East side is about 38. miles But in a straight line the same is but about 31. miles From tâ—ence about to th' end of Cowden being the south side is about 39. miles but in a straight line it is but about 33. miles And from thence about to the aforesaid end of Depâ—ford being the west side is about 24. miles but in a straight line the same is but about 21. miles So the whole circumâ—erence round about this County is about 162. miles but in the straight lines aforesaid the same is but about 136. miles I finde severall derivations of the names of this County viz. of the antient name Cantium and the now name Kent but with submission to better judgments I rather adhere to their opinion that conceive the names to be derived from the scituation of the place viz. in a nook or corner of England antiently called a Kant or Gantel The Inhabitants of this County were sometimes called Eskins which name arose by Eske second King of Kent raigning over them many yeers but his memory vanishing the name also vanished The aire of this County other than the weald and the marshes and places adiacent thereunto is accounted very healthy but the marshes for the most part unhealthy and the weald and places adjoyning to the marshes not generally so healthy as the most part of the rest of the County The commodious scituation of this County may justly compare with if not exceed any other part of the Nation the same being scituate neer but some little distance from London the chief City and the Thames that Soveraign River of Britaine watering the North side thereof about 33. miles in length The German and narrow Seas watering the North East and South sides thereof about 73. miles in length and the River of Rother likewise watering the South side thereof about 11. miles in length It also having severall good rivers and rivuleâ—s in the bowels of the same and more especially towards the West parts thereof Ravensborne watering the same 9. miles Cray 8. miles and Darent 16. miles famous Medway towards the middle spreading it self into severall branches watereth the same about 85. miles and Stoure towards the East parts thereof likewise spreading it self into severall branches watereth the same about 60. miles By which Rivers most of the most eminent places of this County are watered and navigation maintained to the principall of them How far this County is otherwise equall to if not excelling any other County of this Nation I shall offer to the Readers judgement these considerations First Concerning Religion I know that Glastenbury in the County of Somerset doth pretend and not pretend only that about the 31 th year after the death of Christ 12. of the Disciples of the Apostle Philip of which Ioseph of Arimathea was cheif came into this Nation and tendred the knowledge of Christian Religion to Arviragus then King thereof which though he consented not to embrace yet he permitted them to have a Church at this Glastenbury and there began the plantation of Christian Religion in this land which being admitted yet it likewise appeareth That for many years the same had but little successe of enâ—â—â—ale and no King of this Nation embraced the same till King Lucius who raigned about 150. years afterwards and built a Church in Dover Castle in this County for the exercise of Christian Religion from whence may be inferred that that Religion was the embraced here But most part of the Nation revolting fâ—om that Religion and becoming Pagans till the year 596. In the time of the Heptarchy Augustine the Monk was sent from Pope Gregory to convert this Naâ—ion to the Christian faith and first landed in this County and converted and baptised many of the people of the same and likewise converted Ethelbert then King thereof who upon Whitsunday in the year 597. was by him here baptised was the first Christian Saxon King and this County was the first County that generally received the Christian faith afterwards Edwin King of the Northumbers Marrying from hence Edelburg Daughter of the said King Ethelbert Paulinus afterwards Bishop of Rochester went from hence with her into her husbands Kingdome for the conversion of the people thereof where in some part he prevailed but in the year 633. Edwin being slain that people revolted from that Religion and Paulinus was forced to returne again hither and Christian Religion was again as it were confined to this County Nor were succession of Christian Bishops in this Nation other than of Canterbury and Rochester both in this County for many years afterwards and instrumentally from thence sprang the after-conversion of the rest of the Nation to the Christian faith But the coÌ„version of the West Saxons with in whose Dominion Glastenbury was was not till about 40. years after the conversion of this County At which time Kingils their King was converted and baptised by Byrinus an Italian Bishop This County as before appeareth had in it two Bishops Seas one whereof viz. Canterbury was the Primate and Metropolitan of all England And his Church very anciently called the Nurse and Metropolis of the same By which and by what is hereafter said may be collected thâ—t the rise of that common proverbe Kent and Christendome was not as vulgarly mistaken that Kent was conceived diffinct from Christendome but that it was famous as Kent and famous as Christendome Secondly Concerning the ancient dignity and considerableness of this County In the time of Iulius Caesar about 1700. years since it was in Four petty Kingdomes governed by Four Kings viz. Cingetorix Cavilius Taximagulus and Segonax Afterwards King Vortigern about 1200. years since set over the same a Guorong or Vice-Roy Afterwards this was the first of the Kingdomes of the Heptarchy and no one County of England had a King of it self but this whose Kingdome began about the year 455. and continued about 372. years in the succession of 17. Kings By that learned Antiquary Mr. Camden it is called the key of England and in it is Four of the Cinque portes of this Nation viz. Sandwich Dover New Romney and Hith as also that famous Castle of Dover the confiderableness whereof Phillip King of France well weighing when in the time of King Hen. 3. Lewes his son had took divers townes and fortes in England and hearing that he could not take this Castle the same being valiantly defended by Hubert de Burgh protested that then his son had not one foot of land in England Thirdly The civility of the people still treading in the steps of their Ancestors who in the time of the aforesaid Iulius Caesar were by him accounted and so stiled the most civilized people of all this Nation Fourthly For the ancient valour of the people of this County they claime and are allowed the front in Battailes And they onely of all England obteyned and reteyne the name of VNCONQVERED For as if all the antient English valour were remaining in
them they only resisted King William the Conquerour when all other Counties submitted and caplâ—ulating with him reserved to themselves and their posterity their antient Customes and Liberties Fifthly Which is the next confideration offered viz. Generally the tenures of the lands in this County are if not the freest yet as free tenures as any in England Sixthly The royal Navy usually riding in the Downes of this County in which County also are those three famous Shipdocks of Deptford Woolwich and Chetham in the two first whereof the principall part of the Royall Navy is usually repaired and in the last the same is usually also repaired and laid up Seventhly Four houses lately belonging to the Kings of England viz. East Greenwich Eltham Otford and Dartford Eighthly The severall good commodities for the use of man with which it is richly furnished and famous for viz. 1. Plenty of Fowl and Fish of all sorts by advantage of the aforesaid Seas and fresh Rivers 2. Fertil lands for feeding cattle of all sorts and more especially those famous levels of Romney and Walland Marsh. 3. The Drapery of this County which hath here continued for above three hundred and twenty years towards which the bowels of this County are well stored with Fullers earth and many fulling mills not far distant from the same 4. The Fruit plentifully sent from hence to the chief City London and places adjacent 5. The great plenty of grain of all sorts growing therein and more especially in the North and East parts of the same 6. The Plenty of wood but more especially in the Weald wherein also are many Iron mills floring with Iron London and the other places adjacent Some Chronologers affirm that King Alfred divided this Nation and among the rest this part thereof into Shires Counties or Provinces but that is controverted by others and alledged that it was so divided shortly after the inhabiting of this Island and in the traâ—â—â— of the time of King Ina which was above 180. years before King Alsred there is â—â—ntion of Shires and so that of King Alfred may as to this purpose be only some plaineâ— deâ—â—ription of the former division And for this County it appeareth by what is before That the same was a distinct Province many hundred years before King Alfred was borne â—ut his subdividing the same into hundreds and them into Boroughs or 〈◊〉 is not denied Before the time of this King Alfred about 1000. years since In the time of Eâ—comberâ— the 7 th King of Kent Honorius Archoâ—shop of Cantâ—rbury divided that â—ingdome into Parishes And 45. Edward the 3. upon occasion of raising a great summe of money for aid of the King for the wars in France by a Parochiall tax throughout England the number of the Parishes therein were examined and in this County sound to be 393. Of so many whereof as are now extant as also of those which have been since added being in all 404. I shall now proceed to treate Alphabetically ACRYSE LIeth towards the South-East part of the County by the River Sâ—oure about one mile and a half towards the South-East distant from Eleham in the Bailiwick of of Stowting Lath of Shipway East division of the County and division of Justices in that Lath It was in the Deanry of Eleham and Diocess of Canterbury The liberty of Eleham claymeth over so much thereof as is in the upper half hundred of Loningborough and the liberty of the late Archbishop of Canterbury claymeth over the Mannor of Brandred in this Parish Part thereof is in the hundred of Folkstone and the residue in the hundred of Loningborough The Church standeth in the hundred of Loningborough and was called Saint Martin ADDINGTON LIeth towards the middle of the West part of the County by the river Medway about one mile and a half towards the North West distant from West Malling In the Bailiwick of Hoo Hundred of Larkfeild Lath of Aylesford West division of the County and South division of Justices in that Lath it was in the Deanry of Malling and Diocess of Rothester and the Church was called Saint Margaret ADISHAM ADesham Eadesham Edesham Lieth towards the East end of the County about foure miles and a half towards the East distant from Canterbury In the Bailiwick of Bridge and Peâ—ham Lath of Saint Augustine East Division of the County and Division of Justices in that Lath It was in the Deanry of Bridge Diocess of Canterbury The Mannor of Adisham was in the year 616. given by Ethelbald son of King Ethelbert to Christ-Church Canterbury was antiently a hundred of it self and afterwards comming to King Henry the 8. he 33â— of his Raigne gave the same to that Church and the liberty of the late Dean of the Church aforesaid claymeth over the same but the liberty of Saint Augustine claymeth over the whole Parish the same being in the hundred of Downhamford which belongeth to that Abbey and the Church was called Saint Innocents ALCHAM LIeth towards the South-east part of the County about 3. miles towards the West distant from Davâ—r in the Bailiwick of Stowing Hundre of Folkstone Lath of Shipwayâ— East Division of the County and Division of Justices in that Lath it was in the Deanry of Dovar and Diocess of Canterbury the liberty of the late Archbishop of Canterbury claymeth there and the church was called Saint Authony ALDINGTON ALdintune lieth towards the South-East part of the County about foure miles and a half towards the South-East distant from Ashford in the Bailiwick and Lath of Shipway East Division of the County and Division of Justâ—ces in that â—ath it was in the Deanry of Limpne and Diocess of Canterbury the liberty of the late Archbishop of Canterbury claymeth there But I finde not this Aldington among the Nomina villaram of that liberty But do find that Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury 2 â— Martij 31 â— Henry the 8. by deed inrolled in the Office of augmentations 32. Hen 8. fol. 10 granted that Mannor to that King and King Charles granted the Mannor house and farme lands thereunto to hold of his Mannor of East Greenwich in free Soccage Part of this Parish is in the hundred of Bircholt Franchise and the residue in the hundred of Strete the Church standeth in the hundred of Strete and was called Saint Martin In the time of King Hen. 8. There were two Parsons of this Parish much different for repute Erasmus of Roterodame most eminent for Learning and Richard Master infamous for adhering to Elizabeth Barton of this Parish called the holy Maid of Kent in treasonable practises for which they two and five others were by Parliament 25. Hen. 8. Cap. 12 attainted of Treason and executed at Tiburne in Aprill in that year and six others attainted of misprison of Treason The Archbishops of Canterbury had here a faire seat upon repairing and augmenting whereof Iohn Morton Arch-Bishop in the time of King Henry the 7. bestowed much money In this Parish also
west towards the Peer built by one Severus a Romane 1450. years since 7. Adrians gate afterwards called Vpwall at the hanger of the Hill on the West part above the other gate 8. Common gate being large and going out to the then Common which by usage of driving Cows out of the Town through the same was afterwards called Cow gate 9. St. Martins gate otherwise Monks gate otherwise Postern gate towards the Hill 10. Biggin gate taking the name of the street neere thereunto but antienly called North gate The Colledge before mentioned to be in the Castle was above 950. years since removed thence by Withâ—ed King of Kent into this Town called St. Martins le grand and dedicated to St. Mary and St. Martin and a Church was there also founded which Church King Hen. 1. in the year 1130. gave to Christ-church Canterbury It was the Mother Church and had to it three other Churches viz. St. Martins the lesse St. Nicholas and St. Peter It had in it Cannons and 22 Prebends and the now Market-place was the Church-yard to the same This Church being forsaken by the Monks King Hen. 2. founded another House in this Town called St. Martins Hospitall but afterwards commonly called the New-warke At the end of this Town in the time of King Henry the 3. a large House was founded by Hubert de Burgh Earl of Kent for an Hospitall called Meson de Dieu dedicated to the honour of St. Mary and by the said Hubert afterwards given to that King After the suppression this Hospital was by King Hen. 8. and Queen Mary appointed for the Victualâ—ng of the Navy and Offices there built accordingly At the Peer was a small Chappel builded by a Nobleman whose life after shipwrack was there preserved which Chappell was by him dedicated to the honour of St. Mary and afterwards called the Lady of Pities Chappell This Peer at very great charges was made by King Hen. 8. And aâ—terwards repaired by Queen Elizabeth In whose raigne severall acts of Parliament were made towards the reparations thereof and of the harbour there and one act was for that purpose also made in the time of King Iames who incorporated the Governours thereof by the name of the Warden and assistants of the Harbour of Dovâ—r which Warden is the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports for the time being and his Lieutenant and nine others are Assistants there are but two of the Quorum viz. the Lord Warden and his Lieutenant the assistants are ten in number whereof the Major of Dovor for the time being is one So the Number is in all eleaven six make a Session and in vacancy of assistants they new elect at a Session At the West part of the Peeâ—e is a foâ—t called Archliffe Fort where antiently was a house of Knights Templers long since demolished And in the Cliffe under the Castle is a fort called Motes Bulwarke Both which Forts are under the Government of the Castle The Eaâ—le of Northâ—mpton late Lord Warden of the Ciâ—que Ports had granted to him by the King all the Lands from the Peeregate to the Peere and he gave the same to the harbour of Dovor most part thereof was then wast but is since built upon and the builders thereof pay small rents for the same to the Peer A Tower was long since made at the other side of the Câ—stle hill for a light for direction of Ships which Tower was by some called Breden stone and by others but vainely the divels drop of Moâ—ter About two miles towards the North-west distant from this Towne upon the hill was a lâ—ttle Monastery called the Abbey of Bâ—adsole founded by Hugh the first Abbot for White Chanons Premonstraâ—enses and dedicated to St. Radigund which at the suppression was valued at 142 l. 8 s. 9 d. per annum DOWNE LIeth at the West end of the County towards Surrey about four miles towards the North West distant from Westram in the Bailiwick of Sutton Bromley Hundred of Ruxley Lath of Sutton at Hone West Division of the County and upper Division of Justices in that Lath and was in the Diocess of Râ—chester In this Church are or lately were memorials of the interment of Down Esabque of Bederenden buried above 200 years since and of Philipâ—â— and severall Petlies Saint DUNSTANS LIeth towards the North-East side of the County by the River Stoure within one mile towards the West distant from Canterbury in the Bailiwick of Bridge and Petham Hundred of Westgate Lath of Saint Augustine East Division of the County and Division of Justices in that Lath. The Liberty of the late Arch Bishop of Canterbury claymeth over so much thereof as is in the Mannour of Westgate It was in the Deanry and Diocess of Canterbury and the Church was called Saint Dunstan 〈◊〉 side Chappell or Chancel whereof belonging to the Ropers are interred severall of that Family one above 200. years since and others about 100. years since At the North side of this Church is a little Chappel â—ounded by one Henry of Canterbury in the year 1330. and dedicated to the Holy Trinity The Church was appropriated to the Prior and Covent of Saint Gregory and the Vicarage endowed by Walter Reynold Archbishop of Canterbury 1322. and afterwards in the year 1342. augmented by Iohn of Stratford likewise Archbishop EARITH EArd Earhede Lesnes alià ◠Erith Lieth at the North side of the County adjoyning to the River of Thames about two miles towards the North-West distant from Dartford in the Bailiwick of Sutton Durtford Hundred of Little and Lesness Lath of Sutton at Hoâ—e West Division of the County and upper Division of Justices in that Lath it was in the Deanty of Dartford and Diocess of Rochester and the Church was caâ—led Saint Iohn Baptist in the South Isle whereof is or lately was a fair monument of Elizabeth Countesse of Shrewsbury daughter and heir of Sir Richard Walden Knight Lord of this Towne as also memorials of the interment of severall of that family of Walden and of Stone Criell and Senteler there buried â—00 years since the Mannour was antiently belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury and whoso defireth to read an antient way of Triall of right of Land may in Mr. Lambards Perambulation in Eareth read of such a Tâ—iall at this place At Lesnes otherwise Westwood in this Parish was an Abbey founded in the year 1178. by Richard Lucy Chief Justice and sometimes Protector of England in the absence of King Henry the 2. dedicated to St. Thomas the Martyr for black Cannons of the Order of St. Augustine and at the suppression 17. Hen. 8. valued at 186l 9s 0 d. per annum The foresaid Founder forsook his honours and became a Canon regular in this House and there died in the year 1179. and was sumptuâ—usly intombed in the Quire of the Church of the said House and to this Abbey Godfrey Lucy son of the said Richard and Bishop of Winchester was a great Benefactor Two Faiâ—es