here likewise they had Authority by Royall Concession to make By-Laws and Ordinances for the common good and profit of the Cinque Ports and for the better Regulating as the exigency of Affairs might seem to exact the Herring-fishing at Yarmouth and that this Court in the power of it might appear to be the Counterpane of that great Original of Power the high Court of Parliament all appeals from the inferior and subordinate Courts of the Cinque Ports were transmitted and transfer'd to this of Shepway Lastly the Barons of the Cinque Ports claim by inherent Custome and Prescription which is grown up and confirm'd by a tacite consent between them and the King to support the four Staves of the Canopy that covers the Kings Head at his Coronation and after to dine at the uppermost Table in the great Hall on his right hand There are other Franchises and priviledges circumscrib'd within the Verge and Circumference of the above-recite a Charter as the taking cognizance of the Assize of Bread and Beer and some others which because they are not of that importance or consideration as those which before were rehearsed and moreover finding that they are calculated for the Meridian of many other Corporations besides that of the Cinque Ports I have at present forbore any farther Recital of them Now if any one will enquire what the Cinque Ports were to act by way of recompence or retribution for these so solemn and signall Characters and Demonstrations of royal favour To this I answer That they were to find fifty and seven Ships at their own Charge for the space of fifteen days to attend the King whensoever he should pass the Seas whereof Hasting was to find one and twenty Sandwich five Hieth five Romney five and Dover one and twenty each of which was to be furnished with one and twenty men and a Garcion or Boy the Masters stipend was to amount to 6â— the Constables to a Sallary of the same value and each vulgar Mariner was to have three pence per diem and if the obligation of affairs so requir'd it that they attended the King beyond the extent of fifteen days then they were for the time following to be supported in their expences at the charge of the Crown Now because the wisdome of after-times thought this too vast and burdensome an expence to be solely and wholly sustain'd by the Cinque-Ports therefore there were several other Towns and Villges that lay scatter'd in the Body of this Nation that were made Members and Limbs of the Cinque-Ports and invested and fortified with the same Immunities and Liberties that they might by consequence be enwrapt and engag'd in the same common expence The Names of those which are situated in Kent are as followeth viz. Sandwich had the Addition of Fordwich Sarre Ramsgate Deal Walmer and Stonor Dover had Feversham Birchington St. Johns St. Peters Ridlingswould and Folkstone Hieth had West Hieth Romney had old Romney Lydde Promhill Dengemersh and Orwelston Hastings and Winchelsey had in Kent as their Appendages Bekesbourn Grench and Tenterden As a L'envoy to the Cinque-Ports I shall represent a Summary or Bedroll of all those Persons of esteem that have had the Honour to have been dignified with the Title of Lord Wardens of the Cinque-Ports which Scroll or Register I have collected out of an ancient Manuscript and are in their Series or Succession as followeth viz. 1 John de Fiennes 2 James de Fiennes 3 John de Fiennes 4 Walkelinus de Magninot 5 Allen de Fiennes 6 James de Fiennes 7 Matthew de Clere 8 William de Wrotham 9 Hubert de Burgo He that so stoutly asserted the Interest of King John and the Castle of Dover likewise against Lewis the Dolphin of France 10 Bertram de Criol 11 Richardle Grey 12 Henry de Braybrook 13 Edward then Prince but after King by the Name of Edward the first and Henry de Cobham was his Substitute 14 Henry de Monteford 15 Roger de Leybourn 16 Stephen de Penchester 17 Sr. Robert Ashton ibidem sepultus id est Dubri 18 Simon de Crey 19 Hugh le Spencer 20 Edmund de Woodstock 21 Reginald de Cobham 22 Bartholomew Ld. Burgherst or Burwash 23 John le Beauchamp 24 Sr. Ralph Spigurnel 25 Sr. Robert Herle 26 Robert Earle of Cambridge 27 Simon Burleigh 28 Henry le Cobham 29 Sr. John Enrosse and in some Copies le-Rosse 30 Sr. Thomas Beaumont 31 Edward Duke of Aumerle and York 32 Sr. Thomas Erpingham 33 Prince Henry after King Henry the fifth 34 Humphry Duke of Glocester 35 James Fiennes Lord Say whom Jack Cade beheaded 36 Edmund Duke of Somerset 37 Humphry Stafford Duke of Buckingham 38 Simon Montfort 39 Richard Nevil Earle of Warwick 30 Will. Earle of Arundell 31 Richard Duke of Glocester after Richard the third 32 Sr. William Scott 33 James Fiennes Lord Say Henry in his Fathers life time after Hen. the eight 34 Arthur Plantagenet Viscount Lisle Natural Son to Edward the fourth 35 Sr. Edward Poynings 36 Henry Earle of Richmond 37 Sr. Edward Guldeford 38 George Boleyn Viscount Rochfort 39 Sr. Thomas Cheyney 40 Sr. Wil. Brook Lord Cobham Hen. Brook Lord Cobham 41 Henry Howard Earle of Northampton 42 Edward Zouch Lord Haringworth 43 George Villiers Duke of Buckingham 44 Theophilus Howard Earl of Suffolk 45 James Duke of Lenox and Richmond Having discovered to the Reader a scale of those who were successively Lord Wardens of the Cinque-Ports I shall now from Authentick Records and Registers represent a Catalogue of those who were substituted Lieutenants of Dover-Castle alterna vice under them Hugh de Montfort Temp. Gulielmi Rufi Henrici primi Simon de Averenches Temp. Gulielmi Rufi Henrici primi John de Stoner Temp. Gulielmi Rufi Henrici primi Alan de Heyton Temp. Hen. 2 di Henry de Essex Temp. Hen. 2 di Mat. de Clere Temp. Ric. 1 mi. Will. de Albemarle Temp. Ric. 1 mi. Simon de Averenches Temp. Ric. 1 mi. Barthol de Crioll Temp. Ric. 1 mi. Tho. Bassett Temp. Regis Joannis Will. de Huntingfield Temp. Regis Joannis Will. de Wrotham Temp. Regis Joannis Will. de Brewer Temp. Regis Joannis Alan de Buckland Temp. Regis Joannis Sr. Richard D'angervill Temp. Reg. Joannis Regis Hen. 3 di Bertram de Hells Temp. Hen. 3 tii Rob. de Burgherst Temp. Hen. 3 tii Rob. Walleran Temp. Hen. 3 tii Henry de Cobham Temp. Hen. 3 tii Henry Montfort Temp. Hen. 3 tii Roger Leybourn Temp. Hen. 3 tii Reginald le Viscount Temp. Edw. 1 mi. Thomas de Insula Temp. Edw. 1 mi. Rob. de Burgherst Temp. Edw. 1 mi. Bertram de Crioll Temp. Edw. 1 mi. VVill. de Averenches Temp. Edw. 1 mi. Rob. de Hereford Temp. Edw. 1 mi. Joh. de VValde VValde wars chare Temp. Edw. 1 mi. VVilliam de Lea Temp. Edw. 2 di Peter de Hanekin Temp. Edw. 2 di John de VValde wars chare Temp. Edw. 2 di VVilliam de Scotten Temp. Edw.
original In Ages of a lower step these Comites were frequently call'd Reguli In Cantia saith Malmsbury Omnis justitia laborabat sub cujusdam Gorongiregimine qui tamen sicut omnes Reguli insulae Vortigerno substernebantur Afterwards when Hengist had establish'd his Kentish Kingdome the Title of Earl began to commence in Otho and Ebusa Brothers to the abovesaid Hengist as the same Malmesbury observes in his Tract de Gestis Regum Cap. 3. And the Title of Earl was anciently expressed by the word Comes amongst the Saxons for to King Ethelberts Charter for the foundation of the Abby of St. Augustins cited by Reynerus there are these subscriptions Ego Hamigilus Dux laudavi and then Ego Ocea Comes consensi Ego Graphio Comes benedixi and there is an old Epitaph quoted by Mr. Selden in his Titles of Honour the substance of which is this that Alwain which was Founder of Ramsey-Abby was Comes Aldermannus totius Angliae but in decursion of Time this word Eolderman being used by others besides those to whom it was proper and analogical it began to languish into disuse and the Title of Thane and Earl was assumed which last hath remained in force untill this day Now the relief of a Thane who was certainly an Earl by office rather then Title if he were of the first rank that is had the custody of some County under the King which he paid to the Crown was four Horses two sadled and two unsadled two Swords and four Spears and as many Shields And if he were of the second rank he paid two Horses one sadled and one unsadled one Sword two Lances as many Shields and fifty Marks in Silver sometimes if he were a Thane of an inferior rank he paid eight-pound and frequently three-pound The relief which an Earl paid constantly to the Crown after the Norman Conquest was as Mr. Selden in his Titles of Honour does demonstrate out of severall Records was an Hundred pound Now the benefit which did accrue to the Count or Earl besides a Barren and naked Title to support the dignity of his Person in its due Magnificence and Splendor was the third penny arising out of the Profits of the County Algar Earl of Mercland as Dooms-day Book informs us had the third penny of the County of Oxford and the Borough of Stafford under Edward the Confessor And Mawde the Empresse when she created Milo Earl of Hereford assigned to him for the support of his Honor the third penny of that County Many examples of the like condition are discoverable in Mr. Selden's Titles of Honour whither I refer the Reader And as they had the third penny so they had frequently the Castle of the County annexed to their Title but when by experience the Kings of England were instructed how fatally pernicious it was to have so many local powers concurrent with theirs that by the strength of their retreat and the number of confederates and Partisans seem'd even to out-poise the Royal Authority it was by a Statute made in the 13 th year of Richard the 2 d. for the future interdicted and prohibited Now if you will enquire when Earls or Counts from being absolute became Feudal Sr. Henry Spelman in his Glossarie will tell you that it was Tempore Othonum sub excessu Merovinae stirpis in Galliâ that is about the year onet housand Now as concerning the Ensigns of Investiture with which the Earl was created it was anciently only with the Cincture of a Sword but about the latter end of Edward the first the Coronet began to be in use for Aymer de Vallence Earl of Pembrook who died in the 16 th year of Edward the 2 d. had one as appears by an instrument of William de Lavenham cited by Mr. Selden in his Titles of Honour by which he acknowledges the receit of it from Sr. Henry Stacheden in the 12 th year of Edward the 2 d. Richard Earl of Arundel died in the 49 th year of Edward the 3 d. and by his last Will dated the fifth of December gives his Noblest and Richest Coronet to his Son the Lord Richard Fitz-allan his second to the Lady Joan his eldest and the 3 d. he bequeaths to the Lady Alice his youngest Daughter What the Counts Palatine were I shall now demonstrate they were taken immediately à Palatio from whence they assum'd their name and were customarily such as had the nearest relation to the Prince either by friendship or Affinity and to whose care and administration he did entrust such or such a Province and the more to improve and enable them in the discharge of their Duty did unite some privileges and Franchises to their office as erecting Courts of Judicature appointing Judges to sit in them and determine by signal decision upon causes both Criminal and Civil and others of the like nature that were of that luxutiant latitude that they had the Stamp and Character of something which resembled Regality fixt upon them He that will discover by example more of this honorary Title may read Mr. Seldens Titles of Honor whither to decline all superfluity of discourse I refer to the Reader I have now done with the Title I shall now proceed to unwind the Register of those who were Earls of Kent subsequent to Earl Godwin 1067 1 Odo Bishop of Baieux halfe Brother to William the Conquerer Lord chief Justice and Lord Treasurer of England 1141 2 William de Ipre 1227 3 Hubert de Burg Lord Chief Justice of England 1321 4 Edmund de woodstock Son to King Edward the first 1330 5 Edmund Plantaginet 1333 6 John Plantaget  7 Thomas Holland Earl of Kent in right of Joan his wife who was Daughter of Edmund of Woodstock 1360 8 Thomas Holland 1397 9 Thomas Holland Duke of Surry 1400 10 Thomas Holland Lord High Admiral of England 1461 11 Will. Nevill Lord Fauconbridge 1464 12 Edmund Grey Lord Ruthin Lord Treasurer of England created Earl of Kent by King Edward the 4 th  13 George Grey  14 Richard Grey  15 Reginald Grey  16 Henry Grey  17 Charles Grey  18 Henry Grey  19 Anthony Grey Clerk Parson of Burbage in the County of Leicester Grandchild of Anthony 3 d. Son of George Earl of Kent above mentioned  20 Henry Grey  21 Anthony Grey Earl of Kent now living 1658. but in his Minority Having represented in Prospect the Comites and Consules the Earls and Consuls which were originally to manage those Provinces subordinate to the Romane Government I shall now take cognisance of those which were anciently styl'd Vice Comites Proconsules and had care of the Provincial revenue in relation to which they were term'd Questores Provinciarum and the jurisdiction of some Causes only as our Sheriffs have of divers Actions Viscontiel and inquiry of Causes Criminal but not determination of them In the Saxon times they were sometimes call'd Ealdormen and in Latine Vice Comites which was applyed
posterity Potts Court in Babchild vulgarly called Petts Court was parcel of the Demeasn of the Priory of Dertford as appears by an Inquisition taken in the eleventh year of Edw. the fourth Rot. Esc Num. 69. and continued united to it untill the suppression in the Reign of Henry the eighth and then it was cast into the Revenue of the Crown where it lay untill Edward the sixth in the last year of his Reign granted it to Sir Thomas Cheyney whose Son Henry Lord Cheyney about the thirteenth year of Q. Eliz. passed it away to Samuel Thornhil Esquire in whose Descendant Line the Propriety of it is yet continuing Morris Court is a third place of Note in Babchild in elder Times it gave Seat and Sirname to a Family of that Denomination as appears by the ancient Muniments of this Seat but before the latter End of Henry the fourth this Family was vanished and then I find the Enghams setled by Purchase in the Inheritance and John Engham as appears by ancient Court Rolls held it in the Reign of Henry the fifth and Henry the sixth and after him did the Title by successive Inheritance transmit it self to his Posterity even untill those Times which grew near our Grand Fathers remembrance and then it was by Sale translated into Wolgate whose Ancestors had their Habitation at Wolgate Green in Throuley and after it had for some years acknowledged this Family for Proprietaries it was conveyed to Tilghman descended from the Tilghmans of Snodland from which Name it was again by as sudden a transmission alienated to Carselock of Feversham allied to John Carselock the last Abbot of the Priory there at the suppression of it and this Name being lately here by Defailance of Issue totally extinguished the Heirs of this Family as Knowler and others so designed by Testament do now possess it Badelesmer in the Hundred of Feversham was the Seat of that Family which for the great sway and influence they had once in this County although they have their Existence now only in Annals and History deserve a serious Remembrance Giles Lord Badelesmer as the Annals of St. Augustins instruct me was slain in the year 1258. in a Battell against the Welsh whilst he by endevouring to unite them to the English Scepter attempted to assault their Liberty and they as vigorously asserted it Guncelin de Badelesmer dyed possest of this Mannor in the twenty ninth year of Edward the first as appears Rot. Esc Num. 50. and lies buryed in Badelesmer Church with his Portraiture crosseleg'd cut in Wood and so much left of his Name as discovers to us that it is He who lyes there enterred and although there hath such a vast Interval or Decursion of Time intervened since his Sepulture yet neither hath Time nor our modern Zeal more fierce and ravenous then that so defaced it but that the Effigies insculped crosseleg'd is yet obvious visible and this I believe wil sufficiently refute the opinion of the vulgar who believe this Figure on the Tomb-stone to be the representation of some Giant and this Guncelin had Issue Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer that opulent and powerfull Baron of Kent who was witnesse to the Charter of Edward the second by which he confirms the Franchises and Priviledges of the City of London in the twelfth year of his Reign and there subscribes himself Steward of the Kings Hostell and was certainly a very eminent Person for in the year 1316 when Sir Richard de Rodney was invested with Knighthood by the abovesaid Prince the Ceremony of putting on his Spurs was performed by Maurice de Berkley and Bartholomew de Badelesmer but he had not been long swoln to this vast Dimension of power but their arose a Tempest which blasted all his blooming Glories for Isabel Wife and Queen to Edward the second having by severall good Offices performed between her Husband and his disobliged Barons so becalmed and softned all their Animosities that they became intombed in a mutuall Pacification was so inflamed at her denyall of Lodging and Accomodation in Leeds Castle by Thomas Colepeper the Castellan under Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer that she egged and pushed on the King to a Revenge which was done so effectually that the Death of the Castellan was the Expiation of so infortunate an Insolence and the Losse of the Head of the Lord Badelesmer taken Prisoner not long after neer Pontfrait and the forfeiture of his Estate paid the price of his Ambition and thus this magnificent Baron who like a streight and procere Elme grew tall in Title and like its luxuriant Branches did spread wide in the extent of his Power and Revenue was by this Storm supplanted and his Patrimony broken to peices being gathered up by escheat into the Royall Demeasne and in this Shipwrack did this Family lye involved untill the second year of Edward the third and then the indulgent Munificence of that Prince boy'd it up out of those Ruines wherein it appeared almost to have been sunk and by Patent restored him to his Estate here and elsewhere and he in a thankfull acknowledge to Heaven for this Restitution according to the Piety of those Times erected here a House for Black Canons or Canons of St. Augustins as the Record pat 13. Edw. 3. Memb. 6. doth amply testifie and dyed in the twelfth year of Edward the third and left his Estate to his only Son Giles Lord Badelesmere who dying without Issue his four Sisters Margery first marryed to William Rosse Lord Hamlake and then remarryed to Tho. Arundell Margaret matched to Sir John Tiptoft Elizabeth first wedded to William Bohun Earl of Northampton and afterwards to Edmund Mortimer Earl of March and Mawde espoused to John Vere Earl of Oxford became his Coheirs and that Land here at Badelesmer which was not before setled on the Monastery upon the partition was knit to the Patrimony of Vere and he dyed possest of it in the thirty fourth year of Edward the third and left it with the Title of Baron Badelesmer to his Successors one of which was Jo. Earl of Oxford who was attainted in the twelfth year of Edw. the fourth for supporting the House of Lancaster at the Battle of Barnet but was restored both in Blood and Estate but he never was possest of this Mannor for I find that upon the Suppression of this Cloister at Badelesmer it escheated to the Crown and then Henry the eighth granted it to Sir Robert Southwell and he in the second year of Edward the sixth alienated it to Sir Anth. Aucher and he upon his decease gave it to his Son Jo. Aucher who dying without Issue male Ann his sole Inheritrix brought it with her to her Husband Sir Humphrey Gilbert who about the middle of Queen Elizabeth alienated it to Sir Michael Sonds and from him is the instant Signorie devolved to Sir George Sonds Knight of the Bath There is another Mannor in this Parish of Badelesmer called Goddisland and gave Seat and Sirname
who stuck so close to the Cause and Quarrel of Simon de Montfort the active Earl of Leicester after whose Ruine at the Battle of Evesham and the total Discomfiture and Dissipation of of his Forces in that signal Conflict he was found in the Register of those Kentish Gentlemen who were pardoned by the pacification at Kenelworth and died possest of it in the twenty third year of Edw. the first Rot. Esc Num. 48. and in some old Deeds it is called Caput Baroniae de Say now the vulgar opinion was formerly that that thirteen Knights Fees and a half made up a Tenure per Baroniam now how much in value a Knights Fee was was the Question in elder Times some affirming it to be 50 l. others 30 l. and diverse again but 25 l. but the common received opinion is which hath been generally allowed of by all our Law Books that it is in Estimate but 20 l. consisting of eight Carucates or Hides of Land for they are coincident allowing to every Carucate or Ploughed Land an 100. Acres which was anciently thought to be as much as one team of Oxen could plough up in a year but the Tenure it self which was compounded of these Knights Fees was altogether incertain for unless it be that Manscript stiled Modus Tenendi Parliamentum which is of no higher Age then the Reign of Edward the third there is no Record does state or fix it Walter de Meduana or Mayney Ancestor to the Mayneys of Linton held twenty Knights Fees as appears by the Red Book kept in the Exchequer Folio 84 yet was not under the Repute of a Baron Walter de Wahull had the possession of 30. Knights Fees and John de Port of 50. yet neither of them out of so vast a Tenure could multiply or inforce to themselves the Stile or Title of Baron whereas on the contrary Roger de Leybourn who marryed the Coheir of Vipont and was really a Baron makes a recognisance of his Service as appears by Kirkbies Inquest kept in the Exchequer and taken in the ninth year of Edward the first but for two Knights Fees and an half from all which recited passages is evinced that this Title of Baronage flowed only from the Favour and Indulgence of the Prince who by his Writ or Summons called those who had merited well by some worthy undertakings to this Dignity and Title and not from the vastness of their Patrimony though this did very much concurre afterwards to support their Baronage in its true Value and Lustre But to proceed Jeffrey de Say this Mans Successor had view of Franck Pledge here in the eighth year of Edward the third that is as appears by the Statute of Frank Pledge made in the eighteenth year of Edward the second he was to take Cognisance of those Disorders and Excesses in his Court Baron that were committed by those which held in Free-Soccage of his Mannor of Berling as well as of those which held in Knights Service or Villen age and this Jeffrey in the thirty third year of Edward the third dyed possest of this place Rot. Esc Num. 37. and left it to his Son William de Say who likewise was in the Tenure of it at his Death which happened in the forty third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 43. Parte secunda and transmitted it to his Son John de Say who likewise held it at his Decease which was in the sixth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 67. and from him did it devolve by descent to his Son and Heir Jeffrey Lord Say who about the latter end of Richard the second alienated his Interest here by Sale to Richard Fitzallan Earl of Arundell Lord Treasurer and Lord high Admirall of England from whom it came over to his Son Thomas Fitzallan Earl of Arundell and Lord Treasurer of England likewise who dying in the year 1416. without Issue Joan one of his Sisters matched to William Beauchampe summoned to Parliament as Baron of Aburgavenny in the sixteenth year of Richard the second became his Coheir and so he by this Alliance was acknowledged for Lord of the Fee but his Son Richard Beauchampe created Earl of Worcester in the year 1420 dying without Issue male in the ninth year of Henry the fifth Elizabeth his sole Daughter and Heir by matching with Edward Nevill who in her Right became Baron of Aburgavenny annexed Birling and Comfort Parke to his Revenue and he dyed possest of it in the sixteenth year of Edward the fourth and from him did it descend to his great Grandchild Henry Lord Aburgavenny who in the twenty ninth of Queen Elizabeth dying without Issue male gave it to his Kinsman Sir Edward Nevill afterwards Baron of Aburgavenny whose Grandchild John Nevill Lord Aburgavenny possesses now the Signory of it Bobbing in the Hundred of Milton was the ancient Seat of the illustrious Family of Savage Roger de Savage obtained a Charter of Free Warren to his Lands at Bobbing Milsted and elsewhere in the fifth year of Edward the second his Father Sir John de Savage was engaged with Edward the first at the remarkable Siege of Carlaverock in Scotland in the twenty eighth year of his Reign and there for his Signal Service was with Thomas Savage his Brother created Knight Banneret Sir Arnold Savage this mans Grandchild was Sheriff of Kent the fourth and ninth years of Richard the second and was afterwards Speaker of the Parliament in the second year of Henry the fourth as appeats by the late printed Abridgement of the Parliament Rolls preserved in the Tower and was one of the Privie Counsell to that Prince as appears by the private Evidences of this Family his Daughter Eleanor was first matched to Sir Reginald Cobham by whom she had no Issue and after was remarried to William Clifford Esquire Son of Sir Lewis Clifford Knight of the Garter descended from Clifford of Cliffords Castle in Herefordshire who upon the Decease of his Wifes only Brother this Sir Arnold Savage without Issue in her Right as Heir Generall entered upon his Estate here at Bobbing and was Sheriff of Kent in the fourth year of Henry the fifth and again in the thirteenth year of Henry the sixth his Kinsman Robert Clifford Esquire Brother to Richard Clifford first Arch-Deacon of Canterbury secondly Bishop of Worcester and thirdly Bishop of London was Knight of the Shire for Kent in the eighth year of Henry the fourth and lyes buryed in the middle Isle in the Body of Christ Church in Canterbury though now his Portraicture in Copper with the Inscription affixed with the many Coats declaring his Descent and Alliance are torn off and defaced the above mentioned William had Issue Lewis and John Lewis had Issue Alexander Clifford Esquire who was Sheriff of Kent the fifth year of King Edward the fourth and he had Issue Lewis Clifford Esq who was likewise Sheriff of Kent the thirteenth of Henry the seventh and from this Lewis was Henry
untill King Henry the eighth tore it off by the Publique Dissolution and united it to the Royall Revenue where it had its fixed aboad untill the thirteenth year of King James and then it was granted to Mr. William Salter who not many years after passed it away to Mr. James Crispe from whom in our Memory partly by Purchase and partly by Exchange it went over to Mr. Jo. Child in whose Descendant the Propriety is still permanent Gravesend had anciently a Market on the Thursday and a Fair yearly on the Day of St. Edward the Confessor both granted to this Town in the thirtieth year of Edward the third Gillingham was a Mannor always relating to the Arch-bishops of Canterbury though the Donation by the Book of Christ-church be not specified If we survey the Pages of Dooms-day Book they will give us this Gilling ham est proprium Manerium Archiepiscopi in tempore Ewardi Regis se defendebat pro VI. Sullings est appretiatum hoc quod Archiepiscopus habet inde in Dominio VIII lb. c X.s. The Arch-bishops of Canterbury had here an eminent Pallace and held their Residence at it and gave Consecrations here to Bishops as we find it recorded in the Book called Textus Roffensis or the Text of Rochester East-court and West-court in this Parish were anciently knit together and resided in a Family called Gillingham Richard de Gillingham Son of Thomas de Gillingham held it at his Death which was in the twelfth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 176. And left it to his Son Thomas Gillingham who resolved into two Daughters and Coheirs Margaret married to John Thorpe who in her Right had West-court and Isabell matched to William Crensted who brought along with her East-court But as all things have their Fate and Vicissitude they did not long acknowledge the Dominion of either of them for Thorpe sold West-court to Nicholas Lawson of Whoorn-place in Cuckston who not long after by the same Devolution passed it away to Duling of Rochester by whose Female Heir it is now come over to Mr. Stephen Alcock but Thorp Ferme on which he had planted his own Name he alienated to Short and from this Family it went away again by Sale to May of Rochester Greensted endowed Benedict Webb his Sisters Son and in that Relation his Heir with the Title and Propriety of East-court whose two Grand-children Thomas and Christopher Webb by a mutuall and joynt Concurrence devested themselves of their Right and by Sale surrendered it up to Will. Painter Esquire Great Grand-father to Mr. Allington Painter the instant Proprietary of it Twidall is another Mannor of eminent Account and had Owners likewise of that Appellation The first that I find of the Name in Mr. Painter's Evidences which held both this and Dane-court is Robert de Twidall and he slourished here about the Reign of Henry the first and he had Issue Adam de Twidall from whom was lineally extracted Richard de Twidall who in the fourth year of Richard the second passed away this and Dane-court to John the Son of Robert de Beaufitz originally descended from Reade in Marden But in this Family the Possession was not very permanent for in some Descents after the Name went out into into Joan Beaufitz and other Coheirs and she by matching with Robert Arnold of Sussex did enstate the Possession of both these places upon this Name and Family and he bequeathed them as Dower to his Daughter Elizabeth Arnold and shee in the thirteenth year of Henry the seventh conveys them over to her Brother Henry and his Son William Arnold in the eighteenth year of Henry the eighth transports his Right in them by Sale to Thomas Benolt Clarenceux King of Arms from whom the like Conveyance in the twentieth year of that Prince brought itto Sir Hen. Wiatt one of the Privie Councel to Hen. the 8 whose Son Sir Tho. Wiat in the thirtieth year of that King exchanged them for other Lands with the Crown from which immediately after they were conveyed by Grant to Christopher Sampson who not many years after transplanted his Interest by Sale into Thomas Parker who conveyed away his Right in Twidall to William Painter Esquire great Grand-father to Mr. Allington Painter who now enjoys it but Dane-court was by Purchase brought over to Short in whom it had not long continued but the same Fatality carried it away to May of Rochester The Grange in this Parish sometimes written Grench did in the Conquerours time appertain to the old Lords called Hastings Ancestors of the Lord Hastings now Earl of Huntington In the Book called Testa de Nevill kept in the Exchequer we read that one Manasser de Hastings held Grench by Serjeanty under King Hen. the third and the particular Office in some more modern Records is described viz. that it is held of the King and not of the Cinque-ports as some do suggest by Serjeanty to find two men and two Oars in the Ship which carries over the King from Dover to Whitesand by Callis From Hastings it came over by Purchase to Richard Smelt Alderman of London whose Daughter and Heir Margaret Smelt carried it away to Richard Croyden likewise an Alderman of London in whom the male-line failing Margery his Sole Heir was matched to John Philipott Esquire Alderman of London in the Reign of Edward the third and Lord Maior of London in the Reign of Richard the second by which Prince he was invested with the Order of Knighthood for being so signally instrumental in the Ruine of Wat Tiler Jack Straw and his seditious Complices and had after the Addition of Gules A plain Crosse between four Swords Argent Pomell'd Or as a Coat of Augmentation annexed to his Paternal Coat viz. Sable a Bend Ermin for setting out a Fleet of Ships at his own expence and vanquishing John Mercer and his piratical Rabble who had so infested the narrow Sea that the Trade of the Merchant was brought into a deplorable Condition and had sunk had he not buoyd it up again by his Care and Magnanimity Yet how laudable soever the work were it escaped not the Envy of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster who questioned him at the Couucel-Board for that he being a private Person had embarked himself in an Attempt of so much Concernment without Order and Licence first obtained by the State but by the noble Favour he received from his honorable Friends there especially Rychard Fitzallan Earl of Arundell whose Arms he placed in his House as a Monument of Gratitude and left him a Legacie in his Will he was fetched off with Reputation But to proceed in Right of the former Alliance he was planted in the Possession of this Mannor and from him it devolved to his Grandchild John Philipott Esquire And he in the eleventh year of Henry the sixth exchanged this Mannor with Sir Richard Bamme Son of Adam Bamme Lord Maior of London for Twiford in Middlesex and from him it
as appears by the Escheat Roll of that year marked with the Number 76. and left Mawde de Twitham heir to his large Possessions in this County who by marrying with Simon Septuans of Checquer in Ash by Sandwich invested him not only in the Signory of Dean-Court but likewise in his other Demeasne which lay dispersed in severall Branches over this County and he had Issue by her Sir William Septuans who matched with Anne Daughter and Heir of Sir Nicholas Sandwich and had Issue by her John Septuans Esquire who likewise wedded Constance Daughter and Heir of Thomas Ellys of Sandwich and had Issue by her John his eldest Son to whom he gave Hells Twitham Chilton Molands in Ash and other Lands in Kent Thomas his second Son who had Dean-Court in Mepeham and other Lands in this County and Gilbert Septuans his third Son who had his Mannor of Chequer in Ash above-said and from them it is sometimes writ At Chequer and afterwards Harfleet for some eminent Service by him performed at a Town of that Name in Normandy as the private Evidences of this Family do seem to insinuate under the conduct of Henry the fifth and so Successively by Custome and Prescription this Name became hereditary to all of the Name of Septuans who were either directly or Collaterally linked in Alliance to this Gilbert And in the Name of Harfleet alias Septuans did the Inheritance of this Mannor of Dean-Court sundry Ages reside till some few years since it was by one of this Name alienated to Mr. Francis Twisden third Brother to Sir Roger Twisden of Roydon-Hall Knight and Baronet Merworth stands in the Hundred of Littlefield and gave Seat and Sirname to a worthy Family of Gentlemen whose Ancestor branched out from a Family called St. Laurence William de Merworth is in the Register of those Kentish Knights who were embarked with Richard the first at the Seige of Acon upon which it is probable the Crosse Corslets were taken into the paternall Coat of this Family In the fifteenth year of King John one Roger the Son of Eustace de Merworth brought a Quare Impedit against the Prior of Leeds for the Adyouson of the Church of Merworth Roger de Merworth obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor of Merworth in the eighteenth year of Edward the first In the twentieth year of Edward the third as appears by the Book of Aid John de Merworth paid respective Aid for a whole Knight's Fee at Merworth and Crombery in Hadloe which he held of the Earl of Glocester at making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth year of Edward the third and an Inquisition taken after this mans Death for his Mannor of Merworth though the Inquisition for his Mannor of Maplescombe and other Lands was not taken untill the forty ninth of Edward the third finds John Malmains of Malmains in Pluckley to be his Heir who in the forty sixth year of Edward the third sells it to Humphrey Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and he about the beginning of Richard the second conveys it to Nicholas de Brembre Son of Sir John de Brembre who at the Battle of Trent as Mr. Selden relates in his Titles of Honour pag. 556. made himself eminent by a signall encounter with John de Beaumonour in the year 1350. And endevouring to support the prerogative of Richard the second in an Age wherin his Crime was too much Loialty against the Assaults of some of the Factious and Ambitious Nobility sunk under the waight of their Hatred and Opposition and being attainted of High Treason this in the tenth year of the abovesaid Prince Escheated to the Crown and the same King in the thirteenth year of his Raign granted it to John Hermensthorpe who immediately after conveyed it to Richard Fitzallan Earl of Arundell Lord Treasurer and Lord Admirall of England whose Son Thomas Fitzallan dying without Issue Joan one of his Sisters and Coheirs matching with William Beauchampe who was created by Writt Baron of Abergavenny in the sixteenth year of Richard the second knit this Mannor to the Patrimony of that Family where it continued till Richard Beauchampe this mans Son dying without Issue-male in the ninth year of Henry the fifth bequeathed it to Elizabeth his Sole Daughter and Heir who matched afterward to Edward Nevill Baron of Abergavenny from whom the Title both of the Barony and Merworth flowed down to his Great Grandchild Henry Nevill who died the twenty ninth year of Queen Elizabeth and left this Mannor to Mary his Sole Daughter and heir married to Sir Thomas Fane unto whom King James in the first Parliament which he held Restored Gave Granted and so forth the Name Style Title Honour and Dignity of Baroness le Despencer and that her Heirs Successively should be Barons le Desp neer for ever She had Issue by Sir Thomas Fane of Badsell in Kent Sir Francis Fane eldest Son Knight of the Bath whom King James in the twenty second year of his Raign December the 29. created Earl of Westmerland and Baron Burghurst being likewise by his Mothers Descent extracted from the female heir of that old Barony for Edw. le Despencer who maried Elizabeth Heir of Bartholomew Lord Burghurst and Rich. Beauchampe who married Isabell Daughter and Heir of Thomas Lord Despencer and his eldest Son Sir Mildmay Fane Knight of the Noble Order of the Bath now Earl of Westmerland doth not onely enjoy the Concomitant Titles of Despencer and Burghurst but the Mannor of Mereworth likewise with all the Royalties of it which were not inferiour to any which hathreceived Honour by its owners for it is holden in Chivalrie by an entire Knights Fee and a Free-warren which was formerly granted to it is yet extant and the Conveniences of a Park and Conies are not wanting Jotes-Court in this Parish of Merworth had as appears by severall old Deeds some without Date Owners who were written Jeotes and by contraction of the Name call'd Jotes but before the latter end of Richard the second this Family was crumbled away and gone and then it came to have the same possessors with Merworth as namely Fitz-Allan Beauchampe and Nevill the last of which who enjoyed it was Sir Tho. Nevil third Son of George Nevill Baron of Abergavenny which Sir Tho. was one of the Privy Councel to Henry the eighth and Speaker of the Parliament and he in the thirty third year of that Prince conveyed it by Sale to Sir Robert Southwell who in the thirty fifth year of Henry the eighth by the same Fatalitie passed it away to Sir Edmund Walsingham of Scadbery whose great Grandchild Sir Tho. Walsingham Knight hath not many years since alienated all his Concernment in it to his Son in Law Mr. James Masters Swanton-Court is the last place considerable in Merworth It lay couched in that Revenue which related to the Knights Hospitalers untill the publique Dissolution supplanted it and surrendred it to the Crown and K. Henry the eighth about
Signorie of this Name is yet so constant to the Interest of this Family that it is at this instant knit to the Inheritance of Sir Richard Colepeper Knight and Baronet Roes Place in Alresford pretends to a deep Root in Antiquity likewise as being the Seat and Original of the ancient Family of Roe and from hence the Roes of Chafford in Ashurst those of Essex and he that was Lord Maior of London have primitively in a full Channel flowed out and in this Family was the possession lodged untill that Age we style our Grandfathers and then it was carried off by Sale to Taylor which Family not many years since concluding in a Female Inheritrix She by matching with Warcup hath espoused the possession of this place to that Name and Family Near this place Vortimer the valiant British King gave Battle to Hengist the Saxon after he had given a Victorious overthrow to the Britons at Creyford in which conflict Horsa and Catigern Brethrento both the Generals were stain and the Saxons repulsed into the Isle of Thanet their first assigned Habitation not daring to enter and reinvade the Continent whilest Vortimer survived Catigern was interr'd in that Plain which spreads it self on the Hanging of that Hill which looks down on Cosenton where to this Day his Monument remains being four vast Stones pitched somewhat after the Mannor of Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain but of greater Breadth then they though not so thick or long whereby it appears like a small Sheepcote and is vulgarly styled Cits-Cotehouse which is graphically here intitated The like Monument was erected for Horsa at Horsted near Rochester which storms and Tempests under the Conduct of Time have utterly extinguished Joanni Wroth de Aula Blendonensi in Bexley Armigero graphicā hanc Jumuli Catigernici Delineationem suis Sumptibus Aere incisam Thomas Philipott Lubens devovet Ash by Sandwich lies in the Hundred of Wingham and contains many Places within its Precincts very considerable The first is Welmestone which is situated partly in this Parish and partly in Wingham Though it be now obscure it was in elder Times made more conspicuous by being one of the Seats of Residence of the Noble Family of Septuans William de Septnans or Sepuans was in the possession of it at his Death which was in the twenty fifth year of Edward the third Rot. Ese Num. 5. and in this Family did the Title of this place by the steps of several Descents pass along untill the latter End of Henry the eighth and then it went from this Family by Exchange for other Land to Sir Walter Henley who not long after conveyed the Demeasn Land or Mansion-House to Alday and the Mannor it self to Solley in Alday the demised premises had not been long resident when they were sold to Mr. Benedict Barnham by one of whose four Coheirs the Fee-Simple devolved to the Earl of Castlehaven whose descendant conveyed it to Brigham Goshall in this Parish must not be forgotten it was the Residence anciently of a Family of that Sirname made more eminent by the production of Sir John Goshall a worthy Knight who flourished in the Reign of Edward the third and Richard the second and lyes entombed in Ash Church in compleat Armour and his Skeleton underneath his Arms are also depicted in his Shield viz. Azure a Lyon Rampant within Semeè of Crosse Crosselets Argent The Heir Generall of this Family was wedded to St. Nicholas of the Isle of Thanet and after the Title had for some Ages setled in this Family it was by a Daughter and Heir transmitted to John Dynley Esquire whose Descendant about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth conveyed it to Roper Ancestor to Christopher Roper Baron of Tenham who hath lately alienated his Interest in it to Sir Edw. Monins Checquers in this Parish of Ash was a very ancient Seat of a Branch of the Family of Septuans who from their Residence here contracted the Sirname of Checquer or Atchecquer and so were stiled in severall old Records and after this Mansion had remained a Series of some Generations in the Name of Septuans and Checquer it shrunk into a Daughter and Heir matched with Alday in which Family after it had some Time resided it was by Sale lately passed away to Mr. Tho. Harfleet and now owns his Descendants for its instant Possessors Hells Twitham is swoln up to some Repute since it was the Revenue of the Hells a Family of generous Rank in this County but stayed not long in the possession for about the Beginning of Edward the third they had surrendered their Interest to Twitham a noble Family and of deep Extraction in this Teritory Bertram de Twitham died possest of it in the third year of Edward the third Alanus de Twitham his Son was likewise found invested in it at his Decease which was in the twenty fifth year of the abovesaid Prince and lastly Alanus the Son of Theobald Twitham held it in the fourth year of Richard the second and left it to Mawd his sole Daughter and Heir by whom the Title was transplanted into Simon Septuans in whose Family the Proprietie hath for many Ages even untill this instant by an unbroken Link been seated The next place which obviates my Discovery is Overland the which in the twenty fifth year of Henry the third was by the Royall Charter of that Prince granted to Bertram de Crioll and so being made Parcell of his Demeasne it remained fastned to his Interest untill the Beginning of Edward the first and then it was passed away to Leybourn and was held by Juliana de Leybourn the Heir generall of Roger Lord Leybourn who in relation to that vast Patrimony her Birth intituled her to might be justly stiled the Infanta of Kent and shee was first espoused to John de Hastings and secondly to William de Clinton Earl of Huntington who held it at his Death in her Right which was in the twenty eighth year of Edward the third but shee deceased without Issue in the forty third year of the abovesaid Prince by either of them and there being none that by the strength of any Collaterall Alliance could pretend any Interest or Title to the Estate it escheared to the Crown and lay there untill Richard the second bestowed it by Grant on Sir Simon de Burley Knight of the Garter and Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports but he being attainted in the tenth year of that King it returned to the Crown again and then it was by the the same Prince setled on the Abby of Childrens Langley and was involved in the Patrimony of that Cloister untill the generall Suppression in the Reign of Henry the eighth and then it was granted in the thirty fifth year of that Prince to Sir Thomas Moile and Sir Walter Henley and they not long after conveyed their joynt Interest in it to Harfleet Who almost in our Fathers Remembrance alienated it to Bargrave from whom the same devolution brought it over to
seised of it in the fourth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 31. but this Name determining not long after in a Female Heir She by matching with Langley of Warwick-shire linked it to his Patrimony and William Langley in Right of this Alliance was possest of Hartanger in the fourth year of Henry the fourth and here it made its abode untill the latter End of Henry the sixth and then it was conveyed by Sale to Sir Thomas Brown aboved mentioned and his successor about the Beginning of Henry the seventh But the Mannor of Soles remained longer in the Name and possession of that Family John Soles held it at his Decease which was in the forty ninth year of Edw. the third Rot. Esc Num. 40. Parte secunda whilst this Family flourished under the Notion of one of the most ancient of East-Kent but continued here but untill the fourth year of Henry the fourth and then I find it linked to the Inheritance of Thomas Newbregge of Fordwich and in his Posterity did the propriety fix untill the Beginning of Henry the seventh and then the Name expired having tranferred the Interest they had in this place to Mr. William Bois Ancestor to Mr. John Bois of Hode who passed away some part of it not many years since to Sir Anthony Percival but transmitted the Remainder to his Son and Heir Mr. John Bois of Hode Esquire Bradherst with its two small appendant Mannors Petesworth and Meresworth vulgarly called Meresborough is situated in the Hundred of Eyhorne and was formerly folded up in that wide and spacious Revenue which was the paternal Inheritance of the Lords Leybourne of Leybourne Castle the last of which was Roger Lord Leybourne in whom the Name determined as the Estate did afterwards in his sole Daughter and Heir Juliana de Leybourne who having no Issue surviving neither by her first Husband John de Hastings nor her second William de Clinton Earl of Huntington nor any who by a collateral Relation could fortifie or furnish out a claim to her inheritance these Mannors which were a Limbe of it were invested by Escheat in the Crown and by Edward the third were not long after setled on his newly erected Abby of St. Mary Grace on Tower-Hill and remained wound up in the Revenue of that Cloister untill the Common dissolution did unravel it and resigned these respective Mannors with the Remainder of their Demeasn up to the Crown and here the Propriety of them made its abode untill the third year of Edward the sixth and then they were by the Royal Concession of that Prince passed away to Sir Thomas Cheyney whose Son and Heir Sir Henry Cheyney Lord Cheyney of Tuddington alienated all his Interest here in the thirteenth year of Q. Elizabeth to Samuel Thornhill Esquire who upon his Decease gave his Estate here to his second Son Sir John Thornhill of Bromley Knight whose Son and Heir Charles Thornhill Esquire hath now the Signorie of it The Church of Bradherst though thrust into an obscure and silent Corner amongst Woods and other dark Recesses yet is enobled with a Monument of one of the Knightly Family of Northwood which hath this Epitaph endorsed Hic jacet Willielmus Northwood cum quatuor suis Filiis verus Haeres Domini de Northwood It is probable this Family had some Retreat or Mansion here at this Parish which upon their abandoning of Bradherst languished away insenbly into Ruine so that the Memory of it now is altogether neglected and forgotten Blackmanston in the Hundred of Worth had a Family of good Account in this Tract named Marings or Marins which it called Proprietaries Thomas de Marings held it at his Decease which was in the twenty sixth year of Edward the first and so did Joan Widow of Roger Marins his Son as appears by two Inquisitions taken after her Decease one in the sixteenth year of Edward the third and the other in the twenty third year of that Princes Reign but after this I do not find this place long permanent in this Family for in the forty fourth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 10. Henry de Hauts of Haut bourne died possest of it and from him did the Title by an even Clew of succession come down to Sir William Haut Son and Heir of Sir Thomas Haut of Hautsbourne who deceased without Issue Male so that this Mannor of Blackmanston upon the Division of his Estate came by Joan one of his two Daughters and Coheirs to fall under the Possession and Signory of Sir Thomas Wiat but continued not long tied up in his Demeasn for this noble but unfortunate Person being engaged past all Retreat in a Disastrous Combination against Q. Mary was attainted of High Treason and beheaded in the second year of that Princess and so this place being rent off by Escheat from this Family it lay couched in the Income of the Crown untill the twenty ninth of Q. Elizabeth and then it was granted by that Princess to Roger Parker Esquire who was one of her Pages and he not long after conveyed it by Sale to Sir William Hall of Bibrook in Kennington and his Son Nevil Hall Esquire in the year 1630 alienated his Right in it to Sir Edward Hales Knight and Baronet whose Grandchild Sir Edward Hales now of Tunstal Baronet upon the late Decease of his Grand Father abovesaid now succeeds in the Possession of it Bekesbourne in the Hundred of Downhamford distinguished from the other Bournes which are linked to each other by the River of Leving by the ancient Owners Name the Bekes It hath long time been a Member to Hasting in Sussex and enjoyeth like Liberty with the Cinque Ports which K. Edward the third made Declaration of by a special Writ in the forty third year of his Reign At which time and long after there was a small Navigation out of the River of Stoure up to this place Richard de Beke as we read in Testa de Nevil a Book kept in the Exchequer held some Lands here in grand Serjeantie to find one Ship each Time K. Henry the third should pass the Seas The Arch-Bishops of Canterbury had here a small but elegant House very commodious for their Recesse or Retirement the River brought so conveniently about it that the Trouts the principal Fish there are plentifully useful unto it Garwinton a Mannor and House most elegantly and commodiously situated in this Parish was possest by certain Gentlemen that extracted their Denomination from this Seat and held the same by Knights Service of the Abbot of St. Augustins neer Canterbury and Thomas de Garwinton a Man of valuable Consideration on this side of the County was eminent here in the twentieth year of Edward the third and from him did it descend to his great Crandchild Thomas Garwinton in whom the Male Line determined for he dying without Issue in the eleventh year of Henry the fourth Joan his Neice matched to Richard Haut a Cadet of the Hauts
Num. 62. And from these two did it descend by the successive steps of paternal progression to Tho. Lord Rosse who was beheaded at Newcastle upon Tine and attainted in the fourth year of Edw. the fourth as a Complice of the House of Lancaster and likewise to John Tiptoft Earl of Worcester who was attainted and beheaded in the year 1470 as a Partisan of the House of York so that the whole Mannor by the several Attaints being swallowed up in the Revenue of the Crown it was by Edw. the fourth in the eighteenth year of his Reign granted to Roger Lord Wentworth and Margaret his Wife Widow of Tho. Lord Rosse and Tho. Lord Wentworth this mans Successor about the Beginning of Q. Eliz. alienated it to Barnham and Slany who immediately after disposed of their right in it by a joynt Sale to Barker from whom by the like Fate within the Verge of that Age which fell under our Grand-fathers remembrance it came over to Sir Rob. Jackson and he not many years since conveyed it by Sale to Sir Oliver Boteler Grand-father to Sir Oliver Boteler Baronet in whom resides the present Signorie of it But Waldeslade was given by Rich. the second in the eleventh year of his Reign as the Book called Feoda Militum kept in the Exchequer intimates to the Abby of Canous Langley frequently written Childrens Langley and lay involved in their revenue till the general Dissolution and then King Henry the eighth in the thirty fifth year of his reign granted it to Sir Thomas Moile from whom the Fee-simple by Amy his Daughter and Co-heir devolved to Sir Thomas Kempe and he in the tenth year of Q. Eliz. passed it away to Jo. Mabbe who in the twentieth of her reign alienated it to VVilliam Emes from whom in the twenty fifth of that Princess it devolved to Richard Fogge Esq and he in the twenty sixth year of her Government conveyed it to Mr. Ex Autographis penes Rich. Lea de Delce magna Armig. Tho. Cocks who in the thirty sixth of that Queen transferred it by Sale to Mr. Richard Lea from whom it descended to his Son and Heir Captain Rich. Lea of Great Delce Esquire and he by Sale gave up his right to his second Brother Mr. Thomas Lea who dying without Issue gave it to his Nephew the instant Proprietary Richard Lea now of Great Delce Esquire The late Repair of the Parish Church and new Building of the Steeple commends the religious Care and Cost of his late Majesties Commissioners and Officers of the Navy Royal in the year 1635. But the Arsenals Store-houses and Shipdocks erected by the late K. Charles are so magnificent and universally useful that they are become a principal Pillar of the Nations support so far as they relate to the naval defence of it and affords variety of imployment by the Manufacture of Cordage as also by the Careening and Building of Ships Chetham Hospital called St. Bartholomews was founded by Gundulphus Bishop of Rochester in the time of William Rufus to which the Norwoods of Norwood and the Crevequers as the Records of the Church of Rochester do specifie were plentitul Benefactors Chart Magna or Great Chart gives Name to the whole Hundred which lies about it and hath thereby a tacite Note of Antiquity and eminence annexed to it and was in the Saxons Time called Seleberts Chert In the year of Grace 788. King Cenulfe or Kenulfe at the Request of Arch-Bishop Athelard regranted this place to the Sea of Centerbury for Offa sometime before had wrested it from Arch-Bishop Janibert In the Time of the Conquest when the Church Demeasn was rated this was valued at three Sullings or Plough-Lands Goldwell is an ancient Mannor and Mansion in this Parish which was for many Ages and Descents the Inheritance of the noble and illustrious Family of Goldwell which in Times of an elder Aspect gave them both Seat and Sirname out of which two learned Bishops descended Jam. Goldwell who was Bishop of Norwich in the year 1472 and principal Secretary of State to Edw. the fourth who obtained a Grant from that Prince to found a Chauntry in Great Chart as appears Pat. 15. Edw. 4. Pars tertia And Tho. Goldwell Bishop of St. Asaph in the year 1555. But alass after this Mannor had been so long seated in the Patrimony of Goldwell it was at length alienated such is the volatile and unsetled temper of all earthly Inheritances not many years since by J. Goldwell to Sir Will. Withins and he passed it away to Sir J. Tufton Ancestor to the right honourable Jo. Tufton now E. of Thanet who by paternal Descent is now entituled to the Possession of Goldwell but Goddinton by Joan Goldwell who was Daughter and Heir to Tho. Goldwell a branch sprouted out of the principal Stem at Goldwell came to be the Inheritance of Tho. Tooke and hath for sundry Generations continued in that Name till this Day some of which lie buried in Chart Church with very fair Inscriptions unless the Sacrilegious Impiety of these Times hath ravished away the Brass which should stand an Alphabet to their Dust and in the upper Church windows about the second Story their Gentry Descent Matches and Alliance is most amply exprest in their Armories and that unless the wildness of some barbarous Hand have lately demolished them in coloured Glass Chelmington is another Mannor in this Parish which gave Sirname to a generous Family who I believe had here their Mansion too though by the repeated and successive Impressions of Age it be now enter'd in Rubbish and Oblivion finally after this place had for many Descents been wrapt up in the Revenue of this Name and Family it devolved at last to John Chelmington whose Effigies is represented to us in one of the Church windows by an armed Portraicture who deceased in the reign of Henry the fourth without Issue Male so that Eliz. Chelmington was his Daughter and Heir who by matching with Roger Twisden Esq cast it into the Patrimony of that noble and ancient Family in respect of which original Alliance the right of this Mannor is now fixed in Sir Roger Twisden Knight and Baronet a person to whom for his learned Conduct of these my imperfect Labours thorough the gloomy and perplexed paths of Antiquity and the many Difficulties that did assault me I am signally oblieged Little Chart lies in the Hundred of Calchill and does involve that place within the Precincts and Circumference of it which gives Denomination to the whole Hundred It was restored to the Monks of Christ Church in Canterbury by Kenulfe King of Mercia at the request of Arch-Bishop Athelard or Atheldred in the year of Grace 799. for King Offa had before violently torn it off from the Patrimony of the Church as appears by that ancient Record called the Book of Christ Church In the year 1044 one Elleric Bigge confirmed this Donation and it went then as it had done before by Assignation towards
originall and he having thus improved it transmitted his Right in it by sale some few yeers since to Mr. Philip Warwick Chiddingston in the Hundred of Somerden hath the Addition of Cohbam as being the Inheritance of the Lords Cobham of Sterborough Castle Henry de Cobham had in the ninth year of King John a Charter for all his Lands in Kent of which these at Chiddingston with the two little Mannors of Reynsley and Tihurst In Ages of a lower Step Reginald Lord Cobham who was summoned to Parliament as Lord Cobham of Sterborough in the twenty second year of Edward the third died possest of them in the thirty fifth year of that Prince Parte prima Rot. Esc Num. 62. And here the Right continued till in Thomas Lord Cobham this mans great Grandchild the Male Line failed and resolved into Ann Cobham who was matched to Edward Borough Lord of Gainsborough in the County of Lincoln whose Grandchild Thomas Lord Borough some fifty years since passed away his Right in Chiddingstone Reynsley and Tihurst which had devolved to him by his Grandmother to Stretfield whose Son deceasing without Issue Male they became the Inheritance of four Daughters and Coheirs matched to Dillingham Shetterden Powell and Taylor only Reynsley before his Death was sold to Mr. Christopher Knight whose Heir does now possesse it Burwash Court in this Parish was the Patrimony of the Lords Burgherst by vulgar Depravation of the Name called Burwash Stephen de Burwash had a Charter of Free-warren to all his Lands in Kent in the first year of Edward the second Robert de Burgherst or Burwarsh possest it at his Death which was in the thirty third year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 41. and his Son Bartholomew Lord Burwash in the forty third year of Edward the third by Deed passes away much of his Land in Warwick-shire and Kent to Walter de Paveley and Matilda his Wife in which this lay involved from Paveley it came down by Purchase to John de Bore Trivet and Vaux whose Successors conveyed Burwash to John Alphew in the Reign of Henry the sixth Alphews Coheirs were marryed to ....... Brograve and Sir Robert Read Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the Time of Henry the seventh who in his Wifes Right carried away Burwash as parcell of her Dower but this man determining likewise in Daughters and Coheirs Katharine one of them was wedded to Sir Thomas Willoughby second Son to Christopher Willoughbie of Eresbie which Sir Thomas was likewise Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Eliza. was matched to Sir Tho. Totihurst and a third was married to Th. Wotton Esquire Sir Thomas Willoughbie Esquire Son and Heir of Sir Tho. who joyned in a Fine with his two Uncles even now mentioned in the sixth year of Edw. the sixth and so by a mutuall Concurrence with them their united Concernment in Burwash was passed away to Mr. John and Mr. Robert Seyliard of Delaware in whose Name and Revenue the Title and Propriety of this place hath ever since kept so permanent an Aboad that it is still the Inheritance of Mr. John Seyliard now of Delaware Esquire Bore Place with the Mannor of Milbroke and Boresell was formerly the Inheritance as high as Henry the third of a Family which assumed its Sirname from hence and was called Bore and likewise took in to his Arms a Bore for his Cognisance in this Family the Right of these places successively dwelt till John Bore in the Time of Henry the sixth transplanted his Interest in them by Sale into John Alphew by whose Coheir they came over to her Husband Sir Robert Read and from him they went away by Katharine one of his Coheirs to Sir Thomas Willoughbie whose great Grandchild Percivall Willoughbie who having matched with Bridget one of the four Coheirs of Sir Percival Willoughbie of Notinghamshire devested himself of his Title to both these places to improve his Interest in that County and not many years since alienated them to Mr. Bernard Hide of London Esquire one of the Commissioners of the Custome House to the late King Charles whose Grandchild Mr. Bernard Hide is upon his Fathers late Decease now enterred into their Possession of Milbroke and Boreplace But Boresell now vulgarly called Bowsell was sold to Edmund Thomas of Whitley neer Sevenoke who is now in the enjoyment of it Chilham in the Hundred of Felborough was by William the Conquerour as the Pages of Doomsday Book instruct us assigned to Fulbert de Dover under the Notion of a whole Knights Fee for his Assistance and Association to John de Fiennes in the Guard of Dover Castle which eminent employment thus imposed upon him did induce him to wave his originall Sirname of Lucy and assume one derived from his Office yet Richard de Lucy this mans Son did it seems take up again his primitive Sirname for when King John by his Charter in the sixteenth year of his Reign Cart. 24. Num. 37. restores to Rose de Dover called in the Latin Record Rohesia the Castle of Chilham with all its Appendages he calls it there the Land which was her Grandfather Richard de Lucy's Inheritance This Rose de Dover was sometimes written in old Deeds de Lucy in Relation to which she sealed with three Pikes * Fishes called Lucii in Latin she matched with Richard base Son to King John by whom she had two Daughters and Coheirs Lora married to William de Marmion and Isabell espoused to David de Strabolgie Earl of Athol who in her Right became Lord of the Castle and Mannor of Chilham and transmitted it to his Son John Earl of Atholl who for his frequent Acts of Hostility and Rebellion against Edward the first in his Contest with the Scots being by the Fate of War made Captive was at Canterbury hanged on a Gibbet fifty Foot high that he might be as eminent in his Punishment as he was before conspicuous in his Crimes and being cut down halfe alive had his Head struck off and his Trunk cast into the Fire a Savage Manner of Punishment and hardly heard of before amongst us upon his Shipwrack and Confiscation of Estate it rested in the Demeasne of the Crown till King Edward the second in the fifth year of his Reign as appears Parte prima Pat. Edwardi secundi granted the Castle and Mannor of Chilham to Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer who quickly after lost it by his Perfidiousnesse and Disloyalty to that Prince so that it returned to the Crown and the abovesaid Prince as is evident by Pat. 15. 16. Edwardi secundi restores the Castle and Mannor with all the Goods and Chattels in it which belonged to Bartholomew Badelesmer to David de Strabolgie Grandchild to the first David for Life only which upon his Expiration was again united to the Royal Revenue and in the third year of King Edward the thirds Government it was by Patent granted to Bartholomew Badelesmer Son to the abovesaid Lord Bartholomew and
others so that being thus broken into Fragments it hath now lost the estimate of a Mannor and is to be entombed in Silence Hering-Hill is a place not to be forgotten having been in elder Times the Residence of a Family called Abell The first whom I find represented to us under a Character of estimate was Sir John Abell who was in the List of the Kentish Knights which were Assistant to King Edward the first at his Siege of Carlaverock in Scotland John Abell his Successor was a Judge as is manifest by the patent Rolls of the Tower in the eighth year of Edward the second and it is very probable that it was either this John Abell or his Father that obtained a Charter of Free-warren to the Mannor of Catford in Lewsham which was after sold to William de Montacute in the twenty third year of Edward the first In the Reign of Henry the fourth I find by the Registers of the Crown Office one Edward Abell to have been in Commission for the Peace and he lyes enter'd in Erith Church not in the Coemitery or Church-yard though I confesse upon a large square Plate of Wood there is a Register of those accurately enrolled who were Possessors of Hering-Hill from John Abell the Judge down to another John Abell who dyed possest of it about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth but the date is so violated by Time and the Impression of the injurious Elements that it is hardly visible much lesse intelligible the last of this Family at this place was John Abell who about the year 1611 joyning with his Father Samuell Abell alienated his Concernment here to Mr. William Draper whose Successor Mr ..... Draper now of the County of Oxford is the instant Proprietary of it Lesnes Abby was founded by Richard de Lucy Lord Chief Justice of England under H. the second in the year 1179 and dedicated to St. Thomas the Martyr the Saint of Canterbury who as he had been above the Kings Will on earth was now above his Faith in Heaven being after his but early Canonization grown into such Veneration and Estimate that Orisons and Prayers Shrines and Altars Abbyes and Temples were offered up to his Name of which this was none of the least being a House of black Canons or Canons of St. Augustins This Richard de Lucy the Founder was Son of Richard who was Son of Roger de Chilham and he was Son of Fulbert de Dover who entred into England with William the Conquerour and changed his Name of Lucy to Dover of which first there is not only a Signiory or Lordship but likewise a Family at this instant remaining in France because he was one of those eight to whom certain Knights-Fees were assigned by William the Conquerour to be Assistant to John de Fiennes in the Guard of Dover Castle thus much for his Extraction Now for his Dignity he was not only Lord Chief Justice but likewise Protector of England in the twelfth year of Henry the second in his Absence in France which great Office he managed with so much Fidelity Prudence and Magnanimity that when the Earl of Boloign invaded this Island in the thirteenth year of the abovesaid Prince he was forced to retire with Shame Confusion and Losse which Action must certainly have improved his Name to a very high Estimate in the Opinion of those Times Yet notwithstanding he devested himself of that Pomp and Pageantry these great Offices had made him glitter with which Conquest that he made upon himself within was of more Importance then any he could have atchieved without and clouded himself in a Monks Cowle and became the Prior to that Covent he himself had erected and there likewise found his place of Sepulture And it is probable that those Coffins with Pourtraictures insculped which were discovered in a Grotto or Vault upon the breaking down the Foundation of this House in the Government of King James were the Exchequers which treasured up not only the Reliques of this Sir Richard de Lucy but likewise the remains of others of the same Family But to proceed the Prior of this place was in that Repute that it was customary for him as the Records of the Church of Rochester tell us to have his Induction into this place either by the Bishop immediately or else by some Proxie who represented the Bishop of Rochester's Person And in this State it continued untill Cardinall Wolsey laid the Foundation of his eminent Colledge of Christchurch in Oxford and thenwith the consent of the present Abbot in the year 1525 it was supprest and the Revenue of this Cloister being found in the Hands of the abovesaid Cardinal at his Death was by Henry the eighth united to the Income of the Crown where it dwelt untill it was granted to William Brereton Esquire who being engaged in the fatall Business of Katharine Howard was attainted and executed upon whose Tragedy it returned to the Crown and was in the thirty eighth of Henry the eighth granted to Sir Ralph Sadler and he not long after passed it away to Mr. Henry Cook in whose Successors the Possession was resident untill almost our Remembrance and then it was conveyed to Sir Thomas Gainsford of Crowherst in Surrey who not many years since demised his Right in it to Mr. Haws of London who dying lately without Issue hath setled it for ever on the Hospital of St. Bartholomews in Smithfield In the ninth year of Edward the second Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer obtained the Grant of a Market to Erith on the Thursday and a three Days Fair at St. Crosse and another three Days Fair the Monday Tuesday and Wednesday in Whitson Week Lesnes had by the Mediation of William de Wilton a Grant of a Market procured to be observed there on the Thursday and a Fair to continue yearly the Eve Simon and Judes Day and three Days after as is manifest Pat. 41. Henrici tertii Memb. 48. Estling in the Hundred of Feversham gave Sirname to a Family who had here an eminent Mansion called Northcourt the last of which Family was Ralph de Estling whose Daughter and Heir Alice de Estling about the Beginning of Ed. the first was matched to Fulke de Peyforer Custos of the Fleet and Westminster in London who in her Right became Lord of this place and in the thirty second year of Edward the first to inforce his Interest here obtained a Charter of Free-warren to this place and in this Family did it reside untill the latter end of Edward the second and then was Northcourt Denton and Plomford Mannors which came along to Peyforer with Northcourt were sold away to Roger Lord Leybourn and his Widow Juliana de Leybourn held them at her Decease which was in the first year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 86. And after her Decease they devolved to John de Hastings a Kinsman of Lawrence de Hastings Earl of Pembroke who was the first Husband of her Daughter and Heir
to the Monks of Christ-church which had been before snatched away and then passed under the Notion of thirty two Hides and if you will see how it was rated in Dooms-day Book it is thus there represented Graveney est Manerium Monachorum est de Vestitu eorum quod Richardus Constabularius tenet in Feodo de Archiepiscopo tamen reddit firmam Monachis pro 1 Sulling se defendit This Mannor by the Successive Proprietaries was held in Fee of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury Here was a Family called Gravenell who were Lords of this Mannor which John de Gravenell dyed possest of in the fifty sixth year of Henry the third Afterwards I find the Fevershams a Family so called held it Richard Feversham was seised of it at his Death which was in the thirteenth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 100. But deceased without Issue-male so that his only Daughter Joan matched to John Boteler became his Heir This John Boteler was high Sheriff of Kent in the twenty second year of Richard the second But dyed likewise without Issue-male so that his Estate here which devolved to him by Female Right by the same Fate was carried away to John Martin one of the Judges of the Common-Pleas who married Ann his Sole Heir and this Man lyes buryed in Graveney Church under a Fair Stone inlaid with Brasse and his Pourtraicture insculped thereon with this Inscription affixed Hîc jacet Joannes Martin Justiciarius de communi Banco qui obiit 24 Octobris 1436 Anna Uxor ejus From Martin the Propriety of that Estate here which had been diverse years entituled to this Name went by Purchase into Pordage of Rodmersham in which Family the Possession hath for several Generations been constantly resident Gravesend in the Hundred of Toltingtrow was anciently the Possession of a Family called Cramavill who had likewise very considerable Possessions in East-Kent Henry de Cramavill held it at his Death which was in the fifty fourth year of Henry the third Rot. Esc Num. 8. And Joan Wife I believe of Henry de Cramavill was seised of it at her Decease which was in the eighth year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 53. After this Family was gon out I find the Lord of the Fee to be Reginald de Cobham who was in Possession of it at his Death which was in the forty fifth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 15. and in Ages of a lower Step another Reginald Cobham was seised of it in the seventh year of Henry the fourth and from him by the Heir Generall it came down to Braybrook and by the Heir general of that Family it was transmitted to Brook of the County of Somerset from whom descended the infortunate Henry Brook Lord Cobham who being attainted in the Beginning of King James forfeited this Mannor to the Crown in whose Revenue it lay involved untill the late K. Charles granted it to his Kinsman James Duke of Lenox upon whose late Decease it is now become the Inheritance of his Son Esme Duke of Lenox now in his Minority Milton neer Gravesend in the Hundred of Shamell was an Ingredient which made up that Estate which fell under the Signory of the Montchenseys Lords and Barons of Swanscamp Warren de Montchensey obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor of Milton in the thirty seventh year of Henry the third and he had Issue William de Montchensey who held it at his Death which was in the fifty second year of Henry the third and left it to Dionis his Female Inheritrix wedded to Hugh de Vere by whom she having no Issue that might transmit the Possession to his Family the Interest of it was by Joan Sister and Coheir of the abovementioned William knit to the Patrimony of her Husband Aymer de Valence Earl of Pembroke whose Son William de Valence dying without Issue Isabell his Sister and Coheir being wedded to Lawrence de Hastings afterwards Earl of Pembroke united it to his Demeasn and his Grandchild John de Hastings about the beginning of Richard the second passed it away to Sir Simon de Burley who being attainted of high Treason in the tenth of his Rule because according to his Oath being Knight of the Garter and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports he endevoured to underprop like some Butteresse the sinking Prerogative of his Master against the onsets of some of the ambitious Nobility it escheated to the Crown And then the aforesaid King in the fourteenth year of his Government granted it to John Holland Earl of Huntington and he not long after conveyed it by Sale to Reginald Cobham whose Widow Elizabeth was remarried to William Clifford Esquire and he in her Right I find was possest of it in the ninth year of Henry the fourth But after his Death it reverts to Braybrook who had matched with Joan the Heir general of Cobham and he determining likewise in an Heir general matched to Brook of the West-country it devolved with Cobham to acknowledge the Signiory of that Family but continued not long in their Possession for about the Beginning of Edward the fourth I find it in the Tenure of Robert Brent from whom it descended to his Son William Brent who in the eighth year of King Henry the seventh conveyed it to Sir Henry Wiatt and from him did it come down to his Grandchild Sir Thomas Wiatt who being attainted in the second year of Queen Mary it escheated by Confiscation to the Crown and then it was granted to George Brook Lord Cobham and went along with that Family untill the beginning of King James and then Henry Lord Brook having embarked himself in the unhappy Design of Sir Walter Rauleigh was atrainted of high Treason and his Concernment in this Mannor was forfeited to the Crown and was not many years after by the above-mentioned Prince granted to Mr. George Tucker of Gravesend whose Grandchild Mr. George Tucker hath lately passed away all his Interest here to Mr ...... Hamon of Queenhith in London Parrocks is likewise situated within the Circle of Gravesend and had owners of that Sirname as is evident by an ancient Record which testifies that Robert de Parrock Pat. de An. 52. H. 3. Memb. 10. obtained a Market weekly on the Saturday and a Fair yearly to endure for the Space of three Days viz. the Vigil the Day of St. Edmund and the day after in the fifty second year of Henry the third Afterwards this Mannor was linked to the Revenue of the Crown but whether it was thus annexed by Sale or by Exchange I confesse I am ignorant only I find by the original Patent that in the sixth year of Richard the second it was granted to Sir Simon de Burley upon whose Attaint in the tenth year of the abovesaid Prince it devolved to the Crown and Richard the second not long after setled it on the Abby of St. Mary Grace on Tower-Hill in whose Revenue it remained
John Proude who was unhappily slain at the Groll in the year 1628 whilst he did vigorously pursue the Quarrel of the States General at that Siege against the Capital Enemy of their Religion and Liberty the Spaniard and Mary espoused to Sir Edward Partrich for his first Wife but dyed without any Issue surviving by him Sir John Proud left only one Daughter called Ann who was first wedded to Sir William Springate and secondly to Mr. Isaac Pennington eldest Son to Isaac Pennington Lord Maior of London in the year 1643 in Right of which Alliance he at present holds this Mannor of Goodwenston Goodneston by Wingham vulgarly called Gonston lies in the Hundred of Wingham and was formerly parcell of the Patrimony of Hastings Earl of Pembroke bequeathed to him by his Kinsman John de Hastings who was first Husband to Juliana the Heir generall of Roger de Leybourn John de Hostings held it at his Death which was in the forty ninth year of Edward the third and so did his Son John de Hastings after him and brings a pleading for it in the fourteenth year of R. the second After them the Malmains were possest of it who had some Estate here before which they had by Purchase from Pine and Beauchamp about the Beginning of Edward the third and in this Family did it remain untill Henry Malmains about the year ........ deceased without Issue-male and then by Agnes his Daughter and Heir marryed to Thomas Goldwell it came to own the Jurisdiction of that Name and Family but was not long fastned to it for he ended likewise in a Female Heir called Joan who was wedded to Thomas Took of Bere Esquire and so by her it was united to the Revenue of this Family and here rested untill that Age which came within the Circle of our Grandsathers Knowledge and then it was passed away to Henekar from which Name in Times almost of our Cognisance it went away by a Revolution like the former to Kelley who conveyed it to Engham descended from the noble Family of the Enghams of Woodchurch who flourished so many Ages at Edingam and Pleurinden in that Parish Bonnington in this Parish is the ancient Seat from whence the numerous and Knightly Family of Bois did as from their originall Fountain issue out into Fredville Betteshhanger Haukherst and other parts of this Countie and do derive themselves from John de Bosco who is mentioned in the Battle-Abby Roll of those who entered this Nation with Will the Conquerour and certainly they have not been much lesse at this place then 17 Descents as the datelesse Deeds of several of this Family who writ themselves of Bonnington do easily manifest Nor hath it yet deserted the Name or departed from the Possession of Bois being at this present part of the patrimony of Sir John Bois to whose paternal Arms the late King for his eminent and loyall Service perform'd by him at Donnington Castle added as an Augmentation upon a Canton Azure a Crown imperial Or. Rolling is a third place in this Parish to be taken notice of It contributed a Seat as well as a Sirname formerly to a Family called Rolling Thomas Rolling held some Lands in Lease at his Death which was in the fisteenth year of Ric. the second Rot. Esc Num. 143. which Lands belonged to a Chauntry in St. Peters Church in Sandwich and lay in Eastry near his Mannor of Rolling After this Family was worn out the Idley's who had large Possessions about Mepham Cobham and Higham as appears by the Inquisition taken after the Death of John Idelegh in the forty third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 58. Parte secunda were by Purchase seated in the Possession and preserved it untill the Reign of Henry the eighth and then it was alienated to Butler of Heronden in Eastry from whom in the Beginning of the raign of Q. Eliz. it went away to Roger Manwood Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer whose Son Sir Peter Manwood in our Fathers Remembrance alienated it to Dickenson from whom not many years since it was brought over to be the Possession of Master .......... Richards Godmersham in the Hundred of Felborough was given to the Monks of Christ-Church in Canterbury by Beornulfus King of the Mercians in the year of Grace eight hundred twenty and one free as Adisham and it was at the Request of Arch-bishop Vlfred to supply the Covent both with Food and Raiment which Grant Arch-bishop Egelnoth who it seems had some Interest in the Place in the year one Thousand thirty and six did fully confirm And in the year one thousand three hundred fourscore and seven Thomas Arundell Arch-bishop of Canterbury with the especiall Licence of Richard the second appropriated the Tiths of the Rectory of Godmersham to the Church of Christ-church to the Support and Maintenance of the Fabrick of the Church abovesaid If you will see what Value was set upon this Mannor in the Time of the Conquerour I shall afford you a Sight of it out of Dooms-day Book Godmersham says that Register est Manerium Monachorum de Vestitu eorum in Tempore Edwardi Regis se defendebat pro VIII Sullings est appretiatum XX. lb. sed tamen reddit XXX That is it paid a Rent of thirty pound to the Church Yolands and Ford are two other little Mannors in this Parish which acknowledged themselves anciently to be parcell of the Inheritance of Valoigns And Robert de Valoigns dyed possest of these and much other Land in this Track in the nineteenth year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 41. Henry de Valoigns this mans Son was Sheriff of Kent in the fourteenth of King Edward the third and he had Issue Waretius de Valoigns and Stephen de Valoigns who planted himself at Gore-Court in Otham and is represented in Record to be one of the Conservators of the Peace for this County in the twenty ninth and thirty first years of Edward the third but Waretius de Valoigns determined in two Daughters and Coheirs one was matched to Fogge and the other to Thomas Aldon Son of Thomas de Aldon who was one of the Conservators of the Peace in Kent in the tenth and twelfth years of Edward the third and he in her Right was entituled to the Possession of these places And in this Family did it for diverse years continue untill the ordinary Mutation of Purchase rowled them into the Inheritance of Austin to which Name the Title remained constantly linked untill that Age we style our Grand-fathers and then they were by Richard Austin passed away by Sale to Broadnix so that they are now by paternal Right devolved to Thomas Broadnix Esquire in whose Estate the instant Propriety of them does lye involved Egerton in Godmersham was a Mannor which formerly swelled the demeasn of the noble Family of Valence who were Earls of Pembroke Aymer de Valence Earl of Pembroke held it at his Death which was in the
the Beginning of Henry the eighth and then it was conveyed to Diggs a Family which had some Interest in it as appears by the Book of Aid in the twentieth year of Edward the third and some Descents before and from this Name not long after the same Alienation carried it off to Hales of the Dungeon in which Family it hath remained so constant that it is the instant propriety of Mr. ..... Hales a yonger Branch of that Family Hartlip in the Hundred of Milton hath divers places of Account in it First Gore Court which was in Times of an elder Aspect the Inheritance of a Family of that Appellation and I find that Henry at Gore held it at his Decease in the one and thirtieth year of Edward the third and remained with the Demeasne of this Name until the Beginning of Henry the fifth and then it was transmitted by Sale to Werdecre or Werdegar and here it fixt until the seventeenth year of King James and then William Werdegar Son of George Werdegar passed it away to Sir Nicholas Tufton whose Son and Heir John Earl of Thanet is now the Owner of it Juliana de Leybourne had some Estate here at Gore Court which at her Decease in the three and fortieth year of Edward the third escheating with the Remainder of her Estate to the Crown was by that Prince in the fiftieth year of his Government settled upon the Abby of St. Mary Grace on Tower-hill which he had before founded in the twenty fourth year of his Raign and lay involved in the Patrimony of that Cloister until the general suppression and then it was granted by Henry the eighth to William Werdegar whose Successor sold it with that part of it which was alwaies of secular Interest to Sir Nicolas Tufton Popes-hall in this Parish had Owners likewise of that Sirname who likewise were entituled to some Estate at Gaesden in Tenterden and continued Lords of this Seat until the latter end of Henry the seventh and then it was by Richard Pope Gentleman transmitted by Sale to Christopher Bloer by whose Daughter and Heir called Olympia Bloer it devolved to be the Inheritance of Mr. John Tufton Ancestor to the Right Honorable John Earl of Thanet now Possessor of it Ealgar or Ealdigar now vulgarly by melting away the L called Eager Court or Eagar Croft was anciently as appears by several old Deeds without Date the Patrimony of William de Elmested but continued not long in this Family for in the thirteenth year of Edward the first I find it folded up in the Inheritance of Roger de Northwood and in this Name the Title was resident until the Beginning of Henry the sixth and then it was transplanted by Sale into Norton of Borden from whom in the fourth year of Edward the fourth part of it was passed away by Sale to Champneys and in the eighth year of that Prince the Remainder was by the same Fatality brought to confesse the Signory of the above-mentioned Family from whom Thomas Rider held it in Lease in the Reign of Henry the seventh and in the seventeenth year of that Prince passed away all his Interest and concernment in it to Mark Harris but the Propriety of this place continued still in Champneys And from him did part of it in the twenty fourth year of Henry the eighth passe back again by Sale to Norton and the Remainder in the thirty second year of that King's raign was by the same conveyance wholly remitted to the above recited Family and made its aboad here untill the fourth and fifth year of Philip and Mary and then John Norton by Sale conveyed his Right in it to Gilbert Fremlin and he in the fifteenth year of Queen Elizabeth alienated all his Concernment in it to John Palmer Esquire Father of Sir Anthony Palmer and Grandfather of Dudley Palmer Esquire the instant Possessor of it There is a Mannor in this Parish vulgarly and corruptly called Grayney but in old Deeds Graveney as being indeed the Patrimony of a Family of that Sirname of which Stem was Stephen de Graveney whom as private Record informs me held it in the raign of Edward the first and in his Descendants I find it successively constant and fixed untill the Reign of Henry the sixth And from that Prince's Rule I must make a leap to the Government of Henry the eighth and then I find it in the Tenure of John Mayney of Biddenden Esquire great Grandfather of Sir John Mayney of Linton Knight and Baronet the present Lord of the Fee Hartley in the Hundred of Acstane made up a part of that Patrimony which came within the Circle of that Revenue which owned for Proprietaries the Lords Montchensey whose capitall Seat was at Swanscamp where I shall treat more largely of them but it seems they had a special regard to this Mannor for Warren de Montchensey obtained a Charter of Free-warren to Hartley in the thirty seventh year of Henry the third and left it enobled and secured with this Franchise to his only Son William de Montchensey who dying without Issue Joan his Sister and Heir by marching with William de Valence Earl of Pembroke entituled him to this Mannor and she held it at her Death which was in the first year of Edw. the second from whom it devolved to her Son Aymer de Valence who dying without Issue-male in the seventeenth year of Edward second Isabell de Valence his Heir Generall united it to the Inheritance of her Husband Lawrence de Hastings afterwards Earl of Pembroke from whom it came down to his Grandchild John de Hastings And he deceasing without Issue in the year 1389 left it to his Kinsman Reginald Grey and he brings a pleading for this and other Land against John le Scroope in the fifteenth year of Richard the second and in the second year of Henry the fourth as appears by the Book of Dover in the Exchequer he was peaceably fixed in the Possession and was a person of considerable Rank and importance in those Times for he bore a pair of gilt Spurs at the Coronation of the abovesaid Prince But no eminence of Birth or Dignity can chain the Possession of a place to a Family when the Title leans upon the Wheel of an inconstant and ebbing Estate For the Revolution of Sale about the latter end of Henry the sixth carried it from this Name to Penhale and John the Son of Emma Penhale as appears by the Book of Dover in the Exchequer held it in the second year of Edward the fourth but the Propriety was not long constant in this Family for about the latter end of Henry the seventh I find it in the Tenure of Cressell but it was not long permanent in this Family neither for about the Beginning of Henry the eighth it was by Sale transplanted into Ballard and here the Possession rested untill the latter end of Edward the sixth and then it was alienated to William Sydley Esquire Ancestor to Sir Charles
granted both these Places to Sir Edward VVotton one of his Privy Councel whose Grand-child Sir Thomas VVotton was by King James invested with the Dignity and Title of Thomas Lord VVotton of Marley and was by Thomas Lord Wotton his Son settled in Marriage upon his Daughter Katherine VVotton with Henry Lord Stanhop Son and Heir apparent to Philip Earl of Chesterfeild and is at this instant in relation to the former settlement devolved in Abeyance to her Son the Right Honorable Philip Stanhop the present Earl of Chesterfeild Hern in the Hundred of Blengate has nothing memorable in it but Haw-house a Limb or portion of that wide Demeasne that the eminent Family of Apulderfield held in this Track and when this Name that had been deeply rooted in Antiquity Hern had a Market procured to be held there weekly on the Monday and a Fair yearly upon the Vigil and Day of St. Martin by the Archbishop of Cant. in the twenty fifth of Ed. the third as appears Cart. Num. 31. and had spread to a large extent in the Latitude of it was circumscribed in a Daughter and Heir called Eliz. matched with Sir Jo. Phineux this Seat was made by Female Interest an Addition to the Income of this Family and here it remained undivided from it till this Name determined in John Phineux Esqu issued from a younger Line of this Family who left only one Daughter and Heir married to Sir John Smith Grandfather to Philip Viscount Strangford who in relation to that Right this Match has invested in him is now the instant Proprietary Seas or At Seas Court is likewise involved within the Sphere and Limits of this Parish it was in Records anciently styl'd so though now through Disuse it be languished into an Intermission having lost its Name and the Estimate of a Mannor likewise For a Succession of some Ages it owned the Name and Interest of At Sea till Fate and Time that are the common Sepulchre of Families by Sale gave up the Fee-simple an Age or two since to Knowler whose Heir does yet entitle himself by Right of his Predecessours purchase to the Possession of it Hernehill in the Hundred of Boughton has two Places in it which may make it remarkable First Durgall Stroude which was in Times of higher Track the Martin's a very noble and illustrious Family in this Territory whose capital or principal Seat was at Graveney not far distant and here after it had flourisht by the Decursion of some Ages it fell into a Daughter and Heir called Margaret Sole Daughter and Heir to Matthew Martin who was married to William Norton of Cokesdish in Feversham and in her Right did he become Proprietary of this Mannor from whose Heir Thomas Norton the Property or Fee-simple was by Sale transferred into the Possession of Sir John Wild of Canterbury to whose Heirs General the Propriety of this Mannor does at present relate Secondly there is another Seat in this Parish vulgarly called Apes Court alias Lockley but indeed in truer Orthography writ Epes-Court a place so despicable that it had not been worth the Memoriall but that in all the circumstances of probability the Epes's of Canterbury assumed if not Seat yet at least Sirname from thence and it is the more possible because the Epes's have been ancient Tenants to the Church of Canterbury for the Mannor of Seas-alter divided by a neer Distance from this place in Ages of a more modern Date the Nevinsons were the Lords of the Fee and certainly this was their ancient Mansion before they were transplanted to Eastry this being sold in the Raign of King James by Sir Roger Nevinson to Sir John Wild of Canterbury in whose Heirs General Dudley Wild Esquire his only surviving Son being lately deceased without Issue the Possession continues fixed Hever in the Hundreds of Somerden and Ruxley had in elder Times a Castle See more of this Family at Northfleet which was the Capital Seat or Mannor built by Thomas de Hever who had liberty by the Charter of Edward the third granted to him in the fourth of his Raign not only to embattle his Mansion here but likewise had Free-warren annexed to his Lands in this place William Hever deceased without Issue Male and left only two Daughters and Co-heirs Joane married to Reginald Cobham of Sterborough and the other wedded to Brocas whence in Records it is sometimes called Hever Cobham and Hever Brocas and when the Cobhams went out the Bullens were the immediate Purchasers for Geffrey Bullen purchased this Place and his Grand-child Sir Thomas Bullen Knight of the Garter and Earl of VVilts lived here who was Father to Anne Bullen Wife to Henry the eighth and as he had here his Habitation so likewise he has here his Sepulcher and lieth emtombed in Hever-church but when his Son George Viscount Rochford upon pretence of some black Crimes acted against the Majesty of Henry the eighth fell under the Censure of High Treason this upon his Attainder or Conviction was escheated to the Crown and began to be reputed a Mansion of some Estimate when Anne of Cleve for some Time lived here and made it her residence but in Times subsequent to this I find it eminent for nothing till King James granted it to Sir Edward Waldgrave whose Successor yet possesses it Heys in the Hundred of Rokesley was formerly under the Jurisdiction of the Squirries a Family under a signal Notion of Eminence in this part of the County and was concluded some Ages within their Patrimony till it was bounded by two Daughters and Co-heirs one of which called Dorothy was married to Richard Mervin the other styled Margaret matched to Sir William Cromer who in Right of their Father Thomas Squirrie who held Heys in the eighteenth year of Henry the sixth entituled themselves to vast Possessions in these parts but this Mannor upon the Division accrued to Mervin and in his Posterity some years it found an abode till by Sale the Interest was transmitted to Peche but Sir John Peche deceasing without any Issue Male his only Daughter Elizabeth married to John Hart Esq extracted from the Harts of the County of Hertford was found to be his Heir and in Relation to that Mixture or conjunction does this Family yet continue Proprietaries of it Hinxhill in the Hundreds of Chart and Longbridge was part of that Estate which belonged to the Family of Strabolgie Earls of Atholl but whether or not it devolved to Alexander Balioll Earl of Atholl by Isabell his Wife one of the Co-heirs of Richard de Dover Lord of Chilham is altogether incertain because no Record that I ever yet saw reaches beyond the above mentioned Alexander this mans Son was John Earl of Strabolgie and Athol who having forfeited it in the Raign of Edward the first whilst he endevoured to buoy up the Liberty of his Country of Scotland which then seemed to be sunk in its own Ruines being trampled upon by the succesful Attempts of
seventh year was possest of the other Moiety of this place gave about that year by Charter some land to the Incumbent or Parson of St. Nicholas of Harbledown After these two Families had deserted the Inheritance I find the Archers about the Beginning of Edward the third to be entituled by Purchase to it and William le Archer so he is written in the Book of Aid paid an Auxiliary Supply for this Mannor in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight but his Son VVilliam Archer in the twenty first year of Richard the second passes away his Right by Sale to John Alkham of Alkham a Family that had taken deep Root in Antiquity downwards and had a spreading Revenue upwards in this Track but before the end of Henry the seventh were consumed and crumbled away and then the next Family which succeeded in the Possession was Herman who was likewise owner of Mary-place in Crayford and in this Name did the Interest of it fix until the latter end of Queen Elizabeth and then it was alienated to Andrews who some few years after demised the Fee-simple to Pepper and he almost in the Verge of our Remembrance sold it to Sir Thomas VVilford of Ilden and he in our Memory alienated it to Richards of Dover Although the greatest part of this Mannor was of secular Concernment yet I find that the Prior of St. Martins in Dover had some Interest in it as appears by an Inquisition taken after the Death of John Atte-hall where it is proved in the sixteenth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Numb 129. Parte secunda that he held Lands at his Death at Maxton of that Covent Siberston is the last place of Account in Hougham it gave Name in elder Times to a Family so styled for in an old Deed without Date in the Hands of Mr. Whittingham-Wood of Canterbury lately deceased I find Richard de Siberston demises it to John Monins and in another Deed I discover that John Monins Son of John Monins passes the third Part of his Mannor of Siberston to John Monins the elder in the thirty ninth year of Edward the third And this I think is Authority sufficient to evidence to the Publique that it was a parcel of that Estate that owned the Interest and Signory of that eminent Family in which it lay couched until the latter end of Henry the eighth and then it was by Sale transplanted into Pepper whose Successor in our Fathers Remembrance conveyed it to Moulton of Retherhed vulgarly called Redriff in Surrey in whose Descendants the Inheritance of it does still continue Hunton in the Hundred of Twiford celebrates the Memory of an ancient Family called Lenham who were once Proprietaries of it Nicolas de Lenham obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannour of Hunton in the forty first year of Henry the third but about the Beginning of Edward the third the Interest of it was departed from this Family for William de Lenham determined in Eleanor de Lenham his sole Inheritrix and she by matching with John Gifford wrapt up this and Bensted another little Mannor in this Parish which likewise was parcel of Lenhams Estate in the Demeasne of that Family and he and his Wife paid Releif for Hunton and Bensted in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight But after this it was not long permanent in this Family for about the Beginning of Richard the second it was passed away with Bensted to John Lord Clinton who in the twenty eighth year of Edward the third was found Heir to his Cozen William Clinton Earl of Huntington for that Land which he held Jure proprio nativo not Jure uxoris Julianae de Leybourne in this County And the Effigies of this John and of his Grand child ...... Lord Clinton who paid Relief in the fourth year of Henry the fourth for his Mannor of Hunton at the Marriage of Blanch that Prince's Daughter have escaped the furious Barbarity of these Times and stand yet undemolished in the Church-Windows and from this last did it descend to John Lord Clinton his Successor who about the Beginning of Henry the seventh alienated the Fee-simple to Sir Henry Wiatt one of the Privy Councel to the said Monarch and his Son Sir Thomas Wiatt the elder died seised of it in the thirty fourth year of Henry the eighth and transmitted it with Bensted which his Grand-father likewise bought of the Lord Clinton to his infortunate Son Sir Thomas Wiatt who adhering too strictly to an unhappy Clause in the Testament of Henry the eighth which obliges his Councel not to suffer his Daughters to espouse any Forrainer involved him in that dysastrous Design which could not be expiated but by the Forfeiture of his Life and Estate in which this Mannor of Hunton being concerned it was in the second year of Queen Mary granted to her Atturney General Sir John Baker of Sisinghurst from whom the Title in the Stream of Succession lately glided down to his Heir General Sir John Baker Baronet Son and Heir to Sir John Baker Baronet not many years since deceased Burston is another Mannor in Hunton which is eminent for being the Seat of John de Burston which the Dateless Deeds that relate to this Family from the probable Conjecture of the Hand-writing which is calculated for the Raign of Henry the third record to have lived in that Prince's Time and there was Land likewise about Wye and Crundall that acknowledged the Jurisdiction of this Family for in the forty fifth year of Henry the third Waretius de Valoigns Knight makes a Release of his Title to some Lands in those Parishes to John de Burston and in this Family did this Seat remain for many Descents and was productive of men of no despicable Account in this Track amongst whom William Burston was returned in the twenty ninth year of Henry the sixth by Gervas Clifton then Sheriff inter illos qui portabant Arma Antiqua In the Raign of Henry the eighth Alderman Head of London was resident here and added much both of Building and Magnificence to this Fabrick but certainly it was only as Lessee for I cannot find that he was ever Proprietary of it for about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth it was sold by Burston to Sir Thomas Vane who upon his Decease gave it to his second Son ...... Vane from whom it descended to his Heir Sir George Vane whose Widdow Dowager the Lady ...... Vane is now in Possession of it Hunton had the Grant of a Market procured to it by Nicolas de Lenham on the Tuesday and a yearly Fair to continue five Dayes the Vigil the Day of the Assumption of our Lady and three Dayes after Pat. 41. Henrici tertii Memb. 7. Hucking in the Hundred of Eyhorne is involved in the Mannor of Hollingbourne and was enstated on the Prior and Convent of Christ-church when that by a munificent Donation
this Mannor upon the total Suppression and Abolition here in England was in the seventeenth year of Edward the second united to the Revenne of the Knights Hospitalers and remained annexed to their Demeasne until the common Dissolution supplanted it and then King Henry the eighth granted it to Sir Thomas Cheyney who in the first year of Queen Elizabeth by Sale conveyed it to Mr. Thomas Finch from whom it is now by Descent come down to be the Inheritance of his Successor Mr. Thomas Finch Kingston in the Hundred of Kinghamford was one of those Knights Fees which was assigned to Fulbert de Dover for to be assistant to John de Fiennes in the Guard of Dover Castle And indeed it hath been disputable whether this or Chilham or both jointly were that which in Writings is styled the Honor of Fulberts William de Dover was Teste amongst the Magnates in the Charter of Mawd the Empress for creating Miles of Glocester Earl of Hereford and from this man did it descend to Richard de Dover who was base Son to King John and assumed that Name because he had matched with Roesia or Rose de Dover the Heir General of that Family But he dying in the Beginning of Henry the third Rot. Esc Car. Num. 237. lest it to Isabell his Co-heir wedded to David de Strabolgie Earl of Atholl whose infortunate Son John Earl of Atholl a man of an unbroken though a Calamitous Fidelity towards his Native Country of Scotland seeking to rescue the Liberty of that Nation from those Fetters which the Hand of Edward the first would have put upon it was in an unsuccesful Encounter taken Captive and offered up to the Fury of that Prince on a Gibber fifty Foot high at London saies Daniel at Canterbury saies an old Manuscript late in the Hands of Sir Dudley Diggs which last was rather the Stage on which his Tragedy was represented because that City was almost contiguous to his two great Mannors of Chilham and this of Kingston Upon his fatal and deplorable Exit aggravated because so much Virtue and Courage did rather seem to exact Chaplets and Laurels than so black and ruinous a Catastrophe this Mannor was linkt to the Crown untill King Edward the second in the fifth year of his Raign grants it to Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer Steward of his House but he not long after by an ingrateful Defection having forfeited it again to the Crown that Prince by a new Concession invests it for life in David de Strabolgie Earl of Atholl but after his Disease which was in the first year of Edward the third that Prince in the second year of his Raign restores it to Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer who dying without Issue left it in the twelfth year of Edward the third to his Son and Heir Giles who not long after deceasing likewise without any lawful Issue it came to be divided between his two Sisters and Co-heirs Margaret wedded to William Lord Rosse of Hamlake and Margerie matched to John Tiptoft but before the end of Edward the third this Family had wholly departed from this place and the entire Possession was surrendered up to Rosse For Thomas Lord Rosse dyed possest of it in the seventh year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 68. And from him did the Title slide down to his unhappy Successor Thomas Lord Rosse who was attainted in the fourth year of Edward the fourth and his Forfeiture brought it to the Crown where it rested untill the abovesaid Prince granted it to Roger Lord Wentworth And Margaret his Wife Widow of Thomas Lord Rosse in the eighteenth year of his Rule he conveyed it to him because he had been a great Supporter of his Partie and Title and then to her because she was Sister to John Tiptoft Earl of Worcester who was offered up as an Oblation by the Lancastrian Faction to his Cause and Quarrell and from this Roger did it come down to his Successor Richard Lord Wentworth who in the twenty first year of Henry the eighth demised it by Sale to Thomas Colepeper Esquire in which Family it continued untill the thirty fourth year of that Prince and then it was conveyed away to Sir Anthony Aucher whose Successor Sir Anthony Aucher of Bourne Baronet not many years since conveyed it by Sale to Mr. Gibbons of Westcliff who settled it in Marriage upon his second Son Dr. Gibbons not long since deceased in whose Descendants the Propriety is still resident Ilding in Kingston in Times of as high a Step as any Records can ascend to was the Garwintons of Bekesbourn as appears by that Signal Controversie commenced between Thomas de Garwintor and Theobald de Twitham touching some lands couched within the Verge of his Mannor of Ilding and the Question was so knotty and perplexed that Henry de Cobham Geffrey de Say Hugh de St. Leger Ralph de St. Leger Gile de Badelesmere Fulk de Peyferer Robert de Malevill Alexander de Rosse Robert de Gatton Robert de Campania Richard de Bere Henry de Sorne Henry de Enbroke Alured de Corton and other Gentlemen of prime Account in this Track were chosen Recegnitores magnae Assisae in the second year of King John by their Prudence and dextrous Conduct to soften and becalme this Difference But to go on after the Signory of this place had for many Ages been constant to this Family it devolved to Thomas Garwinton who dying without Issue in the eleventh year of Henry the fourth Richard Haut who had married Joan Garwinton his Heir Generall in her Right was entituled to the Possession of this place but his Son and Heir Richard Haut was the last which held it for Margery his Sole Inheritrix united it to the Inheritance of Isaack in which Name it stayed untill the Beginning of Henry the seventh and then it was transmitted by Sale to Diggs of Diggs-court in Berham and remained clasped up in their Revenue untill that Age which almost was concluded in the Circle of our Remembrance and then it was by Sale transplanted into Wilford so that the Lady Eliz. Wilford Widow Dowager of Sir Thomas Wilford is now by Right of Jointure in Possession of it Parmested is a third place which calls for a Survey it was as high as any Evidence drawn from Record will instruct me to discover the Inheritance of a Family which bore that Sirname for in diverse old Deeds which I have surveyed I find one Hugh de Permested to be a Witnesse which is very probable was Lord of this Place But before the latter end of Edward the second this Family was worn out and that of Garwinton planted in the Possession as appears by an old Fine levyed in the eighth year of Edward the third by Hugh Garwinton in which he passes away his Estate at Permested to Thomas Garwinton from whom it descended to his great Grandchild William Garwinton who dyed possest of it in the eleventh year of Henry the fourth Rot. Esc Num. 45.
But left no Issue so that Joan his Kinswoman matched to Richard Haut became his Heir and he had Issue Richard Haut in whom the Male-line concluding William Isaac in Right of his Wife Margerie who was Daughter and Heir to the above-mentioned Richard entered upon his Estate here at Permested and about the Beginning of Henry the eighth passed it away by Sale to Edward Knevet of Newington Belhouse Esquire and his Daughters and Coheirs by joint Sale demised it to Tho. Lord Cromwell and he in the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth alienated it to Christopher Hales Esquire afterwards knighted first Attorney Generall and then Master of the Rolls under the abovesaid Prince and his Son Sir James Hales conveyed it away to Thomas Alphew aliàs Alphy Yeoman From this Man it came over by Sale in the fifth year of Queen Elizabeth to William Downe of Maidstone Draper and he in the sixth year of that Princesse transmitted it by the like conveyance to Doctour Vincent Denne Doctour of the Civil Law Grand-father to Mr. Vincent Denne of Grays Inne Esquire the present Lord of the Fee A Person to whose Conduct and supply this particular Survey ows a grateful Remembrance because by his Concurrent Aid it was guided along through all those Difficulties which might have probably intercepted it in its farther progresse Denhill in this Parish was not only the Seat but likewise the Seminary of a Family of eminent Note in this County Ralph de Den held much Land in Romney Mersh and likewise at Buckhurst in Sussex as appears by an old Roll now in the Hands of the Earl of Dorset about the twentieth of William the Conqueror and is styled in the Record Son of Robert Pincerna a Name imposed upon his Father from being as is probable either Butler or Sewer to Edward the Confessor an Office of no vulgar Account in those Times Sir Alured de Den flourished in the Raign of Henry the third and was a Person of signal Estimate in that Age for when the Laws of Romney Mersh were compiled by that venerable Judge Henry de Bath from which all England receives Directions for Sewers this Sir Alured and Nicolas de Haudloe were his Associates and Assistants in the Composure of them in the forty second year of Henry the third on Saturday next after the Nativity of St. Mary and which makes this Sir Alured de Den more remarkable he sealed even in that Age divided by so remote a Distance from us with three Leopards Heads couped and full faced which is the ancient paternal Coat of this Family Indeed if I should enter into a particular Discourse of all those Persons who have been originally extracted from this Family and were formerly eminent not only within the private Sphere of this County as being invested with the Commission of Justices of the Peace and other Offices of publique Trust and Concernment but likewise shone like Stars of the first Magnitude within the two Orbes of Divinity and the Law both Civil and Municipal the Survey of this Place which I intend to retrench within as narrow Bounds as may be must swell into a particular Treatise it is enough therefore to inform the Reader that it hath been so many Centuries of years folded up in the Propriety of Den. that there is no Gappe at all in the Succession between Ralph de Den the first of that Name and Tho. Den Esq the last who in a direct Line enjoyed it Nor hath it yet departed from the Name for the above mentioned Thomas lately deceasing without Issue-Male Vincent Donne of Grays-Inn Esquire collarerally issued out of this Family by matching with Mary his yongest Daughter and Coheir in Right of this Alliance is now in the instant Possession of it Kingsnoth in the Hundreds of Chart and Longbridge did in elder Times give Sear and Sirname to a Family which assumed its Denomination from hence who bore as appears by Seals appendant to their ancient Deeds Ermin upon a Bend five Cheverons and John de Kingsnoth who flourished here about the latter end of Edward the first sealed with that Coat and this Inscription encircles the Seal Sigillum Joannis de Kingsnoth Yet I find Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer who was attainted in the seventeenth year of Edw. the second had some Interest in this Mannor which upon his Conviction escheated to the Crown and rested there until Richard the second granted it out again to Sir Robert Belknap the Judge who had not long before purchased that proportion which Kingsnoth was concerned in So that by this Concession it came entirely to own the Signory of this Family But he being infortunately attainted and cast into Exile in the tenth year of the above said Prince this Mannor was annexed to the Revenue of the Crown and was lodged there until Henry the sixth in the twenty seventh year of his Raign granted some part of it to Sir Thomas Brown of Bechworth Castle in Surrey and with it a Charter to inclose a Parke which had Liberty of Free-warren annexed to it and likewise the more to endear him licensed this Town to hold a Fair yearly on Michaelmas Day but the principal part of it was conveyed by Sale to Cardinal Kemp who about the twenty eighth of Henry the sixth settled it on the Colledge of Wye where it remained until the Resignation of its Revenue into the Hands of Henry the eighth in the twenty ninth year of his Raign and he by Royal Concession made it the Demeasne of Thomas Lord Cromwell afterwards Earl of Essex Who being attainted of High Treason in the thirty second year of that Prince it escheated back to the Crown and then a Moiety of it in the thirty fifth year of his Government was granted to Sir John Baker from whom by hereditary Conveyance it was delegated and transmitted to his Successor Sir John Baker of Sisingherst Baronet who some few years since hath alienated his Concerment here to Mr. Nathaniel Powell of Ewherst in Sussex The other Moiety of it lay folded up in the Patrimony of the Crown untill the first year of Queen Elizabeth and then it was by that Princesse granted to her Kinsman Henry Cary afterwards created Baron Hunsdon from whom by the Channel of Descent it was transported to his Grand-child the Right Honorable Henry Cary Earl of Dover who in our Memory conveyed it to Sir Thomas Finch afterwards Earl of Winchelsey Father to the instant Proprietary the Right Honorable Heneage Finch now Earl of Winchelsey Munfidde in this Parish was originally the Seat of the Clere's written in their ancient Deeds le Clere. But as all Families have their Vicissitudes and Tombs and like the Sea which is circumscribed and shut in with a Girdle of Sand are fettered to a determinate Period so was this for about the latter end of Edward the third Henry le Clerc concluded in Susan le Clerc who was his Daughter and Heir and she by matching with Sir Simon Woodchurch annexed
Fremingham died seised of it in the thirtieth year of Edward the third and when this Family went out the Pimps of Pimps-Court and Nettlested by Purchase became Lords of the Fee from whom the same Fare brought it to acknowledge the Signory of the Isleys of Sundrich and here it continued till Sir Henry Isley in the Raign of Q. Mary being attainted of High Treason it became Confiscated to the Crown and She in the second year of her Government granted it to Sir Walter Henley Knight of Coursehorne in Cranbroke in whose Name and posierity the Possession has remained Successively planted till this Day Seventhly Chillington is not to be omitted because I find it in the Register of those Lands which acknowledged the Lords Cobham for Lords of the Fee And when John de Cobham had obtained a Charter of Free-warren in the seventeenth year of Edw. the third to all his Lands in Kent The Mannor of Chillington is Recorded in the Catalogue amongst them After them it came as the Court-rolls and private Evidences of this place inform me to acknowledge the Signory and Jurisdiction of the Mapelysdens of Digons and remained circumscribed in their Revenue till Queen Mary began to weild the English Scepter and then George Mapelysden being entangled beyond all retreat in the unsuccessfull Expedition of Sir Thomas Wyat miscarried in that Attempt and lost his Estate by Forfeiture to the Crown and Q. Mary granted it to Sir Walter and Gervas Henley Esquire who not long after sold his Interest in it to Nicholas Barham Esquire Serjeant at Law to Queen Elizabeth and his Successor alienated this place to Hawle of Wye whose Grandchild Mr. George Hawle lately deceased held the Fee-simple of it Lastly within the Ambute or Limits of Maidstone stands an ancient Castellated House called the Moate It did in times of great Antiquity relate to that Patrimony which confessed the Signory of the noted Family of Leybourne for Roger de Leybourne obtained the Grant of a Market weekly on the Tuesday and a Fair yearly to continue three Dayes at the Feast of St. Cross in the fifty first year of Henry the third as appears Pat. 51. Hen. tertii Memb. 10. But before the beginning of Edw. the third this Name was withered and shrunk into Decay at this place and then Bartholomew Lord Burghurst or Burwash Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and one of the first Founders of the Order of the Garter came to possesse it and Inhabited here in the twenty ninth year of Edward the third and possessed the Signory called Shofford on which the Castle stands and which one John de Shofford held by Knights-Service in the twentieth year as appears by the Book of Aid of Edward the third After the Lords Burghurst the Woodvills were possest of it and removed from Grafton in the County of North-Hampton where they had long continued and lived here A fair Monument of Woodvill on the North-side the Chancell of Maidstone-Church affirms it and when King Henry the sixth created Richard Woodvill Constable of the Isle of Wight a Baron of this Nation and elected him into the Order of the Garter his Style was Lord Rivers Grafton and De la Moat which Act of Grace and Favour mollified a Sentence and Fine of 1000. lb. imposed upon him for matching with Jaquet Daughter of Peter of Luxenbourg Earl of St. Paul Widow of John Plantagente Duke of Bedford without the Kings Licence But when King Edward the fourth had married Elizabeth his eldest Daughter being widow to Thomas Marquesse Dorcett he created him Earl Rivers and Lord of the Isle of VVight which Titles he had observed were concomitant in some of the Styles of the Lords Rivers or de Ripariis who were the Ancient Earls of Devon and assumed to bear in an Escocheon of pretence upon his own Atchievement the old Coat ascribed commonly to Baldwin de Ripariis Earl of Devon viz. Gules a Griphen Segreant Or which I note for Criticks in Armorie to descant on and return to the Historie of the Place When this good man for so he was noted to be was miserably massacred by Robert Ridisdale Captain of the Lewd People of North-Hampton-shire who took him at Edgcot-Field and struck off his head at North-Hampton Their Will being their Law and Mischief Minister to their wild Designs all his seven Sons who survived him died without Issue and then Sir Henry VVyat becomes owner of this place Grandfather to Sir Thomas VViat afterwards his Successor in the Possession of it whose dysastrous Tragedy is presented at Boxley upon whose untimely Exit Hugh VVarham in the second year of Queen Mary by Grant from the Crown enters upon it from whom Alderman Rither afterwards Lord Maior of London and known by the Name of Sir VVilliam Rither Purchased and Repaired it and left it to his Daughter and Coheir the Lady Susan Caesar whose eldest Son Tho. Caesar Esq and his Mother concurring together disposed of their Right in it by Sale to Sir Humphrey Tufton Knight second Son to Sir John Tufton Knight and Baronet and Brother to Nicholas Tufton Earl of Thanett who was Father to John the present Earl There was a Family Sirnamed de Maidstone whose Blazon upon a Monument in Vlcombe Church is Sables a Cheveron between three Cups covered Argent Crowned Or VVilliam de Maidston the Kings Valect being sent to the Court of Rome with certain Instruments and other expresses deceas'd in his Journey as appears Pat. Anno quinto Edwardi primi prima Pars. Pinenden-Heath confines upon Maidston and is eminent for the Punishment of Malefactors and the frequent Assemblies of Free-holders who here convene to elect such Persons for Knights of the Shire as may represent the County in Parliament But it was in elder times more famous for that great Convention of English and Normans who met there in the fourth year of Wil. the Conquerour to decide the great Controversie which then broke forth between Lanfranc Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and Odo Earl of Kent touching some Lands and Priviledges which the said Arch-Bishop alleaged were by an unjust Usurpation by the above-said Odo ravished away from the Church which because it gives us a full Prospect of that exorbitant and wide power which the Clergie of those times did entitle themselves to I shall endevour to pourtray it in as Brief and narrow a Landskip as I have pencill'd it out by Textus Roffensis an old Book in Manuscript so called where it is more voluminously represented At Pinenden-Heath says Textus Roffensis in the fourth year of William the Conquerour there was an Assemblie of the gravest and discreetest of the English and Normans by a signall Decision and Debate to deternine of that Controversie which did formerly arise between Odo Bishop of Bayeux and Earl of Kent touching some Lands and Priveledges which were detained from the Church by the said Earl and Lanfranc Arch-Bishop of Canterbury The said Dispute or Debate lasted three Dayes after the
expiration of which the said Arch-Bishop recovered severall Lands which he the said Odo and his Tenants then held which were Herbert the Son of Ivo Turold of Rochester Ralph de Curva-Spina and Hugh de Montfort with all the Franchises belonging to them as namely Sac and Soc Toll and Theam Infangtheof and Outfang-theof Flymena Firmth Grithbreach Forestall Heinfare and Cersett the last of which because none of our Interpreters of the dark and obscure Terms of the Law do explain I shall It was a Rent-charge of a certain Proportion of Corn in the ear paid at the Feast of St. Martin with all other Customes greater or less both on the Land and on the Water and it was tried and proved by all the honest and wise Men both Normans and English who were present that as the King himself holds his Lands quiet and free in his Demeasne so the Arch-Bishop holds all his Lands whoily quiet and free in his Demeasne In the presence of these it was shewn by many and most evident Reasons that the King hath no Customes in the Church of Canterbury but onely three which are these If any man digg in the Kings High-way or cut down any Tree to stop it if any man shall be apprehended and found Culpable whilest they are in doing such things whether Pledges be taken of them or not yet by prosecution of the Kings Officer and by Pledges they shall amend what is unjustly done The third Custome is If any man commit Blood-shed on the Kings High-way if whilst he does it he be apprehended and imprisoned he shall then make amends unto the King But if he shall not be apprehended but depart without giving any Pledge the King may not in Justice require any thing of him And it was at the same time farther determined that if any Person did commit Blood-shed or Manslaughter in places which were within the Liberties of the Church of Canterbury from the time that the Church left off to Sing Alleluiah to the Octaves of Easter that then he should make amends onely to the Arch-Bishop And it was likewise shewed at the same Time that whosoever should commit the Crime of Childwitt that is of Bastardy if it were in Lent the Arch-Bishop should have the whole Satisfaction but if out of Lent then he should have onely half of it There were present at this Assembly Goisfrid Bishop of Constance the Kings Substitute Ernost Bishop of Rochester Egelric or Agelric Bishop of Selsey and Chichester a Man of deep insight in the Constitutions Ecclesiastical and of so great an Age that he was brought in a Wagon for his Discussion and Declaration says Textus Roffensis upon the known Laws Usages Franchises and Customes of Holy Church Hugh de Montfort William de Arces Richard de Tunbridge and lastly Haymo Sheriff of Kent Town Malling and East Malling lie in the Hundred of Larkfield and were both Mannors which related to that Revenue which made up the Patrimony of the Nunnery of Town Malling which was founded by Gundulphus Bishop of Rochester about the year 1090 and dedicated to the Virgin Mary and had the Church it self which was likewise named after the blessed Virgin and the Chappel of St. Leonards not far distant Though this Gundulphus was the Founder yet Haimo de Heath as appears by the Records of Rochester aws an eminent Benefactor to it about the year 1339. Both these Mannors upon the Suppression having augmented the Revenue of the Crown they rested there untill the fourth year of Edward the sixth and then they were granted in Lease for Life to Sir Hugh Cartwright and upon his Decease they were passed away upon the same Condition to Pierpoint and he conveyed them to William Brook Lord Cobham whose Son Henry Lord Cobham being attainted in the second year of King James they were re-assumed by the Crown and after granted in Lease to Sir Humphrey Delind a Man furnished with a liberal stock both of divine and humane Learning and he passed away his Interest to Sir Robert Brett but the Fee-simple continued with the Crown until the twenty first of King James and then they were granted for ever to John Rayney Esquire which Concession was fully ratified by King Charles to whom the Profits of these Mannors were assigned when he was Prince towards the Support of of his Court in the second year of his Raign to Sir John Rayney now of Wrotham Knight and Baronet which Sir John is lineally descended from John Reignie for so the Name in old Deeds is written who held the Mannor of Edgeford in Devon and Smitheley-hall in York-shire in the Raign of Edward the third still the Possession of this Family Which John was originally extracted from Sir John de Reignie who as is manifest by the old Rolls and Registers of this Family held the Mannor of Newton in Cumberland in the raign of Henry the third West-Malling had a Market granted to it on the Saturday by Henry the third at the Instance of the Lady Abbesse of that place to whom and to the Nuns of this Cloister the Vicar of East-Malling was Jure Loci always Confessor Parrocks and Ewell are two appendant Mannors involved in the Mannor of West-Malling whose Fee-simple was passed away to John Rayney Esquire when the other was linked by Grant to his Demeasne Ex autographis penes Jo. Reyney Millit Baronetum the last of which lay in Brenchley and was in Lease many years from the Nunnery to Hextall whose Female Heir brought it to VVhetenhall and Sir Richard VVhetenhall in the twelfth year of Q. Elizabeth sold it to George Lord Cobham and his Son Henry Lord Cobham alienated it to Sir Thomas Fane Ancestor to Mildmay Earl of VVestmerland whose Lease being lately expired it is now come to confesse Sir John Reyney Knight and Baronet for sole Proprietarie Borough Court in East-Malling was parcell of the ancient Demease of the noble Family of Colepeper of Preston in Alreâ—ford and was found united to their Revenue at the Death of VValter Colepeper Esquire which was in the first year of Edward the third and in this Family did it continue involved for sundry Ages till allmost in our Grand-fathers memory it was by Sale conveyed away to Shakerley descended from the Shakerleys of Shakerley in Lancashire but it made no long aboad here for in the Age subsequent to that wherein it was purchased this Family resolved into a Daughter and Heir who was matched to Beauley descended from the Beauleys of Beauleys Court in VVouldham who brought Borough Court along with her into the Possession of that Family and left it to her only Daughter and Heir Mary Beauley who by matching lately with Mr ....... Basse of Suffolk hath made it parcel of his Interest and Propriety Marden is not parcell only of the Hundred of Middleton or Milton but an Appendage of the Mannor also but because they are divided by so remote a distance from the above-mentioned place they in
legible wherein at the Foot of it there is mention of one Edward Filmour so he was written in that Age from whom it is probable though now the Name by Time and prescription be in the last Syllable of it something violated the present Sir Edward Filmer eldest Son to that Learned Loyal and Worthy Person Sir Robert Filmer lately deceased is primitively extracted and this is confirmed by their own private Evidences which represent them for many Cenerations even till this present Possessors of this Place and wherein the Name is frequently written Filmor aswel as in latter Escripts Filmer There is another Mannor in Ottringden which anciently was reputed so though now by Disuse and Intermission it hath lost that Estimate and is called Hall-place by a very Ancient Court-roll Sans date now in the Hands of Mr. Paine It is represented in those Times when it had Tenants and Services belonging to it to be the propriety of one Roger Rev and in that Roll there is mention of one Thomas Franklin who held some Lands of this Mannor by paying yearly the Tribute or Rent-service of one Red Rose as the Symbol of his Homage And now for want of farther Light from the Ancient Deeds and Evidences I must make a leap to the raign of Henry the seventh and then I find Eugenius Cock in the nineteenth year of that Prince sels it to John Bunce of this Parish Gentleman in which Family the possession rested until very lately it was by Sale alienated to Mr. Paine Monkton is the last place in this Parish of Note It belonged before the suppression to the Nunnery of Davington and was given to that Cloyster by Matthew Son of Hamon Atfrith upon the first Erection of it which was in the thirty ninth year of Henry the third Upon the suppression and final Dissolution ' of this Covent of Davington by Henry the eighth it was by that Prince granted to Sir Thomas Cheney whose Son the Lord Henry Cheyney so fugitive is the Tenure of Church-Demeasne in the entrance into the raign of Queen Elizabeth passed it away to Godden who so small a space was resident in the possession that he hath only left us Notice that he sold it to William Lewin descended from the Lewins of Norfolk whose Son Sir Justinian Lewin concluded in a Daughter and Heir who was matched to Rogers of the County of Somersett and so in her Right it became interwoven with his Demeasne but remained not long thus involved in the Interest of this Name for in our Memory he deceased and left only a Daughter and Heir who is lately matched to Charles Cavendish Lord Mansfeld eldest Son to William Lord Marquess of Newcastle so that Monkton in his Ladies Right is now united to his Inheritance There are two Chappels in the Parish Church of Ottringden that on the North-side of the Chauncel is called Ottringdens Chappel where the Remains of several of the Ottringdens St. Legers Auchers and Lewins lie enterred that on the South-side is termed Bunces Chappel where the Ashes and Reliques of several of that Family slumber who were of no contemptible Note in this Parish where they had a Mansion which in old Evidences is called Bunces Court which hath been in their possession as appears by their own Deeds some Hundreds of years and from hence are the Bunces of Throuley likewise originally issued forth P. P. P. P. PAdlesworth in the Hundred of Lovingborough is so obscure and inconsiderable a Village that it should not have filled a place in this Register but that it was a portion of that wide Estate which lay spread over the Face of all the adjacent Territorie and acknowledged it self to be under the Jurisdiction of the Criolls Bertram de Crioll died about the middle of Edward the first and left Joan his Sole Heir who had been before matched to Sir Richard de Rokesley of Rokesley Court in Northcrey and so Padlesworth became the Rokesley's but did not long cleave to that Name for he expired likewise in two Female Co-heirs whereof one of them called Joan was matched to Thomas de Poynings and he left Issue Michael Poynings from whom it came down to his descendant Robert Poynings who passed it away by Sale to Fogge of Sene in Newington in which Family the Title for many Descents lay involved even until our Fathers Remembrance and then it was alienated to Dynley who is the instant Lord of the Fee Padlesworth in the Hundred of Larkefeild was as high as the raign of H. the third the Possession of a Family called Chetwind who immediatly after exchanged it with Hamon de Gatton for the Mannor of Hocklin in the County of Bedford but kept it not long for after it had continued some smal Interval of Time in this Family it was alienated to the Noble Family of Huntingfeild after whom succeeded Bele and then it went away by Sale to Bullock who by the same Devolution surrendred the possession to Diggs where it had but a very transitory aboad for he conveyed it away to Peckham from whom the ordinary Mutation made by Purchase brought it to own the Propriety of Vineley who translated his Interest by Sale unto William Clifford of Bobbing-court and he about the beginning of Henry the fixt fixed the Title and Possession by Sale in Robert Bambergh Where it is to be noted that this quick and suddain Revolution of the Title of this place in those Families which intervened between Huntingfeild and Bambergh happened in lesse then a Circle of fifty years as appears by the original Conveyances now in the Hands of Mr. Marsham But to advance in that Discourse where I broke off Robert Bambergh above-mentioned was not long settled in his new Acquists but he deceased and left it to his Daughter and Heir who was matched to Nicolas Wotton Esquire from whom in a direct Line it came down to Thomas Lord Wotton who settled it in Marriage upon his Daughter and Co-heir Katherine Wotton with Henry Lord Stanhop eldest Son and Heir apparent to Philip Earl of Chesterfeild and this Lady hath since passed it away to my Noble Friend John Marsham of Whornes-place in Cuckeston Esquire from whose Deeds and Papers I have drawn my present Intelligence Patricksbourn in the Hundreds of Bredge and Pet-ham in Ancient Records hath still the Addition of Cheyney annexed to it for indeed it was the first and original Residence of the Cheyneys before they translated their Habitation to Shurland in Shepey by matching with the Heir of Shurland Alexander de Cheyney is registred in the Catalogue of those Kentish Gentlemen who accompanied Richard the first to the Siege of Acon In Testa de Nevill an Ancient Book kept in the Exchecquer there is mention of Gulielmus de Casineto so they are written in Latine that is William de Cheyney who paid respective supply in the twentieth year of Henry the third at the Marriage of Isabell that King's Sister for his Lands at Patriksbourn Cheyney
Nephew Sir Nicholas Miller to whom we ascribe the new Additions which are set out with all the Circumstances both of Art and Magnificence and is now possest by his Son and Heir Hump. Miller Esquire Pencehurst is seated upon the utmost Boundary of the Lowy of Tunbridge and was an eminent Mansion of a very Ancient Family whose Sirname was Penchester of whom there is mention in the Great Survey of England taken in the twentieth year of William the Conqueror vulgarly called Doomes-day Book and in this Family did the possession reside until the two Daughters and Co-heirs of the famous Sir Stephen de Penchester who was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle in the Raign of Edward the second and who died seised of it in the year of that Prince's Government Rot. Esc Numb ... divided the Inheritance Joane the eldest was matched to Henry Lord Cobham of Roundall in Shorne and she carried away Allington-castle Alice the other Daughter and Co-heir was wedded to John Lord Columbers and she had Pencehurst and other Lands for her proportion And he had Issue by her Thomas de Columbers who by his Deed dated at Pencehurst in the eleventh year of Edward the third passes away his Right in it to Sir John de Poultney and he in the twelfth year of the above-mentioned Prince obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor of Pencehurst and in the twentieth year of Edward the third paid Aid for it at making the Black Prince Knight and held it at his Decease which was in the twenty third year of that Prince and left it to his Son William Poultney who immediatly after alienated it to Guy Lovain who had Issue Sir Nicolas Lovain who held Pencehurst in the forty fourth year of Edward the third and married Margaret eldest Daughter to John Vere Earl of Oxford re-married to Henry Lord Beaumont and after to Sir John Devereux Knight of the Garter Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Constable of Dover-castle and Steward of the Kings House in the eleventh year of King Richard the second In the sixteenth year of whose raign he had Licence by Letters Patents to fortifie and embattel his Mansion-house at Pencehurst His Daughter and Heir was matched to Walter Lord Fitz-water from whom the Earls of Sussex descended and he had a Brother named Sir Walter Devereux from whom the late Earl of Essex was derived and the Arms of this Sir John Devereux were not long since extant in a Window on the North-side of Pencehurst Church But he only enjoyed this Mannor in Right of his Wife for after her Death it devolved to Philip St. Clere of Aldham St. Clere in Eightham who married Margaret Daughter of Sir Nicolas Lovain above-mentioned Sister and Heir to her Brother Nicolas Lovain who died without Issue And by her he had John St. Clere who passed away his Right here to John Duke of Bedford third Son to Henry the fourth and he enjoyed Pencehurst at his Decease which was in the fourteenth year of Henry the sixth but dying without Issue it came down to Humphrey Duke of Gloucester fourth Son of Henry the fourth who was strangled in the Abby of Bury by the procurement and practises of the Duke of Suffolke and he likewise going out without Posterity it returned to the Crown And Henry the sixth in the twenty fifth year of his raign granted it to Humphrey Stafford Duke of Buckingham whose infortunate Grandchild Edward Duke of Buckingham endeavouring by a specious Semblance of Vanity and Ostentation guilded with all the Cunning and Pompe of Magnificence to make himself popular and entering afterwards into Consultation with a Monk and another who pretended to the dark Art of Necromancy about the Succession of the Crown poured in so many Jealousies into the Bosome of Henry the eighth which were multiplied to the height of Treason by the malice of Cardinal Wolsey that nothing could allay or appease them but the Effusion of this mans Blood in the twelfth year of that Prince upon a Scaffold Upon whose infortunate Exit this Mannor escheated to the Crown and here it remained until King Henry the eighth granted it to his faithful Servant Sir Ralph Vane who being entangled with John Duke of Somersett in that obscure Design which was destructive to them both in the fourth year of Edward the sixth this was again seised upon by the Crown as escheated by his Conviction and remained with its Revenue until the above-said Prince in the sixth year of his Government by Royal Concession planted the Inheritance in Sir William Sidney his Tutor who was likewise Lord Chamberlain of his Houshold and one of his Privy Councel from whom it is descended to his great Grand-child the Right Honorable Robert Earl of Leicester designed Lord Lievtenant of Ireland by the late King Charles and he is the instant Proprietary of it Pencehurst Halymote is another little Mannor in this Parish and had still the same Owners with Pencehurst and upon the Tragedy of Edward Duke of Buckingham devolving by Escheat to the Crown lay couched in the Royal Revenue until the State not many years since passed it away by Grant to Colonel Robert Gibbons Pepenbury vulgarly called Pembury is seated in the Hundreds of Watchlingston and Twyford and contains within the Limits of it that noted Seat called Bayhall which was the Ancient Seat of the Ancient Family of Colepepers The first of which whom I find made eminent by Record is Thomas de Colepeper who was as appears by the Bundels of incertain years in the Pipe-Office one of the Recognitores Magnae Assisae in the raign of King John a place if we consider the Meridian of those Times for which it was calculated that is before the establishment of the Conservators of the Peace of eminent Trust and Concernment And certainly this man was Father of that Thomas Colepeper who was brought upon the Stage and his Tragedy represented at Leeds Castle where he was sacrificed to the Anger of Edward the second because he was a more faithful Castellan to the Lord Badelesmer then he was a Loyal Subject to his Soveraign and with his Life he lost his Estate here at Pepenbury Yet I find by the close Rols of the seventeenth year of Edward the second Memb. 5. that there was much of his Land here and in other places by the Indulgence of that Prince restored to his Son Thomas de Colepeper but yet the Mannor and this Seat remained lodged in the Crown yet certainly it was no contemptible parcel of Land that was granted back for Richard the second by Royal Concession gave Licence to Thomas Colepeper to inclose fifty Acres of Land into a Park at Pepenbury But to advance In the twenty fifth year of Henry the sixth the Crown devests it self of its Right to both these places and transplants it by Grant into Humphrey Stafford the Duke of Buckingham from whom they descended to his infortunate Grand-child Edward Duke of
Book of Aide and the Book called Feoda Militum in the Exchequer do both inform us his Son was Gerard Braybrooke and his Grand-child was Reginald Braybrooke whose Heir Joan Braybrooke married to Thomas Brooke of the County of Somerset but whether this Reginald Braybrooke gave this Mannor to pious Uses or not and principally to the Abby of Leeds adjacent I cannot positively determine upon the Suppression it was granted as being parcel of the Demeasne of the Convent of Leeds by Henry the eighth in the thirty seventh year of his reign to John Tufton Esquire who passed it away by Sale to Mr. Richard Argall whose Heir Elizabeth Argall being married to Edward Filmer Esquire made it the possession of that Family and by a communicative Right from him does his Grand-child Sir Edward Filmer Son to Sir Robert Filmer lately deceased now hold the possession and propriety of it Sutton Valence and Chart by Sutton both lie in the Hundred of Eyhorne the last of which contracted the Appellation from formerly owning William de Valence Earl of Pembroke to be Lord of the Fee who certainly instituted that Castle that now even in its Reliques and Fragments with much of venerable Magnificence overlooks the Plain And when Aymer de Valence his Son concluded in a Female Heir Isabell she was wedded to Lawrence Lord Hastings who in relation to her became not only Earl of Pembroke but Lord of Sutton-Valence also and from him did it descend to his Grand-child John Hastings Earl of Fembroke the last Earl there of that Name who transmitted his Title of that place to Reginald Grey and Richard Talbot who flourished here about the reign of Henry the fourth and they had this Mannor by Testamentary Donation in the fourteenth year of Richard the second In the next Age subsequent to this I find the Cliffords of Bobbing-court to be the Proprietaries and to this Family was the Inheritance in a constant Union fastned till Nicholas Clifford Esquire deceased without Issue-male and left only one Daughter and Heir called Mildred who was first married to Harper secondly to More thirdly to Warren and lastly to Blount but she had only Issue by Harper and More for in her Right Edward Lord More of Mellifont in Ireland and Sir Edward Harper divided the Possession but the first desiring to contract his whole Revenue into Ireland and the other to make this adjacent to his principal Seat of Ruspar-hall in the County of Derby Sir Edward Harper alienated this to Sir Edward Hales Knight and Baronet and the Lord More Chart by Sutton to the same worthy Person Grand-father to Sir Edward Hales Baronet who not only enjoyes the Title of his Ancestors Dignity but that of the Possession in these places likewise Cheyneys-court in this Parish hath been adopted into that Name since it for many Descents acknowledged the Jurisdiction and propriety of that Family and I could unravel a Successive Series of many of that Name but that it is superfluous who were Lords of the Fee it is enough that Sir Thomas Cheyney sold it to Iden which Name suddenly after resolving into two Daughters and Co-heirs one matching with Brown and the other with Barton the last made it parcel of the Patrimony of that Family and when some years it had been continued in the possession of Barton it was in our Memory by Sale brought over to be the Demeasne of Wollett and it is now but whether by Purchase or by the Right of a Female Heir or not I cannot ascertain my self the propriety of Jordan Sutton at Hone lies in the Hundred of Acstane and gives Denomination to the whole Lath wherein it is situated It was long since a Mannor relating to the Revenue of the Knights Hospitallers who had here a Mansion-house called St. Johns where they often made their Retreat when they visited their other Demeasne Land which lay circumscribed within the Verge of this County but their Estate here was much inforced and improved by the Addition of the Mannor of Grandison which whether it came to them by Purchase or Donation from Thomas Lord Grandison who died the forty ninth year of Edward the third is incertain Upon the Suppression of the Alberge of these Knights of St. John of Jerusalem here in England their Revenue was assumed into the possession of the Crown and King Henry the eighth bestowed by Grant on Sir Maurice Dennis St. John's and to him does that magnificent and elegant Pile where now the Countess of Leicester makes her Residence owe the first Institution of its Shape and Beauty though it has been since extreamly inlarged by the Additions both of Bulk and Ornament by Sir Thomas Smith But to proceed St. Johns was conveyed from Sir Maurice Dennis by his Coheir to Thomas Cranfeild whose Grand-child Vincent Cranfeild has lately alienated his Right to Mr. Hollis of London Merchant Haly Sawters is another Mannor in Sutton in Hone a place though now obscure in it self and not re-presented to our Remembrance but by Annals and Record yet in elder Times it was raised up to a higher degree of Estimate when it had Proprietaries whose Nobility and Title added both Value and Lustre unto it The first of which Register whom I trace in Record to be entituled to the Possession was Laurence de Hastings Earl of Pembroke and he died seised of it in the twenty second year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 47. from whom the Title came down to his Son John de Hastings and he likewise was in the enjoyment of it at his Decease which was in the forty ninth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 70. After this Family had deserted the Inheritance I find Richard Fitz Allen Earl of Arundel to be invested in the Possession and he died in the Tenure of it in the one and twentieth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 2. From whom it devolved to Joan his Daughter and Co-heir matched to William Beauchamp Baron of Aburgavenny whose Son Richard Lord Beauchamp dying without Issue Male Elizabeth his Sole Daughter espoused to Edward Nevill Baron of Aburgavenny in her Right be came his Heir and he in the sixteenth year of Edward the fourth died possest of this Mannor of Sawters And here for want of Light both from publick or private Record I cannot discover to my Reader or my self whether or not it passed away immediately from Nevill to Maio whom I find about the beginning of Q. Elizabeth to be planted in the Possession though the Affirmation of some old people of this Parish who derived that Knowledge they have of it from the Tradition of their Ancestors that assert it did Thomas Maio in the twenty eighth of Q. Elizabeth passed it away to Rich. Paramour and he presently after disposed of it by Sale to Sir Henry Brooke who conveyed it to Robert Wroth Esquire and he to Edmund Hunt Esquire who alienated Haly and Sawters to Mr. William Hewson in the thirty fourth year of
in the first year of K. Henry the second in the year of our Lord 1154 as appears by the Records of the Pipe Office which I must now exactly trace where the Sheriffs Accounts are inrolled His Seat was at Swerdlin in Petham and sometime at Tremworth in Bocton Alulph Ralph Picot was Sheriff the second third fourth fifth sixth and seventh years of K. Henry the second Adam Picot supplied part of the last year and Hugh de Dover the rest Hugh de Dover descended from Fulbert de Dover to whom the Castle of Chilham with the Mannor of Kingston and other Knights Fees were granted by K. William the Conqueror in Defence of Dover Castle was Sheriff of Kent the eighth ninth tenth eleventh twelfth thirteenth and fourteenth years of Henry the second His Residence was sometimes at Chilham Castle and sometimes at Kingston Gervas de Cornhill was Sheriff of Kent the fifteenth sixteenth seventeenth eighteenth ninteenth and twentieth of Henry the second His Seat was Lukedale in Littlebourn Robert Fitz Bernard was joyned with Gervas de Cornhill in the twenty first of Henry the second and after that year was expired he exercised the Office alone till the thirtieth of the said Kings Reign His Capital Mansion was Kingsdown near Ferningham Arnoldus but of what Family is not yet discovered was Sheriff of Kent the twentieth second of Henry the second William Fitz Neal was Sheriff of Kent the thirtieth of Henry the second and Will. Fitz Philip was joyned with him Where his Residence was is incertain Allan de Valoigns was Sheriff of Kent the thirty first thirty second thirty third and thirty fourth of Henry the second His Seat was frequently at Swerdlin in Petham and often at Repton in Ashford Henry de Cornhill Son to Gervas de Cornhill above recited was Sheriff of Kent in the first second and third years of Richard the first His Seat was at Lukedale Reginald de Cornhill was Sheriff of Kent the fourth fifth sixth seventh eighth ninth and last year of K. Richard the first and during the whole Reign of K. John and in the twelfth year of his Reign John Fitz Vinon of Haring in Selling Juxta Hyth was joyned to him for Execution of the said Office in Kent His Seat was at that Mansion in Minster in Thanet Which at this instant from his being so constantly Sheriff preserves the Appellation of the Sheriffs Court Hubert de Burgo that great subject which was afterwards Earl of Kent Constable of the Castle of Dover and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports was Sheriff of Kent in the first second third fourth fifth sixth and seventh of K. Henry the third during which Time one Hugh de Windlesore whose Estate lay at Werehorn was joyned to him as his Assistant In the eight year of K. Henry the third Roger Grimstone was joyned with him as his Assistant and continued so the eighth ninth and tenth years of King Henry the third In the eleventh of the said Kings Reign William Brito was joyned unto Him and continued his Assistant in that Office till the seventeenth of King Hen. the third Bartholomew de Criol Lord of Ostenhanger was Sheriff of Kent from the seventeenth to the twenty fourth year of K. Henry the third Humphrey de Bohum Earl of Essex was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty fourth and twenty fifth of K. Henry the third He was at that Time possessed of the Mannour of Bilsington in this County as I find by a Fine levied by him of the said Mannour the twenty fourth of Henry the third Peter de Sabaudiae or Savoy being Earl of Savoy and Uncle by the Mothers side unto Eleanor the wife of K. Henry the third was made Earl of Richmond in York-shire and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports He dwelt in the House in the Strand from him named the Savoy He was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty sixth of K. Henry the third and Bertram de Criol was joyned with Him Bertram de Criol of Ostenhanger in Relation to that vast Estate which accrued to him by matching with Eleanor one of the Daughters and Coheirs of Hamon Crevequer Lord of Leeds Castle and of Matilda his wife Daughter and Heir of William de Averings Lord of Folkston was called the great Lord of Kent held the Office of Sheriff the twenty seventh of Henry the third and John de Cobham was joyned with him that year But the twenty eighth twenty ninth thirtieth thirty first and thirty second years of Henry the third he held the Place alone Reginald de Cobham was Sheriff of Kent from the beginning of the thirty third of Henry the third to the end of the fortieth of Henry the third and in the forty first of Henry the third one Walter de Bersted was joyned with him in the Execution of that Office he died the forty second of Henry the third and Roger de Northwood and his other Executors answered for the Remainder of that year This Walter de Bersted was Constable of the Castle of Dover the forty sixth of Henry the third Hugh de Monfort the Kings Nephew had the Custody of the County of Kent and the Hundred of Milton granted to him in the forty second of Henry the third Pat. 48. Mem. 12. Fulk Peyforer was Sheriff and Custos of Kent the forty third of Henry the third His Seat was sometimes at North Court in Eseling and sometimes at Colbrige in Boughton Malherbe Jo. de Cobham was Sheriff of Kent the forty fourth of Henry the third He served the first Part of the forty fifth and Robert Waller served the rest and Walter de Redmarleg was under him Robert Waller and Thomas Delaway under him held the Sherivaltie of Kent the forty sixth and forty seventh of Henry the third His Seat was at Monkton in Thanet Roger de Leybourn was Sheriff of Kent the forty eighth of Henry the third and Fulk Peyforer was Custos of the County the latter part of that year and three parts of the year forty ninth In the fiftieth year John de Bourn was joyned unto him and so continued till the fifty second of Henry the third and Fulk de Peyforer was Custos of the County again the last three parts of that year His Seat was at Leybourn Castle in Kent Stephen de Penchester was High Sheriff of Kent the fifty third and fifty fourth of K. Henry the third and Henry de Leeds was his Assistant or Shire Clerk His Seat was at Pencehurst Henry Malmains of Pluckley and Waldershare was Sheriff the fifty sixth of Henry the third and continued part of the first year of K. Edward the first in which Office he deceased and John his Son answered for the Profits of the County the first half year and William de Hever for the other half year William de Hever of Hever Castle in Kent was Sheriff part of the first year and all the second year of Edward the first William de Valoigns of Smerdlin and Repton was Sheriff of Kent the
third fourth fifth and sixth years of Edw. the first and the last year was supplied for part thereof by Henry Perot of Knowlton Robert Scotton was Sheriff of Kent the seventh eighth ninth and tenth years of Ed. the first in which year he died and Robert his Son accounted for the remainder of that year Peter de Huntingfield so named from the Mannour of Huntingfield which he and his Ancestors held in Eseling in Kent of the Castle of Chilham by a whole Knights Fee was Sheriff of Kent the eleventh twelfth and thirteenth of Edw. the first Hamon de Gatton of Throuley in Kent was Sheriff the fourteenth of Edward the first William de Chellesfield so named of the Town of Chellesfield of which he and his Ancestors were many years possest was Sheriff of Kent the fifteenth sixteenth and seventeenth of Edward the first William de Bramshot so named of a Town in Hantshire of which he and his Ancestors were Lords was Sheriff of Kent in the eighteenth and ninteenth years of Edward the first John de Northwood Knight Son of Sir Roger Northwood Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the twentieth year of Edw. the first and for the latter part of the year Richard de Cumbe and Simon de Cumbe his Son and Heir served for him In the twenty first year he was Sheriff again and John de Bourn was joyned with him Afterwards in the twenty eighth year of the abovesaid Prince as likewise in the twenty third year and twenty fourth year of his Reign he was Sheriff of this County and held the Office alone John de Bourn had the Custody of Kent in the twenty second year and then again in the twenty third and twenty fourth years of Edw. the first Henry de Bourn his Father made a Purchase of Lands and Rents in Dodington of Matilda the Daughter of John de Dodington in the forty seventh year of Henry the third William Trussel was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty fifth and twenty sixth years of Edward the first Henry de Apulderfield of Apulderfield in Coudham now contractedly called Apurfield served the latter part of the twenty sixth year but was Sheriff alone in the twenty seventh year of Edw. the first Henry de Cobham of Rundal in Shorn was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty ninth and thirtieth years of Edward the first and for part of the thirty first year the Barons of the Exchequer appointed Elias de Morton of Dodingdale in Canterbury to serve in his stead Waretius de Valoigns of Tremworth was Sheriff of Kent the latter part of the thirty first and then again in the thirty second year of Edw. the first William de Cossenton of Cossenton in Alresford was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty fifth year of Edw. the first Jeffery Colepeper of Bay-Hall in Pepenbury was Sheriff of Kent the thirty sixth thirty seventh thirty eighth and thirty ninth years of Edward the first Sheriffs of Kent in the Time of Edward the Second Sir Henry de Cobham of Rundale in Shorn formerly mentioned was Sheriff of Kent in the first year of K. Edw. the second and again in the ninth year of this Prince John le Blund of Sundridge in Bromley descended from Peter de Blund who was Constable of the Tower of London in the thirty fourth year of Henry the third was Sheriff of Kent in the second third and fourth years of Edward the second And dying in the fifth year of that Prince when he was likewise Sheriff Edward his Son served our the Remainder of the year for him and continued in the Office part of the year following William de Basing of Kenardington inrolled amongst the Knights of K. Edward the first that merited so victoriously in the Wars in Scotland was Sheriff of Kent the seventh year of Edward the second and John de Haudloe the younger of Court at Street in Limne was joyned with him John de Malmains of Malmains in Stoke in the Hundred of Hoo was Sheriff of Kent in the tenth of Edward the second and part of the eleventh John Fremingham of Fremingham was Sheriff of Kent part of the eleventh year of Edward the second and for three parts of the twelveth year which he likewise serv'd Henry de Sarden was united as an Assistant to him William Septuans Son and Heir of Sir Robert Septuans whose Seat was at Milton Septuans near Canterbury was Sheriff of Kent part of the thirteenth and intirely the fourteenth year of Edw. the second and Henry Sarden was his Assistant He continued in the Office the fifteenth and part of the sixteenth year of the abovesaid Prince and Ralph Savage of Milsted was joyned with him John de Shelving Son of Thomas de Shelving of Shelving in Wodnesborough was Sheriff of Kent part of the sixteenth and part of the seventeenth year of Edward the second and John de Fremingham was joyned as an Assistant to him John de Fremingham was Sheriff of Kent part of the sixteenth year intirely the eighteenth and lastly part of the ninteenth year of that infortunate Prince Edward the second and Ralph de St. Laurence served out the Residue for him Thomas de Toniford his Attorney accounted for the Profits of his Office for him Sheriffs of Kent in the Time of Edward the third Ralph de St. Laurence whose Ancestors extracted their Sirname from St. Laurence in the Isle of Thanet was Sheriff of Kent in the first year of Edw. the third and again for part of the sixth year of that Prince which was supplied by Tho. St. Laurence his Son William de Orlanston so Sirnamed from Orlanston in Rumney Mersh was Sheriff of Kent in the second year of Edward the third and the next year following he continued in the Place and John de Shelving before mentioned was joyned with him John de Shelving was again Sheriff of Kent in the fourth year of Edward the third but died the same year as the Inquisition taken after his Death doth evince and John de Walmer supplied the Remnant of the year for him Roger de Reynham served part of the fifth of Edward the third John de Bourn before mentioned continued in the Office of Sheriff of Kent part of the fifth year of Edward the third Thomas de Brockhull of Brockhull in Saltwood was Sheriff of Kent the sixth year of Edward the third and Lawrence de St. Lawrence was his Assistant for part of the year but in the seventh and eleventh years of this Kings Reign he executed the place alone Stephen de Cobham of Roundale in Shorn Son and Heir of Henry de Cobham was Sheriff of Kent the eighth ninth and tenth years of Edward the third William Morant of Morants-Court in Chevening at the foot of Morants-Court Hill was Sheriff of Kent the twelfth and thirteenth years of Edward the third during his Sherivalty This abovesaid Prince issued out a Mandate to him to take care that but one Bell should be rung in any Steeple towards the Sea-coast in Kent Henry
of Diggs Court in Barham was upon his decease authoriz'd to discharge the said office for the remainder of the year Thomas Chich of the Dungeon in St. Mary Bredimans Parish in Canterbury was Sheriff of this County the third year of Henry the fourth Richard Cliderow of Gouldstanton in Ash neer Sandwich who was constituted in the Reign of Henry the fourth Admirall of the Seas from the Thames mouth along the Saxon shore to the West was likewise Sheriff of Kent the fourth and most part of the fifth year of the abovesaid Prince Tho. Swinbourn Esquire owner of much Land in the County of Essex was Sheriff of Kent the sixth year of Henry the fourth and kept his Shrievalty at Thevegate in Smeth Michael Horn of Horn place in Apuldore was Sheriff of Kent the seventh year of Henry the fourth Edward Haut of Hauts place in Petham and of Bourn was Sheriff of Kent the eighth year of Henry the fourth William Snaith of Addington was Sheriff of Kent the ninth year of Henry the fourth Reginald Pimp of Pimps Court in East Farleigh Son of William Pimp of Pimps Court and Nettlested was Sheriff of Kent the tenth year of Henry the fourth John Darrell of Cale-Hill in little Chert eldest Brother of Sir William Darrell under Treasurer of England was Sheriff of Kent the eleventh year of Henry the fourth William Notbeame descended out of Suffolk where his Family was of generous rank but whose Residence was at Ash neer Sandwich was Sheriff of Kent the twelfth year of Henry the fourth and in the seventh year of Henry the fifth was return'd amongst those who did Portare arma antiqua William Cheney of Shurland in Shepey Son of Richard Cheney was Sheriff of Kent the thirteenth year of Henry the fourth in which year this Prince deceased Sheriffs of Kent under Henry the Fifth William Cheney above mentioned continued Sheriff of Kent the first year of Henry the fifth William Cliford of whom mention was formerly made was again Sheriff of Kent in the second and third years of Henry the fifth William Langley of Knolton was Sheriff of Kent the fourth year of Henry the fifth John Darrell of Cale-hill above recited was again Sheriff of Kent the fifth year of K. Henry the fifth Richard Cliderow of whom mention was made in the fourth and fifth years of Henry the fourth was now Sheriff again in the sixth year of King Henry the fifth John Burgh was Sheriff of Kent the seventh year of Henry the fifth During this mans Shrievalty there came a special Writ from the King to elect out of the most fit and able Knights and Esquires of the County that bore Arms from antiquity twelve of the most sufficient to serve as Lances for defence of the Kingdome William Haut of Hautsbourne was Sheriff of Kent some part of the eighth and all the ninth year of K. Henry the fifth John Darrell of Cale-hill was Sheriff of Kent the tenth year of Henry the fifth in which year that successeful and triumphant Prince paid the last Debt he owed to Nature and the first which he owed to Sin Sheriffs of Kent in the Reign of Henry the Sixth John Darrell of Cale-hill who was Sheriff of Kent when K. Henry the fifth deceased continued Sheriff in the first year of Henry the sixth William Cheyney of Shurland who was Knighted in the ninth year of K. Henry the sixth was Sheriff of Kent in the second year of that Princes Government John Rykâ—ld of Estlingham in Frend bury neer Rochester was Sheriff of Kent the third year of K. Henry the sixth William Clifford of Bobbing who had been Sheriff of Kent in the first year of K. Henry the fifth was elected to take that Office in the fourth year of K. Henry the sixth William Colepeper of Preston in Alresford Son and Heir of Sir John Colepeper was Sheriff of Kent the fifth year of Henry the sixth Thomas Ellis of Burton in Kennington was Sheriff of Kent the sixth year of Henry the sixth William Scot of Scots Hall in Smeeth was Sheriff of Kent the seventh year of Henry the sixth John Peche of Lullingston was Sheriff of Kent the eighth year of Henry the sixth John St. Leger of Ulcomb was Sheriff of Kent the ninth year of Henry the sixth John Guldford of Halden alias Lambin in the Parish of Rolvenden was Sheriff of Kent in the tenth year of Henry the sixth William Bures who held much Land at Bromeley and Greenwich and was descended from William de Bures who held part of a Knights Fee in Bromley the twentieth year of Edward the third At making the black Prince Knight was Sheriff of Kent the eleventh year of Henry the sixth Richard Woodville of the Moat in Maidston was Sheriff of Kent in the twelfth year of K. Henry the sixth William Clifford of Bobbing and of Shorn of whom mention is made twice before was now again chosen Sheriff the thirteenth year of Henry the sixth William Manston of Manston in the Parish of St. Laurence in the Isle of Thanet was Sheriff of Kent the fourteenth year of Henry the sixth James Fiennes of Kemsing and Seal afterwards created Lord Say and Seal and High Treasurer of England was Sheriff of Kent the fifteenth year of Henry the sixth Richard Waller of Gromebridge in Spelhurst who took Charles Duke of Orleans Captive at the Battle of Agin Court was Sheriff of Kent the sixteenth year of K. Henry the sixth Edward Guldford of Halden in Rolvenden was Sheriff of Kent the seventeenth year of Henry the sixth Gervas Clifton who married Isabel Widow of William Scot Esquire and lived upon his Wives Estate at Brabourn in Kent where he lies buried was Sheriff of Kent the eighteenth year of Henry the sixth John Yerde of Denton near Berham was Sheriff of Kent the ninteenth year of Henry the sixth John Warmer of Votes Crey was Sheriff of Kent in the twentieth year of Henry the sixth William Maries who lived at Ufton in Tunstal was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty first of Henry the sixth Thomas Brown Knight Treasurer to the House-hold of K. Henry the sixth was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty second year of that Prince William Cromer of Tunstal who married Elizabeth Daughter of James Lord Say and Seale was Sheriff of Kent the twenty third year of Henry the sixth This was that William Cromer who was barbarously assassanated by Jack Cade whilst he vigorously sought to oppose that Rebell in his Expedition towards London John Thornbury of Feversham was Sheriff of Kent the twenty fourth year of Henry the sixth William Isley of Sundridge was Sheriff of Kent the twenty fifth year of Henry the sixth William Kene who lived at Well Hall in Eltham in Right of Agnes his Wife Widow of John Tatersal was Sheriff of Kent the twenty sixth year of Henry the sixth Stephen Slegge of Wouldham near Rochester was Sheriff of Kent the twenty seventh year of Henry the sixth William Cromer who was
of Kent the second year of Henry the seventh Sir Henry Ferrers of great Peckham Knight who was Sheriff before in the fifth year of Edward the fourth was Sheriff of Kent again in the third year of Henry the seventh Walter Roberts of Glastenbury in Cranbroke Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the fourth year of Edward the fourth Sir William Boleyne Knight of Hever Castle and of Seale Son of Sir Ieffery Boleyne Lord Maior of London and Anne his Wife Daughter and Coheir of Thomas Lord Hoo and Hastings was Sheriff of Kent in the fifth year of Henry the seventh Sir William Scot Son and Heir of Sir Iohn Scot was Sheriff of Kent in the sixth year of Henry the seventh This our Sheriff new built Scots Hall which was before decayed and ruinous John Darell of Cale-Hill Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the seventh year of Henry the seventh He was Esquire of the Body to that Prince and Captain of the Launciers in that part of the County wherein he lived and having had his Estate torn from him by Richard the third as being a Correspondent of Henry the seventh had it restored to him with several other Mannors by that Prince He was Father to Sir Iames Darell who was Knighted at Turwin by K. Henry the eighth and was Captain of Hames Castle and Governour of Guisnes Thomas Kemp of Ollantie near Wye Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the eighth year of Henry the seventh He married Emeline one of the two Daughters and Coheirs of Valentine Chich and Philippa his Wife Daughter and Heir of Sir Robert Chichley Knight sometime Lord Maior of London and Brother to Henry Chichley Arch Bishop of Canbury Sir Richard Gulford of Halden who was Knighted at Milford Haven and made Banneret at Blackheath was Sheriff of Kent the ninth year of Henry the seventh John Peche of Lullingston Esquire who afterwards received the Order of Knighthood was Sheriff of Kent in the tenth year of Henry the seventh John Digge of Digges Court in Berham was Sheriff of Kent the eleventh year of Henry the seventh Sir Iames Walsingham of Scadbery in Chiselhurst was Sheriff of Kent the twelfth of Henry the seventh Lewis Clifford of Bobbing Court Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the thirteenth year of Henry the seventh Robert Wotton of Boughton Malherbe Esquire afterwards Knighted and made comptroler of Callis was Sheriff of Kent the fourteenth of Henry the seventh Alexander Colepeper of Bedgebury Esquire in Goudherst was Sheriff of Kent in the fifteenth year of Henry the seventh He afterwards received the Order of Knighthood Thomas Iden of Westwell Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the sixteenth year of Henry the seventh Sir William Scot of Scots Hall who was Sheriff in the sixth year of Henry the seventh was Sheriff of Kent again in the seventeenth year of that Princes Government Ralph St. Leger of Ulcomb Esquire Son and Heir of Ralph St. Leger was Sheriff of Kent the eighteenth year of Henry the seventh William Cromer of Tunstal Esquire who afterwards received the Order of Knighthood was Sherift of Kent the ninteenth of Henry the seventh John Langley of Knowlton Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the twentieth of Henry the seventh Sir Thomas Kempe of Ollantie Knight of the Bath was Sheriff of Kent the twenty first of Henry the seventh Sir Alexander Colepeper of Bedgebury was Sheriff of Kent again the twenty second year of Henry the seventh Henry Vane of Tunbridge Esquire second Son of John Vane of Tunbridge Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the twenty third year of Henry the seventh Reginald Peckham of Yaldham in Wrotham Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the twenty fourth of Henry the seventh in which year that Sagacious Monarch shook off the Garment of his Mortality Sheriffs of Kent under the Scepter of Henry the Eighth Sir William Cromer of Tunstal Knight who was Sheriff before in the ninteenth of Henry the seventh managed that Office again and was Sheriff again of this County in the first year of K. Henry the eighth James Digge of Digges Court in Berham Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the second year of Henry the eighth Sir Thomas Boleyne of Hever Castle Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the third year of Henry the eighth in the fifteenth year of Henry the eighth he was made Knight of the Garter and Treasurer of the Kings House in the seventeenth year he was created Viscount Rochford and in the twenty first of Henry the eighth he was invested with the Title of Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond Sir Thomas Kemp of Ollantie made Knight of the Bath at the Marriage of Prince Arthur Eldest Son to Henry the seventh was again Sheriff in the fourth year of Henry the eighth Sir John Norton of Northwood in Milton Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the fifth year of Henry the eighth Sir Alexander Colepeper of Bedgebury Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the sixth year of Henry the eighth Tho. Cheyney of Shurland Esquire afterwards made Knight of the Garter was Sheriff of Kent in the seventh year of Henry the eighth Sir William Scot of Scots Hall Knight was made Sheriff of Kent the eighth year of Hen. the eighth and before that in the sixth and seventeenth years of Hen. the seventh Sir Thomas Boleyne of Hever Castle Knight was again Sheriff of Kent the ninth year of Henry the eighth John Crispe of Quekes at Birchington in the Isle of Thanet Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the tenth year of Henry the eighth Sir John Wiltshire of Stone near Dartford Comptroller of Callis was Sheriff of Kent in the eleventh year of Henry the eighth John Roper Esquire of St. Dunstans without the Walls of Canterbury and of Well Hall in Eltham was Sheriff of Kent the twelfth of Henry the eighth Robert Sonds of Town Place in Throuley and of Sonds Place in Darking in Surrey was Sheriff of Kent in the thirteenth year of Henry the eighth Sir John Fogge of Repton in Ashford was Sheriff of Kent in the fourteenth year of Henry the eighth George Guldford of Hemsted in Beneuden Esquire who married Elizabeth Daughter and Heir of Robert Mortimer of Mortimers Hall in Essex and the Lady Elizabeth Howard his Wife Daughter to John Lord Howard Duke of Norfolk was Sheriff of Kent the sixteenth of Henry the eighth Sir William Haut of Haut bourn Knight Son and Heir of Sir Thomas Haut made Knight of the Bath at the Marriage of Prince Arthur with Katharine of Castile was Sheriff of Kent the sixteenth year of Henry the eighth Henry Vane of Tunbridge Esquire who was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty third year of Hen. the seventh discharged that Office again in the seventeenth year of Hen. the eighth This Henry Vane is he that had Command in an Expedition into Scotland in the beginning of the abovesaid Prince Vide Speed William Whetenhal of Hextal Place in East Peckham Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the eighteenth year of Henry the eighth Sir John Scot of Scott Hall
was Sheriff of Kent in the nineteenth year of Henry the eighth William Kempe of Oslantis Esquire who afterwards was invested with the Order of Knight hood was Sheriff of Kent in the twentieth year of Henry the eighth He was second Son of Sir Thomas Kempe and after his elder Brother Christopher Kempe deceased without Issue succeeded in the Patrimony He married Eleanor Daughter and Heir of Robert Brown Esquire third Son of Sir Thomas Brown of Bechworth Castle Sir Edward Wotton of Boughton Malherbe Knight who matched with Dorothy one of the Daughters and Coheirs of Sir Robert Reade Knight Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty first of Henry the eighth William Waller of Gromebridge in Spelherst Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the twenty second of Henry the eighth Sir Richard Clement of the Moat in Ightham was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty third of Henry the eighth Sir William Finch of the Moat in the Parish of St. Martins in Canterbury was Sheriff of Kent the twenty fourth year of Henry the eighth Thomas Roberts of Glastonbury in Cranbroke Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the twenty fifth of Henry the eighth Sir Thomas Poynings of Ostenhanger Knight afterwards created Lord Poynings in the thirtieth year of Henry the eighth was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty sixth year of Henry the eighth He married Katharine Daughter and Coheir of John Lord Marney but deceased without Issue in the thirty seventh year of the abovesaid Prince Sir Edward Wotton of Boughton Malherbe was again Sheriff of Kent the twenty seventh of Henry the eighth Sir Thomas Wiat of Allington Castle was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty eighth year of Henry the eighth He married Elizabeth Daughter of Sir Thomas Brooke Lord Cobham by whom he had Issue Sir Thomas Wiat afterwards beheaded Sir William Haut of Hautsbourn was again Sheriff of Kent the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth Sir William Sidney of Pencehurst Knight Banneret Tutor to Prince Edward afterwards Edward the sixth was Sheriff of Kent in the thirtieth year of Henry the eighth He was Son and Heir of Nicholas Sidney Esquire who married Anne Daughter of Sir Will. Brandon Knight slain at Bosworâ—h Field Aunt to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk This Nicholas was Son and Heir of William Sidney Esquire by Thomaâ—…in his Wife Daughter and Heir of John Barrington Esquire descended from the right ancient and Knightly Family of Barrington of Barrington Hall in Essex Sir Anthony St. Leger of Ulcomb Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty first year of Henry the eighth Anthony Sonds of Throuley Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty second of Henry the eighth Reginald Scot of Scots Hall Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty third year of Henry the eighth Sir Henry Isley of Sondridge and of Farningham was Sheriff of Kent the thirty fourth of Henry the eighth Sir Humphry Stile of Langley Park in Bekenham Knight Son and Heir of John Stile Alderman of London and Elizabeth his Wife Daughter and Coheir of Sir Guy Wolston Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty fifth of Henry the eighth Sir John Fogge of Repton was Sheriff of Kent the thirty sixth year of Henry the eighth Sir Percival Hart of Lullingston Knight was Sheriff of Kent the thirty seventh year of Henry the eighth Henry Crispe of Quekes in Birchington in the Isle of Thanet Esquire who received the Order of Knighthood before his Death was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty eighth year of Henry the eighth in which year this Prince shrunk to Ashes Sheriffs of Kent in the Time of K. Edward the Sixth William Sidley of Scadbery in Southfleet Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the first of Edward the sixth Sir George Harpur of Sutton Valence was sheriff of Kent in the second year of Edward the sixth Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury Son and Heir of Sir Alexander Colepeper was Sheriff of Kent in the third year of K. Edward the sixth Sir Thomas Wiat of Allington Castle Son and Heir of Sir Thomas Wiat and Grandchild of Sir Henry Wiat was Sheriff of Kent in the fourth year of K. Edward the sixth Sir Henry Isley of Sundridge was Sheriff of Kent in the fifth year of K. Edward the sixth Sir John Guldford of Hemsted in Benenden was Sheriff of Kent the sixth year of K. Edward the sixth After this year this Pious young Monarch was not long Liv'd for all his early blooming Glories were shortly after blasted by a too sudden Death Sheriffs of Kent under Queen Mary Sir Robert Southwell of Merworth Knight afterwards Master of the Rolls was Sheriff of Kent in the first year of Queen Mary He held Merworth where he lies buried in Right of his Wife Margaret Daughter and sole Heir of Sir Thomas Nevill Speaker of the Parliament in the time of Henry the eighth and one of his Privy Councel and third Son to George Nevill Baron Aburgavenny William Roper of Well Hall in Eltham was Sheriff of Kent in the first and second year of Philip and Mary Sir Thomas Kempe of Ollantie near Wye was Sheriff of Kent in the second and third year of Philip and Mary part of the year was supplied for him by Thomas Moile Esquire George Vane of Badsell Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the third and fourth year of Philip and Mary Thomas Wotton of Boughton Malherbe Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the fourth and fifth year of Philip and Mary In which year Callis was lost which Blow sat so heavy upon her Heartstrings that the Cordage not able to undergo the Pressure was crackt with the Burden which was lodged upon it Sheriffs of Kent under Queen Elizabeth Thomas Wotton of Bonghton Malherbe continued in that Office part of the first year of Q. Elizabeth and the remainder of the year was supplied by Nicholas Crispe Esquire who kept his Shrivealty at Grimgill in Whitestaple but more properly Greenshields from a Family so called who were once Proprietaries of it Warham St. Leger of Ulcomb Esquire afterwards Knighted in the year 1565 was Sheriff of Kent in the second year of Queen Elizabeth John Tufton of Hothfield in Kent Esquire Son and Heir of Nicholas Tufton Esquire who was possest of Tufton in Nordiam in Sussex was Sheriff of Kent the third year of Queen Elizabeth Richard Baker of Sisingherst in Cranbroke Esquire Son and Heir of Sir John Baker Chancellor of the Exchequer and one of the Privy Councel to Q. Mary was Sheriff of Kent in the fourth year of Q. Elizabeth Sir Thomas Walsingham of Scadbery in Chiselhurst Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the fifth year of Q. Elizabeth Sir Thomas Kempe of Ollantie Knight that was Sheriff before in the third year of Q. Mary served in that Office again in the sixth year of Q. Elizabeth John Mayney of Biddenden Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the seventh year of Q. Elizabeth but died before his year was out and the rest of the Time
was supplied by William Isley of Sundridge Esquire This our Sheriff married Margaret Daughter and Heir of Ralph Johnson of Ticehurst Son to Alderman Johnson of London which Ralph matched with Dorothy one of the two Daughters and Coheirs of Thomas Morton of Lechlade in the County of Glocester Esquire John Sidley of Southfleet Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the eighth year of Queen Elizabeth William Cromer of Tunstal Esquire Son and Heir of James Cromer Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the ninth year of Queen Elizabeth John Brown of Reynolds and as ordinarily styled Brown's Place in Horton Kerbie was Sheriff of Kent the tenth of Q. Elizabeth Edward Isaack of Patricksbourne Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the eleventh of Q. Elizabeth John Lennard of Chevining Esquire Son and Heir of John Lennard of the same place Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the twelfth year of Q. Elizabeth Walter Mayney of Spilsil in Staplehurst Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the thirteenth of Q. Elizabeth Sir Thomas Vane of Badsel Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the fourteenth year of Q. Elizabeth Thomas Willoughby of Boreplace in Chiddingstone Esquire Grandchild of Sir Thomas Willoughby of the same Place Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was Sheriff of Kent in the fifteenth year of Q. Elizabeth Sir James Hales of the Dungeon without the Walls of Canterbury was Sheriff of Kent in the sixteenth year of Q. Elizabeth John Tufton of Hothfield Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the seventeenth year of Q. Elizabeth Sir Thomas Scot of Scots Hall was Sheriff of Kent in the eighteenth year of Queen Elizabeth Edward Bois of Fredville in Nonington Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the nineteenth of Q. Elizabeth Thomas Wotton of Boughton Malherbe Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the twentieth of Q. Elizabeth Thomas Vane of Badsel in Tudeley Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty first year of Q. Elizabeth Thomas Sonds of Throuley Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty second year of Q. Elizabeth Sir George Hart of Lullingstone Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty third year of Q. Elizabeth Sir Richard Baker of Sisingherst Knight was Sheriff of Kent the twenty fourth of Q. Elizabeth Justinian Champneis of Hall Place in Bexley Esquire Son of Sir John Champneis Lord Maior of London was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty fifth year of Q. Elizabeth Michael Sands of Town Place in Throuley Esquire afterwards Knighted was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty sixth year of Q. Elizabeth William Cromer of Tunstal Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty seventh year of Q. Elizabeth Sir Iames Hales of the Dungeon in Canterbury was Sheriff of Kent the twenty eighth of Q. Elizabeth Iohn Phineux of Haw Court in Herne was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty ninth year of Q. Elizabeth Richard Hardres of Hardres Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the thirtieth year of Q. Elizabeth William Sidley of Southfleet Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty first year of Q. Elizabeth Thomas Willoughby of Bore Place in Chiddingstone Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty second year of Q. Elizabeth Sampson Lennard of Chevening Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty third year of Q. Elizabeth Robert Bing of Wrotham Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty fourth year of Q. Elizabeth Michael Sonds of Throuley Esquire wrs Sheriff of Kent in the thirty fifth year of Q. Elizabeth Sir Edward Wotton of Boughton Malherbe Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty sixth year of Q. Elizabeth Thomas Palmer of Wingham Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty seventh year of Q. Elizabeth Sir Moile Finch of Eastwell Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty eighth year of Q. Elizabeth Thomas Kempe of Ollantie in Wye Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty ninth year of Q. Elizabeth Martin Barnham of Hollingbourne Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the fortieth year of Q. Elizabeth Roger Twistden of Fortune Hall in great Peckham Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the forty first year of Q. Elizabeth John Smith of Ostenhanger in Stanford Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the forty second year of Q. Elizabeth Thomas Scot of Scots Hall Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the forty third year of Q. Elizabeth Sir Peter Manhood of St. Stephens near Canterbury Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the forty fourth year of Q. Elizabeth In which year that Religious Prudent and victorious Princess resigned up her Noble Soul to that God who first infused it Sheriffs of Kent in the Time of King James Sir Peter Manwood of St. Stephens continued Sheriff of Kent the first year of K. James Sir James Cromer of Tunstal Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the second year of K. James Sir Thomas Baker Knight second Son of Sir Richard Baker of Sisingherst Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the third year of K. James and kept his Shrievalty at Sisingherst Sir Moile Finch of Eastwell Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the fourth year of King James Sir Norton Knatchbull of Mersham Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the fifth year of K. James Sir Robert Edolph of Hinxhill Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the sixth year of K. James Sir Edward Hales of Wood Church Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the seventh year of K. James Sir William Withens of Southend in Eltham was Sheriff of Kent in the eighth year of K. James Sir Nicholas Gilborne of Charing Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the ninth year of K. James Sir Maximilian Dalison of Halling near Rochester Knight was Sheriff of Kent the tenth of K. James Sir William Steed of Steed-Hill in Haretshat was Sheriff of Kent the eleventh year of K. James Sir Anthony Aucher of Hautsbourne Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the twelfth year of K. James Sir Edward Filmer of East Sutton Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the thirteenth year of K. James Sir Edwin Sandies of Northbourne Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the fourteenth year of K. James William Beswick of Spelmonden in Horsemonden Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the fifteenth year of K. James Gabriel Livesey of Hollingbourne Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the sixteenth year of K. James Sir Thomas Norton of Bobbing and Northwood in Milton Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the seventeenth of K. James Edward Scot of Scots Hall Esquire afterwards made Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of K. Charles was Sheriff of Kent the eighteenth of K. James Sir John Sidley of the Friers in Alresford Baronet was Sheriff of Kent in the nineteenth year of K. James Sir Thomas Roberts of Glastenbury in Cranbroke Knight and Baronet was Sheriff of Kent in the twentieth year of K. James Sir George Fane of Burston in Hunton Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty first year of K. James Sir John Heyward of Hollingbourne Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty second year of K. James In which year this Monarch cast off his humane Frailty to
de Ifield Pat. 6. Edwar. 3. Par. prima Memb. 22. in Dorso William de Clinton Tres vel duo eorum John de Cobham John de Segrave Thomas Feversham Par. 6. Edwar. 3. Par. prima Memb. 11. in Dorso Willielmus de Clinton Quinque quatuor tres duo eorum John de Cobham Galfridus de Say John de Segrave Otho de Grandison Thomas de Feversham Pat. 9. Edwar. 3. Par. 2. Memb. 24. in Dorso Johannes de Cobham De Confirmatione Pacis ac Statuti Northampton cujusdam Ordinationis ne qui alicubi incedant armati ad terrorum Populi Thomas de Aldon John de Segrave Par. 10. Edwar. 3. Par. 2. Memb. 18. in Dorso Willielmus de Clinton De Feloniis Malefactoribus notorie suspectis insequendis de audiendo terminando Felonia Transgressiones Excessus Radulphus Savage Thomas de Aldon Quatuor vel Tres eorum Johannes de Hampton Willielmus de Reiculuar Pat. 12. Edwar. 3. Momb 16. in Dorso Johannes de Cobham Tres vel duo eorum Thomas de Aldon Jo. de Warrenâ Com. de Surrey Thomas de Brockhull Willielmo de Clinton Com. de Huntingdon Quos c. Willielmus de Orlanston Pat. 18. Edwar. 3. Par. 2. Memb. 35. in Dorso Johannes de Cobham Tres vel duo eorum in Com. Kantii Thomas de Brockhull Otho de Grandison Willielmus de Morant Stat. 18. Edwar. 3. Cap. 2. In this year the Statute was made that ordained that their should be two or three Wardens of the Peace in every County Pat. 29. Edwar. 3. Par. prima Memb. 29. in Dorso Galfridus de Say  Willielmus de Thorpe Otho de Grandison Arnaldus de Savage Stephen de Valoigns Willielmus de Norton Pat. 31. Edwar. 3. Par. prima Memb. 17. in Dorso Galfridus de Say Willielmus de Norton Willielmus de Thorpe Thomas de Lodelow Pat. 31. Edwar. 3. Par. 2. Memb. 11. in Dorso Rogerus de Mortuomari Comes de March Constabularius Castri Dovoriae Custos quinque Portuum Will. de Thorpe a Judge Radulphus de Spigurnel Will. de Norton a Judge Stephanus de Valoigns Thomas de Lodelow Willielmus Warner In this year it being found by Experience that the former Number of the Wardens of the Peace setled by the Statute of the eighteenth of Edw. the third before mentioned was not sufficient for the good Governance of this County It was further provided by an Act made in the thirty fourth year of Edward the third Cap. 2. Ordaining that their should be in every Shire one Lord and with him three or four of the best in the County and three or four learned in the Laws assigned for keeping of the Peace and to restrain Offenders In the next Commission awarded after this Act these eighth Persons are recited for the abovesaid Purpose Viz. Sir Robert Herle then Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle Iohn de Cobham of Cobham Roger de Northwood of Northwood Ralph de Fremingham of Fremingham or Farningham Thomas de Lodelow Robert Vinter of Vinters in Boxley Iohn Barrie of Sevington Thomas Hartredge of Hartredge in Cranebroke But this Restriction was not so permanent but that in short space the Number was very much augmented as by the subsequent Series in the first year of Richard the second may very well be observed Pat. primo Rich. secundi Pars prima Memb. 20. in Dorso De Justiciariis ad Pacem conservandam assignatis Justiciarii ad pacem conservandam assignati Edmundus Comes Cantabrigiensis Constabularius Castri Dovoriae Johannes de Cohham Robertus Belknap A Judge Stephanus de Valoigns Henry de Astry or Astie A Judge Willielmus Horne Thomas de Shardelow A Judge Willielmus Topcliff Thomas Garwenton de Well Nicholaus Hering Willielmus Tiltombe In Lastis de Sheringhope Shepwey St. Augustines Septem Hundredis in Com. Kantii Willielmus Makenade Teste Rege apud Westmon primo Die Aprilis Johannes Francis Thomas Hatredge John Bird de Smeth Justiciarii ad pacem conservandam assignati Idem Edmundus Comes supradictus Johannes Cobham Robertus Belknap Thomas Colepeper Henricus Astie Johannes Fremingham In Lastis de Alresford Sutton Leucata de Tunbridge in Com. Kantii Jacobus de Peckham Thomas de Shardelow Teste Rege ut supra Willielmus Topclive Nocholaus Hering Willielmus Makenade After by the Statute of the twelfth year of Richard the second Cap. 10. and the fourteenth year of the same Prince Cap. 11. it was prohibited that there should be any more than six Justices of the Peace in any Commission besides the two Justices of Assise and certain Lords who were assigned in the Parliament it self But in Times subsequent to these when the Womb of Vice like the Mudde of Nile was more fertile in the production of Crimes and the Seeds of Contention began to be sown more plentifully in every furrow of this Nation which sprang up again in a numberless Variety of Discord and Animosity these Restrictions were broke and the Catalogue of Justices was improved to that Volume to which it is swoln at present Before I descend to a particular Description of the Parishes of this County I should take cognisance of all those Towns and Villages which by the indulgence of former Princes were invested with the Charter of Market and Faire But this hath been so exactly performed lately by Mr. Kilbourn that I shall at present decline this Task Indeed all of them had this Passage inserted in the Original Grant Quantum in Nobis est so that many of them when they came to be discussed before the Judges Itinerent at the general Assises Quo Warranto they were held that is to say what Authority they had to support them were if they were found convenient and necessary ratified confirmed and continued but if again they were deemed needless and superfluous they were at these publick Conventions by the power of the Law then planted in the Judges vacated and discarded This may likewise be added that many of them were granted with this Intention of their first Institution only to inforce and Aggrandize the Signorie of those Mannors which were parcel of the Demeasn of those eminent Persons to whom those above mentioned Royal Charters and Concessions were indulged as Sutton Valence Court at Sreet Shinglewell and others and when the Title and Possession of those Places was either by Purchase or Marriage cast into the Tenure of other Proprietaries the Virtue of these Grants began to be dis-spirited and the Custome of Keeping up Markets and Fairs at these Mannors and Parishes began insensibly to shrink into disuse and intermission It is farther observable that at diverse Places which were endowed with these above mentioned Priviledges as at Brenchly Charlton by Greenwich and other Parishes the Market and Fair was observed and held in the Church-yard and on the Sunday it being the great Design of the Romish Clergie of those cloudy Times to
Solley who not many years after transmitted it by Sale to Mr. Jo. Ward of London whose Widow Mrs. Katharin Ward now holds it in Right of Dower Goldstanton in this Parish is a second place of Note and was as high as the Beam of any Evidence will guide me to discover the Patrimony of Leybourn Roger de Leybourn who was in the Register of those Kentish Gentlemen who were pardoned by the Pacification called Dictum de Kenelworth for seeking to support with seditious Arms the Cause and Quarrell of Simon de Montfort held it in the fiftieth year of Henry the third and from him did it descend to his great Grandchild Juliana de Leybourn who dying without Issue or Alliance in the forty third year of Edward the third this with Overland escheated to the Crown but was granted out again by Richard the second to Sir Simon de Burley who being attainted and convicted of high Treason in the tenth year of his Reign that Prince link'd it by a new Donation to the Abby of Childrens Langley But yet I find that in the Reign of Henry the fourth Richard Cliderow who was Sheriff of Kent in the fourth year and most part of the fith year of that Prince and then again in the sixth year of Hen. the fifth held it I suppose only as a Lessee and kept his Shrivealty at this Place a Man he was of no contemptible Account in those Times as I shall discover more amply at little Betshanger which was his capital Seat But to return after this Mannor had made its aboad in the Demeasne of the above mentioned Covent untill the Dissollution in the Reign of Henry the eighth it was then torn off and granted to Tho. Lord Cromwell Earl of Essex upon whose Attaint in the thirty second year of the above said Prince it escheated back to the Crown and then it was granted in the thirty fourth year of Henry the eighth to Vincent Engham Esquire whose Descendant Sir Tho. Engham some few years transplanted his Concernment in it by Sale into Mr. ......... Courcelis of London Nevills Fleet in this Parish was more anciently called Butlers Fleet as being parcell of the Revenue of that Family and the Book of Aid in the Exchequer which makes an enumeration of the ancient Owners mentions one Richard de Boteler to have been its ancient Possessor but in the twentienth year of Edward the third when that Book was taken William Lord Latimer of Corbie Knight of the Garter and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports held it and in the thirty eighth obtained by the Charter of that Prince a Market to be held at Ark on the Thursday and a three days Fair at our Lady Day and from him as in divers Records it is evident did it acquire the Name of Latimers Fleet but stayed not long under that Title for he determined in Eleanor his Daughter and Heir matched to John Lord Nevill who in her Right became Lord of this Mannor and from him did it contract the Title of Nevils Fleet and lay couched in the Patrimony of this Name untill the Beginning of Edward the fourth and then it was alienated to Cromer and James Cromer in the eleventh year of Henry the seventh alienated it to John Isaac from whom not long after it was brought over by Purchase to Kendall and in that Name it fixed untill the Beginninig of Henry the eighth and then it was alienated to Sir John Fogge and he before the end of that Prince conveyed it to Ralph in which Name it was resident untill the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth and then it was demised to Spracklin and Sir Adam Spracklin almost in Times under our Fathers Cognisance passed it away to Harfleet in which Family you may at this instant find it Molands in this Parish gave Seat and Sirname to a Family so called who before the end of Edward the second were worn out and then it became the possession of Harfleet aliás Septuans who much improved the House with additional Buildings where the Arms of this Family do stand yet in Panes of very old coloured Glasse with this Motto annexed Dissipabo inimicos Regis mei ut paleam alluding either to their Coat which was three Fans such as they fan and winnow Corn with or else to William de Septuans who dyed in the year 14011. and warred as the Records of this Family inform me under Edward the third in France and by his Will registred in the Prerogative Office at Canterbury which I mention for the Novelty of it he gives Manumission or Freedome to diverse of his Slaves or Natives and Sir William Septuans was his Son who lyes buryed in Christ Church in Canterbury and as his Epitaph on his Tomb instructs me dyed in the year 1448. and from him did the Title stream in this Name untill the Reign of Henry the eighth and then I find this Seat in the possession of Robert Read but it was not long out of the Name for about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth I find it reinvested again in Harfleet and remains an eminent Mansion of this Family at present Many of this Sirname lye buryed in Ash Church for those three Altar Tombs in the Church yard and those on each side the North Dore were the Repositories or Exchequers that treasured up the Remains of divers of this Family all which had their Figures and Arms insculp'd in Brasse annexed to their Sepulchers which by the impression of Times and the Assaults of Sacrilegious Hands are quite dismantled and torn off Wingham Barton is another eminent Mannor in this Parish which belonged to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and when John Peckham founded his Colledge at Wingham in the year 1282. there was an Exhibition setled on that Seminary or Brotherhood issuing out of this Manuor from whence it is supposed by some it contracted the Name of Wingham Barton though I rather conjecture it was called so from its Situation in opposition to another of that Name called Firmins Barton lying by Canterbury But to proceed this continued Archiepiscopal untill the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth and then it was exchanged by Thomas Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with the Crown and rested there untill Q. Elizabeth granted it to Sir Roger Manwood whose son Sir Peter Manwood passed it away by his Trustees not many years since to Sir William Curteen of London and he gave it in Dower with his daughter matched to Henry late Earle of Kent who upon his decease ordered it to be sold to discharge some Debts and was accordingly not long since by his Countess conveyed by Sale to Mr. James Thurbarne of Sandwich one of the Cinque Ports Son of James Thurbarne Esquire a Justice of Peace in this County in the Reign of K. James whose Ancestors from 1331 have continued very eminent in the Cinque Ports especially in Hasting and Romney as also in Romney Mersh as appears by divers ancient Records But the ancient Mannor-House was in the
couched in their Inheritance untill at length that is almost in our Grandfathers Remembrance by Sale it devolved to Sprot who not many years since conveyed his Right in it to Sir Thomas Finch Earl of Winchelsey Father to the right honorable Heneage Earl of Winchelsey now Lord of the Fee Ashurst or Ashenhurst in the Hundred of Watchlingstone with the Mannor of Buckland as an Appendage annexed to it was anciently the Demeasne as the Dooms-day Text informs us of Philip de Gerund and Hugh de Gerund this mans Successor was seised both of Ashurst and Buckland likewise in the twenty sixth year of Edward the first as appears Rot. Esc Num. 71. But after this Family determined in a Daughter and Heir who matching with Chalfhunt made that Family possessors of the Fee and Henry Chalfhunt as we trace by Record held it in the forty fifth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 14. And after they went out it came about the Beginning of Henry the sixth by the Heir General of this Family to be possest by Hadde whose Successor about the Beginning of Henry the eighth conveyed it to Waller of Grome-bridge and from this Family after some Interval of Time it was carried off by Sale to Thomas Earl of Dorset Lord Treasurer of England and from his Descendant the Title went away not many years since by the same Fatality into Rivers of Chafford in which Family the Title both of Ashurst and Buckland are at this instant placed Chafford next invites our Survey it was for some Descents the Possession of the Roes or Rows streamed out from that original Fountain which was of this Name and Family at Roes Place in Alresford and from these two those numerous Branches have issued out which like so many divided Rivulets have dispersed themselves into so many parts of this Nation but though this Family be here like a River licked up by a Summer Sun shrunk into Oblivion and the Name wholly dryed yet hath the Title of this Seat found out another Chanel for by Sale it now flows in the Name of Rivers and Sir John Rivers Baronet Crandchild to Sir John Rivers Knight and Baronet descended from the ancient Family of Rivers of River Hill in Hantshire upon the late Decease or his Brother Sir Thomas is now Proprietary of it Aythorne in the Hundred of Eastry was given to the Monks of Christ Church by Ulfred Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in the year 824 in exchange for the Mannor of Berham but the principal Honour which did accrue to it was that it was parcel of that Estate which claimed the Family of Badelesmer for Inheritors and lay involved in their Demeasn until the infortunate Attainder of Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer in the Reign of Edward the second when being by this Tempest rent off from his Name and Patrimony it made its abode in the Revenue of the Crown untill K. Edw. the third granted it to Sir John de Bondon who in the eighteenth year of that Prince conveyed it to John de Gildesburgh After whose Exit it came by the same Devolution to be possest by Thomas Holben who in the twelfth year of Richard the second passed it away to Robert Dane And now there being an Interval or Gap in the private Evidences which have an Aspect on this place I must next represent Robert Webbe possessor of it who in the fourth year of Henry the sixth transplanted his Interest in it by Sale into John St. Clere and he not long after by the same Fatalitie transmitted it to Sir Walter Hungerford who about the latter End of Henry the sixth setled the Right and Title by Sale on Sir Thomas Brown of Bechworth Castle in Surrey Comptroler of the House to the abovesaid Prince who in the twenty seventh of his Reign as appears Pat. 27. Hen. 6. Num. 37. obtained the Grant of a Fair to be held yearly on St. Peters Day and in this Family the Propriety and Title was fixed until the sixteenth of Q. Elizabeth and then it was conveyed by Thomas Brown Esq to Francis Santon and his Son by the same Vicissitude in the twenty eighth of the abovesaid Princesse alienated it to Sir William Rither of London who dying without Issue Male setled this Mannor on Susan one of his Coheirs first matched to Sir Thomas Caesar and after to Mr. Thomas Philipott second Son to Sir John Philipott of Compton Wascelin in Hantshire and She upon her Decease gave it to her onely Son by her second Husband Mr. Villiers Philipott who hath lately conveyed it by Sale to Mr. John Brett of London B. B. B. BAbchild but in all ancient Records Escripts and all other Monuments of Antiquity written Becanceald lies in the Hundred of Milton and did as old Deeds testifie relate to the Savages a Family whom elder Times represented under a Character of much eminence in this Tract Arnold de Savage held this Mannor in the forty ninth of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 39. Parte secunda and in this Name the Title stood some years untill it sunk into a Daughter and Heir who being wedded to William Clifford branched out from the Cliffords of Cliffords Castle in Herefordshire the Title of this Mannor with the Name was folded up in this Family and here for some interval of Time it continued untill that common Fate which shifts and changes the Scene of Majesty it self as well as the Face of more subordinate Interests transferred this Mannor by Purchase to William Coting about the Beginning of Q. Elizabeth from whom not long after it passed away by the same fatality to William Biggs Ancestor to that Gentleman his Descendant both of the Name and Family who is now in the enjoyment of it There was at Radfield in this Parish anciently a Free Chappel which is now onely obvious to the Eye by that Mass of Ruines in which at this present it seems to lye gasping the Founder and Uses are both unknown upon the suppression the Demeansn which was annexed to it was by the Concession of Edward the sixth enstated on John Bateman and his Successor John Bateman hath by Testamentary Donation not long since conferred it on John Bateman of Wormesell There was another Oratory or Chappel whose Ruines are yet visible near the Verge or Margin of the Road and here Pilgrims which did usually visit the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury frequently enter'd to offer up their Orizons before they advanced any farther in their Pilgrimage the Oratory as far as possible Conjectures guide us to assert was erected in Memory and Celebration of that Counsel held here by Arch-Bishop Brigthwald under Withredus or as some Copies have it Muthredus K. of Kent in the year 692. He that will read the Results and Decrees of this Councel may have Recourse to Sir Henry Spelman's Concilia Anglicana or his Collections of the English Councels where he shall find the Constitutions and Canons of this Synod represented in an exact Register to
first and after this Name began to languish into Decay it was by a Daughter and Heir brought over to Crow extracted from the Crows of Norfolk who from the Reign of Richard the second held it in a continued Track of Succession even untill our Time and then it was passed away from Sir Sackville Crow by Sale to Sir Robert Heath who dyed Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench made so by the late King at Oxford whose Son and Heir Mr. ........ Heath Esquire is now entituled to the Signorie of it Bredge gives name to the whole Hundred wherein it is placed and in Times of a more ancient Date was clasped up within that Revenue which did augment the paternal Inheritance of Cheyney Sir Alexander de Cheyney as appears by ancient Muniments was possest of this place in the reign of Edward the first and is in the Register of those eminent persons who accompanied that Prince into Scotland and was for his important Service against that Nation made Bannerent by that King at Carlaverock in the twenty eighth year of his Government and from him did it by the links of severall Descents after a large Efflux of Time devolve to Henry Lord Cheyney who about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth passed it away to Mr. William Partrich Esquire whose Grandchild Sir Edward Partrich not many yeers since conveyed it to Mr. Arnold Brame of Dover descended from one of this Name who was Secretary to Charles the fifth Blackmanbury is a noted Seat in this Parish and had still the same Owners in Times of a more ancient Character with Garwinton in Bekesbourn as namely the Garwintons the last of which was Tho. Garwinton who held it at his Death which happened in the eleventh year of Henry the fourth and by the Heir Generall of this Family it devolved to Haut issued out from the Hauts of Hautsborne and when this Family determined the Female Heir brought this Seat to Isaac after Isaac was worn out of a great part of this Mannor of Blackmanbury it became the Possession of Henry Lawrence Esquire descended from the Lawrences of Dorsetshire and he held it as appears by a Court Roll in the thirty sixth year of Henry the eighth and in both these Families was the joynt Propriety of this Mannor resident untill about the middle of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and then the whole Demise was by mutuall Consent passed away from Isaac and Lawrence to William Partrich Esquire Grandfather to Sir Edward Partrich who not many yeers since conveyed it to Mr. Arnold Brame of Dover and he upon the Foundation of the ancient Fabrick hath erected that magnificent Pile which obliges the Eye of the passenger both to Admiration and Delight and which like a Phaenix seems to have arose more glorious out of its Ruines Bereacre is a third Mannor in Bredge which in the twenty first year of Edward the first acknowledged it self to be under the Signorie of Walter de Kancia as appears by an Inquisition taken at the same time after his Death Rot. Esc Num. 7. But before the twentieth year of Edward the third this Family was extinguished and then it became the Propriety of Bereacre who assumed his Name from this Mannor and John de Bereacre paid a respective Supply for it as appears by the Book of Aid at making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth year of Edward the third After Bereacre was gone out the Family of Lichfield was concerned in the Possession who likewise were Lords of much Land about Eastry Tilmanston and Betshanger and in this Name was the Title placed untill the twenty second year of Edward the fourth and then Roger Lichfield by Sale conveyed it to William Haut and he had Issue Richard Haut who left only Margery who by matching with William Isaac resigned up this Mannor to the Possession of that Family but long it was not planted in this Name for before the latter end of Henry the eighth it was alienated to Petit and Weeks and they again not many yeers after transmitted it by Sale to Nailor of Renvill from whom by the same Devolution it was almost in our Fathers Memory carryed down to Smith and Watkins Beauville alià s Bewâ—field or Whitfield lyes in the Hundred of Bewisborough is a small Parish mounted aloft on those Hills that run from Barham down to Dover Castle The Lord Giles Badelesmer anciently held it and gave it in Frank Marriage with his Daughter Elizabeth whom Jo. Northwood of Milton took to Wife and here it continued with the Interest of this Family severall Descents untill at last it devolved to John Northwood of Northwood in Milton abovesaid from which Name and Family the Fate of Sale took it off and brought it over about the latter end of Henry the eighth to Jo. Bois Esquire Ancestor to Mr. Io. Bois of Fredvill Esquire now living and in this Family the Possession is still resident The Mannor of Linacre is seated within the Circuit of this Parish and gave both Seat and Sirname to a Family so called and from whom Linacre that composed the Latin Grammar in the Reign of Henry the ninth was lineally extracted but this Name here was expired before the end of Henry the fourth and then by some Court Rolls I find that Iohn Monins was invested in the Fee and here for some Decursion of Time the Right and Interest of this Place did abide untill at length about the Beginning of Henry the eighth the Title by Sale fell under the Signory of Chelesford or Chelford from which Name the same Fate conveyed it to Mr. Io. Bois whose Successor Mr. Io. Bois of Fredville Esquire by descendant Right does now enjoy it East and West Berming in the Hundred of Twyford was in Times of a very high Ascent the Possession of a Family who derived their Sirname from this Place William de Bermeling dyed seised of it in the twenty second year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 27. and had likewise the Advowson of the Church after him Robert de Bermelin held it in the thirty first year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 123. When this Family was gone out the Freminghams came into the Possession Iohn Son of Ralph de Fremingham was in the enjoyment of them at his Death which was in the twenty third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 145. and so was his Successor John Fremingham in the twelfth year of Henry the fourth Rot. Esc Num. 15. But after this I find no more of this Name interessed in the Possession the next Family which was invested in the Inheritance were the Pimpes a Name very eminent and no lesse ancient in this Track John Pimpe held them and Ledhock at his Decease which was in the ninth year of Henry the fifth Rot. Esc Num. 35. from whom the Title streamed down to Reginald Pimpe Esquire in whose Tenure they were at his Death which was in the sixteenth year of Henry the sixth from Pimpe
they were carryed away by Purchase to the noble Family of Stafford Dukes of Buckingham and Earls of Stafford in which Name they had not long continued when Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham in the thirteenth year of Henry the eighth being convicted of high Treason for consulting with a Wizard and a Monke touching the Succession of the Crown forfeited his Estate here and his Life together and then King Henry the eighth by royall Concession planted the Propriety of these Places in Sir John Rainsford one of his Privie Councell and his Son Sir Henry Rainsford passed them away to Sir Henry Isley and he having infortunately enwrapped himself in the unhappy Design of Sir Thomas Wiat an Attempt which was plausible and specious enough in the Intention of it as being enamel'd and guilded over with the glorious Pretences of asserting the Orthodox Religion and defending the publick Libertie against the Eruption of Strangers but very ruinous and disastrous in the Effects and Consequences of it as was very visible upon this worthy Person who in the first year of Queen Mary was convicted of high Treason and executed at Sevenoke where he dyed with as much Constancy and Alacrity of Spirit as he had lived with Integrity upon whose untimely Exit the Crown seised upon his Estate and that Princesse in the same year he was destroyed granted his Estate here to Sir John Baker her Attorney Generall from whom the Title and possession of Berming is flowed down to his Successor Sir John Baker Baronet who in Right of this Descent is now entituled to the Patrimony of both these Mannors Halls Place in this Parish gave Seat and Sirname to a Family so stiled who in ancient Deeds were written At-Hall from their Habitation at some more eminent Mansion but before the end of Edward the third this Family was vanished and the Signory of this Place surrendered to Colepeper of Preston yet some part of it I find by old Deeds was passed away to Clive which Jo. Clive about the seventh of Henry the fourth alienated to Peter Colepeper and he in the tenth year of the abovesaid Prince conveyed Hall Place to Sampson Mascall originally extracted from a place called Mascalls in Brenchley and in this Family the Possession was fixed untill the latter end of Queen Elizabeth and then it was conveyed to Alchorne the Cradle or Fountain of whose Family was at Alchorne in Rotherfield and in this Name is the Fee-Simple of this Place still resident though the use and profits of it be for a long Series of years made over to Mr ......... Cook late of Stepney and his Descendants West-Bere stiled so in Opposition to Bere in St. Margarets nere Dover with the Appendant Mannor of Hopland is situated in the Hundred of Blengate the last of which was not called so from the growth and production of Hops there formerly planted as the vulgar Tradition affirms the Introduction of Hops into this Nation being not of that Antiquity but from a Family exceeding ancient who as appears by Deeds without Date were in elder Times possessors of it but before the end of Edward the first this Family was mouldered away and and then the eminent Family of St. Lawrence who likewise were Lords of West-Bere by purchase from Hugh de Bere and about the latter end of Edward the first were invested in the Tenure of both claimed the propriety and Thomas St. Lawrence and John de Swalclive paid Reliefe for their Lands at West-Bere and Hopland as the Book of Aid instructs us in the twentieth year of Edward the third and in this Family of St. Lawrence did the Propriety of both these Mannors reside untill the Beginning of Henry the sixth and then Hopland was conveyed to John Isaac in which Name it was resident untill the latter End of Queen Elizabeth and then it was conducted down by Sale to acknowledge Tourney of Saltwood and he by a like Alteration transplanted his Interest in it not many years since into Steed but West-Bere came by the Daughter and Heir of this Family to Apulderfield and again by the Female Heir of Sir William Apulderfield to Sir John Phineux and he setled it on his second Brother the Heir Generall of whose Descendant not many years since being wedded to Sir John Smith it is now become the Possession of his Grandchild Philip Viscount Strangford Bersted in the Hundred of Eythorne was the Seat of the noble Family of Crevequer before they removed to Leeds Castle their Seat and Residence and in Doomsday Book where there is a particular Account taken what Mannors Hamon de Crevequer was possest of in the twentieth of William the Conquerour it is written Briested which could not be meant of Brasted which was the Signory and Possession of Gilbert de Clare in the Reign of Henry the first as appears by the Records of Christ-Church in Canterbury where this Earl and his Successors are said to hold the Mannor of Brasted as Senescalli Archiepiscopi Cantuariensis in sua Inthronizatione whereas this Mannor had never any such Tenure united to it and remained parcell of the Patrimoniall Demeasne of Crevequer untill Hamon de Crevequer having embarked himself in the Quarrell of Simon de Montfort Earl of Leicester made Shipwrack of his Estate here at Bersted which was wrung from him by Henry the third and though he was pardoned by the Pacification of Killingworth made in the fiftyeth of that Princes Reign yet I do not find that he was ever reinvested in Bersted so that it remained in the Crown untill the tenth year of Edward the second and then it was exchanged for other Land with Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer but he having by an ambitious Defection forfeited this and much other Land in the fifteenth year of Edward the second it lapsed back again by an early Confiscation to the Crown and lay involved there until the fourth year of Edward the sixth and then being looked upon as wrapped up in the Mannor of Leeds Castle as indeed it had been in Appendage unto that and the Castellans of it it was granted at that Time to Sir Anthony St. Leger from whom it descended to his great Grandchild Sir Warham St. Leger who about the latter end of King Iames exchanged it with Sir Richard Smith for Salmeston in the Isle of Thanet and two thousand pound in Money to poise the Exchange and make the Ballance even and he not long after passed it away to Sir Thomas Colepeper of Hollingbourn who hath lately enstated it on his Son and Heir Sir Cheyney Colepeper who is entituled to the present Signory of it Milgate in this Parish was anciently a Mannor though now by Intermission the Homage is lost and shrunk into Disuse and Oblivion It was in Ages of a more Antiquity the possession of a Family called Coloigne Robert de Coloigne was possest of it and the Record taken after his Decease will inform you that he dyed seised of it in the thirty fifth year of Edward
third as appears Rot. Esc Num. 52. Parte prima And in this Name melted by a softer pronunciation in Times of a lower Date into Coluney did the propriety of it reside untill the Reign of Edward the fourth and then by an old Survey of Bersted I find it in the Hands of Thomas Coluney and this was in the fourteenth of that Princes Reign when most of this County was surveyed but after him I find no more of this Family entituled to the Possession for in the Beginning of Henry the seventh it was annexed to the Inheritance of Stonehouse whose ancient Seat was at Haselwood in Boughton Malherbe where they flourished for many Generations even down unto our Times and was constant to the Interest of that Name untill the Beginning of Q. Elizabeth and then it was passed away to Sir Thomas Floyd Receiver to that Princess and Justice of the Peace for this County and he much took off from the Obscurity of this Seat by adding an additional Magnificence by making the ancient Fabrick swell into the Dimensions not onely of a stately but an elegant Pile by an augmentation of Building and from him did it devolve by Descent to his Grandchild Mr. Thomas Floyd Esquire who some few years since transplanted his Right in it by sale into Mr. ...... Cage There is another Mannor in this Parish called Stone-house which formerly lay couched in that Revenue which gave support to the Priory of Christ Church but upon the Resignation of the Demeasn of that Cloister into the Hands of Henry the eighth it was by a new Grant linked to that Patrimony which was to be subservient to the Interest of the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church which had newly then from the Authority and Munificence of that Prince received its first Establishment And certainly from this place did the Stone-houses both of Kent Berkshire and Buckinghamshire either as Tenants to the Monks of the abovesaid Cloister or else as having some Mansion or Habitation of theirs situated no far distance from this Mannor anciently extract and spin out the primitive Original of their Name and Family This is my conjecture which I leave to more sober and severer Understandings either to embrace or else abandon and discard Brabourne in the Hundred of Bircholt Franchises was a Record drawn out of an old Manuscript does engage me to affirm the Inheritance in Times of a very ancient Date of a Lady called Salburga the Words of the Record that strengthen this Assertion are these Provaeda Matrona Nomine Salburga Domina de Brabourne Testamentum constitit ut qui tenerent Brabourne darent annuatim Sancto Augustino 40 Ambras Brasii that is Plates of Brass 4 Boves 15 Arietes 20 Panes 1 Piss Butyri 1 Piss Casei 4 Carucatas Lignorum that is four Carts Loads of Wood 20 Gallinas eâ Lege ut Monarchi singulis Diebus cantarent pro anima ejus Psalmum Exaudiat te Dominus c. This Records attests the abovesaid Lady to have died about the year 864. In Times of a lower Descent I find Alexander de Strabolgie Earl of Athol who flourished here in the Reign of Henry the third and Edward the first to have held it and from him did it devolve to his great Grandchild David de Strabolgie Earl of Athol who held it at his Death which was in the thirtieth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 19. and left it to his Son David de Strabolgie who dying in the forty ninth year of Edw. the third without Issue Male Elizabeth matched to Sir Thomas Percy from whose Heir General the Lord Borough of Ster-borough was descended and Philippa wedded to John Halsham of Halsham in Sussex shared his Inheritance but this Mannor upon the Partition acknowledged her for Inheritrix and She was in Possession of it at her Death which was in the nineteenth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 31. and by a Right derived from her did John Halsham possess it at his Decease which was in the second year of Henry the fifth Rot. Esc Num. 8. and from him did it descend to his Son Sir Hugh Halsham Knight who deceased in the twentieth year of Henry the sixth and left onely Joan Halsham his Daughter and Heir who was wedded to John Lewknor of Sussex Esquire and so this Mannor by this Alliance became the Inheritance of that Family but made no long abode in their Name for the abovesaid Io. Lewknor and Ioan his Wife in the fifth year of Edward the fourth passed it away to Sir Iohn Scott Comptroller of the House to K. Edward the fourth and from this Sir Iohn Scott is Mr. Edward Scott Esquire by an uninterrupted Chanell of an Original unquestioned Descent extracted who is at this instant by a Right transplanted unto him from many illustrious Predecessors entituled to the Possession of this place Bircholt in this Parish is made more eminent in this Account because it affords a Name to the whole Hundred wherein it is situated by Deeds of a very reverend and venerable Aspect which by the obsolete and antiquated Character seem to have been written in the Time of K. Iohn and Henry the third it is made the Inheritance originally of a Family called Bircholt Stephen de Bircholt possessor of this Mannor paid respective Aid for it as appears by the Book of Aid at making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth year of Edward the third But after the Reign of this Prince I do not find long permanent in this Family for in the Reign of Henry the fourth several old Court Rolls discover to me one Richard Halk or Hawke of Westhawks in Kingsnoth to be planted in the Possession and an old Arbor Radicalis or Tree from whence branches out the several Descents of Hawk or Halke and which is now preserved amongst the Evidences of Bircholt House this Family is made to have been Proprietaries of this Mannor ever since the Beginning of Richard the second nor is yet departed from the Name but remains at this instant knit to the rest of the Demeasn of this ancient Family Heminge is the last place of account in Brabourne which anciently yielded both Seat and Sirname to a Family of that Appellation I shall not need to make a Recapitulation from Deeds without Date of the Antiquity of this Family at this place it is enough that I shall inform the Reader that after it had been the Possession of this Name as may be traced out by Evidences almost three hundred years it was conveyed by William Heminge in the second year of Edward the sixth to Peter Nott in which Name the Title is now resident Benenden in the Hundred of Cranbrooke was as Doomesday Book informs me if not all yet for a principal part of it possest by one Godricus or Godric In Benenden mansit Godricus says the Record tenet XX. Acras in Alodio suo What this Alodium was the Civilians and out of them Sir Henry Spilman
Name is promiscuously written Jo. de Marney who is in some old Deeds called Marins obtained a Charter of Free Warren to his Mannor of great Betshanger the first year of Edw. the first but it seems this Franchise did but improve the Sale and make it more fit to be enjoyed by another for not long after it was conveyed to John de Soles so called from his Habitation near some Ponds and he died in the enjoyment of it in the forty ninth year of Edw. the third Rot. Esc Num. 40. Parte secunda But after this it was not long constant to the Signory of this Family for about the Beginning of Richard the second I find it possest by Bertram de Tancrey Lord of Tancrey Island in Fordwich and his Descendants enjoyed it until the latter end of Henry the fourth and then it went away by Sale to Rutter from which Name about the Beginning of Edward the fourth it came to Lichfield whose Arms are yet visibly obvious in ancient Pains of Glass at Dane Court in Tilmanston viz. Bendee of six Pieces Azure and Ermin and in this Family it continued until the Beginning of Henry the eighth and then by the Heir General of this Name it became united to the Patrimony of Thomas Cox Esquire Customer of Sandwich who about the latter end of Henry the eighth conveyed it by Sale to Mr. John Bois Ancestor to John Bois Esquire who by Paternal Devolution is now entituled to the Signory of it Little Betshanger was a Seat relating to the Family of Cliderow which in elder Times was of eminent Account in this Track yet I find that Iohn de St. Philibert held Lands here in the thirty first year of Edward the third but the Mannor it self was an Appendage to the above mentioned Family * He was Knight of the Shire in the seventh year of Henry the fourth Roger de Cliderow flourished here in the Reign of Edward the second and Edward the third and as appears by Seals affixed to old Evidences which commence from the last Kings Reign bore for his Coat Armour upon a Cheveron between three Eagles five Annulets his Successor Richard Cliderow was Sheriff of Kent the fourth and most part of the fifth year of Henry the fourth he was constituted soon after Admiral of the Seas from the Thames mouth along the Saxon Shore to the West for in those Times the Admiralty was divided sometimes into three and most commonly into two Divisions one beginning at the Thames mouth was Admiral of the Northern Seas the second was Admiral from the Thames mouth Westward and the third had the command of the Irish Seas but in this man's Time King Henry the fourth in the eighth year of his Reign reduced it under one Person and granted it with more ample and wide Authority under his Brother John Beauford Earl of Somerset But to proceed after the Title of this place had remained locked up in the Demeasn of Cliderow until the latter end of Hen. the eighth it passed away with the Female Inheritrix to Thomas Stoughton Esquire by whom he had three Daughters who were Coheirs to their Mother Elizabeth matched to Thomas Wild Esquire Helen married to Edward Nethersole and Mary wedded to Henry Paramour who by a joynt conveyance passe away their right to their Father in the twentieth year of Queen Elizabeth and he in the twenty first year by Deed re-enstates his right in them and they again by a concurrent and mutual consent alienate their Interest here in the twenty eighth year of her Rule to Mr. John Gookin and he about the first year of King James conveyed it to Sir Henry Lodelow who not many years since passed it away to Mr. Edward Bois of Great Betshanger Father to Mr. John Bois Esquire the present Lord of the Fee Bicknor in the Hundreds of Milton and Eythorn was in elder Times the Habitation of a Family of that Sirname Sir John de Bicknor and Sir Thomas de Bicknor accompanied King Edward the first in his successeful Expedition into Scotland and are found Recorded in the Register or Bedroll of those Knights who were made Bannerets at Carlaverock Castle by that Prince in the twenty eighth year of his Government but after this this Mannor stayed not long in the Tenure of this Family for in the Reign of Edward the second it came to acknowledge the Dominion of Roger de Leybourn Baron of Leybourn Castle from whom it descended to his Sole Daughter and Heir Juliana de Leybourn who dying in the forty third year of Edw rd the third without Issue and without Kindred it devolved by Escheat to the Crown and then that Prince setled it by a new Donation on the Abby of St. Mary Grace on Tower-Hill where it continued until the publick Suppression and then being surrendred up to the Crown it was in the thirty sixth year of Henry the eighth granted to Christopher Sampson and he in the second year of Edward the sixth passed it away to Sir Thomas Wiat from whom not long after it came by the same conveyance to own the Interest of Reader who about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth alienated his Right in it to Terry who almost in our Memory partly by Sale and partly in respect of Alliance setled the Propriety of it on Aldersey so that Mr. Farnham Aldersey a second Brother of Terrey Aldersey of Swanton Court Esquire is now Lord of the Fee Biddenden in the Hundreds of Barkeley Cranbroke and Blackbourn had an old Family which took both Seat and Sirname from hence and when this was consumed and vanished the Mayneys were the next who were successively Possessors of it John de Mayney died seised of this and other Lands confining upon it in the fiftieth year of Edward the third and was Son of Sir John de Mayney who flourished here as appears by Deeds under the worthy Character of Knighthood many years before and to this Name was the Possession by a continued and unbroken Series of Ages wedded until some years since the Title was by Sale divorced from this Family and conveyed by Sir Anthony Mayney Knight and Baronet to Sir Edw. Henden Chief Baron of the Exchequer and he by Testament transmitted it to his Nephew Sir John Henden who having lately paid a Debt to Nature which we all owe his Son and Heir Edw. Henden Esquire does at this instant enjoy it Allards is another ancient Seat in this Parish which for many Generations past until of late acknowledged it self to be the Mansion of that Name and Family and from hence was Gervas Alarar or Allard descended who was Captain and Admiral of the Navy set forth by the Cinque Ports in the first year of Edward the first as appears Pat. 34. Edwardi primi but now the Distaffe hath prevailed against the Lance for this Name having been lately wound up in a Daughter and Heir the Possession of it in her Right is now transplanted into Captain Terry
Aldersey of Swanton Court in Bredgar Esquire Castwisell is a third place in Biddenden worth our Consideration it was in Times very ancient Parcel of that Estate which did in this County relate to the Moiles extracted from Moiles Court at Bodmin in Cornwall and certainly did as high acknowledge the Signory of this Knightly Family as any Land they held in this County for though by some old Deeds not bounded with any date I find the Name of John de Castwisell affixed as Teste yet by those old Deeds and Muniments which have an Aspect upon this Mannor I discover that Walter Moile Knight in the sixth year of Edw. the third did grant to Reginald and William Sand all those Lands Tenements Rents and Services which Simon Gidinden ad Formam late held of the said Sit Walter as of his Mannor of Castwisell and by a subsequent Deed dated in the twenty third year of Henry the sixth I find that Margaret Widow of William Scapis of Burmersh did grant to Walter Moile which was the Judge all that Messuage and Land she held in Biddenden and by a Deed of a more modern Inscription that is one which comences from the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth I find that Thomas Moile of Eastwell Gentleman afterwards dignified with the order of Knighthood by the abovesaid Prince conveyed it to Stephen Rogers Gentleman and from him is Mr. Jonathan Rogers now possessor of this place originally descended Bidborough is the last place which shuts up the Lowy of Tunbridge here were Lands which were the Inheritance of a Family called Chauney the first of whom with whom I meet with in Record is Thomas le Chauney who paid respective Aid for it at making the Black Prince Knight as appears by the Book of Aid in the twentieth year of Edward the third and continued in his Family divers years after his Exit for in the latter end of Henry the fourth I find George Chauney possest of it but after him I can trace out no more of this Family who held it the next who succeeded in the Possession were the Palmers as is manifest by some old Court Rolls which represent one Thomas Palmer to have been Lord of the Fee in the Reign of Ed. the fourth and Henry the seventh but made no long stay in this Name for about the Beginning of Henry the eighth it was alienated to John Vane Esquire and the descendant of this Family Sir Ralph Vane being attainted in the fourth year of Edw. the sixth it escheated to the Crown and Queen Elizabeth in the first year of her Rule granted it to Henry Cary Lord Hunsdon of whom more hereafter Ramhurst is another little Mannor in Bidborough which the Book of Aid informs me in the twentieth year of Ed. the third to have been possest by a Family called Warehall and remained in their possession until the Reign of Henry the fourth and then it was passed away to Colepeper whose Ancestor John Colepeper died seised of some Estate here in the forty eighth year of Edward the third as appears Rot. Esc Num. 29. and in this Family was the Propriety resident until the latter end of Henry the eighth and then it was transferred by Sale to Lewknor from whom in that Age which came within the Verge of our Grand-fathers Remembrance it was alienated and demised to Dixon in Right of which Conveyance it is the instant Possession of Mr. Edward Dixon Esquire There is an House in this Parish called Bounds and in ancient Deeds called Bunds which as Tradition avers was the utmost Margin or Limit which bounded that League of Earth which hath been since known by the Name of the Lowy of Tunbridge and was given by Will. Rufus to Gilbert Earl of Briony and Eu because his Castle of Briony had been before by Violence torn from him by Robert Duke of Normandy because this Earl had been a Promoter or at least a Fomenter of the Designs of his Brother King William The Mannor of Bidborough it self had the same owners with that of Tunbridge as namely the Earls of Clare Audley and Stafford and escheating by forfeiture to the Crown upon the attaint of Edw. Stafford Duke of Buckingham in the twelfth year of Hen. the eighth it was by Q. Elizabeth granted in the first year of her Reign to Henry Cary Lord Hunsdon whose Son George Cary Lord Hunsdon dying without Issue Male his onely Inheritrix Elizabeth wedded to Thomas Lord Barkley linked it to his Patrimony and he in the Beginning of King James conveyed it to Sir Thomas Smith Grand-father to Robert Smith Esquire who lately died possest of it Bilsington in the Hundred of New-church was folded up anciently in that Patrimony which acknowledged the Dominion of John Mansel a man of eminent Note in the Reign of Henry the third as appears by that Chain of offices which adorned his Greatness for he was Constable of Dover-Castle Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Provost of Beverley for the abovesaid Prince and Queen Eleanor his Wife and Treasurer of the Church of York but he not long enjoyed it for he in the twenty seventh year of Henry the third made God his Heir and devested himself of the propriety of it to settle it on the Priory of Bilsington which was of his Foundation and Endowment and by dedication entituled to the Patronage of the Virgin Mary and was furnished with white Canons or Canons Pramonstratenses and in this condition did it remain until not onely this but all other Orders in this Nation having warped and revolted from their original Integrity and those closer Engagements and narrower Restraints the Rules of their primitive Institution tyed them up in a dissolution of Mannors called for a Dissolution of Demeasn but now whether those who did so zealously pretend to correct their Lives did not more seriously intend to reform the Ecclesiastical Patrimony and arraign them not according to the Guilt of their Crimes but the Hainousness of their Estates will fall under a sober Consideration that the Excesses of the Romish Clergie were high their Imperfections many and their Irregularities clamorous is without controversie now what the Causes were which unfastned the Ligatures of streighter Discipline which like so many Nerves did both move and tie together all the Limbs of the Body Ecclesiastick I shall now briefly discover The first Cause of this Depravation was the removing and abating those Persecutions which had so long with a sad and bloody pressure grated upon Christianity under the Scepter of ten Heathen Tirants and we know that the Fable tepresents to us that when the Laurell the Guerdon and Salary of Triumphs and the Sweat of the Laborious shoulder withered and shrunk into Decay the Figgettee sprang up our of its Ruines which is the Emblematick Type of Softness and Effeminacy and we read that the Lamps of Tullia and Terentia burnt with a clear and uninterrupted Flame as long as they were Recluse to the Cloisters of their
alienated to Godfrey of Lidde where after it had some small Time been setled a Mutation like the former united it to the Propriety of Wood and he about the Beginning of King James demised it by Sale to Mr. John Fagge Grandfather to Mr. John Fagge Esquire one of the Justices of the Peace for the County of Sussex who is the instant Lord of the Fee Brook in the Hundred of Chart and Longbridge was given to the Priory of Christ Church by Charlemanus a Priest which Donation was first ratified by the Charter of Henry the first and secondly confirmed by that of Henry the second In the Conquerours time you will find it thus represented Rodbertus de Romeney tenet 1 Manerium de Brock ad firmam de Cibo Monachorum pro 1 Sulling defendebat se nunc pro Dimidio valet 4 l. This upon the Surrender of the abovesaid Cloister and its Revenue into the Hands of Henry the eighth was enstated on the newly erected Dean and Chapter of Christ Church and there was lodged untill this Age of Discomposure and Distraction and now it is rent off Bromley gives Name to the whole Hundred where it is situated and hath been many Ages part of the Demeasne of the Church since it was given as appears by the Records of the Church of Rochester by John Later a Goldsmith of London to the Bishop of that Sea in the year of our Lord 1300. There are two Seats within this Parish which were alwaies of temporall Interest and pretend to a deep Antiquity The first is Sundridge which formerly was the Patrimony of a noble Family called Blund Peter le Blund was Constable of the Tower of London the thirty fourth of Henry the third and Ralph le Blund his Grandchild paid respective Aid for his Lands at Bromley which he there held by a whole Knights Fee of the Bishop of Rochester in the twentieth of Edward the third and when this Name was entombed in a Female Heir this Seat went with her to the Willoughbies from whom the Earl of Lindsey is descended and when some years it had rested in this Family by the Circumstance of Purchase it became the Patrimony of Booth when this Name was likewise wound up in an Heir Generall the Betenhams of Pluckley by matching with her became Lords of this Manfion and and continue still Proprietaries of it Simpsons is the second Seat of Account though in Ages of a later Inscription it contracted that Name yet anciently it was the Demeasne of Bankewell a Family of Signall Repute in this Track John de Bankewell had a Charter of Free Warren to his Lands in Bromley in which this was involved in the thirty first of Edward the first and Thomas de Bankewell dyed seised of it in the thirty fifth year of Edward the third and when this Family was shrunk at this Place into a finall extinction the next who were eminent in the Possession of it were the Clarks and one William Clark that flourished here in the Reign of Henry the fifth that he might not be obnoxious to the Statute of Kernellation obtained Licence to erect a strong little Pile of â—ime and Stone with an embattell'd Wall encircled with a deep Moat which is supplyed and nourished with a living Spring but this mans posterity did not long enjoy it for about the latter end of Henry the sixth John Simpson dwelt here by right of Purchase and he having much improved the ancient Fabrick setled his Name upon it and indeed that is all that 's left to Evidence they were once Owners of it for in an Age or two after this it was conveyed to Mr. John Stiles of Bekenham Esquire from whom descends Sir Humphrey Stiles Knight and Baronet Cupbearer to the late K. Charles and him does Simpsons confesse for its instant Owner There is a Well in the Bishops Park called St. Blases Well which anciently had an Oratory annexed to it dedicated to St. Blasius which was much frequented at Whitsontide because Lucas who was Legat for Sixtus the fourth here in England granted an indulgent remission of forty Days injoyned Pennance to all those who should visit this Chappell and offer up their Orizons there in the three Holy-days at Pentecost Boughton Montchensey is placed in the Hundred of Twyford and hath that Addition annexed to it to signifie to us that it was once the Possession of the Family of Montchensey whose principall Seat was at Swanscamp where I shall treat more largely of them but though originally they held this Place yet it was not long a Branch of their Demeasne for about the Beginning of Henry the third they had deserted the Possession and surrendred it up to Hougham of Hougham by Dover and Robert de Hougham dyed possest of it in the forty first year of Henry the third and had Issue Robert de Hougham after whose Death the Spindle prevailed against the Spear for he concluding in Daughters and Coheirs Bennet one of them was matched to John de Shelving and he by a Right derived from her was invested in the Possession and dyed seised of it in the fourth year of Edward the third and so did his Widow in the twenty second year of that Prince and with them the Name of Shelving expired in a Daughter and Heir called Helen who was affianced to John de Bourn and so he in her Right became entituled to the Signory of this Mannor but before the end of Richard the second this Family found likewise its Tomb in a Female Inheritrix who was married to Haut of Hauts Place in Petham and Edward Haut held this Mannor in the eighth year of Henry the fourth as appears by the Pipe Roll relating to that Time but after this it was not long united to their Inheritance for about the latter end of Henry the sixth by an old Court Roll I find it in the Tenure of Reginald Peckham Esquire and Katharine Peckham Widow of James Peckham his Son held it at her Death which was in the seventh year of Henry the seventh and after her Thomas Peckham Esquire her Descendant enjoyed it at his Decease which was in the twelfth year of Henry the eighth and left it to his Son Reginald Peckham Esquire who about the latter end of the above mentioned Prince passed it away to Sir Thomas Wiat and he not long after alienated it to Robert Rudston Esquire who having been entangled in the unsuccesful Design of that Knight forfeited it to the Crown but was reinvested again in it by a new Concession in the second year of Queen Mary and much improved the ancient Structure with the increase of Building in the years 1567 and 1576 and left it to his Son and Heir Belknap Rudston Esquire who by his last Will and Testament setled it on his Kinsman Sir Francis Barnham in the year 1613 from whom it is now descended to that worthy person Mr. Robert Barnham Esquire his Son and Heir Wierton House is a
the Rowths of Darbyshire from which Alliance Sir John Rowth claims at this instant the Possession Nash Court is a Seat of very reverend Antiquity especially since for some Centuries of years it hath been as is apparent by their own private Evidences the Mansion of the Hawkins a Family of deep Descent and illustrious Account in this Track but made more eminent by being the Cradle of that Learned Gentleman Sir Thomas Hawkins who for his accurate Translation of Caussinus his holy Court from the French Original into English and his other well polished Labours cannot be decyphered or limned out to Posterity under too worthy an Attribute Colkins is the last place though not of the least Account which in this Parish is to be considered it was built by John Colkin originally a Citizen of Canterbury and he at his Death which was in the tenth of Edward the third was in possession of it there are several of this Mans Posterity which lye entombed in Boughton with a Griffin Segreant which was their Paternal Coat affixed to the Front of the Gravestone William Colkin and Agnes his Wife are there enterr'd with this Inscription Orate pro animâ Will. Colkin Agnet Ux. qui quidem obierunt Anno Dom. 1460. and the rest is defaced this Mans Father John Colkin sleeps there with this Inscription annexed to the Marble Hic jacet Johannes Colkin qui obiito ctavo Die Aprilis Anno Dom. 1405. But not long after the Decease of William Colkin abovesaid did the Possession of this Seat continue permanent in this Family for his Son John Colkin sold it to Henry Petit Father to Cirjacus or Sidrach Petit who drew up a Survey of all the Mannors of Kent which held by Knights Service of the Crown in the twenty eigth year of Henry the eighth from whom Mr. Petit the present Lord of Colkins does extract both his Descent and Title Dane Court in this Parish also cannot be passed by without some Inspection In elder Times Sir Allan de Dane challenged the Signorie of it and as he took his Sirname from it so he had his Habitation here in the Reign of Edward the third and it continued a Mansion for his Descendants divers years after but in the Reign of Henry the fourth I find the Foggs Lords of the Fee the last of which that held it was Sir Jo. Fogge who died possest of it as appears by his Will in the seventeenth year of Henry the seventh and left it to his Son and Heir Sir Jo. Fogge from which Family not many years after it came to own the Propriety of Petit of Colkins in the Descendant of which Family the Interest of it is yet resident Tho. At Hurst here founded a Chappel in the eighth of Richard the second and dedicated it to Saint Nicholas which was for the use of Lazars and poor Leprous people lodged in an Hospital not far distant of this Mans Foundation also Bourdfield or Boresfield in the Hundred of Eyhorn was formerly a Parish and the remains of some part of the Stonework of the Church as likewise the Bounds of the Church-yard are yet obvious but since its decay it hath been incorporated into Oltringden and is now looked upon as an Hamblet of that Parish It was for many Descents the Patrimony of the Lords Cobham of Sterborough and so continued untill Thomas Lord Cobham died in the eleventh year of Edward the fourth and left one onely Daughter and Heir called Ann Cobham who was matched with Edward Borough after in her Right as Heir General created Lord Borough of Sterborough from whom this Mannor descended to his Grandchild Thomas Lord Borough who in the twenty fifth year of Q. Elizabeth conveyed it to John Pakenham and he not long after alienated it to John Lewin Esquire in which Family it remained untill our Remembrance and then by the Heir General it was carried off to Rogers of the County of Somerset and the like vicissitude hath by the Female Inheritrix of that Family brought it now to acknowledge Charles Cavendish Viscount Mansfield Heir apparent to William created Marquess Newcastle by the late King at Oxford Bishops-Bourn in the Hundred of Bredge and Petham is called so because it was given by K. Kenulfus at the Request of Athelard Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to the Priory of Christ Church in the year of Grace 789 and in the Charter there is a Recital of one Aldhun a pious Citizen of Canterbury who first bequeathed it to that Covent and the Charter of Confirmation informs us that it was given to the Monks ad Vestimentum corum for a supply of Vesture In the year 811. Arch-Bishop Ulfred exchanged Eastry of Bourn with the Covent above mentioned and in the Demeasne of that See it lay couched untill the latter end of Hen. the eighth and then Tho. Arch-Bishop of Canterbury exchanged it for other Lands with Sir Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury who in the thirty fourth year of the abovesaid Prince conveyed it to Sir Anthony Aucher Ancestor to Sir Anthony Aucher Knight and Baronet the instant Proprietary both of this and Hautsbourn which next summons a Remembrance Hauts-bourn before it was enlarged with the Additional Appellation of Haut afforded both Seat and Sirname in elder Times to a Family of venerable Antiquity in these Parts John de Bourn lived here and had a Charter of Free-warren granted to it in the seventeenth year of Ed. the first but when this Name resolved into a Daughter and Heir who was married to Shelving this Mannor lost the Name of Bourn and was called by Addition Shelving Bourn and remained sometime under that Notion untill a Vicissitude of the same Nature with the former entombed this in a Female Inheritrix likewise who being married to Edw. Haut the first Addition was removed and wrapped up in a second for thenceforth in publick Records it was frequently stiled Hauts-bourn and so continued under that Name and in that Family untill Sir William Eaut about the latter end of Hen. the eighth dying without Issue Male this Family determined in two Daughters and Coheirs one of whom called Elizab. being matched to Sir Thowas Colepeper of Bedgebury brought Bourn to be the Inheritance of that Family and he in the thirty fourth year of Henry the eighth passed it away to Sir Anthony Aucher descended from Aucherus the Saxon who was of eminent Note at Newenden in this County of whom more shall be spoken when I come to treat of that place Bursted is the last Place to be taken Notice of in this Parish which in ancient Deeds is written Burghsted and was the Inheritance of a Family of that Sirname but the cheifest Honour which it acquired in times of a more modern Aspect is that for several Descents last past it hath constantly confessed it self to be part of the propriety and Patrimony of Denne a Cadet of the Denns of Denne Hill Boxley in the Hundred of Maidston had an Abby filled with Cistertian Monks and
came after to be the Possession of Roger Lord Leybourne and from him did descend to Juliana Leybourne his Sole Heir who matching with William Clinton Earl of Huntington made it his Inheritance but he deceasing in the twenty eighth of Edward the third without Issue and his Lady after dying and leaving no visibleor avowed Alliance knit to her by the indisputable tye of Consanguinity to claim it it escheated to the Crown and K. Richard the second in the twenty first of his Reign granted it to the Royal Chappel of St. Stevens in Westminster where it remained till the Dissolution and then it was granted in the second year of Edward the sixth to Sir Edward Wotton from whom by a successive Right of Descent it was transmitted to his great Grandchild Thomas Lord Wotton of Marley whose Widow the Lady Mary Wotton does at this instant possess it Lastly Chilston is an eminent Seat and Mannor likewise situated within the Precincts of this Parish In the fifty fifth year of Henry the third Henry Hussey had a Charter of Free-Warren to his Mannor of Chilston and his Grandchild Henry Hussey died seised of it in the sixth year of Edward the third and in this Family was the Inheritance in an undivided Succession resident till our Grandfathers Memory and then Henry Hussey by Sale translated the Proprietie into John Parkhurst whose Successor Sir William Parkhurst alienated it to Richard Northwood whose Son Mr. Oliver Northwood by the same transmission passed it over to Cieggat he very lately disposed of his Concernment in it to Mr. Manly of London who very lately hath conveyed it to Mr. Edward Hales Grandchild to Sir Edward Hales of Tunstal Knight and Baronet Buckland in the Hundred of Feversham was as Sidrach Petits Inquest into the Mannors of Kent informs me as high as the Reign of Henry the third the Possession of John de Buckland who it seems extracted his Sirname from hence and is likewise mentioned in Testa de Nevil to have held Land in this Track in the twentieth year of Henry the third But before the end of Edward the second this Family was vanished from this place and immediately after they were gone out the Frogenhalls of Frogenhall in Tenham were entituled to the Possession and Richard Frogenhall was seised of it at his Decease which was in the thirty fourth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 37. and from him did it descend to John Frogenhall Esquire who was with Edmund Brook Lord Cobham then Ceneral of the Kentish Forces under Richard Earl of Warwick at the Battle of North-Hampton where the House of Lancaster by that vigorous Assistance the Kentish men that day afforded the House of York received so fatal a Wound that all the Art of the Lancastian Partisans could hardly ever after close it and this Man had Issue Thomas Frogenhall who about the Beginning of Henry the seventh passed it away to Gedding and Thomas Gedding in the twenty fifth year of Henry the eighth held this Mannor and conveyed it by Deed to Henry Atsea of Herne and he in the thirtieth of Henry the eighth was possest of it at his Death and from him did the Thread of Descent guide the Title down to his Grandchild William Atsea who in the tenth year of King James conveyed it by Sale to ....... Saker of Feversham Gentleman whose Son Mr. Christopher Saker in our Fathers Memory alienated it to Sir Basill Dixwell of Terlingham in Folkstone Knight and Baronet who upon his Decease about the year 1641 gave it to his Kinsman Mr. John Dixwell Esquire in whom the Possession is still resident Buckland by Dover is situated in the Hundred of Bewsborough and was a Branch of that spacious and wide Demeasn which made the Patrimony of Hamon de Crevequer so considerable in this County and he held it at his Decease which was in the forty seventh year of Henry the third Rot. Esc Num. 33. Afterwards I find the Wilghebies or Willoughbies invested in the Possession and Thomas de Willoughbie was seised of it at his Decease which was in the seventh year of Edward the second But the Title had no long residence in this Family for in the Reign of Edward the third I find it in the Tenure of Barrie of Sevington for Agnes Wife of William Barrie was possest of it in Right of Dower as appears by an Inquisition taken after her Death in the forty eighth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 7. After the Barries were worn out the Callards or Calwards now vulgarly called Collard became Lords of the Fee a Family of deep Extraction in this Track and who were in elder Times entituled to the Possession of Land and Houses in Canterbury as appears by a Composition made between the Monks of St. Austins and those of Christ Church in the forty first of Edward the third recited by Mr. Somner in his Survey of that City Pag. 192. wherein it is mentioned that the Abby of St. Austins had purchased Land and Houses of Iohn Calward But to proceed after this Family had for divers Descents held this Mannor in a fair repute John Callard Esquire being one of those who accompanied Sir Henry Guldford of this County to serve Ferdinand of Castile in his War commenced against the Moors where for some Signal Service performed against those Infidels he had this Coat assigned to him and his Posterity by Clarenceux Benolt vid. Girony of six pieces Or Sables over all three Blackmores Heads decouped in our Fathers Memory they surrendred the Possession of this place by Sale to Fogge who not many years after passed away his Concernment in it by the same conveyance to Mr. William Sherman of Croyden Esquire Steward both to George Abbot and William Laud Successively Arch-Bishops of Canterbury Dudmanscombe is another Mannor in this Parish which in elder times made up the Revenue of the Priorie of St. Martins in Dover and continued annexed to that Cloister until the general Suppression and then being torn from the Church it was again exchanged with Thomas Cranmer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury by Henry the eighth in the twenty ninth of his Reign and so remained wound up in the Demeasn of that Sea untill that ruinous and fatal popular Tempest which arose in these Times supplanted it and cast it into the Possession of a secular Interest Burham in the Hundred of Lark field is in Doomsday Book written Burgham and was in the twentieth year of William the Conquerour held by Ralph de Curva Spina In Ages of a lower Approach to us I find it under the Signorie of Jeffrey de Say and he died possest of it in the twenty third year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 48. and for the future remained so chained to the Propriety of this Family that it was esteemed Parcel of their Barony of Birling and when Jeffrey Lord Say in the Reign of Richard the second ended in two Female Coheirs one matched to John Lord Clinton
and the other called Joan wedded to Sir William Fiennes this upon the Division of the Estate accrued to Fiennes and coming again by the Heir General of Fiennes Lord Dacres to be possest by Leonard William Leonard Son and Heir of Fiennes Leonard a younger Branch of that House hath lately passed it away to Mr. Francis Barnham and Mr. Edward Maplesden There was in old Time a Fountain within the Limits of this Parish at a place called Haly-Garden venerable it was and of no small Account amonst the People who for the sanctitie they conceived was in it ascribed divine Attributes unto it as the Name imports for what we call Holy our Ancestors long time since styled Halyg as Halyfax in York-shire from holy Haire that that the People devoutly esteemed and frequently with blind credulity visited In the seventeenth of K. Richard the second the Friars Carmelites of Alresford obtained a Grant by Letters Patents to bring the Water from that Fountain in Haly-Garden to their Monastery in Alresford to what purpose they that will survey the Designs of the Monks of those Times may easily discover Burmersh in the Hundred of Worth was a Member of that Patrimony which in Times of a higher Calculation related to the Abby of St. Augustines in Canterbury and had here a Mansion called Abbots Court which is an Adjunct to this Mannor and had this Denomination imposed upon it because the Abbot of that Covent used to sojourn here when he came to survey that Demeasn which augmented the Revenue of that Abby and lay spread into Romney Mersh This Mannor upon the Surrender of the Patrimony of that Cloister into the Hands of Henry the eighth in the twenty ninth year of his Reign was in the thirty fifth of that Prince granted to William Finch Esquire whose Successor Sir Thomas Finch Earl of Winchelsey not many years since passed it away to Sir Ralph Whitfield Serjeant at Law whose Son and Heir Sir Herbert Whitfield is now Lord of the Fee C. C. C. CAnterbury hath so exactly in all the Parts and Limbs of it been described and surveyed by Mr. Somner that I should exceedingly eclipse the Labours of so inductrious a Pen if I should go about to Pourtray that in any contracted Landskip which hath been before represented to the Publick pencilled out in so large and exquisite a Volume Onely some few things are there omitted which in this Search I shall take notice of and so proceed The Augustine Friars or Convent of Black Canons in Canterbury was founded by Thomas de Bonington Pat. 17. Edw. secundi Memb. 18. Parte secunda The Prior of the Trinity in Canterbury was accustomed to receive two pence upon every Vessel of Wine coming into the Port of Sandwich Rot. Claus Hen. tertii Memb. 17. Baldwin de VVereval had a Charter in the second year of K. John for the Aldermanry of Westgate in Canterbury Hubert de Burgh Earl of Kent had the Castles of Canterbury Dover and Rochester granted to his Custody Carta 12. Hen. tertii King Henry the third in the sixteenth year of his Reign at Canterbury took the Fealty of the Knights and Free Tenants of Kent as likewise of the Barons of the Cinque Ports K. Henry the third in the forty eighth of his Reign grants a Pardon for Life to Francis de Balsham for that She was hanged for Felony at Canterbury from nine of the Clock on the Munday till the rising of the Sun next Day and yet escaped with Life Pat. 48. Membra 24. I should not have mentioned this but that an Accident proportionate to this in all the Circumstances of it happened to one Ann Green who not many years since being hanged at Oxford for the supposed Murder of her Child miraculously escaped with Life King Edward the first Landed at Dover 1274 and restored divers Liberties to Canterbury which before were seised into the Hands of the Crown Pat. 4. Edw. 1. There was a Chauntry founded in St. Dunstans Church by John Roper for two Priests to celebrate at the Altar of St. Nicholas in that Church Pat. 4. Hen. 4. Parte prima Memb. 29. There was another Chauntry mentioned by Mr. Somner founded by VVilliam Brenchley Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench for one Priest to celebrate at the Altar of St. John Baptist in Christ Church for the support of which he gives one House in St. Elphage Parish and ten pound Rent issuing yearly out of his Lands at Bilsington Pat. 25. Hen. 6. pars 1. Memb. 15. The Mannor of Dodindale had originally owners of that Name for as Mr. Somner in his Survey of Canterbury out of the Records of St. Augustins instructs us Haymo the Son of Guido de Dodindale gave the Tithes of Dodindale to the Priory of St. Augustins But it seems it was but for certain years for in the Reign of Henry the second as the same Records testifie Robert de Marci gave the Tithes of this place to the Hospital of St. Laurence so far he in that laborious Peice of his hath exhibited to the publick view who were its ancient Possessors when it bore the Name of Dodindale now out of the private Evidences it must be my Task who were its Proprietaries since it carried the Name of Morton By a Deed without date Elias de Morton from whom it assumed the Name of Morton which hath clove to it ever since demises the Fee-simple of it to Hugh Fitzvinon a Family which had large possessions at Selling by Monks Horton whose Daughter Eugenia Fitzvinon passes it away by Deed to Nicholas de Twitham in the twentyeth year of Henry the third and he immediately after by a Deed not bounded with any date settles it in Robert de Polre but whether his Successor sold it to J. Chich or not is incertain because there is a vacancy or gap in in the private Evidences though the Records of St. Augustins make him to have some Interest in it in the year 1330. The next that I find to have been entituled to the possession were Hardres and Isaack who in the twenty second year of Henry the sixth conveyed it away to William Say for the use of Robert Rigdon but it seems the title did not long fix here for he in the thirty third year of the abovesaid Prince transmits all his concernment in it by sale to William Barton and John Whete and they by mutual consent in the eighteenth year of Edward the fourth alienate it to Edward Pargate who transmitted it to his Son and Heir John Pargate from whom descended Edward Pargate who in the twenty fifth year of Henry the eighth demises it to Peter Bruin and after the Title had many years united to this Family Henry Bruin dying without Issue gave it to his Sister Jane Bugge who in the first year of King James cast her Right by Sale into her Kinsman John Bruin who in the fifth year of that Prince by the same alienation translated the Title into William
Name then the End of K. John for then William de Averenches dying without Issue Male Matilda his onely Daughter and Heir brought Capell with the two little Mannors Halton and Wolverton alias Wolton to be possest by Hamon de Crevequer called in the Language of those times the great Lord of Kent from him they descended to his Son and Heir Hamon de Crevequer who dying about the forty seventh year of Henry the third without Issue his Estate in Kent and elsewhere was seised on by that Prince as having died in Actual Arms against him but was by the Act of Pacification made at Kenelworth in the fiftieth year of his Reign restored to his four Sisters whereof one was espoused to John de Lenham the second was matched first to Nicholas de Sandwich and next to John de Segrave Matilda the third was wedded to Bertram de Crioll and the fourth was married to William de Pateshull but upon the Division of the Estate Capell with its two Appendages Halton and Wolton accrued to Crioll by whose Daughter and Heir they came to Sir Richard de Rokesley and then by Joan his Sole Inheritrix to Tho. de Peynings in which Family they remained untill the twelfth year of Henry the eighth and then Sir Edward Poynings dying without any lawfull Issue they came by Mary his natural Daughter to Edward Lord Clinton to whom they were by Grant confirmed in the thirtieth of that Princes Reign and he in the second year of Q. Mary passed them away to Mr. Henry Herdson whose Grandchild Mr. Francis Herdson conveyed them to his Uncle Mr. John Herdson and he dying without Issue setled them on his Kinsman Sir Basil Dixwell Knight and Baronet whose Kinsman Mr. Basill Divwell of Broome in Barham is now Proprietarie of them Caldham high mounted is another Mannor in this Parish which informs us that in elder times a Family of that Denomination held it which before the End of Richard the second had passed it away to Baker a Family of good Account in this Track who had a peculiar Chancel belonging to them in Folkstone Church near the Vestry Door over the Charnell House John Baker was Gentleman Porter of Callis under Henry the fifth and sixth and dying without Issue male Robert Brandred who had matched with one of his two Coheirs was planted in the Possession and he about the latter end of Henry the sixth passed it away to Sir Thomas Brown whose Grandchild Sir Matthew Brown exchanged it with Henry the eighth about the thirty sixth of his Reign and he granted it away to William Wilford John Bennet and George Brigges and they in the thirty seventh of his Government alienated their Right in this place to John Tufton Esquire Ancestor to the right Honourable John Earl of Thanett who still possesses the Signory of it Charlton in the Hundred of Blackheath anciently written Ceopleton that is the Town inhabited with honest good stout and usefull men for Tillage and Country businesse It anciently belonged to William Fitz Oger as Doomsday Book saith and was after given to the Monastery of Bermondsey neer Southwarke by Robert Bloett Bishop of Lincoln Anno sexto Willielmi Secundi King Henry the third gave the Prior of that House Liberty by his Charter in the fifty third year of his Reign to hold a Market there weekly and a Fair once in every yeer three days together viz. upon the Eve upon Trinity Sunday and two days after the Market was held weekly upon the Monday and was not long since ciscontinued but the Fair is not disused but kept yearly upon St. Lukes day and called Horn Fair by reason of the great plenty of all Sorts of Winding Hornes and Cups and other Vessels of Horn there brought to be sold King James granted the Mannor to Sir Adam Newton Knight and Baronet Tutor to Prince Henry who there hath built a goodly brave House and left the Care with his Cost to enlarge and beautify Gods House the Parish Church to Sir David Comingham Knight and Baronet late Coforer to Prince Charles Mr. Newton his Brother and Mr. Peter Newton Gentleman Usher to the late King Charles who have most amply discharged that Trust and in a manner new builded a great Part thereof and erected the Steeple new from the Ground and furnished it with a good Ring of Bells decorating the same Church without and within so worthily that it surpasseth most in the Shire Kedbroke neer Charlton was formerly a Parish but when the Church decayed and the paucity of the Inhabitants could not support the Charge that was to maintain the same they were by Composition annexed to Charlton it is of late become of better Note since it pleased King Charles to create Sir William Harvey Knight and Baronet and Baron Harvey of Rosse in Ireland a Peer of this Realm also by the Name of Baron Harvey of Kedbroke it being part of his Ladies Inheritance as being Daughter and one of the three Coheirs of Brian Annesley Esquire who having it in Lease from the Crown bought the Fee-simple of Edward Blunt of Wrickelmersh Esquire to whom it was conveyed by his Father in Law Sir William Garaway of London Knight who had purchased it of King James in the Beginning of his Government to whose Royal Demeasne it had been fastned ever since the Suppression of the Priory of Bermondsey in whose Patrimony it was involved in the Reign of Henry the eighth In the time of King Henry the sixth Pat. 26. Hen. sexti Parte secunda Memb. 27. the Church of Kedbroke was appropriated to the Priory of St. Mary Overies in Southwarke the Vicarage not endowed but being shrunk into Decay and Solitude the Inhabitants for many yeers last past have resorted for the performance of Divine Duties to the Parish Church of Charlton Chalke in the Hundred of Shamell was parcel of that Demeasne which related to the Abby of Bermondsey as appears by Kirkbies Inquest a Book kept in the Exchequer and collected in the ninth year of Edward the first wherein that Cloister is represented to have had the Possession of this place at that Time and here it remained untill the generall Dissolution snatched it away in the Time of Henry the eighth and that Prince afterwards devolved it to Sir George Brook from whom it descended to his Great Grandchild Sir William Brook who dying in the year 1643 without Issue male it came over to his Kinsman Sir Jon Brook as Reversioner in Entail and he some few years since passed it away to James Duke of Lenox lately deceased whose Son Esme Stuart now Duke of Lenox is the Heir Apparent of it Felborough Clam Lane and Rainhurst were a Limb of that wide Revenue which lay scattered and diffused over the face of all this Hundred and acknowledged it self to be under the Signory of the Family of Cobham Henry de Cobham held them as appears by Kirkbies Inquest in the ninth year of Edward the first and so did his
the supply of their Diet And the Notitia of the particular Mannors belonging to Christ Christ in the Dooms-day Record speaks thus Litel Cert iterum est Manerium Monachorum de Cibo eorum quod in T. E. R. id est Tempore Edwardi Regis se defendebat pro III Sullings nunc pro duo dimidio valet VIII lb. The other half Sulling or Ploughland was at that time held by William Fitz-Herminfrid of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury in Fee and was called Pett This Mannor was many Generations since given in Fee-Farm by Grant from the Monks of Christ Church to the Brockhulls who transmitted it with Calehill to John Darell Esq in the fourth year of Henry the fourth and under that Notion or Capacity it continued till the suppression and then it was confirmed to Sir James Darell by King Henry the eighth in Fee-Ferm there being a small Rent issuing out of it reserved to the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church and under that Character is it now come down to Sir John Darell the instant Lord of the Fee Calehill is that eminent Mannor in Little Chart which gives Name to the whole Hundred it was under the Scepter of Henry the third the Inheritance of a good Family called Frene who as appears by Seals and other Authentick Records of Armorie bare for their paternal Coat Or a Flower de Lis within a plain Bordure Sables in Allufion and Assimulation to that Pluckly of whom it is probable they held some Land in this Track who bore Or only a Flower de Lis Sabler Hugh de Frene in the first year of Ed. the first obtained a Charter of Free Warren to his Mannor of Calehill and Stilley in Charing But before the middle of Edw. the third this Family was departed from the Possession of this place having surrendred the Propriety of it and Stilley in Charing to Sir Thomas Brockhull second Son of Sir William Brockhull and he paid respective Aid for his Mannor of Calehill and his Lands at Charing at making the Black Prince Knight Thomas Brockhull his Son was Sheriff of Kent the seventh and eighth years of Rich. the second and held his Shrievalty at Calehill and he had Issue Hen. Brockhull who in the fourth year of Hen. the fourth conveyed Calehill to * Ex Autographis Jo. Darell de Calchill Militis John Darell Esq younger Brother of Darell of Sesay and elder Brother to Sir Will. Darell under-Treasurer of England which John was Steward of the Lands of Hen. Chichley Arch-B of Cant. a place in those Times of a large Trust and as eminent a Concernment and in the twelfth year of the abovesaid Prince Hen. Brockhull mentioned before passed away Stilley in Charing to John Darell abovesaid from whom it came over to his Successor James Darell who by a Charter of Inspection in the third of Hen. the sixth had the Franchise or Priviledge of Free Warren renewed to his Mannors of Calchill and Stilley in Charing which was originally granted to Hugh de Frene John Darell Esq was Sheriff of Kent the seventh of Hen. the seventh he was afterwards dignified with the Order of Knighthood and was so eminent a Partisan of that Prince that he had his Estate torn from him by * See Rot. Par. de An. tertio Ric. 3 Memb. 6. Richard the third for his Fidelity to his Cause and Quarrel which * See Originale An. 2. Hen. 7. Rot. 17. in the Treasurers side in the Exchequer with thirteen other Mannors lying dispersed in the County of Worcester was granted to him again by Henry the seventh before mentioned and was made Captain of the Lanciers for this part of the County wherein he lived Sir James Darell was his Son and Heir who was Governour of Guines and Hames Castle near Calais Thus have I in prospect represented when Jo. Darell above mentioned originally extracted from the Knightly Family of the Darells of Sesay in York-shire deserted that County to transplant himself into Kent and fix his residence at Little Chart from whom Sir John Darell who now enjoys the Signory of Calehill and Proprietie of Stilley in Charing by a Derivation of many Descents all of whom were very considerable in their Generations as their Monuments and sepulchral Inscriptions remaining in their own Chappel of St. Katharines in Little Chert Church do at this instant eminently manifest is by a just and un-interrupted Series originally and lineally extracted Burleigh is another Mannor partly in this Parish and partly in Charing which had anciently Owners who bore that Sirname and there is a place in Charing Church which at this Day is known by the Name of Burleighs Chauntry which is very probable was founded by them after the Burleighs were extinguished and abstracted from the Possession of this place which was about the Beginning of Edward the third the St. Johns written in Sir John Darells Latin Deeds De Sancto Johanne became Lords of the Fee but long this Mannor was not refident in them for before the end of Edward the third this Family of St. John was crumbled into Decay and Oblivion and having disloged from the Possession a Family called Dalingryg of eminent Note in Hantshire were entituled by Purchase to the Proprtety of it and Sir Edward Dalingryg by a Fine levyed the first year of Richard the first passed it away to Roger Dalingryg and Alice his Wife and they not long after by the same Vicissitude conveyed their united Interest here to Brockhull of Cale hill and Hen. Brockhull in the fourth year of Henry the fourth transmitted it by Sale to John Darrell Esquire and from him by the Chanel of sundry Descents is the Right now descended to Sir John Darrell who hath the instant Fee-simple of it Chart Sutton sometimes called Chart Greene is seated in the Hundred of Eyhorne within the Confines of this Parish there is an ancient Mannor and Mansion called Norton place it gave Name to as ancient a Family as any in this Track in the South-Windows of the Church there was the Effigies of Stephen Norton with his Arms on his Tabard or Surcoat viz. Argent a Cheveron between three Crescents Azure who flourished in King Richard the seconds Time and in a Turnament of the Kentish Gentlemen I find one of this Name in a Tabard of the Arms above mentioned encountring one Christmasse of East Sutton not far distant who was in like manner so habited in a Surcoat charged with his Arms which meetly express the Owners name viz. Gules upon a Bend Sables three Wassail Bowls Or which likewise stand in the South-Windows in Sutton Church But the Effects of Gavelkind did at length grind this Family to a small Remain so that in the Times which did almost border upon those our Fathers lived in this Seat was by Norton sold to Baker from whom by the same Fatality not long after it went away to Sir Edward Hales Grandfather to Sir Edward Hales Baronet who is the
first from Chelsfield it passed away to Otho Lord Grandison who paid respective Aid for this Mannor by the sixth part of a Knights Fee at the making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth year of Edward the third but there it had but a frail abode for Sir Thomas de Grandison this mans Son conveyed it over by Sale to Richard Lord Poynings whose Daughter and Heir Eleanor matched to Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland and in his Line was the Right of it for some Descents interwoven till in the Reign of Henry the seventh it was by Sale resigned up to James Walsingham Esquire whose Son Sir Edmund Walsingham alienated it to Giles in the Reign of Edward the sixth which Giles descended from Giles of Lords in Shelvich where for many years before they had been planted and from Giles about the latter end of Q. Elizabeth it came over by purchase to Captain Henry Lee of London who going out in Sisters and Coheirs it is now come by two of them to Serjeant John Clerk of Huntington-shire the principal Possessor and Mr. Thomas Norton of London Ferneborough is but a Chappel of Ease devoted to the honour of St. Giles but belongs to the Mother-Church of Chelsfield which is dedicated to St. James as appears by the Records of the Church of Rochester It was a principal Seat of the Lord Grandison who made this the Head of their Barony William de Grandison held it at his death which was in the ninth year of Edward the third * Otho de Grandison obtained a the grant of Market to Ferneborough in the eighteenth of Edw. the first which was renewed to Hen. Earl of Lancaster in the eighteenth year of Edward the third and the grant of a Fair added at the Feast of S. Giles the Eve and Eight dayes following Otho Lord Grandison this mans Son obtained a Charter of Free Warren to it in the eighteenth year of Edward the third but long after this it did not remain linked to the Inheritance of this Family for in the Reign of Richard the second I find Fleming invested in the Possession whose Tenure was very transitory for not long after by Purchase it was brought into the Demeasn of Petley from whom by as swift a Fatalitie it went away to Peche of Lullingston which Family determined in Sir John Peche in the Reign of Henry the seventh who dying Issueless Elizabeth his Sister and heir brought this and a spatious Inheritance to her husband John Hart Esquire from whom M. William Hart now of Lullingston Esquire is lineally extracted and in right of this Alliance is at this present entituled to the Possession and Signorie of Ferneborough There is a third Mannor in this Parish called Godington which was anciently the Habitation of a Family which was represented to the world under that Name Simon de Godington paid respective Aid for his Mannor of Godington at the making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth year of Edward the third as the Book of Aid informs us and after this Family expired at this place Richard Lord Poynings became Lord of the Signorie of it from whom with Eleanor his Daughter and Heir it went over to Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland but did not long fix in that Family for for almost two hundred years last past the Possession hath been constantly united to the Name of Haddon a Family of principal Account in this Track as may appear by their Arms viz. A Leg couped and wounded which are Registered in the old Rolls and Ordinaries of Kentish Armorie alwayes with this addition Haddon of Kent and sometimes of Godington in Kent Hewat is another small Mannor in Cheslfield One Jeffrey de Hewat was possest of it in the Time of Henry the third ut apparet ex Charta sine Data which was for many Descents the Petleys of Down originally from whom it devolved to a Cadet of that Family who planted himself at Moulsoe in this Parish and there is a Deed in the hands of Mr. Thomas Petley of Vielston of John Coldigate of Coldigate a Farm in Halsted which bears Date from the eleventh year of Henry the fourth to which one William Petley of Chelsfield is Teste After it had been resident for sundry Generations in this Branch of Petley which sprouted out from those of Down the Title in that Age which ushered in this was by Sale from Edward Petley transferred to Mr. Thomas Petley of Vilston in Shorham another Branch shot out from the principal Stem of the Petleys at Down and he left it to his second Son Mr. Ralph Petley of Riverhead in Sevenoke not long since deceased whose Heir who is Proprietary of this place is at this instant in his Minoritie Northsted is situated likewise in Chelsfield and in the reign of Edward the third confessed a Family called Francis for its Proprietaries Simon Francis held it at his death which was in the thirty second year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 33. and acquired it by Purchase of Otho de Grandison who held this and Chelsfield as appears by the Book of Aid in the twentieth year of the former Prince but about the beginning of Henry the fourth this Family had surrendred the possession of this Mannor to Vuedall or Udall a Noble Familie and Masters of much Land both in Surrey Sussex and Hant-shire Sir John de Vuedall was one of the Knights who was with Edward the first at the Siege of Carlaverock Sir Peter D'Vuedall sat as Baron in Parliament the eighth and ninth of Edward the second Nicholas Vuedall was Constable of Windsor under Edward the third John Vuedall was Sheriff of Sussex and Surrey the second fourth and seventh years of Henry the fifth and again the first fifth and twelfth year of Henry the sixth William Vuedall was Sheriff of Sussex and Surrey the eighth of Henry the sixth and he in the sixth year of that Princes Government conveyed it to John Shelley of Bexley whose Successor William Shelley about the latter end of Henry the eighth passed it away to Mr. John Leonard of Chevening whose great Grand-child Henry Lord Dacres not many years since conveyed it to the Lady Wolrich who upon her decease setled it on her Kinsman Mr. ....... Skeggs of the County of Huntington Chelsfield had a Market obtained by Otho de Grandison in the eighteenth year of Edw. the first to be held there weekly on the Monday and a Fair to be observed there yearly by the space of three dayes at the Feast of Saint James Choriton in the Hundred of Folk-stone was the Inheritance of an ancient Family called Scotton Robert Scotton who was Sheriff of Kent the seventh eighth ninth and tenth years of Edward the first lived here and held his Shrievalty at this place and was of eminent Rank in this Track for he was Lieutenant of Dover Castle under the Prince abovesaid and held this Mannor under the Estimate of a whole Knights Fee of the Lord of
of Lathbury in the County of Buckingham Nin-House shall not pass without some mention because it was the residence of John at Nin who is in the Register of those twelve Worthies who are pourtraied kneeling in Coat Armour in an ancient window in this Parish Church whose posteritie enjoyed it untill the beginning of Henry the sixth and then it was alienated to Sharpe and Wil. Sharpe mingled with the Ashes of his five Wives as the Inscription on his Sepulchral Stone instructs us rests in the nethermost part of the South Isle of this Church and as the Date endorsed on his Tombe informs us deceased in the year of Grace 1499. and from him did the Proprietie of this Mansion by the Devolution of sundry Descents come down to Mr ........ Sharpe lately deceased whose Heirs do still enjoy it Chevening in the Hundred of Codsheath had owners of that Name in times of higher Assent who were of no dispicable account Adam de Chevening was one of the grand Assise in the time of King John and had his residence here and likewise derived his Name from hence and the heirs of William de Chevening paid respective Aid for the Mannor of Chevening by the half part of a Knights Fee which Adam de Chevening formerly held of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in the twentieth year of Edward the third at the making the Black Prince Knight when the Chevenings went away from the Possession of this place the Family of Delapole who were Lords of the Mannor of Pool in Southfleet were Seated in the Inheritance for John de Lapole held it in the tenth year of Henry the sixth but long after this did it not continue constant to this Name for by Sale the whole Demise was put into the Tenure of Isley and William Isley held it at his death which was in the fourth year of Edward the fourth Rot. Esc 34. and in the Demeasn of this Family was the Inheritance folded up till Sir Henry Isley in the Reign of Edward the sixth fixed the Proprietie of it by Sale in John Lennard Esquire who lies enterred in Chevening Church in right of which original Grant Francis now Lord Dacres his great Grandchild is invested in the present Inheritance of it Chepsted in this Parish was so called from the Market of Fish there long since used for there such as imported fish from Rye on the Sea-Coast thence called Rypers made their Stage and on fresh horses carried it to London Just as Chepe-Side and other places beginning with Chepe give Addition and Distinction from other Towns of like Name where Markets are kept That this Mannor had Proprietaries of this Name is evident for John de Chepsted Son of Cohn de Chepsted paid respect of Aid for this Mannor which was held by Knights Service of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in the twentieth year of Edward the third at the making the Black Prince Knight the Heir of Chepsted as appears by an old Pedigree in the hands of Sir Sackvil Crow was matched to John de Bore and the Heir of Bore to Stockett who passed away Chepsted about the latter end of Henry the sixth to William Isley Esquire whose unhappy Successor Sir Henry Isley being attainted in the time of Q. Mary it escheated to the Crown where it hath ever since been resident Morants Court lies in Chevening likewise and contributed both Seat and Sirname to a Knightly Family who were Proprietaries of it King Edward the second in the fourteenth year of his Reign granted Charter-warren to Jurdan and William de Morant in all their Lands in Chevening Shoram Otfood Brasted Sundridge and Chidingston William de Morant was Sheriff of Kent the twelfth and thirteenth year of Edw. the third and had Issue Sir Thomas Morant whose heir General brought this Seat to Peckham in which Family the Title lay couched till our Fathers Memory and then it was demised to Blackswell who some few years since hath by Deed and other Conveyance setled his Right in it on Mr. Watson of the County of Oxford Chiselhurst in the Hundred of Rokesley hath several places within the confines of it of signal Account The first is Scadbery which had Owners of that Sirname which about the twentieth of Edward the third were extinguished for then John de Scadbery deceased without Issue male so that this ancient Seat devolved to be the Patrimony of Osmund de Walsingham descended from the Knightly Family of Walsingham in Norfolk who matched with Ann his sole Daughter and Heir and having planted himself in this County he began to sprout out and flourish into a Series of such worthy Successors that this Family was justly registred in the Catalogue of those who were esteemed the most ancient and eminent of this County having in this latter Decursion of Time been for six Descents Knights which that I may the better represent to the Reader the Splendor of this Family I shall destinctly name the first was Sir Thomas Walsingham who was born the third year of Henry the fifth and he had Issue Sir James Walsingham who was Sheriff of Kent the twelfth year of Henry the seventh whose Son and Heir was Sir Edmund Walsingham who was Lieutenant of the Tower twenty four years and he had Issue Sir Tho. Kinsman to Sir Francis Walsingham the famous Secretary of Estate to Queen Elizabeth Sir Thomas Walsingham was Son and Heir of Sir Thomas above mentioned and he had Issue Sir Thomas Walsingham who is the instant Proprietary of Scadbery Frogpool is another ancient Seat in this Parish which in Henry the thirds Reign confessed the Signory of a Family called Barbur Thomas le Barbur obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Lands in at Chiselhurst in the thirty eighth of the above named Prince But before the latter end of Edward the second this Family was moldered away and then it came to be possest by a Family called Cressell who were Lords of much Land about Hartley Faukham and other places in that Territory and bore for their Coat Armour as appears depicted in ancient Coloured Glasse in Chiselhurst Church Sables A Fesse Argent between three Chaplets Or John de Cressell in an old Survey of Rochester is remembred to have been a liberall Benefactor to this Church in the Reign of Edward the third and from the Government of that Prince does the Age of the above mentioned Coat seem to commence and this is the Reason why another John Cressell of this Family is in the seventh year of Henry the fifth recorded in the Register of those Qui portabant Arma antiqua Finally after the Propriety of this noted Mansion had continued so many Descents wrapped up in the Patrimony of this Family it was about the latter end of Henry the eighth transmitted by Sale to Dyneley and Sir John Dyneley in our Remembrance demised his Concernment in it to Mr. William Watkins to whose Care and industrious Expence the additional Building annexed to the ancient Structure does owe its
he dying in the twelfth year of Edward the third left it to his Son Giles Badelesmer who deceased without Issue and so his four Sisters became his Coheirs one of which called Margaret by matching with William Lord Roos of Hamlake united the Castle and Mannor of Chilham which accrued to her upon the Division of the Estate to his Revenue from whom successively it did devolve by a continued Rivulet of Descent to his Successor Thomas Lord Rosse who asserting the Cause and Quarrel of the House of Lancaster was in a Battle commenced between Edmund Beaufort Duke of Somerset and John Nevill Marquesse Montacute made Captive to the Partisans of the House of York and in the third year of Edward the fourth sealed his Faith to that Cause which he contended for with the Losse of his Head which was struck off at Newcastle but it seems the Mannor and Castle of Chilham was before this untimely Fate of his upon his being engaged in Armes with the Complices of the House of Lancaster by Edward the fourth in the first year of his Reign granted to Sir John Scott of Scotts Hall one of his Privy Counsel Pat. Anno pri Edwardi quarti Parte 4. Memb. 24 but it was but for Life for afterwards it returned to the Crown and rested there till Henry the eighth by royal Concession planted the Propriety in Sir Thomas Cheyney who inhabited here when Leland made his Kentish Perambulation which was in the Beginning of the Reign of that Prince from whom it came down to his Son Henry created Baron Cheyney by Queen Elizabeth who having by Riot and Profusion and other exorbitant Excesses wasted a noble and plentifull Patrimony in the tenth year of that Queens Government alienated the Mannor and Castle of Chilham to Sir Thomas Kempe whose Son Sir Thomas Kempe concluded in four Daughters and Coheirs Dorothy married to Sir John Cutts Ann matched to Sir Thomas Chichley Amy wedded to Sir Henry Skipwith and Mary espoused to Sir Dudley Diggs who being concerned in this Estate the three first by a joynt Concurrence passed away their Right to Sir Dudley Diggs and his Lady who was Master of the Rolls in the year 1636 and a great Assertor of his Countryes Liberty in the worst of times when the Sluces of Prerogative were opened and the Banks of the Law were almost overwhelmed with the Innundations of it from whom it is descended to his Son Mr. ...... Diggs Esquire in whom the Propriety and Interest of this Mannor and Castle does still continue Easture in this Parish was the Seat of a Family which was known by that Sirname and in several ancient Deeds which are not bounded or limited with any Date there is mention of John de Easture who lived here in the Reign of Henry the third and Edward the first after this Name was vanished the Apulderfields of Otterpley in Challock a younger Branch of the Apulderfields of Bedmancore were invested in the Possession and of this Family was Henry de Apulderfield who was Sheriff of Kent in the fifty first year of Edward third and likewise Proprietary of this place but when this Family resolved into a Daughter and Heir called Isabell she by matching with John Idelegh who had a large Income about Mepham Chalk and Cobham cast it into the Inheritance of that Family where it had not long remained but a Vicissitude like the former carryed it by Agnes the Female Heir of William Idelegh to Christopher Ellenden who was Master of a good Estate about Seasalter and Damian Bleane which Name not many years after shrunk into a Daughter and Heir likewise called Mary descended from Thomas Ellenden who was about the Reign of Henry the seventh matched to Edward Thwaits so that in her right that Family became setled in the Inheritance of this place and remained in the Possession till in that Age we stile our Grandfathers it was by Sale translated into Morton descended from the ancient Family of the Mortons of Millbourn St. Andrews in the County of Dorset whose Successor Mr. George Morton not many years since passed away his Interest in it by Sale to his Uncle John Finch Baron of Fordwich and Lord Keeper of the great Seal in the year 1640. Youngs is another Mannor in Chilham which by Deeds of a very high gradation in time which step into the Reign of Edward the second appears to be the Possession of a Family of that Appellation and when that was decayed and worn out at this Place the Beverleys who were a Family which had been planted at Tancrey Island in Fordwich ever since the latter end of the Reign of Edward the third were ingraffed in the Inheritance and continued by an undissolved Chain of several Ages seated in the Proprietie of it till George Beverley the last of this Name at this place in our Grandfathers Remembrance demised his right in it by Sale to George Barley where the Title found no long abode for he passed away his Interest to Fleet extracted from the Fleets of Fleet in the Isle of Thanet who suddenly after alienated it to Shepheard from which Family almost in our Remembrance it was by Purchase brought over to own the Signorie of Sir Dudley Diggs who upon his decease transmitted it to his eldest Son Mt. ....... Diggs Esquire in whom the present Proprietie of it is fixed Dane Court is a fourth Mannor within the Limits of Chilham not to be waved or declined in this present Survey It was anciently the Patrimony of Thomas de Garwinton of Welle in Littlebourne and he held it as appears by ancient Court Rolls in the Reign of Edward the first and Edward the second whose great Grandchild William Garwinton of Welle in the eleventh year of Henry the fourth dying without Issue upon a serious debate and winnowing of Collateral Alliances Joan Wife of Richard Haute was found to be his Cousin and Heir and so this place became in her Right the Inheritance of this Family but this mans Son called Richard likewise not long after deceasing without Issue male Margerie his only Daughter who was matched to Will. Izaack about the latter end of Henry the seventh became his Heir and so it fell under the Jurisdiction of that Name and remained entwined with their Demeasn till it about the beginning of the Government of Q. Elizabeth was by Edward Izaack sold to Hales from which Family in that Age our Fathers lived in by the same conveyance it went away to Spracklin issued out from the Spracklins of St. Lawrence in Thanet in which Name the Possession is at this instant resident There is a place in this Parish on the South-side of the River stretched out on a long green Hill which the Common People who bear the greatest sway in corrupting of Names call Jelliberies Grave The Historie it self will evidence the original of this denomination It was about this place that Julius Caesar respited his farther remove or advance into the bowels of this
Island upon intelligence received that his Fleet riding in the road at Lymen not far distant had been much afflicted and shattered by a Tempest whereupon he returned and left his Army for ten dayes encamped upon the brow of this Hill till he had new careen'd and rigg'd his Navy but in his march from hence was so vigoriously encountered by the Britons that he lost with many others Leberius Durus Tribune and Marshal of the Field whose Obsequies being performed with solemnities answerable to the eminence of his Place and Command each Souldier as was then Customary bringing a certain quantity of earth to improve his place of Sepulture into more note then ordinarie caused it so much to exceed the proportion of others elswhere and from hence it assumed the name of Julaber whom other vulgar heads ignorant of the truth of the story have fancied to have been a Giant and others of them have dreamed to have been some Enchanter or Witch It is probable the Romanes built something here at Chilham for when Sir Dudly Diggs digged down the ruines of the old Castle to make space for the foundation of that exact and elegant House which he there erected there was the Basis of a more ancient building discovered and many Aeconomical vessels of the Romane antique mode traced out in that place besides the Keeper of the Castle which is yet preserved hath a Senate-House adorned and furnished with Seats round about shaped out of an excellent durable Stone Oldwives Leas is the last place in the Inventorie of those Mannors which lie within the Limits of Chilham It was in elder Orthographie written Old-woods Leas as being indeed the Patrimony of a Family so called as appears both by Deeds without Date and of a more modern Constitution and continued Lords of it untill the Reign of Henry the sixth and then the Daughter and Heir Generall of John Oldwood annexed it to the Inheritance of Paine in which Family it was without any pause or interruption resident almost untill our Fathers memory and then this Name was entombed in four Daughters and Coheirs two of which by the first Wife were matched to Cob and Philipot of Feversham and the two other which were the Issue by the second Wife were espoused to Petit and Prude but this upon the division of the Estate into portions augmented the Revenue of Cob and is still for ought I know wraped up in the Demeasn of the Heirs and Descendants of this Family Chilham by the influence and procurement of Alexander de Balioll and Isabell his wife had the grant of a Market to be held weekly on the Tuesday and a Fair yearly by the space of three dayes viz. the Vigil the day of the Assumption of our Lady and the day after in the ninteenth year of Edward the first which grant was renewed and confirmed to Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer in the ninth year of Edward the second as appears Pat. 9. Edw. secundi Num. 57. Chillenden in the Hundred of Eastry gave Sirname to a Family so stiled and there is a recital in Deeds very ancient which extract their Original from the time of Henry the third of John de Chillenden Edward and William de Chillenden who had an Interest in this place in Ages of a lower step the Bakers who were Lords of Caldham by Capell were in the Possession of this place and after they were gone out the Family of Hunt about the Government of Henry the sixth by Purchase were setled in the Inheritance and here the Title for two or three Descents was Successively permanent and then the same inconstant Revolution which carried it to Hunt wafted it over from that Name by Sale to Gason which Family I find to be of no despiscable Antiquitie about Ickham and that Track and when it had for some years been linked to their Revenue it was for some two or three Ages since alienated to Hamon Ancestor to Anthony Hamon Esquire into whom by original Descent the hereditarie Right of this place is at this present collected Chistlet in the Hundred of Whilstaple was given to the Sea of Canterbury by Ethelbert King of Kent under the notion of Cistelet and here the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury erected a Magnificent Mansion which they called Ford and empaled a certain proportion of Land into the form of a Park as if they had judged it meet to justifie the first Donation of this Christian Prince who by election and design intended it for a chosen portion of Earth devoted to the support of this Arch-Bishoprick Clive formerly Cloves-Hoo lies in the Hundred of Shamell called so from its situation either on some elevated precipice or else its being cloven or rent in some part of it from the Continent by water It was in the Conquerours time called Bishops-Clive and in the Pages of Doomsday Book it is thus rated Cliva est Manerium Monachorum est de vestitu eorum in T. E. R. se defendebat pro II. Sullings Dimidio est appretiatum XVI However the place at present may be represented obscure and despiscable being shrunk from its former Glory yet in those Ages wherein the Saxons flourished it was ennobled with several Synods which were held here both National and Provincial wherein several Rules and Constitutions were enacted and established both to fetter up the Exorbitances of of the Clergie within the Channels and shores of the Ordinances and Decretals Ecclesiastical and likewise to empale the Irregularities of the Laity who then began to be debauched into disorder and excess within the restraints and boundaries of the Laws temporal I shall now exactly unweave them as they are Registred by the learned Spelman in his exact Collection of the Councels held before the Conquest The first was held in the year 742. under King Ethelbald and Arch-Bishop Cuthbert The second under Ethelbald King of Mercia accompanied with the principal of his Nobilitie and Arch-Bishop Cuthbert invested with his Bishops Abbots and other Ecclesiastical Persons in the year 747. The third was celebrated under Arch-Bishop Athelard in the year 798. The fourth Synod or Councell was convened at this place under Kenulf King of Mercians and Athelard Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in in the year 800. The fifth was called together under the abovesaid King Kenulf and Arch-Bishop Athelard in the year 803. The sixth was assembled in the third year of Bernulfe King of the Mercia in the year 822. that Prince himself with Vlfred Arch-Bishop of Canterbury being both present and president at it and over it The result of this eminent Synod was to rescue and restore to the Patrimony of the Church-Lands called Haerghes Hereforddinglond Gedding and Combe which by the Sacrilegious violence of some impious men even in those times had been ravished away from the Ecclesiastical Demeasn Their eighth and last was a small Synodal Convention collected into a Body under the above mentioned King Bernulf and Arch-Bishop Ulfred in the year of Grace 824. And
it is observable that in these Assemblies and in other Recorded by Sir Henry Spelman either the King immediately or else some Thane which was a Dignity equivalent to our English Baron who did Personate the Prince was joyntly President with the Bishop that as one took Cognisance of the Affaires of the Church so the other managed the Concernments and Interest of the State and this was done with much of Reason and Prudence in the original Constitution of these Synods for the mingling the divided Interests of the Laitie and Clergie together and making them mutually to interfere extinguished all jealousie and Emulation between them and by consequence all those black effects and inconveniences which are still the Retinue to those two Furies for we cannot be so Citizens of the Common-wealth but we must be Sons of the Church nor so Sons of the Church the Temporall and Spirituall Interest are so complicated together but we must in some relation be Citizens of the Common-wealth and what causeth annoyance to the one creates disturbance to the other for like Hippocrates Twins they laugh and mourn and live and die together But to proceed when this Mannor had for many Ages been incorporated with the Inheritance of the Church Henry the eighth judging the Clergie grown too Luxuriant in a wide Revenue prun'd off this and Malingden a Mannor which was ever an Appendage to Cliffe as two superfluous Excrescencies and engraffed them again in the Royall Demeasn but suddenly after Cliff was by this Prince granted to George Brooke Lord Cobham and he left it to his Son Sir William Brooke Lord Cobham who enstated it by entaile on his second Son George Brooke and in Defailance of Issue male by him surviving to the next Heir male of the Name after this man was beheaded at Winchester in the second year of King James this devolved to his Son Sir William Brooke who dying without Issue male in the year 1643. Sir Jo. Brooke now Lord Cobham became his Heir Malingden was by Queen Elizabeth granted to William Ewens who quickly after this Concession transferred his Interest in it by Sale to Brown from whom by as sudden a Decursion the Title by Purchase went in to Sompner who in Times which almost attaque our Remembrance sold it away to Hills Perry Court in Cliffe was always a Limb of the Revenue of the Family of Cobham and so for many Hundred years continued till Henry Brooke Lord Cobham being wound up in that fatal and mysterious Design of the noble but infortunate Sir Walter Rawleigh in the Time of King James forfeited this to the Crown but this Seat was by the abovesaid Prince after the Death of Frances Widow to the abovesaid Henry Lord Brook granted to Robert Cecill Earl of Salisbury in Reversion who married Elizabeth Brook this Lords Sister and his Son Will. Earl of Salisbury Knight of the Garter and Captain of the Band of Pentioners to his late Majesty passed it away by Sale to Bernard Hide of London Esq whose Grandchild Mr. Bernard Hide does enjoy the present Fee-simple of it Cardans is the last Mannor in Cliffe which untill the publique Dissolution tore it off belonged to the Charter-House in London and being thus ravished away was by Henry the eighth in the thirty first year of his Reign granted to Thomas Gethins from which Family not many years since it passed away by Sale to Oliver Leder and was lately if it be not still in the Tenure and Possession of that Name West-Clive vulgarly called West-Cliff in the Hundred of Bewsborough was the Patrimonial Inheritance of the Lord Cobham of Sterborough Castle in Surrey a younger Branch of the Lord Cobham of Cobham Reginald de Cobham second Son of John de Cobham was summoned to Parliament as Baron of Sterborough in the twenty second year of Edward the third and dyed possest of this Mannor and much other Land in Kent and Surrey in the forty fifth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 15. and so it remained interwoven for some Descents with the Demeasne of this Family till Thomas Lord Cobham this mans great Grandchild resolved into Ann Cobham who was his Female Heir who by being espoused to Edward Borough Lord Gainsborough linked this to his Demeasne and Propriety but it was unloosned in Thomas Lord Borough this Mans Grandchild who in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth alienated his Interest in it to Guibon whose Grandchild Mr Thomas Guibon is invested in the instant Possession of it Bere Court or Mannor in this Parish was formerly a parcell of the Demeasne of a Family who in times more ancient fell under this Denomination Williant de Bere was Bailiff of Dover and was to account the profits to the Constable of Dover Castle Anno secundo Edwardi primi Memb. 19. Anno quarto Edwardi primi Memb. 34. After this Family had waved the Possession of this place the Tookes were setled in the Inheritance and by a Decursion of many Ages have brought down the Inheritance to Mr. Charles Tooke who is the instant Possessor of Bere Cobham in the Hundred of Shamell afforded a Seat and Sirname to that noble and splendid Family * Sir Hen. de Cobham Sir Reginald de Cobham Sir Stephen de Cobham Sir Henry de Cobham le Uncle are enrol'd in the Register of those Knights who were assistant to K. Edward the first at the Seige of Crlaverock in Scotland in the twenty eighth year of his Reign who from hence borrowed the originall Denomination of Cobham and certainly this place was the Cradle or Seminary of Persons who in elder times were invested in Places of as signall and principall a Trust or Eminence as they could move in in the narrow Orbe of a particular County Henry de Cobham was one of the Recognitores magnae Assisae in the first year of K. John who were in some proportion equivalent to the Judges Itinerant for they took Cognisance of all Causes Criminal declared to be so by the Laws then in force and likewise determined in sundry Actions of a meer Civill Aspect either Reall Personal or Mixt Reginald de Cobham Son of John de Cobham was Sheriff of Kent from the Beginning of the thirty third year of Henry the third to the end of the fortieth year of the said Prince and was again Sheriff in the forty second year of the above mentioned Prince in which year he dyed and Roger de Northwood and his other Executors answered for the Remainder of the year Sir Henry de Cobham was Sheriff of Kent the twenty ninth thirtieth and part of the thirty first year of Edward the first he is written in the old Rolls of the Arms of the Knights of Kent Henry Cobham le Vncle that is he was Uncle to the Lord Cobham he lies buried in Shorne Church with his Portraicture armed in Mail and Crosselegg'd with a Barons Robes cast over but whether he were ever actually engaged in the Defence of the Crosse and
Sepulchre of Christ against the Assaults of Infidels is incertain for it was customary in those times if they did but vow to undertake the protection of the Crosse in the Christian Quarrel to insculpe their Figures upon their Sepulchres armed and Crosselegged This abovesaid Sir Henry de Cobham was again Sheriff of Kent in the first and ninth years of Edward the second Stephen de Cobham Son and Heir of this Sir Henry was Sheriff of Kent the eighth ninth and tenth years of Edward the third Tho. de Cobham was Sheriff of Kent in the first year of Richard the second John de Cobham was one of the Conservators of the Peace in this County in the third fifth sixth ninth twelfth and eighteenth years of Edward the third a place of no small Consequence in that Age the end of it being to appease Tumults regulate and bridle the Disorders and Excesses of all Irregular Persons whether Felons Outlaws or other Malefactors of what Complexion soever and lastly to secure the Peace of the County from all Eruptions either inbred or forraign This man had Issue Thomas Lord Cobham Father to John Lord Cobham in whom the male Line determined so that Joan became his Daughter and Heir who was first matched to John Delapole secondly to Sir John Ouldcastle by whom she had only a Daughter that died an Infant and thirdly to Reginald Braybrook who dyed as appears by the Inscription on his Tombe in Cobham Church in the year 1433 and by him she had only Joan who was Heir to them both and she by being wedded to Thomas Brook of the County of Somerset Esquire knitt Cobham and a large Income besides to her Husbands Patrimony And this man had Issue by her Sir Edmund Broke who was summoned to Parliament as Baron of Cobham in the twenty third year of Henry the sixth and he was in the direct Line Ancestor to Henry Broke Lord Cobham Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports in the first year of King James who being too deeply concerned in the Design of Sir Walter Rawleigh which was as some who pretend to unravell it in the whole Webb by private Collusion and Treaty with Count Aremberg the Spanish Legat to draw over some Forces from Flanders by whose powerfull Concurrence they might engage this Nation in the Flame of Civill Contention since from that they expected their Light though others wrap it up in so many Vails and Umbrages that the whole Scene of this Attempt becomes perplexed and mysterious made the forfeiture of his Estate here at Cobham though not his Life become the price of his undertaking which being thus rent away by this Escheat from the Patrimony of this Family was soon after by King James invested by Grant in his Kinsman Lodowick Stuart Duke of Lenox who expiring without Issue it did successively devolve to his Nephew James Duke of Lenox upon whose late Decease it is come over to ....... his Dutchesse Dowager only Daughter to George Villiers Duke of Buckingham in whom the blood of those three noble Families Villiers Manours and Beaumont appears to be concentered Cobham-Colledge was founded by John Baron Cobham of Cobham in year 1362 for a Master and Chaplains to pray for the Souls of him his Ancestors and Successors Cobham-Bury lyes likewise in this Parish and was always esteemed as an appendant Mannor to Cobham having originally and successively the same Proprietaries and being found wrapped up in the Patrimony of the infortunate Henry Lord Cobham it escheated upon his Attainder to the Crown and was suddenly after by King James granted to Robert Earl of Salisbury whose Son and Heir the right honorable Robert Cecill Earl of Salisbury some few years since transferred his Right in it by Sale to one Zachary King of Watford in the County of Hertford Henherst is the last place of note in Cobham which as the Records in Rochester inform me was given to the Priory of Leed Castle by Robert de Crevequer upon his Foundation of that Cloister and continued folded up in its Revenue until the Whirlwind of the generall Suppression rent it off and King Henry the eighth granted it to George Lord Cobham who immediately after conveyed it to Sir George Harpur Esquire whose Son Sir Edward Harpur about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth passed away his Concernment here to Mr. Thomas Wright from whom it descended to his Son and Heir George Wright Esquire who dying without Issue gave it to his Kinsman Sir George Wright and his Son not many years since surrendered it by Sale to Doctor Obert Physitian to the late Queen Mary The Tythes of this Mannor were given by one Goscelinus as the first Book of of Compositions at Rochester discovers to me in the year 1091 to the Priory of St. Andrews in that City which upon the Suppression were by King Henry the eighth granted to George Brook Lord Cobham which upon the Attainder of his infortunate Grandchild Henry Lord Cobham in the second year of King James returned to the Crown and here the Propriety made its aboad untill the late King Charles by his royal Concession made them the Inheritance of Mr. Stephen Alcock of Rochester Esquire Cobham had the Grant of a Market weekly on the Monday and a Fair yearly on the Day of St Mary Magdalen procured to be observed there at those stated times abovesaid by John Lord Cobham in the forty first year of Edward the third Because I have mentioned before and shall have frequent occasion to mention hereafter those Kentish Gentlemen who were embarqued with Edward the first in his victorious and triumphant Expedition into Scotland and were dignified with the order of Knighthood for their Assistance given to that Prince in his succesfull and auspicious Siege of Carlaverock in the twenty eighth year of his Reign I shall represent to the Reader a List which I have collected from an Authentick Roll gleaned from very ancient Registers and other Records by that eminent Antiquary Robert Glover Esquire Sir Henry de Cobham Sir Reginald de Cobham of Cobham and Roundall in Shorn Sir Stephen de Cobham Sir Henry de Cobham le Uncle Sir Simon de Leybourn Sir Henry de Leybourne of Leybourne Castle Sir Jeffrey de Say de Birling Sir Ralph de St. Leger Sir John de St. Leger of Vlcombe Sir Thomas de St. Leger Sir Jeffrey de Lucy Sir Aymery de Lucy of Newington Lucies Sir Thomas de Lucy Sir John de Northwood Sir John de Northwood his Son of Northwood in Milton Sir John de Savage Sir Thomas de Savage of Bobbing Court Sir Roger de Savage Sir Stephen de Cosington in another old Roll there is mention of Sir William de Cosington it is probable they were deslinct persons but both of Cosington Hall in Alresford Sir Peter de Huntingfield of West-Wickham Sir Robert de Crevequer but of what place is not mentioned in the Roll. Sir Simon de Crioll of Walmer Sir Maurice de Bruin de Bekenham Sir Bartholomew de
crumble away for in the thirty second year of that Prince William Cosin by Deed passed it away to William Hextall William Gainsford and Nicholas Gainsford in the fifth year of Edward the fourth Hextall surrenders all his Interest here to William Gainsford Esquire so he is written in the Deed and from him did it descend to Nicholas Gainsford whom I find to be Justice of the Peace for Sussex and Kent in the reign of Henry the seventh and from him is that Family successively branched out who are the instant proprietaries of this place Waystrode is another obscure Mannor in this Parish which was the possession of as obscure a Family wich bore that Sirname who continued Lords of the Fee untill the Beginning of Henry the sixth and then it was passed away to May in which Name it had not been permanent untill the latter end of that Prince but the same revolution conveyed it into the possession of a Family whose Sirname was Still in whose Successors the title hath remained so constant that the Inheritance of this place is at this instant resident in this Name and Family Cowling in the Hundred of Shamell had still the Barons Cobham of Cobham of whom I have discoursed so largely at that place for possessors and came down along with them to John Lord Cobham who expired in Joan Cobham his Daughter and Heir who was first espoused to John Delapole secondly to Sir John Oldcastle who for asserting the Doctrine of the Lollards notwithstanding his many great Atchievements in Military Commands which rendered him gracious with his Prince and glorious in our Chronicles he was in the first year of Henry the fifth quite subverted by a Romish Tempest raised by the Ecclesiasticks of those Times and martyr'd in a most inhumane manner by hanging him first and burning his Body also thirdly she was matched to Reginald Braybrook by whom she had only Joan her Daughter and Heir who was wedded to Thomas Brook of the County of Somerset Esquire from whom descended William Lord Brook Lord Warden of the Cinque ports in the reign of Queen Elizabeth who gave this Mannor to George Brooke his second Son and he being unhappily entangled in that mysterious Design of his Brother Henry Lord Cobham and Sir VValter Ramleigh by the Losse of his Head at VVinchester did expiate this unhappy undertaking but this being setled by entail and in Marriage also upon his Son who was in this latter Age known by the Name of Sir VVilliam Brook was by King James restored to this person then in his Minority upon whose Decease it descended to Sir Iohn Brook as the Heir male of the Family who was created Lord Brook by the late King at Oxford Cowling Castle was erected by Iohn Lord Cobham by Concession from Richard the second as appears Pat. 4. Richardi secundi which grant of his in the whole Tenor of it he caused to be inscribed in a large Table of Stone upon the Front of the Castle so careful was he to conform to the Laws of the Land which had a particular Aspect upon private embattelling a Species of Fortification prohibited si facta fuerit sine Licentia Domini Regis The Mannor of Mortimers in this Parish was the patrimony of Gentlemen of that Sirname Hugh de Mortimer who had a Grant of a Fair to Cliff in the forty first year of Henry the third was possessor of this place In Ages of a lower descent Iohn Mortimer who in the eleventh year of Edward the third was to provide an Hobler or Light Horseman for the security of the Coast about Genlade in Hoo lived at this place which had long before born the Name of his Ancestors After this Family had left it the Inglefields a noble Family in Barkesshire descended from * Ex veteri Rotulo Familiae de Inglefield Hasculfus de Inglefield who flourished about the latter end of King Canutus were by purchase ingraffed in the possession and here in this Name did the Title setle till about the latter end of Henry the seventh and then it was alienated to Iohn Sidley Esq Auditor to that Prince from Sidley it went over by purchase to Polhill Ancestor to George Polhill Esq eldest Son of Sir Thomas Polhill who is the present possessor of it Crundall in the Hundred of VVye was one of the Seats of the noble and ancient Family of Hadloe who had here a Mansion which at this day perpetuates their memory and is called Hadloe place Iohn de Hadloe had a Charter of Free-warren to Crundall and Hadloe in the first year of Edward the third he was son to Iohn de Hadloe who dyed seised of it in the eleventh year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 25. Of this Family was Nicholas Hadloe son of Edmund de Hadloe who ended in Amabilia Hadloe who matched with Honewood of Honewood in Postling but Crundall and Hadloe were sold away before to VVaretius de Valoigns by whose Daughter and Coheir they came over to Thâ—mas de Aldon and in that Name they continued several descents until the former Fatality brought it to languish into a Female Heir who was wedded to Heron of the County of Lincolne who desirous to draw all his estate into an entire Bulke passed away his estate here to Kempe and there it had no long continuance neither for by Mary one of the Coheirs of Sir Thomas Kempe it went away to Sir Dudley Diggs who suddenly after devested himself of his right to Crundall and Hadloe-place and in our Fathers memory passed them away by Sale to Mr ...... Gay Tremworth in this parish See more of Valoigns at Swerdlin in Petham was one of the ancient Mansions of Valoigns Allan de Valoigns who was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty first thirty second thirty third and thirty fourth years of Henry the second had his Residence here as well as at Repton in Ashford and is often written in the pipe-Rolls of those years Valoigns de Tremworth from this man did descend VVaretius de Valoigns who in the fourteenth year of Edward the third obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Lands at Tremworth Hougham and other places in Kent and in whom the male Line failed for he concluded in two Daughters and Coheirs one of whom was matched to Aldon and so Tremworth came to own the Jurisdiction and Dominion of that Family and here it remained for divers Descents till Time that with successive Vicissitudes rolles all things into their determined period brought this Family to find its Tomb in a Female Heir who was married to Heron from which Family about the reign of Henry the eighth it passed away by Sale to Kempe of which Family was Sir Thomas Kempe who dying without Issue male left it to his Brother Mr. Reginald Kempe and he had Issue Thomas Kempe who deceasing without Children this Thomas his two Sisters married to Clark and Denny became his heirs and upon the Division of the Estate Tremworth was
alienated both the Title and Demeasn to Allen and he in our Memory sold one moitie of it to Ford and setled the other proportion of it upon his Daughter and Heir who was matched to Giles Down-Court in Dodington is an ancient Mannor which in elder times owned the Signorie of Simon de Dodington who flourished here in the Reign of K. John and Henry the third and was entituled likewise to the Patronage or Advouson of the Church but he determined in an only Daughter called Matilda de Dodington who in the forty first of King Henry the third as appears by a Fine levied in that year passed away her Interest here to John de Bourne in which Family the Title many years after rested untill about the latter end of Henry the sixth it was conveyed to Dungate of Dungate-Street in Kingsdowne And Andrew Dungate the last of this Name at this place dying without Issue male his sole Daughter and Heir was marched to Killigrew who likewise about the entrance of Henry the eighth expired in two female Coheirs whereof one was wedded to Roydon the second to Cowland In Roydon The Pssession was but brief for he about the latter end of Henry the eighth alienated his Proportion to Adye a Name deeply rooted in this Track whose Successor Mr. John Adye still enjoyes the capitall Messuage or Mansion called Down-Court but the Mannor it self which accrued to John Cowland upon the Division of the Estate was by his Will made 1540. ordered to be sold to discharge Debts and Legacies and was according to the Tenure of the premises not long after conveyed to Allen Ancestor to him who is the instant owner of it Downe in the Hundred of Rokesley is so called from its eminent situation it was in times of elder Aspect the Habitation of a Family which passed under that Sirname Richard de Downe who flourished under Edward the first and Edward the second lies buried in the Chancell of the Church but with no date upon his Tombe Soon after this Family was expired the Petleys became Lords of the Fee and Stephen Petley is Recorded in the Book of Aid to have paid an Auxiliary supply for Lands at Down at making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth year of Edward the third and in this Family was the Title of this place successively wrapped up for many Generations untill about the latter end of Henry the eighth it melted away with the Name For Jo. Petley resolved into four Daughters and Coheirs Agnes the eldest was matched to Jo. Manning the second was espoused to Bird the third was wedded to Casinghurst of Valous and the fourth was married to Childrens and upon partition of the Estate this Mannor fell to be the Inheritance of Manning and in this Name for many years it remained constant untill in our Fathers Remembrance it went away by Sale to Sir Nicholas Carew of Beddington in Surrey and his Son Sir Francis Carew conveyed it to Ellis of London who not many years since alienated his Right in it to Colonel Richard Sandys third Son of Sir Edward Sandys of Northbourne but Down-Court was long before passed away by Manning to Palmer which was separated from the Mannor of Downe and singly sold by it self The Arms of Philipot and Petley are extant in the South-window of the Chancell with this Inscription affixed to the Pedestall of their two Pourtraicttures Orate pro Animabus Jo. Petley Christiana Uxoris Jo. Petley Aliciae Filiae Tho. Philipot ........ ac Parentum corum E. E. E. E. EGerton in the Hundred of Calehill hath two places within the Verge of it remarkable The first is Barmeling which was the Seat of a Family of that Sirname Robert de Bermeling and in old datelesse Deeds called Sir Robert de Barmeling he held it at his Decease which was in the fifty third year of Henry the third and left Issue William de Bermeling who was also in the enjoyment of it at his Death which was in the twenty second year of Edward the first and so did Robert de Bermeling who made his Exit the thirty first of Edward the first and here in this Family hath the Propriety by an undivided Track of Succession been so fixed and permanent that it is yet the unseperated Inheritance of this Name of Barmeling The second is Bruscombe This was a Branch of that Demeasn which formerly acknowledg'd the Chitcrofts for its Possessors a Name of very great Antiquity both here and at Lamberherst Agnes wife of Richard Chitcroft held it at her Death which was in the eighteenth year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 198. After Chitcroft was worn out the Beaumonts were invested in the Possession and John de Bellemont or Beaumont deceased in the enjoyment of it in the twentieth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 14. But not long after this the Title ebbed away from this Name and by a successive Channel of Vicissitude was powred into Baron a Family originally extracted out of the West where they are yet in being John Baron died seised of Bruscombe the second year of Henry the fifth The Family which succeeded this in the Inheritance upon their Recesse which was about the latter end of Henry the sixth were the Wottons of Boughton Malherbe in which Family the Title and Propriety hath been ever since so constantly resident that it still rests in the Descendants and Heirs of Tho. Lord Wotton of Marley Eltham in the Hundred of Black heath anciently called Ealdham did anciently belong in part to the King and partly to the Mandevills from whence it came to be called Eltham Mandeville King Edward the first granted that Moiety which belonged to himself to John de Vescy a potent Baron in the North in the ninth year of his Reign and in the twelfth year ennobles his former Concession and gives him a new Grant to hold a Market weekly and a Fair yearly at his Mannor of Eltham In the fourteenth year of the abovesaid Prince John de Vescy with his Knowledge and Consent made an Exchange with Walter de Mandevill for that Proportion of Eltham in which he was Interessed and gave the sixth part of the Mannor of Luton in Bedfordshire for one Messuage with the Appurtenances in Eltham and Modingham This John de Vescy died without Issue in the eighteenth of Edward the first and William his Brother succeeded in the Possession and was Lord Vescy and had Issue by Isabell Daughter of Robert Perington Widow of Sir Robert de Wells William de Vescy his lawfull Son born in the year 1269 who died without Issue in his Fathers life Time at Conway and was buryed at Malton Then William de Vescy having a base Son called William Vescy de Kildare born at Compston in the County of Kildare 1292 * Fines de Anno 24. Ed. primi VVill. de Vescy sold to Anth. Beck Bishop of Durham the Mannor of Eltham with the Appurtinances which Isabell the Widow of
of Edw. the second and Edw. the third whose great Grandchild Will. Garwinton dying without Issue Joan his Kinswoman matched to Richard Haut was in the ninth year of Henry the fourth found to be his Heir not only to this place but to much other Land in this Territory and she had Issue Richard Haut who concluded in a Female Heir whose Name was Margery who by matching with William Isaack linked this Mannor to his Revenue Thus farre this Manuscript Who were the Possessors since the Court-Rolls which do not ascend very high now in the Custody of Mr. Hugben discover The first Family which they recite is Hales and it remained in the Inheritance of that Name till towards the end of Queen Elizabeth and then it was by Sale transported over to Manwood who some few years after disposed of his Interest in it by the same Alienation to Sir Rob. Lewknor upon whose Decease it devolved to his Son Mr. Hamon Lewknor Esquire who hath upon his Death during the Minority of his Son left the Possession to be enjoyed by his Widow Bowick is a sixth place which must now come within the pale of this Discourse It was in Times of elder Inscription the Seat of the Lads who in diverse of their ancient Muniments and Evidences writ de Lad. Now if you will know where that place is seated I answer it is situated in Chart by Sutton where there is an ancient Farme which formerly had the Repute of a Mannor and is at this instant as it was in Ages of a higher Step known by the Name of Lads and was till almost our Grandfathers Memory in the Tenure of that Family after Lad was departed from the Possession of this Place the Nethersolls by Purchase were about the Beginning of Henry the seventh incorporated into the Possession and staid in it some few years and then alienated their Interest here to Aucher who about the latter end of Henry the eighth resigned the Title by Sale to Wroth in which Family it was resident until some few years since it was passed away to Elgar Oxroad is a seventh Mannor in Elham In a very old Court-Roll now in the hands of Mr. Shetterden of Eltham one John de Oxroad is represented to be the Possessor and in others of a more modern Complexion which bear date from Henry the fourth and so downwards untill the beginning of Henry the eighth the Hinckleys are discovered to us to be the Proprietaries of it and then this Name was extinguished in a Daughter and Heir for Isabell was the only Child of Thomas Hinckley who by espousing Joan Bene carried this place into the Possession of that Family where it was constantly fixed untill of late years the Title was by Sale transplanted into Mr. Daniell Shetterden of Eltham descended from the Shetterdens of Shetterden in great Chart which Land they have possest for diverse hundreds of years Ladwood is an eighth Mannor in this Parish written in old Evidences Ladswood from whence we may spin out a more then probable Conjecture that before the erecting the house by Rolfe it was a Wood belonging to Lad of Bowick but for some hundreds of years that is fince the latter end of Edward the third it hath constantly related to the Family of Rolfe a Name which Mr. Thinne conjectures in a Pedigree which he collected of this Family was contracted from the ancient German Name Rodolphus and Mr. Lambert in his Kentish Perambulation mentions one Rolph a Saxon who added much to the Castle of Rochester from whom it is not altogether improbable this Family which hath been so ancient at Elham might extract their first original Clavertie is the last place in this Parish which may exact our mention it did belong before the Suppression to the Knights Hospitallers and was one of those places in this Track which was a Commaundry to the more general Seminary of this Order planted at Edwell Upon the Dissolution of this Order here in England by Henry the eighth who condemned their Disorder and Luxury only to improve his own like the Lapwing who cries most when she is farthest off from her Nest this was added to the Demeasne of the Crown and King Edward the sixth granted it to Peter Heyman Esquire who was one of the Gentlemen off his Bedchamber and great Grandfather to Sir Henry Hamon Baronet who was the late Proprietarie of this Mannor of Claverty a person to whom if I should not affirm my self signally and extraordinarily engaged I deserved to be represented to Posterity under the darkest Complexion of Ingratitude Eightam Hamon de Crevequer held Eigtham in the Reign of K. John and then Sim. de Crioll in the Reign of Henry the third as appears by old Evidences vulgarly but corruptly and falsely called Ightam lies in the Hundred of Wrotham and hath that Denomination imposed upon it from the eight Hams or Boroughs which lie within the Verge of it The first is Eightham it self the second is Redwell the third is Ivie-Hatch the fourth is Barrow Green the fifth is St. Cleres the sixth is the Moat the seventh is Beaulies and the eighth and last is Oldborough which puts in its Claim to be of Roman originall for when Leland visited Kent which was about the beginning of Henry the eighth there was some Remains of an ancient Fortification and it is probable that this being the way which led to the great Roman Colonie at Noviomagum now called Woodcot in Surrey was at this place fortified upon all emergent occasions to secure their Retreat from any hostile Eruption The Mannor of Eightam it self was the Possession of William de Inge one of the Judges in the Reign of Edward the second this William de Inge was by his Country and Parentage of the County of Bedford and had Issue William de Inge who matched with Margery Daughter of Henry Grapenell and dyed seised in the fifteenth of Edward the second of this Mannor of Eightham his Daughter and Heir Joan was wedded to Eudo Lord Zouch of Harringworth and William le Zouch of Harringworth dyed possest of it in the fifteenth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 64. And in this Name was the Propriety of this place for sundry Generations successively resident untill the beginning of Henry the seventh and then it was alienated to Sir Robert Read Serjeant at Law and Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas who not long after going out in four Daughters and Coheirs Dorothy matched to Sir Edw. Wotton Margaret married to Sir John Harecourt of Elnall in the County of Stafford Katharine wedded to Sir Thomas Willoughbie Lord Chief Justice of the Common pleas and Eliz. espoused to Tho. Totihurst Esq they divided his Inheritance and this Mannor upon the Distinction of it into parcells this was added to the Revenue of Willoughby from which Family in our Grandfathers Remembrance it passed away by Sale to Jam. descended from Jacob van Hastrecht who was anciently seated in Cleve
in the Chancel of Eightham Church and Jo. Clement was his Brother and Heir whose Daughter Ann Clement was married to Hugh Pakenham who in her Right possest the Moat and he about the Reign of K. Edw. the sixth joyning with Sir William Sidney who had matched with Anne his only Heir passed it away to Sir John Ailen Lord Maior of London in the year 1526 and then again 1536 who left it to his Son Sir Christopher Allen and he about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth conveyed it by Sale to John Selby Esq whose Son Sir William Selby dying without Issue to continue it in the Name gave it to Mr. George Selby of London whom it acknowledges at this instant for Lord of the Fee In the North-side of the Church of Eightham in an Arch in the Wall beneath the Quire lyes the Representation of a Knight wrought in Stone and his Arms pourtrayed on the Coat Armour on his Breast according to the usage of eminent Souldiers in the Reign of Edward the third This was Sir Thomas Cawne extracted originally out of the County of Stafford he had not much Land of Inheritance in Kent all I find was at Nulcomb a place so called in Seal as appears by his Deed of Purchase of John Ashburneham dated the thirty ninth of Edward the third but matching with Lora de Morant the Daughter and Heir of Sir Tho. Morant of Morants Court after his Death remarried to James de Peckham he thereby improved and enhaunsed his Fortune in Kent He died without Issue for ought as yet can be discovered his Arms as they be inserted in the Rolls and Registers of Staffordshire are empaled in the Chancel window with the Arms of Morant Elmested in the Hundred of Wye was a Limb of that Revenue which fell under the Signiory of the noble and ancient Family of Heringod In Testa de Nevill there is mention of Stephen de Heringod who paid respective Aid in the twentieth year of Henry the third for Lands which he held at Hardres and Elmsted Stephen de Heringod this mans Grandchild dyed about the beginning of Edward the first and determined in a Daughter and Heir called Grace de Heringod who was matched to Philip de Hardres and so this Mannor in her Right became incorporated into the revenue of this noble Family and remained for many Generations fastned to this Name untill the Age which almost commenced from our Fathers Memory and then Dane-Court a Branch of this Mannor was sold to Cloake and Elmested it self by the same Fatality went out to Marsh whose Successor very lately hath fixed his Interest by Sale in Lushington Evington Court is an ancient Seat in Elmested which was the Inheritance of Gentlemen of that Sirname who bare a Fesse between three Steel Burgonets for their Coat Armour and in a Book coppied out from old Deeds and digested into a just Volume by William Glover Somersett Herald and now in my Custody there is the Copy of an old Deed without date wherein William Fitz-Neal called in Latin Filius Nigelli does passe over some Land to Ruallo de Valoigns which is fortified by the appendant Testimony of one Robert de Evington who was Ancestor to the Evingtons of Elmsted of whom there is mention in the Deeds of this place in the Reign of Hen. the third and Edward the first After this Family was gon out the Gays a Family of no mean Account in this Track were incorporated into the Possession descended originally out of France where there is a Family which even at this Day is known by the Name of Le-gay and is planted in Normandy from whence those of Jersey and Gernesey are extracted a Branch of which is transplanted into South-Hampton and there for ought I know flourishes at present And to justifie the Truth of this their Extraction in the Leiger Book of Horton-Priory there is mention of one John le Gay who was a Benefactor to their House and though they are called at this day only without the Addition Gay yet this hath happened by Disuse and Intermission by not adding it in their Customary writing and affixing it to their Name But to proceed Evington Court though it was not originally erected by this Family yet certainly it was much inforced by Supplement and additionall Building for diverse places of the House are in Relation to the Name adorned with Nose-Gays In Conclusion after it had owned many of this Name of no vulgar Ranck for its Proprietaries it was about the beginning of Henry the seventh by Christopher Gay alienated to John Honywood Esquire of the eldest Family of the Honywoods from whom in a direct Line Edward Honywood Esquire Son and Heir of Sir John Honywood lately deceased is extracted and is now invested in the Possession of this place Elmested had the Grant of a Market obtained to it to be observed weekly on the Thursday and a Fair yearly on the Vigil and Day of Saint James by the Procurement of Henry de Haut Pat. 28. Edwardi tertii N. 20. Elmeston in the Hundred of Wingham was parcell of the Demeasne of the Lord Leybourn Juliana de Leybourn Wife of Roger de Leybourn had an estate here at her Death which was in the first year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 86. and her sole Heir was the Lady Juliana Leybourn first married to John de Hastings and after to William de Clinton but dyed without Issue by either in the forty third year of the Reign of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 57. and as it appears without any visible Alliance that could justify their Title to her Estate for the Crown feised upon it as legally escheated Richard the second granted Elmston to Simon Burleigh and upon his Attaint it returned to the Crown by Defailance of any who could pretend a Claim unto it King Richard the second about the fourteenth year of his Reign granted it to the Abby of Childrens Langley Before I proceed any farther in this Discourse I shall justifie what I before asserted that is that the first Husband of Juliana de Leybourn was John de Hastings a Kinsman of Lawrence de Hastings Earl of Pembroke but not his Son John de Hastings as some suppose and this is obvious if we consider that William de Clinton deceased by the Testimony of all in the twenty eighth yeer of Edward the third Juliana his Widow called in the Escheat Roll Comitissa de Huntington dyed in the forty third year of that Prince and John de Hastings Earl of Huntington in the year 1375 which happened in the forty ninth year of Edward the third which must necessarily upon a serious Computation of Time fall out six years after this Countesse's Decease to whom had she been matched she would have preserved the Stile of Comitissa de Pembroke and not that of Huntington But to return into that Track from whence this Digression hath made me wander after it remained Cloistered up in the Revenue of
distant from Terowan or Terwin in the fifth year of Henry the eighth which was Signally testified by that Prince when by his Favour and Command there was annexed this Augmentation to his paternall Coat viz upon a Canton Azure a Demy Ram Saliant Argent armed Or between two Flower de Lis of the last over all a Batton or Truncheon which intimates to us that that Captive-Duke was one of the Marshalls of France Dexterways in Bend of the Second Chaddington is a second place of Account and represents to our Remembrance the Lords Cobham who were in elder Times Lords of the Fee John de Cobham dyed seised of it in the twenty eighth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 42. And from this John did it successively flow down to Henry Lord Cobham who was attainted in the first year of King James upon whose Conviction this Mannor escheated to the Crown and that Prince some few years after granted it to his Kinsman Lodowick Duke of Lenox but he dying without Issue it descended to his Nephew James Duke of Lenox lately deceased whose Dutchesse Dowager during the Minority of the Duke her Son holds the present enjoyment of it Goddington is a third place which calls for our Consideration It was parcel of the Patrimony of the ancient Family of Charles Robert Charles who was possest of Land about Hilden in Tunbridge and was Bailiff of the Forrest or Chase there to Robert de Clare Earl of Gloucester was seised of it at his Death which was in the twenty ninth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 74. From whom it devolved to Nicholas Charles who dying without Issue in the eleventh year of Richard the second Alice one of his Sisters and Coheirs brought this to be the Inheritance of William Snaith Sheriff of Kent in the ninth year of K. Henry the fourth descended from William de Snaith who was made Chancellor of the Kings Exchequer during Pleasure in the fifty fifth year of Edward the third but this Family likewise going out in a Daughter and Heir she by matching with Watton whose Ancestor held Lands at Rydley nere Ash in the twentieth year of Edward the third annexed it to the Incom of that Family in which Name the Title hath ever since by an even and permanent Succession resided Wainscot is the last place of any Eminence It was a Branch which was engrafted upon that Demeasne which fell under the Signiory of the Colepepers of Alresford Walter Colepeper of Preston in that Parish held it at his Death which was in the first year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 80. And into the Patrimony of this Family did the Right of it by a Succession of many Descents even seem to have bin riveted having continued constant to this Name from the above mentioned Walter Colepeper untill the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and then it was alienated to Randolph from which Family in Times which were within the Circle of our Fathers Remembrance it passed away by Sale to Somers descended from William Somer Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Reign of Henry the sixth who held much Land in the Hundred of Hoo whose Son not many years since passed it away to Mr. Robinson of Rochester Frensted in the Hundred of Eyhorne was honored anciently by being parcel of the Patrimony of the noble Family of Crombwell written so in elder Times though since a softer pronunciation hath been quilted into the Name so that in Times of a more modern Aspect it hath been written Cromwell who had here a Seat called now Meriam Court but in elder Orthography written Mereham Court The first of this Family whom I find possest of it was John de Crombwell who in the eighth year of Edward the second as Sir Henry Spelman in his Glossary in the Word Banneretus cites the Record out of the Office of the Pell was written Banneret Now what these Bannerets were I shall briefly unfold they were formerly called Vexilliferi because their Investiture anciently was by delivering to them a Guidon which was nothing but a Pennon cut off at the end which before flowed out into an acute Angle and now was fashioned and composed into a Square And as anciently thirteen Knights Fees did in the vulgar Estimate make up a Tenure per Baroniam so did ten Knights Fees compose a Banneret out of which he was whensoever the Affairs of the Prince did require to bring into the Field twelve or sixteen Chevaliers or Horsemen and those Persons of no cheap or inconsiderable Account but such as could as Sir Henry Spelman notes ex Praediis Peculio proprio out of their own Patrimony Equipp Horse and furniture of Armes proportionate to the Service they were to be embarked in But to proceed Ralph de Crombwell Son of the abovesaid John in the ninth year of Edward the second obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Lands here at Frensted and Meriam Court but his Family after the Grant of this Franchise did not long possesse their Inheritance here for Richard de Crombwell this mans Son about the Beginning of Edward the third passed it away to Hugh Girund in whom the Title was as sickle and volatile for he determining in Mawd his Sole Daughter and Heir she by matching with Henry de Chalfhunt made it his Patrimony and he in his Wifes Right was seised of it at his Death which was in the forty ninth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 14. And in this Family did the Propriety of Meriam Court and other Lands at Frensted continue invested untill the Entrance of Henry the sixth and then it was passed away to Hadde now called Hadds and William Hadde held Meriam Court and the Land annexed to it here at Frensted at his Decease which was in the thirty fourth year of Henry the sixth and in this Family was the Possession constantly resident untill that Age which fell within the Circle of our Grandfathers Knowledge and then it was conveyed to Archer from which Family some few years since it went off by Sale to Thatcher Yokes Court is another ancient Seat in Frensted which as high as any Beam either of Publick Record or private Muniments can conduct me to a Discovery I find acknowledged the noble Family of Northwood and owned the Interest of that Family untill the thirty fifth of Edward the third and then Roger de Northwood dying without Issue-male bequeathed it to his only Daughter and Heir Albina Northwood who by matching with John Digge of Diggs Court in Berham united this Seat to the Interest of that Name and Family and they to keep Life in her Memory a small Preferment beyond the Fate of humane Frailty that had improved their Paternal Inheritance with so great a Supplement of Additional Estate erected a fair Monument over her Ashes in Berham Church and adorned it with a French Epitaph which instructs the Reader whose Dust sleeps beneath the Marble Repository Indeed in this Act this Family
the Propriety of Folkston and Walton returned to the Crown and resided in the Royal Patrimony untill the second year of Queen Mary and then they were regranted to Edward Lord Clinton abovesaid who not long after conveyed them to Mr. Henry Herdson whose Grandchild Mr. Francis Herdson alienated them to his Uncle Mr. John Herdson about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth and he upon his Decease without any lawfull Issue gave them to his Nephew Sir Basill Dixwell Knight and Baronet descended from the ancient Family of Dixwell in the North-riding of York-shire Who likewise making his Exit without any lawful Issue Mark Dixwell Esquire his Nephew became his Heir and from him is the Propriety of both these places descended to his Son and Heir Basill Dixwell Esquire The Nunnery of Folkston abovesaid being much defaced was in the Time of Henry the third reedified and reestablished by John de Clinton and John de Segrave and Julian his Wife which was upon this second Erection stored with Nuns who were to live as formerly under the Rule of St. Bennet and dedicated to St. Peter and St. Eanswith But when it was found in the second year of Henry the fifth that it related by forrein Dependance to the Abby of Lolley in Normandy it was by that prudent and cautious Monarch Supprest There were five Churches anciently in Folkston three of which were dedicated to St. Peter St. Mary and St. Paul all which and one more whose Name is not now obvious were long since by the Assaults of the Elements and Devastations of men utterly dismantled only that which was erected in the year 1095. by Nigellus de Muneville and devoted to St. Mary and St. Eanswith hath been too hard a Morsel for the teeth of Time to consume Folkston had the Grant of a Market procured to be held here weekly on the Thursday by the Mediation of Geffrey Fitz-Peter in the sixth year of King John which was confirmed to William de Averenches in the sixteenth year of the abovesaid Prince and renewed to Sir John Segrave in the twenty second year of Edw. the third Richard the second granted to Sir John Clinton that a Market should be observed weekly at Folkston on the Wednesday and a Fair yearly on the Vigil and Day of St. Giles as appears Pat. 13. Richardi secundi Membr 14. Pars 2. Eabald King of Kent about 1000 years since built a Castle at the South part of this Town of Folkston which being shrunk into Decay William de Averenches erected a Fort in the year 1068 on the Foundation of the formerly demolished Pile whose ruinous Shell or Skeleton is yet visible I have seen a Leafe by some injurious Hand torn out from the Leiger Book of Folkston which sets forth the entertainment which the Family of Poynings were to have when they came to hear Masse at the Priory a subtle Artifice used by the Monks of that Age to catch the Benevolence of the noblest and most opulent Families of the Nation that certainly had not the Statute of Mortmain or Law of Amortization made in the seventh year of Edward the first restrained and contracted the unlimited Bounty of the Laity to these religious Cloisters almost all the Land which was of secular Interest had been ingulphed in the Revenue of the Church so that as one well observes this over-active and operative Devotion would have dedicated all to God and have left Little or Nothing to have given to Caesar Terlingham and Ackhanger were the Patrimony as high as the Reign of the Conquerour as Doomsday instructs us of William de Muneville the Repairer and Restorer if not Founder and Establisher of Folkston priory By whose Daughter and Heir they devolved to William de Averenches who had Issue William de Averenches in whom the male-line failed so that Matilda de Averenches his Sole Heir by matching with Hamon de Crevequer Baron Leeds Castle made them parcel of his Demeasne who by his Addition so swelled his Estate that he was styled the great Lord of Kent and was of that Esteem in this County that by a generall Consent and Councell of the Barons of the Cinque-ports the Custody of the Sea-Coast from Hastings to Pool was committed to his Care and Inspection Pat. 19. Hen. tertii Memb. 14. And he held these Mannors at his Death which was in the forty seventh year of Henry the third Rot. Esc Num. 33. And left them to his Son Hamon de Crevequer who was enwrapt in the Faction and Rebellion of Simon de Montfort Earl of Leicester raised against Henry the third but was by that Act of Oblivion and Clemency styled Dictum de Kenilworth passed by that Prince in the fiftieth year of his Reign called to Mercie and to most part of his Estate excepting Leeds-Castle Bersted Chetham and some other peices but dyed without Issue so that Eleanor matched to Bertram de Crioll Juliana first matched to Nicholas de Sandwich and secondly to Roger de Segrave and two others who were wedded to Lenham and Pateshull became as they were his four Sisters his four Coheirs And upon the partition of the Estate these two Mannors came over to be the Patrimony of Crioll and Bertram de Crioll above mentioned held them at his Death which was in the twenty third year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 48. And left them to John his only Son who dying Childlesse Joan his Sister matched to Sir Richard de Rokesley became his Heir but he determining likewise in a Female Heir called Joan she by espousing Sir Thomas de Poynings Father of Michaell de Poynings of Terlingham raunged these places under the Demeasn of that Family in which they remained untill the latter end of Henry the seventh and then Sir Edward Poynings gave them in Dower with Mary his natural Daughter to Thomas Lord Clinton whose Son Edw. Lord Clinton about the Beginning of Queen Mary by Sale passed them away to Herdson from whom by Testament they came over to Dixwell in which Family the Possession of them is still permanent Morehall is a small Mannor in this Parish to which William de Valentia obtained a Charter of Priviledges in the twenty seventh year of Henry the third After him I find the Morehalls to be Possessors of it who ingrafted their own Name upon it and John de Morehall paid respective Aid at the making the Black Prince Knight for his Mannor of Morehall in the twentieth of Edward the third After this Family was extinct the Bakers of Caldham about the Reign of Henry the fourth were invested in the Possession and not many years after Brandred by one of the Coheirs of Baker became Lord of the Fee from which Family by Sale it passed away to Sir Thomas Brown from whom descended Sir Mathew Brown Knight who in our Grand-fathers Memory conveyed his Right in it to Godman who is still Lord of the Fee Hope-House in Folkston belonged to the Houghams a noble and knightly Family
descended to John Bamme Sheriff of Kent in the second year of Richard the third And he gave it to his Daughter Katharine Bamme who passed it away by Grant to Kempe and Wiatt Sir Thomas Kempe sold his moiety to Sir Thomas Wiatt who having forfeited this to the Crown by his unhappy Defection in the second year of Q. Mary it lodged in the royal Revenue untill Queen Elizabeth in the twenty fourth year of her Rule granted it back again to the Lady Joan Wiatt and her Son George Wiatt Esq who in our Fathers memory alienated it to Hayward from which Name by the Heir Generall of this Family it is lately brought to acknowledge Mr. Will. De Lawn of London for its present Proprietary There was a Chappel belonging to Grench which upon the Inquisition returned into the Court of Augmentation but upon the Suppression in the Reign of Hen. the eighth was affirmed to have been erected by Sir John Philipott I confesse I have seen no other Record to evince any thing to the Contrary and therefore I acquiesce in that Testimony Vpbery is the last Mannor in Gillingham which was a Limb of that Demeasn which related to the Nunnery at Minster in Shepey and when the whirlwind of the common Dissolution in the Reign of Henry the eighth had shook this into the Revenue of the Crown that Prince in the thirty eighth year of his Reign passed it away by Grant as appears by the original Patent to Sir Thomas Cheyney whose Son Henry Lord Cheyney exchanged it with other Lands with Queen Elizabeth and shee as is manifest by the Patent now in the Custody of Brasen-nose Colledge granted it to Sir Edward Hobby who about the latter end of her Reign conveyed it to the Reverend Alexander Nowell Dean of Pauls and he dying without Issue in the year 1601 left it for ever to Brasennose Colledge in Oxford with this Proviso that one of his Alliance should hold it in Lease from that Society for ever paying to the Colledge an 100 Marks per Annum according to the Tenure of which Testamentary Restriction it is now enjoyed by Col. Tho. Blount of Wriklemersh Esquire Gillingham had a Market procured to it to be held weekly on the Thursday and a Fair to be observed yearly at the Feast of St. Crosse and seven days after by John Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the eleventh year of Edward the first as appears Cart. Num. 3. Lidsing is the last place of Account in this Parish it was in Ages of a higher Ascent the Inheritance of an ancient Family called Sharsted Simon de Sharsted possest it at his Death which was in the twenty fourth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 42. In Ages of a lower Computation I find Roger de Say to be possest of it and he about the fiftieth of E. the 3d. gives it to Rob. Belknap the Judge who about the tenth year of Richard the second was by Sentence from Parliament exiled into Ireland for too vehemently asserting the Prerogative of the Crown which in the Estimate of those Times was thought to have opened those sluces too much which would have let in the Inundations of an arbitrary Power upon the people's Liberties But this Mannor was again restored by that Prince who looked upon this person as his Martyr to him as its ancient Possessor in the twenty second year of his Reign and he by his Deed bearing Date the eighth of October in the second year of King Henry the fourth gives it to the Priory of St. Andrews in Rochester for one Monk who was a Priest to celebrate Masse for ever for the Soul of his Father John Belknap and for the Soul of his Mother Alice Wife of the said John and likewise for the Soul of himself and all his Successors in the Cathedrall of Rochester This upon the Dissolution of the former Priory was by Henry the eighth upon his Institution of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester granted to them for their support and Alimony and rested in their Revenue untill these Times There was another Chauntry founded at Twidall by John Beaufits which he makes provision for by his last Will the twenty second of November in the year of our Lord 1433 and orders it to be dedicated to John the Baptist and likewise that one Priest should there celebrate Masse for the Soul of Himself his Wife Alice his Father John his Mother Isabell and his Uncle William Beaufitz the Seats in the Chappel and other Remains declare it to have been formerly a neat and elegant Piece of Architecture Here was a signall Encounter as the Annals of St. Austins testifie between Edmund Ironside and Canutus the Dane wherein after a Sharp Debate the Dane was broken and discomfited At Gillingham likewise as Thomas Robburn a Monk of Winchester testifies was acted that bloody Tragedy by Earl Godwin who slew all those Normans who arrived with Edward unto the tenth man for which his Name as well as his Conscience stands bespatter'd and stain'd with an indelible Character of Ignominy and Cruelty to all Posterity Goodwenston in the Hundred of Feversham was the ancient Seat of Chich. The first of Eminence was Ernaldus Chich who was a man of principall Account in the Reign of Henry the second Richard the first and King John nor were they more eminent here then they were at Canterbury where they had large Possessions and unto them did the Aldermanry of Burgate appertain Thomas Chich of Goodwenston was a prime Benefactor to the Church of St. Mary Bredmin in Canterbury where his Name together with his Effigies are in an old Character set up in the West-window as his Coat is likewise in the Chancel insculped in Stone-work He was Bailiff of Canterbury an Office not contemptible in those Times in the year 1259 and again in the year 1271. Thomas Chich this mans Son was Sheriff of Kent in the forty fourth year of Edward the third and held his Shrievalty at Goodwenston Thomas Chich this Mans Son was Sheriff of Kent likewise in the fifteenth year of Richard the second and he was Grandfather to Valentine Chich who matched with Philippa Daughter and Heir of Sir Robert Chichley Brother to Henry Chichley Arch-bishop of Canterbury but dyed without Issue-male so that his three Sisters and Coheirs wedded to Kemp Judde and Martin shared his Inheritance and by a joint Consent about the Beginning of Henry the eighth passed away their Estate here and at Ewell in this parish to Pordage of Rodmersham and from this Name about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth it passed away to Fagg descended from the Faggs of Willesborough where I find by the Court Rolls of the Mannor of Brabourne that one Andrew Fagge held Lands there of that Mannor in the Reign of Edward the third But to go on the Faggs had not long been planted in their new atchieved Purchase at this place when Robert Fagge concluded in two Daughters and Coheirs Ann who was matched to Sir
conveyed to the Peckhams where it hao not long made its Residence but the Title by purchase like an Orbe never much in repose rowled it self from Thomas Peckham into Vane where for some years it has rested The Mannor of Moateland◠shall be the last mentioned though not in the above specified Survey yet in mine in Relation to this Parish The first Family that I track in the Record to be Possessors of it were the Bakers of East-Peckham in which Name the Propriety of it lay wrapt up till Richard Baker did devest himself of his Right and passed it over by Sale to Burgesse where it had not long dwelt but the same Change untwined it For Thomas Burgesse alienated it to Henry Leigh and in his Successor till a clearer Ray of more Modern Intelligence directs me to believe the Contrary I think the Possession is resident There are two other Seats of Venerable Account in this Parish The Mannor of the Rectory is the first which in the year 1287. was by Thomas de Inglethorp Bishop of Rochester as the Records of that Church signifie appropriated to the Knights of St. John otherwise called the Knights Hospitalers and remained locked up in their Demeasne until the publique Suppression snatched it away and united it to the Crown where it lodged until the second year of Edward the sixth and then it was granted to Sir Ralph Vane whose Descendant about the middle of Queen Elizabeth passed it away to Roger Twisden Esquire Captain of a Troop of Kentish Gentlemen at the Camp formed at Tilbury to oppose the Hostile Eruptions of the Spanish in the year 1588. And from him it is now come by Descent to be possest by his Grandchild that learned and accomplished Gentleman Sir Roger Twisden of Roydon Hall Knight and Baroner The second is Fish-Hall the Mansion formerly of John de Fisher so called because he was invested with a Priviledge by Gilbert de Clare Earl of Glocester and Lord of the Lowey of Tunbridge to have the Fishing freely and uncontrouledly within his Jurisdiction or as far as it did extend so that from this Immunity or Franchise his Posterity contracted the Sirname of Fisher and for some Ages did the Right of it remain interwoven with the Demeasne of this Family till Richard Fisher sold it to John Vane Esquire from whom the same Revolution not long after transported it to Rivers of Chafford and now the Title is ingrafted into a yonger Branch of that Family Halling in the Hundred of Shamell has nothing remarkable in it but the Mannor of Langridge aliâs Bavent for so it is written frequently in Records and indeed not without some Reason to support the Orthography for in Times of elder Prescription it gave both Seat and Sirname to a Family that had that Appellation and there is some Track or Print yet of the Ruines of a Mansion-house in that Feild which is at this Day called Bavents and Roger de Bavent died in possession of it in the thirty first year of Edward the third and when this Name was worn out the next which we find in Succession to be Proprietary of it was Langridge a Branch spouted out from that Stem of Langridge which was anciently planted in the County of South-hampton And when this Family was decayed and vanished and had left nothing to evidence to us that it had once a Being here but the adopting this Mannor into its Name the Possession went into Melford and here after it had had some short abode it abandoned this Family and cast the Interest of it into the Patrimony of Raynwell whose Successor after some short Flux of Time as appears by the Book of Aid kept in the Exchequer sold it to Robert Wotton in the seventeenth year of Henry the seventh and he suddainly after alienated this and other Lands to Whorne of Cuckston nor was the Title any length of Time lodged in this Name for a Fate of the same condition with the former carried it over to Vane from whom it flowed away in the same Current and by Sale emptied it self into Barnewell nor was it lesse permanent there for the same inconstant Tide wafted it down to Nicholas Lewson and Sir Richard Lewson his Grand-child desirous to wrap up all his Interest within the County of Stafford alienated his Kentish Lands to several persons and sold those which were part of his Demesne here to Barber The Mannor of Halling it self was given to the Church of Rochester by Egbert King of the West Saxons in the year of our Lord 838. and has continued parcel of the Churches Patrimony in an uninterrupted Succession of Time till the year 1643. and then the Title was raveled and discomposed Halden in the Hundred of Blackborne and Barekley has nothing worthy in it that may oblige a Remembrance but only Hales-place from whence as from their Fountain the several Streams of the Hales that in divided Rivulets have spread themselves over the whole County did originally break forth But where this Hales-place is now placed or in what Angle of the Parish it is situated I confesse I cannot instruct my self unlesse it be that Great House which was the Original Seat of the Scots before they planted at Congerherst in Haukherst and which Reginald Scot sold to Sir Edward Hales Indeed it is often mentioned in the Pedigree of Hales and likewise in the Deeds of that Family as lying in Halden which is evidence enough that there was such a Mansion in this Parish though peradventure through Neglect and Disuse and by altering its Possessor it have at present lost its Name Halstow in the Hundred of Hoo was anciently part of the Barony of Bardolph but did not long rest here for Isolda the Daughter and Co-heir of Hugh de Bardolph being married to Henry Lord Grey this was thrown into that Scale with other Demesnes of vast Estimate which did after swell the Revenue of this Baron into a huge Dimension But as all sublunary matters have the Fate of an uncertain inconstancy written in indelible Characters upon them so had this for Richard Lord Grey this mans Successor sold it to John Lord Cobham and he died possest of it in the thirty sixth year of Edward the third from whose Heir an equivalent Vicissitude resigned it up to the illustrious Family of Zouch and William La Zouch extracted from the Zouches of Haringworth in the County of North-hampton died actually possest of it in the fifth year of Richard the second and after the Title had been some years knit to the Relation and Interest of this Family it was at length torn off by the rough Hand of Time and by Sale surrendered up to Norris from whose Heir by as quick a Transition it conveyed it self over to Sir Edward Hales Grand-father to Sir Edward Hales Baronet now surviving Halsted in the Hundred of Codsheath was the Inheritance of a good old Family called Malavill who were of no contemptible Account in this part of the
that Prince it for some years encreased the Royal Revenue until David de Strabolgie Earl of Atholl the first that altered his Name from Balioll to Strabolgie having expiated his Fathers Disservices by being constant to the Party and Interest of Edward the second against the Eruptions of the Nobility which then bandied in Combinations against him had this with much other Land restored to him in the fifteenth year of that Prince from whom it descended to David de Strabolgie his Grand-child who dying in the forty ninth year of Edward the third left it to Philippa his Daughter and Co-heir matched to John Halsham of Sussex by whom she had Issue Hugh Halsham who about the Beginning of Henry the sixth passed it away to Sir Robert Scott Lievtenant of the Tower of London 1424. And he concluding in Alice Scott a Female Inheritrix she by matching with William Kempe Nephew of Cardinal Kempe linked it to the Demeasne of that Family and here it remained until Sir William Kempe about the latter end of Henry the eighth alienated it to Browning from which Family about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth it passed away by Sale to Mr. Robert Edolph whose Grand-child Mr. Robert Edolph dying in the year 1632. without Issue gave his Interest in it with Godchepes to his beloved Wife Cicelie Edolph remarried to Sir Francis Knowls of Reading and she passed away the Moiety of it the other proportion of it being invested in Mr. Thomas Edolph the third Brother with Godchepes now called Goodchepes to her Husbands second Brother Mr. Samuel Edolph who some few years since conveyed his Interest in Hinxhill with this by Testament to his Brother in Law Mr. John Angell of Croherst in Surrey to discharge Debts and Legacies and he that he might the more effectually perform the Contents of the Will hath lately passed away the Moiety of Hinxhill with Goodchepes to Edward Chowte of Surrenden Chowte in Bethersden Esquire lately deceased W. liham is another Mannor in Hinxhill which was folded up in the vast Demeasne of Crioll by whose Daughter and Heir it came to Rokesley and by the Female Inheritrix of Rokesley to Poynings in which Name it continued until the twelfth year of Henry the eighth and then Sir Edward Poynings dying without any lawful Issue after a signal and solemne Inspection by several Inquisitions into his collateral Alliance no Claim being laid unto his Estate this Mannor escheated to the Crown in the fourteenth year of that Prince and then King Henry the eighth by Grant passed it away to Sir Richard Damsell who not long after transmitted his Right in it to Goldhill who in our Grand-fathers Memory alienated it to Mr. Robert Edolph whose Grand-child Mr. Robert Edolph gave it with his Interest in Hinxhill and Goodchepes to his Wife Cicelie Edolph who passed away the Moiety to Mr. Samuel Edolph and he devised it by Will to Mr. Angell who hath transferred his Right in it by Sale to Mr. Edward Chowte The Farm called Godchepes or Goodchepes in this Parish for an unbroken Series of many Generations had Owners of that Sirname as appears by an Inquisition taken after the Death of Thomas Godchepe in the one and thirtieth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 47. and remained fastned to their Inheritance until the latter end of Henry the eighth and then by a strange and mysterious Fatality the Propriety of it was carried off to Barrow The Story is represented thus John Barrow being an Atturney was called to frame a Settlement by Deed of Thomas Godchepe and by his Direction was desired to insert eight Persons into the Deed who were successively to inherit his Estate and being asked by this John Barrow whether he should adde the Names of any more he was answered because there had formerly been reciprocal Obligations of Friendship between them that he should place his own next after those eight above mentioned It pleased the eternal Arbiter of humane Affairs so to order the vicissitude of things that those eight Persons recited in the Deed deceased without Issue so that his Estate here at Godchepe devolved to Barrow as his Heir at Law from whom by Elizabeth his eldest Daughter and Co-heir it came to Mr. Robert Edolph Hoo gives Name to the Hundred wherein it is situated and was a principal Branch of that Revenue which fell under the Dominion of Bardolfe Robert de Bardolfe held it under the Notion of a whole Knights Fee as appears by the red Book kept in the Exchequer in the Raign of Henry the second and from him it came down to Hugh Bardolfe who was rated for it after the same Account in the second year of Richard the first but Hugh Lord Bardolfe his Son not long after concluded in three Daughters and Co-heirs Mawde was matched to Nicholas Points Margaret was married to Robert Aguillon and Isolda was espoused to Henry Lord Grey of Codnor which divided the Inheritance of that Family at this Place But that Proportion of it which was annexed by this Alliance to Points and Aguillon was passed away by a Joint Sale to John de la Pole and he paid respective supply for his Lands at Hoo which were rated at half a Knights Fee at making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth year of Edward the third but before the latter end of Henry the fourth this Family was worn out and that Estate they held here was by Purchase involved and swallowed up in the Inheritance of Grey who before was entituled to the Moiety of this Mannor as descending from Henry Lord Grey of Codnor and Isolda his Wife Co-heir to Hugh Lord Bardolfe and in this Family did it continue until Henry Lord Grey of Codnor in the twenty second year of Henry the sixth dying without Issue Male left it to be Patrimony of Daughters and Co-heirs one of which brought it to be the Inheritance of the Lord Zouch but in this Family it had not long remained when John Lord Zouch having pursued the Interest of the House of Yorke did exemplifie his Zeal to it by his being embarked in the Cause and Quarrel of Richard the third in that signal and fatal Encounter at Bosworth Feild where the Title of the two Houses Yorke and Lancaster was put to the bloody Arbitration of the Sword for which after the Crown and Scepter by that happy Contest devolved to Henry the seventh he was in the first year of that Prince's Rule attainted and his Estate here granted to Sir Henry Wiatt one of the Privy Councell to the said Monarch whose infortunate Grand-child Sir Thomas Wiatt being likewise attainted in the second year of Queen Mary it escheated upon that Confiscation to the Crown and there was lodged until King James about the third year of his Raign granted it to Robert Earl of Salisbury whose Son Robert Earl of Salisbury sold it quarto Caroli to Sir Edward Hales Knight and Baronet from whom it is now come down to his Grand-child Sir Edward
Hales Baronet in whose Revenue it at this instant is involved Beluncle is another Seat in this Parish whose Antiquity pleads for a Remembrance the first Family whom I find in Record to have been possest of it was Foliot Jordan de Foliot held it in the Time of Henry the second and Richard the first by the fifth part of a Knights Fee and from him did it descend to Richard de Foliot his Son and Heir who in the twentieth year of Henry the third passes it away by Fine to Reginald de Cobham who was Sheriff of Kent from the thirty third year of Henry the third to the fortieth of that Prince and was accounted one of the principal Seats which was couched in the Demeasne of this Family and in divers old Pedigrees and other Deeds they are written Cobham of Beluncle Of this Family was Henry de Cobham who was summoned to Parliament as Baron in the seventh year of Edward the third Stephen de Cobham who was summoned in the eighteenth year of that Prince And Thomas de Cobham who was summoned as Baron in the thirty eighth year of that Prince And in Cobham and then Brook did it continue until Henry Lord Cobham and his Brother George Brooke in the first year of King James being entangled in that cloudy Design of Sir Walter Rawleigh which continues muffled up in a Mist until this Day forfeited both their Estates and the last his Life But King James restored this to Henry Lord Cobham who dying without Issue it devolved to Sir William Brooke Son of George Brooke and he likewise deceasing without Issue-male in the year 1643. it came over to Sir John Brooke now Lord Cobham as Reversioner in Entail Hollingbourne in the Hundred of Eyhorne was given to the Monks of Christ-church in Canterbury for to supply them with Diet by Athelstan Son of Ethelred which Mannor he had before purchased of his Father and in the year 909. with his Licence and Consent bestowed it on that Covent free as Adisham If you will discover how it was rated in the Conquerors Time Doomesday Book thus represents it to you Hollingbourne saies that est Mancrium Monachorum de Cibo corum in Tempore Edwardi Regis se defendebat pro VI. Sullings nunc similiter Et est appretiatum inter totum hoc Maneriam XXX lb. This being thus fixed remained from the Original Donation locked up in the Ecclesiastical Patrimony until the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth and then it was surrendred into that King's Hands by the Prior and Monks of the Covent aforesaid and he that year exchanged it with Thomas Cranmer Arch-bishop of Canterbury There was the Gallows which appertained to the Priory of Christ-church here erected at Hollingbourne where those who had committed Murders Felonies or other Trespasses worthy of death within the liberties of that Covent were according to their priviledge of Infangtheof and Outfangtheof brought to exemplary punishment See Somner Fol. 286. There is a Mannor in this Parish called Ripple which had Owners of that Name for in the thirtieth of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 91. I find that Richard de Ripple held this and other Lands which he had in Lease from the Priory of Christ-church at his Decease but it only gave him Sirname and then left his Family for before the latter end of Edward the third it went from this Name to Sir William Septuans and he enjoyed it at his Death which was in the forty third year of Edward the third and transmitted it to his Son William Septuans who not long after conveyed it to John Gower in which Name it lay couched until the Raign of Henry the fourth and then it was alienated to Brockhull a Cadet of that Stock which flourished so long at Calehill and here it continued for many Descents in this Family until the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth and then Henry Brockhull dying without Issue-male Anne his only Daughter and Heir brought it to be the Inheritance of Sir John Taylor in which Family after it had lodged only until the latter end of Queen Elizabeth it was passed away to Sir Martin Barnham Elnothington is another Mannor in this Parish which had Owners likewise of that Sirname for in a Deed of Adam de Twisdens which bears Date from the one and twentieth of Edward the first one William de Elnothington is Witness But after this man I find no more mention in any Record of the Name In the Raign of Edward the third I discover Sir Arnold St. Leger of Ulcombe to be possest of it and in the forty second year he makes a Composition with divers of his Tenants for Lands that they held of this Mannor and from him like an uninterrupted Thread did the Title of this place passe thorough many Descents of this Family until at last it devolved to Sir Anthony St. Leger who almost in our Memory alienated it to Sir Thomas Colepeper Pen-Court is another Seat in Hollingbourne worthy our Notice It was in elder Times the Patrimony of a Family called Pen but whether the Pens of Codcot in the County of Bedford were descended from them or not is uncertain in Brief before the end of Edward the third this Family was worn out and then the Donets succeeded but held this Seat not long for by the Heir Generall it devolved with much other Land to St. Leger of Ulcombe and here it rested untill allmost our Remembrance and then it was passed away to Sir Thomas Colepeper and he again conveyed it to Mr. Mark Questwood of London who upon his Decease settled it for ever on the Company of Fishmongers in London Muston is likewise within the Verge of this Parish upon perusall of the ancient Deeds and Court-rols I found it to be written Moston as giving Name in the Raign of Edward the first to a Family of that Appellation which about the Beginning of Richard the second was wholly crumbled away and had surrendred the Possession to Wood in which Family the Inheritance hath ever since been permanent Greenway-court is the last place considerable in this Parish It was as high as the Conduct of any Evidence can guide me to discover parcell of the Patrimony of Atleeze and Sir Richard Atleeze dying without Issue in the year 1394 gave it to his Brother Marcellus Atleeze by whose Daughter and Coheir it came to be possest by Valentine Barret of Pery-Court and he about the Beginning of Henry the fourth conveyed it to Fitz Water in which Family it remained untill the Raign of Edward the fourth and then it was alienated to St. Leger with whose Inheritance it continued untill almost our Age and then it was by Sale transplanted into Sir Alexander Colepeper who upon his Decease gave it to Sir John Colepeper of Losenham Hope in the Hundreds of Langport and St. Martins hath nothing memorable in it but Crawthorn which for those worthy persons who have successively held it calls for some
Memorial for first the Cheyneys were as appears by ancient Evidences Lords of the Fee and when they went out the Henleys about the latter end of Hen. the eighth were the next eminent Possessors of it and in the Descendants of this Family did the propriety reside untill the beginning of Queen Elizabeth and then it was alienated to Thomas Lord Borough of Sterborough who not long after conveyed it to Tooke of Bere in Westcliffe from whom it came over to Mr. Charles Took of Bere and he hath lately by the Vicissitude of Sale transplanted his Concernment in it to his Nephew Mr. Edward Chowte who being lately deceased without Issue-male hath setled it on his only Brother Mr. George Chowte Higham in the Hundred of Shamell had anciently a Nunnery but the original Chartularies and other Records being lost the Founder is unknown King Hen. the third by a Charter of Inspection as appears Carta 11. parte secunda Memb. septima reviews the Liberties of this Cloister and confirms them and adds this Franchise or Immunity to the former that this Parish lying couched in their Demeasn should hold a Fair on Michaelmas Day and two days after This Mannor upon the Suppression was by the Bounty of King Henry the eighth enstated for ever on St. Johns Colledge in Cambridge and there at present it continues The places of most eminence which were of secular Interest are Great and Little Okeley which both were formerly united though since dissever'd and pluck'd asunder by Sale In the twentieth of Ed. the third I find them wrapt up in the Possessions of John de St. Clere who held them by the fourth part of a Knights Fee of the Honor of Montchensey that is of Swanscamp-Castle from whose Descendant about the latter end of Edward the fourth they were both passed away to Neile of London who about the latter end of Henry the seventh conveyed Great Okeley to John Sydley Esquire Ancestor to Sir Charles Sydley Baronet the instant Inheritor of it But little Okeley by the same Transmission was transferred to Colemeley or Cholmeley who about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth resigned up his Interest by Sale to Thompson from whom the ordinary Vicissitude of purchase not long since conducted the Title down to Best Merston was formerly an independent Parish of it self though since annexed to Higham and had a Church dedicated to St. Giles whose Ruines in despight of the Impressions of Age yet represent themselves to the smallest Glance of a curious Eye It was before it fell into this Darkness and Obscurity made something illustrious by being the Inheritance of John de St. Clere and when this Family found its Tomb the Name of Smith Stept in and rose upon its Ruines And when this was expired at this place which was about the Beginning of Henry the eighth Jordan put in his Claim to the Possession of it but about the latter end of the abovesaid Prince I find this Family extinguished because the propriety of this Mannor was by one of the above mentioned Names conveyed to Anthony Tutsham who not long after alienated the premises to George Brooke Lord Cobham from whom by descendant Right the Interest of it is devolved to Sir John Brooke restored to the Barony of Cobham by the late King at Oxford who now possesses this place as Reversioner in Entail to Sir William Brooke who dyed without Issue-male in the year 1643. Horsmonden in the Hundreds of Brenchley Horsmonden and Larkefeild was folded up in the Patrimony of Rokesley a Family of a large Revenne and as wide a Repute in this Track from whom it descended to Richard de Rokesley by whose Inheritrix it was linked to the Patrimony of Thomas de Poynings from whom by the steps of divers Descents it went down to Sir Edward Poynings who deceasing without any lawfull Issue in the twelfth of Henry the eighth and there being not any that could by a pretence of collateral Alliance entitle themselves to his Estate the Crown made it its own Interest by Escheat and then the above said Prince in the thirty sixth of his Raign granted it to Richard Darell and his Son George Darill in the tenth of Queen Elizabeth conveyed it to Richard Paine who not long after alienated it to Beswick Ancestor to Mrs. Mary Beswick who dying without Issue hath settled it by Testament for life on Mr. ...... Haughton Groveherst with its relative Appendages Capell Augustpits Hoath and Sneade were lately passed away by Mr. Whetenhall of great Peckham to Mr. Francis Austin whose Ancestor William Whetenhall Esquire had them annexed to his Demeasne by matching with Margaret Sole Heir of William Hextall who about the Beginning of Henry the sixth had purchased the four last places of Capell Cheseman Hoath and Sneade Families who had been entituled to the propriety of them many Descents before But Groveherst was linked to the Demeasne of Kichard Hextall Father of William above mentioned by matching about the latter end of Richard the second with Anne one of the three Co-heirs of Richard Groveherst whose Ancestors had been possest of it many hundred years before Lewis Hoath was in Times of elder Track the Demeasne of John de Groveherst who lies buried in Horsmenden Church and was a Priest in Orders and dying so bequeathed this Mannor by Testament to the Abby of Begham upon whose suppression by the importunate Desire of Cardinal Wolsey it being found incorporated with the Demeasne of the above said Monastery it became parcel of the Revenue of the Crown and remained there until Queen Elizabeth by Royal Concession passed it away to Anthony Brown Viscount Montague but by a sudden Revolution it was by Sale transmitted to Beswick whose Heir Generall Mrs. Mary Beswick hath lately by Will settled it on Mr. ....... Haughton Sprivers is likewise under the Repute of a Mannor and had in elder Times Owners of that Sirname for I find that Rob. Spriver dyed possest of it in the year 1447 and by his Will gives it to his Son Robert Spriver and certainly from this Seat the Sprivers which are scattered into some places of Kent though now under the Eclipse of an obscure Character branched out originally In Times of a more modern Aspect the Vanes were the Proprietaries of it and when this Name began to fade away the Bathursts were the next successive Possessors in whom the Title was not many years settled but that by the same transitory Devolution it was put over to Malbert from whom by as quick and as sudden a Mutation it was incorporated into the Interest of Murgan Spelmonden celebrates the Memory of a Family which bore that Sirname Bidmonden in Horsmonden was a Cell but not conventuall belonging to the Priory of Beaulieu in Norman and being rent off by Henry the fifth it was settled on the Priory of St. Andrew in Rochester and after by H. the eigth on the Dean and Chapter of that City for in the Deeds and Evidences which concern
this Seat there is a frequent recital of John de Spelmonden who was Possessor of this Place After this Family had deserted the Inheritance of it the noble and eminent Family of Poynings was planted by Purchase in the possession of it Michael Poynings enjoyed it at his Death which was in the forty third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 14. parte secunda and from him did the Title glide along in the Interest of this Name untill it came down to Sir Edw. Poynings and he in the fourteenth year of Edward the fourth alienated his Concernment in it to John Sampson and he had Issue Christopher Sampson who in the thirty seventh year of Henry the eighth passed it away to Stephen Darrell and his Son George Darrell in the tenth year of Queen Elizabeth sold it to Richard Payne of Twyford in Middlesex and he in the twenty eighth year of the above-said Princesse translated his Right in it by Sale into William Nutbrown and he in the twenty ninth year of the same Queens Reign conveyed it to George Cure of Surrey Esquire from whom immediately after it went away by Sale to Arthur Langworth and from him by as quick a Vicissitude to William Beswick Esquire Son to ....... Beswick Lord Maior of London in the year of our Lord ........ and his Grandchild Mrs Mary Beswick dying not long since without Issue shee by Testament gave it in Lease to Mr. ...... Haughton now of Chelsey in Middlesex originally extracted from the ancient Family of Haughton of Haughton Tower in the County of Lancaster Horton in the Hundred of Stowting was a Mannor which belonged to that Priory which was founded here by Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford Lord great Chamberlain of England and dedicated to the Honour of St. John Baptist it being a Cell to the Priory of Lewes and stored with black Monks of the Cluniac Order Adelina Daughter of Hugh de Montfort was a principall Benefactresse to this House and so were the Honywoods of Henewood in Saltwood not far distant The first remembred in the Register is Edmund de Honywood who flourisht in the Raign of Henry the third Upon the Generall surrender of the Estate of Abbyes into the Hands of Henry the eighth this by that Prince in the twenty ninth year of his Reign was granted to Thomas Lord Cromwell Earl of Essex but he being infortunately attainted in the thirty first year of the abovesaid Prince this Mannor returned to the Crown and was resident there untill King Charles passed it away by Grant in the fourth year of his Raign to the City of London and they 1630 conveyed it to George Rook Esquire Father to Mr. Lawrence Rook who enjoys the instant Signory of it but the Abby-house was by Henry the eighth upon the fatall Execution of the above-mentioned Lord granted to John Tate of the County of North-hampton Esquire and he in the sixth year of Edward the sixth sold it to Walter Mantle Esq who being infortunately involved in the Design of the noble but unhappy Sir Thomas Wiatt in the second year of Queen Mary forfeited this to the Crown where after it had for some interval of Time been lodged it was in the thirteenth year of Queen Elizabeth restored to the above-said Walter Mantle and from him did it come down to his Successor Mr. Walter Mantle who was the present Possessor of it 1657. Sherford aliàs East-Horton is another Mannor in this Parish it was a Branch of that Demeasne which fell under the Jurisdiction of Retling Sir Richard de Retling was found in the enjoyment of it at his death which was in the twenty third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 12. and left it to Joane his Sole Daughter and Heir who brought it by espousing John Spicer to be parcel of his Inheritance and he died invested in the Possession of it in the tenth year of Richard the second and from him it devolved to his second Son John Spicer who assigned it as Dower to his Wife Joane and she was found to hold it in Possession at her Death which was in the fifth year of Henry the fifth Rot. Esc Num. 9. and in this Family did it reside until that Age which bordered upon our Fathers Remembrance and then it was passed away by Spicer to Morris in which Family the Propriety is still Resident Horton in the Hundred of Acstane was held by An. Retellus Rubitoniensis or Rosse in the twentieth year of William the Conqueror as Doomesday Book instructs me Alexander Rosse another of this Family and Lord of this Mannor was one of the Recognitores Magnae Assisae an Office of Eminence and no lesse Concernment In the first yeare of the Raign of King John William de Rosse held a Knights Fee in Horton and Lullingston and left it to his Sole Inheritrix Lora de Rosse who about the latter end of Edward the first brought it to be the Possession of her Husband ...... Kirkbie who by this Match being entituled to this place removed out of Lancashire where was his antient Mansion at Kirkbie Hall and seated himself at Horton where he re-edified the Castle which as Darell relates in his Tract de Castellis Cantii did acknowledge the Rosses for its Founders and built the Mannor House upon which he engrafted his own Name from whence it hath ever since acquired the Attribute of Horton-Kirkbie But it was not long united to this Name for about the Beginning of Henry the fourth this Family was extinguished in a Female Inheritrix who was matched to Thomas Stoner of Stoner in Oxfordshire Father and Mother of Sir Thomas Stoner who was Father to Sir William Stoner who by Anne Daughter and Heir of John Nevill Marquesse Montacute had Issue John Stoner who died Issue-lesse and had forfeited Horton Castle to Henry the seventh by confederating with the Lord Audley in his Insurrection against that Prince and Anne a Daughter matched to Sir Adrian Fortescue by whom he had the Mannor of Kirkbie Court and by her only a Female Inheritrix called Margery Fortescue matched to Thomas Lord Wentworth Ancestor to Thomas Lord Wentworth of Nettlested created Earl of Cleveland in the first year of King Charles but Kirkbie was passed away by Sir Adrian Fortescue to Sir James Walsingham in the Beginning of Henry the eighth whose Grandchild Sir Thomas Walsingham about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth alienated it to Alderman Hacket of London in whose Posterity the Propriety of it resides at this Day but Horton Castle continued in the Crown until King Henry the eighth granted it to Robert Rudston Esquire by the Heir General of which Family it is at this instant become the Inheritance of Mr. ...... Michell of Richmond Franks is an eminent Seat in this Parish which was the Mansion of Gentlemen of that Sirname who about the latter end of Henry the third came out of Yorkeshire and planted themselves at this place and writ their Sirnames in very old Deeds
and other old Evidences Frankish and bore for their Coat-Armour as appears by Seals A Salteir engrailed ........ After Franke John Martin about the Beginning of of Henry the sixth by purchase became invested in the Possession and he upon his Decease which was in the year 1436. bequeathed it to a yonger Son who bore his Name and was called John Martin from whom by paternal Succession it came down to his Grand-child Edward Martin who about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth alienated it to Lancelot Bathurst Alderman of London who erected that elegant and magnificent Fabrick which is now the possession of my noble Friend his Grand-child Sir Edward Bathurst Reynolds is a third place of considerable importance it was the Seat of Gentlemen of that Denomination and were rooted by a Prescription of so many years in the Possession of this Place that it is a Controversie whether those at Belso in Essex or these here were of the most venerable Antiquity one of them in one of his Deeds writes Rogerus Filius Reginaldi It is not bounded with any Date and from this Orthography which was Customary in those Times the Name of Reynolds or Fitz Reynolds did by vulgar Acceptation and Use first borrow its Original But to advance in my Discourse After this Seat had for sundry Descents been constant to this Name and Family it was about the latter end of Edward the fourth transmitted by Sale to Sir John Browne Lord Mayor of London in the year 1480. from whom it came down by paternal Descent to his Son and Heir William Brown Esquire who assigned it for subsistance to his second Son John Browne Esquire who was Sheriff of Kent the tenth year of Queen Elizabeth and held his Shrievalty at this place and in this Name did the Title dwell until not many years since it was dislodged and by Sale transplanted into Sir John Jacob from whom the like Fatality hath lately transported it and cast it into the Inheritance of Sir Harbottle Grimston of Essex Baronet Horton upon Stoure near Canterbury lies in the Hundred of Bridge and Petham and was involved in that spacious Inheritance which acknowledged the Signiory of the Lord Badelesmere Bartholomew Lord Badelesmere Steward of the Houshold to Edward the second in the second year of that Prince gave it in Franke-marriage with his Daughter Joane Badelesmere to John de Northwood and that this was Customary in that Age wherein the Times were dry for any pecuniary Supply is most certain for John de Northwood this mans great Grand-child in the eighth year of Richard the second gave it in Franke-marriage with his Daughter to Christopher Shukborough of the County of Warwick Esquire and he in the ninth year of Henry the fourth alienated it to Gregory Ballard Esquire whose Posterity for many years did successively possesse it until Nicolas Ballard in the fourth year of Philip and Mary passed it away by Sale to Roger Trollop Esquire and he in the second year of Queen Elizabeth by Bargain and Sale demised his Interest in it to Sir Edward Warner then Lievtenant of the Tower and he in the sixteenth year of the Government of that Princess conveyed it to Sir Roger Manwood Lord chief Baron of the Exchequer whose Son Sir Peter Manwood almost in our Fathers Memory disposed of his Right in it by Sale to Mr. Christopher Tolderbye who left it to his Son Mr. Christopher Tolderbye and he deceasing without Issue Jane his only Sister and Heir by matching with Sir Robert Darell of Cale-hill a man eminent both by his Integrity and Hospitality according to the accustomed Genius which alwaies waited on this Family brought it to be possest by that Name upon whose Decease it devolved to his second Son Mr. Edward Darell who is the present Lord of the Fee There was an eager Contest between John Beckford Vicar of Chartham and Christopher Shukborough Esquire Lord of Horton touching the celebration of Divine Offices in the Chappel at Horton as likewise the Administration of the Sacraments and it was improved to that Animosity that there was a mutual Appeal made to William Courtney then Arch-bishop of Canterbury who directed a Commission to John Barnett his Official in the year 1380. to hear and determine the Controversie and upon a serious sifting and winnowing this whole Affair the Debate was wound up upon this Conclusion that there should be a solemnization of all Divine Offices in the above mentioned Chappel exceptis tantum D. functorum Sepulturis exsequiis only the Dead were to receive their enterment in the Church of Chartham Hothfeild in the Hundreds of Chart Longbridge and Cale-hill was wrapt up in the Demeasne of the Lord Badelesmer who held it in Grand Serjeanty of the Archbishop of Canterbury that is he was to serve up water to the Arch-bishop at his Installment or Inthronization to wash his Hands and had Pelvim Lotorium so are the Words of the Record he was rewarded with the Vessel which contained the Water and likewise the Towel which dried his Hands and he was likewise to be his Chamberlin the Night of his Instalment and was recompensed with the Arch-bishops Bed as his Guerdon Bartholomew de Badelesmere Son of Guncelin died possest of it in the fifth year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 5. And left it to his infortunate Heir Bartholomew Lord Badelesmere who by his mutinous Association with the Rebellious Nobility having in the sixteenth year of Edward the second forfeited this to the Crown it lay entwined with the Royal Revenue until Edward the third in the second year of his Raign restored it to his Son Bartholomew de Badelesmere who in the twelfth year of that Prince's Government dying without Issue his four Sisters became his Co-heirs whereof Margaret married to the Lord William Rosse of Hamlake cast this Mannor into the Inheritance of that Family and he in her Right died seised of it in the seventeenth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 60. And from him did the Title by a lineal transmission passe down to Thomas Lord Rosse who vigorously endevouring to support the sinking Title of the House of Lancaster was by John Nevill Marquesse Montacute discomfited in the North and taken Prisoner and after beheaded at Newcastle upon whose Dysastrous Tragedy this Mannor was laid hold on by the Crown as an Escheat and King Edward the fourth in the fourth year of his Government granted it to Sir John Fogge of Repton for Life only who was Treasurer of his Houshold and one of his Privie-Councel and whom King Richard the third invited afterward out of the Abbey of West-minster where he had taken Sanctuary for fear of some Mischief intended him by that Usurper and in the presence of a numerous Assembly gave him his Hand and bad him be confident that he was thenceforth sure unto him in Affection This I mention the rather because divers of our Chronicles have erroneously mentioned that he was an Attorney whom
Richard de Capell this Man's Successor dyed possest of Capell Court in Werehorn and this here in the fifteenth year of Richard the second But after this Man's decease it did not long remain annexed to the Name for this Family expiring in a Female Heir shee by matching with Harlackenden of the Borough of Harlackenden in Woodchurch united it to the Patrimony of this Family and here it rested untill the Beginning of King James and then Deborah Sole Daughter and Heir of Walter Harlackenden a Branch of the abovesaid Stem by espousing Sir Edward Hales late of Tunstall deceased entwined it with his Demeasne upon whose Death it devolved to his Grandchild Sir Edward Hales now of Tunstall Baronet Cheyneys Court is a second place of Account in this Parish and had this Name imposed upon it because it lay folded up in the Revenue of that Name of that Family Alexander de Cheyney who flourished in the Raign of Henry the third and Edward the first in the ninth of which Prince's raign he was one of that Catalogue as appears by Kirkbie's Inquest kept in the Exchequer who was embarked in that successefull War which was commenced by that Monarch against the Welsh and dyed possest of this Mannor in the twenty fourth year of his Government After whose Decease it was constantly resident in this Family untill Henry Lord Cheyney Son of Sir Thomas Cheyney about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth passed it away by Sale to Mr. Richard Knatchbull whose Heir Generall Sir Norton Knatchbull Knight and Baronet extracted originally from thâ— Knatchbulls of Limne where I find the Name by Deeds very ancient is now in the Possession of the Demeasne but the Mannor was conveyed by Sale to Sir Walter Roberts More Court is a third place in Ivie Church which must not find its enterrement in Silence because it was the ancient Seat of the Moores now Barons of Mellifont in Ireland before they were transplanted into More-place in Benenden by matching with the Heir generall of Sir William Brenchley Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench under Henry the sixth and this is evident by a Fine levyed between John the Son of Thomas de Iden and John de More of Ivie-church so he is named in the Record by which the said John passes away Land to John de More of Rolvenden in the year of Grace 1280. And in this Family for many Generations was it constant and permanent untill the latter end of Henry the seventh and then the common Vicissitude of Purchase which like a Moath or Canker frets into ancient Titles brought it to be the Possession of Taylor and here it was settled untill in the second year of Edward the sixth as by an Exemplification now in the Hands of Thomas Taylor Esq is evident it was divided between William and John Taylor Gentlemen and they immediately after by a joint and mutuall Concurrence alienated their Interest here to Peter Godfrey Gentleman Great Grand-father to Sir Thomas Godfrey now of Hepington in Nether Hardres who is the instant Proprietary of it Iwade in the Hundred of Milton is a small Parish situated no great distance from the Swale which exposes it self to the injurious Impression of many Fogs and other sullen Vapours which exhale from the adjacent Marishes so that the Air becomming by these Mists contagious and unheathfull we must expect that it cannot be very populous nor contain many places in it considerable in their Account The only place of Note being Colshill-hall a place in its Name proportionate to its Position though formerly it had Owners of its own Appellation for in a Deed of William de Codshill who held Land at Middleton Bobbing and elsewhere and which bears Date from about the fiftieth of Henry the third I find one John de Colsted a Witnesse But in Times of no great distance from that Prince's Raign I find the Alefs or Alephs possest of it and to this Family does the ancient Shell or Fabrick of the House owe the principal part of its Structure especially that which by its Antiquity obliges the Eye to so much Regard and Veneration as is evident by the Hall which in diverse places is diaper'd with an A. and then a Leafe a Rebus which treasures up the Relique of the Name remaining unwritten And appears to be exceeding ancient by the Character calculated for the Raign of Edward the third From whose Time untill the Beginning of the Raign of Queen Elizabeth it continued knit to this Name of Alef and then Thomas Aleph the last of this Name being extinguished in a Daughter and Heir called Margaret matched to John Monins Esquire this by that Alliance became the Inheritance of that Name but made no long aboad in their Revenue for in our Grand-fathers memory it went away by Sale from Monins to Lewin and Lewin not many years since concluding in a Female Inheritrix she by being affianced to Rogers branched out from Rogers of Brianson in the West linked it to the Inheritance of that Family where it had as brief a Residence for Rogers not long since dying without Issue-male Elizabeth his only Heir by her espousalls with Charles Cavendish Lord Mansfield hath now interwoven it with the Propriety and Income relating to that eminent and illustrious Family K. K. K. K. KEmsing in the Hundred of Codsheath is a Parish which in Respect of its Circuit and Dimension is but despicable but in Relation to those Persons who in elder Times were Possessors of it it is not inferiour in its value to scarce any Parish in this Hundred The first that I find to be its Proprietary was Falcatius de Brent and he is mentioned in the Red-book kept in the Exchequer to have held it in the Raign of Henry the second and was Castellan likewise of Kemsing-Castle a place then of important Concernment though now it 's Skelleton it self be shrunk into such a desolate and neglected Masse of Rubbish that it would be now as difficult to trace it out or find it as it was formerly to conquer it And this Mans Son was that Falcatius de Brent so famous in our Chronicles for those wild Disorders and Sallies arising from those Boilings and Evaporations which were cast out by the Calentures of Youth rather then from any vitious Habit contracted from severall Acts of Excesse and riveted into his Soul Yet it seems these Excursions of his did so disgust King Henry the third that he made the Forfeiture of his Estate here pay the price of his Vanities Indeed that name his Misfortunes rather then his Treasons seem to Challenge And then that Prince in the sixth year of his Reign granted it with the Mannor of Sauters in Sutton at Hone to Baldwin de Betun Earl of Albemarle in Right of his Wife Hawis Daughter and Heir of William le Grosse Earl of Albemarle and Lord of Holdernesse And this Baldwin had by her two Daughters and Coheirs Hawis the eldest of them was married to
William le Marshall Earl of Pembroke to whom her Father gave with her in Marriage Kemsing Sawters and much other Land in this County but this Mans Successor Anselme le Marshall Earl of Pembroke dying without Issue Robert Bigod Earl of Norfolk by Mawd his Mother the Heir Generall of the Family as being Sister to Gilbert Marshall Earl of Pembroke entered upon the Estate of that Family here at Kemsing and he passed it away to Otho Lord Grandison with the Advowson of the Church of Kemsing in the eleventh year of Edward the first And after this Family was worn out I find the Says to Step into the Inheritance and Geffrey de Say held it at his Death which was in the forty third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 24. Parte secunda From whom the Propriety flowed down to his Successor Geffrey Lord Say and he concluded in two Daughters and Coheirs whereof Elizabeth one of them was affianced to Sir William Fiennes who in her Right was invested in Kemsing and from him was the Title by Descent transported over to William Lord Fiennes Son of James Lord Fiennes and he in the second year of Edward the fourth passed it away to Sir Geffrey Bolein Great Grand-father to George Viscount Rochford who was beheaded and left no Issue in the Raign of Henry the eighth so that this upon his Father Sir Thomas Boleyn Earl of Wilts departure without any other Issue-male in the thirtieth year of Henry the eighth devolved to that Prince who seised upon it in Right of his Wife the infortunate Anne Bullen who was eldest Sister to the unhappy Viscount And here in the Revenue of the Crown did it lie couched until Queen Elizabeth in the first year of her Raign passed it away by Grant to her Kinsman Henry Cary Lord Hunsdon Son of William Cary Esquire of the Body to Henry the eighth and of Mary his Wife Sister to Q. Anne Mother to the above said Princesse and his Grandchild Henry Earl of Dover alienated his Right in it to Richard Earl of Dorset and he not many years since passed it away to Mr. ...... Smith vulgarly called Dog-Smith who upon his Decease settled the Fee-simple for ever on the Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwarke There was an old Knightly Family which tooke their Sirname from this Parish and was styled Kemsing and their Coat was Argent a Fesse and Cheveron interlaced Sables now quatered by Mr. William Hart of Lullingston Esquire in Right of Peche who married the Heir General Kenardington in the Hundred of Blackborn is by Contraction called Kenarton and although it cannot much boast of the healthful situation thereof yet it hath had Lords and Owners of a very great Estimate Will. de Normannia held it in the Raign of K. John and part of the Raign of Henry the third as appears by the Pipe Rolls which relate to those Times and concern this County Rafe de Normanvill is registred in the list of those Kentish Gentlemen who were with Richard the first at the Seige of Acon in Palestine After him his Son Thomas de Normannia or Normanvill for so he is written in the ancient Rolls succeeded in the Possession of it but died in the eleventh year of Edward the first without Issue-male so that by his only Daughter and Heir it devolved to be the Possession of Sir William de Basing with the Mannor of Cockride likewise which was folded up in her Inheritance and was one of those Knights who accompanied King Edward the first in the twenty eighth year of his Raign in that succesful Expedition which he was ingaged in when he undertook the Conquest of Scotland After him William de Basing held it and was Sheriff of Kent in the eighth year of Edward the second and dying in his Shrievalty Margaret his Widdow accounted for the Profits of the County as the Records of the Pipe Office set forth Sir Thomas de Basing his Son died seised of it in the twenty third year of Edward the third and paid respective Aid for it under the Notion of a whole Knights Fee at making the Black Prince Knight and left it to John his Son a Child of eight years of Age who after was Knighted and died possest of it in the seventh year of Richard the second and left it to Thomas his Son and Heir then eleven years of Age and he had Issue Thomas likewise who dying without Issue John Basing his Uncle was found to be his Heir but was scarce planted in his new acquired Patrimony but he also in the twenty fourth year of Henry the sixth expired without Issue so that the Inheritance devolved to Alice his Sister matched to Thomas Mackworth as the Heir General of the Family And thus were the Basings at this Place extinguished who before they planted in Kent were registred amongst the prime Gentlemen of Middlesex Salomon de Basing was Sheriff of London the last year of King John Adam de Basing was Lord Mayor of London in the thirty sixth year of Henry the third and Robert de Basing succeeded in that Office in the seventh year of Edward the first and Basings-Hall ows both his Name and Foundation to this Family and John Stow in his Survey of London ascribes to them the Degree of Barons of the Realm But to return into that Path from whence this Discourse had diverted me After Mackworth which by Female Devolution was possest of this Mannor was worn out which was about the Beginning of Henry the seventh The Hornes of Hornes-place in this Parish were by Purchase settled in the Inheritance Gentlemen certainly they were of as eminent Account as any in this Territory and had been Proprietaries of this Seat for many Hundreds of years for one Ralph de Hurne of Kenardington was one of the Recognitores magnae Assisae in the Raign of King John Persons who before the Office of Justice of Peace was instituted did supply their Place and were much in Resemblance like the Grand Inquest at this Day being assistant both by their presence and concurrent Counsels to the Justices in Eyre in all the great Decisions which did relate to Causes Criminal emergent à tribus Forisfacturis or the three Forfeitures Murder Felony and Breach of the Peace But to proceed In this Family did the Propriety both of Hernes-place and Kenardington thus purchased of Mackworth lie rolled up together until the twelfth year of Queen Elizabeth and then Bennet Horne the Heir General of both these being matched to ...... Guldford a Romish Catholick he to decline the Oath of Supremacy fled beyond Sea with his Wife upon whose Recesse the Crown seised upon that Estate which had formerly accrewed to him in behalf of his Wife at this place as escheated upon the Statute of praemunire And the above said Princesse immediately after granted the Premises thus forfeited to Walter Moile of Buckwell Esquire Ancestor to Mr. Robert Moile who claims the present Signiory both of Kenardington
de Nevill in the twentieth year of Henry the third at the Marriage of Isabell that Prince's Sister Thomas Fitz Bernard Son to Ralph above-mentioned enjoyed it at his Death which was in the sixth year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 31. And from him it descended to John Fitz Bernard who in the thirty sixth year of Edward the third dyed without Issue upon whose Decease the four Daughters of Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer matched to Rosse Vere Mortimer and Tiptoft entered upon the Possession 〈◊〉 Heirs to their Mother who was Sister and Heir to this John Fitz Bernard and upon the Breaking the Estate into Parcells upon the Partition this was united to the Demeasne of Wiliam Rosse of Hamlake in Right of his Wife Margaret who was Coheir likewise to her two Brothers Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer and Giles Lord Badelesmer who both dyed without Issue and John Rosse this Man's Son was in the Possession of it at his Death which was in the seventeenth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 49. And from him did it glide down to his infortunate Grandchild Thomas Lord Rosse who was attainted and beheaded at New-Castle in the fourth year of Edward the fourth whilst he endevoured to support the sinking House of Lancaster upon whose Shipwrack this was annexed to the Revenue of the Crown and in the eighteenth year of his Reign Edward the fourth restores it for Life to Margaret Wife of Roger Lord Wentworth who was Widow of Thomas Lord Rosse but after his Deeease it returned to the Crown and slept in its Revenue untill King Henry the eighth passed it away by Grant to John Wilkinson from which Name about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth it was conveyed to Richard Lovelace who dying without Issue-male Margaret matched to Henry Cooke of Lanham Esq became his Heir and in her Right is now entered upon Northcourt and Southcourt which make up the Mannor of Kingsdown Hever is another Mannor in Kingsdown which was parcell of the Demeasne of the ancient Family of Hever of Hever Castle in this County William de Hever had a Charter of Free-warren to his Lands here and at Hever in the ninth year of Edward the first which was renued to Thomas de Hever in the fourth year of Edward the third but he did not long enjoy it for he dying without Issue Joan his Sister and Coheir matched to Reginald Lord Cobham became Heir to his Estate at this place and he in her Right dyed possest of it in the thirty fifth year of Edward the third But before the latter end of Richard the second this Family was worn out and then the Family of Vrban succeeded by purchase in the Possession John Vrban held it at his Death which was in the eighth year of Henry the fifth Rot. Esc Num. 75. And left it to his Sister and Heir Emma Penhale and she enjoyed it at her Decease which was in the fifth year of Hen. the sixth Rot. Esc Num. 43. But it was not long after this in the Tenure of this Name for Richard Lovelace by his last Will in the year 1465 which was made in the fifth of Edward the fourth ordains that his Feoffees make an Estate of this Mannor of Hever which he purchased of Penhale to Katharine his Daughter and if she dye without Issue as she did then he wills that it descend to John Lovelace his Son and Heir and from this John did it by an uninterrupted Series of Descent devolve to Rich. Lovelace and from him did it go away by Margaret his Sole Daughter and Heir to Henry Cook of Lanham in Suffolk Esquire in which Name it is at this instant resident Chipsted is a third Mannor in Kingsdown which indisputably gave Seat and Sirname to a Family so called For I find Adam de Chipsted dyed possest of it at his Death which was in the forty first year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 16. And after this Family was extinguished the Mowbrays were planted in the Possession and continued in the Inheritance from the latter end of Richard the second untill the Beginning of Henry the sixth and then it was passed away by Sale to John Martin Justice of the Common-pleas whose Son John Martin in the thirty third year of Henry the sixth alienates it to Thomas Underdown of Dertford and he not long after gives it to Richard Thetcher of Warbulton in Sussex and he in the nineteenth year of Edward the fourth sold it to William Atwood and his Son Robert Atwood in the thirteenth year of Henry the eighth demises one moiety of it to Nicholas Taylor and the other Moiety in the twenty second year of the abovesaid Prince to Sibill of Littlemoat in Eynsford William Taylor and William Atwood in the first year of Queen Mary passe away their Proportion of it to Sir John Champneys and his Son Justinian Champneys not long after alienates his Interest in it to Lovelace and by the Heir Generall of that Family it is now devolved to Mr. Henry Cook abovementioned the other Moiety by Ann Sole Heir of Lancelot Sibill came to be possest by Mr. John Hope in which Name it did not long remain for in our Memory it was by Sale demised to Mr. Hodsoll of Hodsoll in Ash and he is now in the enjoyment of it Woodland is the last Mannor in this Parish and was anciently a Chappell of Ease to Kingsdowne till in the year 1557. it was by Reginald Fole then Cardinal and Arch-bishop of Canterbury united to Wrotham But the Mannor is still circumscribed within the Precincts of Kingsdown It was formerly a Branch of that Revenue which owned the Title and Jurisdiction of that powerful Baron Hamon de Crevequer and he died possest of it in the forty seventh year of Henry the third Rot. Esc Num. 33. But after him I find not much more of this Family at this Place for in the ninth year of Edward the third John Son of John St. Clere enjoyed it as appears by the Inquisition taken after his Death Rot. Esc Num. 48. Afterwards I discover Thomas St. Clere to be possest of it at his Death in the fourth year of Henry the fourth and so was Margaret St. Clere Widdow of Philip in the first year of Henry the sixth and Thomas St. Clere held it in the twelfth year of Edward the fourth and from his Descendant about the latter end of Henry the seventh it passed away by Sale to Pett of Pett-house in Sevenoke and John Pett his Successor sold Woodland in the seventeenth year of Queen Elizabeth to William Rowe of London by the Daughter and Heir of which Family even in our fathers Memory it came over to the instant Possessor Jenny of Norfolke Kingsdown in the Hundred of Milton was given by Hubert de Burgh to his newly erected Maison le Dieu in Dover which was to be a Retreat for the Knights Templers when they visired Temple Ewell and other Lands they enjoyed in this Track but
this Mannor to his Patrimony and he the better to inforce and perpetuate the Memory of this Alliance and the Estate which devolved to him by so fortunate a Conjunction inverted his Sirname and writ it for the future Clerc alias Woodchurch in which Name the Propriety of this Place continued until the latter end of Q. Elizabeth and then it was alienated to Taylor of Shadoxherst in which Name the Interest of it had not long continued but that it was in our Remembrance by Sale conveyed to Whitwick West-Halks is a third Mannor in Kingsnoth which in elder Times was ennobled for affording a Residence to a Family of this Sirname who bore in ancient Seals a Fesse between three Hawks or Falcons and sometimes one a Family of no contemptible Estimate or shallow Antiquity in this Track as appears by old Escripts Pedigrees and other venerable Muniments which represent this Family under the Character of Gentlemen for above three hundred years Sampson de Halk died about the year 1360 and held not onely this place Ex Autographis penes Dom. Tho. Taylor but much other Land about Petham and other Parishes in that Track but about the latter end of Henry the sixth this Family had demised the Propriety of this place to Taylor of great Chart in which Name it was constantly fixed untill the latter end of Henry the seaventh and then it was sold to Clerc who about the latter end of Q. Elizabeth passed it away to Robert Honywood of Charing Esquire who upon his Decease settled it by his last Will on his second Son by his second Wife Col. ....... Honywood now the instant Lord of the Fee Knowlton in the Hundred of Eastrye was parcel of the Patrimony of the noble Family of St. Leger Hugh St. Leger who was one of the Recognitores magnae Assisae in the Raign of King John held this Mannor in the fourth year of the Raign of that Prince and left it to his Son John St. Leger who in the twelfth year of Henry the third exchanged it for other Lands with Reginald de Cornhill and he in the twenty fifth year of the abovesaid Prince passed it away by Sale as the Book of Christ-Church informs me to the Prior and Monks of that Covent but it seems not long after they exchanged it with Thomas Perot for he in the fourth year of Edward the third died possest of it as appears by his Office Rot. Esc Num. 31. and left onely a Female Heir who carried it along with her to Langley descended out of the County of Warwick and being thus chained by this Match to the Interest of this Family it remained for many Descents fastned to it and was productive in several Ages of Men of no vulgar Account William de Langley Son of William Langley was Sheriff of Kent the twenty first twenty third twenty fourth and twenty fifth years of Edward the third William Langley of Knolton was Sheriff of Kent in the fourth year of Henry the fifth and likewise Justice of the Peace for this County under that Prince John Langley Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the twentieth year of Henry the seventh and had Issue Edward Langley Esquire who matched with Elizabeth Daughter of Thomas Peyton of Peyton Hall in the County of Cambridge descended from Peytonus de Vfford but he dying without Issue about the latter end of Henry the eighth his Wive's Brother Sir Robert Peyton by Reason of a former Match in the Raign of Henry the fifth between Peyton and a Daughter of Langley entered upon it as Heir General at Law and he not desirous to desert Cambridgeshire to transplant himself into Kent assigned Knowlton for Livelyhood to his second Son Sir John Peyton Grand-father to Sir Thomas Peyton the Primier Baronet of this County who as lineally extracted from him does enjoy the Propriety of it See more of this Family of Peyton in my Discourse of Werd L. L. L. L. LAmberherst lies in the Hundred of Little Bernefield and was sometimes written Lamberts-hurst from Lambert a Saxon Owner in old English this Name imports as much as bright or holy and glorious Lamp as Herebert is bright Lord. Part of this Parish is in Kent and the other part in Sussex distinguished by a small Stream which rises nere Cowden and glides through this Town towards Medway The Lordship of Lamberhurst it self with the Mannor of Woodroff belonged to the Monastery of Roberts Bridge and after the Dissolution were by Henry the eighth granted in the thirteenth of his Reign to Sir William Sidney Tutor to King Edward the sixth when he was Prince whose Successor Robert Sidney Earl of Leicester sold Lamberherst in our Fathers Memory to Mr. Porter and Woodroff to Sir Edw. Henden one of the Barons of the Exchequer who bequeathed it to his Nephew Sir John Henden lately deceased Hodleigh in this Parish was part of that Demeasne which related to the Colledge of Lingfield in Surrey which upon the Suppression was by Henry the eighth granted to Thomas Cardan from which Family it passed away to Edward Filmer Esquire Ancestor to Sir Edward Filmer eldest Son to Sir Robert Filmer lately deceased to whose Demeasne the Propriety of it is at present united The Abby of Begham in this Parish was founded by Ela de Sackvill and Sir Robert de Thurneham a man of principal Account in the time of Henry the third This Priory was suppressed by Cardinal Wolsey and filled with Cannons Praemonstratenses or white Cannons called so from their Habit. The Mannor which belonged to it was by royal Concession From Q. Elizabeth it passed away to Anthony Brown Viscount Montague who not long after alienated the Fee-simple to Alderman Barneham of London who gave it to Benedict a second Son and he dying without Issne-male one of his Daughters and Coheirs married with Dobell of Sussex and so carried it into the Inheritance of that Family where the Possession has ever since been setled Scotney in this Parish which hath borrowed that Appellation from its locall Situation and the over-shooting of the Water was the Residence of a Family distinguished by that Sirname and Denomination for one Walter de Scotney in Times of high Ascent was Proprietary of this Place but added not much Reputation to this Mansion for as Edmund de Hadenham a Chronicler of great Antiquity attests he in the year 1259 administred poyson by tacit Stratagem to the Earl of Gloucester and his Brother to destroy them of which the last dyed and the first escaped not without Danger of Life But to goe on After this Family was mouldered away at this place which was about the midst of Edward the third the eminent Family of Ashburnham of Ashburnham in Sussex were entituled to the Signiory of it Roger Ashburnham who was one of the Conservators of the Peace for this County of Sussex in the first year of Richard the second had here a castellated Mansion did sometimes inhabit at this place and was
to Norden and not long after alienated his right in it to Francis Colepeper Esquire who not long after disposed of it again by Sale to Norden in which Family it rested until the same vicissitude brought it to be the Inheritance of Covert from which Family hath the Fate of Sale not many years since brought it to be the instant Patrimony of Sir William Merideth Leigh in the Lowey of Tunbridge is sometimes written West-Leigh and very often West-Leigh alias Pauls It was in Ages of a very high Gradation the Penchester's and in Dooms-day Book there is mention of * See more of this Family at Pencehurst Paul de Penchester who held Lands here and at Pencehurst and from this Man was it by a continued Series brought down to Sir Stephen de Penchester Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle who exspired in two Daughters and Co-heirs whereof Joan the eldest was married to Henry Lord Cobham of Roundall in Shorn and Alice the other was married to John Lord Columbers as appears by an Inquisition taken in the third year of Edward the third and she had for her proportion assigned her the Mannors of West-Leigh and Pencehurst Sir Thomas de Columbers was Heir apparent to this John de Columbers and Alice his Mother and he by his Deed bearing Date from the eleventh year of Edward the third passed away all his Interest in this place to Sir John de Poultney Lord Maior of London and he died possest of it in the twenty third year of Edward the third immediately after I find Sir Nicholas Lovain Son of Guy Lovain interessed in the possession but whether it was by Marriage of Margaret Widow of Sir John Poultney or by purchase I cannot discover and he had Issue Nicholas Lovain who held it as Heir to his Father as appears by an Inquisition taken after his Deeease in the forty fourth year of Edward the third but this Nicholas dying without Issue Margaret Lovain his Sister became his Heir who brought it to her Husband Philip St. Clere of Aldham St. Clere Son of John St. Clere and they by joint Concurrence by their Deed of Sale bearing Date the tenth year of Henry the fourth passed it away to the Crown and that Prince bequeathed this Mannor of West-Leigh with several other Lands to John Duke of Bedford his third Son after Lord Regent in the minority of Henry the sixth but he deceasing and leaving no Issue it came to Humphrey Duke of Glocester his fourth Brother who being strangled by the procurement of William De la pole Duke of Suffolk in the Abbey of Bury and dying without any Posterity King Henry the sixth in the twenty fifth year of his Rule granted this Mannor being an Adjunct to Pencehurst to Humphrey Stafford Duke of Buckingham Ancestor to Edward Stafford who being attainted of high Treason in the thirteenth year of Henry the eighth lost both his Life Title and Estate and then it was granted by that Prince to Sir Rafe Vane who was made Banneret by that Prince for his remarkable Service in Scotland but he being unsuccessefully wound up in the Businesse of the Duke of Somerset in the fourth year of Edward the sixth was executed as guilty of Felony upon whose ruinous Catastrophe this Mannor by Escheat returning to the Crown it was in the seventh year of Edward the sixth granted to Sir William Sydney a person of deep Knowledge and unblemished Integrity great Grand-father to Robert now Earl of Leicester and Proprietary of West-Leigh There is another Mannor in this Parish called Philipotts which yielded a Sirname to a Family so styled and in a Deed which bears Date from the twenty eighth year of Edward the first whereby one John de Philipott does demise some parcels of Land to Robert Charles Bailiff of the Forest of Tunbridge he writes himself de Philipotts in Leigh but as all things have their Revolution which gives either their own Ruines or Oblivion to them for a Sepulchre so it was here For after this place had for some Hundreds of years been wrapt up in the Inheritance of this Family it at last came down to Thomas Philipott whose Daughter and Heir Alice was married to John Petley Esquire and so Philipotts fell under the Signiory of that Family but long it continued not there for this man determined in four Daughters and Coheirs one of whom matching with Children a Family so called interwove it with his Demeasne in which Name after it had for some years been fixed it was not long since by the Daughter and Heir of this Name brought to be the Inheritance of Polhill Lenham in the Hundred of Eyhorne is that place which Mr. Camden and Mr. Lambert conelude was Durolenum a City of the Romans mentioned by Antonius in his Itinerarium though others would have it to be about Newington by Sedingbourn But finding the consulary way went through this place and Roman Coine found many Times nere the Fosse and Surface of that way and that the high Road called Watling-street continued in the Line of the former till Rochester Bridge was built of stone and all that have written of that way do agree that it went through the middle of Kent I will not further dispute it but acquaint you that the Composition of the Name was from Dore Water in the British and Lenum which the Romans formed from some such sounding Name in the British Dialect and it is the more probable because from hence is a direct way to Limen the Romans Haven nere Hyth The Soile and Signiory were given to the Abby of St. Anstins by K. Kenwulf under the Notion of one and twenty Plough-lands in the year 804 and upon the Dissolution was united to the Crown till Queen Elizabeth passed it away by Grant to Tho. Wilford Esquire whose Son Sir Tho. Wilford conveyed it by Sale not many years since to Anthory Brown Viscount Montacute East-Lenham was long time since the Seat of the Husseys of whom I have spoken before in Boughton Malherbe Henry Hussey had a Charter of Free-warren to his Lands at East-Lenham Chilston and Stourmouth in the fifty fifth of Henry the third and from this Man did thethread of a continued Descent waft it along to Henry Hussey who about the twenty sixth year of Henry the eighth alienated the Possession to Mr. John Parkhurst descended from an ancient Family so called in Norfolke one of which Name was Bishop of Norwich in the year 1560 Ancestor to that ingenious Gentleman Sir William Parkhurst who has lately by Sale transmitted his Right in this Mansion to Mr. Wood of London Merchant Royton in this Parish had very good Gentlemen so styled who were no small space possessed of it and had a Free Chappel founded by Robert de Royton about the latter end of Henry the third from whence it borrowed the Name of Royton Chappel it being annexed to this mansion The Daughter and Heir of Royton was wedded to
James Driland of Davington and so this place became appropriated to the Interest of that Family but shortly after Constance Daughter and Heir of this man married Walsingham of Chiselhurst whose Son James Walsingham passed it away by Sale to Robert Atwater of Putwood in Otteringden and he not long after concluding likewise in a Daughter and Heir called Mary she by her Marriage with Robert Honywood Esquire a younger Branch of the Honywoods of Elmsted knit this Place to the Patrimony of that Family and Robert Honywood this Mans Son gave it in Dower with his Daughter to Thomson descended from the Thomsons of Petham There are two other Mannors in Lenham of Signal Estimate the First is West-Shelve written likewise Middle-Shelve it was parcel of the Estate of Bertram de Criol and by Joan his Daughter and Heir was linked to the Revenue of her Husband Sir Richard de Rokesley from whom the Fate of Female Interest devolved it on Thomas de Poynings and to this Family was it for many ages fastned till Sir Edw. Poynings extracted lineally from this Man in the fourteenth year of Hen. the eighth was found to have died both without lawful Issue and without Alliance and so this Name being both in the direct and collateral Line extinguished the Crown laid claim to this Mannor as de Jure escheated and in the seventeenth year of his Government Henry the eighth granted it to John Mills where after the possession had for some Time continued it was by Purchase brought into the Inheritance of Darel by whose Female Heir it is now brought to own the Signorie of Wilkinson Shelve Cobham is another Mannor in Lenham which in elder Times was folded up in the Inheritance of the Lords * See more of this Family at Roundall in Shorne Cobham of Sterborough Castle of which Family was Richard de Cobham made Knight Banneret by Edward the third as appears Pat. 15. Edw. tertii Parte secunda Memb. 22. and having continued many Descents constant to the Interest of this Family it did at last devolve to Thomas Lord Cobham of Sterborough who dying in the twelfth year of Edward the fourth without Issue Male Ann his only Daughter and Heir brought it to be parcel of the Patrimony of Edward Lord Borough of Gainsborough from whom the Propriety of it did flow down to his Grand-child Thomas Lord Borough who conveyed it by Sale to Mr. John Pekenham in the twenty fifth year of Q. Elizabeth and he was possest of it but untill the thirty fifth year of that Princesse and then an Alteration like the former made it the Demeasn of Boteler in which Name after it had remained until the fifth of K. Charles it was alienated by Sale to Sir John Melton whose Son John Melton Esquire hath lately conveyed it to Mr Salomon Adye Sindall is the last place of Account in this Parish of Lenham which as appears by the Evidences of this place was in the Raign of King John and Henry the third the Inheritance of a Family of that Sirname and as appears by some old Rolls and Armorials were Gentlemen of prime Note in this Track but continued not long owners of this Mansion for in the twenty third year of Edw. the third I find it in the Hands of Fulk de Peyforer and in this Family did it fix until the latter end of Edward the third and then it was passed away to Henman in which Name the Interest of this Place from the fiftieth year of the above Prince by a derivation of several Descents until this present year 1658 hath been successively resident Leveland in the Hundred of Feversham gave Seat and Sirname to a Family of that Denomination for I find that Giles de Badelesmer of Badelesmer not far distant was pardoned by Hen. the third for matching with Margaret de Leveland the Heir of this Place without the Kings especial License as is manifest Pat. 40. Hen. 3. Memb. 8. But he deceasing before her she was remarried to Fulk de Peyferor who in her Right died possest of this place in the fifth year of Edward the first but she had no Issue by neither of these two eminent persons so that Rafe de Leveland was her next Heir who had the Custody of the Palace of Westminster and the Fleet and after his Deeease Stephen de Leveland held both these places as his Brother and Heir This Stephen had a Daughter and Heir called Joan first wedded to John Shench and secondly to Edward de Cheyney who in her Right had the Custody of the Fleet and Palace of Westminster But John Shench was her Son and Heir who by a Right derived to him by Descent and Succession held both the Fleet and Westminster and was in the Possession both of them and Leveland at his Decease as an Inquisition taken after his Death in the twenty third year of Edward the third does signifie and left Margaret his Daughter Heir not onely to his Estate at Leveland but likewise to those Offices of Trust which it seems were in those Times hereditary and usually lincked together But this Family of Shench was not so entirely invested in the Signory of Leveland but that a considerable Proportion of it augmented the Patrimony of Northwood for Robert de Northwood held an Estate here at his Death which was in the thirty fourth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 70. and so did Richard de Northwood and Thomas Brother of the said Richard as appears by an Inquisition taken in the thirty fifth of the abovesaid Monarch Rot. Esc Num. 13. Parte secunda But before the latter end of Edw. the third both these Families had offered up their joynt Interest here to Richard Lord Poynings and he died possen of it in the twelfth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 148. and left his interest here to be enjoyed by his Kinsman Robert Poynings from whom an uninterrupted Line of Descent brought it down to Sir Edward Poynings who died in the twelfth year of Henry the eighth and there being none after a serious Inquisition taken in the fourteenth year of that Prince who could establish any Claim or pretence either in respect of any direct or collateral Affinity to his Estate the Crown by Escheat was entituled to this Mannor and here the Propriety was lodged until King Henry the eighth before mentioned granted it to Sir Robert Southwell who in the second year of Edward the sixth conveyed it to Sir Anthony Aucher and he not long after passed it away to Sir Anthony Sonds great Grandfather to Sir George Sonds Knight of the Bath now instant Lord of the Signory of it Lewsham in the Hundred of Blackheath was a Mannor which belonged to the Priory which was erected here but who was the Founder is unknown Onely thus we find that King Henry the third by a new Inspection confirmed it with all the Franchises and Immunities annexed to it as appears Cart. 13. Hen. tertii Memb. 9.
It was when it flourished most but a Cell of Benedictin Monks belonging to Saint Peters in Gaunt and paid to them 40 s. per Annum as a Rent-Service as appears Rot. Esc An. 12. Ric. secundi N. 72. And so continued till King Henry the fifth perceiving the ill Effects and impressions which the Influence of Priories-Aliens and their Fraternities might cause upon those Religious persons who were his Subjects who were altogether chained by a Connexion of Canonical Obedience to them suppressed this and sundry others of the like Nature and with their Revenue endowed that stately Monastery which he erected at Shene storing it with Carthusian Monks and dedicating it to the Name of Jesus of Bethlem and in the Patrimony of this Cloister did this Mannor lie included till the total Dissolution in that general Shipwrack in the Rule of Henry the eighth and then it returned to the Crown and there was lodged till Queen Elizabeth in the fifth year of her Government granted it to Ambrose Dudley Earl of Warwick who soon after exchanged it for other Lands with the said Princess and she in the year 1575 granted it in Lease for a space of forty years to Sir Nicholas Stodard of Modingham which expiring in the year 1605 King James passed it away in Lease for forty years more to Sir Francis Knolls and the Fee-simple in Reversion to John Ramsey Earl of Holderness who dying before the Expiration of the Lease gave it to his Brother Sir George Ramsey whose Son John Ramsey when the former Lease was worn out which was about the year 1645 sold the Fee-simple to Mr. Reginald Grime Catford in this Parish was formerly a Mannor which anciently was involved in the Inheritance of the Abels of Hering-Hill in Eriâ—h and John Abel had a Charter of Free Warren to this and other of his Lands in Lewsham in the twenty third year of Edward the first and after this Family was worn out the Lords Mountacute were Lords of the Signory and Fee-simple of it for William de Mountacute Earl of Salisbury obtained by Charter a Confirmation of Free Warren to this Mannor of his of Catford in the fifth year of Edward the third and in this noble Family did the Possession dwell till Richard de Nevil married Eleanor Daughter and Heir of Thomas de Mountacute Earl of Salisbury and in her Right had the Title of that Earldome and the Possession of this Place enstated upon him and divers of the Windows of the most ancient Houses in Lewsham are stained and coloured with his Armes This was that Rich. who gave up his Life to the Cause and Quarrel of the House of York and with Richard Duke of York most resolutely asserting the Truth and Justice of their Title to the Crown perished in the fatal and infortunate Battle commenced with the Partisans of the Lancastrian Claim between Sandall and Wakefield and afterwards his Son Richard Earl of Warwick he that broke and piec'd up the Scepter as he pleased and his younger Son John Nevil created Marquess Montacute by Edward the fourth in the year 1470 fell in that dysastrous Encounter waged with Edward the fourth at Barnet upon whose Ruines and Tombs he built his Throne and with their Blood coemented the Fabrick of his future Greatness But whether upon the Shipwrack of this Family it came by Escheat to the Crown or else to George Duke of Clarence second Brother to Edw. the fourth who espoused Isabel Daughter and Coheir of Richard E. of Warwick is incertain though it is probable it did because in a Great House of Mr. Streets at Lewsham the Armes of the Duke of Clarence stand empal'd with Nevil In Times of a more modern Aspect Catford was the Polsteds a Family of very deep Antiquity in Surrey for Hugh de Polsted gave Lands called Inwood by his Deed dated the sixteenth year of King John to the Abby of Waversley in that County but whether this place came to them or not by Grant from the Crown or by Purchase from some other I am ignorant 't is certain that Francis Polsted Cousin and Heir to Richard Polsted sold Catford to Brian Annesley Esquire in Reversion after the Decease of Elizabeth Wife of John Wolley and Widdow of the said Richard in the twentieth year of Queen Eliz. And He afterwards dying without Issue Male his two Daughters married to Sir William Harvey after Lord Harvey of Kidbrook in Kent and Sir John Wildgoose shar'd the Inheritance of this Place There were two Chantreys founded at Lewsham One by Rich. Walker for one priest to celebrate Mass at the Altar of the Trinity for the Founder's Soul The other by Roger Fitz who by the Appointment of his last Will the seventeenth of Henry the seventh devised that his two Houses the Lion and the Ram in the Stews on the Banck-side near London should be sold to build the Chantry House and indow it with maintenance for one Priest to celebrate at the Altar of the Trinity in Lewsham Church for the Founder's Soul Leybourne in the Hundred of Larkfield was the ancient Demeasn of the Lords Leybourne who erected here a Castle esteemed a strong Pile in our Ancestors Dayes however the Ruines and Raggs of it at present appear mean and despicable yet it hath by several Gradations sunk into this Condition The first of which Family which I find to be eminent was * Ex veteri Rot. penes Edw. Dering Militem Baronettum desunctum Roger de Leybourne who is enrolled in the Catalogue of those Kentish Knights who accompanied Richard the first to the Siege of Acon and another Roger de Leybourne is in the Roll of this Kentish Gentlemen who assisted Henry the third in his Expedition into Gascony in the thirty seventh year of his Raign and afterwards was a principal Partisan of Simon de Montforts in his Emotions and rude Essorts against his Scepter and Government for which he was pardoned by the Act of Amnestia or Pacification of that Prince made in the fiftieth year of his Raign at Killingworth and this is that Roger which slew Ernulphus de Monteney at a meeting of the round Table in the thirty sixth year of Henry the sixth and was the Husband of Eleanor Countess of Winchester Sir Henry and Sir Simon de Leybourne are recorded in the List of those Kentish Gentlemen who assisted the Edward the first in his Siege of Carlaverock in Scotland in the twenty eighth year of his Reign and for their signal Service performed in that Expedition were dignified with the Order of Knighthood William de Leybourne one of this Family was frequently summon'd to sit in Parliament as Baron in the Raign of Edward the first and by that Title subscribes in that memorable Letter which the abovesaid Prince and all the English Peerage wrote to the Pope in the year of Grace 1301 that is in the twenty ninth of Edward the first 's Government to justifie those Grounds on which the war was
then commenced against the Scots and this William was Son of Roger de Leybourne which Roger was Sheriff of Kent the forty eighth and fiftieth of Henry the third The last of this Family was Roger de Leybourne who transmitted this Castle and Mannor to his Sole Daughter and Heir Juliana de Leybourne first matched to Jo. de Hastings and secondly to William de Clinton Earl of Huntingdon by both which Husbands She had no Issue so that dying in the forty third year of Edward the third after all Titles were winnowed by a serious Inquisition there was none discovered that could by a pretended Claim either of direct or collateral Alliance challenge her Estate So that her Patrimony here lapsed by Escheat to the Crown after which K. Richard the second by patent in the ninth year of his Raign Part. prima Memb. 26. grants it to Sir Simon Burleigh Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports but he being shortly after attainted with the Cuilt of High Treason and his Estate consiscated this Mannor and Castle reverts to the Demeasne of the Crown and the same King Richard in the twelfth year of his Raign grants it to the Abby of Grace upon Tower-Hill and in their Revenue it continued shut up till the Dissolution of this Covent and then King Henery the eighth about the thirty seventh year of his Raign granted it to Sir Edward North who not long after alienated it to Robert Gosnold and he in the second year of Q. Elizabeth gave it to Robert Godden who some few years after by Sale passed it away to Nicholas Lewson Esq of Whorns-Place in Cuckston whose Grandchild Sir Richard Lewson affecting more to live in Stafford-shire alienated his Kentish Lands amongst which this was sold to Henry Clerke Serjeant at Law and Recorder of Rochester who being lately deceased his Son and Heir Francis Clerke Esquire enjoys the Profits and Possession of it of whose Family I have spoke at Frensbury and shall speak more at Ulcombe The Grange in this Parish is the Mansion of Mr. Robert Oliver and hath been for sundry Descents resident in that Name though the Original Sirname be Quintin They being Descended from Anselinus or Anselmus de Quintin that paid respective Aid for the Mannor of Woodfold in Yalding in the twentyeth year of Edward the third at the making the Black Prince Knight Now if you will know how the Name of Quintin resolved into that of Oliver I shall inform you William Quintin Purchased Lands in Seal called Hilks the eleventh of February and in the eleventh year of Henry the sixth and in the Deed of Purchase he is often called Filius Oliveri without the Addition of Quintin and so by vulgar acceptation and inadvertency they came by common mistake to be called Oliver yet in all Deeds and other Escripts to preserve their Ancient and Original Denomination they write Oliver alias Quintin Lidde in old Saxon Records is written Hlida which certainly was derived from the Latine word Litus it importing as much in that Dialect likewise as the Shore and the Situation of the place being not far distant from the Sea does seem to abett the Etymologie It is Situated in the Hundred of Langport which extracts its Name from a Mannor in this Parish called Old Langport which was the Possession of a Family whose Sirname was Ikin And John Ikin I find by an Inquisition taken in the thirty second year of Edward the third was at his Death which was then possest of it After Ikin a good old Family called Hund were Lords of the Inheritance and Sir John Hund who lies buried in the Church of Lidde lived here in the Raign of Henry the sixth From this Family it by Sale passed away to Belknap in which Name the Possession had not been long resident for Sir Edward Belknap Son to Sir Henry Belknap who Purchased this place died without Issue and so his three Sistrs Anne Elizabeth and Alice became his three Co-heirs who married to Sir Edward Wotton Sir Philip Cooke of Giddy-Hall and Sir William Shelley of Michaelgrove in Sussex who sold his proportionable Share in this Mannor to Dannett and from Wotton and Dannett two parts of it were afterwards conveyed away by Sale to Godfrey and the third was alienated by Cooke to Sir Christoph Man of Canterbury New-Langport called likewise Langport Septuans was for many Descents the Patrimony of that Noble Family Robert de Septuans held it at his Death which was in the thirty third year of Henry the third and after him his Grandchild William Septuans or de Septemvannis was possest of it in the twenty fifth year of Edward the third and so remained by the links of some Descents fastned to the Inheritance of this Family till William Septuans this mans great Grandchild by Sale translated his Right in it to John Writtle about the Beginning of Henry the sixth where after the Possession had some years settled it was by Sale supplanted and Seated in Henry Fettiplace of Beselslith in the County of Oxford where after it had for many years been fixed it was at length sold from this Family to James But here it had a very short abode for Thomas James falling under a praemunire in the sixth year of the Raign of King James forfeited it to the Crown and that Prince the next year after passed it away to John Lord Haddington and he not long after to discharge some Debts in which he was engaged to Mr. Edward Cropley of London passed it over to him for his Satisfaction and re-imbursment Jacks alias Jaques-Court in this Parish was the Demeasne of Echingham a Family of principal Note in Sussex where they were Jure Nativo Seneschalls of the Rape of Hastings and of a proportionate Revenue at Echingham in that County The first that I find of note in this place was William de Echingham who paid respective Aid in the twentyeth year of Edward the third at the making the Black Prince Knight for Lands which he held here and in Welland-Mersh by the fourth part of a Knights Fee and in this Family did it for sundry Ages reside and was productive of men that were very usefull and subservient to the Interest of their Country whereof William Echingham Son of the former William was one of the Conservators of the Peace for the County of Sussex in the first year of Richard the second and died possest of this place in the fifteenth year of that Prince But at length the Distaff prevailed against the Speare for this Family concluded in a Female Heir for Thomas Echingham dying without Issue-male Margaret his only Daughter was married to Walter Blount who had by her Jacks-Court which he left to his Son Edw. Blount Lord Montjoy but he at his Decease leaving no Issue the Inheritance of this place came to Elizabeth his Sister and Heir married to Sir Andrew Windsor afterwards created Lord Windsor by Henry the eighth who alienated this Mansion to Clache by whose Daughter and
who in so many remarkable and triumphant Conflicts asserted the Interest of this Nation in France in the Raign of the abovesaid Prince and at last received a mortal Wound by a Splinter of a Window struck into his Face by a Cannon shot at the Siege of Orleans of which he died 1428 and left his Estate here to his Natural Son James Montacute * Ex vetustis Autographis penes Rich. Lea Arm. de Rochester so written in the Deed but in all our printed Books of Nobility falsly and corruptly John and he in the thirtieth year of Henry the sixth conveyed it by Deed to Thomas Davy Gentleman and he not many years after alienated it to Edward Nevill Baron of Aburgavenny from whom it was transported by Descent to his Successor Henry Lord Aburgavenny who dying in the twenty ninth year of Q. Elizabeth without Issue Male gave it to his second Brother Sir Edward Nevill from whom it is come down to his Descendant John Lord Aburgavenny the instant Proprietary of it Buckland in this Parish did acknowledge the Bucklands for its Heirs and Possessors who sometimes did inhabit at Preston in Shorham and sometimes at this place which however now obscure and despicable was of Credit when Sir John Buckland paid respective Aid for his Lands at Ludsdown at the making of the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth of Edward the third from Buckland by a Daughter and Heir some few Ages since it came over with Preston in Shorham to Folhill and in that Family is the Title still at this instant resident Lullingston in the Hundred of Axtan was in ancient Records written Lullingston Rosse for Anketellus Rosse held Lands here in the twentieth of William the Conqueror William de Rosse this mans Grand-child as appears by the Pipe Rolls held two Knights Fees in Lullingston in the first year of King John Alexander de Rosse this mans Son was one of the Recognitores magnae Assisae or of the grand Assise about the end of that Prince's Rule but not long after this the Possession of this place was not lincked to this Family for Lora de Rosse Sole Daughter to William de Rosse by matching with William de Peyforer fastned it to the Revenue of that Stock from whence it assumed the Title of Lullingston Peyforer but it quickly deserted both the Title and Possessor for Gregory de Rokesley Lord Maior of London in the seventh year of Edward the first purchased it of the abovesaid William and in the same year obtained a Charter Warren to his Lands at this place In the twentieth year of Edward the third John de Rokesley Son to Walter Rokesley and Grand-child to the before mentioned Gregory paid Aid for the Mannor of Lullingston which held by a whole Knights Fee at the making the Black Prince Knight In the thirty third year of Edward the third Sir John Peche purchased the Mannor of this John de Rokesley this Sir John was Son to Sir John de Peche who was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle and was called to Parliament among the Barons in the fourth year of Edward the third In the same year he bought Lullingston he obtained a Charter of Free Warren to his Lands there which was renewed and by Confirmation fortified in the thirty fourth and thirty fifth of Edward the third Sir William Peche was his Son and Heir whose Widow the Lady Joane Peche who died seised of this Mannor in the eleventh year of Henry the fourth lies entombed in St. Mary Woolnoth Church in London Sir John Peche was Son and Heir to them both Sir William Peche was Son and Heir to this Sir John who died at Lullingston 1487 and had two Children Sir John Peche Knight and Banneret who died sans Issue which Sir John was a man of exemplary Account being Lord Deputy of Calais and of signal Charity as is evident by his Munificence and Bounty towards the Poor for he founded the Alms-Houses at Lullingston and gave 500 lb. to other Pious Uses to be performed by the Grocers Company in London of which he was Free and Elizabeth marched to John Hart Esquire who in his Wife 's Right upon the Decease of her Brother enter'd into the Possession of the Premisses from whom it is transmitted to William Hart Esquire his great Grand-child who hath the instant Signory and Fee-simple of this Mannor of Lullingston M. M. M. M. MAidstone giveth Name to the whole Hundred wherein it is seated an elegant Town it is whether we consider it in respect of the uniform and regular Building or of the healthful Situation of it spreading it self out partly upon a Hill and partly upon a Valley which are interlaced with a smal River which hath its Original about Leeds and on the other side its Banks are washed with the waters of the Medway from whence it primitively borrowed its Name being in Saxon called Medwegston The Places of most eminence which are circumscribed within the Limits of it are First Buckland which is situated on the opposite Banck of the River upon the Knob or Knoll of an Hill of easie Ascent from whence it takes in a various and delightful Prospect of the adjacent Valley It was anciently part of the Demeasn of the Bucklands but whether it originally gave Seat and Sirname to them or not is not evident because there was another Place which likewise bore this Name at Luddesdowne and which also acknowledged it self to be Parcel of their Proprietie John de Buckland held it at his Death which was in the third year of Edward the third and his Son and Heir was Sir John Buckland who was a Person of remarkable Reputation and Note in this Track for he had Lands about Wouldham Halling Snodland Ludsdowne and Shoreham as well as at this Place After this Name went out the Lords Cobham were Proprietaries of Buckland and in this Family was the Possession guided along by an undivided Clew of several Ages till the infortunate Henry Lord Cobham about the entrance into the Raign of King James being with Sir VValter Raleigh and others entangled in a Design which the then present Power after a serious and solemn Debate adjudged treasonable he could not unravel himself out of it but with the Forfeiture though not of Life yet of Estate but this Mannor before his Attaint being settled upon his Lady Francis Cobham as part of her Jointure upon his Decease was granted by the Crown to her and the Reversion to Robert Cecil Earl of Salisbury in respect he had married Elizabeth Daughter to William Brooke Lord Cobham and Sister to this last Lord Henry and She shortly after by marrying with ....... Fitz Gerald Earl of Kildare settled the present Interest of it in him and He and his Countess being embarked in a mutual and joint consent with the above-mentioned Earl of Salisbury passed away their Right in it about the year One thousand six hundred and eighteen to William
I find that in the seventh year of that King's Raign the said Lord Cobham sold the abovesaid Mannor to Sir Robert Reade then Serjeant at Law but after Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas who concluding in three Daughters and Coheirs Dorothy matched to Sir Edward Wotten of Boughton Malherbe Katharin wedded to Sir Thomas Willoughbie second Son of Christopher Willoughbie Lord Willoughbie of Eresbye and Margaret married to Sir Iohn Harcourt of Elnal in the County of Stafford this Mannor of St. Maries in her right descending to this Family the abovesaid Sir Iohn and the Lady Margaret his Wise did in the thirtieth year of Henry the eighth exchange the said Mannor of St. Mary Hall with Iohn Wiseman Gentleman for the Priory of Ronton in the County of Stafford since which Time the said Mannor hath continued in the Name of Wiseman and is at this instant in the Possession of Sir Thomas Wiseman of Riven Hall in the County of Essex Knight Newland is a Mannor Situated in St. Maries which was as high as can be traced by any Track of Evidence the Inheritance of Somer vulgarly now called Somers Richard le Somer made his Will as appears by the Records of Rochester in the year of Grace 1347 and died seised of this Place Lands in Halstow Higham Leigh and elsewhere and from him did it come down by the Channel of Descent to John Somer who was Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Raign of Henry the sixth who was a great Benefactor to the Priory of Christ-Church in whose Cloister the Armes of this Family remain insculped in Stone as a Memorial of his Beneficence the last of this Family who held this place was Sir William Somer who was thrice employed as publick Embassador to forraign States by Queen Elizabeth and he deceased without Issue Male so that his two Daughters matched to Sir Alexander Temple and Sir James Cromer became his Coheirs but this Mannor of Newland upon the Petition was united to the Demeasn of Temple whose Heir hath lately passed it away to the Treasurers of the Chest for sick and mained Seamen at Chetham Mershham in the Hundred of Chart and Longbridge was given by Siward and Mawde his Wife to the Monks of St. Augustins for support of their Diet which Concession of their's was afterwards confirmed as appears by the Book of Christ-Church by the Royal Authority of Edward the Confessor and so remained wrapped up in the Demeasn of the Church till the Dissolution of that Covent and then it fell into the Revenue of the Crown and King Henry the eighth in the thirty third year of his Raign settled it on the newly erected Dean and Chapter of Canterbury Quatherington in this Parish vulgarly called Quarington was the ancient Residence of the Blechendens till William Blechenden by marriage with Agnes Daughter and Coheir of ....... Godfrey of Aldington became in her Right Master of Simnells in that Parish and so left his Habitation at Mersham to enjoy his new Acquists at Aldington certainly they were very anciently Seated if not at this place yet in this Parish for I have seen the draught of a Pedigree knit together by Clarenceux Cooke wherein they are brought down from Nicholas de Blechenden who flourished here at Mersham in the Raign of Edward the first though I confesse the Evidences of Quarington reach no higher then Will. Blechenden who is made in the Pedigree to be Grandchild to the abovesaid Nicholas and who flourished in the Raign of Richard the second after the Blechendens the Cleggates of Canterbury became in our Grandfathers Memory to be Lords of the Fee but not long after alienated their Right in it to Eastday of Saltwood from whom the like Current of Succession wâ—fted it over to Knatchbull from whom the Right descended to Sir Norton Knatchbull a Person who for his Favour and Love to Learning and Antiquitie in Times when they are both fallen under such Cheapness and Contempt cannot be mentioned without an Epithete equivalent to so just a merit Mepeham in the Hundred of Totingtrough was given to the Monks of Canterbury for their supply of Dyet by Ediva the Queen Mother of the two Kings Edmund and Eadred as appears by the Book of Christ-Church in the year of Grace 861. Upon the suppression of that Fraternitie it increased by its Addition the Revenue of the Crown but it was suddenly after in the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth restored to the Church and so continued till these infortunate Times chained it to the Patrimony of the See of Canterbury whose Arch-Bishops it seems had a speciall Regard to this place for William Courtney one of them re-builded the Church which by the Onsets of Time was shrunk into Dilapidation and Rubbish and erected likewise some Alms Houses here for the support and maintainance of the poor of this Parish The Mannor of Dodmore lies within the Circuit of Mepeham and was as high as the Beam of any Deed can discover to me the Possession of the noble and Knightly Family of Huntingfield Sir Peter Huntingfield by his Deed sans Date does demise it to his kinsman Walter Huntingfield and he by Deed likewise without any Date affixed to it passed it away to John Smith and he in the forty seventh year of Edward the third conveyed his Right in it by Sale to Richard Ideleigh from whom the Ideleighs of Easture in Chilham and Rollingin at Goodneston in East-Kent originally branched out But here the private Muniments of this place by whose Light I have walked break off so that I must make a Gap in my Intelligence and skip into the Raign of Henry the eighth In the ninth year of whose Government I find by the Court-Rolls of this place one Thomas Cavendish Esq to be possest of it from whom about the second year of Edward the sixth it went away to Henry Taylor afterwards within the Circuit of thirty years it was the Possession of John Giffard then of Walter Powre of Brenchley and after him of Henry Collins who in the year 1604. demised his Interest in it to Walter Kipping Gentleman of Kippings-Cross in Tuydley where they were resident before about five hundred year and now it is made by Dorothy Kipping his Daughter and Coheir part of the Patrimony of my Worthy and Ingenuous Friend Edward Darrell Esquire Dean-Court is likewise Seated within the Verge of Mepeham It was in elder times a Branch of that wide and opulent Estate which was marshal'd under the Signory of Twitham Alan de Twitham is enrolled in the Catalogue of those Kentish Gentlemen who were with Richard the first at the Seige of Acon Bethram de Twitham held it at his Death which was in the third year of Edward the third after Alanus de Twitham died seised of it in the twenty fifth year of the above-said Kings Raign and his Son Theobald de Twitham after him enjoyed it at his Death which was in the fourth year of Richard the second
Master or Conservator of her Jewells whose Son Sir Jo. Astley upon his Decease bequeathed it to his Nephew Sir Norton Knatchbull Knight and Baronet who is the instant Proprietarie of it Champions-Court is the second place of Account in this Parish It was in elder Times the Mansion and Demeasne of a generous Family whose Sirname was Campania and was certainly a Family of eminence in elder Times Robert de Campania is inserted in the Register of those Kentish Gentlemen who accompanied Richard the first to the Seige of Acon John de Campania his Grandchild obtained the Grant of a Market to Newenham weekly on the Thursday and a Fair yearly to continue the Vigil the Day of St. Peter and Paul and the Day after and was one of those Knights of Kent who was embarked in the Seige of Carlaverock in Scotland with Edward the first in the twenty eighth year of his Raign In Times of a younger Aspect the Name by Depravation and vulgar Use languished into Champion and so continued till it expired in Daughters and Coheirs one of which was Katharine Champion who by matching with Robert Corbett descended from the Corbetts of Morton Corbett in the County of Salop upon the Division of Champions Estate united this to his Revenue where it had not long rested but the same vicissitude brought this Name to determine in female Coheirs likewise two of which called Joan and Elizabeth were espoused to Samuell Slap and Ralph Hart. Samuell Slap had Issue Joan Slap who dyed childlesse and so this Mannor was cast into the Possession of Richard Hart Son of Ralph Hart the Successor of Richard Hart in our Fathers Memory alienated his Interest in it to Sir Henry Spiller and he not many years since conveyed all his Right and Title to it by Sale to Mr. Weckerlin descended from the Weckerlins a Family of good Ranke and Account in Upper Germany A third place of Note in Newenham is Sholand whih was in the Raign of H. the third as an old datelesse Deed discovers to us the Patrimony of Adam de Stomynton and after this Name went out the Bournes of Sharsted in Dodington not far removed from this place were about the twentieth year of Edward the third possest of this Lordship from them by purchase the Propriety was carried over to Chevin descended from the Chevins of Chevins-court in Marden and Thomas Chevin of this place married Thomasin Coheir of Champion of Champions Court in this Parish From Chevin the Interest of Sholand did descend by Sale to Maycott and from them by the same Fate to Adye a Family of Note and very much Antiquity as to the Name in this Track whose Right it had not long acknowledged but by the same Devolution the Title was invested in Steere from whom by Purchase it came over to Sayers descended from those of York-shire who in that Age our Fathers lived in sold his Concernment in it to Mr. Hugison of Dover in whose Heirs the Propriety of this place is at this instant resident Newington-Belhouse lies in the Hundred of Folkston and was in the Raign of King John and Henry the third the Possession of Hubert de Burgo Lord Chief Justice of England and from him it descended to his Son John de Burgo who in the fifty fifth year of Henry the third passed it away by Sale to Thomas de Belhouse by the Name of Newington juxta Hieth And probably this may be a Reason why this Family after they had adopted this Mannor into their own Name assumed a Coat which had some Affinitie with that of Hubert de Burgo videlicet Or upon a Bend Gules three Lozinges Argent and Gules which I suppose was done to preserve the Memory of him of whom it was first purchased But to proceed Sir Thomas de Belhouse great Grandchild of the above-mentioned paid respective Aid for this Mannor by the Name of Newington-Belhouse in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight and died possest of it in the forty eighth year of that Princes Raign from whom a descendant Right brought it down to his Heir John de Belhouse who enjoyed it so narrow a space of Time that it is left upon Record that he died seised of it in the forty ninth year of Edward the third and Robert Knevit a younger Son of Sir John Knevit Lord Chancellor of England who had married the Heir Generall of this Family was found to be his Heir and it was this Robert or else probably his Son who in the seventh year of Henry the fourth had a Patent of Confirmation of Liberty of Free-warren to his Lands at Newington formerly granted to Thomas de Belhouse After the Line of the Knevits was extinguished at this place which was about the beginning of Henry the eighth this Mannor devolved to the Cloptons for Edmund Knevit of Stanwaymagna in Essex had three Sisters who were Coheirs to him and their Father Edward Knevit Esquire Thomasin the eldest was matched to Sir William Clopton of Kentwell in Suffolk for his second Wife and Katharine the second Sister was married to John Clopton Esq eldest Son of the above-said Sir William and Dorothy the third was matched to Thomas Carnaby but these desiring to Contract all their Patrimony within the Verge of Suffolk alienared this Mannor in the twenty seventh year of King Henry the eighth with much of their Land in the Mersh to Thomas Lord Cromwell who being attainted in the thirty second year of Henry the eighth this Mannor escheated to the Crown and lay couched in its Revenue untill the first year of Queen Mary and then it was granted to Edward Lord Clinton who in the last year of the above-said Princesse conveyed it with all its perquisites to Henry Herdson whose Grandchild Francis Herdson almost in that Age we entitle to our Fathers Remembrance alienated it to Mr. Henry Brockman Grandfather to the instant Proprietarie James Brockman Esquire Sene and Bithborough were two ancient Seats which related to the Knightly Family of Valoigns of whom I shall speak more in my Discourse of Petham but before the latter end of Edward the third this Family was extinguished and then one of the two Daughters and Coheirs upon the Distinction of the Estate parcells brought these two places to be the Inheritance of Sir Francis Fogge who lies buried Cross-legg'd in Cheriton-Church with the Arms of Fogge and Valoigns empal'd upon his Tombe and from him did the Propriety and Title in an uninterupted Channell stream down to George Fogge Esquire who alienated Sene in our Grandfathers Memory to Honywood and Bithborough to Mr. Henry Brockman who added much to the ancient Building so that it is now become the Seat of that Family Bertrams in Newington is so called because it was parcell of the Estate of Bertram de Crioll who died possest of it in the twenty third year of Edward the first and left it to Joan his Heir espoused to Sir Richard de
old German practise is also asserted by Tacitus And that it was customary amongst the Danes Several Urns discovered in Jutland and Sleswick not many years since do easily evince which contained not only Bones but many other Substances in them as Knives peeces of Iron Brass and Wood and one of Norway a Brass guilded Jews-harp When this Custome of Burning of the Dead languished into Disuse is incertain but that it began to vanish upon the Dawning of Christianity as Vapors and Mists scatter before a Morning Sun is without Controversie but when the Light of it did more vigorously reflect like a Meridian Beam on all the gloomy Corners and Recesses of Paganism and Infidelity then this Use of Urn-Burial was wholly superseded and found a Tomb it self in the more sober and severer practise of Christianity And thus much shall be said concerning these Urns digged up at Newington The Mannor of Levenoke in this Parish ought in the last place to be taken Notice of but the Deeds being dispersed into the Hands of those who are Strangers both to this County and my Design I cannot give the Reader that satisfaction in this particular that I aime at Only thus much I can inform him that by an old Court Roll in the Hands of Mr. Staninough of this Parish lately deceased I discovered that in the Raign of Edward the third and Richard the second it was the possession of John Beau Fitz and it is probable by the Heir General of this Name it devolved to Arnold of Rochester and more to fortifie this some ancient Country people at my being there did assure me they had it by Traditional Intelligence from their Predecessors That that Knight purchased it of one Arnold but of that there is no certainty only this is positive that about the latter end of Henry the eighth that Knight enjoyed it and in this Name it remained until almost our Memory and then it was conveyed to Gouldsmith and he alienated it to Barrow whose Descendant having morgaged it to Mr. ...... Alston of London he very lately hath transplanted all his Right by Sale into Mr. ........ Lisle of Middlesex now deceased Nockholt in the Hundred of Ruxley was a Branch which was incorporated into the Revenue of the Lord Say William de Say died possest of it in the twenty third year of Edward the third and from this man was it transmitted to his Grand-child Geffrey Say who concluded in a Sole Daughter and Heir called Elizabeth who was married to William Fiennes Esquire and so in her Right was Nockholt united to the possession of this Noble Family from this man was Richard Fiennes descended who enjoyed this Mannor successively from him and married Joane the Sole Female heir of Thomas Lord Dacre of Hurstmonceaux in Sussex who was extracted from Edward Lord Dacre who was summoned to Parliament by the Title of Lord Dacre of Hurstmonceaux in the Raign of Edward the second and in her Right was this man summoned to Parliament by the Name of Richard Fiennes Lord Dacres in the Government of Henry the sixth And here did both the Barony of Dacre and the Inheritance of Nockholt continue till Gregory Fiennes Lord Dacres deceased in the thirty sixth year of Queen Elizabeth and left by Testament Margaret his Sister matched to Sampson Lennard Esquire he having no Issue Heir to his large possessions amongst which this Mannor was involved from Sampson Lennard who was created Lord Dacres in the second year of King James it is now come down by Successive Inheritance to be the instant Patrimony of his Grand-child Francis Lord Dacres the present Baron of Hurstmonceaux There are two other Mannors in this Parish but of small importance called Brampton and Shelleys-court or at Ockholt both which had Owners who engrafted their own Sirname upon them There is a recital in the Book of Aide of one John de Brampton who held Land at Nockholt and Ditton in the Raign of Edward the first From this Family Brampton came by a Female Heir to be the Inheritance of Petley who about the latter end of Henry the sixth conveyed it to Oliver alias Quintin and hath been for almost two Hundred years as appears by the Evidences now in the Hands of Mr. Robert Oliver of the Grange in the Parish of Leybourn in the Tenure and Possession of that Name and Family Shelleys Court called in the Evidences likewise at Ockholt was as high as the Raign of Edward the third as the originall Deeds now in the Hands of Mr. Rob. Austin of Bexley inform me the Inheritance of Shelley and remained united to the Possession of that Family till the Government of Queen Mary and then by Sale the whole Demise was passed away by Sir John Champneys Lord Maior of London by William Shelley the last of this Name at this place from whom it devolved to his Son Sir Justinian Champneys who left it to his Son Mr. Richard Champneys Esquire and he almost in the Remembrance of that Age we live in alienated his Concernment in it to the present Possessor Mr. Gooday of Suffolk Nonington in the Hundred of Wingham and Eastry hath diverse places in it of considerable Repute The first is Fredville called in old Deeds Froidville from its bleak and eminent Situation Times of an elder Inscription represent it to have been the Possession of Colkin vulgarly called Cokin who it is probable erected the ancient Fabrick and brought it into the Shape and Order of an Habitation this Family was originally extracted from Canterbury where they had a Lane which bore their Name being called Colkins Lane and likewise had the Inheritance or Propriety of Worth-gate in that City William Colkin founded an Hospital neer Eastbridge which celebrated his Name to Posterity and was called Colkin's Hospital he flourished in the Time of K. John and was a liberal Benefactor to the Hospitals of St. Nicholas St. Katharine and St. Thomas of Eastbridge in Canterbury as is recorded by Mr. William Somner in his Survey of that City Page 116. But to proceed John Colkin dyed possest of Fredvill the tenth of Edward the third and in his Posterity was the Title resident untill the latter end of Richard the second and then it was conveyed to Thomas Charleton and he by a Fine levyed the second of Henry the second transplants his Interest into John Quadring in whose Name it made its aboad untill Joan Quadring the Heir General of Thomas Quadring this man's Successor carried the Title along with her to her Husband Richard Dryland and he about the latter end of Edward the fourth alienated it to John Nethersole who by Fine levyed in the second year of Richard the third conveyed it to William Bois Esquire descended from I. de Bosco or de Bois so written in some old Copies of the Battle Abby Roll and in others R. de Bosco or de Bois who entered into England with William the Conquerour which William had Issue Thomas Bois who dying in the
Demeasne where it continued couched till Queen Elizabeth first granted it in Lease for Life to her Foster-brother Saunders so he was styled because his Mother had been her Nurse upon whose Decease it reverts to the Crown and King James upon his first Ascending the English Throne granted the Demeasne to Sir Edwin Sandys The Mannor was sold the 1630. to Mr. Edw. Bois Father to Jo. Bois of Betshanger Esq a Person who had performed some exemplary Service for him upon his first admission to the Scepter of this Nation which obliged him to this Concession from whom it is now by Descent transferred to his Grand-child Son to Colonel Sandys who in the late intestine Contests between the King and his two Houses received a mortal wound in a vigorous encounter betwixt him and Prince Rupert at Worcester of which some time after he languished away and deceased There was when Leland made his Survey of Kent which was in the Raign of Henry the eighth the Reliques of an old Stone-house which the Tradition of that Age did affirm to have been the Pallace of the above mentioned Eadbald And there was not many years before the same Author made this perambulation as he in the same Manuscript does assert a Wall broken down by which Hole or Inlet was discovered a little Cell or Chamber into which it opened where were found the Fragmentary Remains of two Children who had in that gloomy Repository been as was then conjectured for many preceding Ages been mured up and which did improve the wonder in one of these obsolete Skeletons was descried a stiff Pin of Latine Tikenhurst in this Parish now by Corruption of the first Etymology called Ticknes in elder Times was the Revenue of a Family known by that Sirname some of whom are Witnesses to Deeds of a very high Date now in the Hands of Mr. Richard Fogge of Dane-court in Tilmanston After this Family which had left its Name ingrafted upon this place was worn out which was before the Raign of Henry the sixth Little Mongcham was given by King Edbert under the Notion of 6 Ploughed Lands to the Abby of St. Austins the Stoddards from whom the Stoddards of Modingham near Eltham were originally extracted became Possessors of the Fee and in the Patrimony of this Family was the Title of this Place for several Generations involved till in our Grand-fathers Memory it was by Sale transplanted into the Propriety of Peyton of Knowlton so that it is in Right of that Purchase now incorporated into the Income of Sir Thomas Peyton Baronet who is the present Lord of the Fee Northfleet was alwaies a Branch of that Revenue which fell under the Spiritual Signory of Christ-church By the Pages of Doomes-day Book we may take a brief Prospect of what it was in the Time of the Conqueror Northfleet saies that Record in T. E. R. se defendebat pro VI. Sullingis nunc pro V. est manerium appretiatum XX. VII lb. That is Northfleet in the Time of Edward the Confessor did defend it self for six Sullings or Ploughed Lands but now that is in the Time of William the Conqueror only for five and upon the appraisment was rated at twenty seven pound and thus did it continue riveted by the Charters of several Princes which had confirmed the Patrimony of Christ-church in Canterbury into the Estate of the Church till that Whitlwind which arose in the Time of Henry the eighth threw it into the common Dissolution and then by publique Authority it was united to the Revenue of the Crown and there was fixed till the year One thousand six hundred and eight and then the Title was torn off Ifeild Well Cosington and Shinglewell are four small Mannors which are circumscribed within the Limits of this Parish They were in Ages of a more venerable Aspect the Patrimony of Hever of Hever William de Hever had a Charter of Free-warren granted to his Lands at Ifield and Shinglewell and other Lands in Northfleet in the ninth year of Edward the first which was renued to Thomas de Hever in the fourth year of Edward the third but he left no Heits male to enjoy this priviledge for he and his Name expired in Females whereof Joan one of his Coheirs was espoused to Reginald Cobham who was summoned to Parliament by Writt as Baron of Sterborough in the twenty second year of Edward the third and the other was matched to Iohn Brocas but his Estate at these above-mentioned places was upon the Partition annexed to the Patrimony of the Lord Cobham from which Family about the raign of Henry the fourth it came over to Iohn Rykeld who with his Son William Rykeld lyes entombed in Northfleet Church but it seems this last mentioned William deceased without Issue-male for Rose his Sole Daughter and Heir was married to Edward Limsey descended from Ralph de Limsey who held the Mannor of Budbrook in Warwickshire the twentieth of William the Conquerour as is testified by Dooms-day Bookâ— and this Man had Issue Iohn Limsey to whom Ifield Shinglewell and the other two places in right of his Mother did successively devolve But it seems the Title of Wells Cosington and Ifield did not long dwell in Iohn Limsey for in the first year of Richard the third he alienated them to Iohn Young from which Family in the middle of the raign of H. the eighth they came back again to acknowledge the Signiory of Limsey in whom again the Possession was as transitory as formerly for before the latter end of H. eighth they were conveyed to Rainsford from whom about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth they were by Sale passed away to Alderman Garret of London and in this Family was the Inheritance lodged untill allmost those Times which fell under the Cognisance of our Remembrance and then they were disposed of by Sale to Child Derndale is another ancient Seat in Northfleet which in old Evidences some of which are not bounded with any date is styled Derendale as having in elder Times as it appears by old Deeds Possessors of that Name and when they had deserted the Possession which was before the latter end of Edward the third it became the Inheritance of William Wangford whose Son William Wangford was Serjeant at Law and a great Benefactor to Rochester Bridge and he being his Heir to this place in the fifteenth year of Henry the sixth passed it away to John and William Flucke from whom suddenly after it came over by purchase to Iohn Rouse descended from William Rouse of Birling whose Son Iohn Rouse demised Land in Northfleet as appears by an old Deed to Iohn Rouse in the thirty third year of Edward the third and this above-mentioned Iohn Rouse in the tenth year of Edward the fourth demised his Right in this place to Thomas Wombwell and Iohn Clifton Esquire and this Iohn Clifton dying without Issue in the year 1471 bequeaths his Interest in it by Will to Thomas VVombwell and
Imposition was scrued or wound up too much he abates and mollifies it by these Engagements perpetually for the future to oblige and endear them to assert and maintain his new atchieved Royaltie But to return to my Discourse In times of a more recent Inscription that is in the seventh year of King John the Prior and Monks of Christ-church obtained a Market to this their Mannor to be observed weekly on the Wednesday as appears Carta de Anno septimo R. Joannis Memb. secund with which Franchise it continued invested untill the twenty ninth of Henry the eighth and then being by the Monks abovesaid with the Residue of their Revenue into the Hands of that Prince it remained with the Crown untill the thirty second year of his Government and then it was granted to Pereivall Hart of Lullingston Esq to whose pious and charitable Beneficence the Almes Houses at this place owe their original Foundation and from him is the Propriety of it now descended to his great Grandchild Will. Hart Esq Crofton in this Parish did formerly swel into so much of Grandeur and populacy that it was known for a Parish of it self till by Fire it was entombed in its present Desolations and by the Violence of that wild and impetuous Element reduced into a Heap of Flame and Ruines and certainly those deplorable Remains which yet expose themselves to an Inquisitive Eye and the Groundsells too and scattered Foundations of Houses which the Plough often raises out of their Sepulcher of Rubbish and represents to the publick View do evince this Truth to us that Towns and Villages have their stated Period of Duration and must at length find a Grave like Men. But though this Village be shrunk into this disordered Heap yet still it preserves the Reputation of a Mannor which it had anciently when it was the Inheritance of Wibourn a Family in elder Times of high Esteem and a considerable Revenue in this Territory Ralph de Wibourn held Lands here and in other places of Kent as appears by sundry ancient Deeds now in the Possession of Wibourne of Halkewell in the raign of Edward the first and did after execute a Deed for Land in Wrotham Hundred in the tenth year of Edward the second And in the twentieth year of Edward the third John de Wybourne paid respective Aid for his Lands here and at other places in this County at the making the Black Prince Knight after Wibourne had relinquished the Possession of this place which was about the latter end of Edward the third it went away by Sale to Sir Robert Belknap who was attainted and banished by that Factious Parliament which was held in the tenth year of R. the second for vigorously endevouring to vindicate and assert his Prerogative against the Invasions and Inroads which some of the turbulent Nobility of those times did attempt to make upon it but this though forfeited and escheated to the Crown upon his pretended Treason was by Richard the second restor'd to Hamon Belknap Lord of Oston in the County of Warwick and from him it was by Descent transferred to John Belknap his Son who upon his Decease which was in the fifteenth year of Henry the sixth bequeathed it to Sir Henry Belknap who determined in three Daughters and Coheirs Alice married to Sir William Shelley Anne matched to Sir Robert Wotton and Elizabeth first wedded to Sir Philip Cook of Giddy-Hall in Essex and after to I eonard Dannett of the County of VVorcester who divided his Patrimony but this upon ballancing the partition of the Estate fell upon the poising of it in equall portions to be the Demeasn of Sir VVill. Shelley who demised it by Sale to Sir Rob. Read Lord Chiefe Justice of the Kings Bench and he in the raign of Henry the seventh passed it away by Grant to the Hospital of the Savoy in ' London where it has ever since without any Interruption of the first Donation remained successively resident Bark-hart has obtained a place in the Map of Kent and therefore shall not want one in this Discourse It was built by Percivall Hart Esquire Father to the late Sir Percivall but it was adorned with this Name by Queen Elizabeth when she was magnificently entertained at this place by the above said Gentleman Upon her Reception she received her first Caresses by a Nymph which personated the Genius of the House then the Scene was shifted and from several Chambers which as they were contrived represented a Ship a Sea Conflict was offered up to the Spectator's View which so much obliged the Eyes of this Princesse with the Charms of Delight that upon her Departure she left upon this House to perpetuate the Memory both of the Author and Artifice the Name and Appellation of Bark-hart There is a Tradition that Thomas de Beckett Arch-bishop of Canterbury was born at Tubbingden whose Demeasne is partly situated in Ferneborough and partly in this Parish But to dissipate this received Fiction I shall manifest out of an old Parliament Roll of the thirty first year of Henry the sixth the original Truth that is so much of it as concerns his Cradle or place of Nativity The Record in its own Dialect speaks thus James Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond whose Fader and many of his Ancestors are lineally descended of the Blode of the glorious Martyr St. Thomas sometimes Arch-bishop of Canterbury The which glorious Martyr was born of his Moder within the Ground where now is set the House or Hospital of the said Martyr called St. Thomas Acres now in the City of London where the Body of the said Earl lies buried and Dame Joane Beauchamp late Lady of Burgavenny Crandame to the said Earl of Ormond and Wiltshire For Tubbenden it self it was Anciently the Demeasne of a Family which was known by that Sirname for by a Deed now in the Hands of Mr. Wittingham Wood of Canterbury Esquire it appears Gilbert Saundre of Crofton did demise several parcels of Land to John de Tubbenden of Ferneborough and to Richard Philip John and Robert his Sons in the twenty first year of Edward the first which justifies it Anciently to be the Possession of one of that Name After Tubbenden Belknap was Proprietary of this place and then successively by Alice his Co-heir Sir William Shelley of Michelgrove in Sussex from which Family it was brought down by Purchase in the beginning of the raign of Henry the eighth to be the Estate of Posier who after some few years continuance in the Possession demised his Concernment in it by Sale to Dalton issued out from the Daltons of Yorkeshire which Name suddainly resolved into a Female Heir known by the Name of Anne Dalton who by matching with Aunsell Beckett linked it to the Demeasne of that Family from whom it descended to his Son Matthew Beckett who upon his Decease bequeathed it to Mr. John Winterborn of London who hath lately passed it away to Mr. ...... Gee of the County of Yorke
his Deed remits divers Services to Cicely Wife of Robert de Grencbold which were due from her to his Mannor of Swerdling William de Valoigns was Sheriff of Kent the third fourth fifth and sixth years of Edward the first and his Son Sir William de Valoigns was engaged with Edward the first at the Siege of Carlaverock in Scotland and for some remarkable Service there performed received the Order of Knighthood Henry de Valoigns was Sheriff of Kent in the fourteenth year of Edward the third and he had Issue Waretius de Valoigns in whom the Male-line failed so that his two Daughters one matched to Sir Thomas Fogge Grandchild to Otho Fogge who came out of Lancashire into Kent about the Beginning of Edw. the first and the other wedded to Tho. de Aldon became his Heirs and this upon the breaking of the estate into parcels fell to be the proportion of Fogge in which Name after it had for divers ages continued fixed it was in that Age we style our Grandfathers alienated to Spelman and this Family not many years since determining in a Female Heir it is now by matching with her become the Inheritance of Hadds Sapinton in Petham was the Inheritance of a Family called Bregge for in the forty second year of Edward the third I find Jo. Bregge conveys this Mannor to Sir Richard Atteleeze and he dying without Issue it descended to Marcellus Atteleeze who was his Brother and Heir at Law but he suddenly after expir'd and with him the Name in Daughters and Coheirs whereof Luce who was one of them was first matched to John Norton Esq and after to William Langley of Knolton whose Heirs about the latter end of Richard the second concurred in a joynt and mutual Bargain and Sale and passed away their Interest in this Mannor which was too much disordered and ravel'd whilst it lay thus mingled to George Ballard Esquire from whom by the Clew of several Ages the Title went along to Nicholas Ballard Esquire who about the latter end of Philip and Mary alienated it to Langford and from this Name the four Brothers joyning in the Sale in that Age which was circumscribed within our Fathers Remembrance it was carried off by Sale to Cranmer of Canterbury whose Son Mr. ........ Cranmer is by Descent successively entituled to the present Propriety of it Hauts-place in this Parish was the Fountain from whence that noble Family which fell under that Sirname originally streamed out which afterwards dispersed it self in sub-divided Rivolets over the face of this County Ivo de Haut the first of this Name that ancient Record represents to us is mentioned in a Book kept in the Exchequer called Liber de Terris Templariorum which is a Survey of those Lands that Order held in England in the year of Grace One thousand one hundred and eighty and there it is affirmed that he held this Mannor of Temple Waltham and from this Ivo de Haut did the Title in a never-ebbing Current of Descent glide down to Sir William Haut who was Sheriff of Kent in the sixteenth year and then again promoted to that Office in the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth and not long after deceased and with him the Name found its Funeral in two Daughters and Co-heirs one of which termed Elizabeth was matched to Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury Esquire to whom this place in the right of his Wife devolved And from his Family in the Age within the confines of our Grand-fathers Remembrance it was passed away by Sale to Salkeld who not many years since conveyed the Possession over to Bateman There was a Chauntry founded at Depden in this Parish as appears by a Manuscript in the Hands of Mr. Thomas Den Recorder of Canterbury lately deceased founded and endowed by William Gratian Priest in the Raign of Henry the fourth Whose Revenue upon the Dissolution of this Chauntry in the second year of Edward the sixth was granted to Jo. Come and Richard Almot who not long after passed it away to Wilt. Forbrasse Yeoman a Name in some old Deeds written Fortbrasse which argues it to be of French extraction and from this Family it was about the Beginning of K. James carried off by Sale to Gregory who within the Verge of some few years fast past alienated the Title to Sladden of Liminge Postling lies in the Hundred of Hene and was in Ages of a very high Ascent the Patrimony of the Noble Family of Columbers a Name in Times of elder Cognisance of very great reputation in the West of England Philip de Columbariis or Columbers held it at his Decease which was in the fifth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 5. But after him I discover no more of this Family at this place The next that is represented to be Possessor of it is Hugh de Audley and he held it as appears by ancient Court-rolls in the raign of Edward the second and Edward the third and passed it away to Delves of Delves Court in the County of Chester where it seems it had no long aboad for about the forty third year of Edward the third John de Delves alienates it to Richard Earl of Arundell for which the Earl is pardoned because he purchased it without License first obtained from the King as appears Pat. de An o 43. Edw. tertii Parte secunda Memb. septim And in this Family was it for many Generations fixed and resident until the thirty eighth year of Henry the eighth and then it was by Sale transmitted to Sir Anthony Aucher But the Tenure of it in this Family was brief and Transitory for about the Beginning of Q. Elizabeth it went away from this Name to Robert Cranmer Esquire Nephew to Thomas Cranmer Arch-bishop of Canterbury who expiring in a Female Heir she brought it along with her to Sir Arthur Harris of Crixey in Essex from whom it is devolved to his Son and Heir Sir Cranmer Harris who holds the instant Possession of it Henewood is another Mannor in this Parish from whence the Honywood of Elmsted and those of Pett in Charing do extract their Sirname And Edmund de Honywood who in the raign of Hen. the third is remembred in the Front and Van of those in the Leiger Book of Horton Priory who were munificent Benefactors to that Covent is set down there to have been of Postling and as this Place was then so is it still through all that Flux and Decursion of Time which hath since elapsed wound up in that revenue which acknowledges the Signorie and Jurisdiction of this ancient Name and Family Pluckley in the Hundred of Calehill was originally a Mannor which owned the Arch-bishops of Canterbury for Lords of the Fee until Lanfranc Arch-bishop of Canterbury gave it to William Brother of John de Cobham who in the Grant is styled Miles Archiepiscopi not that he was ever any Knight or Souldier that attended upon him but that he granted him this Mannor to
History since even the very Ruines of the Ruines themselves have now got an unknown enterment Helburgh is an ancient Seat in this Parish The first that I find possest it was Nicholas Tingewike originally descended from Tingewick in the County of Buckingham and who likewise held large possessions at Dartford and he dyed seised of it in the fourteenth year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 182. After this Family deserted the possession the Pines became its Proprietaries of which Family was James de la Pine who was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty sixth and twenty seventh years of Edward the third and was in the possession of this place at his Decease which was in the thirty third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 13. And left it to his Son Thomas Pine after whom I meet with another James Pine who about the Beginning of Henry the fourth passed it away to Cheyney and in this Family did it reside untill the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth and then the Lord Henry Cheyney who then began to retail himself and his estate out to Ruine in parcels alienated this to Maycott whose Son Sir Cavaliero Maycott that eminent Courtier in the reign of Queen Elizabeth and King James in the entrance of that Prince into his Government passed it away to Sir Christopher Clive and he immediately after conveyed it away to Contry vulgarly called Cuntry whose Son Mr. Thomas Contry almost in our memory cast it by Sale into the possession of Sir Edward Masters of Canterbury whose Son Richard Masters Esquire is entituled to the instant possession of it Reinham in the Hundred of Milton with Mere-court was in the reign of H. the first the patrimony of the noble Family of Camville Robert de Camville was engaged with Richard the first at the Siege of Acon in Palestine Robert de Camville his Son Rot. pipae de An. 41. Hen. 3. was an Assistant to Henry the third in the forty second of his Rule when he marched from Chester against the Welsh Geffrey de Camville was frequently summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron in the reign of Edward the first After this Family was worn out the noble Family of Leybourn of Leybourn Castle was entituled to the Inheritance Henry de Leybourn held it in the twenty eighth year of Edward the first and so did Thomas de Leybourn in the thirty fifth year of that Prince's Government Rot. Esc Num. 10. And so did his Brother likewise William de Leybourn who held the greatest part of it at his Death which was in the third year of Edward the second and transmitted it to his Kinsman Roger de Leybourn in whom the Male-line determined and he left it in Dower to his Wife Juliana de Leybourn who held it at her Death which was in the third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 86. And after her Decease it was enstated on his and her Daughter and Heir Juliana de Leybourn who for her vast Income merited the Title of Infanta of Kent and she married for her first Husband Iohn de Hasting a Kinsman of Laurence de Hasting but he dyed without any Issue by her upon whose Exit she was espoused to William de Clinton Earl of Huntingdon Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports who likewise deceased without any posterity by her in the twenty eighth year of Edward the third after whose Decease she continued a Widow untill her Death which was in the forty third year of the above-mentioned Prince Rot. Ese Num. 57. And is styled in the Escheat-roll Comitissa de Huntington which fortifies the former Assertion that she continued in the State of Widowhood till her dissolution upon whose decease the Crown upon an exact and solemne Inquisition discovering none that could inforce any Claim either directly and lineally or else by collateral deduction entitled it self to her estate as legally escheated and that Prince in the fiftieth year of his reign grants it to the Abbey of St. Mary Grace on Tower-hill where it was fixt until it was by the Suppression wrested away and then K. Edward the sixth in the second year of his reign granted it to Sir Thomas Cheyney Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports and one of the Privy Councel to that Prince whose Son Henry Lord Cheyney in the thirteenth year of Q. Elizabeth passed it away by Sale to Samuel Thornhil Esquire who upon his decease gave it by Testament to his second Son Sir Iohn Thornhil not many years deceased whose eldest Son Charles Thornhill Esquire is the present Heir to the propriety of it Silham is a second place considerable It was the Mansion formerly of a Family of no despicable extraction whose Sirname was Donett John Donett dyed possest of this and part of the Mannor of Reinham in the thirtieth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 57. And left them to his Son Iohn Donett who likewise was in the possession of them at his Death which was in the thirty sixth year of the above-named Prince and had Issue Iohn Donett in whom the Male-line failed so that his Lands at Reinham and Silham devolved by Margery his Sole Daughter and Heir to Iohn St. Leger Esquire Sheriff of Kent in the ninth year of Henry the fourth and was descended from Hugh St. Leger who was one of the Recognitores magnae Assisae an Office of a very great Latitude and Circumference of power in elder Times in the second and seventh years of King Iohn In the St. Legers the possession of these places rested not long for not long after that Interest which he had in Reinham to Cheyney and Silham to Bloer Cheyney transmitted his Concernment with that part of Reinham that related to the Priory of Leeds to Sámuel Thornhill Esquire who disposed of it upon his death as is abovesaid but Christopher Bloer determined in Olympia Bloer his Heir General who brought it over to Mr. Iohn Tufton in the reign of Henry the eighth from whom it is now come down to the right honorable Iohn Tufton Earl of Thanett who possesses the present Signory of it Reyersh in the Hundred of Lerkefield though a Village of no great Account in it self Carews Court in Reyersh was for many descents the Inheritance of a Family of that Sirname and remained locked up in their Demeasn until the twelfth year of H. the sixth and then Nich. Carew demises it by Deed to Tho. Watton who upon his Decease setled it on his Nephew Will. Watton and from him the Thread of many descents hath guided the Title down to the instant Proprietary Mr. Will. Watton of Addington yet is disengaged of its original Obscurity by the splendor and eminence of those who successively possest it The first whom I find concerned in it was Hugh de Crescie originally in all probability extracted from Crescie who is mentioned in the Battle Abby-roll and he dyed seised of it in the forty seventh year of Henry the third Rot. Esc Num. 42. After
this Family was mouldered away the Says of Coldham were interessed in the possession and Geffrey de Say possest it in the fifteenth year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 20. The next Family in Succession to these was the Mowbrays and Elizabeth Wife of Thomas Duke of Norfolk and Daughter of Richard Earl of Arundell held it at her Decease which was in the third year of Henry the sixth Rot. Esc Num. 25. And so did her Son John Mowbray Duke of Norfolke who deceased in the eleventh year of Henry the sixth Rot. Esc Num. 129. And was descended from John Mowbray who held it as appears by ancient Court-rolls as parcel of the Barony of Bedford in the reign of Edward the second After the Mowbrays the Nevill Barons of Aburgavenny were invested in the Fee and remained seated in the possession until the reign of Q Elizabeth and then Henry Lord Nevill in the twenty ninth year dying without Issue-male it was disposed with much other Land to his Brother Sir Edward Nevill from whom it is now brought down to his Grandchild John Lord Nevill who enjoys the instant Inheritance of it Ridley in the Hundred of Acstane acknowledges it self to have been anciently a Branch of the patrimony of the Lords Leybourn and Rog. de Leybourn in the 55 th year of H. the third sells Ridley excepting the Advowson to Bartholomew VVodeton In which Family the Title was not very permanent for in the reign of Edward the third I find the VVallis's to have been its Proprietaries Augustin VVallis obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor of Ridley in the twenty second year of Edward the third and dyed possest of it in the twenty eighth year of that Prince's Government Rot. Esc Num. 55. After the VVallis's were expired and vanished the Rickhills held this Mannor where it was not long constant for VVilliam Rickhill about the sixteenth of Henry the sixth conveyed it by Deed to Tho. Edingham or Engham who again in the ninteenth year of the abovesaid Prince passed it away by Fine to Robert Savery from which Name not many years after it came by the same Vicissitude to be the Inheritance of Bevill in whose Descendants it remained untill the Beginning of Henry the eighth and then it was by purchase fastned to the demeasn of Fitz and VValter Fitz by Deed whose dare commences from the twenty seventh of Henry the eighth conveyed it to Will. Sidley of Southfleet Esq Ancestor to Sir Charles Sidley Baronet to whom upon the late Decease of his Brother Sir William Sidley it owns for its present Possessor Ridlingswould is a Member of Dover Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer obtained the Grant of a Market to Ridling swould and a three Dayes Fair at St. Nicolas in the ninth of Edward the 2. as appears Pat. 9. Ed. 2. N. 57. and was parcel of the Honor of Fulberts and Fulbert de Dover held it as appears by Doomes-day Book in the twentieth year of William the Conqueror in Ages of a nearer Approach to us that is in the raign of Henry the third Richard de Dover and Roesia his Wife were possest of it as appears Ex Bundellis Annor incertorum Henrici tertii Rot. Esc Num. 237. When this Family went out the Badelesmeres stept in Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer that powerful Baron obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Lands here in the ninth year of Edward the second and was Steward too to the Houshold of King Edward the second as appears by a Confirmation of the Charter of the City of London which bears Date from that year of Edward the second and to which he as Teste writes himself Steward of the Kings Houshold but not long after being entangled in that Combination which was made by Thomas Earl of Lancaster and sundry other Barons against that Prince he forfeited both his Estate and Life as the price of that seditious Attempt but this with much other Land was restored to his Son Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer in the second year of Edward the third but he died without Issue in the twelfth year of that Prince Rot. Esc Num. 44. So that his large Revenue was proportionably divided between his four Sisters and Co-heirs whereof this was a Limb and fell in upon the partition to the Inheritance of John Vere Earl of Oxford by Matilda de Badelesmer and he held it at his Death which was in the fortieth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 38. But in this Family it did not long continue after his Exit for in the raign of Richard the second I find Robert Belknap possest of it and enjoyed it at his Death which was in the second year of Henry the fourth after his Return from his Exilement into Ireland whither he was banished for his too active asserting the Prerogative against the Liberty of the Populacie in the tenth year of Richard the second In the second year of Richard the third I find William Belknap Esquire was in the Fruition of it at his Decease Rot. Esc Num. 16. and from him did it devolve to his Successor Sir Henry Belknap in whom this Name was extinguisht so that his Estate was resolved into several parcels which came over to Alice his Daughter and Co-heir matched to Sir William Shelley Anne married to Sir Robert Wotton and Elizabeth wedded to Sir Philip Cooke of Giddie-hall in Essex and in these Families did the complicated Interest of this place remain concentered until that Age which fell under our Grand-fathers Cognisance and then it was by joint-Concurrence passed away to Edelph from whom it is brought down to Sir ...... Edolph who holds the present Signory of it Oxney-house in this Parish was an Ancient Seat of the Noble Family of Criol Matilda Widow of Simon de Criol died possest of it in the fifty second year of Henry the third and transmitted it to Bertram de Criol who held it at his death which was in the twenty third year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. After him his Son Bertram de Criol was setled in the possession but was not long liv'd after his Father for he died in the thirty fourth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 37. and left it to his Brother John Criol who dying without Issue it was brought over to his Sister Joan Criol who by matching with Sir Richard de Rokesley made it the Inheritance of that Name and Family and was in possession of it at her Death which was in the fifteenth year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 95. From whom it came down to Thomas Lord Poynings who had espoused Agnes one of the Coheirs of them two and in Right of this Alliance was his Successor Richard Lord Poyning found invested in it at his Death which was in the fifteenth year of Richard the second Parte prima Rot. Esc Num. 53. and left it to his Kinsman Robert de Poynings who passed it away by Sale to Tame and in the fourth year of
Henry the fourth Robert Tame paid respective Aid for it at the Marriage of Blanch that Kings Daughter After Tame was worn out the Sidleys possest it and John Sidley Esquire who was Auditor to Henry the seventh added much to this House as well as to his Estate and from him is it now descended to Sir Charles Sidley Baronet whom it owns for present Lord of the Fee Ripple in the Hundred of Cornile was a Mannor which alwayes related to the Abby of St. Austins and was in the Surrender of this Abby into the Hands of Henry eighth in the twenty ninth year of that Prince found to be involved in the Demeasne of that Covent from whom it went over to the Crown and remained there until Queen Elizabeth in the thirty second year of her Government passed it away to Sir John Hall who not long after alienated his Interest here to Gokin in which Family the Propriety hath ever since continued But Watling was originally of secular Concernment and was wound up in the Patrimony of the Lord Leybourn Thomas de Leybourn enjoyed it at his Decease which was in the thirty fifth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 10. From whom it went along with the Residue of his Estate to his Son Sir Roger de Leybourn with whom the Male-Line sunk into his Sepulcher and Juliana de Leybourn was his Sole Heir and she was first matched to Iohn de Hastings and afterwards to William de Clinton Earl of Huntington but had no Issue by neither nor was there any which could by a Claim of collateral Affinity stave off the Claim and pretences of the Crown unto her Estate so that upon her Decease which was in the forty third year of Edward the third that Prince seised upon her Inheritance as an Escheat and his Granchild Richard the second granted this to the Abby of Chidrens Langley upon whose suppression it devolved with all its perquisites to the Crown and Henry the eighth granted it in the thirty fifth year of his raign to Sir Thomas Moile one of the Justices at that Time of this County from whom by Amy his Daughter and Coheir it was cemented into the Patrimony of Sir Thomas Kempe but it was not long after unsodered for in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth it was sold to William Sherley of Sussex who in our Grand-fathers Remembrance alienated it to Crayford of Mongeham whose Successor not without an eager contest commenced with one Durbon and Kidder by his Predecessor who pretended an Interest in it conveyed to them by an antecedent Judgement acknowledged by the above-said Shirley is now setled in the Possession of it River in the Hundred of Bewsborough contains two remarkable places within the Boundaries of it The first is Kersoney which was the Inheritance of a Family called Paganell or more vulgarly Paynell Isolda Wife of John Paynell held it at her Death which was in the seventeenth year of Edward the second In Times of a lower Descent I find it in the Tenure of Phineux the last of which Name at this Place was Sir John Phineux Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the raign of Henry the seventh and he determining in Daughters and Co-heirs Jane one of them by matching with John Roper of St. Dunstans Esquire made it the Patrimony of that Family from whom in our Grand-fathers Remembrance it was passed away to Best Ancestor to Mr. ...... Best of Canterbury Esquire who is the instant Proprietary of it The second is Archers-Court which gave both Seat and Sirname to a Family so called one Nicolas Archer held it in the first year of Edward the second and so did Thomas le Archer in the third year of Edward the third and left it to his Son William Archer who paid respective Aide for his Lands here at River and at Atterton and Coperland in the twentieth year of Edward the third at the making the Black Prince Knight From Archer it came to a Family called Baudrede and continued divers years in this Name until in the first year of Edward the fourth it was conveyed by Sale with Coperland to Thomas Doilie Esquire Afterwards in the raign of Henry the eighth it was exchanged with the Crown and that Prince in the thirty sixth year of his managing the English Scepter granted it to Sir James Hales in whose Family it remained until almost that Time which we entitle to our Fathers Remembrance and then a part of it was passed away by Sale to Lee but the other parcel continued constant to the Interest of Hales until not many years since not only that proportion which was in the possession of Lee but likewise that other above-mentioned were both alienated by their respective Proprietaries to Sir Hardres Waller Rodmersham in the Hundred of Milton was the Inheritance of a Family whose Sirname was Pine John de la Pine enjoyed it in the twentieth year of Henry the third as appears by private Evidences and so did James de la Pine his Grandchild who deceased in the thirty seventh year of Edward the third and left it to his Son and Heir James de la Pine a Child of nine years old at his Fathers Exit and he preserved it untill the latter end of Richard the second and then it was transmitted by Sale to Podach now called vulgarly Pordage descended originally from John de Podach who flourished as appears by an ancient Pedigree relating to this Family in the raign of Henry the third and held Lands in the County of Devon which bore his Name and was called Podach and from this above-mentioned Iohn is Mr. Tho. Pordage aliàs Podach now of Rodmersham by a multiplyed Efflux of many Descents lineally extracted and bears now the Fesse in his Coat Armour plain whereas by ancient Monuments and Seals affixed to old Evidences it is manifest his Ancestors bore it Checque Upon what Grounds the modern Alteration is establisht I confesse I know not it is enough that the Dignity of the Family is yet supported by that ancient Inheritance which they have for so many Ages and yet do possesse here at Rodmersham Pitstock in Rodmersham is a little Mannor which augmented the Revenue of the Nuns of Minster in Shepey but when that ruinous Tempest broke forth in the raign of Henry the eighth which like an Hurricano tore up by the Roots the Ecclesiastical Patrimony this was supplanted and thrown into the Demeasne of the Crown and then the abovesaid Prince in the twenty ninth year of his Rule granted it to Sir Thomas Cheyney and his Son Henry Lord Cheyney about the thirteenth year of Queen Elizabeth alienated it to Samuel Thornhill Esquire who upon his Decease gave it to his second Son Sir Iohn Thornhill from whom by descendant Right it is now come over to his Son and Heir Charles Thornhill Esquire Newburgh is partly situated in Rodmersham and partly in Lingsted and anciently had the Estimate of a Mannor and gave Name to a Family that
was represented to the World under that Notion as appears by very old Deeds without Date in the Hands of Mr. Bartholomew May too tedious here to recite In the twenty fourth year of Edward the first Isabell Wife of Henry de Apulderfield held it at her Death and in the Copy of the Inquisition Roll it is called Manerium de Newburgh but in Ages of a more modern Complexion it fell from its former Reputation and by Disuse shrunk into Neglect and Contempt and is now only eminent in that it was involved in that Estate that by Elizabeth Coheir of Sir William Apulderfield devolved to Sir John Phineux who finding his Sepulcher in Female Coheirs Jane one of them brought it over to her Husband John Roper Esquire and from him by paternal Efflux is the Title now wafted along to the right honorable Christopher Roper Baron of Tenham removed by no wide Distance from this place St. Johns is the last Mannor in Rodmersham to be taken Notice of though the First in its Degree of Eminence because it was a principal place belonging to the Knights Hospitallers An Order that was established and instituted by Gerardus but fenced in and empaled with New Orders and Rules by Raimundus a Podio lest debauched and softned by secular Interest in Decursion of Time they might have sallied out into some Disorder and Excesse At their first Installment they were to be eighteen years of Age at least and none who were without the Verge of that Time were capable of this Order they were to be neither of Jewish nor Turkish Extraction lest they might seem tacitly to wrap up those principles in their Blood which by their Vow they were engaged to destroy Their Pedigree or Genealogie was to be wholly Christian and that of no coorse but of a more refined Temperament for their Birth or Parentage was to be noble and that not to be sullied with the impure Tincture of Bastardy Yet even this Restriction had a gentler sense quilted into it for if they were the Natural Sons of Princes their Birth was enobled and the Rigor of the Rule was by so eminent a Descent softned and allayed and they made capable of this Order Then they were by a general Obligation to defend the Sepulchre of Christ to protect Pilgrims against the Eruptions of Infidels in their visits made to the Holy Land to foment no Clandestine Animosities by engaging in private Duells amongst themselves which were blasted with the Black Character of Illegality and if the Princes of Christedome were entangled in intestine Dissentions amongst themselves they were to shroud themselves under an impartial Neutrality lest they might destroy that Christianity which by Oath they were obliged to assert if they should embark in any impious Sidings or partial Combinations Lastly they were abstracted by their Vow of Poverty Chastity and Obedience from all secular Employments or Negotiations lest the Fumes of Temporal Interest might cloud their Eyes in their prospect towards the Sepulchre in order to which they were not to exercise any Mercantile Affairs or the Designs of Usury they were if possible to receive the Sacrament thrice every year and if not interrupted to hear Masse once a day I have now done with the Ingredients which made up their Vow I shall now come to the form of their Installment As for the Method of their Investiture it was cast into this Mould They had a Sword delivered to them intimating they should fight with Magnanimity and this was guarded with a Crosse Hilt to declare that they were in all Encounters to vindicate and maintain the Crosse and Sepulchre of our Saviour Then they were struck thrice over the Shoulders with that Sword they were invested with to insinuate that they should sustain all Contumelies and Indignities for the Cause and Defence of Christian Religion Then fourthly this Sword was wiped to instruct them that their Lives were to be assoiled from the Spot of all open and scandalous Impieties Fifthly they had guilt Spurs placed upon their Heels to shew first that all temporal Improvement of Wealth was to be cast behind the Designs of Piety and Religion or secondly to demonstrate that Riches were but the Glosse or Parjet but Honor and Vertue was the Solid Body designed by the Spur it self that was to support and sustain it Sixthly they had a lighted Taper put into their Hands by that to discover that by an eminent Integritie and exemplar Piety like the Irradiation of that Luminary they were to make themselves conspicuous to those who were involved in the Mists and Umbrages of a dark and gloomy Infidelity Lastly after these Formalities performed they were obliged to repair to Masse where I leave them Their Customary Habit was a black Cloak being the best Ensigne or Symptome of a solemne external Sorrow and on this was a Crosse potent between four Crosses Patee designing the five wounds of our Saviour they wore constantly when they appeared in publique a red Belt intimating they were at all times ready to bleed in Defence of the Crosse and Sepulcher and on that was fixed a white Crosse to manifest the Purity and Innocence of that Cause and Religion which was contended for This Order was first brought into England in the year of Grace 1100 by Jordan de Briset in some old Deeds written Brinset Lord of Well-hall at Eltham in Kent and Muriell his Wife who founded a House for them at Clerkenwell and dedicated it to St. John which afterwards became the Head of their Alberge here in England to which this Mannor continued united as parcell of their Demeasne untill the Dissolution in the Reign of Henry the eighth like a general Deluge swept it away and transported it into the Revenue of the Crown and that Prince by Royal Concession made it the Estate of William Pordage Esquire in whose Descendant Thomas Pordage Esquire the present Inheritance of it remains at this instant placed Rochester is a City which in elder Times was as eminent for its Antiquity as it was for its Strength and Grandeur and had not those violent Impressions which the rough hand of War formerly defaced it with demolished its Bulke and discomposed its Beauty it peradventure might have been registred at this day in the Inventory of the principal Cities of this Nation It was governed by a Port Reve until King Edw. the fourth in the second year of his Reign raised it into a higher Dignity and decreed by his royal Grant that it should thenceforth be governed by a Maior and twelve Aldermen and to this Monarch does this City owe much of its present Felicity a Prince certainly he was full of Complacence and Benignity of a munificent Mind and an obliging accostable Nature guilty onely of some humane Frailties common to all and adorned with many signal Virtues scarce resident in any one who did not voluntarily sail into that Sea of Blood which was let loose in the Civil War commenced between Him and the
Grand-child who died possest of it in the forty second year of King Henry the third and left it to his Son Peter Dering who likewise held this Mannor almost all the reign of Edward the first and from him did it descend to his Son and Heir Richard Dering who was Brother to Sir Robert Dering who was one of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem and this Richard about the eighth year of Edward the second passed it away to William Scot of Smeth from whom by an uninterrupted and unbroken Clew of many Generations was the Possession carried down to those Scots who were Proprietaries of it in that Age wherein our Grand-fathers flourished and then it was demised by Sale to Smith which Family it still confesses for Possessors Stansted in the Hundred of Wrotham represents to our Remembrance an Ancient Family called Grapinell who were once Owners of this place and flourished here under the Scepter of Henry the third and Edward the first but going out in Daughters and Co-heirs Margeria one of them by marching with William de Inge who was a Judge in the raign of Edward the second knit this Mannor to the Inheritance of this Family and he died seised of it in the fifteenth year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 42. and left it to his only Daughter and Heir in an old Pedigree called Isolda but more truely Joan for in the Inquisition taken after the Death of Eudo la Zouch to whom she was matched which was in the twentieth year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 31. it is found that he held this Mannor in Right of his Wise Joan Sole Heir of William de Inge. And from this Eudo did Thomas la Zouch Baron of Haringworth descend who died possest of it in the sixth year of Henry the fourth Rot. Esc Num. 17. and so did his Son Henry Lord Zouch who was the last of this Name who was possest of this place at his Decease which was in the twenty sixth of Henry the sixth After the Zouches the Colepepers were by purchase from them entituled to the Possession and Richard Colepeper was found to hold it at his Death which was in the second year of Richard the third and from this Family about the beginning of Henry the seventh it passed away to Thomas Leigh whose Son John Leigh gave it to his natural Son Richard Leigh in the year 1575. and he not long after alienated it to Bing of Wrotham from which Family it is very lately carried away to William James of Ightam Esquire one of the Justices of the Peace of this County a Person who for his Affection to Learning and Antiquity cannot be mentioned without an Attribute Soranks in this Parish was the Seat of a Family which borrowed its Sirname from hence and had the Repute of a Mannor in the reign of Edward the third For Roger de Sorancks held this Mannor as is evident by the Book of Aide kept in the Exchecquer in the twentieth year of Edward the third by Knights Service of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury But after the reign of that Prince it was not very constant to the Interest of this Name for about the beginning of Richard the second I find it in the possession of Thomas Mortimer Lord of the Mannor of Mortimers in Cowling and he in the twentieth year of the abovesaid Monarch passed it away to William Skrene and when this Name was worn out at this place the Family of Wood was ingrafted in the possession and rested there until the latter end of Henry the seventh and then it was by Thomas Wood passed away to Robert Barefoot in which Family the Title was as transient for Thomas Barefoot this mans Son in the third and fourth of Philip and Mary alienated it to Henry Fanshaw who almost in our Fathers Remembrance conveyed the Fee-simple unto Launce Stansted had the Grant of a Fair obtained by William de Inge the Judge in the ninth year of Edward the second to be held yearly for the space of three Dayes at the Assumption of the Virgin Mary as appears Cart. 9. Edwardi secundi Num. 40. Stapleherst in the Hundred of Twyford was as appears by Ancient Deeds and Inquisitions as to some part of it folded up in the large Patrimony of Fremingham whose capital Residence was at Fremingham or Farningham where I have treated more largely of them but when the Male-line of this Family determined in John de Fremingham Joan his only Sister matched to John Isley Esquire Son of Isley was found to be his Heir in the second year of Henry the fourth and in her Right Roger Isley Son and Heir of this John entered upon it and from him the Land here by a successive Thread of Descent was wafted down to the Noble but infortunate Sir Henry Isley of whom more presently but another parcel of this Mannor did acknowledge the Signory of Pimpe of Nettlested and William Pimpe died possest of it in the year of our Lord 1375. as part of his Knights Fee called Pimps and in his Line did the Title flow constantly along until it devolved to Reginald Pimpe Esquire who about the twelfth year of Henry the seventh demised it by private Deed to John Isley Esquire from whom it came down to his Grand-child Sir Henry Isley who being entangled too fatally in the ruinous Design of Sir Thomas Wiat was in the second year of Queen Mary attainted and his Interest in this Mannor connscated to the Crown which was granted out of it again that present year to Sir John Baker Ancestor to Sir John Baker Baronet who is still entituled to the Propriety Isley had formerly in this place Boxley Abby was formerly concerned in some Demeasne likewise here at Stapleherst as appears by an Inquisition taken in the third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 134. which upon the suppression of that Abby it was with the Mannor at Boxley relating to that Convent by Henry the eighth granted to Sir Thoma Wiat who being attainted in the second year of Queen Mary it escheated to the Crown and then it was by that Princess the same year granted to her Atturney General Sir John Baker whose Successor Sir John Baker of Sisingherst now enjoyes it as couched in his Mannor of Stapleherst Newsted is a Mannor in this Parish which was annexed to the free Chappel erected at this place by Hamon de Crevequer and invested with ample Privileges which Donation of his and all the Franchises united to it was confirmed as appears by the first Book of Compositions kept in the Registers Office at Rochester in the forty first year of Edward the third But when the Statute in the first year of Edward the sixth had overturned all Chauntries this Mannor was swallowed up in the Revenue of the Crown and then the abovesaid Prince by his Royal Concession planted it in the Patrimony of Sir Edward Wotton Ancestor to Thomas Lord Wotton of Boughton Malherbe who setled it
in Marriage on Katharine-Wotton his eldest Daughter and Co-heir espoused to Henry Lord Stanhop and she by her Feoffees in Trust hath demised the Fee-simple to Mr. Robert Oliver of Leybourn Loveherst is another Mannor in this Parish was parcel of that Estate which by its Income supported the Priory of Leeds and upon the Suppression was by Henry the eighth granted to Sir John Gage in the thirty fourth year of his reign and he in the thirty sixth of that Prince demised it to Thomas Colepeper Esquire who not long after alienated it to Thomas Wilford Esquire from whom about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth it passed away by Sale to Mr. John Baker in whose Descendants the Title is yet resident Engeherst presents it self next to our View it is now vulgarly called Henherst in Ages of an higher Ascent Engeherst for some old Deeds without Date bounding some Land in this Parish of Stapleherst make it situated juxta Terras Osberti de Hengherst supra Dennam de Engherst and from this Den or Vally did that Ancient Family called Engherst or Hengherst take the first Extraction of its Name who bore as appears by several Seals for their paternal Armory Barrie of six peeces and having continued in the possession of this place for many Descents at last the Inheritance was transmitted to Henry Hengherst and he in the twenty third year of Henry the sixth by his Feoffees in Trust setles it on his Kinsman John Nash and in his Family I find it in the reign of Edward the fourth and Henry the seventh and here for want of clearer Intelligence I must leap to the reign of Queen Elizabeth and then the Fee-simple was invested in Roberts and from this Family about the latter end of that Princess it went away by purchase to Moodye who in our Fathers Memory alienated it to Samuel Ovenden by whose Daughter and Co-heir Elizabeth Ovenden it is now come to own the Heirs of her late Husband Mr. Partrich Tindall Spilsill-court is the last place of Account in this Parish it was as appears by very Ancient Deeds the Residence of a Family of that Name which before the end of King Edward the second was crumbled into Decay and then the Stangraves succeeded in the Possession for Robert de Stangrave at his Decease held some Estate at or in Spilsill in the twelfth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 52. But about the latter end of Edward the third this Family was likewise mouldered away and then it came to own the Signory of Maynie descended from Walter de Meduana or Maynie a man of that Repute as appears by the red Book in the Exchecquer Fol. 84. that he held twenty Knights Fees in this County but Mayneys situated in Bredgar was the Ancient Seat of this Name who having possest for so many Successions and Descents this Seat did not many years since transplant their Interest in it by Sale to Sharpeigh by whose Daughter and Heir it is now become the Inheritance of Mr. George Thompson of London Swalcliff in the Hundred of Blengate was given by Eadbald King of Kent as Thorn the Chronicler of St. Augustins informs me to the Cloister of St. Mildred at Minster in Thanett and was when her body was translated by King Canutus to the Abby of St. Augustins in Canterbury brought over along with it and knit to the Patrimony of that Cloister and the Monks of that Covent granted it away to be held in Fee by a Family which took its Denomination from thence and were called Swalclive and they held it the twentieth year of Henry the third as Testa de Nevill informs me and paid an auxiliary Contribution for it at the Marriage of Isabell that Prince's Sister but before the end of Edward the first this Family was expired and then the Family of St. Lawrence was setled in the Possession Thomas de St. Lawrence held it as appears by the Book of Aid kept in the Exchequer in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight and dyed possest of it in the twenty second year of that Prince Rot. Esc Num. 9. And from him did it descend to his Grandchild Thomas St. Lawrence who setled it in Marriage with Katharine his Daughter and Heir matched to Sir William Apulderfield who determining in Daughters and Coheirs Elizabeth one of them espoused to Sir John Phineux Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench brought it to confesse the Signory of that Family but he deceasing without Issue-male Jane his only Daughter and Sole Inheritrix being matched to John Roper Esquire this Mannor became by this Alliance inoculated into his Patrimony and was resident in this Name untill the Beginning of King James and then it was conveyed to Mr. Benedict Barnham by one of whose four Daughters and Coheirs its Right and Title devolved to Soam of Suffolk who not many years since alienated his Concernment in it to Perry who hath lately transmitted it by Sale to Gould In the year 946. King Eadred gave Land at Swalclive to Heresigus one of his Servants and he again gave it to the Abby of St Augustins conditionally that a place of Sepulture might be reserved for him within their Cloister Snave in the Hundreds of Aloes-Bridge Ham and Newchurch was as high as I can discover a Portion or Member of that Patrimony which confessed the Signory of Haut and so continued untill Joan Daughter and Coheir of Sir William Haut being made the Wife of the unhappy Sir Thomas Wiatt a man of an unstained though an unsuccesseful Virtue this by Female Right became parcel of his Demeasne but when he and his Patrimony were demolished by that impetuous Gust of Misfortune which sunk them both into a heap of Ruines in the second year of Q. Mary this upon his Conviction of high Treason being escheated to the Crown that Princesse in the third year of her Government passed it away to Sir Henry Sidney Knight of the Garter and Lord Deputy of Ireland whose Successor the Right Honorable Robert Earl of Leicester not many years since conveyed it to Sir George Stonehouse Snavewick in this Parish was anciently wrapped up in the Demeasn of the Abby of St. Augustins but being pared off in the general Suppression by the rough Hand of Henry the eighth It was in the thirty fifth year of his reign granted for Life only to Sir Walter Henley but upon his Decease it returned to the Crown and lay there untill the late King Charls about the Beginning of his reign granted it to Mr. Patrick Black a Scotchman who not long after granted it in Lease to Sir Edw. Yates of Barkeshire and conveyed the Fee-simple in Reversion to Mr. Rob. Austin now of Hall-place in Bexley Swanscamp in the Hundred of Acstane hath contracted an eminent Character of Reputation since Sueno or Swain fixed here his Camp when he invaded England to expiate by a plenary Revenge that Blood which in so prodigal an Effusion
and desired the people to express their Joy because on that Day by the efficacious prayers of the Church Richard the first formerly King of England and many others were ransomed from the Flame and Torment of Purgatory In Sedingbourn Church there was a Monument of Sir Richard Lovelace inlayed richly with Brasse who was an eminent Souldier in his Time and Marshal of Calais under Henry the eighth with his Pourtraiture affixed in Brass which the Injuries of Time and the Impiety of Sacrilegious Mechanicks have utterly dismantled and defaced Selling in the Hundred of Boughton did in Ages of the highest Discovery acknowledge the Signory of the Putots and William de Putot was in Possession of it at his Death which happened in the thirteenth year of Henry the third After the Putots the Lords Badelesmer were invested in the possession Guncelin de Badelesmer was possest of it in the twenty ninth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 50. and left it with a spatious Inheritance to his Son Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer who having involved himself in a ruinous Combination with some others of the mutinous Nobility against Edward the second lost both his Life and Estate in that unsuccesful Defection but this Mannor was restored to his Son in the second year of King Edward the third and was known by the Name of Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer but did not long enjoy his new acquired Inheritance for in the twelfth year of the above-mentioned Prince he died without Issue and left his Estate to be shared between four Sisters and Co-heirs whereof Margaret the eldest was espoused to Sir John Tiptoft and he in her Right entered upon the possession of this place and died possest of it in the thirty third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 39. from whom the Title came down to John Tiptoft created Earl of Worcester in the year 1450. and invested afterwards with the Office and Dignity of Lord Treasurer and Lord Constable of England but asserting too eagerly the Cause and Quarrel of the House of Yorke he was crushed and overwhelmed with that weight with which the Partisans of the Lancastrian Faction did endevour to sink and oppresse the Supporters of that Family and was offered up a Victime to the successful Fury of Richard Earl of Warwick who being an Apostate of the House of Yorke was the principal Engine upon whom the Designs and Interess of the Lancastrian Party then moved Upon the untimely Death and attaint of this Earl which was in the year 1570. this Mannor was annexed to the Revenue of the Crown and though Edward Tiptoft this mans Son was the next year after his Fathers unhappy Exit restored by Edward the fourth both in Blood and Dignity yet I do not discover any Restitution made of Selling so that it rested in the Crown until Edward the sixth in the fourth year of his reign granted it to Sir Anthony St. Leger who immediatly after passed it away to Sir Anthony Sonds of Throuley one of the Justices of the Peace of this County and Gentleman of the Bed-chamber to this Prince and his Father Henry the eighth from whom it is now come down by Paternal efflux of the Title to Sir George Sonds Knight of the Bath who is entituled to the present possession of it Oven-court in this Parish anciently gave both Seat and Sirname to a Family which was known by that Denomination but whether they were extracted from the Owens of Wales and contracted this Name of Oven by vulgar Acceptation no Record does manifest certain it is they were as appears by old Rentals and other Muniments possessors of this place as high as the reign of Henry the third The next Family which after this was worn out did step into the possession was Drilond of Cookes-ditch in Feversham a Name of generous Extraction for in the reign of Edward the third John the Son of Stephen de Drilond demises some Land at Crouchfeild in Feversham by a Deed bearing Date from the twenty fifth year of that Prince to William de Makenade and in that Instrument he writes himself Knight After Drilond was extinguished which was about the beginning of Edward the fourth the Foggs became Proprietaries of it and remained for divers years Lords of the Fee until at last the alternate Devolution of Purchase brought it to be the Inheritance of Crouch where it did not long fix for in the year 1588. Giles Crouch alienated it to Michael Sonds Esquire afterwards Knighted from which Family in our Fathers Memory it was conveyed by Sale to Franklin from whom the same Devolution hath brought it now to Lambe who holds the instant Signory of it Before I passe from Selling I must inform the Reader that the greatest Honour which this Town acquired was that it was the Cradle of William Selling bred up amongst the Monks of Christ-church who obtained Licence from the Chapter of that Covent to travel into Italy and prosecute his Studies at Bononia where he arrived to that perfection of Knowledge that he was advanced to be Prior of Christ-church and was after sent by Henry the seventh in whose Eyes his Worth was very visible as his Embassador to the Pope Those incomparable Books which were placed in the Library which related to the Covent by his Care and Munificence amongst which was Tullies invaluable Tractate de Republica not long after his Death by an Accidental Fire found an unhappy Sepulchre in their own Ashes He died as full of Fame as of Years in the year of Grace 1494. And hath his Epitaph registred by the industrious Pen of Mr. Somner in his Survey of Canterbury Smerden in the Hundreds of Calchill Blackborne and Barckley did Anciently relate to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and was part of that Revenue which did keep up the Grandeur and Magnificence of that Sea rescuing it from all cheapness and contempt which induced John then Arch-bishop of Canterbury this being so eminent a part of the Spiritual Patrimony to obtain a Grant of a Market to be observed here weekly on the Monday as appears Pat. 6. Edwardi tertii Num. 47. But the principal place which was alwayes of secular Interess within this Parish is Romden which was the Patrimony of an Ancient Family called Hengherst and in more modern Times Henherst who were entituled to large Demeasnes at Woodchurch Stapleherst Yalding and other places in this County but made no long aboad here at Romden for William Son of Osbert de Hengherst so he cals himself in his Deed without Date demised it to John de Calch and in this Family it continued until the latter end of Richard the second and who after Calch succeeded in the Inheritance because I can collect no farther Knowledge from original Evidences I confess I am ignorant so that I am forced to leap over divers Kings reigns into that of King Henry the eighth and then in the twenty fourth year of that Prince I find that John the Son of Stephen
Rogers alienates it by Sale to Stephen Drayner and it is probable Rogers purchased it of Norton which Family as appears by the Feudaries Book held much Land here at Smerden and at or near Romden But to return In Drayner the Interest of this place was fixed until the seventeenth of Queen Elizabeth and then William Drayner passed it away by Sale to Sir Roger Manwood and he in the eighteenth year of that Princess alienates it again to Martin James Esquire Remembrancer of the Exchecquer and from him by the Devolution of successive and paternal Right it is now come down to acknowledge the Propriety of Mr. .... James Snergate in the Hundred of Aloe bridge celebrates the Memory of an Ancient Family styled Alarar Gervas Alarar was Captain and Admiral of the Fleet of Ships set forth and furnished by the Cinque-ports in the fourteenth year of Edward the first and Gervas Alarar was his Grand-child whose Widow Agnes Alarar was in possession of it at her Death which was in the forty second year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 1. But before the end of Henry the fourth this Family was shrunk into an Expiration and then Walter Moile who was a Judge in the reign of Henry the sixth succeeded in the Possession and he by a Fine levied in the thirtieth year of Henry the sixth demises it to Hugh Brent from whom about the latter end of Edward the fourth it was conveyed to Cheyney and in this Name it was fixed until Henry Lord Cheyney in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth alienated it to Henry Nevill Lord Aburgavenny who in the twenty ninth year of Queen Elizabeth dying without Issue-male Mary Nevill was found to be his Sole Inheritrix and she by matching with Sir Thomas Vane knit this Mannor to his Patrimony and his Son Francis Vane created Earl of Westmerland in the twenty second of King James alienated it in our Fathers Memory to Jackman who not long after sold it to Sir Edward Henden one of the Barons of the Exchecquer who upon his Decease gave it to his Nephew Sir John Henden whose Son and Heir Edward Henden Esquire now enjoyes the Signory of it Smeth in the Hundred of Bircholt hath in the Limits of it Scots-hall which is now and hath been for divers Descents the Inheritance of eminent Gentlemen of that Sirname whom I dare aver upon probable Grounds were originally called Balioll. William Balioll second Brother to Alexander de Balioll frequently writ his Name William de Balioll le Scot and it is probable that upon the Tragedy of John Earl of Atholl who was made prisoner by Edward the first and barbarously executed in the year 1307. whilst he endevoured more nobly then successfully to defend the gasping Liberty of Scotland against the Eruptions of that Prince this Family to decline the Fury of that Monarch who was a man of violent passions altered the Name of Balioll to that of their Extraction and Country and assumed for the future the Name of Scot. That the Sirname of this Family was originally Balioll I farther upon these Reasons assert First the ancient Arms of Balioll Colledge in Oxford which was founded by John Balioll and dedicated to St. Katharine was a Katharin-Wheele being still part of the paternal Coat of this Family Secondly David de Strabogie who was Son and Heir to the infortunate Earl abovesaid astonished with an Example of so much Terror altered his Name from Balioll to Strabogie which was a Signory which accrued to him in Right of his Wife who was Daughter and Heir to John Comin Earl of Badzenoth and Strabogie and by this Name King Edward the second omitting that of Balioll restored Chilham-castle to him for Life in the fifteenth year of his reign Thirdly the Earls of Bucleugh and the Barons of Burley in Scotland who derive themselves originally from Balioll are known at this instant by no other Sirname but Scot and bear with some inconsiderable Difference those very Arms which are at present the paternal Coat of this Family of Scots-hall Having thus traced out the Name I shall now represent a Scale of those eminent Persons who have either directly or collaterally been extracted from Scots-hall Sir William Scot who was knighted the tenth of Edward the third was Lord Chief Justice and Knight Marshal of England in the reign of that Prince Sir Robert Scot was Lieutenant of the Tower in the year 1424. Sir John Scot was Comptroller of the House one of the Privy Councel to Edward the fourth and Marshal of Calais Thomas Scot who was first Bishop of Rochester next of Lincolne Provost of Beverley Arch-bishop of York Lord Chancellor of England and Privy Councellor to King Edward the fourth altered his Name from Scot to Rotheram as being the place of his Education and Nativity but it is probable originally issued out from this Family Sir William Scot who was Son to Sir John above-mentioned was Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports Sir John Scot his Son was knighted by the Prince of Castile for signal Service performed by him against the Duke of Gueldres Sir Reginald Scot was Captain of the Castle of Callis Sir Thomas Scot was Commander in Chief of the Kentish Forces who assembled upon the plains by Northbourn to oppose the Spanish Invasion in the year 1588. All of which were either directly or collaterally Predecessors being of the same Family to Edward Scot now Proprietary of Scots-hall Esquire who was Son and Heir of Sir Edward Scot who was made Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of K. Charles Thevegate is a second Mannor in this Parish which was in elder Times the Inheritance of Gentlemen of no mean Account in this Track Robert de Passeley or Passelew for they are promiscuously so written was Treasurer of England under Peter de Rivallis in the reign of Henry the third as Mat. Paris in the Life of that Prince does record Edmund de Passeley was with Edward the second at Borough-Bridge in the seventeenth year as the Pipe-roll of that Time discovers and probably was instrumental in the Defeat given there to the Nobility then in Arms against that Prince and from him this Mannor did descend to John Passeley Esquire who in the reign of Edward the fourth determined in Elizabeth his sole Heir matched to Reginald Pimp Esquire who likewise had the Fate to conclude in a Female Inheritrix called Ann who was wedded to Sir John Scot of Scots-hall and Shee united Thevegate to the Revenue of that Family and from him is the Right of it by Descent transportted to his Successor Edward Scot of Scots-hall Esquire Smeth had the Grant of a Market procured to it by the Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the tenth year of Edward the third Shepebourn in the Hundred of Wrotham was the Patrimony of an ancient Family called Bavent whose principal Estate lay in Sussex and Surrey Adam de Bavent in the twelfth year of Edward the first obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor
of Shepbourn and in the thirteenth year of that Prince's reign had as appears Pat. 13. Edwardi primi Memb. 28. a Grant of a Market weekly to this place to be held on the Monday and a Fair for three Days Space at the Feast of St. Giles and this Adam de Bavent or else his Son was one of those eminent Kentish Gentlemen who was embarked with Edward the first in his Expedition into Scotland and was one of those who were created Bannerets at the Siege of Carlaverock in the twenty eighth year of his reign Roger de Bavent was summoned in the fourteenth year of Edward the second to sit in Parliamennt as Baron After whom I find no more mention of this Family as Possessors of this Mannor for it is probable the Religion and muffled Perswasion of those Times had so warped the Piety and Devotion of this Family that they setled it on the Priory of Leeds for by an old Rental of that Covent I find it wrapped up in their Demeasn in the reign of Edward the third and remained parcel of their Income until the general Shipwrack in the reign of Henry the eighth and then it was in the thirty sixth year of that Prince granted to Sir Ralph Vane and Anthony Tustham Esquire who not long after having passed away his Interest in it to Sir Ralph Vane it hath continued ever since to acknowledge the absolute Signory of this Family so that the right of it now rests in Sir Henry Vane Son and Heir to Sir Henry Vane Secretary of Estate to his late Majesty Fairlane is an eminent Seat in this Parish which likewise did confesse the Signory of the Family of Bavent but before the latter end of Edw. the third they had abandoned the Possession of it and then it came to confesse the Signory of Colepepers who remained Lords of the Fee untill the latter end of Henry the fourth and then it was transmitted by Sale to Chown in which Family after the Propriety had been constantly resident untill that Age which almost was circumscribed within the Verge of our Remembrance Sir George Chown the last of this Name at this place desiring to contract his Revenue solely within the Confines of Sussex alienated his Estate here to Sir Henry Vane Comptroller of his late Majestie 's Houshould and principal Secretary of Estate who having much beautified and adorned the ancient Fabrick with new Additions upon his late Decease bequeathed it to be enjoyed by his Lady Dowager Stelling in the Hundred of Lovingborough was with Wadenhall which lyes partly in this Parish and partly in Petham parcell of the Inheritance of the illustrious Family of Haut and William de Haut had Stelling and Wadenhall in the first year of Ed. the first and this above-mentioned VVilliam founded a Chappel at VVadenhall and dedicated it to St. Edmund the Saxon King of the East Angles and in this Family these Mannors continued untill the latter end of the reign of H. the sixth and then VVill. Haut lineally extracted from the above-said VVilliam conveyed Stelling to Humphrey Stafford Duke of Buckingham and this being forseited to the Crown upon the Attainder of his Grandchild Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham in the thirteenth year of Henry the eighth this lay enwrapped in the royal Revenue untill Queen Mary in the first year of her reign granted it with much other Land to Edward Lord Clinton who about the last year of that Princesse alienated it to Mr. Henry Herdson whose Grandchild Mr. Francis Herdson about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth passed it away to Mr. John Herdson his Uncle who dying without Issue disposed of it by Will to his Nephew Sir Basill Dixwell of Terlingham in Folkstone from whom by descendant Devolution it is now come down to his Heir General Mr. Basill Dixwell of Broom in Barham But VVadenhall remained in the Name of Haut untill by the Steps of several Descents it was wafted along to Sir VVilliam Haut one of whose two Daughters and Coheirs called Elizabeth being wedded to Sir Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury brought it to acknowledge the Interest of that Family and he having exchanged it with Edward the sixth it confessed the Signory of the Crown untill Queen Elizabeth in the forty second year of her reign granted it to Sir John Sotherton Baron of her Exchequer whose Heir in the memory of these Times gave up his Right in it by the Fatality of Sale to Mr. Benjamin Pere of Canterbury The Advowson of the two Parsonages or Rectories of Stelling and Vpper Hardres were granted to the Priory of Tunbridge in the twenty sixth year of Edward the third Pat. 3. part 2. Memb. 3. Selling in the Hundred of Street hath several places in it which cannot be declined without some Memorial Willmington and Somervill are the first that occurre and they gave Seat and one of them Sirname to a Family of Repute in that Age because I find they had Land in other places in the County Roger de Wilmington held the Possession of them at his Death which was in the eleventh year of Edward the third and left his Estate here and elsewhere to be shared between his four Daughters and Coheirs matched to Ordmere Bromming Brockhull and St. Laurence but upon the Division of the Estate these accrued to St. Laurence and in Right of paternal Devolution John St. Laurence Son of Thomas St. Laurence held these at his Decease which was in the tenth year of Richard the second and from him their right devolved to his Son Thomas St. Laurence whose Sole Daughter and Heir Katharine brought them to be the Inheritance of Sir William Apulderfield who about the latter end of Henry the sixth passed them away to Ashburnham and Till and the first of those having wholly setled his Right in them by Sale in Till they rested in this Family until the reign of Henry the eighth and then Peter Heyman Esquire having wedded the sole Inheritrix of Till they were transplanted into the Patrimony of that Family and from him the Propriety descended to his great Grandchild my worthy Friend Sir Henry Heyman Baronet lately deceased Haringe is a second place of Consideration it was as high as any Clew of Record can lead us the Possession of the Gurneys Hugh de Gurney who is in the Register of those who entered England with William the Norman held it under his Scepter In Ages almost of the next Step or Descent the Sharsteds had it and Robert de Sharsted who flourished under Edward the first Edward the second and dyed in the eighth year of Edward the third was possest of it at his Decease but this Name was suddenly worn out for in the Time subsequent to this Henry Brockhull of Brockhull in Saltwood enjoyed it who likewise had some Interest in Wilmington and Somervill which his Successor sold to Ashburnham and here the Propriety made its aboad untill the latter end of Henry the sixth and then it was conveyed to
Life and Forfeiture of his Estate and then this Seat upon his unsuccessful Exit returning to the Crown it was by the abovesaid Princess granted to her Cousin Reginald Poole Cardinal for his Life and a year after as he should by Testament dispose After his Death it reverts again to the Crown and then Queen Elizabeth in the third year of her reign grants it to Robert Dudley Earl of Leiceister and he the same year resigning it back into the Hands of his Soveraign it was by Lease made over to John Lennard of Chevening Esquire but the Fee-simple was by Royal Concession invested in the seventh year of Queen Elizabeth in Thomas Sackvill Lord Buckhurst and his Grand-child Richard Sackvill Earl of Dorset almost in our Remembrance conveyed the Fee-simple reserving it yet still in Lease to himself and his Heirs paying such a Rent-charge as is there specified for ninety and nine years to Mr. Richard Smith vulgarly called Dog-Smith who upon his Decease not many years since setled the propriety of it for ever upon St. Thomas Hospital in Southwarke The Honour of Sevenoke was granted by Queen Elizabeth to her Kinsman Henry Carey Lord Hunsdon in the first year of her reign from whom it devolved to his Grand-child Henry Carey Earl of Dover he passed it away by Sale to Richard Sackvill Earl of Dorset who alienated his Interest in it to Mr. Richard Smith who upon his above-mentioned Decease gave it with Knoll which both were exchanged and so united to the Royal Demeasne by William Warham to the Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwarke Kepington is the last place considerable in this Parish which was wrapt up in that Demeasne which owned the Signory of the Lords Cobham of Cobham as appears by an Inquisition taken in the thirty fifth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 62. Parte secundâ and after a Decursion of several Descents came by the Heir General of this Family to be possest by Brook whose Descendant about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth conveyed it to Burges and by his Sister and Heir it came over to Hanger who alienated it to Cowper and he not long since to Mr. Thomas Farnaby Spelherst in the Hundreds of Somerden Codsheath and Watchling stone hath many places in it of Repute First Grome-bridge which is a Chappel of Ease belonging to Spelherst and is dedicated to St. John it is in old Registers written Gromen-bridge and Gormen-bridge from some Saxon who was anciently Owner of it as Godmanchester in Huntingtonshire upon the same Account in old Orthography bears the Name of Gormonchester a Saxon having been possessor of it of that Denomination This Mannor in elder Times confessed the Dominion and Title of the Noble Family of Cobham Henry de Cobham and Joan his Wife obtained a Market to be observed weekly on the Thursday and a Fair three Dayes yearly videlicet the Vigil the Day of St. John Port-latine and the Day after as is manifest from an old Charter which I have seen whose Date commences from the fourteenth year of Edward the first the Market and Fair were kept where now the new Chappel is erected by the piety and expence of that Worthy Patriot John Packer Esquire late one of the Clerks of the Privy Seal After the Cobhams were departed from the possession of this place the Lords Clinton became by purchase Proprietaries of it and John de Clinton who was often summoned to fit as Baron in Parliament in the Time of Richard the second died possest of it in the twenty second year of that Prince Rot. Esc Num. 16. from whom the Title flowed in this Family until the latter end of Henry the fourth and then it was passed away to Waller of Lamberherst where and in Sussex they were before Masters of very ample Possessions for Thomas Waller and Katharine his Wife granted to Thomas Waller of Lamberherst his Father Richard Brenchley and John Brook all his Lands Messuages and Tenements in the Villages and Parishes of Rotherfeild Witheham Wadhurst Lamberhurst Little Horsted Alfricheston and Bucksted together with the moiety of the Advouson of the Church of Little Horsted as appears Claus 11. Richardi secundi in Dorso Memb. 35. Richard Waller Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the sixteenth year of Henry the sixth and kept his Shrievalty at Grome-bridge and was before Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex in the twelfth year of that Prince This is that renowned Souldier that in the Time of Henry the fifth took Charles Duke of Orleans General of the French Army Prisoner at the Battle of Agin-court brought him over into England and held him in honorable Restraint or Custody at Grome-bridge which a Manuscript in the Heralds-Office notes to be twenty four years in the Time of which his Recess he newly erected the House at Grome-bridge upon the old Foundation and was a Benefactor to the repair of Spelherst Church where his Arms remain in Stone-work over the Church-porch but lest such a signal peece of Service might remain entombed in the Sepulchre of unthankful forgetfulness the Prince to convey the Memory of this glorious Action to Posterity assigned to this Richard Waller and his Heirs for ever an additional Crest videlicet the Arms or Escocheon of France hanging by a Labell on an Oake with this Motto affixed Hae Fructus Virtutis This Richard was great Grand-father to William VValler of Grome-bridge Esquire Sheriff of Kent the twenty second of Henry the eighth and he was Father to Sir VValter VValler who was Grand-father to Sir VVilliam VValler now possessor of Winchester-castle and Father of Sir Thomas Waller which Sir Thomas almost in our Fathers Memory passed away Grome-bridge to Thomas Sackville Earl of Donset whose Grand-child Edward Earl of Dorset not many years since conveyed it to John Packer Esquire Father to ...... Packer Esquire now possessor of this place There was a Chauntry founded at Grome-bridge in the thirty eighth year of Henry the third by VVilliam Russell and Hawis his Wife as appears by the first Book of Compositions in Registro Roffensi Hollands in this Parish next cals for a View It was in Ages of a very high Date the Patrimony of a Noble Family of that Sirname and are in the Chartularies of this Parish recorded to have been great Benefactors to the Church of Spelherst and were allied to Thomas Holland Earl of Kent who matched with Joan Daughter of Edmund of VVoodstock but before the beginning of Henry the sixth this Family was worn out and vanished and then the VVallers stepped into the possession in which Family the Right of it did many years reside until it was in our Fathers Memory alienated to Thomas Sackville Earl of Dorset from whose Successor it passed away by Sale to Lindsey and from him not many years since the like Revolution carried it off to Caldicot Ferbies is another Seat of no vulgar Consideration in Spelherst if we consider that it gave Sirname to a Family of important Account in this
Whitfield of Canterbury There is a second Seat in Snodland called Holoway-court and in the Book of Aid mention is of one Henry de Holoway that held it in elder Times about the Beginning of Henry the third but upon a serious perusal of the evidences and Muniments which did relate to this Mansion I found it as high as they reached that is to the reign of Edward the third to be the Inheritance of the Tilghmans and several very old Panes of Glasse are coloured with that Coat of Arms which the Tilghmans are entered with in the last Visitation of Kent and in this Name was the Possession for many Descents permanent till some forty years since or more it was by Sale conveyed to Clotworthy extracted from the Clotworthies of Devon who by Testamentary Donation transmitted the Interest of it to his Sisters Son Mr. Thomas Williams Stone in the Hundred of Feversham was when it flourished most but a Chappel of Ease to Tenham but it is grown up to some Repute since Simon de Langton Arch-deacon of the Church of Canterbury Brother to Stephen de Langton the Arch-bishop gave to the Monks of Christ-church in Canterbury in the year 1227 omnes Decimas Majores Minores de Copton Eylwarton infra Limites Capellae de Stone Now this Copton and Eylwarton were Mannors anciently given to the Monks of Canterbury by Edmund Son of Q. Edgiva ad victum corum for the supply of Diet in the year of our Lord 980. Wildemersh in this Village deserves a Remembrance in that it was part of the Patrimony of the ancient Family of Donett for it was in the enjoyment of John Donett at his Death which was in the thirty fifth year of Edward the third But not long did it fixe there for Jâ—mes Donet his Successor dyed without Issue-male and left only a Daughter and Heir called Margery who being married to Iohn St. Leger this in her right went into the Possession of that Family from whom the ordinary Revolution of Sale conveyed it to Richard Dryland from which Name by the like Chanel the Inheritance slowed into Sir Anthony Aucher Predecessour to Sir Anthony Aucher of Bourne and here for ought I yet can collect is the Fee-simple of it setled Stone in the Hundred of Acstane had formerly a Castle which acknowledged the Northwoods for its founders as their Arms insculped in the old Stone-work now dismantled did easily demonstrate In the twentieth year of Edward the third Iohn de Northwood paid respective Aid at making the Black Prince Knight for his Mannor and Castle and although it now lye wrapped up in its own Ruines yet the Shell or Skeleton of it within which Sir Richard Wiltshire laid the Foundation of that Frabrick now extant represents to the eye some symptoms of its former strength and magnificence From Northwood it passed away by Sale to Butivant corruptly called Bonivant and from this Family a Fatalitie like the former carried it down to Cholmley from him by as quick a Current the Fee simple was transported to Chapman whose Widow Elizabeth Chapman being re-married to Jo. Preston he in her Right as I find by some Court-rolls was possest of it but her Son Thomas Chapman about the latter end of Henry the eighth concluded in Anne his Sole Heir who by matching with Mr. William Carew devolved the right on his Family from whom in right of that Alliance it is now descended to his Successor Mr. Henry Carew Littlebroke in this Parish did first own a Family of that Sirname as is evident from ancient Dateless Deeds wherein Laurence at Broke is re-presented to have been Possessor of it but this Family before the end of Edward the third had deserred the Possession and transplanted it by Sale into Northword and John Northwood about the latter end of Richard the second passed it away to Roger Apylton which Roger lies buried as the Date on his Tomb informs us in Crayford Church in the year 1400. And from him does Sir Henry Apylton Knight and Baronet not onely claim his Descent but his Interest in this Mannor also The Mannor of Cotton is embraced within the Precincts of Stone likewise It was as high as any private or publick Record can conduct us on to a Discovery the Possession of Killingworth of Hackstaple at Sutton at Hone and in this Family was the Title by a successive Derivation of several Descents preserved until the entrance of Henry the eighth and then it was conveyed by George Killingworth Esquire to Sir Richard Wiltshire from which Family not long after the Propriety of this place was by a Fate proportionate to this planted in Apylton Ancestor to Sir Henry Apylton Knight and Baronet now Lord of the Fee Stoke in the Hundred of Hoo was given to the Priory of St. Andrews in Rochester by Eadbert K. of Kent in the year 762. And upon the suppression being surrendred to the Crown it was by Henry the eighth setled on his newly erected Dean and Chapiter of Rochester But here are two places which are of secular Interest The first is Malmains which yielded both Seat and Sirname to a Family which fell under that Denomination for I find John de Malmains Son of Henry died possest of it in the tenth year of Edward the second and in this Family it remained until the latter end of Richard the second and then it was conveyed to Iden a Family of generous Rank in elder Times about Rolvenden and here it lay couched in the Demeasn of this Family until the latter end of Henry the eighth and then it was passed away to Jo. Park who dying without Issue Male setled it on Elizabeth his Sole Heir matched to John Roper Esquire from whom by paternal succession the Inheritance is come down to his Descendant Christopher Roper Baron of Tenham Tuders is the second which anciently confessed a Family of that Appellation to be its original Possessors whose Name was in all probability primitively Theodore for I have seen an ancient Roll of Kentish Arms wherein Tuder of Stoke bears the same Coat with Owen Theodore vulgarly called Tuder viz. Azure a Cheveron between three Helmets Argent But to proceed When this Family dislodged from this place for want of Intelligence I confess I know not onely in the Reign of Henry the eighth I find it possest by Woodward in which Family the Title remained invested until the entrance of Q. Elizabeth and then it was conveyed to Wilkins from whom by a quick Alienation it went away and resigned up its Interest by Sale to Bright and in the Revenue of his Descendant is the Proprietie of it yet wrapped up Stourmouth in the Hundred of Blengate was a piece of that large Revenue which owned the Signory of Hussey In the fifty fifth year of Henry the third Henry le Hussey obtained a Charter of Free-Warren to his Mannor of Stourmouth and his Grandchild Henry le Hussey died possest of it in the sixth year of Edward the
third but alass neither the Nobleness of the Name nor wideness of the Franchise could keep this Family from departing from this place for about the latter end of Henry the fourth I find it in the Tenure of the eminent Family of Apulderfield but setled not long here for Sir William Apulderfield about the middle of Edward the fourth concluded in Elizabeth Apulderfield who was his Sole Daughter and Heir who by matching with Sir Jo. Phineux Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in the Reign of Henry the seventh made it his Demeasn but the Title of this place did not long fix here for he dying without Issue Male Jane his only Daughter became his only Heir who by espousing of Jo. Roper Esq of St. Dunstans in Canterbury linked it to the Demeasn of this Family from whom in a continued Current of descent the Proprietie of it is now flowed down to William Roper a Cadet or younger Branch of this Stem Shorne in the Hundred of Shamell was as high as the Reign of K. John the Patrimony of the Noble Family of Nevil Jordanus and in some old Deeds written Jollanus de Nevil held the Mannor of Shorne as appears by the Pipe-Roll of that year and John de Nevil was his Son and Heir who held this Mannor in the thirtieth year of Henry the third but after him I can track no farther Mention of this Family at this place for in the fifty fourth of Henry the third as appears by the Pipe-roll of that year I discover Roger de Norwood to be Lord of the Fee this was that Roger de Norwood who disdaining to have his Lands held in that Lazy and sluggish Tenure of Gavelkind changed it into the more active one of Knights Service in the fourteenth year of Henry the third still reserving to himself by that Licence by which he obtained a Grant of the first to reserve the ancient Rent whereby his Lands held even in the Time of the Conquerour and he in the thirteenth year of Edward the first died possest of this Mannor and all its Perquisites at Oisterland in Cliff and other places and left it to his Son and Heir Sir John de Norwood who together with his eldest Son Sir John de Norwood accompanied that triumphant Prince Edward the first in his Victorious Design undertaken against the Scots in the twenty eighth of his Reign The Mannor of Shorn holding by this Tenure viz. to carry a White Banner forty Dayes together at their own Charges whensoever the King should commence a War in Scotland as appears by an Inquisition taken after the Death of Roger de Norwood in the thirty fifth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 23. Parte secundâ And this was customary not onely in England but elsewhere for Mr. Selden in his Titles of Honour observes out of Prelusius's his Discourses upon the State of Poland in the year 1530 Albert Marquess of Brandenburg and Mr. of the Teutonick or Dutch Order in Prussia receives his Investiture into that Dutchy per Vexilli Traditionem by the Delivery of a Banner from the Hands of Sigismund K. of Poland and his Brother George at his being enstated in that Signory by this Ceremony was suo Fratrum Nomine Vexillum contingere in his own and the Name of his Brother to place his Hands upon the Banner and when the above-mentioned Banner was delivered to an Heir who had not his Title and Right free from the Claim of an ambiguous and perplexed Competition he was onely admitted ad Contactum Extremitatum Vexilli ejusdem to touch the utmost or extream parts of this Banner The Tenure which was annexed to this Investiture was this to assist the K. of Poland with an hundred Horse whensoever he should personally advance into the Field against an enemie But to return John de Norwood was the last of this Name whom I find setled in the Inheritance of Shorne and he enjoyed it at his Decease which was in the second year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 35. But before the latter end of the Reign of that Prince it was removed from the possession of Norwood and by Sale plac'd in the Noble and ancient Family of Savage of Bobbing Court but not long after Sir Arnold Savage determining in Eleanor his Sole Inheritrix who was first wedded to Sir Reginald Cobham by whom she had no Issue and after to William Clifford Esquire she by this Alliance united it to the patrimony of this last Family and here it lay involved until the beginning of Q. Elizabeth and then it was passed away by George Clifford to Nicholas Lewson Esquire Grand-father to Sir Richard Lewson of the County of Stafford who desiring to circumscribe and collect his scattered Interest which lay dispersed in several parcels in this County into the closer circumference of Staffordshire alienated this Mannor almost in our Remembrance with all its Adjuncts at Oisterland in Cliff and other perquisites and out-Skirts to Mr. Woodier of Rochester in whose Lineage and Name the Title of it at this instant lies treasured up Ockington in this Parish was a Limb that made up the Body of that Revenue which anciently did swell into so vast a Bulk and Dimension in this Track and acknowledged for proprietaries the Noble Family of Cobham as appears by an Inquisition taken in the sixth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 45. where Stephen de Cobham was then found to have been possest of it at his Death and from him was the Title in a successive stream of Descent wasted down to the Reign of Hen. the seventh and then it was by Sale transplanted into Sir Henry Wiat where it flourished being supported with the Sap and Verdure of so Noble a Family until the fourth year of Edward the sixth and at that Time it was by Sale torn off from this Name for then Sir Thomas Wiat alienated it to Sir Anthony St. Leger and he passed it away to George Brooke Lord Cobham about the seventh year of Edward the siâ—â—â— whose great Grand-child Sir William brooke Knight of the Bath dying in the year 1643 without Issue Male it cescended to Sir John Brooke restored to the Barony of Cobham by the last King in the year 1644 as being Reversioner in entail Roundal though now shrunk into neglected Ruines was in elder Times the first Seat of the noble Family of Cobham from whence upon its Decay they were transplanted to Cobham Hall and was the Cradle of Men very eminent in their respective Generations of whom take this brief prospect * Ex veteri Rotulo penes Ed. Dering Militem Bar. dejunctum Henry de Cobham is enrolled in the List of those Kentish Gentlemen who were concerned with Richard the first at the Siege of Acon * Rotulus Pipae de Scutagio Wallia Reginald de Cobham accompanied Henry the third in his expedition against the Welch in the forty second year of his Reign Sir Henry Sir
Preston which was the Seat of an eminent Family called Buckland who bore for their Cognisance Argent an Eagle Sables beaked and ungued Or. Alan de Buckland was a noted Person in the Time of King John and being Lievtenant of Dover-castle that Prince directs a Command to him and William de Brewer who was joyned in Commission with him to surrender Dover-castle to Hubert de Burgh for his Service Sir Thomas de Buckland of this place had Buckland in Maidstone and Buckland likewise in Ludsdown and flourished in the reign of Edward the third and in several Deeds to which he was witness subscribes himself Miles In brief after this Family had continued possessors of this Mansion until the latter end of Henry the sixth it devolved to Thomas Buckland who dying without Issue-male Alice his only Daughter and Heir by matching with Thomas Polhill of Polhill-street in Detling cast it into the Inheritance of that Family from whom it came down to Mr. ...... Polhill who being not many years since deceased his Widow Mrs. ...... Polhill is now in the enjoyment of it Palstres alias Planars and Sepham are two ancient Seats likewise situated within the Confines of Shoreham and had both Owners of that Sirname William de Planar as appears by Deeds without Date held the first and so did John de Planar in the reign of Edward the first and died possest of it in the forty seventh year of that Prince's reign and in this Family did it continue until the beginning of Henry the sixth and then it was conveyed to Sepham of Sepham an eminent Family in this Parish who bore for their Coat-Armour Argent three Cinque Foils pierced Sables and were descended from William de Sepham who died possest of this place in the fifteen year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 12. and having continued Lords of both these Mannors of one by Descent and of the other by purchase until the latter end of Henry the seventh Mr. John Sepham who had in the fifth year of that Prince made an acknowledgment for them to the then Arch-bishop of Canterbury of whom it seems they both held passed away Sepham to William Martin and Palstres to Cobbe in which Families after they had remained until the latter end of Henry the eighth they were both demised to Mr. Francis Sandbach by whose Sole Heir Alice Sandbach they came to be the possession of David Polhill Ancestor to Mr. David Polhill who upon the late Death of his Grand-father Mr. David Polhill is invested in the Tenure of them Vielston now by vulgar Acceptation of the Name called Vilson is another Seat of eminent Account in Shoreham It primitively gave Seat and Sirname to a Family which radically was as deeply planted in Antiquity as any Family which then flourished on this part of the County some of the old Evidences now in the Hands of my Cozen Mr. Thomas Petley reach as high as the Government of the reign of Henry the third and then Hamon de Vielston demises several parcels of Land to Sepham of Sepham Timberden of Timberden Farm in this Parish likewise and several others of obscurer Account whose names are too tedious to recite by Deeds not circumscribed with any Date which argues him to be a Man in that Age illustrious both for Descent and Demeasn In Times which approached neerer to ours John de Vielston who paid respective Aid at making the Black Prince Knight for his Mannor of Vielston was eminent and was Sheriff of Kent in the sixteenth seventeenth eighteenth nineteenth and twentieth years of Edward the third and he left Issue John Vielston who deceasing without Issue John Ross his Sisters Son about the latter end of Richard the second became his Heir and he had Issue John Ross who dyed about the latter end of Henry the sixth without any Posterity so that he bequeathed it to his Kinsman John Berd who in the fourteenth year of Edward the fourth sold it to John Palmer from whom it went away by Sale in the eighteenth year of the above-mentioned Prince to Richard Page where it made its aboad till the nineteenth year of H. the seventh and then Edmund Page this Mans Son cast it by Sale into the Inheritance of Richard Wood who in the fourth yeer of Henry the Eighth alienates the Fee-simple to Robert Blague and he in the sixth yeer of that Prince demises it to William Petley of Halsted and he upon his decease bequeaths it to his second Son Mr. Thomas Petley from whom in a direct Line is my Cosin Mr. Thomas Petley descended in whom by original derivation from him the Interess and Right of this ancient Seat is at this instant invested The Castle of Shorham was if not built by yet certainly very anciently in the Possession of the Family of Aldham of Aldham St. Cleres in Kemsing one of which Name was Castellan of this place in the eighth year of Henry the third and was Ancestor to Sir Thomas de Aldham who flourished in the reign of Edward the second and Edward the third in whom the Male-line ended so that his three Daughters matched to Francis St. Clere Martin de Peckham and John de Novoburgo or Newborough of Newborough in the County of Dorset became his Coheirs and this Castle upon the Distinction of his Estate into parcels was annexed to the Demeasn of Newborough in which Family after the Title had as in a constant Chanel flowed untill the reign of Henry the eighth it was diverted by Sale into Polhill in which Family and Name the Propriety hath ever since untill this instant been fixed and permanent Southfleet in the Hundred of Axstone did belong to the Priory of St. Andrews in Rochester and was given to that Covent by Hamo de Heath in the year of our Lord 1346 which was not long before his Decease and I find by an old Manuscript which represents to us the Liberties and Franchises which were setled upon this Cloister that the Prior had by Prescription a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor of Southsleer yet though it were fortified with this Priviledge Hook in Southfleet hath been for some Centuries of years the Seat of the Swans who in the Reign of Richard the second as appears by their own Deeds writ Gen-men it could not be secure from that Tempest which arose in the reign of Heury the eighth which like a Whirlwind ravished it away from the Patrimony of the Church and lodged it in the Revenue of the Crown where it dwelt untill the thirty seventh year of Queen Elizabeth and then it was by Concession from that Princesse passed away to William Peter of Writtle Esquire who was Son to Sir William Peter Secretary of Estate to King Edward the sixth Q. Mary and Q. Elizabeth and he immediately after alienated it to Alderman Garret of London whose Successor in our Fathers Remembrance conveyed it by Sale to Sir William Sidley of Scadbery from whom it is now come down
wing and gaping for Breath but when Time began to invade this Family and break it into parcels one part of this Seat was sold to Sir John Baker Predecessor to Sir John Baker who is now the possessor of it but the other parts of it stayd longer in this Name for Heronden not long since sold some part of it to Mr. John Austin lately deceased and the Remainder was passed by the same conveyance to Mr. Short Pitlesden is the second which requires our Notice it gave Seat to a Family so called which remained in possession of it till Stephen Pitlesden died and left a Daughter and Heir whose Name was Julian who by marrying with Edward Guldeford made this parcel of the Revenue of that Family and here without any Interruption was the Inheritance planted till Iohn Guldeford Esquire transferred his Right by Sale to Sir Iohn Baker one of the Privy Councel to Queen Mary whose Grandchild Sir Iohn Baker Knight and Baronet Father of Sir Iohn Baker Baronet now of Sisingherst in Cranbroke did some years since alienate the possession of it to Mr. Jasper Clayton of London Mercer Lights Notinden and East Asherinden are two other Mannors in Tenterden which belonged partly to a Chauntry founded here by Iohn Light and partly to Brooke near Wye and were upon the suppression of the One and Dissolution of the Priory of Christ-church to which Brooke related granted by Henry the eighth to Sir Iohn Baker Atturney General to that Prince Edward the sixth and Queen Mary and from him are they now devolved by paternal Right to Sir Iohn Baker of Sisingherst Baronet There is a place in this Parish called Finchden which in our Grand-fathers Memory was purchased by Sir Edward Hales Ancestor of the Family of Finch from which Mr. Edward Finch now of Tenterden is originally descended which in Times of an elder Character gave Sirname to a Family called Finchden one of whom called William de Finchden was Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in the Time of Edward the third and sometimes in the old Law-books which have an Aspect on his reign is written Finchden and sometimes contractedly Finch and it is probable the Name was originally Finch only Den was added to it which was customary and usual in elder Times because this Family had their Dwelling in some Habitation whose Situation was near some Valley Tenterden was governed by a Port-reve or Bayley as the original Patent informs me from the thirty sixth year of Henry the sixth until the forty third year of Queen Elizabeth and then it was by Patent from that Princesse ordered to be governed by a Major and Jurates and so it hath ever since continued I had almost forgot Elarinden which is the last place of Note in Tenterden and celebrates it self to be parcel of the Mannor of Frid or Frith in Bethersden and was involved in that Revenue which did confess the Signory of the Noble Family of Mayney and was found to be in the possession of John de Mayney at his Decease which was in the fiftieth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 39. and lay couched in that Demeasne which related to this Name until the reign of Henry the sixth and then it was passed away to Darell and remained involved in the Patrimony of this Family until the seventeenth year of Henry the eighth and then it was alienated by John Darell Esquire to Sir John Hales one of the Barons of the Exchequer and from him by a Devolution of successive Descent is it now come down to Sir Edward Hales of Tunstall Baroner Tilmanston in the Hundred of Eastrie has divers Seats within the Verge and Boundaries of it not only of Reputation and Account in Respect of their own Antiquity but likewise in Relation to those Persons who were possest of them First there is North-court and Dane-court both were anciently under the Dominion of one Person and continue interwoven still though they have borrowed these several Names in Respect of their opposite Situation John de Sandherst made a Claim of Liberties in North-court the sixth year of Edward the first Christian his Daughter and Heir was married to William Langley of Knowlton who in her Right possest this Mannor and by a new Insâ—ection had the former Liberties exemplified the thirty seventh year of Edward the third Pat. 37. pars prima Memb. 21. and after that the possession of this place had by an even Line of Descent been drawn thorough this Family it did at last by an Heir General devolve to Peyton and by a Derivative Title from him does Sir Thomas Peyton of Knowlton Baronet hold the instant enjoyment of it But Dane-court was passed away by Langley to Fenell and from him by the like Transition it came over to Thomas Cox Customer of Sandwich and he by Sale invested the Interest of it in Fogge Ancestor to my Noble Friend Richard Fogge Esquire now Possessor of Dane-court a Person to whom for that Intelligence he has contributed to me in Relation to the Noble Families of Crioll and Valoignes whose Heirs General matched with Fogge and who formerly by those Alliances annexed a vast Revenue in this County to this Name I am signally obliged South-court in this Parish was in Times of eldest Inscription as appears by a Survey of this Parish taken in the eighteenth year of Edward the third and which lies now in the Hands of Mr. Anneslow Gardiner of Haling in Croyden Sir John de Tittesden but certainly the possession was not long resident here for not long after I find the Lord Martin of Devon to be Proprietary of it from whom in the reign of Henry the sixth the Right of it was by Sale conducted down to John White after made Sir John White a Merchant of the Staple at Canterbury and when this Name deserted the possession of this place the next who succeeded in the subsequent Series was Cox from whom by purchase the Right came into Fogge and from that Name by the Fate of Sale was it made the Inheritance of Peyton from whom by Communicative Derivation and Descent it is incorporated into the Demeasne of Sir Thomas Peyton Toniford in the Hundred of West-gate did afford both Seat and Sirname to a Family which came under that Appellation and there is mention in the Book of Aide of John Toniford who lived here about the beginning of Edward the third but this Family was worn out about the latter part of that Prince's Reign And the next in Order who was Lord of the Fee was Sir Thom is Fogge who flourished here in the reign of Edward the third and Richard the second and after it had been for sundry Descents fixt in this Name and Family the Interest which they had here was by purchase brought over to claim Vane for its Possessor where likewise the Title was as unstable for not many years are consumed since it was alienated from their Revenue and made by Sile the Demeasne of Captain Collin
was father to Will. de Septuans who was seised of it when he deceased which was in the twenty fifth year of Edw. the third but it seems it was not long permanent in the Tenure of this Name for immediately after the Gowers had it and Iohn Gower when he died was in the enjoyment of it which was in the forty third year of Edward the third from whom not many years after it was by purchase transported to Iohn Brockhul Esquire and with the Demeasn of this Family did the right of this place many years appear to be interwoven till Anne Daughter and Heir of Henry Brockhull married to Sir Iohn Taylor and then both the Name and Estate were swallowed up in this Family where the possession for sundry Ages remained till lately it was conveyed by Sale to Freake issued out from the Freakes of the County of Dorset who by marrying the Darghter of Sir Thomas Colepeper of Hollingbourne has planted himself in this County There was a Castle anciently in Thurneham which as Darel affirms in his Tract de Castellis Cantii had both its Name and Foundation from Godardus a Saxon being called Godard Castle which is so despicable an Heap that not the least Crums or Fragments continue of the Ruines which might signifie to us the lest symptome of its former strength and Grandeur Tunstall in the Hundred of Milton did about the twenty ninth of Henry the third confess it self to be under the Dominion of Walter de Grey who was Lord Paramont of this place but long did not remain invested in the Signory of it for in the forty fourth year of Henry the third I find Iohn de Burgh descended from Hubert de Burgh in the possession of it and he that year by the favourable compliance of that Prince obtained a Charter of Free-Warren to his Mannors of Norton and Tunstall but before the latter end of Edward the first this Family had deserted the Inheritance of this place and then the next which succeeded proprietarie of it was Thomas de Brotherton Earl of Norfolk who ending in Daughters and Co-heirs Margaret one of them being first matched to Iohn de Segrave and afterwards to Walter de Mayney descended from VValter de Meduana or Mayney who held twenty Knights in this County in the reign of Henry the third brought this to be the Demeasn of her second Husband Walter de Mayney a person on whom the Beams of Majestie reflected with so vigorous impression that he was summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron in the reign of Edw. the third and in whom that Prince reposed so great a confidence that as Daniel represents to us in his Chronicle he and his Son Edward the Black Prince fought under his Colours in a private Habit against Monsieur de Charmy a Frenchman near Calais in Picardy in the twenty third year of his reign and deceased full of Fame and of Years in the forty fixth of that Prince but determined in Anne Mayney his Sole Inheritrix who by matching with John Hastings Earl of Pembroke linked this Mannor to his Inheritance but he dying in the thirteenth year of Richard the second Reginald Grey and Richard Talbot were found to be his Heirs and they bring a pleading in the fifteenth year of the Prince abovesaid against John le Scroope who pretended some Title to his Estate and having rescued it from collateral Claim about the beginning of Henry the fourth conveyed it to Sir Robert Knolles who in the seventh year of that Prince passed it by Fine then levied to Sir William Cromer Lord Maior of London his Son William Cromer Esquire who was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty third year of Henry the sixth and was afterwards in the twenty seventh year of that Prince barbarously assassinated by Jack Cade whilst he endeavoured to impeach that Arch-Incendiarie in his March towards London He married Elizabeth Daughter of James Fiennes Lord Say and Seal by whom he had Issue Sir James Cromer Father of Sir Will. Cromer who was Sheriff of Kent the ninteenth year of Henry the seventh and the first year of K. Henry the eighth and George Cromer who was Arch-Bishop of Armagh in Ireland This Sir William had Issue James Cromer Esquire from whom descended Will. Cromer Esq his Son and Heir who was Sheriff of Kent the ninth and twenty seventh of Q. Elizabeth and had Issue Sir James Cromer of Tunstall Knight Sheriff of Kent in the second year of K. James in whom the Male-line determined so that Francis his Daughter by his first Wife matched to Sir Mathew Carew Elizabeth his Daughter by his second Wife wedded to Sir Iohn Steed of Steed-hill and Christian born likewise by that Venter married to Sir Iohn Hales eldest Son to Sir Edward Hales of Wood-Church became his Co-heirs Upon the partition of the Estate Tunstall was shared by Sir Iohn Hales from whom it is now descended to his Son and Heir Sir Edw. Hales Baronet who lately hath begun to erect upon the ancient Foundation a Frabrick of that stupendious Magnificence that it at once obliges the eye to Admiration and Delight Vfton is a place of Repute Seated in this Parish but it is raised up to a higher estimate since we find it was anciently parcel of the patrimony of Shurland for Robert de Shurland had a concession by Charter of Free-Warren to sundry of his Lands in Kent amongst which there is a recital of Vfton afterwards in Times subsequent to this by the Heir General of Shurland it was cast into the possession of Cheyney and Will. de Casineto for so this Name is rendred in Latine Records or William Cheyney held it at his Death which was in the eighth year of Edward the third and after for many Descents it had layn included in the Interest and proprietie of Cheyney it was by a Daughter and Heir put into the Demeasn of Astley from whom again the like flux of Circumstances bore away the Inheritance and transferred it to Harlackenden the instant Lord of Vfton Gore-Court in this Parish in Times of elder Derivation was the Seat of a Family whose Sirname was At-Gore and sometimes in ancient Court-rolls written De la Gore called so from their Habitation which was situated near some publick way Gare Gate and Gore importting no more in the Saxon Dialect then some common passage But to proceed Henry At-Gore held Gore-Court when he deceased which was in the thirty first year of Edward the third and for several Generations was the Inheritance knit to his Name till the common Fatalitie of Time brought it to expire in Alice Gore the Heir General of this place and of Iohn Gore the last of the Male-line who enjoyed it and she disposed of her Concernment in it to Will. Croyden in which Family after the possession had resided it was alienated to Wood descended from the Woods of Muston in Hollingbourne in whom the right of Gore-Court continues still invested Tunbridge gives Name to that
we style the Lowy of Tunbridge and is a small Territory within it self called in old Latine Records Districtus Leuca de Tunbridge and was formerly subservient to the Dominion of those noble Persons who were Lords of the Fee The first of which was Richard de Clare Earl of Brionie in Normandy to whom it was by William Rufus granted upon this emergent Occasion This Richard was an earnest Abettor and supporter likewise of the Designes of this Prince upon his Brothers Territories in Normandy and so by consequence an active partisan of his which made the Breast of Robert Duke of Normandy to boile with such Animosity and passion against Him that the Flame of his Hatred kindled the Flame of a War which could not be extinguished but by the Depredation of this Earl's Estate and the utter subversion of his Castle of Brionie which was left an Heap of Flame and Ruines which caused William Rufus to risent his Calamitous Condition with so much Regret and Commiseration that he granted him as much Land here at Tunbridge as would spread into a League both in the Extent and Longitude of it and in the Breadth and Latitude of it likewise and Gemeticensis reports that this Richard brought over the Rope with which he was to measure it in the same Ship which transported him and his Retinue From this Richard who founded the Castle the right of Tunbridge was by Descent translated into his Son Gilbert de Clare the first Earl of Hertford and here did the Signory many years find a residence till Isabel Sister and Coheir of Gilbert de Clare by matching with Hugh Audley brought this to be the Inheritance of that illustrious Family where it had not long remained but Margaret Daughter and Heir of Hugh Audley by marrying with Ralph Stafford made it a Branch of their patrimony nor did it depart from this Family till the Vanitie of Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham embarked him in that Design which the Malice of Cardinal Wolsey aggravated with those Circumstances of Hatred by blowing of wild Conjectures into the Ears of Henry the eighth who was naturally a jealous Prince and emulous of any new blooming Glory that he was stained with the black Tincture of Treason which sunk him into an untimely Sepulcher and his Estate by forfeiture into the possession of the Crown Edward Duke of Buckingham being thus convicted in the twelfth year of Henry the eighth there was a great Controversie started forth in the thirteenth year of that Prince's reign as appears by our Law-books in the Parliament then convened whether or not there were ground enough in the Crimes objected against him to establish an Attainder upon and it was carried in the Affirmative that there was upon which this Castle with all the Mannor of Dachhurst alias Hilden-borough with all the appendant Services and Quit-rents united to them did escheat to the Crown and remained there until Queen Elizabeth dissevered the Mannor of the Castle from her Interest and made it by Grant the possession of her Kinsman Henry Lord Hunsdon whose Son George Lord Hunsdon about the beginning of King James passed it with his Daughter and Heir to Thomas Lord Berkley who conveyed it to Sir John Kenedie from whom not long after by the same Conveyance it fell under the divided Signory of Ferrers Gosson and Johnson and they by a mutual Consent sold their Interest in it to Sir Peter Vanlore by whose three Daughters and Co-heirs matched to Sir Henry Zinzin Sir Alexander Sterling and Robert Crooke Esquire it is now divided between those three Families Although the Onsets of Time and the Assaults of Enemies together hath thrown the Beauty and Strength into such a rude Confusion that it now lurks in its own Rubbish yet formerly it was eminent for being the Scene of much Feude and Contention between the Kings of England and the Barons then in Arms against them In the year 1088. Odo Bishop of Bajeux and Earl of Kent making a Defection from William Rufus to those Barons who sought to support the Title of his eldest Brother Robert placed one Gilbert in this Castle for the Defence of it which enforced that King to invest it with a Siege and compelled the Castellan to a Surrender and afterwards having taken Odo himself imprisoned him in this Fortress from whence he afterwards made a successful Escape In the year 1215. Falcatius de Brent during the Military Contests King John had with his Nobility by Force wrung this Castle from the Earl of Gloucester and maintained it for some Time with signal Evidences of Magnanimity to the Kings Behoof and Use In the year 1231. upon the Decease of Gilbert the then Earl of Gloucester seised the Wardship of his Heir and entrusted the Custody of this Castle to Hubert de Burgh Earl of Kent This occasioned an eager and impetuous Contest between the King and Richard Arch-bishop of Canterbury the Arch-bishop pretended because the Castle held of his See therefore he de Jure ought to have the Custody of the Heir in his Wardship To which the King replyed that the whole Earldome held of him and that he might commit the Custody of the Lands to whomsoever he pleased This caused the Arch-bishop boyling with much Heat and Passion to Appeal for Redress to Rome where he managed this Controversie with that vigorous dexterity that the Pope issued out a solemn determination on his behalf but his Decease in his Journey homewards superseded the Execution of the Papal Sentence The above-mentioned King Henry in the year 1259. granted Licence to Richard de Clare Earl of Gloucester to wall and embattle his Town of Tunbridge in these Words in that Charter Claudere Muro et Kernellare which latter Word being made Latine out of the French Charneaux imports that indented Form of the Top of a Wall which hath Vent and Crest commonly called embattelling very serviceable to the Defendants within not only to annoy the Enemy but likewise to shroud and secure himself from the Fury of any outward Assault This Mode of Fortification was in elder Time with much Caution prohibited within this Nation out of a Jealousie that it might foment any inward Sedition and was therefore amongst many other Articles inquirable before the Escheator de Domibus Kerneliatis But the War breaking out not long after this between the King and Simon de Montfort to whose Interest the Earl of Gloucester was by a Solemn Combination closely united the Grant of the above-mentioned King was made ineffectual and not the least Symptoms of the intended Wall are at this instant visible In the year 1263. the War growing hot between Henry the third and Simon de Montfort the King sets down before Tunbridge-castle and forces it to snrrender to discretion and therein found amongst others the Countess of Gloucester From whence I collect that in those Times it was esteemed if not the only yet at least a principal Mansion of those great Lords of Tunbridge the
as a Limb of the Estate thus acquired who in the fiftieth year of his reign setled it on the Abby of St. Mary Grace on Tower-hill of his Foundation and Endowment and having remained treasured up in the Revenue of that Cloister untill the general suppression it was then plucked off and by King Henry the eighth granted in the thirty first of his Reign to Thomas Green Esquire whose Descendant in our Fathers memory passed away his Concernment in it to Apsley Ham Sharpenash and West-court are three little Mannors situated within the Circuit of this Parish and were parcel of that Patrimony which related to the Abby of St. Augustins which upon the Dissolution of that Fraternity the vast Demeasn which appertained to it being more hainous in the Eyes of Henry the eighth than those Crimes and Offences though peradventure of a Complexion dark enough which were charged upon the Covent He I mean the Prince abovesaid ravished them away from the patrimony of the Church to incorporate and interweave them with the Revenue of the Crown where their Title and proprietie was not long lodged for K. Hen. the eighth conveyed them by Grant to Will. Hach descended from Hach of Aller in Devon who not long after passed them away to Tho. Green Esq written in his Deeds alià Norton where after the possession of them had some years continued the Interest of all these Mannors was by the Mutation of Sale transported into Aldersey Ancestor to Captain Terry Aldersey of Swanton Court in Bredgar now Lord of the Fee and Signory of these above recited places W. W. W. W. WAldershare in the Hundred of Eastry was in elder Times the Seat of an eminent Family called Malmains John de Malmains is recorded in an Ancient Roll of those Gentlentemen which entred England with William the Conquerour and engaged with him at the Battle of Battle John de Malmains as Mr. Fuller in his Ecclesiastical History does represent to us was Standard Bearer to the Norman Footmen and was joyned by William the Conquerour as an Assistant Knight to Otho one of the Monks of Ely Henry Malmains is registred in the Bed-roll of those Kentish Gentlemen who assisted Richard the first at the Siege of Acon See more of this Family of Malmains in the Catalogue of Sheriffs John de Malmains is registred in the Pipe rolls amongst those who were Recognitores Magnae Assisae in the reign of K. John a place of that Latitude of Trust and Authority that those who managed it were frequently selected out of the chiefest Knights and most eminent Gentlemen of the County Sir Nicholas de Malmains was engaged with Edward the first at the Siege of Carlaverock in Scotland in the twenty eighth of his reign and for his worthy undertaking there received the Dignity of Knighthood and from him did Waldershare descend to Nicholas de Malmains who died possest of this and much other Land in the twenty third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 160. and from him descended Henry Malmains his Grand-child who dying about the beginning of Henry the fourth without Issue Male left his Estate here at Waldershare to Agnes his sole Daughter and Heir matched to Thomas Goldwell of Great Chart yet had this Henry a Kinsman called Thomas Malmains Son of John Malmains who had a considerable share of this Mannor of Waldershare which by his Heir General devolved to John Monins Esquire who about the beginning of Henry the sixth purchased all that Demeasn and Interest which Tho. Goldwell was entituled to here and so became sole Lord of Waldershare This John Monins was descended from John Monins who in the twentieth year of Edw. the third held Lands at Swink-field as appeats by the Book of Aid by the Title of Esquire and was allied to William Monings or Monins for in old Records they are written so promiscuously who was several times Knight of the Shire for Norfolk as appears by the Record in the Tower whose Title is De Expensis Militum in the time of Richard the second and John Monins this Mans Son was a person of so eminent Notice in this County that he obtained an Indulgence under the Seal of Sixtus the fourth bearing Date 1474 to carry along with him a Priest and a portable Altar for celebration of divine Offices in his necessary Journeyings and John Monins this Man's Grand-child and Son of Robert compounds with Tho. Hobbys in the twentieth year of Hen. the seventh for ten Marks as part of his Fine to be excused from being made Knight of the Bath at the creation of Henry his Son Prince of Wales Edward Monins Esq was Justice of the Peace for Kent the latter part of the reign of Henry the eighth and he was Ancestor to Sir William Monins who was made Knight and Baronet the twenty ninth day of June in the ninth year of K. James by the Name of Sir William Monings of Waldershare and from him is not onely this Title but likewise the signory of this Mannor now devolved by paternal right to his Son and Heir Edward Monins Baronet Walmer is a Member of Sandwich and so in no Hundred It was one of those principal Seats which owned the jurisdiction and signory of the noble and spreading Family of Crioll written frequently likewise Keriel The first whom I find to be possest of it was Matilda de Criol Widow of Simon de Crioll and she in right of Dower was in possession of it at her Death which was in the fifty second of Henry the third Rot. Esc Num. 34. The next of this Name whom the Beams of publick Record represent to me to be possessor of it was Nicholas de Crioll who enjoyed it at his Death which was in the thirty first of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 39. In Ages of a nearer Approach unto us Iohn de Crioll in the forty ninth year of Edward the third died seised of it and so did William Keriell in the first year of Henry the fifth Rot. Esc Num. 21. and left it to his Son Sir John Crioll of Sarre in Thanet who as an old Pedigree of this Family informs me was in eminent Command under Henry the fifth in his successful Expedition into France having the Conduct of several Kentish Squadrons at the Battle of Agincourt and died laden more with Honour then with Years in the ninth year of Henry the sixth and left Sir Thomas Crioll or Keriell Knight of the Gatter Heir both of his Estate and Virtues of whom because our Chronicles speak so much I shall not be silent He was Governor of Gourney in Normandy in the ninth year of Henry the sixth under John Duke of Bedford the Regent not farre from which Place he defeated the Earl of Britaine and in that discomfiture slew six Hundred and took two Hundred Prisoners In the fourteenth year of Henry the sixth the Duke of Burgundy infested Crotoy with a Siege which being successefully raised by the Lord Talbot Sir Thomas Keriell
Attorney General to Henry the eighth and he died possest of it in the thirty third year of that Prince and left it to his Son Sir James Hales who not long after alienated it to Sir Thomas Moile Chancellour of the Court of Augmentations who erected almost all that stupendious Fabrick which now so obliges the Eye to Admiration and left it to Sir Thomas Finch who had married Katharine his Daughter and Co-heir a Gentleman who merited a calmer Fate and a Nobler Tomb for after many gallant Archievements performed at Newhaven in France he suffered Shipwrack in his return to England and left it to his Son Sir Moile Finch who very much inlarged Eastwell-court with both sumptuous elegant and convenient Additaments and left it in Dower to his Widow Elizabeth Finch Daughter and Heir of Sir Thomas Heneage first created Viscountess Maidstone by King James and after Countess of Winchelsey in the year 1638. by King Charles from whom both the Honour and East-well descended to her Son Thomas Earl Wenchelsey and from him to his Son the Right Honorable Heneage Finch now Earl of Winchelsey and Viscount Maidston Since I am so happily engaged to a Discourse of this eminent Family of Finch I shall discover in Landskip the deep Antiquity of their first Extraction They were originally descended from Henry Fitz-Herbert Chamberlain to King Henry the first who married the Daughter and Heir of Sir Robert le Corbet and had Issue by her a Son named Herbert and he was Father to Herbert Fitz-Herbert who by his first Wife Lucy Daughter and Co-heir of Milo Earl of Hereford and Lord High Constable of England had Issue a Son named Peter Fitz-Herbert from whom the Herberts Earls of Pembroke originally issued out and by his second Wife Matilda after his Deeease remarried to the Lord Columbers he had Issue Matthew Fitz-Herbert who was one of the Magnates or Barons at the compiling of Magna Charta and was one of the powerful Partisans of King John at the making the accord between that Prince and his Barons at Running-Mead between Windsor and Stanes his Son likewise called Matthew Fitz-Herbert was the fourth Baron mentioned in the Roll of that Parliament which was convened at Tewksbury The alteration of this Name into Finch was about the tenth of Edward the first at which Time Herbert Fitz-Herbert purchased the Mannor of Finches in Lidde of which being entire Lord as he was not of Netherfeild he assumed his Sirname from that as many other Families fell in that Age under the same Mutation and borrowed Sirnames from those places which were wholly under their possession and Signory In the eighth year of Edward the second there was a Supersedeas issued out mentioning that Herbert Fitz-Herbert called Finch was a Ward in the twenty eighth year of Edward the first and so could not personally serve with the King in his Wars in Scotland and therefore was released of his Escuage for all his Estate in Kent and Sussex which together with some of the ancient Patrimony and several Knights Fees at Netherfeild in Sussex and elsewhere are not yet departed from this Noble Family Westwell in the Hundred of Calchill was confirmed to the Monks of Christ-church in Canterbury for a supply in their Diet in the year 1241. But it seems they were questioned Quo Warranto they possest this Mannor and after a Solemn Decision per patriam it is affirmed and attested in the Confirmation of the abovesaid Prince that it was enstated upon them by his Predecessors and continued afterwards unquestionably parcel of the Demeasne of the Cloister abovesaid until it was resigned by the Monks of Christ-church into the Hands of Henry the eighth and so it rested in the Crown until not many years since it was granted to Sir Nic. Tuston of Hothfield The Parsonage anciently belonged to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury until Thomas Arundell the Arch-bishop gave it in the year 1397. to the Monks of Christ-church to counterpoise those vast expences which they were to be at in re-erecting the Nave or Body of the Cathedral called Aulam Ecclesiae by Eadmerus which Simon de Sudbury plucked down and had intended that it should like a Phoenix have rose more glorious out of its Ashes but was intercepted in his Design by a suddain Death being beheaded by Wat Tiler and the confluence of his impious and barbarous Complices This Church thus appropriated was confirmed to the Monks abovesaid in the year 1400. by King Henry the fourth and upon the suppression was re-enstated upon the Dean and Chapiter of Christ-church by Henry the eighth Ripley-court is a Seat of good Antiquity in this Parish and more eminent because it afforded a Sirname to Gentlemen of good Ranke in this Track of which Number was Richard de Ripley who died seised of this Mannor in the thirtieth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 91. and in an old Deed is called Miles Archiepiscopi that is he held this Mannor of the Arch-bishop by Knights Service but before the latter end of Edward the third this Family was vanished and then the Brockhuls and Idens succeeded in the possession the last of which was a Family of great Antiquity and no lesse Revenue about Iden in Sussex and Rolvenden in this County For in the year 1280. as appears by a Fine levied that year John the Son of Thomas de Iden passes away Lands to John de More And of this Family was Alexander Iden Esquire Sheriff of Kent in the thirty fourth year of Henry the sixth who in the twenty eighth year of that Prince slew Jack Cade who had borrowed the disguised Person of Mortimer excited thereunto as was the Opinion of those Times by the Suggestions of Richard Duke of Yorke to fathom the Peoples Affections to that man in the strength of whose Title he intended in the future to claim the English Diadem But the Attempts of Cade being disappointed by the formerly infatuated but now disenchanted Multitude's deserting of him who began to risent his Fraud and Imposture upon their total Dissipation shrowded himself in some of those Grounds which belonged to Ripley-court and lay not far distant from Hothfeild and were then in the Tenure of VVilliam Iden Justice of the Peace and Father of the abovesaid Alexander where being discovered he was by that Worthy Person offered up a Sacrifice to the Justice of Henry the sixth But I have digressed I now return After this Seat had for so many Descents been the Residence of this Family and the Cradle and Seminary of many Worthy Persons who had been subservient and ministerial to the Honour and Interess of this County by their Magnanimity and Prudence it went away from Iden by Sale to Darell and George Darell in the last year of Edward the sixth conveyed it to Baker Ancestor to Mr. ...... Baker of VVindsor now proprietary of it Diggs-court is another eminent Seat in this Parish which was the Mansion of the Noble Family of Diggs or
the third and twelfth of Richard the second and was as the private evidences of this Family inform me originally descended from Hugh de Peckham who was Constable of the Castle of Rochester under K. John in the first year of his reign and he in her right became entituled to that Interest Moraunt had in this place and in this Family it remained until those Times which approached near the Confines of our Grand-fathers remembrance and then it was passed away to Ellis from whence in Opposition to the other Moitie which was of spiritual Concernment it was called Werehorne Ellis and from this Family not many years since it was carried off by Sale to Tufton in right of which purchase the right honourable John Earl of Thanet is now invested in the possession of it The other Moietie which belonged to the Church was given in the year of Grace 1010 by Elphegus Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to the Monks of Christ-Church and was for the provision of their Garments And if you will discover how this was rated in the twentieth year of VVilliam the Conquerour the Record of Dooms-day Book will discover In Limwarled says the Note in Hundred de Hamme habent Monachi Sanctae Trinitatis de vestitu eorum 1. Manerium de VVerehorne 1. Sulling est appretiatum LXs. This Mannor being by the Monks and Prior of the Convent aforesaid surrendred into the Hands of Henry the eighth in the twenty ninth year of his reign it lay couched in the Demeasn of the Crown until the seventh year of K. James and then it was by Grant passed away to Tho. Paget and Thomas Twisden who in opposition to the other Moity which was of temporal Interess called this Werehorn Twisden and they not long after passed it away to Sir Thomas Tufton Grand-father to the right honourable John Earl of Thanet the instant Possessor of it Tinton in VVerehorne was a Mannor which anciently belonged to the Priory of Horton near Hieth but upon the suppression all its Demeasn being annexed to the Crown this was lodged there until the beginning of K. James and then it was by that Prince conveyed by Grant to Sir VVilliam Sidley of the Frierie in Alresford Grand-father to Sir Charles Sidley Baronet the present Lord of the Fee Capell in this Parish gave Seat and Sirname to a Family so called whose Demeasn lay spread into Ivie-Church Linton Boxley Horsmonden Capell by Brechley Capell in the Isle of Shepey and this Parish John de Capell flourished here in the reign of Henry the third who was as appears by the Leiger Book of Boxley an eminent Benefactor to that Covent and from him descended Sir VVilliam at Capell an eminent Knight of this County in the reign of Edward the third and Richard the second who left it to his Son Richard at Capell and he dying without Issue in the fifteenth year of Richard the second Sir John Orlanston in right of his Wife who was his Sister and Co-heir entred upon his Inheritance at this place and left it to his Son Richard Orlanston Esq who deceased without Issue in the seventh year of Henry the fifth and so upon the Division of the Estate VVilliam Scot who had espoused Joan one of the Sisters and Co-heirs was planted in the Inheritance of this place and from whom it is now devolved to be the possession of Edward Scot of Scots-Hall Esquire Ham is another eminent Mannor in this Parish which gives Name to the whole Hundred and was as high as the Ray of any Intelligence will guide us to discover folded up in the paternal Demeasn of the ancient Family of Orlanston VVilliam de Orlanston obtained a Charter of Free-Warren to his Lands at Orlanston VVerehorne and other places in the fifty first of Henry the third and being fenced in with this Immunity it came along by the Steps of Several Descents to Richard Orlanston Son of Sir John Orlanston who dying without Issue in the seventh year of Henry the fifth as is manifest Rot. Esc Num. 16. Joan one of his two Sisters matched to William Scot of Scots-Hall and Margaret the second wedded to William Parker of Parkers in this Parish became his two Co-heirs and upon breaking the Estate by mutual Division into parcels this in the second year of Henry the sixth was annexed to the Patrimony of Scot and from him did the Thread of successive Descent transmit to Mr. Edward Scot of Scots-Hall Esquire who still by paternal right enjoys the Inheritance of it Parkers is another Mannor which next summons our remembrance which afforded a Sirname as it gave an Habitation to a Family so styled Edward Parker held Lands in Werehore Westerham and other places at his Decease which was in the ninth year of Edward the second as appears Rot. Esc Num. 1.14 and in this Name was the Title and Inheritance constant until the reign of Henry the eighth and then I find by several Court-rolls one John Engham to be fixed by purchase in the possession and in this Family did it remain uninterrupted until the beginning of K. James and then it was by Sale conveyed to Taylor who not long after demised it to Collins from whom not long since it came by purchase to Squire and he not many years since passed it away to Dr. ...... Kingsley Arch-Deacon of Canterbury in whose Descendants the Proprietie of it is still resident Hampton Coclescombe is the last place considerable in Werehorne which gave Name originally to a Family which here had their Habitation and likewise were possessors of much Land at Westwell and other places and having lived here many Descents the possession of this place at last devolved to John Hampton who about the latter end of Edward the fourth passed it away to John May of Bibrook whose successor John May concluding about the latter end in a Daughter and Heir called Alice matched to John Edolph it came to be the Inheritance of that Family but did not long confess the Signory of it for this John Edolph deceased without Issue-male and left it to his sole Daughter Elizabeth matched to William Wilcock who expiring likewise in two Female Heirs Martha matched to Edward Ratcliff Doctor of Physick and Physitian to Q. Elizabeth and K. James and the second matched to William Andrews they divided this Mannor as parcel of his Inheritance William Andrews in the twenty ninth year of Q. Elizabeth demised his proportion to Rowland Bridges and Robert Philipson And Edward Radcliff alienated that part of it which accrued to him in the forty third year of Q. Elizabeth to Edward Rolt and Andrew Mersh Westerham gives Name to the whole Hundred wherein it is placed and was in elder Times the patrimony of a Family called Camville which was of some eminence in this Track William de Camville and G. de Camville entred England with VVilliam the Conquerour Thomas de Camville was one of the Recognitores magnae Assisae in the seventh year of K. John
and Geffrey de Camville was with Edward the first at the Siege of Carlaverock in Scotland in the twenty eighth year of his reign and there received the Order of Knighthood and here this Family concluded for afterwards I find this Mannor in the Hands of the Abbot of VVestminster who obtained a Market weekly to be held at this place on the Munday and a Fair yearly upon the Vigil the day and day after the Nativity of our Lady as appears Pat. 25. Edwardi tertii Num. 32. And here it remained with their revenue untill the Suppression of that Cloister in the reign of Henry the eighth and then being rent away by that Tempest it was in the thirty second year of that Prince granted to Sir Iohn Gresham which Concession was again confirmed to the Lady Beatrix Gresham Widow of Sir Thomas Gresham his Son by Queen Elizabeth from whom it is now devolved to Marmaduke Gresham Esq the Heir apparent of the Family Broxham is a place of eminent Account in this Parish Iohn de Insula or Isley was Lord of this Mannor and obtained a Charter of Free-warren here in the eleventh year of Edward the second After the Isleys were gon out the Ashways successively stept into the possession Stephen de Ashway obtained a Licence to inclose a Park here in the forty first year of Edward the third the Characters and Reliques of which are not so generally demolished and disparked by Time but that they are still obvious to a Curious eye yet this Priviledge could not fix it long in this Family for about the latter end of Richard the second I find it by Sale cast into the possession of Edward Lord Clinton who held it at his Decease which was in the first year of Henry the fourth Rot. Esc Num. 16. But here likewise the Title was as volatile and transitory for about the Beginning of Henry the sixth Iohn Lord Clinton passed it away to Thomas Squerie who was Lord of Squeries-court in this Parish and was descended from Iohn de Squerie whom I find by some old Evidences to have lived at Westerham in the Reign of Henry the third and it is possible either erected or very much augmented the Seat called Squeries-court The Arms viz. a Squirrel brousing on a Hasell-nut are depicted in very ancient coloured Glasse in Westerham-church but this Thomas above-mentioned dying in the seventeenth year of Henry the sixth without Issue-male Margaret his eldest Daughter matched to Sir William Cromer and Dorothy his youngest wedded to Richard Mervin of Fontels in Wiltshire became his two Coheirs and upon the division of the estate Squeries-court and Broxham were annexed to the patrimony of Cromer in which Family they made their aboad until the reign of Henry the eighth and then VVilliam Cromer Esquire having by some Delinquencie forfeited them to the Crown that Prince granted them to Thomas Cawarden or Carden Esquire from which Family about the middle of Queen Elizabeths reign they went off by Sale to Beresford who almost in our memory sold Squeries-Court to Sir George Stroud and he some few years since alienated it to Thomas Lambert Esquire who hath lately demised it to Mr ...... Leech but Broxham was conveyed to Mr. Tho. Petley of Vilston whose Grandchild Mr. ..... Petley is the Heir apparent of it Well-street and Gaysam in this Parish did anciently confess the two Families of Atwell and Shelley for its proprietaries William Atwell held Wellstreet as appears by an ancient Court-roll in the thirty fifth of Edward the third and Thomas Shelley in the forty sixth year of the same Monarch settles Gaysam by Testament on Thomas his Son and Heir who in the eighth year of Richard the second conveys it to his Son Thomas Shelley whose Descendant about the latter end of Henry the sixth demised it to John Potter and his Successor about the Beginning of Henry the fourth purchased VVellstreet of the Heirs of Cothull and is in the List of five of this Family who lye buried in Westerham-church and this Branch of the Name here was descended from Iohn Potter who held Lands at Dertford the twelfth of Edward the second and whose posterity continued Lords of these two places untill the Beginning of King James and then ...... Potter dying without Issue-male his only Daughter and Heir brought them to be the Inheritance of Sir Iohn Rivers of Chafford who not many years since demised his Interest in Well-street to Mr. Thomas Smith of Milk-street in London Scrivener Valons in this Parish was formerly the Mansion of a Family called in old datelesse Deeds de Valoniis and in English Valons but the greatest Honor which accrued to it was that Islip Abbot of VVestminster bought it in the reign of Henry the seventh of Casinghurst a Family which had been possest of it many Descents before and gave it to his Servant VVilliam Middleton who much improved it with Building And in his Family it was resident untill the latter end of Queen Elizabeth and then it was conveyed to James Verseline descended out of Flanders who gave it with his Daughter Anne Verseline to Peter Manning from which Family not many years since it passed away to Mr. Randall Manning of London whose Son and Heir Mr. Thomas Manning is now in the enjoyment of it Werd or Werth in the Hundred of Eastry is a Parish if you consider it in its precincts but narrow if in position low and unhealthful or if again in its number of Communicants not considerable but yet there are two places within the Ambuts and Boundaries of it which claim some consideration The first is the Mannor of Sandowne which was anciently the Perots who held this Mannor as the private Deeds of this Name and Family inform me as high as the Reign of Henry the third Thomas de Perot died possest of it in the fourth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 31. and then it was found fenced in and fortified with these priviledges It had Infangthef and Outfangthef Toll and Theam Sac and Soc Tumbrell and Pillory and other Franchises of the like Complexion but after this the Tenure was but of a brief Duration in this Name for the Female Heir of Perot brought this Mannor with much other Land to Langley of the County of Warwick and about the Reign of Henry the fifth there was a match between this Family and Peyton of the County of Cambridge which match at length brought this Mannor to descend to this Family For Edward Langley of Knolton Esquire deceasing about the beginning of Henry the eighth without Issue Sir Robert Peyton of Peyton Hall entred upon this and other Lands as his Heir at Law and he assigned it to his second Son John Peyton Esquire from whom it is now descended to Sir Thomas Peyton Baronet the instant proprietary of it Before I leave this Discourse of Sandowne I must inform the Reader that the Family of Peyton above mentioned and that of Ufford were primitively one and
third year of Henry the sixth Joan the Wife of Sir Iohn Grey one of the Sisters and Coheirs of the abovesaid Edmund was invested in the possession in the fourth year of the abovesaid Prince Not long after this it came to own the Signory of the Tiptofts and continued fastned to their patrimony until the renth year of Edward the fourth When Iohn Tiptoft Earl of Worcester being empeached of close Confederacy and Combination with the abovesaid Prince then forced into Exile was by the Parliament then principally moulded out of the Lancastrian Faction attainted and beheaded and his estate here confiscated to the Crown and there was lodged until the first year of Queen Elizabeth and then it was granted to Anthony Brown Viscount Montague who in the year 1592 deceased and left it to his Son and Heir Anthony Brown Viscount Montague and he setled it upon his second Son Mr. Stanislaus Brown who now is in the enjoyment of it East-wickham is situated in the Hundred of Little and Lesnes and celebrates the memory of the noble Family of Montchensey and was wrapped up in their Demeasn William de Montchensey held it at his Death which was in the fifty second year of Henry the third and left it to his Sole Daughter and Heir Dionis matched to Hugh de Vere but he dying without Issue in the seventh year of Edward the second as appears Rot. Esc Num. 51. the Title and possession diverted to VVilliam de Valentia Earl of Pembroke half Brother by the Mothers side to Henry the third who had matched with Joan Sister and Heir to VVilliam de Montchensey before named from whom it descended to his Son Aymer de Valence who dying without Issue Isabell one of his Sisters and Coheirs who was affianced to Laurence de Hastings summoned to sit in Parliament by Edward the third as Earl of Pembroke upon the approportioning the estate entituled her Husband to this Mannor and from him was the Title carried down to his Grandchild Iohn de Hastings Earl of Pembroke who was in possession of it at his Decease which was in the thirteenth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 30. And Reginald Grey was found to be his Heir in which Family it remained until the Beginning of Henry the sixth and then it was passed away to VVilliam Lord Lovell who was often summoned to sit as Baron in Parliament in that Prince's reign and from him it came down to his Grandchild Iohn Lord Lovell summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron in the second year of Edward the fourth and he about the Beginning of his reign passed it away to Iohn Lord Howard afterwards created Duke of Norfolk who being a close and eager Complice of Richard the third sunk in his Ruines in the Battle commenced at Bosworth and Henry of Richmond having by that successeful Combat ascertained himself to the English Scepter seised upon this Mannor by Escheat in the first year of his Reign as relating to a person who had actually appeared in Arms against him and being thus united to the Crown it lay couched in its Revenue untill the seventh year of Edward the sixth and then it was granted to Sir Martin Bowes who not long after passed it away to Alderman Oliff of London who left it to Joan his Sole Daughter and Heir matched to John Leigh Son and Heir of Nicholas Leigh of Addington in Surrey Esquire Father to Sir Oliff Leigh who much enhaunsed the Magnisicence of the ancient Fabrick with increase of Building and left it to his Son Sir Francis Leigh whose Widow the Lady Christian Leigh in Right of Dower is now in Possession of the Signory of it VVest-Wickham in the Hundred of Rokesley is much enobled by being anciently entituled to the possession of the eminent Family of Huntingfield Peter de Huntingfield held it who was Sheriff of Kent the eleventh twelfth and thirteenth years of Edward the third and is registred in the Scroles of those Kentish Gentlemen who accompanied Edward the first in his Victorious Expedition into Scotland in the twenty eighth year of his reign when he reduced Carlaverock by a successeful Seige for which his merit was repayed with the Honour of Knighthood his Son and Heir was Walter de Huntingfield who in the eleventh year of Edward the second obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor of West-Wickham a Market weekly on the Monday and a Fair yearly on the Vigil and day of St. Mary Magdalen as appears Pat. 11. Edwardi secundi Num. 23. And left it invested with these Priviledges to his Son and Heir Sir John de Huntingfield who paid Aid for three Knights Fees which he held in this County at making the Black Prince Knight and was a Man of that Eminence that he was summoned to sit as Baron in Parliament the thirty sixth year of Edward the third and several other Times during the Raign of the above-named Prince William de Huntingfield this mans Son was summoned likewise many Times to sit as Baron in Parliament about the latter end of Edward the third but dyed without Issue so that Joan and Alize Huntingfield his Cozens matched to Copledike and Norwich were his Heirs and by an old Deed I find that one John Copledike held this Mannor by Right of Partition the last year of Richard the second but it was not long after this fixed in the Patrimony of this Family for in the seventeenth year of Flenry the sixth Thomas Squerrie died possest of it and left it to his Son and Heir John Squerrie who dying without Issue in the fourth year of Edward the fourth Dorothy one of his two Sisters and Coheirs entituled her Husband Richard Mervin upon the Division of the Estate to the proprietie of this Mannor and he not long after passed it away to Richard Scrope who in the seventh year of Edward the fourth alienated it by Fine to Ambrose Creseacre who not long after transmitted it by Sale to Henry Heyden Esquire to whom the principal part of the ancient Pile now visible ows its Erection and from him did it devolved to that eminent Scholler and Souldier Justice of the Peace and Captain of the trained Bands of this County in the Reign or Queen Elizabeth Sir Christopher Heydon who about the latter end of that Princess passed it away to Sir Samuel Lennard Father to Sir Stephen Lennard who is entituled to the present propriety of it Wymingswould in the Hundred of Wingham contains within the Circuit or Limits of it an ancient Seat called Nethersole from its situation near some Pool or descending Pond and was as high as the Time of K. John and Henry the third the possession of a Family which was represented to the world under this Sirname for as it appears by the Original Deeds and Evidences which fortifie the Title of this Mansion Richard de Nethersoll flourished here about the Government of the abovesaid Monarchs and from him was it by a perpetuated Succession chained
demeasn at Halden in Dower with Mary his Daughter matched to Sir Hen. Sidney Lord Deputy of Ireland and Knight of the Garter a person of that Value and Eminence that he that would discover him represented in his best Features and proportion must view him in his Worthy and Signal undertakings in Ireland where he will find him better pourtraid than he can be by any faint or drowsie Attributes that drop from my humble and unequal pen and from him did this Mannor in right of this Alliance descend to his Grandchild the right honorable Robert Earl of Leicester who not many years since passed it away to Sir Edward Hendon one of the Barons of the Exchequer who upon his Decease gave it to his Nephew Sir John Hondon of Biddenden and he not long since alienated it to Mr. John Austin of Tenterden from whom it is lately devolved by Death to be now the possession of his second Brother Mr. Rob. Austin of Hall-place in Bexley Brocket is another Mannor in Ebeney which had possessors as appears by ancient Deeds of that Name who likewise were written in Evidences Brocket but whether the Brockets of Brocket-hall in the County of Hartford were descended from these or these from them I cannot discover But the greatest honor which this obscure Mannor hath acquired is that ever since the reign of Henry the fourth untill the thirtieth year of Henry the eighth it acknowledged the noble Family of Guldford and then it changed its proprietaries for that year it was by John Guldford Esquire conveyed to Sir John Hales Baton of the Exchequer from whom it is now come down to own the proprietary of his Descendant Sir Edward Hales of Tunstall Baronet The Island of Shepey comes next to be treated of It called by Ptolomie Toliatis in Latin Insula Ovium in Saxon Sceapige all agreeing in their Verdict that it was so named from its plenty of Sheep It is environed with the mixed Waters of the Thames and Medway on the West the Swale or Genlade on the South and the Main Ocean beats on the East and North more celebrated for the fertility of the Soil then Salurbity of Air which is grosse and thick causing Aguish Infirmities that keep long Residence they get possession Quinborough or rather originally Kingsborough as Konisbergh in Prussia is now corruptly called Quensborough acknowledged King Edward the third for the Founder who having wedded Philippa Daughter of William Earl of Henault and Holland and his occasions often calling him to passe into her Fathers Dominion whose Aid and Assistance he required in the great enterprise for the Recovery of his undoubted right to the Diadem of France heerected this strong and stately Fottresse for defence of the mouth of the Thames and his own secure Accomodation And because the Situation of this place was unhealthy he to allure Inhabitants in the year 1366 enobled the Town with a Charter of Incorporation wherein he indulges by Grant ample priviledges and Immunities unto it as namely to hold two Mercates weekly one on the Munday and the other on the Thursday and two Fairs yearly one at the Feast of St. James the other on the twenty fourth of March and to make Choice of Burgesses to send to Parliament The principal Architect and Surveyout of the work was William Wickham after Bishop of Winchester who had been formerly employed in that kind at the reedifying Windsor-castle when his good patron John de Vuedal was Constable there This man used to inscribe on the edifices thus erected this Inscription This made VVickham whereby some conceived he arrogated to himself the Cost and payment of the Structure and informed the King thereof but his ingenious exposition satisfied that Prince when he shewed him that by his Inspection and Insight into those matters he had obtained both his Ecclesiastical and secular promotions being made Bishop of Winchester first Keeper of the privy Seal and then of the King's Conscience his last Gradation or Ascent being to be Lord Chancellor of England When King Edward had perfected this Castle he instituted a Chief Governour who was for the future to carry the Title of Constable like as at Dover-castle and elsewhere The Catalogue of those who succeeded in that Command I have set down The care and cost of King Henry the eighth in the year 1536 to repair this place when he erected Fortresses for Defence of the Sea Coast drew this Eulogie from the Pen of Leland Castrum Regius editum recepit Burgus Fulmina dira Insulanos Tutos servat ab omni vel omni Constables of Quinborough Castle JOhn Foxly a valiant Souldier and faithful Servant to King Edward the third was the first Constable of Quinborough Castle which Office he received the thirty sixth of Edward the third 50. Edw. 3. John of Gaunt 8. Rich. 2. Robert de Vere 16. Rich. 2. Arnold Savage of Bobbing Court. 20. Rich. 2. William Scroop 1. Hen. 4. Sir Hugh Waterton 4. Hen. 4. Sir Jo. Cornwallis Lord Fanhope Knight of the Garter 10. Hen. 4. Thomas Arundel Arch-bishop of Canterbury 1. Hen. 5. Gilbert Vmfreville 28. Hen. 6. Humfrey Stafford Duke of Buckingham 1. Edw. 4. John Northwood Esquire ... Edw. 4. George Duke of Clarence 1. Rich. 3. Thomas Wentworth 2. Rich. 3. Christopher Collins 1. Hen. 7. William Cheyney 2. Hen. 8. Sir Francis Cheyney 3. Hen. 8. Sir Tho. Cheyney of Shurland Knight of the Garter 1. Reginae Elizab. Sir Robert Constable  Sir Edward Hobbie Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery Baron of Shurland and Knight of the Garter Minster is the next place of Account in this Island and is contracted from the Latin Word Monasterium from whence this Town hath its Appellation and may challenge the third place amongst our English Nunneries For Sexburga Daughter to Ercombert King of Kent to whom and the Virgin Mary the Church of this Parish is devoted and dedicated in the year 664 erected a Religious House at this place and liberally endowed it for the Sustentation of vayled Virgins The second was founded by Eanswith Daughter of Eadbald King of Kent at Folkston And the first had its Institution at Liminge likewise in this County by Eadburga and erected to the Honor of the Virgin Mary and St. Mildred But the Antiquity of this Cell and the Sanctity attributed to it by elder times could not so skreen or rescue it from the Heat of War but it was thrice sacked and dismantled by the barbarous irruptions of the Danes within lesse then an Age which by usual Account is said to be thirty year The first misfortune happened to it in the year 832 when thirty five Sail of them rived here and rifled it The second and third time was in the year 851 and then again in the year 855 by the Armies of them who wintered their Ships within this Island Besides these depredations the complices of Earl Godwin and his Sons in the Time of their proscription and exile which was in the year
1052 landed in this Island and miserably harrassed it by filling all places with Ruine and Devastation Indeed Religion when it glitters with a splendid and full revenue is like the Pictures of the ancient Saints apparelled in rich Garments which some have been enticed to rob not out of ill Will to their Sanctity but love to their Shrines and Beauty of their Cloaths Persecution and the Robes of Humility were the Attire of the primitive Church and when she is dressed up in gaudy Fortunes it is no more then she merits Yet sometimes it occasions the Devil to cheat her of her Holinesse and impious men by an unjust and injurious Sacriledge to cheat her of her riches But I have digressed I now return into the Track of my Discourse and must inform my Reader that although the Glory of this Cloister was so bowed down and broken with these misfortunes that it appeared almost sunk in its own Calamities yet by the piety of subsequent Ages it was buoyed up again but more especially by the indulgent Charity of King Henry the fourth who in the first year of his reign confirmed their old priviledges and to those added by patent many new And in this Condition it continued untill the general Dissolution or Deluge and then it was by Henry the eighth in the twenty ninth year of his reign granted to Sir Thomas Cheyney and his Son Henry Lord Cheyney having in the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth exchanged it for other Lands with that Princesse she regranted it to Sir Edward Hobby who had matched with her Kinswoman Margaret Daughter of Henry Lord Hunsdon and his Son Sir Edward Hobby about the middle of King James passed it away to Mr. Hen. Richards and he upon his Decease bequeathed it to Gabriel Livesey Esquire and he almost in our Remembrance conveyed it to Sir John Heyward who setled it upon his two Feoffees in Trust Sir Francis Buller of Cornwall and Serjeant Clerk of Rochester for such Charitable Uses as they should think proportionate to that Conveyance The Mannor of Northwood is situated in this Parish which was the Inheritance of Jordanus de Scapeia for so he is written in old datelesse Deeds and he had Issue Stephen de Northwood who was the first whom I find in Record to have assumed this Appellation and he was Father to Sir Roger de Northwood who lies buryed in Minster Church with an Inscription affixed to his Monument which seems by its more modern Character to have been corrupted It is this Hic jacet Rogerus Northwood Miles sepultus ante Conquestum Indeed his Figure is fairly insculped in Brasse with that of his Lady Bona lying by him who was Sister and Heir of William de Wauton The vulgar upon a credulous errour every where affirm that all those who are thus buryed were enterr'd after the Conquest when it is certain that many were entombed in this posture many years before the Conquerour that had obliged themselves by Vow to defend the Crosse and Sepulcher of our Saviour against the Fury and Assaults of Infidels Sure I am the Tomb next to this appears to be far more ancient and of so venerable a Form that its like doth not occurre in any other place there is not any Letter of Inscription left only the Coat is a sure Testimony that it was one of the Ancestors of the Family of Northwood But to proceed John Norwood one of this House as the private Records of the Family testifie feasted H. the fifth at the Red Lion in Sedingbourne and the Wine amounted upon the wole account but to 9. s. and 9. d. Wine being then rated but at a penny the pint W. Northwood another of this Name and Family did signal Service at the Battel of Agincourt and afterwards at the Battel of Vernoile which was managed by John Duke of Bedford Regent of France He was Kinsman of John Northwood who was the last of this Name at this place for he about the latter end of Edward the fourth alienated it to VVilliam VVarner Esquire whose Son and Heir VVilliam VVarner about the Beginning of Henry the eighth demised it to Sir Thomas Cheyney and his Son Sir Henry Lord Cheyney having exchanged it for other Lands with Queen Elizabeth it remained with the Crown untill King James in the second year of his reign granted it to the right honorable Philip Herbert Earl of Montgomery and afterwards Earl of Pembroke Newhall is another little Mannor in Minster which Fulke Peyforer dyed seised of in the ninth year of Edward the second and from him it devolved by descent to be the patrimony of his great Grandchild Fulk Peyforer and his Sole Heir Julian carried it away to Thomas St. Leger of Ottringden whose two Female Coheirs being matched to Aucher and Ewias shared his Inheritance and about the reign of Henry the fifth passed it away by Sale to Cromer whose Successor VVilliam Cromer having about the latter end of Henry the eighth by some misdemeanor forfeited it to the Crown it was granted to one Stephen Graine in which Family it remained untill the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth and then it was alienated to Small from which Name the same Vicissitude not many years since carried it off to Luck who transmitted his Right in it to Mr. Henry Newton who hath lately demised it to Mr. Josias Gering of London Rishingdon is the last place of Account which is circumscribed within the Limits of Minster It was in the twenty third year of Edward the first wrapped up in the patrimony of Savage for at that time John de Savage obtained a Charter of Freewarrren to several of his Mannors in Kont in the Number of which this is registered for one but in the reign of Edward the third the possession was departed from this Family being purchased by Philippa Wife and Queen to Edward the third and setled upon the Hospital of St. Katharines neere the Tower in whose demeasn it hath layn involved ever since In the fourteenth year of the reign of Richard the second John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the King's Uncle was Lessee to that Hospital as appears Rot. Esc Num. 113. Which I mention to discover to the Reader that even in those Times Persons of the greatest eminence did not disdain to be Tenants for an Estate to an Hospital East-Church is the next place which comes to be considered Which though obscure in it self yet is made eminent by Shurland which is a Limb of this Parish and anciently did own a noble Family which bore that Sirname the last of which was Sir Robert de Shurland who was one of those Kentish Bannerets which were made by King Edward the first at the Siege of Carlaverock in the twenty eighth year of his reign and to whom the former Prince as a farther Symbol or Testimony of his Merit granted a Charter of Free-warren in the twenty ninth year of his reign to his Mannor of Shurland not long after which he deceased and
Esc Num. 81. being convicted of Felony was found to have held some Land here at Densted which upon the Forfeiture was by that Prince it is probable as was customary in those times settled on the Priory of Leeds and lay wholly couched in their Revenue until the publick Dissolution in the reign of Henry the eighth rent it off and then it was in the thirty seventh year of Henry the eighth granted to John Tufton Esquire and he about the third year of Ed. the sixth alienated it to Richard Argal Esquire from whom not long after it came over by Sale to Mr. Bartholomew Man and he about the Beginning of Q. Elizabeth conveyed it by Sale to William Lovelace Esquire Serjeant at Law to that Princess and his Son Sir Will. Lovelace about the Beginning of K. James passed it away to to Sir Will. Cullimore whose Lady not long after conveyed it to Tho. Steed of Steed-Hill and he not many years since demised it to Sir Tho. Swan of Southfleet whose Son and Heir William Swan Esquire enjoys the instant Signorie of it Howfield is a second place which calls for our Notice it was as high as any Evidence can furnish me with Intelligence to steer me on to any old Discovery the Patrimonial Inheritance of Fogge a noble and Knightly Family as any in this Track Sir Thomas Fogge who inhabited at Toniford about the latter end of Edward the third purchased this and Toniford of John de Toniford about the last year of that Princes Rule and in the Revenue of this Family did the Title of this Mannor for many Descents lye rolled up till some few Generations since it was alienated to Colepeper where after some short residence the Possession by the same Fate was transplanted into Vane from whom not many years since it went away by Sale to Sir Will. Man * See more of this Family of Man at Bredgar of Canterbury who is the instant Proprietary of it But the place in Chartham of most eminent Account is the Mannor of Shalmesford-Bridge so called because the Mansion House is situated near the Bridge which crosses the Stoure It was for many Generations the Inheritance of a Family which had here their Seat and derived from hence their Sirname and continued down in an uninterrupted succession in the Possession of this Family until about the beginning of the reign of Henry the seventh as appears by the Deed which I have seen Ann Daughter and Sole Heir of William Shalmesford was wedded to John Petit and so by this Alliance the Fee-simple of this place was lincked to their Patrimony but in our Fathers Memory the Tie was broken for William Petit this Mans Successor deceased without Issue Male and left onely three Daughters his Coheirs Katharine married to Michael Belke Elizabeth matched to Giles Masters and lastly Dorothy espoused first to William Masters secondly to John Meriwether and thirdly to ...... Parker of North-Fleet who shared his Revenue but this upon the separation of the Estate did improve the Demeasn of Michael Belke with its accession from whom it is descended to the present owner Mr. ....... Belke now Vicar of Wye issued out from the Belkes of Coperham's Sole in Shelvich which hath been in the Tenure and Possession as it now is of this Name and Family as the private Evidences of the place do manifest almost four hundred years There is yet another petty Mannor in Chartham called Shalmesford Street but more truly and originally the Mansion of Bolles for it was the Interest of that Name and Family who had large Possessions at Chilham and the parts adjacent but upon my viewing the private Evidences of this place some of which reached to Edw. the third I could not discover that any of them were ever represented under the notion of Gentlemen or that there was any Coat of Arms insculped on their Seats after Bolles was worn out which was about the beginning of the reign of Q Eliz. the Possession was by Sale surrendred to Cracknal from whom in that Age which bordered upon our remembrance it was by the same Fatality conveyed away to Michel who claims the present Possession of it Chetham with Gillingham are knit into one Hundred so that it gives Name to that Track wherein it is situared it was in Ages of a very high Pedigree the Seat of the Potent Ancient and Illustrious Family of Crevequer and was Caput Baroniae or the principal Mannor which related to their Barony before they transplanted themselves to Leeds Castle and frequently writ Domini de Cetham Hamon de Crevequer lived in the Time of the Conquerour and is mentioned in the great Survey styled Deomesday-Book and he had Issue Robert Crevequer or de Crepite Corde who was joyned as an Assistant to John Fiennes in the Guard of Dover Castle and he was Grand-father to Robert Crevequer who erected Leeds Castle and had Issue Hamon de Crevequer who matched with Matilda de Averenches Daughter and Heir of William de Averenches by whom he had Issue Hamon de Crevequer who was so involved in the Design and Combination of Simon de Montfort which was to retrench the Prerogative of Henry the third that he made the Breast of Prince Edward eldest Son to that King boile with so much Passion and Animosity that it could not be appeased or allayed until he had appointed Henry Cobbam his Substitute in his Constableship of Dover to dismantle and raze his Castle at Leeds and seise on this Mannor as the Expiation and recompense of so great a Defection and Folly and although his Crimes were afterwards absolved and entombed in the Pacification of Killingworth yet I do not find that ever Chetham was restored to him for in the tenth year of Edward the second that Prince exchanges this Mannor and divers other pieces of Land with Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer for the Mannor of Adresley and the Advowson of the Church in Shropshire But he soon after insculped these Benefits of the Kings in Sand a weak Register to record so many important Obligations and by his Confederacy with Tho. Earl of Lancaster and others of the mutinous Nobility forfeited both this and his life at Canterbury upon whose Tragedie it resolved again into the Revenue of the Crown and there rested until K. Edw. the third in the second year of his Reign restored it again to his Son Bartholomew Badelesmer and he dying in the twelfth year of that Kings Government without Issue Margaret matched to William Rosse and re-married to Thomas Arundel and Margery another of his Sisters matched to Sir Jo. de Tib itot and Co-heirs shared his Inheritance at this place Sir John Tibitot in his Wife 's right died seised of it in the thirty third year of Edw. the third Rot. Esc Num. 39. And Margaret Widow of Will. Rosse and Wife of Tho. Arundel was in possession of a Moitie of it at her decease which was in the thirty seventh year of Edw. the third Rot. Esc
at the Marriage of Isabell that Prince's Sister In Times which were immediatly subsequent to the departure of this Family from this place that is in the Government of Henry the fourth I find by an Ancient Court-roll the Moores to have been possest of it and kept it in their Inheritance until the reign of Henry the eighth and then it was conveyed to Gibbons of Rolvenden from which Family about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth as appears by the Court-rols now in the Hands of my Learned Friend Mr. Kilbourn it went away to Hay or Hays of Sussex and in this Name it remained until that Time which bordered upon our Fathers Remembrance and then it was alienated to Everden or Everinden descended from the Everindens of Everinden-house in Biddenden where they are recorded by the private Deeds of that place to have been resident many Hundred years until in the second year of Queen Mary it was passed away by Sale to John Mils Ancestor to the present Proprietary But to proceed the Continuance of this Family at this place was but brief and transitory for not many years since it went away by Sale from this Name to Muns where the Inheritance still continues Fresingham sometimes written Fersingham and vulgarly called Frensham is the last place of Account in Rolvenden It had in the twentieth year of Henry the third as appears by Testa de Nevill a Family of that Name which was its Possessor for John de Fresingham or Fersingham held it then and paid for it after the Rate of the fourth part of a Knights Fee at the Marriage of Isabell that Prince's Sister And in this Family did it remain until the latter part of Edward the third and then the Vicissitude of Purchase brought it to be the Demeasne of Norwood and in this Name was it resident until the reign of Edward the fourth and then as appears by the old Rols of this Mannor it was conveyed to Guldeford and Sir Henry Guldeford upon his Decease gave it to his second Son Sir George Guldeford from whom it descended to his Grand-child Sir Edward Guldford who about the beginning of King James passed it away to Mr. Fowle who bequeathed it to his second Son Mr. ...... Fowle who sold it to Sir Edward Hales Knight and Baronet Grand-father to Sir Edward Hales who possesses the instant Signory and Fee-simple of it Hole in this Parish was a Seat which had Owners of that Sirname for in the year 1340. Henry at Hole demises this place-by Deed to his two Sisters Honor and Alice but for many Descents last past Edmund Gibbons was of this Family who founded the Free-School at Benenden and setled 30. l. per Annum for its endowment it hath been the Patrimony of Gibbons who held Land in this Parish in the year 1326. and was the Seminary or Original Seed-plot whence all of that Name and Family in Kent primitively sprouted forth and though Sir William Segar did assigne to Mr. Gibbons of Westcliff A Lion Rampant between three Escollops and to this Family A Lion Rampant between three Ogrises as their Coat-Armor yet in ancient coloured Glasse at Hole now the Inheritance of Colonel Robert Gibbons the paternal Coat of this Family is represented to have been Or A Lion Rampant Sables charged with an Escarbuncle Pomettee and Flourette of the first which I mention that this Family now of Hole might receive no prejudice by his Mistake or inadvertency Fersham in this Parish was as appears by some dateless Deeds the Patrimony of Sir John de Fersham Stephen de Fersham this mans Successor in the eleventh year of Edward the third found a man at Arms for Guard of the Sea Coasts which implies he was of eminence in those Times In Times of a latter Date that is in the reign of Henry the fourth I find it possest by Guldeford and remained with the Revenue of that Family until the latter end of Queen Elizabeth and then it was passed away to Dike of Sussex whose Descendants by their Trustees and Commissioners not many years since conveyed their joynt-Interest in it to Mr. Thomas Bromfeild of London Merchant Old Romney in the Hundred of Langport is eminent for two or three places which lie within the Confines of it which are both of Spiritual and Secular Concernment The first is Agne-court and Orgarswike not distant by any considerable Difference of space from this Town and which was once a Parish entirely in it self until it is probable the unhealthful Situation made the Inhabitants vary their Station and dislodge which were both given by Offa King of the Mercians in the year seven hundred eighty and one to the Prior and Monks of Christ-church ad Pascua Porcorum say the Records of that Covent that is for the feeding or grazing of their Hoggs And it is possible that the Foundation of this Grant was the profuse Effusion not only of Christian but of Innocent Blood which had been so prodigally wasted to be subservient and ministerial to the ambitious Interests and Passions of the above-mentioned Prince and though peradventure he had endeavored to wash off those Crimson Stains which stuck upon his Hands besmeared with the Blood of Ethelbert King of the East-Angles and others with penitential Pears yet he deemed that an insufficient Expiation to assoil himself from his contracted Guilt unlesse he made his Compunction more visible and conspicuous by a Munificent Manifestation both of his Piety and Charity together Bere or Berry-court in Old Romney for it carried the first Appellation in very Old Evidences is a Mannot which hath contracted a Reputation from those large Quit-rents and other Services which appertain unto it rather then from the Dimension and extent of its Revenue which is but narrow and circumscribed Nicholas de Bere held it in the twentieth year of Henry the third as appears by an old Court-roll which hath an Aspect upon that Time He was Son of Richard de Bere who was one of the Recognitores Magnae Assisae an Office of a wide circumference of Trust in that Age in the second year of King John in the great Controversie which was started between Richard de Garwinton and Theobald de Twitham concerning Land at Ilding in Kingston In the twentieth year of Edward the third I find that Robert Forneaux Robert Atwood and Thomas Tutwise had some Interest in Berry-court and paid respective Aide for it as the Book of Aide informs me at making the Black Prince Knight But before the beginning of Richard the second I find the Title wholly concentered in Belknap for Sir Robert Belknap the Judge did not only hold it in the first year but likewise in the tenth of that Prince at what Time being attainted and banished by the Malevolent Concurrence of some ambitious Lords whose Influence like a Confederacy of Malignant Aspects in the Stars combined to Ruine him this by Escheat was invested in the Crown and was by Royal Concession as appears by the Original
Patent conveyed in the thirteenth of Richard the third to John Brockman In Times of a lower step that is in the reign of Henry the eighth I find it in the Possession of John Newland but whether by Purchase from Brockman or not for want of Intelligence I cannot discover And in this Family the Propriety continued until the latter end of Queen Elizabeth and then it was conveyed to Sir George Perkins from whom almost in our Memory the same Mutation brought it to confess the instant possession of Mr. ...... Aldridge of Tilers near Reding Rucking in the Hundred of Hamme in Ancient Records written Roking was by the Piety and Charitable Munificence of King Offa in the year seven hundred eighty and one given to the Prior and Monks of Christ-church and was in the Original Donation granted ad Pascua Porcorum for the Pasture of their Hoggs and it continued clasped up in their Revenue until the Tempest of the general Dissolution arose and overtook it for there being a Surrender of the Revenue of this Covent into the Hands of Henry the eighth in the thirty third year of his reign he united it to the Dean and Chapiter of Christ-church which he shortly after established and moulded out of their Ruines and here it continued until a late Storm arose again and tore it off Barbedinden is another eminent Mannor within the Boundaries of this Parish which had in Ages of a more Ancient Inscription Proprietaries of the same Denomination William de Barbodinden held it at his Death which was in the ninth of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 3. And left it to his Son and Heir John de Barbodinden who in the twentieth year of Edward the third as appears by the Book of Aid paid an Auxiliary supply for it at making the Black Prince Knight After this Family was extinguished Robert Belknap the Judge succeeded in the Possession of it and I do not find that though the Crown upon his Attaint seised upon much of his Estate that ever his Interest here was ravished away from him for he was in Possession of this place at his Death which was in the second year of Henry the fourth and disposed it by Will to his Son John Belknap who about the Beginning of Henry the sixth alienates it to Engham amongst whose Demeasne the Propriety of this Mannor had not many years dwelt but the Title was by Sale supplanted and cast into the Possession of Sir Matthew Brown Knight and his Son Thomas Brown Esquire in the last year of Edward the sixth passed it away by Sale to Anthony Lovelace Esquire Ancestor to Richard Lovelace who some few years since alienated his entire Concernment in it to the late Possessor Mr. Richard Hulse descended from the ancient Family of Hulse of the Borough of Hulse lying within Namptwich in the County of Chester S. S. S. S. SAltwood in the Hundred of Hene hath an open Prospect into the Ocean which flowed up much nearer then now it doth and imparted its Nature to its Name for in Latin it is written de Bosco Salso The Arch-bishops of Canterbury had here formerly a magnificent Castle which Time hath much dismantled and a Park well stored with Deere now vanished and gon Many Mannors in this Track are held of it by Knights Service which justly made it to be counted and called an Honour It was granted to the Church in the year 1096 by one Halden who for Grandeur and opulency was reckoned one of the Princes of England The Value and extent of it are more particularly set forth in the Records of the Church of Canterbury in the Conquerour's Time and they speak thus In Limwarlaed in Hundred de Hede habet Hugo de Montfort de Terra Mouachorum I Manerium Saltwode de Archiepiscopo Comes Godwinus tenuit illud tunc se defendebat pro VII Sullings That was Godwin Earl of Kent who by a possessory right held many Towns along this Coast nunc sunt V. tamen non Scottent nisi pro III. Et in Burgo de Hede sunt CC. XXV Burgenses qui pertinent huic Manerio de quibus non habet Hugo nisi III. Forisfacta for it lies in the Franchise of the five Ports and the King was to have their Serice est appretiatum XXVIII lb. IIII. This was Hugh Montfort who was one of those powerfull Men which entered England with William the Conquerour In the Time of K. Henry the second Henry de Essex Baron of Ralegh in that County Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports pro Tempore and the King's Standard-bearer in right of Inheritance held this Castle of the Arch-bishop who having in a leight Skirmish against the Welsh in Flintshire not only cast away his Courage but his Standard also was appealed of high Treason and in a legal Duell or Combate vanquished by his Challenger and being possest with regret and shame contracted from this Defeat shrouded himself in a Cloister and put on a Monks Cowle forfeiting a goodly Patrimony and Lively-hood which escheated to King Henry the second But Thomas Beckett acquainting the King that this Mannor belonged to his Church and Sea that Prince being beyond the Seas directed a Writt to K. Henry his Son the Draught of which is represented to us by Matthew Paris whither I referre the Reader for Restitution But in regard of new emergent Contests between King Henry the second and that insolent Prelate it was not restored unto the Church untill the Time of Richard the second The Castle was magnificently inlarged and repaired by William Courtney Archbishop of Canterbury in the Time of Richard the second as his Will doth declare and his Arms in Stone-work eminently demonstrate and remained after his Decease annexed to the Archiepiscopal Revenue untill Thomas Cranmer in the twenty ninth of Henry the eighth exchanged it with that Prince And his Son King Edward the sixth in the fourth year of his Raign granted it to Edward Lorâ— Clinton who not long after conveyed it to Mr. Henry Herdson whose Grandchild Mr. Francis Herdson passed it away about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth to Robert Cranmer Esquire by whose Daughter and Heir Ann Cranmer it devolved to Sir Arthur Harris of Crixey in Essex whose Son Sir Cranmer Harris not many years since alienated it to Sir William Boteler Father to Sir Oliver Boteler Baronet the instant Lord of the Fee There is an old vast Mansion House of Stone at Brochull in this Parish on the side of a Steep Hill which was the Seat and ancient Residence of a Family as eminent for Antiquity as any in this Track and extracted their Sirname from hence and were called Brochull who flourished here in Knights Degree and in some Parliaments in the Time of Edw. the third and Edw. the fourth sate there as Knights of the Shire Margaret the Wife of William builded or caused to be built an Isle on the Northside the Parish Church You may rove at the Time by