Regis 1607. obteyned a prohibition thereupon out of the then Kings-Bench which was tried at the Assiâ—es holden at Rochester upon Thursday in the second week in Lent that year before Justice Waimsley and Justice Croke then Judges and the verdict passed for the said Gibbon and in Easter Terme following judgement was given accordingly in the Kings-Bench The suggestion and deposiâ—ions are entred in that Court Trin 4 â— of King Iames Roll 692. Most of the lands in this Parish are within the liberty of Wye antiently belonging to the Abbey of Battle in Sussex and Odâ— Abbot of Battle the Covent there by Charter without date granted to the owners of the said lands by the name of his men of Hawkeherâ— their heirs the Viâ—â—e of Hawkeherst paying yearly ten Pounds twenty Hennes and two hundred and fifty Eggs with divers restrictions But afterwards 5 â— Decemb 14. Edw. 1. Henry Abbot of Battle and the Covent there gâ—aâ—ted to them and their heirs by the name of their tenants of Hawkeherst all the tenements there which they held of his fee viz. in the Denns of Hawkeherst Amboldesseâ—s Delmâ—â—den Sessele Beâ—â—tylts Fissendenne Markdenne Freehele Wynesle Wynâ—hinden Chittenden and Witheringhope in Houses Gardens Lands and Woods Plaines Meadowes and Pâ—stures Waters and Mills with the appurtenances to hold freely and in peace paying yearly ten Pounds twenty five Hens and two hundred and fifty Eggs And reserved suite to his Court of Wye from three weeks to three weeks by two men onely and for that the Abbot took into his hands Anglingle which formerly was parcell of this tenaâ—cy he by composition abated the tenants forty shillings per annum of the ten pounds and for the Hennes and Eggs so reserved they compounded to pay him yearly eight shillings and for the said suit of Court six shillings eight pence So the moneys by them paid yearly ever since to to the Abbey and the since owners of Wye is eight pounds fourteen shillings eight pence And the Tenants usually kept here a three weeks Court called Slipmill otherwise Moorhouse Court for determination of matters under forty shillings and accordingly such a Court was in my memory there kept though now discontinued They also had power by the grant last before mentioned to have a Reve of their own and they had at least once in every year a Court which was also called by the name aforesaid where they did apportion the rent aforesaid payable to the Abbey and chuse their Reve which Court is still there kept usually once in the year about Easter but for sixty years last past was stiled the Court Baron of the Lord and there they presented the alterations of tenancies and elected two Bedels to gather the rent 3 â— Iunij 33 â— Hen. 8 â— that King granted the Royalty and Rents at Hawkâ—herst belonging to Wye to Sir Iohn Baker and 20 â— Martij 1 â— Elez. she granted Wye to Henry Lord Hunsdon Afterwards controversy arose between the tenants at Hawkeherst and Sir Richad Baker heire of the said Sir Iohn touching the validity of their former grants and 31 â— Ian. 10 â— Eliz. the tenants obteyned a decree against the said Sir Riâ—hard for quiet enjoying their tenements aforesaid as formerly and 12 â— Febr. following the said Sir Richard released his claim to them and after suites between the heire of the said Sir Iohn and the heire of the said Lord Hunsdon touching the Royalties and rent aforesaid the said heire of Baker 10 o. Novemb. 17 o. Iacobi Regis granted his right in the same to the said heire of the said Lord Hunsdon so that now the Lord of Wye is owner of the said Royalties and rent there This parish hath severall lands belonging thereunto to be imployed to pious uses viz. Henry Parson and William his sonne 13 o. Iunij 22 o. Edw. 4. conveyed to their use for ever a messuage and acre of land which messuage was of late times called the Church house and adjoyneth to the Church-yard the rent thereof and of the land thereunto is imployed towards reparation of the Church and upon part of the land was erected an Almeshouse which is imployed to the use of the poore of this Parish and in the close of the said messuage is another house usually called the Sexton's house the same having been for about sixty years past used for the habitation of the Sexton of this Parish and these messuages and lands are enjoyed accordingly Likewise Thomas Iddenden 3. Aprill 1556. willed severall messuages and lands lying at and neer a place in this Parish called High-street to be for ever imployed for Pious uses in that Parish and the same being deteyned from the Parish severall years at length upon an inquisition taken before Commissioners for charitable uses 12. Decemb. 14. King Iames the aforesaid Will and charitable uses were found and the said messuages and lands by those Commissioners 29. Aprill following decreed to be enjoyed and imployed accordingly the trustees and manner of imployment thereby settled and the same are enjoyed accordingly Also Thomas Gibbon 3 o. Decemb. 15 o. Eliz. granted to trustees for ever an annuity of forty three shillings four pence per annum out of his messuage and three peices of land upon Amboldesherst in that Parish containing seven aacres which annuity was purchased from him by the Parishoners to be imployed towards the maintenaâ—ce of the said Church and the same is enjoyed and imployed accordingly A Market by the grant of King Edw. 1. 5. of his Raigne to the Abbey of Battle was antiently kept in this Parish upon every Tuesday upon the greene at the Moore against the mansion house now of William Boys Esquire but for many years past the same hath been discontinued yet within the memory of men lately living a Market crosse stood there and very lately there also stood a little house called St. Margarets cross since quite demolished wherein when the Market was in being the corne unsold was usually put and the memory of that Market is partly reteyned by the name of a place neer thereunto yet called the Market place and old shops there yet standing A â—air is kept yearly in this Parish neer the Church upon the day of St Laurence being the tenth day of August and was granted by the aforesaid King Edw. 1. 3. Marâ—ij 5. of his raigne to the Abbey of Battle to hold for three dayes viz. in the Vigill day and morrow of St. Laurence aforesaid but the same now usually beginneth upon the aforesaid day of St. Laurence and lasteth one day following There was also in this parish another fair kept yearly upon St. Valentines day being the 14th day of February in the field at the next gate beyond Moore house at a place where lately stood a pound but for many years past this fair hath been discontinued In this Parish also antiently stood five crosses or watch-houses one upon Badcocks green called Badcocks Crosse long since fallen down another in
foure miles towards the South distant from Gravesend in the Bailiwick of Sutton Dartford Hundred of Axstone Lath of Sutton at Hone West division of the County and Upper division of Justices in that Lath it was in the Deanry and Diocess of Rochester and the Church was called All-Saints HARTLIP LIeth at the Northside of the middle of the County about foure miles towards the West distant from Milton in the Bailiwick and Hundred of Milton Lath of Scray East division of the County and Upper division of Justices in that Lath. It was in the Deanry of Sittingborn and Diocess of Canterbury and the Church was called St. Michael HARTY LIeth at the North side of the County in the Isle of Harry adjoyneth to the Isle of Sheppey and is about two miles and a half towards the North distant from Feversham in the Bailiwick and Lath of Scray East division of the County and upper division of Justices in that Lath. The liberty of St. Augustine claimeth over the same for that it is in the Hundred of Feversham which belonged to that Abbey It was in the Deanry of Ospringe and Diocess of Canterbury and the Church was called St. Thomas the Apostle A Battle in a Writ of Right for a messuage and 190. acres of land in this Parish wherein Simon Lowe and Iohn Keyme were demandants against Thomas Paramore Henry Naylor Champion for the demandants and George Thorne Champion for the tenant was appoynted to be fought before the Justices of the Common-Pleas at Tuthill neer Westminster 18 o. Iunij in Trinity Terme 1571. and the Court being there set and the Champions appearing ready to fight in the presence of at least 4000. persons the demandants were non suit and so the Battle was spared Who so desireth to read the record hereof and the solemnity of preparation to the Battle and oath of the Combatants I refer him to Coke's Entries fol. 182. A. the Lord Dier's Reports fol. 301. pl. 40. Speed's Chronicle fol. 878. A. or How 's Chronicle fol. 669. A. and the last leaf of Crompton's Iustice of the Peace where he may be fully satisfied This case happening in this County I have the rather here inserted for the rarity thereof HASTINGLIGH LIeth towards the South-East part of the County about three miles towards the South-East distant from Wye in the Bailiwick of Chart and Longbridge Lath of Scray East division of the County and division of Justices in the Lath of Shipway Somuch thereof as is in Town Borough is in the Hundred of Wye and the liberty of Wye claimeth over the same and the residue thereof is in the Hundred of Bircholt Barony The liberty of the Dutchy of Lancaster claimeth over the Mannour of Hastingligh This Parish was in the Deanry of Eleham and Diocess of Canterbury The Church standeth in the Hundred of Bircholt Barony and was called St. Maries HAWKEHERST IN respect I finde not any description of this Parish or other matter concerning the same offered to the publique and it having been the place of my habitation for above twenty eight years last past Gods Providence having also there lent me an inheritance I thought fit to enlarge my selfe upon this place thereby to preserve the memory of some things which may be usefull at least for the Owners and Inhabitants in the same It lieth at the South side of the County by a Rivulet running into the River of Rother about three miles and a halfe towards the South distant from Cranbrook A small part thereof caâ—led Haselden viz. two houses and a small quantity of land to each is in the Hundred of Shoyswell and County of Sussex and the residue thereof lieth in Kent in the Bailiwick of the Seven Hundreds Lath of Scray West division of the County and lower division of Justices in that Lath. So much thereof as is either in the Borough of Hawkeherst otherwise South Borough antiently called the halfe of Barnfield and lately but without ground the whole Hundred or in the North Borough truly called the half Hundred is in the Hundred of great Barnfield where the liberty of St. Augustine claimeth over the Denns of Ockley Cillenden and Parock in that North Borough So much thereof as is in the West Borough is in the Hundred of Selbrittenden and the liberty of the late Dean of Canterbury claimeth over the Denns of Foxhole Little Hensell Pipsden Congherst and Little Riseden in the same And the residue viz. so much thereof as is in the Borough of Crothal which is but a very small part is in the hundred of Cranbrook The aforesaid Borough of Hawkherst hath a court Leet of it self where the Barsholder of that Borough is chosen and the inhabitants of the same owe no service to the Court Leet holden for the Hundred of great Barnfeild but at that Court an inhabitant of this Borough may be chosen Constable of that Hundred and the liberty of Wye claimeth over this Borough This Parish was in the Deanry of Charing and Diocess of Canterbury The Church standeth in the Hundred of great Barnfeild and was called St. Laurence This Parish is very populous and one of the greatest Parishes in the County not having a Town therein and it so appeared to be for that antiently upon Collection of the number of Communicants in every parish in the County onely foure Parishes in the same viz. Maidstone Cranbrooke Feversham and Goudherst all which have Townes in them were found to have more Communicants in them than this and the same had within 20. years last past at the least 1400. Communicants but it hath very many poor therein the charge whereof in the year 1653. was 209l 9s 3d. whereas in the year 1549. it was but 7s 2d and although the parsonage of the same be of very good yearly value yet it hath for many years past been and for the future will be a great cause of sadnesse to the place that the allowance for the maintenance of the Minister thereof is very small which thus happened The Abbot of Battel was Patron of the Church and till the dissolution or surrender of that Abbey there was always a Rector incumbent of one of which number viz. Iohn Crane a monument in brasse mentioning the same was till of late times upon a faire tombe-stone in the great Chancell of this Church and one Henry Simons at the time of the appropriation herein after mentioned was Parson incumbent there But Trint 30. Hen. 8. The Abbey being surrendred to the King be 19. Marâ—ij that year granted the Patronage and Presentation of the Rectory to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk and that King 11. December 38. of his raigne granted the Parsonage to the Dean and Chapter of Christ-church Oxford and appropriated the same thereunto immediately after the death of the said Simons the incumbent and appointed that the said Dean and Chapter should present an able Clarke to the Ordinary who should be named perpetuall Vicar of this Church and should bear
all charges except reparation of the Chancell and should have a dwelling 12l 10s 10d yearly pension and should pay the King yearly for his tenths 258. 1d and be charged with first-fruits which being done without the consent of the said Duke and no act done by him therein that appeareth no Vicar was endowed but the Office of Curate was ever since given by the said Dean and Chapter as a Donative and no first-fruits were paid but onely 118. 8d as a stipendiary Afterwards the said Dean and Chapter 10. Feburaâ— 2. and 3. of King Phillip and Queen Mary granted to Sir William Peter 81 per. annum out of the Parsonage so to be imployed that the Church-Wardens of this Parish might receive and pay it to the Vicar But Edward Godwin the late Stipendary incumbent had of the said Dean and Chapter for his Salary 20l. per. annum the profits of the Easter book which then was of some value some roomes in the Parsonage house called the Vicarage roomes a small croft called the vicarage croft and the herbage of the Church-yard all which was of so inconsiderable value that upon his being sequestred about 13. years since no other would accept of the place but the Parish was destitute of a minister by the space of 14. months following and then the Paâ—ishioners were inforced to their great charge to provide a Minister But not being able to bear that charge longer an augmentation was procured from the state which in few years afterwards was taken away and the former allowance left to the Minister for his maintenance which by reason that the Easter book is become of no value is but 24l per. annum at the most whereupon how this Parish hath since been supplyed with a Minister and is like to be for the future the Reader may judge The Church was founded by the Abbot of Battle in the raigne of King Edw. 3. whose armes and his sonns are at the top of the furthest of the three North windows in the North chappell or chancell there and the armes of the Abbey of Battle and of Etchingham and Pashley two antient and then eminent familie in the Parishes adjoyning viz Etchingham and Tiseherst are in glasse at the top of the fiâ—st of the said three windowes and upon the great beam at the top of the said Chancell was carved the armes of Congherst a very antient family in this Parish whose house of that name and inheritance in this Parish about 100. years since came to the family of Scot by the mariage of Thomas Scot with Mildred daughter and heir of Thomas Congherst and is still remaining in that family But â—â—e more antient seat of that family of Congherst was at a place in this Parish neer the County of Sussex yet called old Congherst which was burned by the Danes and the Mote and manner of scituation of the house is still there extant In this Chappell also in the North Windowes of the same are the pictures in glasse of twelve men and their wives kneeling viz. three at the bottom of each of the said three Windowes and three at the top of the middle of the said three windowes These windowes having been broken and more especially of late what was written under most of them is not legible only it appeareth that the Christian name of the first was Robert and that the second of them was Ioane wife of the said Robert and Simon their son principall Founder of that Chappell who the third was is not legible the fourth was Ockley the fifth was Delmynden the sixth was Siesley the seventh was Cockshot the eighth was Badcock and the ninth was Bartilt but who the other three were viz. those at the top of the middle window is not legible By tradition these twelve are reported to be owners of the twelve Denns which are held of Wye but that cannot be for that onely seven of the said twelve are in this Parish and it is as aforesaid yet discernable That three of them were Ockley Cockshot and Badcock none of which were of the said twelve Denns though very antient inhabitants in this Parish but I rather conceive them to be twelve principal inhabitants in this Parish at the time of the foundation of that Church In the great Window of the middle Chancell were lately the pictures well made in glasse of the good Kings of Israel and of the Prophets in their times but lately spoiled and defaced There is also in this Church a memoriall of the interment there of the family of Boys a family of cheif esteem in this Parish both at present and for severall discents before whose ancestor about 88. years since came into this Parish to a fair seat neer this Church by him purchased of Edmund Roberts whose father Iohn Roberts was above 100. years since buried at the foot of the reading deske in this Church with an effigies and inscription of brasse upon him lately taken away In the South Chancell of this Church was antiently the image of the Virgin Mary and severall tapers or lights were also in this Church called the beam light the paschall light Iudas candles St. Iames light and Saint Laurence light over the North Porch of this Church is a roome antiently called the Treasury wherein were and still are laid up in a chest severall antient writings concerning the tenants of the twelve Dens in and neer this Parish in Wye liberty and concerning lands and other rights belonging particularly to this Parish The Chest aforesaid had antiently three locks and the keyes of the doore of the roome and of two of the said three locks were kept by three Parishioners tâ—â—ants of Wye liberty and the other key of the chest was kept by one of the Churchwardens In this Church also is a box fastned upon a post and called the Poor mans box which antiently had four lockâ— thereunto the key of one of which was kept by the present Minister the keyes of two other of them by the two Church wardens and the key of the other by one of the Parishoners and in this box were kept the moneys given to the use of the poor and securities taken for moneys lent thereof by the Parish to poor Parishoners In this Parish among other customes or manners of tything there is a custome to pay to the Parson yearly by the acre for Tythe of grass cut in the lands at or neer the Moore and for sore-sore-Pasture and after-Pasture of the same two pence and for the like in all other places of the Parish three half pence by the acre Also three half pence for the Tyâ—he of every ten bushels of Apples For the profit of each Milch-Cow besides the Calfe a penny and a halfe penny for every Calfe all payable yâ—arâ—y at Easter And Suite being between Sir Iohn Wildegos Farmer of the Parsonage and Iohn Gibbon Parishoner of this Parish in the Ecclesiasticall Court touching this manner of Tything Gibbon in Michaelmas Terme 5 â— Iacobi