stone called Syphinus the more it is moisted the harder it waxeth so no giftes could quenche the golden thirste of these gréedie raueners but the more was brought to appease them the more stonie and inexorable they shewed thēselues neuer ceassing euen against promises othes hostages to execute their accustomed crueltie Herevpon King Etheldred hauing nowe exhausted the whole treasure of his Realme and therefore more vnable then euer he was either by power or praier to help himself or to relieue his subiectes determined by a fine policie as he thought to deliuer bothe the one and the other For whiche purpose by the aduise of one Huna the generall of his armie he wrote letters to eache part of the Realme commaunding that vpon S. Brices day which is the morowe after Sainct
of this gallant brought to shame and confusion his Pecockes feathers pulled his black féete bewraied his fraude vnfoulded his might abated and him selfe in the ende suffered to sayle ouer with sorowe and ignominie Besides this Pryorie of S. Martines which was valued at a hundreth fourscore and eight poundes by yeare there was lately in Douer also an Hospitall rated at fiftie nyne poundes An other house of the same sorte called Domus Dei or Maison Dieu reputed worth one hundreth and twentie pounds And long since a house of Templers as they call it the which together with al other of the same kind throughout the Realme was suppressed in the reigne of King Edwarde the seconde The foundation of any of these I haue not hitherto founde out and therefore can not deliuer therof any certaintie at all Onely as touching this Temple I dare affirme that it was erected after the time of Conquest for as muche as I am sure that the order it selfe was inuented after that Godfrey of Bolein had wonne Ierusalem whiche was after the cōming in of the Conquerour To these also may be added for neighbourhoode sake if you will the Monasterie of S. Radegundes on the hyll two myles off valued at fourescore and eightéene pounds by yeare And here hauing perused the Towne Castle and religious buildings I woulde make an ende of Douer saue that Mathewe Parise putteth me in mynde of one thing not vnworthy rehearsall that was done in this Temple I meane the sealing of that submission whiche King Iohn made to Pandulphe the Popes Legate wherin he yealded his Realme tributarie and him selfe an obedienciarie and vassall to the Bishop of Rome And bycause this was almost the last acte of the whole Tragedie and can not well be vnderstoode without some recourse to the former parts and beginning and for that some men of late time haue taken great holde of this matter to aduaunce the Popes authoritie withall I will shortly after my manner recount the thing as it was done and leaue the iudgement to the indifferent Reader After the death of Hubert the Archebishop of Canterbury the Monkes of Christes Church agréed among them selues to chose for their Bishop Reginald the Subpryor of their house King Iohn hauing no notice of this election wherein no doubt he receiued greate wrong since they ought to haue of him their Conge deslier recommended vnto them Iohn Graye the Bishop of Norwiche a man that for his wisedome and learning he fauoured muche Some part of the Monkes taking soudaine offence at Reginalde for that he had disclosed a secrete out of their house and being glad to satisfie the Kings desire elected this Graye for their Bishop also Hereof grewe a great suite at Rome betwéen the more part of the Monkes on the one side and the Suffraganes of Canterbury and the lesse number of the Monkes on the other side The Pope vpon the hearing of the cause at the first ratifieth the election of Iohn Graye Howbeit afterwarde he refuseth bothe the electes and preferreth Stephan Langton whom the Monkes bycause the matter was not before litigious enough elected also Nowe King Iohn hearing that not only the election of Graye contrarie to the Popes owne former determination was made frustrate but that there was also thruste into his place a man familiarly entertained by the Frenche King his great enemie disliked much of the choice forbad Stephan the elect to enter the Realme The Pope againe who as Mathewe Parise writeth sought chiefly in this his choice Virum strenuum a stoute man that is in plaine speache a man that could exact of the Clergie kéep in awe the Laitie and encounter the King and Nobilitie séeing his champion thus reiected beginneth to startle for anger first therefore he moueth the King by minacing letters to admitte Stephan not so preuailing he enterditeth him his whole Realme And finally bothe prouoketh al Potentates to make open warre vpon him and also promiseth to the King of Fraunce full and frée remission of all his sinnes and the kingdome of England it self to inuade him this done he solliciteth to rebellion the Bishops nobilitie and cōmōs of the Realme loosing thē by the plenitude of his Apos to like power from al duetie of allegiaunce toward their Prince By this meanes diuine seruice ceassed the King of Fraunce armed the Bishops conspired the nobilitie made defection and the common people wauered vncertaine to what part to incline To be short King Iohn was so pressed with suspition feare of domesticall forreigne enemies on al sides that notwithstāding he was of great and noble courage and séemed to haue forces sufficient for resistance also if he might haue trusted his souldiers yet he was in the end compelled to set his seale to a Chartre of submissiō wherby he acknowleged himselfe to holde the Crowne of England of the Popes Mitre promised to pay yerely for the same and for Ireland 1000. Markes to the holy father his successours for euer this Chartre because it was afterward with great insultation and triumph closed in Golde was then commonly called Aurea Bulla the Bull of Golde Thus omitting the residue of this storie no lesse tragical and troublesome then that which I haue alreadie recited I report me to all indifferent men what cause Paulus Iouius or any other popishe parasite hathe by colour of this Bull to claime for the Pope superioritie Dominion ouer the King of this Realme since Iohn without the assent of the estates I meane his nobilitie and commons could not in such a gifte either binde his successours or charge the kingdome And for plaine declaration that his submission proceaded not with their consent I read in a treatise of one Simon de Boraston a Frier Preacher in the time of King Edward the third the which he wrote concerning the Kings right to the Crowne of Ireland that in the reigne of Henrie the third whiche next of all succeaded King Iohn there were sent from the King the nobilitie and the commons of England these Noble men Hughe Bigod Iohn Fitz Geffray William Cantlowe Phillip Basset and a Lawier named William Powicke to the generall Counsel then assembled at Lions in Fraunce of purpose and with commission to require that the saide Bull sealed by King Iohn might be cancelled for as muche as it passed not by the assent of the Counsel of the Realme and the same Authour writeth that the Pope for that tyme did put them of by colour of more waightie affaires whiche the Counsel had then in hand I know that it may wel be thought néedlesse to labour further in confuting a litle so weightles for it is true that Aristotle saith Stultum est absurdas opiniones accuratius refellere It is but a follie to labour ouer curiously in refelling of absurdities And therefore I will here conclude the treatise of Douer and procéede particularly to the rest of the places that lye on
this Towne committed to memorie I became of this minde that either the place was at the first of litle price and for the increase thereof indowed with Priuileges or if it had beene at any time estimable that it continued not long in the plight And truly whosoeuer shall consider eyther the Vniuersall vicissitude of the Sea in all places or the particular alteration and chaunge that in tymes passed and now presently it worketh on the coasts of this Realme he will easely assent that Townes bordering vpon the Sea and vpholded by the commoditie thereof may in short time decline to great decay and become in manner worthe nothing at all For as the water either floweth or forsaketh thē so must they of necessitie either flourish or fall flowing as it were ebbing with the Sea it selfe The necessitie of whiche thing is euery where so ineuitable that all the Popish ceremonies of espousing the Sea whiche the Venetians yearely vse on Saint Markes day by casting a Golden ring into the water cannot let but that the Sea continually by litle and litle withdraweth it selfe from their Citie and threatneth in time vtterly to forsake them Nowe therefore as I cannot fully shew what Hide hath béene in times passed must referre to each mans owne eye to beholde what it presently is So yet will I not pretermitte to declare out of other men such notes as I finde concerning the same From this Towne saith Henrie Huntingdon Earle Godwine and his Sonnes in the time of their exile fetched away diuers vessels lying at roade euen as they had at Rumney also whereof we shall haue place to speake more hereafter Before this Towne in the reigne of King Edward the first a great fléete of French men shewed themselues vpon the Sea of whiche one being furnished with two hundrethe Souldiours set her men on land in the Hauen where they had no sooner pitched their foote but the Townesmen came vpon thē to the last man wherewith the residue were so afraide that foorthwith they hoysed vp saile and made no further attempt This Towne also was grieuously afflicted in the beginning of the Reigne of King Henrie the fourth in so muche as besides the furie of the pestilence whiche raged all ouer there were in one day two hundreth of the houses consumed by flame fiue of their ships with one hundreth men drowned at the Sea By whiche hurte the inhabitaunts were so wounded that they began to deuise howe they might abandone the place and builde them a Towne else where Wherevpon they had resolued also had not the King by his liberal Chartre which I haue séene vnder his scale released vnto them for fiue turnes next following onlesse the greater necessitie should in the meane time compell him to require it their seruice of fiue ships of one hundreth men and of v. garsons whiche they ought of duetie and at their owne charge without the helpe of any other member to finde him by the space of fiftéene dayes together Finally from this Towne to Boloigne which is taken to be the same that Caesar calleth Gessoriacum is the shortest cutte ouer the Sea betwéene England and Fraunce as some holde opinion Others thinke that to be the shortest passage which is from Douer to Calaice But if there be any man that preferreth not hast before his good spéede let him by mine aduise proue a third way I meane from Douer to Withsand for if Edmund Badhenham the penner of the Chronicles of Rochester lye not shamefully whiche thing you knowe how farre it is from a Monke then at suche time as King Henrie the second and Lewes the French King were after long warre reconciled to amitie Lewes came ouer to visite King Henrie and in his return homeward saluted saint Thomas of Canterbury made a princely offer at his tumbe and bicause he was very fearefull of the water asked of saint Thomas and obteined that neither he in that passage nor any other from thenceforth that crossed the Seas betwéen Douer and Withsand should suffer any manner of losse or shipwracke But of this Saint sauing your reuerence we shall haue fitte place to speake more largely hereafter and therefore let vs nowe leaue the Sea and looke toward Shipwey Shipwey or Shipweyham in the Recordes commonly Shipwey Crosse BEtwéene Hyde and Westhanger lieth Shipwey the place that was of auncient time honested with the Plées and assemblies of the Fiue Ports although at this day neither by good building extant it be much glorious nor by any common méeting greatly frequented I remember that I haue read in a book of Priuileges of the Fiue Portes that certeine principall pointes concerning the Port townes be determinable at Shipwey only And likely it is that the withdrawing of the triall of causes from thence to Douer Castle hathe brought decay and obscuritie vpon the place Of this place the whole Last of Shipwey conteining twelue Hundrethes at the first tooke and yet continueth the name At this place Prince Edward the Sonne to King Henrie the third exacted of the Barons of the v. Portes their othe of fidelitie to his Father against the mainteiners of the Barons warre And at this place only our Limenarcha or Lord Wardein of the Ports receaueth his oathe at his first entrie into the office Whether this were at any time a Harborow for ships as the Etymologie of the name giueth likelihoode of coniecture or no I dare neither affirme nor denie hauing neither read nor séen that may lead me to the one or the other only I remember that Robert Talbot a man of our time and which made a Commentarie vpon the Itinerarie of Antoninus Augustus is of the opinion that is was called Shipwey because it lay in the way to the Hauen where the ships were wont to ride And that hauen taketh he to be the same whiche of Ptolome is caled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nouus Portus of Antoninus Limanis of our Chroniclers Limene Mouthe and interpreted by Leland to betoken the mouthe of the riuer of Rother whiche nowe in our time openeth into the Sea at Rye but before at Winchelsey His coniecture is grounded partly as you sée vpon the Etymologie of the name partly vpon the consideration of some antiquities that be neare to the place and partly also vpon the report of the countrie people who holde fast the same opinion which they haue by tradition receaued from their Elders In déede the name bothe in Greeke and olde Englishe whiche followethe the Gréeke that is to say Limen and Limene Mouthe doth signifie a Hauen wherof the Town of Lymne adioyning and the whole Deanrie or limit of the Ecclesiastical iurisdiction in whiche it standeth for that also is called Lymne by likelyhoode tooke the name This Hauen saithe he stoode at the firste vnder a highe Rocke in the Parishe of Lymne vnder the whiche there was situate a strong Castle for the defence of the Porte the ruines of
people to forsake it which if they will not God in time either graunt vs the lawe of the Heluetians whiche prouided that no man shoulde prouoke other in drinking or else if that may for courtesie be permitted bycause as the prouerbe is Sacra haec non aliter constant yet God I say styrre vp some Edgar to strike nayles in our cuppes or else giue vs the Gréekishe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Potandi arbitros Cup Censors as I may call them that at the leaste we maye be dryuen to drinke in some manner of measure For it is not sufferable in a Christian Countrie that men shoulde thus labour with great contention and striue for the maistrie as it were to offende God in so wilfull waste of his gratious benefits In this Hystorie is couched also as I haue already tolde you the firste cause of the displeasure receyued by the Normanes against this Realme and consequently the cause of their inuasion succéeding the same For whereas after this crueltie executed by the instigation of Godwine it happened Harolde his sonne to arryue at Pountion against his will by occasion of a soudaine perry or contrarie winde that arose while he was on seaboorde whether for his owne disporte onely as some write or for the execution of the Kings message as others say or of purpose to visite Wilnote and Hacun his brother and kinseman as a thirde sorte affirme or for what so euer other cause I will not dispute But vpon his arriuall taken he was by Guy the Earle of Pountion and sente to William the Duke of Normandie where being charged with his fathers faulte and fearing that the whole reuenge shoulde haue lighted vpon his owne heade he was dryuen to deuise a shifte for his deliueraunce He put the Duke in remembraunce therefore of his neare kinred with Edwarde the King of Englande And fed him with greate hope and expectation that Edwarde shoulde dye without issue of his body by reason that he had no conuersation with his wife So that if the matter were well and in season séene vnto there was no doubte as he persuaded but that the Duke through his owne power and the ayde of some of the Englishe Nobilitie might easily after the Kings deathe obtaine the Crowne For the atchieuing wherof he both vowed the vttermost of his owne help and vndertooke that his brethren his friends and allies also should do the best of their indeuour The wise Duke knowing wel Quam malus sit custos diuturnitatis metus How euil a keper of cōtinuance feare is And therfore reposing much more suretie in a frendly knot of alliance thē in a fearful offer procéeding but onely of a countenaunce accepted Haroldes othe for some assuraunce of his promise but yet withall for more safetie affied him to his daughter to be taken in marriage And so after many princely gifts and much honorable enterteinement bestowed vpon him he gaue him licence to depart But Harolde being nowe returned into England forgetteth cleane that euer he was in Normandie and therefore so soone as King Edward was deade he violating both the one promise and the other reiecteth Duke Williams daughter and setteth the Crowne vpon his owne heade Hereof followed the battaile at Battel in Sussex and consequently the Conquest of this whole Realme and Countrie In contemplation whereof we haue likewise to accuse the olde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rather 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the inueterate fiercenesse and cancred crueltie of this our English nation against foreignes and straungers which ioyning in this butcherly sacrifice with bloudie Busyris deserued worthely the reuenging club of heauenly Hercules whiche fearing without cause great harme that these fewe might bring vnto them did by their barbarous immanitie giue iust cause to a great armie to ouerrunne them And whiche dreading that by the arriuall of this small troupe of Norman Nobilitie some of them might lose their honorable roomes and offices prouoked the wrath of God to sende in amongst them the whole rable of the Norman slauerie to possesse their goods inheritances It were worthy the consideration to call to memorie what great Tragedies haue béene stirred in this Realme by this our naturall inhospitalitie and disdaine of straungers both in the time of King Iohn Henrie his sonne King Edward the seconde Henrie the sixte and in the dayes of later memorie But since that matter is parergon and therefore the discourse woulde proue tedious and wearisome and I also haue beene too long already at Gillingham I will rather abruptly end it onely wishing that whatsoeuer note of infamie wee haue heretofore contracted amongst Forreigne wryters by this our ferocitie against Aliens that now at the least hauing the Light of Gods Gospell before our eyes and the persecuted partes of his afflicted Church as Guestes and Straungers in our Countrie wée so behaue our selues towards them as we may both vtterly rubbe out the olde blemishe and from hencefoorth staye the heauie hand of the iuste Iupiter Hospitalis whiche otherwise must néedes light vpon such stubburne and vncharitable churlishnesse Chetham ALthoughe I haue not hytherto at any time read any memorable thing recorded in hystorie touching Chetham it self yet for so muche as I haue often heard and that constātly reported a Popish illusion done at the place for that also it is as profitable to the keping vnder of fained superstitious religiō to renew to minde the Priestly practises of olde time which are declining to obliuiō as it is pleasāt to reteine in memorie the Monuments antiquities of whatsoeuer other kinde I thinke it not amisse to commit faithfully to writing what I haue receiued credibly by hearing concerning the Idols sometime knowen by the names of our Lady and the Roode of Chetham and Gillingham It happened say they that the dead Corps of a man lost through shipwracke belike was cast on land in the Parishe of Chetham and being there taken vp was by some charitable persons committed to honest burial within their Churchyard which thing was no sooner done but our Lady of Chetham finding her selfe offended therewith arose by night and went in person to the house of the Parishe Clearke whiche then was in the Stréete a good distance from the Churche and making a noyse at his window awaked him This man at the first as commonly it fareth with men disturbed in their rest demaunded somewhat roughly who was there But when he vnderstoode by her owne aunswere that it was the Lady of Chetham he chaunged his note and moste mildely asked the cause of her comming She tolde him that there was lately buryed neere to the place where she was honoured a sinfull person whiche so offended her eye with his gastly grinning that vnles he were remoued she could not but to the great griefe of good people withdrawe her selfe from that place and ceasse her wonted miraculous working amongst them And therefore she willed him to go with her to the
great cost vpon it that he might be thought rather to haue raised a new house in the place then to haue repayred the olde for he left nothing of the firste worke but onely the walles of a hall and a chapell Thus farre out of Erasmus Wherein first by the waye you may espie the reason that moued King Henrie the eight to take that house by exchaunge from the Archebishop namely bicause Warham not contented to continue it a plaine house fit to withdrawe him selfe vnto for contemplation and prayer had so magnificently enlarged the same that it was nowe become méete to make a Palaice for a Kings habitation and pleasure But let vs come to our matter You sée here that Erasmus maketh this house the matter and motiue of all the contention that was betwéene the King and the Archebishop whiche if it be so then haue not I faythfully dealt in laying the cause thereof to be suche as appeareth in Canterbury before and consequently I haue too too much abused the Reader But for a short aunswere hereto I do eftsoones auowe that not onely William of Newburgh Roger Houeden and Mat. Parise whome chiefly I haue followed in this storie and which al were eyther meÌ„ liuing when the matter was in hande or borne immediatly after do plainely testifie with me that the ordinaunces made at Clarendune were the very subiect and motiue of all that strife but also the whole number of our hystoriens following yea and the very authours of the Quadriloge it selfe or song of foure parts for they yealde a concent though it be without Harmonie do all with one pen and mouth acknowledge the same Amongst the râ—ste Polydore sheweth him selfe excéeding angry with some that had blowne abroad some such like sound of the cause of this great hurley burley for he sayth plainely that they were Amentiae pleni qui deblaterabant Thomam conseruandarum possessionum causà tantum iniuriarum accepisse starke madde which babbled that Thomas did receiue so many iniuries for sauing of his possessions But for all this to the ende that it may fully appeare bothe that Erasmus hath said somwhat and also from whence as I suppose this thing was mistaken I praye you heare the Quadriloge or storie of his life it self for that onely shall suffice to close vp the matter It appeareth by the authors of that worke that after suche time as the King and the Bishop had long contended and that with great heate about the Statutes of Clarendune that the Bishop vpon great offence taken had made thrée seuerall attempts to crosse the Seas towarde the Pope and was alwayes by contrarie winde repulsed and driuen to the lande againe The King in his iust indignation sought by all possible meanes to bridle his immoderate peuishnesse therefore first resumed into his owne handes al such honors and castles of his own as he had committed to the Bishops custodie TheÌ„ called he an assembly of al his Nobilitie bishops to NorthaÌ„pton castle where before them all he first charged Thomas with .500 l. that he had long before lent him for the repaiment wherof he ther coÌ„pelled him to giue fiue seueral sureties This done he called him to an account for .30000 Markes receiued of the reuenues of the crown during the time that he was Chancelour Now whiles the Archbishop was much troubled with this matter sometime denying to yeald any account at al somtime crauing respite to make a resolute aunswere but alwayes delaying the time and meditating howe to shifte the place there commeth on a time into his lodging the Bishops of London and Chichester who finding him at supper sayde vnto him worde for worde of the Quadriloge as followeth that is That they had founde out a way for peace and when the Archebishop had required vnder what forme they answered There is a question for money betweene you and the King If therefore you will assigne vnto the King your two Manors Otford and Wingham in the name of a pledge we beleue that he being therwith pacified will not only resigne you the Manors againe and forgiue you the money but also a great deale the sooner receiue you to his fauour To this the Archebishop replied The manor of Heche was somtime belonging to the Church of Canterburie as I haue hard which the King now hath in demeane And albeit that the only challenge of the thing is sufficient cause to haue it restored to the Church of Canterbury yet I do not loke that it will be doone in these times Neuerthelesse rather then I wil renounce the right which the church of Canterbury is sayd to haue in that Manor either for the appeasing of any trouble whatsoeuer or for recouerie of the Kings fauour I will offer this head of mine and touched it to any hazarde or daunger what soeuer it be The Bishops being angrie with this weÌ„t out from him and tolde the King of all and his indignation was sore kindled with it Thus muche out of the Quadriloge faithfully translated Nowe vpon the whole matter it appeareth first that the quarell was for the lawes of Clarendùne whiche yet depended and then that euen as a fire being once kindled the flame séeketh all about and imbraceth whatsoeuer it findeth in the way So the King being offended with the rebellion of this Bishop left no stone vntaken vp that might be hurled at him therefore brought in against him bothe debts accompts and whatsoeuer other meanes of annoyaunce Moreouer that this matter of Otford and Wingham for as you nowe sée it was not Otford alone was not at all tossed betwéene the King and the Archebishop but only moued by the pacifiers these two Bishops as a méete meane of reconciliation in their owne opinion and iudgement or if it may be thought that they were sent and suborned by the King himselfe with that deuise yet is it manifest that the right of the houses themselues were not desired but onely that they might remaine as a paine till the account were audited Neither if the gifte of this house would haue made an end of the strife doth it by and by followe that the contention was moued at the first about it And therfore as on the one side you may sée that Erasmus his reporte is but matter of Preface and no Gospell So yet on the other side it is euident that of such and so lustie a stomacke was this Archebishop that if former cause had not béene yet he could haue found in his hart to fall out with his Prince for this or a smaller matter For what would he not aduenture for a Manor or twaine in lawfull possession that would not sticke to hazard his head before he would release that right whiche he thought he had to a piece of land and that but only by hearesay or supposition But it is more theÌ„ time to make an end and therefore leauing Thomas and his house in the bottome let vs climbe the Hill
enfranchise villaines sondrie other things whiche bycause they be to long to be rehearsed at large and lye not fitly in the way of my purpose I will omit and descend to the Wardeins of the Portes reciting in a short Catalogue the names of so many of them as I haue found to gouern sithence the arriuall of King William the Conquerour And although it be no doubt but that the Portes were vnder the gouernement of some before the tyme of the conquest also yet bycause King William was the first so farre as I haue read that made the office perpetuall and gaue it the title whiche it now beareth the name Wardein I meane whiche came from Normandie and was not at all knowen to the Saxons I thinke best to begin at his time Againe for asmuche as the Constableship of the Castle of Douer and this office haue ben alwayes inseperably matched together and for that I shal haue fitte place to speake of that hereafter when I shall come to Douer I will respit the rehersall of bothe their originalles til then and here in the meane season set down the race of the Wardeins by name only Iohn Fynes created by William the Conquerour Wardein of the Portes and Constable of Douer by gifte of inheritance Iames Fines his Sonne whiche dyed ot Folkston Iohn Fynes his Sonne Walkelm who deliuered it to King Stephan and immediatly after his death abandoned the charge and fled into Normandie Allen Fynes restored by King Henrie the second Iames Fynes his Eldest Sonne Mathew Clere as it should séeme by Mat. Par. Williā Petite who imprisoned Godfrey the Archbyshop of Yorke in Douer castle as vnder that title shal appeare William of Wrotham Hubert of Burgh the Earle of Kent who being deposed Bartram of Cryol succéeded Richard Gray appointed by the Barons that warred against King Henrie the third who was depriued of his office by Hugh Bigot bicause he let in the Popes legate by the Kings licence and against the minde of the Nobles Henrie Braybrooke Edward the first in the lyfe of his father who made Henrie Cobham his deputie whose Sonne Heire called Iohn founded Cobham College Roger Leyborne in the tyme of King Edward the first Stephan Penchester in the tyme of Edward the first Syr Robert Asheton Hugh Spenser the younger in the tyme of Edward the second Edmund of Woodstock the Earle of Kent Reginald Cobham in the time of Edward the third Bartholmew Burwhasse or Burgehersh one of the first companions of the ordre of the Garter Iohn Beauchampe the Earle of Warwike Syr Robert Herle in the latter ende of King Edward the third Edmund the Earle of Cambridge Syr Simon Barley whome Thomas of Woodstocke beheaded Lord Henrie Cobham the Sonne of Reginald Cobhā Syr Iohn Enros Syr Thomas Beaumont Edward the Duke of Aumarle and Yorke whom King Henrie the fourth remoued and substituted in place Syr Thomas Erpingham for a season but afterward he gaue the office to Prince Edward his Sonne who when he was King in possession bestowed it vpon Humfrey the Duke of Gloucester Iames Fines Lord Saye whom Iacke Cade beheaded Edmond the Duke of Somerset Humfrey the Duke of Buckingham Simon Mountford vnder King Henrie the sixt Richard Neuel the Earle of Warwike William the Earle of Arundel Richard the Duke of Gloucester called afterward King Richard the third Sir William Scotte Henrie the Duke of Yorke Iames Fines the Lord Saye Henrie in his Fathers lyfe afterward the eight King of that name Arthur Plantagenet Vicount Lisle Bastard Sonne to King Edward the fourth Sir Edward Poynings Henrie the younge Earle of Richemond Sir Edward Guldeford George Boleyn Vicount Rocheford Sir Thomas Cheynie Treasurour of the houshold Sir Wiliam Cobham Lord Cobham Thus much of the v. Portes in general Now of Sandwiche the first of them in the order of my iourney and then orderly of so many of the residue as lye within the Shyre that I haue presently in hand Sandwiche is called in Latine Sabulouicum or Portus Rutupinus in Saxon Sondƿic that is to say the Sandie Towne because the coast therabout aboundeth withe Sande THis Towne as it appeareth by the report of Leland and as it may séeme also by the name it selfe being méere Saxon began by the Saxons after the fall of poore Richeborowe which was in price while the honour of the Britons stood vpright and was eyther abated dy the furie of the Saxons when they wonne that coast from them or els came to ruine by the alteration and vicissitude of the Sea whiche peraduenture choked the hauen thereof with light sande as it hathe since that time done this at Sandwiche also King Canutus gaue as some write to Christes church in Canterbury Sainct Bartholmews arme if happely it were not a chaungeling for Kings great men were oftentymes after that sort deluded though they in the meane time bought such reliques dearely and thought that kinde of gifte moste princely he gaue also a riche Pall a Crowne of Golde and this hauen of Sandwiche together with the royaltie of the water on eache side so farre as a shippe being on flote at the full Sea a man might caste a shorte hatchet out of the vessell vnto the Banke The place it selfe grewe in tyme to be wel peopled and of worthynesse to be one of those Portes that foūd fauour of priuilege in consideration of their seruice at the Sea for it appeareth by the booke of Domesday that this was the estate of Sandwiche It laye in a hundreth belonginge to it selfe it did to the King suche like seruice by tenure as Douer did It was of the possessiōs of Christes Churche as I haue shewed and was appointed for the apparell of the Monkes of that house to the whiche it yealded fourtie thousand herrings besides certaine money and had in it thrée hundreth and seuen houses inhabited And I finde not but that the Towne continued in the like plight long after the Conquest being somewhat amended also by the Staple whiche King Edward the first for a season remoued thither euen vntil the time of King Henrie the sixt in whose dayes Peter Brice the Steward of Normandie landed at Sandwiche and with fire and sworde wasted the Towne in manner to ashes and slewe the inhabitants almoste to the last man Since whiche time partly by the smarte of that wounde but chiefly by the aboundaunce of the light Sande wherewith the Sea hath glutted the hauen it is declined to great decay and were like to fall to extreme ruine were it not that nowe presently it is somewhat relieued by the repaire of suche as haue abandoned their Countrie for the fréedome of their consciences whose aboade howe long it will bée the Lorde onely knoweth for whose cause they suffer banishment There was in this Towne before the generall suppression a house of Carmelites whereof I read none other good thing saue that it brought foorthe one learned man called
this shoare Folkstone in Saxon folcestane Id est Populi Lapis or else flostane whiche signifieth a rocke or a flawe of stone AMongest the places lying on this shoare worthy of note nexte after Douer followeth Folkstone where Eanfled or rather Eanswide the daughter of Eadbalde the sonne of Ethelbert and in order of succession the sixte King of Kent long since erected a religious Pryorie of women not in the place where S. Peters Churche at Folkstone nowe standeth but Southe from thence where the Sea many yeares agoe hath swalowed and eaten it And yet least you shoulde thinke S. Peters Parishe churche to be voyde of reuerence I must let you knowe of Noua Legenda Angliae that before the Sea had deuoured all S. Eanswides reliques were translated thither The author of that worke reporteth many wonders of this woman as that she lengthened a beame of that building thrée foote when the Carpenters missing in their measure had made it so muche too shorte That she haled and drew water ouer the hilles against nature That she forbad certain rauenous birdes the countrey which before did muche harme there abouts That she restored the blynde caste out the Diuel and healed innumerable folkes of their infirmities And therefore after her deathe she was by the policie of the Popishe priestes and follie of the common people honoured for a Sainct And no maruail at all for it was vsuall in Papistrie not onely to magnifie their Benefactours of all sortes but to edifie also so many of them at the leaste as were of noble Parentage knowing that thereby triple commoditie ensued the first for as muche as by that meane they assured many great personages vnto them secondly they drewe by the awe of their example infinite numbers of the common people after them And lastly they aduentured the more bouldly vnder those honourable and glorious names and titles to publishe their pouishe and pelting miracles And this surely was the cause that Sexburge in Shepie Mildred in Tanet Etheldred at Elye Edith at Wilton and sundrie other simple women of Royall blood in eache quarter were canonized Saincts for generally the Religious of those tymes were as thankfull to their Benefactors as euer were the heathen nations to their first Kings and founders The one sort Sanctifying suche as did either builde them houses or deuise them orders And the other Deifying suche as had made them Cities or prescribed them Lawes and gouernement This was it that made Saturne Hercules Romulus and others moe to haue place in common opinion with the Gods aboue the starres and this caused Dunstane Edgar Ethel would and others first to be shryued here in earth and then to sit amongest the Saincts in Heauen But let me now leaue their policie and returne to the Hystorie The Towne of Folkestone was sore spoyled by Earle Godwine and his Sonnes what time they harried that whole coast of Kent for reuenge of their banishment as we haue often before remembred The Hundred of Folkstone conteined in the time of King Edward the Confessour a hundrethe and twentie ploughe landes it had in it fiue Parishe Churches it was valued at a hundrethe and ten poundes belonged to the Earle Godwine before named The Manor was giuen to William Albranc of whome I made mention in Douer with condition to finde one and twentie warders toward the defence of that Castle and it grewe in time to be the head of an honour or Baronie as in the Records of the Exchequer remaineth as yet to bée séene Saltwood THat Saltwood was long sithence an Honor also it may appeare by an auÌ„cient writ directed by King Henrie the second from beyond the Seas to King Henrie his Sonne for the restitution of Thomas Becket the Archebishop to all suche goodes landes and fées as were taken from him during the displeasure betwéene them whiche writ bothe for shewe of the auncient forme and bycause it conteineth the matter of hystorie I wil not stick to exemplifie word for woord as Mathewe Parise hathe recorded it Sciatis quod Thomas Cant. Episcopus paceÌ„ mecum fecit ad voluntatem meam ideo praecipio tibi vt ipse omnes sui pacem habeant faciatis ei habere suis omnes res suas bene in pace honorifice sicut habuerunt tribus meÌ„sibus antequaÌ„ exirent Angliae faciatisque venire coraÌ„ vobis de melioribus antiquioribus militibus de honore de Saltwood eoruÌ„ iurameÌ„to faciatis inquiri quid ibi habetur de feodo Archiepiscopatê° Cant. quod recognituÌ„ fuerit esse de feodo ipsius ipsi faciatis habere valete But if this Recorde of the Kings suffise not to proue the honour of this place then here I pray you a woorde of the honourable or rather the Pontificall dealing of William Courtney the Archbishop who taking offence that certaine poore men his Tenants of the Manor of Wingham had brought him rent hay and littar to Canterbury not openly in cartes for his glorie as they were accustomed but closely in sackes vpon their horses as their abilitie would suffer cited them to this his castle of Saltwood and there after that he had shewed himself Adria iracundiorem as hote as a toste with the matter he first bound them by othe to obey his owne ordinauÌ„ce then inioyned them for penance that they should each one marche leisurely after the procession bareheaded barefooted with a sacke of hey or strawe on his shoulder open at the mouthe so as the stuffe might appeare hanging out of the bag to all the beholders Nowe I beséeche you what was it els for this proude Prelate thus to insult ouer simple men for so small a fault or rather for no fault at all but Laureolam in Mustaceis querere and no better Thus muche at this present of the Place for as touching the first matter concerning Thomas that shall appeare at large in Canterbury following And therefore leauing on our right hand the stately partes of Syr Edward Poynings vnperfect buylding at Ostenhangar let vs sée what is to be said of Hyde Hyde is written in Saxon Hyþe that is the Hauen and called of Leland in Latine Portus Hithinus in some Recordes Hethe THe name of this place importing as it should séeme by the generalitie therof some note of worthinesse and the long continued priuileges therevnto belonging it self being long since one of the fiue principal Portes at the first led me and happely may hereafter moue others also to thinke that it had béene of more estimation in tyme past then by any other thing nowe apparant may well be coniectured Howbeit after that I had somewhat diligently searched the Saxon antiquities from whence if from any at all the beginning of the same is to be deriued had perused the booke of Domesday wherein almoste nothing especially that might bée profitable was pretermitted and yet found litle or in manner nothing concerning
they haue chalenged from the Laitie with suche pertinacie and whiche they haue punished bothe in the Laitie and clergie with suche lenitie that not onely the Princes commoditie is thereby greatly decreased but also incontinencie in his subiects intollerably augmented Neither is it to be proued by this testimonie only that suche was the order in olde time but by the booke of Domesday it selfe also where it is plainly said De adulterio Rex habebit hominem Archiepiscopus mulierem In case of adulterie the King shall haue the man the Archebishop the woman c. But to returne to Pinnendene the commoditie of the situation it selfe and the example of this notable assemblie haue béen the cause that not only the Sheriffes vse to holde their Countie Courtes but also to appoint the méeting for choise of Knights to the Parleament most coÌ„moÌ„ly at this place Boxley may take the name eyther of the Saxon word boxeleage for the store of Box-trees that peraduenture sometime grewe there or of bucesleag whiche is as muche to say as a place lying in Vmbelico in the midst or Nauell of the Shyre as in deede this Boxley dothe AS touching the foundation of Boxley Abbay I finde an obscure note in auncient Chronicles of S. Wereburges in Chester where it is thus reported Anno 1146. fundata est Boxleia in Cancia filia Clareuallis propria Whiche I call obscure bycause it appeareth not to me by the word filia whether it be ment that Boxley were erected by the liberalitie of the Monasterie of Clareualley or else instituted onely after the possession rule and order of the same For the like notes I finde in the same Chronicle of diuers other houses within England to whiche the same Monasterie of Clareuale and others also were like good mothers and amongst the rest that not many yeares after this Monasterie of Boxley it selfe was deliuered of suche another spirituall childe called the Abbay of Robertsbridge in Sussex Neuerthelesse I make coniecture that the authour ment by filia nothing else but that one Abbay eyther furthered by exhortation the building of another or else furnished it after the building with Monkes of her own broode And for more likelyhoode that this shoulde be his minde Heare I pray you what he sayth in another place Comes Cornubiae fundauit Hayles filiam Belliloci in Anglia whiche his wordes distinguishe plainely betwéene the founder that bare the charge of the buylding and the Abbay after the order and patterne wherof it was instituted But leauing to comment any longer vpon that doubtfull texte I will take to witnesse the Chronicles of Rochester whiche putting the matter out of doubt saye plainely that one William de Ipre a noble man and Lieuetenant to King Stephan in his warres againste Maude the Empresse founded the Abbay of Boxley and planted it with a Couent of white Monkes And so haue you at once the name of the Authour the time of the foundation and the rule of the profession at Boxley wherevnto if you shall adde the yearely value whiche I reade in the Recorde to haue béene two hundreth and foure poundes you haue all that I finde written concerning the same But yet if I shoulde thus leaue Boxley the fauourers of false and feyned Religion woulde laughe in their sléeues and the followers of Gods trueth might iustly crye out and blame me For it is yet freshe in mynde to bothe sides and shall I doubte not to the profite of the one be continued in perpetuall memorie to all posteritie by what notable imposture fraud Iuggling and Legierdemain the sillie lambes of Gods flocke were not long since seduced by the false Romishe Foxes at this Abbay The manner whereof I will set downe in suche sorte onely as the same was sometime by them selues published in printe as it is sure for their estimation and credite and yet remayneth déepely imprinted in the mynds and memories of many on liue to their euerlasting reproche shame and confusion It chaunced as the tale is that vpon a time a cunning Carpenter of our couâ—trey was taken prysoner in the warres betwéene vs and Fraunce who wanting otherwise to satisfie for his raunsome and hauing good leysure to deuise for his deliueraunce thought it best to attempt some curious enterprise within the compasse of his owne Art and skill to make him selfe some money withall And therefore getting together fit matter for his purpose he compacted of wood wyer paste and paper a Roode of suche exquisite arte and workmanship that it not onely matched in comelynesse and due proportion of the partes the beste of the common sorte but in straunge motion varietie of gesture and nimblenesse of ioyntes passed all other that before had béene séene the same being able to bowe downe and lift vp it selfe to shake and stirre the handes and féete to nod the heade to rolle the eyes to wagge the chappes to bende the browes and finally to represent to the eye bothe the proper motion of eche member of the bodye and also a liuely expresse and significant shewe of a well contented or displeased mynde byting the lippe and gathering a frowning frowarde and disdainefull face when it woulde pretende offence and shewing a most mylde amyable and smyling cheare and countenaunce when it woulde séeme to be well pleased So that now it néeded not Prometheus fire to make it a liuely man but onely the helpe of the couetous Priestes of Bell or the ayde of some craftie College of Monkes to deifie and make it passe for a very God. This done he made shifte for his libertie came ouer into the Realme of purpose to vtter his Merchandize and layde the Image vpon the backe of a Iade that he draue before him Nowe when he was come so farre as to Rochester on his waye he waxed drye by reason of trauaile and called at an alehouse for drinke to refreshe him suffering his horse neuerthelesse to goe forwarde alone thorowe the Citie This Iade was no sooner out of sight but he missed the streight westerne way that his Maister intended to haue gone and turning Southe made a great pace towarde Boxley and being driuen as it were by some diuine furie neuer ceassed til he came at the Abbay church doore where he so beate and bounced with his heeles that diuers of the Monkes hearde the noyse came to the place to know the cause and marueiling at the strangenesse of the thing called the Abbat and his Couent to beholde it These good men seing the horse so earnest and discerning what he had on his backe for doubt of deadly impietie opened the doore whiche they had no sooner done but the horse rushed in and ranne in great haste to a piller which was the verie place where this Image was afterwarde aduaunced and there stopped him self and stoode still Nowe while the Monkes were busie to take off the loade in commeth the Carpenter that by great inquisition had followed and he chalengeth his owne
The Monkes lothe to loose so beneficiall a stray at the first make some denyal but afterwarde being assured by all signes that he was the very Proprietarie they graunt him to take it with him The carpenter then taketh the horse by the heade and first assayeth to leade him out of the Churche but he woulde not stirre for him Then beateth he and striketh him but the Iade was so restie and fast nayled that he would not once remoue his foote from the piller At the laste he taketh off the Image thinking to haue carried it out by it self and then to haue led the horse after but that also cleaued so fast to the place that notwithstanding all that euer he and the Monkes also which at the length were contented for pities sake to helpe him coulde doe it woulde not be moued one inche from it So that in the ende partely of wearinesse in wrestling with it and partely by persuasion of the Monkes whiche were in loue with the Picture and made him beléeue that it was by God him selfe destinate to their house the Carpenter was contented for a péece of money to go his way and leaue the Roode behinde him Thus you sée the generation of this the great God of Boxley comparable I warrant you to the creation of that olde beastly Idol Priapus of whiche the Poet sayth Olim truncus eram ficulnus inutile lignum Cum faber incertus SCAMNVM FACERETNE PRIAPVM MALVIT ESSE DEVM Deus inde ego furum c. A Figtree blocke sometime I was A log vnmeete for vse Til Caruer doubting with him selfe WER T BEST MAKE PRIAPVS OR ELSE A BENCHE resolude at last To make a God of me Thencefoorth a God I am of birdes And theeues most drad you see But what I shall not néede to report howe leudely these Monkes to their owne enriching and the spoyle of Gods people abused this wooden God after they had thus gotten him bycause a great sorte be yet on liue that sawe the fraude openly detected at Paules Crosse and others maye reade it disclosed in bookes extant and commonly abroade Neyther will I labour to compare it throughout with the Troian Palladium whiche was a picture of woode that coulde shake a speare and rolle the eyes as liuely as this Roode did and whiche falling from heauen chose it self a place in the Temple as wisely as this Carpenters horse did and had otherwise so greate conuenience and agréement with this our Image that a man woulde easily beléeue the deuice had béene taken from thence But I will onely note for my purpose and the places sake that euen as they fansied that Troy was vpholden by that Image and that the taking of it awaye by Diomedes and Vlysses brought destruction by sentence of the Oracle vpon their Citie So the towne of Boxley whiche stoode chiefly by the Abbay was through the discouerie and defacing of this Idol and another wrought by Cranmer and Cromwel according to the iust iudgement of God hastened to vtter decay and beggerie And nowe since I am falne into mention of that other Image whiche was honoured at this place I will not sticke to bestowe a fewe wordes for the detection thereof also as well for that it was as very an illusion as the former as also for that the vse of them was so lincked together that the one can not throughly be vnderstoode without the other for this was the order If you minded to haue benefit by the Roode of Grace you ought firste to be shryuen of one of the Monkes Then by lifting at this other Image whiche was vntruly of the common sorte called Sainct Grumbald for Sainct Rumwald you shoulde make proofe whether you were in cleane life as they called it or no and if you so founde your selfe then was your waye prepared and your offering acceptable before the Roode if not then it behoued you to be confessed of newe for it was to be thought that you had concealed somewhat from your ghostly Dad and therefore not yet worthy to be admitted Ad Sacra Eleusina Nowe that you may knowe howe this examination was to be made you must vnderstande that this Sainct Rumwald was a preatie shorte picture of a Boy Sainct standing in the same Churche of it selfe so small hollow and light that a childe of seuen yeares of age might easily lift it and therefore of no moment at all in the hands of suche persons as had offered frankly But by meane of a pyn of wood stricken through it into a poste whiche a false knaue standing behinde coulde put in and pull out at his pleasure it was to suche as offered faintly so fast and vnmoueable that no force of hande coulde once stirre it In so muche as many times it moued more laughter then deuotion to beholde a great lubber to lift at that in vayne whiche a young boy or wenche had easily taken vp before him I omit that chaste Virgines and honest marryed matrones went oftentimes away with blushing faces leauing without cause in the myndes of the lookers on suspicion of vncleane life and wanton behauiour for feare of whiche note and villanie women of all other stretched their purse strings and sought by liberall offering to make Sainct Rumwalds man their good friend and Maister But marke here I beséeche you their prettie policie in picking playne folkes purses It was in vaine as they persuaded to presume to the Roode without shrifte yea and money lost there also if you offer before you were in cleane life And therefore the matter was so handled that without trebble oblation that is to say first to the Confessour then to Sainct Rumwald and lastly to the Gracious Roode the poore Pilgrimes coulde not assure them selues of any good gayned by all their laboure No more then suche as goe to Parisgardein the Bell Sauage◠or some other suche common place to beholde Beare bayting Enterludes or Fence playe can account of any pleasant spectacle vnlesse they first paye one penny at the gate another at the entrie of the Scaffolde and the thirde for a quiet standing I my selfe can not coniecture what reason shoulde moue them to make this Sainct Rumwald the Touchstone of cleane life and innocencie vnlesse it be vpon occasion of a myracle that he did in making two holy Priestes to lift a greate stone easily whiche before diuers laye persons coulde not stirre with all their strength and abilitie Whiche thing as also his whole life and death to the ende that the tale shall want no part of due credite I will shortly recite as in the worke called Noua Legenda Angliae I finde reported A Pagan or vnchristened King of Northumberland had married a Christian woman daughter to Penda the King of Midle Englande who woulde not by any meanes be known carnally of her husband til such time as he had condescended to forsake Idolatrie and to become a Christian with her The husband with much to doe consented to
fathers seate So that he woulde agrée to come accompanied with a smal number of strangers The which condition was deuised bothe for their owne excuse and for the yong Princes safetie For before this time after the deth of king Canutus they had likewise sent for the same Edwarde Alfred his elder brother that then was on liue putting them in like hope of restitution to which request the duke their grandfather assēted and for the more honourable furniture of their iourney gaue them to company diuers yong Gentlemen of his own Country whom he ment to make from thenceforth parteners of theyr prosperitye as they had before tyme béen companions of their misfortune But when they were come into the realme the Earle Godwine who sought more the aduauncement of his own house to honour then the restitution of the Englishe bloude to the crowne perceiuing that by no meanes he could make a marriage betwéene Alfrede the elder of the two and Edgith his daughter and yet hauing hope that Edward the younger woulde accept the offer if he might bring to passe to set the garlande vpon his heade he quarelled at the company which came ouer with them insinuating to the péeres of the Realme that Alfrede ment so soone as he should obtaine the crowne to place in all roomes of honour his Normane Nobilitie and to displace the Englishe his owne countrey men Whiche suspicion he bet so déepely into the heades of many of the Noble men and especially of his nearest friends and allies that foorthwith vpon his persuasion they fell vpon the straungers at Gillingham and firste killed nyne throughout the whole number of the company reseruing on liue eche tenth mā only And afterward thinking the remainer to great tythed the number also sleaing in the whole about sixe hundred persons As for Alfred the elder of the yong Princes they apprehended and conueyed him to the Isle of Ely where first they put out his eyes and afterwarde moste cruelly did him to death But this Edwarde fearing their furie escaped their handes and fled into Normandie Howbeit being nowe eftsoones as I sayde earnestly sollicited by Godwine and more faythfully assured by the Noble men he once againe aduentured to enter the Realme and taking Godwines daughter to wife obtained the Crowne and enioyed it all his life long I am not ignoraunt that Simeon of Durham and diuers other good wryters affirme this slaughter to haue béene committed at Guylford in Surrey and some other of late tyme and of lesse note at Guild downe a place neare Lamberhirst in the edge of this Shyre but bycause I finde it expressely reported by Thomas Rudborne and also the authour of the Chronicle of Couentrie to haue béen done at Gillingham Iuxta Thamesim I sticke not being nowe come to that place to exemplifie it giuing neuerthelesse frée libertie to euery man to lay it at the one or the other at his owne frée will and pleasure Onely my desire is to haue obserued that in this one Storie there doe lye folded vp bothe the meanes of the deliuerie of this realme of England from the thraldome of the Danes and the causes also of the oppression and conquest of the same by the Normanes For as touching the first it pleased the Almightie nowe at length by this manner of King Hardicanutus death whiche I haue shewed to breake in sunder the Danish whip wherwith he had many yeares together scourged the English nation and by the meane of drinke the Danishe delight to worke the deliuery of the one people and the exterminion of the other euen in the midst of all their securitie and pleasaunce In which behalfe I can not but note the iust iudgemēt of God extended against those déepe drinkers and in their example to admonishe all such as doe in like sort most beastly abuse Gods good creatures to his great offence the hurte of their owne soules and bodies and to the euill example of other men For whereas before the arriuall of these Danes the Englishe men or Saxons vsed some temperaunce in drinking not taking thereof largely but only at certain great feasts and chearings and that in one only wassailing cup or boule which walked round about the boorde at the midst of the meale much after that manner of intertainment whiche Dido sometime gaue to Aeneas and is expressed by Virgil in these verses Hic Regina grauem auro gemmisque poposcit Impleuitque mero pateram quam Belus omnes A Belo soliti Tum facta silentia tectis Iupiter hospitibus nam te dare iura loquuntur Et vos O caetum Tirij celebrate fauentes Dixit Et in mensam laticum libauit honorem Primaque libato summo tenus attigit ore c. The Queene commaunds a mightie Bolle Of golde and precious stone To fill with wine whom Belus King And all King Belus line Was wont to holde than through them all Was silence made by signe O Ioue quoth she for thou of hostes And gestes both great and small Men say the lawes haste put giue grace I pray and let vs all O you my Moores nowe do our best These Troians for to chere Thus sayd she and when grace was done The Bolle in hand she clipt And in the liquor sweete of wine her lips she scantly dipt But now after the comming in of the Danes and after such time as King Edgar had permitted them to inhabite here and to haue conuersation with his own people Quassing and carowsing so increased that Didoes sipping was cleane forsaken and Bitias bowsing came in place of whome the same Poet writeth Ille impiger hausit Spumantem pateram pleno se proluit auro And he anon The fomie bolle of gold vpturnd And drewe till all was gon So that King Edgar him self seing in his own reigne the great outrage wherevnto it was growne was compelled to make lawe therefore and to ordaine drinking measures by publique Proclamation driuing certaine nayles into the sides of their cups as limits and bounds which no man vpon great payne should be so hardie as to transgresse But this vice in that short time had takē such fast roote as neyther the restraint of law nor the expulsiō of the first bringers in therof could supplant yet For William of Malmesburie comparing the manners of the Englishe men and Normanes together complayned that in his time the Englishe fashion was to sit bibbing hole houres after dinner as the Normane guise was to walke and iet vp and downe the streates with great traines of idle Seruing men folowing them And I woulde to God that in our time also we had not iust cause to complaine of this vicious plant of vnmeasurable Boalling which whether it be sprong vp out of the olde roote or be newely transported by some Danish enemie to all godly temperaunce and sobrietie let them consider that with pleasure vse it and learne in time by the death of Hardicanute and the expulsiō of his
at the Sea. The College The value of the Religious houses in this Shyre The Citie when it began The olde Schole at Canterbury The decay of Canterbury and other places Continuall contention betweene the two great houses in Canterbury Christes-Churche in Canterbury Thomas Becket the Archbishop his hystorie Saint Augustines The deade in old time were buried out of the Cities Popishe braules S. Maries in Canterbury The Saints and Reliques at CaÌ„terbury S. August Thomas Becket had two heads S. Gregories in Canterbury S. Laurenceâ— Hospitall S Iames Hospitall S. Sepulchers White friars S. Mildredâ— The Bishops Palaice S. Martines was a Bishops See. S. Sepulchres by CaÌ„terbury The Monkes coÌ„tend with the Archbishop and do preuaile The vanitie of Man and the subtilty of the Deuill be the cause of Idolatrie Saint Thomas Beckets Relique The olde manner of nameing men Maude the Empresse true Heire to the Crowne Bartholmew Badelesmere Thomas Colpeper The Pryory at Leeds By what meanes the Archebishops chair came to 〈…〉 The Deanrie of shorâ—ham A Popishe myracle Monkes contend for the electioÌ„ of the Bishop SaÌ„int Cuthbertes feast why holdeÌ„ double Bishops Sees are translated from Villages to Cities The Catalogue of Rochester Bishops The Harborowe of the Nauie Royall The benefites that God hathe giuen this Realme in the Reigne oâ— Queene Elizabeth A barbarous crueltie executed vpon Straungers Excessiue drinking and how it came into England Great troupes of seruing men came in with the Normanes The cause of the Conquest of Enlande Harold the King. The vncurtesie of the English natioÌ„ toward straungers Busyris was a tirant that sacrificed straungers and was therefore slaine by Hercules Our Lady the Rode of ChethaÌ„ Gillingham Horsted borne in Ailesford Hengist Horsa two famous Capitaines A religious Skirmish betwene the Monkes of Rochester and the Brethren of Stroude Friendsbury clubbes Eslingham Appropriations of benefices The Citie The Castle S. Andrews Church in Rochester Priests had wiues in England of olde time Saint William of Rochester Saint Bartholmewes Hospitall Rochester Bridge both the olde the newe Syr Robert Knolles a valiant Capitaine The Hospitall The beginning of this scoffing by word Kentishe tailes Angle Queene Many kinges at once in Kent The olde manner of Signing Sealing of deedes Fernham The Danes compelled to take the Thamise The Danes are chased from Otforde Earle Edrie an infamus traytour A noble example of Kinge Edmunde Ironside The names of Townes ending in ing The Abbay The Solaces of Solâ— life The Castle The Cleargie was law lesse The Pryorie at Tun-Bridge The Low the of Tunbridge 42. H. 3. The Archebishop hath an Earle to his Butler The Rooâ—â— of Asherst was a growing Idole The masters of the nauie Royal. Alphey the Archbishop was cruelly slaine A popish minde 32. Shyres in England Great suÌ„mâ— of money paied to the Danes The Priorie of Shene The frierie The Palaice The rebellion of Iack Straw The rebellion of Iack Cade The rebellion of the black smith Lord Richard Lucy The ancient manner of the triall of right to Landes Wager of Lawe Hengist Horsa The beginning of the Kentishe Kingdome Orpenton the course of Cray water Mesopotamia signifieth a couÌ„try encompassed with riuers Rochester castle beseiged Princes may wooe by picture and marye by proctor The Abbay The old maner of Tourneament The occasion of Iacke Strawes his rebellion The courâ—â— of the riuer of Derent The name of Portreue whereof it commeth The name of Sherife London had a Portreue The office of a Reue. A learned age in which priestes had more latine theÌ„ english and yet almost no latine at all The order of this description The Manour The church of S. Hildeferthe The auncient forme of a Testament The auncient estate of a Gentleman and by what meanes gentle was obteyned in the olde time The degres of Freemen Earl Thein and Churle Alderman ShiremaÌ„ c were names of offices Wisdom is more profitable when it is ioyned with riches Merchandize and Husbandrie 1. The worship of many Gods. Saint Edith and her offering The olde newe Romanes agre in many points of religion S. Thomas Beckets spiteful miracles S. Bartilmew of Otford and his offering The Palaice at Otford Cardinall Morton Erasmus doth misreporte the cause of the contention between the King and Thomas Becket The Manor of WinghaÌ„ Reigate Castle in Surrey The Schole and Almes house The Town The name Gauelkind wherof it arose To shift laÌ„d is an olde terme The antiquitie of Gauelkind custome The diuisioÌ„ of this discourse What lands be of Gauel kind nature Some Knight fee is Gauelkinde Auncient Knight fee is not of the nature of Gauelkynd The change of Gauelkind tenure is no chaÌ„ge of the nature of Gauelkind A contrarie vsage changeth not the nature of Gauelkinde HeaHbeorg in Saxon is a high defence and the customs of NormaÌ„die that cal fieâ—e or fee de Haubert whiche oweth to defend the laÌ„d by full armes that is by horse haubert target sword or helme and it consisteth of 300. acres of land which is the same as I suppose that we called a whole Knights fee * The custome of Gauelkind is vniuersall in Kent The reason of Gauelkinde Custome What thinges shal ensue the nature of the land Rent Remainder Voucher Condition Attaint and Error No battail nor graund Assise in gauelkinde Forfaiture in Felonie Cessauit in Gauelkind Tenant by the Courtesie Tenant in Dâ—wer The difference betweene coÌ„mon Lawe and Custome therin Dower of chattels Partition of chattels Partition of chattels London Partition of Gauelkinde lands Astrâ— what it meaneth Gardein after the cusâ—ome Sale is at 15. yearâ—â— Sale good at 15. yeares No villains in Kent Apparance Câ—men Chase and driue out Attaint Chaunging of wayes Goppies These wordes betweene the starres were taken out of an other olde copie Free men Esechator Giue and sell landes without licence Plede by writte or pleinte Appeare by Borsholder No eschete for felonie but of goods only Dower of the one half Flying for felony causeth forfeiture Partition amoÌ„gst the heirs males The Astre Curt in other copies One suite for all the parceners Partition of goods Custodie of the heire in Gauelkind Sale at xv yeres of age Dower of the one half Forfaiture of Dower Tenant by the courtesie of the one halfe The discent of Gauelkind changed Forfaiture by Ceslauit or Gâ—uelate No oathe but for fealtie Essoignes No battail nor graunâ— assise in Guelkinde landes A Table conteining the principall places and matters handeled in this Booke A Angles or Englishmen Page 2 Archebishopricke of Canterbury Page 62 Archebishops contend for the primacie Page 65 Archebishops all named Page 70 Armour Page 112. 211. Apledore Page 146. 162 Aile or Eile a Riuer Page 177. Correction of adulterie Page 180. Appropriations Page 292 Ailesforde Page 321. Asheherst Page 333. Adington Page 258. Aldington Page 149. B Brytones or Welshmen Page 1. 12. Borsholder what he is Page 22 Bridges of stone Page