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
of the same and the said Constable afterwards made the work on the hanger of the hill there and also made eight chief Captains or Lieutenant Governours of this Castle whose names do follow and to them such Knights fees were assigned and for the same they warded in this Castle yearly as followeth viz. Sir William of Albrance otherwise Albrank had one and twenty Knights fees and warded twenty eight weeks Sir William of Arsick had eighteen Knights fees and warded twenty four weeks Sir Fulbert of Dovor had fifteen Knights fees and warded twenty weeks Sir Iefferey Peverell had fourteen Knights fees and warded twenty weeks Sir William Mamouth had twenty foure Knights fees and warded thirty two weeks Sir Robert Porth had twelve Knights fees and warded twenty four weeks Sir Hugh Crevequer had five Knights fees and warded twenty foure weeks And Sir Adam Fitzwilllams had six Knights fees and warded twenty four weeks And by this means there were alwayes 1000. men in the same for the Guard thereof which Guard was so kept for fear of the Danes and by reason of the distrust which that King had of the men of this County and these Captains built and repaired their severall Towers in this Castle King Iohn afterwards recompenced the heire of Fynes for the same and took it into his hands and afterwards in the time of King Hen. 3. this personall service of Castle-guard was turned into a contributory payment of money towards guarding the Castle and sworne Warders were appointed for that service and in those dayes there belonged to the same many Souldiers both Horse and foot and therefore the Arches Vaults and Barbicans were made there for them to issue out at This Castle afterwards fell again to decay but in the times of King Hen. 4. King Edw. 4. and Queen Elizabeth much cost was bestowed in repair thereof and more especially in the time of King Edw. 4. In the same is a Church founded by King Lucius otherwise Lucius Coilus above 1400 years since in which Sir Robert Asheton who was a person of great honour Constable of this Castle and gave the best Bell of that Church to the same was above 270. years since interred as was also Henry Earle of Northampton Lord Warden of the Cinque Poâ—ts above forty years since In this Castle were also antiently two Chappels a Colledge of Chanons severall streets of houses and Markets kept The Colledge aforesaid is said to have been begun in the time of the said King Lucius but more certain it is that Eadbald King of Kent erected the same and it was afterwards removed from thence by King Withred into the Towne There were antiently in this Castle a Commissary who held his Court there and these other Officers viz. a Lieutenant Marshall learned Steward Clerke of the Excheâ—quer Gentleman Porter four Yeomen Porters a Serjant at armes Boder Serjant of the Admiralty being antiently the Marshal's Deputy Serjants to arrest a Serjant of the Artillery a Serjant to serve process from the Castle-gate Court an Armorer Smith Plummer Carpenter two Warrenners and a Priest whose house there was called Cocklecoe all which had particular salaries and in the same also was an Exchecquer Office In this Castle likewise antiently was to be seen a Tower called Caesar's Tower afterwards the Kings lodgings excellent for workmanship and very high a spaâ—ious Hall called King Arthur's Hall with a faire gallery or entry great Pipes and Caâ—kes bound with iron hoopes wherein was liquor supposed to be wine which by long lying became as thick as Treackle and would cleave like Bird-lime Salt congealed together as hard as stone Cross-Bowes long Bowes and Arrowes to the same to which was fastened Brass in stead of feathers and the same were of such bigness aâ— not fit to be used by any men of this or late ages severall deep wells sounding places and vaults under ground and a curiously engraven brass peece of Ordnance â—eer twenty four foot long called the Basilisco reported to be given to King Hen. 8. by the Emperour This Castle esteemed the most important Castle of England and key of the same was valiantly defended by Hubert de Burgh Constable thereof against Lewes sonne of Phillip King of France who besieged the same 22 â— Iulij 1216. and continued the siege 〈…〉 Octob. following about which 〈◊〉 the same was raised and 6. Aprill 1580. by reason of an 〈…〉 happening a peece of the 〈…〉 Castle standeth and a peece of the wall of the 〈…〉 the Sea Now as touching the Townâ— which shortly after the coming of King William the Conquerour was much defaced by fire and afterwards in the year 1295. was again spoyled and part thereof burned by the French I find that in the time of King Edward the Confessor the Townesmen were called Burgesses and it is conceived that they were antiently incorporated by the name of Mayor and Commonalty out of which Commonalty the Mayor was chosen and then the Mayor out of the Commonalty chose Assistants for his year who were sworne for that purpose and that from thence the word Iurat now common to the Magistrates in the Cinque Ports was derived and in the Raigne of King Edward the first this Corporation was stiled Mayor and Commonalty The antient and yet time of election of the Mayor was and is yearly in the afternoon of the ninth day of September being the next day after the day of the Nativity of St. Mary antiently in St. Peter's Church but that Church decaying it was afterwards and still is in St. Maries Church The Towne at the first beginning of the same to flourish began to be much builded on the South-west-side thereof whereas before the stopping of the haven by King Arviâ—agus as is before set forth the Towne was under the Castle the Market at a place called Vpmarket and the housâ—s were where the closes of a house called the Horse shoo the Garnet-close Pigeon-house and gardens late weâ—e 〈◊〉 Towne was walle I and gated as folâ—oweth viz. fro◠〈◊〉 place called Maunsfield's corner to Peer gate from the 〈◊〉 to Vpâ—all from thence to Cow-gate from thence 〈…〉 and from thence along St. Maries Church-yard to the River The gâ—tes were in number ten the names whereof were 1. Eâ—t-Brook gate which stood neer Maunsfield's corner undeâ— the Eâ—st Cliff 2. St. Helâ—â— gate next to the former towards the South-west 〈◊〉 Copthall otherwise Moorehall and St. Hâ—llenâ— Cross. 3. The Postern otherwise Fisher's gate next to the last neer the Bridge made by Mr. Garret in his Majoralty 4. Butchery gate which opened towards the South and by which in antient time the fiâ—th was carried to the Sea 5. Snar gate which was towards the South west where sometimes was Pennile's bench and is still so called but is now made like a Platforme paved with stone where Merchants usually resort each day between eleven one and over the entry into the same the Custome house is built 6. Severus gate South
of Justâ—ces in that Lath. The liberty oâ— the â—â—te Archbishop of Canterbury claâ—meth there â—nd â—he lâ—â—erty of St. Augustine claimeth over tâ—e Mannoâ—râ—â— of Râ—pole It was in tâ—e Deaâ—ry of Sandwich and Diocess of Canterbury and the Church was called St. Maries ROCHESTER THis is a City incorporated and lyeth towards the Nâ—â—th side of the County by the river Medway about six miles and a half towards the North distant from Maidstone in the Bailiwick of Hoo Lath of Aylesford West division of the County and division of the Justices of that City The liberty whereof claimeth over the same And the liberty of the late Bishop of Rochester also claimeth over the Precincts of the late Catâ—edral there It was in the Deanry and Diocess of Rochester and the Parish Church was called St. Nicholas A Market is kept here upon every Fryday And two Fairs yearly one upon St. Dunstans day being the 19th day of May and the other upon St. Andrews day being the 30th day of November Here are several things worthy to be inlarged upon viz. the Castle the City the Cathedral and Priory and the Bridge of all which in order And first of the Castle Iulius Caesar about 1700. years since in the time of Cassibelanus Governour of Britain commanded the same to be built according to the Romane order to awe the Britains and the same was called the Castle of Medway but time and tempests utterly decaying the same Oesâ— or Vske King of Kent about 1150. years since caused Hroff one of his chief Councellours and Lord of this place to build a new Castle upon the old foundation and hereupon it took the name of Hroffes Cester About 350 years afterwards Hasting the Dane besieged and much impaired the same And it afterwards lay desolate till the time of King William the Conquerour who caused it to be new built and put 500. souldiers for a guard therein To which work Odo Earle of Kent and brother of that King was a great Beneâ—actor Afterwards in the year 1088. in the time of King W. Rufus That Odo and other Barous held this Castle against him the same being then accounted the strongest and most important Castle of England And his subjects being backward to assist him He proclaimed him to be accounted a Niding which was then a word of high reproach that came not to his assistance whereupon multitudes came and the resistants were forced to yeeld the same to the King And Gunâ—ulphus a Norman then Bishop of Roâ—hester repaired and fortified the same and built the great Tower therein Afterwards in the 17. year of King Iohn the Barons held this Castle against him but he took the same And in the year following Lewes son of Philip King of France likewise took the same And King Hen. 3. afterwards gave it to Guy of Rochford a Pâ—ictovin who was afterwards banished and thereby lost the same Afterwards in the year 1264. Simon Earle of Leicester besiedged the same and won the Bridge and fiâ—st gate and then left the siege Afterwards 5. Rich. 2. the Commons of this County strongly besieged this Castle and by force took a prisoner out of the same And thus this Castle ran to decay and the old walls afterwards fâ—lling King Edw. 4. repaired both the same and the Castle As concerning the City I find it to have been of very great Antiquity but hath had several great misfortunes for about 980. years since the same was wasted by Ethelred King of the Mercians About 200. years afterwards it was assaulted by the Danes who made a stâ—ong Castle before the gate thereof but were chased away by the then King Aelfred About 1â—0 years afterwards it was assaulted and subdued by King Ethelred the West Saxon King Afterwards 7. May 1130. the same was much defaced by fire King Hen. 1. and many of his Nobles then being present at the Consecration of the Cathedral Church there 3. Iune 1137. the same was again almost all consumed with fire The like againe happened there 3. April 1177. So that It continued desolate till the time of King Hen. 3. at which time it was again repaired I finde but one Parish and Church to have been here more than now is and that was called St. Clement which in the time of King Edw. 6. was by Parliament united unto the aforesaid Parish of St. Nicholas I finde also three Mint Houses to have been granted by King Ethelstan about the year 930. to be in this City viz two for the King and one for the Bishop And 8. Decemb. 1251. King Hen. 3. held a Just here As concerning the Cathedral and Priory The same were built by King Ethelbert in the year 600. and dedicated to the honour of God and St. Andrew Endowed with lands called Priest Feilds and Channons were put into the same But the severall devastations aforesaid of the City by the Mercians Danes and West Saxons also caused the decay both of this Church and Priory both which were new builded by the aforesaid Gundulphus being Bishop there about the year 1080. And instead of six Priests at his coming found therein he placed there 60 black Monks of the ord of St. Benedict And translâ—ted into the new Church the bodies of Paulinus a Romane by Birth and others his Predecessors Bishops of that Sea which were buried in the former to which new Church Earnulphus Bishop there in the time of King Hen. 1. was a great Benefactor And to make this Church more famous about the year 1087 The aforesaid Paulinus who had been dead 440. years before was Canonized for a Saint and inshrined in Silver by Lanfranck then Archbishop of Canterbury and many Devotions and Oblations were made to the same But by the aforesaid seveâ—all fires Siege of King Iohn and long contentions and suits beâ—ween Gilbert Glanvill Bishop there and the Monks of the same wherein the Monks were driven to such necessity that they made out the aforesaid Shrine into moâ—ey The aforesaid Church and Priory fell into great decay and diâ—esteem and ran much in debâ— Aâ—terwards in the year 1250 Laurence of St. Martin becoming Bishop of that Sea one William of Hoo being keeâ—er of the Treasury of the Church built 〈◊〉 whole Quire thereof Richard Walden a Monk there built the south Isle Richard Eastgate another Moâ—k began the North Isle And 〈◊〉 William of Axenhâ—m almost finished the same Ieâ—fry of Haddenham Prioâ— theâ—e paid most of the debts and built the Dorter of the Pâ—iory and St. Edmunds Altar in the Church and thus it was again reedified anâ— began to come into esteem and the more to increase the repute thereof whereas one William a Scot was murdered neer this City in his jouâ—ney towards the Holy Land and buried in that Church he was by the aforesaid Bishop Laurence about the year 1256. procured to be Canonized for a Saint to whose Shrine was great resort and gifts and the wealth and repute of this Church was much encreased