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
which yet courts the Eye of the Beholder to an Admiration of its former Strength with all the Services annexed to it to Sir Anthony Weldon of Swanscamp whose Son and Heir Ralph Weldon of Swanscamp Esquire is the instant Lord of the Fee There is much Land in this County held of this Castle whose Tenure is perfect Castleguard for upon the Day prefixed for the discharge of the quitt-Rent relating to it there is a Banner displaid and hung out anciently it was over the Castle-Wall and all those who are Tenants to this Mannor and are in Default by their non-Appearance and do not discharge their Customary Duties and Services the Penaltie imposed upon their Neglect is that the Return of every Tide of the adjacent River which finds them Absent doubles their Service or quitt-Rent The Bridge which is almost contiguous to the Root or Basis was anciently when the Frame was of Timber removed to a farther Distance and crossed the Stream over against the Hospital of St Maries at Stroude But this was by Simon de Montfort when he besieged Rochester ruined by Fire and although it was re-edified and repaired not long after yet some twenty years subsequent to this Misfortune it was swept away by Ice so that it appears the Elements entered into a Corrivalship or Competition which should make the most ruinous Impression on this infortunate Structure But after this that is in the raign of Richard the second all those above-mentioned Dysasters and Inconveniences which might again have assaulted the Bridge were for the future prevented for Sir Robert Knolles a Person who had improved and enhaunsed his Fame to the highest Degree of Eminence by his glorious and succesfull Managery of the English Affairs and Interest in France seeking to make himself as usefull to his Friends that is his Contrymen as he was before considerable to his Enemies mastered the Course of the River and somewhat nearer to the Castle as in a place more fit both for the Soliditie and fastnesse of the Soile as likewise for the breaking of the impetuousnesse of the Current erected the Bridge of Stone which is now visible fixed and established on one and twenty Arches and by this Victory over the Elements made his Triumphs more illustrious than he had done before by all the Conquests of his Adversaries for in these he only seemed to have out-gone all others but in this to have outdone himself Being thus fixed and Strengthned there was a Statute enacted in the one and twentieth year of Richard the second wherein there is Provision made for its future Security there being several parcells of Land which are mentioned in that Act tied and obliged for its continual Maintenance and Repair whensoever the Injuries of Time or those of the Elements should deface or impair it The Chappel or Chantry in old Records styled the Chantry of Rochester Bridge was founded in the year 1399 by Iohn de Cobham and was dedicated to the holy Trinity and was called at the first Institution All Souls Chappel because Prayers and other Orizons were there to be offered up for the Redemption and Health of all Christian Souls and likewise a Stipend or Exhibition was there setled for the Support and Maintenance of three Priests or Chaplains particularly to pray for the Souls of John de Cobham the Patron and Founder Sir Robert Knolles to whom the Bridge owed its primitive Establishment William Wangford and Eleanor his Wife Iohn Fremingham and Alice his Wife William Makenade and Sir William Rickhil and likewise for the Souls of some who were deceased before the Foundation of this Chappel as namely for the Soul of Iohn Buckingham formerly Bishop of Lincoln and Sir William Wall worth the eminent Lord Maior of London to whose Virtue and Valour London owes the Addition of the Dagger which was annexed as an Augmentation to the Arms of the City The Priory was founded by Ethelbert King of Kent and dedicated to the Honor of St. Andrew and stored with Monks who were to live under the Rule of St. Benedict though afterwards as Mr. Lambert out of the Book of Rochester observes they altered their Rule and conformed themselves to the Canon of St. Augustine Bishop of Hippo but were reduced again to the primitive Institution of St. Benedict in the year 1080 by Gundulphus then Bishop of Rochester in which Design he was aided and supported by Lanfranc the active Arch-bishop of Canterbury In Ages of an elder Inscription there were several Contests brake forth between the Monks of Christ-church in Canterbury and those of this Covent the first Strugling to bring the Election of the Bishop of Rochester into their Chapiter which the last Sticking close to their own inherent Rights and Priviledges endevoured to disannul and wholly to circumscribe his Election within the Precincts of their own Chapiter Two Presidents which represent to Posterity the whole State of this Controversie do occur in Record The first appears in the year 1227 when after the Death of Benedict the Bishop of Rochester elected to succeed him Henry Sandford a Man of exemplary Piety so that he was inculpable for his Life and of unfathomed Learning so that he was in that Age almost unparallelled for his Knowledge which could not stave off the Monks of Christ-church to justle the Election pretending that the pastoral Staffe or Crosier of Rochester de Jure ought to have been brought to their House after the Decease of the Bishop and that the Election was to have been made in their Chapiter This occasioned much Heat for the Monks of Rochester vigorously asserted their own Choice so that it was referred to the Decision of the Archbishop and he again put it over to the Umpirage of Delegates who hearing the parties concerned and poising the Allegations produced by either side to sustain the Justice of their own Cause they by a finall Determination declared the Right to reside in the Monks of Rochester But it seems this Fire was only allayed not extinguished for in the year 1238 it brake forth again and the occasion which gave Fuell to it was this The Monks of Rochester had elected Richard Wendover for their Bishop which so exasperated and disgusted the Monks of Christ-church that suspecting their own Power they more to inforce and multiply their Strength and evacuate that Election entituled Arch-bishop Edmund to their Cause But the Monks of Rochester disclaiming by a tame Remissenesse either to foment or palliate their own undoing appealed to Rome where after the chargeable Commencement of a three years Sute the Innocency and Justice of their Cause was recompensed with the Triumph of the Day upon which they returned home exalted with the Joy of their Successe and enacted in their Chapiter that the annuall Feast of St. Cuthbert on which Day they archieved this signal Conquest should be doubly solemnized both in their Church and in their Kitchin But as they were successefull in their rancounters with the Arch-bishop so they were
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Partisans of the House of Lancaster but rather was driven into it by the Tempest of his ill Fortune Having represented the City in its Modern Face or Aspect I shall now draw the Curtain something wider and discover its Pourtracture in its calamitous Sufferings occasioned by the Invasions not only of an entaged Enemy but likewise which is worse by the Onsets of its own incensed Prince and these two mixing together have much disordered the Ancient Glory and Splendor of it In the year 680. Eldred King of Mercia harrassed Kent and by an impetuous Inroad laid it wast And as particular Lamentations are not distinguishable in universal Groans so in this publick Depopulation of the County then Kingdome the Tragedy and Devastation acted by that Prince at that Time upon this City was not resented with that Regret as so deplorable Ruine might seem to exact which had it been singly poured out upon this City it could not have been repeated or rehearsed without a bleeding Heart and a weeping Eye In the year 986. King Etheldred infested Rochester with a Siege having entertained some discontent or disgust against the Bishop and would not dissolve his Leaguer until the said Bishop had expiated his Offence with the Sacrifice of an hundred pounds a Sum of importance in those dry Times though inconsiderable in these profuser ones of ours where commonly the pecuniary Supply that is extracted from the Subject is steeped in his Tears In the year 999. the Danes invaded Canterbury and though by the vigorous Resistance and Magnanimity of the Defendants their Assaults were made null yet at length by the treacherous Combination of an insidious Party within it was rather betrayed then subdued and miserably depopulated by the Barbarous Adversary the Signatures of which Devastation are yet visible and though the wideness of the Orifice which that wound had made be something closed up with the Hand of Time yet there is a huge Scar left to represent to Posterity the Greatness of the former Ruine After they had thus harrassed and defaced that City they to improve â—heir Victory advanced to Rochester where the Inhabitants astonished with an Example of so much Terror after some faint Opposition against the Danish Impressions and Onsets gave themselves up to Flight and this City to a Calamitous Depopulation In the year 1130. Henry the first with the Arch-bishop of Canterbury were present at the Consecration of St. Andrews Church in Rochester which was then brought to perfection having been before much empaired by the Iron Teeth of Time But then the Fury of the Elements began to enter into a Corrivalship or Competition with the Fury of Enemies for by a casual Eruption of an Accidental Fire the whole City almost found an infortunate Sepulchre in its own Ashes But it seems like a Phaenix it rose again into new Beauty and Order out of these Ashes and Embers but did not long continue in this Condition for in the year of Grace 1177. which was in the Time of Henry the second it was again assaulted by the Outrage and Fury of this implacable Element the Impressions and remaining Signatures of which Conflagration are obvious to the Inspection of an Inquisitive Eye even until this Day In the year 1225. it was by the Indulgent Bounty of King Henry the third invested with a Wall and that this Fortification might be of more Concernment it was likewise secured or fenced with a Ditch In the year 1251. A Solemn Tornament was held at Rochester wherein the English entered the Lists against those Strangers or Forrainers who having in that Age a great Concernment in the Eare of Henry the third had likewise a strong Interest in his Heart and by consequence a powerful Impression or Influence upon the publick Affairs of those Times wherein they managed the Honor of this Nation with so much Courage and Gallantry that they forced them with Shame and Confusion to retire into the City and as if that were not a Shelter of sufficient Importance to seek for their Security in the Castle The Castle THat there was in the Age before the Norman Invasion the Rudiments or if I may so say the Embrio of a Castle represented to the World under imperfect Lineaments or Dimensions here at Rochester is most certain For the Records of the Cathedral inform us that Egbert King of Kent in the year 763. gave certain Lands to Eardulfe Bishop of Rochester situate within the Wals of the Castle of that City which argues that there was some Trench or Fortification even in those Times which was in Strength by the Analogy of Proportion equivalent to the Fortresses of that Age and so might merit by Resemblance the Name of a Castle though the Bulk and Grandeur of it was added in Times of a more Modern extraction For in the Time of the Conquest I find that the Bishop of Rochester received Land at Alresford for Land at Rochester proportionate to it to erect a Castle on which was in all probability onely to enlarge the Boundaries of the old one which peradventure was thought too contemptible in those active Times to secure so important a Pass as this of Rochester was without the Additional Supply of some new Strength And that these Augmentations did acknowledge if not for their Founder or Author yet at least for their eminent Benefactor Odo Bishop of Bajeux and Earl of Kent half Brother to the Conqueror is without Controversie a man who was afterwards dignified and adorned with the Office of Lord Chief Justice of England a place of the most eminent Trust in that Age and which was often managed by the Kings of England personally themselves and from the Marble Seat in Westminster-hall did deliver their Decisions and Determinations of Law from whence in Ancient Seals and other Sculptures they are often represented to us sitting in Judicature upon this Marble Seat and hence result those Customary Expressions in Original Writs and other Processes Coram Nobis and Teste Rege and sometimes me Ipso apud Westmon and some other Phrases and Tearms in our Ancient Law-books of the same Complexion as namely such a one Allocutus est Nobis sedentibus supra Sedem Marmoream which justifies that the Kings of England did sometimes personally sit and assist in Judicature in that Court we now call the Upper Bench where like a great Orb or Glob of Light they dispersed their Beams of Mercy and Justice into all the parts of our English Horizon and dispelled all those Crievances which like so many Fogs or Clouds exhaled from corrupred Nature seemed to eclipse the Serenity of this Nation But I wander too much I now return This Accumulation of Offices and Dignities could not so ingage this above-mentioned Odo to the Interest of William Rufus his Nephew but that he first enwrapped himself in a Combination with some of the discontented Nobility whose Endeavors were to ravish the Scepter out of the Hand of that Prince and place it in
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
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
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
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
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
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
very lately by Sale conveyed theirs and so by Consequence the Sole Interest of this Island unto Sir Edward Hales of Tunstal Graine Island lies in the Hundred of Hoo and had still the same Owners with the Mannor of Malmains in Stoke not farre distant Nicholas Malmains held it at his Death which was in the twenty third year of Edward the third and from him did the Title stream in this Family until the beginning of Henry the fourth and then it went away by Sale to Iden of Ripley Court in Westwell and in this Family did the Possession dwell untill the beginning of Henry the eighth and then it was alienated to John Parks Gentleman and he not long after dying without Issue Male Elizabeth his Sole Inheritrix who was wedded to John Roper of Bedmaneore in Lingsted Esquire united it to his Patrimony and from him is it now descended to his Successor Christopher Roper the instant Baron of Tenham Hartie lies in the Hundred of Feversham and did anciently acknowledge the Dominion of the Abbot and Covent of Feversham until John Abbot of that place in the tenth year of Henry the eighth obtained a Licence from the Crown to alienate it to Thomas Colepeper Esquire but here its abode was of no long Moment for about the latter end of Henry the eighth it was transmitted by Sale to Sir Thomas Cheyney whose Son the Lord Henry Cheyney about the middle of Q. Elizabeth passed it away to Samuel Thornhill Esquire great Grand-father to Mr. ....... Thornhill the instant Owner of it Oxney Island is an Hundred within it self The first place of eminence which offers it self to a Survey is Witresham which anciently belonged to the Monks of Christ-church and was given to that Cloister in the year 132 by Edsin Bishop of St. Martins without Cant. but upon the Suppression of that Covent in the reign of Hen. the eighth this Mannor with all its appendant was Immunities granted to Hen. Crispe Esq whose Son Nicholas Crispe held it the sixth of Q. Eliz. and after him James Hales Esquire and he in the thirteenth of that Princess alienated it to Freak in which Family it remained untill the Beginning of King James and then it was conveyed by Sir Thomas Freak to Sir Thomas Bishop and he in the sixteenth year of the abovesaid Prince gave it in marriage with his Daughter Mrs. Jane Bishop to Edward Alford Esquire and she in right of that original Settlement does now hold this Mannor Palstre is another Mannor in Witresham which represents to us the memory of John de Palstre who was anciently Lord of the Fee but before the end of Edward the third this Family was vanished and then the Charles's a Family of generous rank at Addington were setled in the possession and Richard Charles held it in the fifth year of Richard the second and so did Nicholas Charles who dyed possest of it in the eleventh year of that Prince Rot. Esc Num. 16. And from this Family by Alice one of the Coheirs it devolved to William Snath and he concluding in a Daughter and Heir she by matching with Watton brought it to be united to the patrimony of this Family And here it made its Re dence untill the reign of Heury the sixth and then it was passed away to Robert Rudston Esquire who being embarked in the reign of Queen Mary in the Design of Sir Thomas Wiatt although he did not forfeit his Life yet he did that of his Estate which by the special Indulgence of that Princesse was granted back to him in the second year of her reign in which this was involved which remained with this Family untill allmost our Time and then it was passed away to Sir Edward Henden one of the Barons of the Exchequer who dying not long since without Issue gave it to his Nephew Sir John Henden Father to Edw. Henden Esq the instant Lord of the Fee Owlye is another Mannor in Witresham which anciently was written Ovely as having owners of that Sirname who stayed not here untill the Beginning of Richard the second but were extinguished and left the possession to Ao Odiarne a Family anciently of good Note After whom I cannot because the private Evidences are embezel'd discover what Families were successively planted in the possession Only I find it about the latter end of Henry the eighth in the possession of Mayney of Biddenden in whom the Interest continued untill some few years since it was alienated by Sir John Mayney of Linton Knight and Baronet to Peter Ricaut Esquire who hath lately alienated his right in it to Mr. Menell of London Ebeney was given to the Monks of Christchurch in Canterbury by K. Athulfus at the particular entreaty and instigation of Ceolnoth the Arch-bishop in the year 832 to the Reparation of their Cloister and Cathedral The words registred in the Latine Record are these Anno Domini 832 Rex Athulfus instinctu Ceolnothi Archiepiscopi dedit Ebeneyam ad opus Monachorum Libere sicut Adisham But when the Impieties of the Monks who had cloistered up Religion it self in a Lazy Cell grew so clamorous that they called for Vengeance upon their Seminaties that Storm arose in the reign of Henry the eighth which by the Dissolution of their Covents expiated their Irregularities this Mannor was surrendered to the Crown and the abovesaid Prince in the thirty second year of his Government granted it to Sir Walter Henley Serjeant at Law who dying without Issue-male his three Daughters namely Elizabeth married to William Waller Esquire Hellen first wedded to Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury Esquire secondly to Sir George Somerset and thirdly to Thomas Vane of Burston Esquire and Anne matched to Richard Covert of Slaugham as his Coheirs entered upon his Inheritance and then this place upon the Division of his estate increased the Demeasn of Richard Covert Esquire from whom by the Devolution of a descendant right the title is now lodged in his Successor Mr ...... Covert VVoodrove in Ebeney acknowledged in elder Ages a Family for proprietaries known by the Name of Mocking who had a revenue likewise about Milton Stockbury Hartlip and Shepey of no despicable Bulk John Mocking Son of VVilliam Mocking flourished under the Scepter of Edward the first Edward the second and held this Mannor at his Decease which was in the eleventh year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 75. And in this Family did the possession fix untill the reign of Henry the fourth and then it began to ebbe away from this Name and flow by the conveyance of Sale into Guldford and in a very old Schedule which enumerates the Mannors which related to John Guldford who lived under the Government of Henry the fourth and Henry the fifth this is registred in the Catalogue and from him did it come down to Sir Edward Guldford whose Daughter and Heir Joan brought it to be the patrimony of John Dudley Duke of Northumberland and he gave this Mannor with no small
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
with so much Debaucherie and let loose into so great excess Yet 't is remarkable that the cadets or younger slips issued out from some of those stems who by their own vitious exorbitancie have crumbled into an inreparable decay by being inoculated upon other Families have by this transplantation contracted newsap and verdure and again sprouted out and florish'd For Families are like the River of Arethusa they sometimes sink in one place or County and again rise in another I shall now take the County of Kent under Survey or Prospect and represent to the publique view those several Antiquities which in my search I found to lie wrapt up either in common Records or shut up in the private Muniments Escripts and Registers of particular Families from whom I have endevour'd to pluck off the veil that they may for the future stand as an Alphabet to point out those Families that are yet in being that are totally exinguish'd or that lye entomb'd in other Names and Extractions which by Mariage have swallowed up the Heir generall In the pursuit of which I confess I have not cloister'd my self up in the nice restraints of any precise or particular Method because that flood both of private and publique inteligence which like a Torrent broke in upon me swept away whatsoever my busie fancy had built upon the sands of any curious or Methodical invention But 't is here as in some Rivers who though they wander in a crooked and irregular chanell yet are they the same Streames still as long as they hold correspondence with their first Fountain and original I shall remit all to the Justice and Candor of the Reader with the first he may arraigne and censure with the last absolve and excuse Thomas Philipott VILLARE CANTIANVM OR KENT Surveyed and Illustrated KENT in Latine Cantium hath its derivation from Cant which imports a piece of Land thrust into a Nook or Angle and certainly the situation hath an Aspect upon the Name and makes its etymologie authentick It is divided into five Laths viz. St. Augustins Shepway Scray Aylesford and Sutton at Hone and these again are subdivided into their several Bailywicks as namely St. Augustins comprehends Bredge which contains these Hundreds 1 Ringesloe 2 Blengate 3 Whitstaple 4 West-gate 5 Downhamford 6 Preston 7 Bredge Petham 8 Kinghamford and Eastrie which contains these 1 Wingham 2 Eastrie 3 Corniloe 4 Bewesborough Shepway is divided into Stowting and that into these Hundreds 1 Folkstone 2 Lovingberg 3 Stowting 4 Heane and Shepway into these 1 Bircholt Franchise 2 Streat 3 Worth 4 Newchuch 5 Ham 6 Langport 7 St. Martins 8 Aloes Bridge 9 Oxney Scray is distinguished into Milton Comprehends 1 Mylton 2 Tenham Scray 1 Feversham 2 Becton under Blean 3 Felborough Chart and Longbridg 1 Wye 2 Birch-Holt Barony 3 Chart and Long-bridge 4 Cale-hill Seven Hundreds 1 Blackbourn 2 Tenderden 3 Barkley 4 Cranbrook 5 Rolvenden 6 Selbrightenden 7 Great Bernfeild Alresford is resolv'd into Eyhorn is divided into 1 Eyhorn 2 Maidstone 3 Gillingham and 4 Chetham Hoo 1 Hoo 2 Shamell 3 Toltingtrough 4 Larkfield 5 Wrotham and Twyford 1 Twyford 2 Littlefield 3 Lowy of Tunbridge 4 Brenchly Hormonden 5 Marden 6 Little Bernfield 7 Wallingston Sutton at Hone does only comprehend the Bailywick of Sutton at Hone and that layes claim to these HUNDREDS 1 Axstane 2 Little and Lesnes 3 Blackheath 4 Bromely and Bekenham 5 Dartford and Wilmington 6 Rooksley 7 Codsheath 8 Somerden 9 Westram These Hundreds were parcel'd out into such a proportion or number of Boroughs Villages or Tythings containing ten Housholders whereof as the Saxon Laws and Customes informe us if any one should commit an unlawful Act the other nine were to attach and bring him to Reason If he fled thirty one dayes were enjoyn'd him to appear if in the mean time apprehended he was forc'd to restore the Damage done otherwise the Free-borough-head that is to say the Tythingman was to take with him two of the same Village and out of three other Villages next adjoyning as many that is the Tythingman and two other of the Principal men and before the Officers of that Hundred purge himself and the Village of the fact restoring the Damage done with the Goods of the Malefactor which if they sufficed not to satisfie the Free-borough or Tythingman must make up the rest and besides take an oath to be no way accessary to the Fact and to produce the offender if by any means they could recover him or know where he were Besides every Lord and Master stood Borough for all his Family whereof if any servant were cal'd in question the Master was to see him answer it in the HUNDRED where he was accus'd if he fled the Master was to resigne such goods as he had to the King If himself were accus'd to be aiding or privy to his Servants flight he was to clear himself by five men otherwise to forfeit all his Goods to the King and his man to be Outlawed These Links thus intermutually fastned made formerly so strong a chain to hold the whole frame of the State together in Peace and order as all the mingled policies upon Earth all the inter-leagued Societies of Men cannot represent a straiter Form of combination As touching the other Customes of Kent they have been so fully discuss'd by Mr. Lambert in his Kentish Perambulation that I shall not much insist in the discovery of them only I shall something winnow the word Gavelkind because from that it is pretended the Tenure it self is derived First it is suggested that the word Gavelkind is amass'd together of three Saxon Monosyllables that is to say Goef ele Kent but how this Custome should be originally established on three Syllables by the corruption of Time thus crouded and shut up in one word is altogether ambiguous and mysterious For if we shall unvail the word of its Saxon Habit and put it into an English dress it will signifie thus much Give all Child and how much nonsense lurks in that expression I think is easily discernable Indeed the phrase should be if we would attempt to spin any thing of advantage out of it Goef ele Kendern Give all Children But how much of incongruitie and non-coherence lies wrapt up even in this I beleeve is obvious enough yet admit there were none how four Syllables all of different vowels in their termination should at length by the depravation of Language be all confusedly shuffled and stiv'd into this one word Gavelkind will certainly appear to the most easie apprehension disputable enough For my own particular I 'm convinc'd with submission to cleerer speculations that this word Gavelkind is derived from the Saxon word Gabel which in the Latin we render Census and put into English signifies some Rent-Service or Tribute issuable from such and such Land on which it is fixt as a solemn evidence of some homage due to the Prince or supreme Magistrate for that
of a thousand Crowns on Sir Stephen de Cosington and Sir William his Son for their remarkable Service performed against the Enemies of his Crown and Scepter The last of this Family which held this Mannor was Sir J. Cosington who concluded in three Danghters and Coheirs about the the latter end of Henry the eighth matched to Duke Wood and Alexander Hamon and upon the Disunion of the Estate into Parcels the last by Female Interest was invested in Acris and his Successors remained Lords of the Fee untill the Beginning of K. James and then a Fatalitie like the former brought the Patrimony of this Family to be possest by two Daughters and Coheirs so that Sir Robert Lewknor having matched with Katharine who was one of them became in her Right entituled to this Mannor and left it to his Son Hamon Lewknor Esq who deceasing not long since hath transmitted it during the Minority of his Son to his Widow Dowager The Mannor of Brandred lies in this Parish and belonged to the Abby of St. Radigunds untill the suppression and then it was by Henry the eighth exchanged with the Arch Bishop of Canterbury in the twenty ninth of his Reign and remained parcel of that Patrimony which acknowledged the Signorie of that See untill these tempestuous Times shook it off Addington in the Hundred of Larkfield was as high as any Track of Evidence can transport me to discover the Inheritance of a noble Family called Mandeville and divers Deeds of a very venerable Antiquity being without date and now in the hands of Mr. Watton do attest Roger de Mandeville in those elder Times to have been Lord of the Fee but before the end of Edward the second this Family was vanished and had surrendred the possession of this place to Robert At Checquer in whom the possession was but of a narrow Date for hee not long after alienated his Interest in it to Nicholas Dagworth as is evident by this Record registred in the Book of Aid kept in the Exchequer De Nicholao de Dagworth pro uno Feodo Militis quod Roberius de Scaccario tenuit in Addington de Warreno de Montecanisio 40. s. That is Nicholas Dagworth in the twentieth year of Edward the third paid a respective Supply of 40. s. for his Mannor of Addington which both he and Robert At Checquer which enjoyed it before him held of the Honour of Swanscamp Castle as being the capital Seat of the Barony of Mountchensey under the Notion of a whole Knights Fee But in this Family the Title was a Volatile as in the former for before the going out of Edward the third I find it passed away from Dagworth to Sir Hugh Segrave and he in the seventh year of Richard the second alienated it to Richard Charles descended from Edward Charles Captain and Admirall of the Seas from the Thames mouth Northward in the reign of Edward the first as appears Pat. 34. Edwardi primi But he was scarce warm in his new Acquists but he expired in two Daughters and Coheirs Alice matched to William Snaith and Joan married to Richard Ormeskirk but this Mannor upon the Distinction of the Estate into Parcells was entwin'd with the Demeasne of Snaith and he dyed possest of it as the date of his Tombe in Addington Church informs me in the year 1409. but dyed without Issue-male so that his sole Daughter and Heir being wedded to Watton made it the Inheritance of that Family and here have they planted themselves ever since that Alliance and have performed many signal Services to this County by being invested with places of Trust as Justices of the Peace Commissioners of the Sewers and other Officers of the like Condition which hath much inforced and multiplied the eminent Reputation of this ancient Family Allington in the Hundred of Lark field is eminent for an ancient Castle within the Limits of it which as Mr. Darrell and Mr. Mersh do assert was erected by William de Columbariis or Columbers and this Mr. Darrell who was very curious in Disquisitions of this Nature more possitively affirms because in the eighth year of Henry the third when as appears by the Records of the Tower there was an exact Survey taken of all the Castles of England and of those who were either Proprietaries of them or else the respective Castellans or Guardians one of the above mentioned Family was found to be possessor of this Fortresse and was also Lord of the Mannor which was still annexed to the Castle but this Name was of no long continuance in the Tenure of either for about the latter end of Henry the third they came to own the Signorie of Sir Stephen de Penchester Lord Warden afterwards of the Cinque Ports to whom and to Margaret his Wife Daughter of the famous Hubert de Burgh Earl of Kent King Edward the first granted a Licence in the ninth year of his Reign as appears by the Patent-Rolls of that Time to erect a Castle and to fortifie and embattle at Allington so that it seems it was only before Fortalitium some small Fortresse and could not be marshall'd under the just Notion of a Castle untill it had received new Symetrie and Dimensions by those Appendages and Supplements which were added to it by this great Man and having thus established this Pile it came to own his Name and is in some old Records called Allington Penchester and not undeservedly for in the eighth year of Edward the first he obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor of Allington and also a Market Weekly on the Tuesday and a Fair yearly three days on the Vigil the day and day after St. Laurence but deceased without Issue Male so that after his Exit it came to acknowledge Stephen de Cobham who had married his Daughter and Coheir and he inocculated his own Name upon it and called it Allington Cobham which flourished severall Descents in this Family untill the beginning of Edward the fourth and then I find it in the possession of Brent but remained not long in this Name for in the eighth year of Henry the seventh John Brent passed away the Castle and Mannor of Allington to Sir Henry Wiat one of the Privie Councel to that Prince but his infortunate Grandchild Sir Thomas Wiat having by his Defection in the second year of Queen Mary forfeited it to the Crown it remained there untill Queen Elizabeth granted it to Jo. Astley Esq Master of her Jewels whose Son Sir Jo. Astley dying without Issue it came by Descent to Sir Jacob Astley created Lord Astley by the late King at Oxford whose Descendant does now enjoy the Possession of it Alkham in the Hundred of Folkston hath divers places in it of Account Malmains by vulgar Corruption of the word called Smalmains with Hollmeade which was ever accounted an Appendage to it are first to be considered In the twentieth year of Edward the third I find Thomas de Malmains Son of Nicholas de Malmains who
that Cloister by Henry the eighth was by his liberal Concession made Parcel of his Inheritance and remained so until the Reign of Q. Mary and then being attainted and convicted of High Treason in the second year of that Princess his Estate here fell back to the Crown and continued there untill K. James in the Beginning of his Reign passed away Shawsted and Windlehill to the City of London and they again by their Trustees invested the Propriety of them by Sale in Sir William Garaway of London Father to Sir Henry Garaway Knight in whose Descendants the Title of them is still resident Place House in this Parish is secondly to be remembred which was anciently part of the Demeasn of the illustrious Family of the Pimps of Pimps Court in the Parish of Loose near Maidston and Philip de Pimp was one of those Men at Arms which the Prior of Rochester was to furnish out for the Guard of the Seacoast at Genlade or Yenlade in the Hundred of Hoo in the eleventh year of Edward the third In Times of a more modern Inscription I find Thomas Pimpe the elder to be Buried in Alhollows in Hoo and that he made his Will the twenty seventh of August as appears by the Repertorie of Rochester Diocess and in the fourteenth of Edward the fourth William and John were his Sons Elizabeth unmaried Margery Lady Prioress of Malling and Alice a Nun there Sir William Hampton about that Time bought much Land of him He I mean this Sir William was Lord Maior of London in the Time of Edwâ—rd the fourth but whether this Place was part of this Purchase or not there is no Light from any publick Intelligence can illustate it certain I am that the Coppingers imediately almost after this Time became possessors of the Place and the Proprietie is now by Female Right of a Daughter and Heir of a Branch of these Coppingers resolved into Sir Harbotle Grimston of Essex Alresford anciently written Aiglesford hath Places of considerable Animadversion within the Limits and Boundaries of it The Priory or rather now the Skeleton of it was founded by Richard Lord Grey of Codnor Anno Dom. 1240 in the twenty fifth of Henry the third for Carmelite or White Friers in Honour of the Virgin Mary the Mother of this Lord was Isolda Daughter and Coheir of Hugh Bardolph Lord of Hoo in Kent from whom he inherited fair Possessions in this County And many of his Posterity in Relation to that Particular were buried in the Conventual Church of this Monastery Upon the suppression it was granted with the Royalty of it by Henry the eighth to Sir Thomas Wiat from whom it descended to his Son Sir Thomas Wiat upon whose Defection this being with other Lands escheated to the Crown Queen Elizabeth granted it to Mr. J. Sidley and he bequeathed to his Brother Sir Will. Sidley and from that Name it was lately passed by Sale unto Sir Peter Ricaut whose Heir 1657 conveyed it by the same Vicissitude to Mr. Caleb Banks of Maidston Tottington and Eccles two Mannors in this Parish Richard Sonne of Malger de Rokesley gave Tiths of Tottington to the Priory of Rochester See Textus Roffensis anciently belonged to the Family of Rokesley of whose Heir General it came to of Poynings and Richard Lord Poynings the eleventh of Rich. the second held the Mannor of Tottington which with Eccles one of his Ancestors in the Time of King Henry the sixth gave in frank Marriage with his Daughter to J. Palmer of the Courtlodge in Snodland Esquire whose Posterity after they had held them some space of Time sold them to Warcup descended from the Warcups of Cumberland in which Name the Tenure was not long resident for by Sale it was alienated to Sidley of Southfleet and his Successor suddenly after by the like Fatalitie invested Ricaut in Eccles and Madox in Tottington Cosington is a Seat of much Eminence in this Parish and gave Residence and Sir-name to a Knightly Familie of the same And King Edward the first rewarded Sir Stephen de Cosenton whom he had made Banneret in the twenty eighth of his Reign for his signal Service at Carlaverock in Scotland with a Charter of Free Warren to all his Lands at Cosenton Acris and South-Burton vulgarly called South-Blabden in Elham in Kent The Mannor it self holdeth by Knights Service of the Barony of Rosse of Horton Kirbie from whom they received it by ancient Feoffement and bear in similitude of their Lords the Rosses the same Charge in their Arms viz. Azure three Roses Or. The Arms of Rosse being Or three Roses Gules But when in the Beginning of Hen. the eighths Government the Fatality of Time had concluded this Family in three Daughters and Coheirs married to Duke Hamon and Wood this Mannor of Cosenton accrued by Co-partition to Duke in which Name it hath ever since resided There was a Free Chappel belonging to this Mansion founded as private Evidences advertise me by Sir Stephen de Cosenton which is now crumbled into so desolate an Heap of Rubbish that we can hardly trace out its Ruines even amidst its Ruines There was another Free Chappel in his Parish annexed to Tottington by Richard Lord Poynings in the eleventh year of Rich. the second which hath been so dismantled by the impressions of Time and the fury of the Elements that there is very little Testimony or Evidence remaining that this Oratorie ever had a Being Preston in this Parish of Alresford is a Seat of that venerable Antiquity and hath for so many Descents been incorporated into the Demeasn of Colepeper that it is questionable which is the ancient Cradle or Seminary of this Family either Bayhall in Pepenbury or Preston in Alresford Sir Thomas Colepeper as the old Evidences and Muniments of this Name instruct me was of this Family and was Governour of Winchelsey under Edward the second by whom he was beheaded for defending that Town in behalf of the Barons then combined in an hostile League against him Walter de Colepeper flourished under Edward the first and Edward the second and seal'd with a Bend engrailed which is still the paternal Coat-Armour of this Family which I the rather mention because these Deeds are the first of that Nature which I have seen since Sealing with Coats of Arms grew customary in this Nation and argues him to be a Man of eminence in this County as did that spreading Revenue likewise of which he died possest not onely here but at Farleigh Peckham Wrotham and divers other places in the first year of Edward the third John Colepeper was a Judge in the Reign of Henry the sixth and concluded in a Daughter and Heir who by matching with Harrington added a considerable Supplement to the paternal Revenue of that noble Family I shall not more dilate my self in this Discourse it is enough that I inform the Reader that this ancient Seat which hath been for so many Centuries of years under the
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
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
to a Family which formerly had their Mansion at this Place and John de Goddisland is mentioned in the Book of Aid to have held it in twentieth of Edward the third and when after some Flux of Time this Name was ebbed away from this place the Atwoods succeeded so stiled from their Habitation nere the Wood and Robert Atwood died seised of it in the sixth year of Richard the second and when this Family began to Decay the Sawyers came in and were Possessors of the place but long the Fee was not setled in this Name for the Title about the Beginning of Henry the seventh was engraffed by Purchase on Cheyney from which Family by the like Current it flowed about the Begining of Q. Elizabeth into Snode and from them not many years since it was by Sale wafted over to Franklin Barham in the Hundred of Kinghamford gives Name to that spacious Plain where the Britons encountred Caesar and his Army at his first Landing at Deale and after a signal Conflict repelled them back to their Ships The old Family of Fitz-Urse were formerly Lords of this Mannor and resolved into the Name of Berham after such Time as one of them called Randolph Fitz-Urse being Ring-leader of three other Cavaliers of the Kings Court had impiously assassinated Arch-Bishop Becket The Fact being so barbarous in the Estimate of those Times that flying into Ireland he abandoned the Name of Fitz-Urse and took that of Mac-Mahon as Mr. Camden Notes Certainly as he was the Actor and thereby more stained then the rest so was he much more culpable beause he held this Mannor of Berham of the See of Canterbury by the Service of halfe a Knights Fee so it appears by the Record of the Aid kept in the Exchequer and paid in the twentieth of Edw. the third yet did not this Name vanish at this place but still was inforced and multiplied into many Descents from whence issued Gentlemen of a prime and eminent Note in this Track untill lately that Fate which Shuffles both Families and Kingdomes into Disorder and Oblivion hath torn this Mannor now from this Name and by purchase brought over the Propriety of it to Fotherby Shelvingborough is a second Mannor in this Parish not to be waved in this Survey because it was sometimes one of the Seats of John de Shelving who held it in the seventeenth year of Edward the second But this Family determining not long after in a Daughter and Heir She by matching with Haut annexed this Mannor to the Patrimony of this Family and in this Name the Title was carried along by the Clew of many Descents untill it devolved to Sir William Haut who about the latter End of Henry the eighth concluded in two Female Coheirs whereof Elizabeth was matched to Sir Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury who brought this along with her to that Family and he about the Beginning of Edward the sixth devested himself of the possession and by Sale transmitted his Right in it to Mantle where after the Title had by some small continuance made some little respite it was conveyed by Sale to Carlisle and here the Propriety was as transient for an Alteration of the same resemblance not many years since made it the possession of Hopday Diggs Court in Barham was the Mansion of the ancient Family of Digge or Diggs which Family about four Hundred years since that is about the Reign of Richard the first had the Aldermanry of Newingate in Canterbury as part of their Inheritance which it seems was not as now elective but as Freehold either demisable or devisable ad Libitum of him or her that held the same or if neither demised nor devised of him nor her in Life Time but indisposed of at Death then as Inheritance or Fee it descended to the next Heir at Law These Aldermen every one of them kept within their own Wards and happily as the Jews held theirs had at their several Gates a Court assembled every three weeks which was called of our Ancestors sometimes the Hundred Court sometimes the Wardmote that is the assembly or the meeting of the Hundred or Ward or the Portmote as the Jurisdiction was called Portsoka John or Diggs was in the year 1258 a great Benefactor to the Franciscans who had then newly planted themselves at Canterbury and purchased for them an Island in that City called Binnewight Emit Insulam vocatam Binnewight in Cantuar. locum Portae super Stourstreet ad opus Fratrum Minorum tempore opportuno transtulit Fratres ad illam As Leland records of him Adomarus de Digge one of this House was a Judge in the Reign of Edward the second and possest much Land about Reynham and Newington which still represents his Name to Posterity and is called Diggs Mersh John Diggs of Diggs Court was Sheriff of Kent part of the second year of Henry the fourth and John Diggs his Grand child was Sheriff of Kent in the fourth year of Edward the fourth his Son and Heir was John Diggs Esquire who likewise held that Office in the eleventh year of Henry the seventh this our Sheriff had Issue James Diggs of Diggs Court Esquire who was likewise Sheriff of Kent the second year of Henry the eighth and Justice of the Peace for this County almost all the Government of that Prince he was Father of Leonard Diggs Esquire who was Grand Father to Sir Dudley Diggs of Chilham Castle Master of the Rolls 1637 who almost in our Memory passed away this Seat which had been for many years an Appendage to it to Captain Halsey of London who not long after alienated it to Alderman Soame of the same place who not long since conveyed it to Sir Basil Dixwell of Terlingham in Folkstone Knight and Baronet whose collateral Descendant that is his Nephews Son and Heir Mr. Basil Dixwell is Proprietary apparent of it Barfreyston in the Hundred of Eastry was anciently held by Castle-Guard of Dover Castle by John de Wybarne and when this Family had abandoned the possession which was about the latter End of Henry the fourth it came to be held by Harward and when some years it had been wrapped up in the Interest of this Family it was transmitted by Sale about the latter End of Henry the sixth to Sir Thomas Brown of Bechworth Castle and here the Title lodged untill the Beginning of Henry the eighth and then part of it was passed away to Wood but the Mannor it self rested in Brown untill the Beginning of Q. Elizabeth and then it was conveyed to Mr. Thomas Bois whose successor Mr. John Bois not many years since alienated it to Sir Anthony Percival of Dover Hartanger and Soles are two Mannors situated within the Precincts of this little Parish who both had owners so Sirnamed The first after it had been folded up in the Demeasn of Hartanger untill the Reign of Edward the second was by Purchase made the Inheritance of Perot of Knowlton and Thomas Perot died
easie Pronunciation hath melted it into Brograve which represents the Etymologie of the Name to have been in its Original perfectly Saxon. In the year 1479 there was a License granted as appears by the Records of Rochester to William Brograve by the then Bishop of that Diocess to erect an Oratory or Chapple at his Mannor-house of Kelseys the Vestigia or Reliques of which are yet obvious to an inquisitive Eye and from this William did the Title and possession in an even Current come down to Mr. Thomas Brograve who being not many years since deceased his Widow Mrs. Martha Brograve now in respect of Jointure enjoys the present Possession of it Foxgrove is the last place of Account in this Parish it had in elder times Proprietaries of this Sirname for I find John de Foxgrove paid respective Aid for it in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight After this Family succeeded Bartholomew Lord Burwash and he held it at his Decease which was in the twenty ninth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 44. and from him it descended to his Son Bartholomew Lord Burwash who in the forty third year of the abovesaid Prince passed it away to Sir Walter de Paveley and in his Family it remained untill the latter End of Richard the second and then it was conveyed to Vaux of the County of North-Hampton and there made its abode untill the latter End of Henry the sixth and then it was alienated to John Grene Esquire and he died possest of it in fourth year of Edward the fourth and in this Family did the Title reside untill the Beginning of Henry the eighth and then it was demised to Beversea and Humphrey Beversea I find held it in the eighteenth year of Henry the eighth and his Descendant passed it away to Luke Hollingworth and he about the Beginning of K. Edward the sixth sold his Interest in it to Alderman Sir Jo. Oliff of London and he dying without Issue Male Joan matched to John Leigh of Addington Esquire was his sole Heir and in Right of this Alliance did it come down to Sir Francis Leigh late of East-Wickham whose Widow Dowager the Lady Christian Leigh is now in Possession of it Bexley and in ancient Deeds written Bekesley lies in the Hundred of Rokesley and did in Times of elder Inscription belong to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury for Anno 805. K. Kenulfus gave Bexley to Arch-Bishop Vefred ad opus Ecclesiae Christi and his Successor to improve his Interest in this Mannor obtained a Market to be held weekly at this place upon the Tuesday and a Fair upon Holy-Rood-Day yearly in the ninth year of Edward the second as appears Pat. 9. Edw. 2. Num. 49. and here the Title it lodged untill it came to the Crown in the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth by Exchange with Tho. Cranmer then Arch-Bishop as appears by the Records of Christ Church and was passed away by King Iames to Sir Io. Spilman his Majesties Jeweller originally extracted out of Germany and he suddenly after conveyed it to that resplendent Luminary of Englands Antiquities Mr. William Camden Clarenceux King of Arms and he upon his Decease gave it to Brasennose Colledge in Oxford from whom the Lady Christian Leigh of East-Wickham holds it now as Lessee Blinden Court in old Deeds written Bladindon is the next object of our observation It was in elder Times the Possession of Jordanus de Bladindon or Blindon who about the first year of Richard the first passed it away to Walsingham in which Family it was resident untill the latter end of Henry the fourth and then it was carryed over by Sale to Ferbie of Pauls Crey and one of this Family about the Beginning of Henry the sixth transported it by the same Alteration to William Marshall and he not long after conveyed it to Rawlins but it setled longer here for it remained linked to the Demeasne of this Name almost untill our Grandfathers Remembrance and then it was by Purchase made the Inheritance of May who not many yeers since alienated his Concernment in it to Wroth and is at present part of the Demeasne of John Wroth Esquire descended from the ancient Family of the Wroths of Durants in Essex Hall Place in this Parish is the last place which summons our Remembrance It was in times of a more ancient Character the Inheritance of a Family called Athall the last of which was Thomas Athall who in the fourty first year of Edward the third conveyed it to Thomas Shelley of Gaysam in Westerham and in this Name after the Title like a fixed Inmate had for many Generations dwelt it came down to William Shelley Son of John Shelley Esquire who in the tweny ninth year of Henry the eighth passed it away to Sir John Champneys of London from whom it descended to his Grandchild Mr. Richard Champneys Esquire who some few yeers since alienated his Interest here to Mr. Robert Austin of London Brasted in the Hundred of Codsheath was a Mannor which anciently related to the Family of Clare who were Earls of Glocester and Hertford and held is in grand Serjeanty of the arch-Arch-Bishops of Canterbury as they were originally and de Jure Stewards to the Lord Arch-Bishop at the Time of his Installment and Inthronization Ric. de Clare dyed possest of it in the forty seventh year of Henry the third and so did Gilbert de Clare in the twenty fourth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 107. From whom it came down to Richard de Clare who in the nineteenth year of Edward the second ended in Margaret his sole Heir matched to Hugh de Audley who in her Right was not only Earl of Glocester but likewise Lord of this Mannor and enjoyed it in the twenty first year of Edward the third but he likewise going out in a Female Heir stiled Margaret She by matching with Ralph Stafford Earl of Stafford wedded the Title to his Inheritance nor did it dislodge or depart from it until it escheated to the Crown upon the Attainder of Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham who was convicted of high Treason in the thirteenth year of Henry the eighth where it had not long rested but the abovesaid Prince by Patent setled the Right of it on Sir Henry Isley who being interessed past recovery in the Design of Sir Tho. Wiat forfeited both Life and Estate to the Crown and then Queen Mary upon his Conviction granted it to John Lennard Esquire from whom it is now transported by Descent to his Successor Francis Lennard Lord Dacres who is the instant Lord of the Fee There is another Mannor and Seat in Brasted venerable enough for its Antiquity anciently called Stockets but now Crow-place it was so denominated from the Stockets which first held it Walter de Stocket and sometimes in old Deeds written Stock and Stoke possest it by the fourth part of a Knights Fee in the Time of Edward the
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
Mr. Cha. Tucker Father to the present Owner The Rectory of Brenchley was given by Richard de Clare to the Canons of St. Mary Magdalen in Tunbridge and compounded with the Bishop of Rochester with this Provision reserved that the Rector for the Time being should pay two wax Tapers of four pound Weight to the Priory of Tunbridge at the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen The Mannor which was annexed to this Rectory was upon the Dissolution of this Cloister in the thirty first year of Henry the eighth granted to Paul Sidnor and he not long after passed it away to William Waller Esquire from which Family not many years since it was by Purchase invested in the Family of Courthop Moatlands was the Inheritance of a Family who extracted their Sirname from hence and were called Brenchley a Branch of which was Sir William Brenchley Lord Cheif Justice of the Common Pleas who founded a Chauntry or Chappel in the Navy of the Cathedral at Canterbury and dyed in the year 1446 without Issue nor did these Lands continue much longer in the Name for in the Beginning of Edward the fourth I find them in the Tenure of More who had matched with the Heir Generall and here the Propriety of this place remained interwoven with the Inheritance of this Family untill that Age which fell under our Fathers Remembrance and then it was transplanted by Sale into Roberts the Family with now possesses it There are two other Seats in this Parish which may deserve our notice the first is Cats-Place which gave Seat to Hugh de Cat and in Recompence took its Denomination from him and after the Title of it had lodged in this Name many Descents even until the Reign of Henry the sixth it was passed away to Tilden of Tildens Place in Marden and after the Possession had some Ages been united to their Interest it was some few years since unfastned and the Propriety of it carried over to Bassage The second is Vanes which yielded both Seat and Sirname to as Illustrious a Family as any in this Track Robert Vane or Fane for they are proimiscuously so written in ancient Rolls paid respective Aid for it at making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth of Edward the third and is from him by a continued Series still transported along in the Demeasn of this Name and Family so that here if my Light fail me not should I look for the original of that Noble Name and Family that since hath so fairly spread into so many several Branches issued primitively from this first original Stem Bredgar in the Hundred of Milton hath several places in it observable The first is Bexon from whence the Borough of Bexon or Bexon Street derives it self It gave Sirname to a Family in whom in clder Times the Inheritance was planted and there is yet extant in the Church Windows in coloured Glass a superannuated Portraicture mangled by rude hands and demolished almost by the Injuries of Time with this Inscription affixed to the pedestal Orate pro Anima Joannes de Bexon which discovers to us whose Effigies is represented by it this Iohn Bexon flourished in the Reign of Edward the second as appears by Deeds and Edward the third and had Issue Iohn Bexon likewise Rroprietary of this place after whom I can track no more of the Family at Bredgar In the Reign of Richard the second I find it invested in Tong who it is probable were extracted originally from Tong not far distant a Family of good estimate in this County for I find by some old Deeds that Semanus de Tong who in the sixteenth year of Richard the second was Tenant to the Maison le Dieu in Ospringe for Lands at Lurdinden in Challock sealed with a Bend cotised between six Martletts and sometimes with the Bend uncotised and from him are the Tongs who are now Possessors of this place originally descended Swanton Court was parcel of that Estate which claimed the Lords Leybourn for Proprietaries and from them descended to the Heir General of the Family Iuliana de Leybourn who dying in the forty third year of Edward the third without Kindred or without Issue either by Hastings or Clinton this upon a Defailance of both escheated to the Crown and King Edward the third in the fiftieth year of his Reign setled it upon the Abby of Grace upon Tower Hill in whose Reverue it rested until the Suppression of that Cloister and then it was by Henry the eighth in the thirty sixth year of his Reign granted to Christopher Sampson and he in the second year of Edward the sixth conveyed it to Sir Thomas Wiat and he being attainted in the second year of Queen Mary it returned by escheat to the Crown from whence by a new concession it came over to Reader who not many years since conveyed his right in it to Aldersey branched out from the ancient Family of Aldersey of Aldersey in Cheshire so that it is now the Inheritance of Terrey Aldersey Esquire The Colledge of Bredgar was converted from a Parish Church first into that we now call a Colledge by Robert then Parson thereof in the reign of Richard the second which was establishsd and ratified saith Harpsfield by Thomas Arundell Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and in this Capacity or posture it stood until the Dissolution and then being born away into the royal Revenue it was by Exchange with the Crown in the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth annexed to the revenue for the future of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury There is a place in this Parish called Mans as being in elder Times a Mansion of that Name as Deeds both of an ancient and modern Date do inform me which whether it were the ancient Seat of the Mans who have since been transplanted to Canterbury is uncertain onely it is very probable because it had Proprietaries of that Denomination that this was the Fountain whence this Family issued forth Brenset in the Hundred of Aloesbridge had still the same Proprietaries with Newington Belhouse near Hieth and therefore is called Newington Brenset and thither for farther satisfaction I shall refer my Reader only I must inform him that here is an old Mansion in this Parish which for several Descents was the Seat of the Edolphs before they were transplanted to Hinxhill and certainly in elder Times were of good Account in this County and writ their Names in old Deeds Edulf for so is Stephen Edulf written in an old Commission directed to him John Peckham and Martin Horne wherein they were made Collectors for the Cinque Ports in the sixth year of Richard the second but now this Family hath deserted this Place having not many years since alienated their Interest here to Mr. John Fagge of Rye Father to John Fagge of Wiston in Sussex Esquire to whose Revenue it remains now annexed Betshanger in the Hundred of Eastry was in elder Times the Patrimony of a Family called Marney or Marin for so the
second place to be considered of in this Parish it borrows its Sirname from Adam de Wierton who as appears by old Deeds which by the Antiquity of their Character seem to commence from the Reign of King Henry the third was Possessor of this place and having inocculated his own Name upon it it sprouted out not in loose Suckers and Excrescencies but in those who were by lineal Descent from him justly and successively entituled to the Propriety of this Mannor untill the latter end of Richard the second and then it was by Sale transmitted to Robert Purse and there is one of this Name but whether this Man or his Son I am incertain who was Lord of Wierton House who lyes buryed in Boughton Church in the North Isle with this Inscription on a Plate of Brasse affixed to the Wall Hic jacet Robertus Purse qui obiit 145 bona multa huic contulit Ecclesiae that is he built the Belfrey and the North Isle and those are the good Works registred in his Epitaph and over his place of Sepulture his Portraicture in painted Glass was preserved entire untill the eruption of the late intestine War and then the tempestuous and ill managed or rather overheated Zeal of these Times which like an overheated Brain still concludes in Madnesse disordered it into a Heap of Ruines after this mans Exit I do not find it acknowledged this Family long for Robert Purse this mans Son alienated it to Richard Norton and his Wife Margaret Norton lyes enterr'd within that Seat which belongs to Wierton House as the Date on her Tombstone instructs me in the year 1470 and in this Family did the Title for many Generations inhabit untill that Age which fell under our Cognisance and then it was demised by Sale to Sir Anthony St. Leger of Ireland who still is the Proprietary of it Holbrook is the last Place to be taken Notice of in this Parish it was anciently involved in the Demeasne of a Family which in ancient Deeds and Court Rolls were written Halbroke and bore as is evident in old Registers and Armorials Azure A plain Crosse between four Mullets Or Frettee of the first and having continued here many Descents about the Beginning of Henry the fifth languished away and then the Propriety of this place came to confesse the Signory of Haut of Hautsbourn and dwelt in their Patrimony untill Sir William Haut determined about the latter end of Henry the eighth in two Female Coheirs whereof Joan was matched to Sir Thomas Wiat and he in her Right was enstated in the Inheritance of this place and about the latter end of Edward the sixth the Contract being fortified with his Ladyes consent passed it away to Smith Ancestor to Mr. ....... Smith who still possesses it as part of his Inheritance Boughton Alulph or Aluff in the Hundred of Wye had this appellative Distinction united to its Name to intimate to us that in the Saxons Time it owned the Jurisdiction of one Alulphus a Saxon into whose Name to derive his Memory down to us it hath been ever since adopted But in the Ages after the Conquest it was wrapped up in the Estate of the ancient Family of Burgherst now vulgarly called Burwash Robert dâ— Burgherst is the first who is brought on the Stage by publick Record and presented to our Remembrance and he held it at his Death which was in the thirty third year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 41. and is amongst the Register of those who accompanied that Triumphant and Succesfull Prince in his fotunate Expedition against the Scots and he left it to his Son Stephen de Burgherst who in the second year of Edward the second obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor of Boughton Aluff and in the third year of that Prince paid his Debt to Nature from whom it descended to his Son Stephen de Burwash who had a Renovation of the former Charter of Free-warren confirmed to this Mannor in the first year of Ed. the third his Son and Heirwas Bartholomew Lord Burgherst who had a Charter of Free-warren confirmed to all his Lands in which this was involved in the twelfth and sixteenth years of Edward the third and was certainly a Person of much Eminence in those Times for he is recorded by Daniell in his Chronicle to have been one of those to whom the abovesaid Prince committed the Conduct of his Army at the Battle of Crescy and was summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron as appears amongst the Summons of that Age he deceased in the twenty eighth year of Edward the third his Heir apparent was Bartholomew Lord Burgherst who was Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Household and was frequently summoned to sit as a Peere of the Realm by Edw. the third as it appears Registered in the late printed Abridgement of the Records of the Tower and he in the forty third year of Edward the third passed away this Mannor and much other Land to Walter de Pavely in Paveley the Possession was resident but untill the Beginning of Richard the second and then it was conveyed to Trivet but here it was of no long fixed continuance neither for Sir Thomas Trivet about the fifteenth year of the abovesaid Prince passed it away to Lewis Clifford from whom it descended to his Successor Lewis Clifford Esquire who in the twelfth year of Henry the sixth by a Fine then levied transplanted his right in it into William Wenlock and he not long after transmitted it by Sale to Richard Beauchampe Baron of Aburgavenny whose Son Richard Baron Aburgavenny concluded in Elizabeth Beauchampe his Sole Heir who was matched to Edward Nevil in her Right Lord of this Mannor whose Descendants constantly remained invested in the Inheritance untill the latter End of Henry the eighth and then it was alienated to Sir Thomas Moile and he dying without Issue Male Katharine his Daughter and Coheir fastned it to the Demeasn of her Husband Sir Thomas Finch where it hath ever since remained so constant and permanent that it now confesses the Signory of the right honourable Heneage Finch the instant Earl of Winchelsey Seaton Ulley and Potbery are three little Mannors lying within the Verge of this Parish the first of which held in grand Serjeantie of the Crown with this respective Service to be performed by the Lord of the Fee Esse vantrarius Regius quando Rex iverit in Vasconiam donec per usus fuerit pari Solutarum pretio 4 d. which wiser Heads who pretend to unravell the Intrigues and Criticisms of Law Latin interpret thus to be the Kings fore Footman when he shall go into Gasconie untill he hath worn out a pair of Shoes which cost 4 d. All these Mannors were wrapped up in the Demeasn of Crioll and Bertram de Crioll died seised of them in the twenty third year of Edward the first whose onely Daughter Joan being matched to Richard de Rokesley called in some old Records Sir
founded by William de Iper of Flanders advanced by King Stephen to be Earl of Kent in the year 1145 K. Richard the first as the Register of this Abby denotes was a great Benefactor to the Covent who were originally transported hither from Clarevall in Burgundy upon the Suppression the House with the Demeasne adjacent was in the thirty second of Henry the eighth granted to Sir Thomas Wiat Father to Sir Thomas Wiat one of his Privy Counsel a man of an unbroken though a calamitous Virtue who thinking it a lesse stain to forfeit his Estate then to debauch his Consience stuck close to that Sacramental Covenant by which he and the rest of the Councel had oblieged themselves to Henry the eighth to preserve as much as in them lay his two Daughters Mary and Elizabeth from confederating with any forreign Alliance and so engaged in that Design which over set him and sunk him and his Patrimony into that Ruine we find him and it lost at present for upon his Attainder Queen Mary in the second year of her Reign granted out his Estate as if it were by Retail to several sons but this Mannor and some other small peices were given back to the Lady Joan Wiat his Widow for the support of her self and Family and this is all which of that vast and wide Revenue of his which lay scattered in this and other Counties is held by his Posterity at this Day Wevering in this Parish is a Mannor held by Knights Service and Waretius de Shelving Son of John Shelving and Hellen de Bourn Daughter and Heir of John de Bourn held it by this Tenure to find a Horse for the Kings Army in Wales Cum uno Sacco Brochiâ pro Esquilar ipsius Domini Regis so it runs in the Latin Record taken in the third year of Edward the third after this mans Decease John de Shelving was this mans Heir and in his Right enjoyed this Mannor though it was not wholly his till he married Benedicta Daughter and Coheir of Robert de Hougham who likewise held some part of it and then he transmitted it entire to his Son William Shelving whose Sole Daughter and Heir being married to Edward Haut of Hauts Place in Petham who was Sheriff of Kent in the eighth of Henry the fourth this and an opulent Demeasne beside became interwoven with the Revenue of that Family and here the Possession seemed to be laid up till Sir William Haut of Hautsbourn this mans great Grandchild dyed and left only two Coheirs Joan matched to Sir Thomas Wiat and Elizabeth married to Sir Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury so wavering by this Alliance accrued to Sir Thomas Wiat from whom in the twenty fourth year of Queen Mary it was by forfeiture torne away but was in the twenty fourth year of Queen Elizabeth restored with the Mannor of Boxley to the Lady Joan Wiat Widow of the abovesaid Sir Thomas and her Son George Wiat for three Lifes the Reversion was sold by King Charles to Mr. Stephen Alcock who alienated the Fee Simple to Sir Francis Wiat. Vinters is contained also in Boxley it gave Seat and Sirname to as noble a Family and of as deep Antiquity as any in this Track Roger Vinter lived here who was one of the Conservators of the Peace for the County of Kent in the eighteenth year of the Reign of Edward the third he deceased in the forty seventh of the abovesaid Princes Government and John Vinter was his Heir who sold Vinter to Fremingham in the tenth year of Henry the fourth from whom it was conveyed by a Female Inheritrix to Isley of Sundrich and here it rested till Sir Henry Isley being folded up in the same attempt with Sir Thomas Wiat upon the blasting of that Designe forfeited his Interest in it to the Crown Queen Mary granted it to Cutts who some years after devested himself of his right in it and by Sale disposed of it to Sir Cavaliero Maycott who suddenly alienated it to Covert who transferred it by the like Devolution about some five and twenty years since to Sir John Tufton Knight Baronet whose second Son Sir Charles Tufton upon the late Decease of his Brother Sir Benedict Tufton is the present Lord of the Fee I had almost forgot to mention which certainly must much improve the Honour of this Place that King Edward the second in the fifteenth year of his Reign lying at Boxley Abby granted the Charter to London to elect yearly one of the City at their own pleasure to be their Maior Boughton Malherbe in the Hundred of Eyhorne did very probably take its Denomination from a Family of that Sirname who were of eminent Account in the County of Devon for I find Sir William de Malherbe was witnesse to a Deed of Reginald de Mohun by which he gives much Land to the Abby of Axminster as appears Pat. 14. Hen. tertii Memb. 33. parte prima In the Reign of Henry the third by several old Deeds I discover it to be marshalled in the List of those Lands which confessed Robert de Gatton Son of Robert de Gatton who was one of the Recognitores magnae Assisae in the second year of King John to have been its Proprietarie and he dyed possest of it in the forty eighth year of Henry the third and left it to his Son Hamo de Gatton in whom the male Line determined so that this Mannor upon the Partition of his Inheritance devolved by Elizabeth his Daughter and Coheir to be the Patrimony of William de Dene who obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Lands here in the renth year of Edward the second but he not long after enjoyed the Benefit of this priviledge for he conveyed it to Robert Corbie who in the thirty sixth year of Edward the third had Licence by this Princes Grant to build after a fortified Mannor the Terms are Kernellare Turrellare that is to make Cranies and Loopholes to discharge Crossebows and other missile Weapons and to embattel with Towers and Curtain Walls the Mannor House at Boughton from him it descended to Robert Corby his Son and Heir who dyed and left only one Daughter and Heir Joan marryed to Sir Nicholas Wotton twice Lord Maior of London and so by Female Right this Mannor became the Possession of this Family and in a continued Series was it carryed down from Sir Nicholas to Thomas Lord Wotton not many years since deceased whose Lady Dowager Mary Daughter and one of the Coheirs of Sir Arthur Throgmorton of Paulers Perry in the County of North-Hampton as parcel of her Joynture did lately before her Decease enjoy it Colbridge Castle lay in Boughton Malherbe under the Hill towards Headcorne and hath found a Sepulcher now under its own Rubbish King Henry the third in the forty third of his Reign granted Licence by his Charter to Sir Fulke Peyforer to fortifie and build after a Castle-like Manno this Mansion House at Colbrge it
Denne who deceasing without Issue Male Margaret his only Daughter and Heir brought it over to her husband Edw. Hougham after whose death it is to devolve to two Daughters who are the surviving Issue of that Wife namely Elizabeth matched to Mr. Edward Rose of Chistlet and Ann wedded to Mr. John Betentham now of Canterbury The Dungeon is another Mannor in Canterbury It was formerly belonging to an ancient Family called Chich Ernaldus de Chich was a man of principal note under Henry the second Richard the first and K. John and the Aldermanry of Burgate in Canterbury did in elder times appertain to this Family Thoma Chich was was Bailiff of Canterbury 1259. and again in the year 1271. was a principal Benefactor to the Church of S. Mary Bredin in Canterbury whose Name in an old Character together with his Effigies are set up in the west Window as his Coat is likewise in Stone-work in the Chancell John Chich was Bailiff of Canterbury in the twenty third and again in the twenty sixth year of Edward the third in the year 1320. Robert Malling then Commissary of Canterbury gave Sentence upon clear Evidence by ancient muniments and otherwise that the Hospital of St. Laurence in Canterbury should not only receive the Tithes of the Mannor of the Dungeon but likewise of 300. Acres adjacient to it but this was not without the Tye or Tribute of some Remuneration for in Autumne John Chich who was then Lord of the Dungeon was to receive for his Servants five loaves of Bread two Pitchers and an half of Beer and half a Cheese of four pence and he himself was to receive unum par Cirocecarum ferinarum one pair of Holyday Gloves and one pound of Wax in Candles and for his Servants three pair of Gloves Thomas Chich this mans Son was Sheriff of Kent in the forty fourth year of Edward the third and held his Shrivealtie at the Dungeon but in Valantine Chich this mans great Grandchild not only the male line but likewise the possession of this place failed for he about the beginning of Edward the fourth passed it away to Roger Brent Esq and he died seised of it as appears by his Will recorded at Canterbury in the year 1486. But in this Family it was not long after this resident for in the beginning of Henry the eighth by an old Court Roll I find one John Butler of Heronden in Eastrye possest of it and he conveyed it to Sir John Hales Chief Baron of the Exchequer and when Leland visited Kent which was in the thirtieth year of Henry the eighth he lived here and from him is it now come down to his Successor Sir James Hales the instant Proprietarie of it The Moate alias Wyke is a third Mannor within the precincts of Canterbury and had owners of that Sirname For I read in Testa de Nevill that Stephen de VVyke possest it in the twentyeth year of Henry the third and paid respective Aid for it at the marriage of Isabel that Princes Sister and in the Book of Aid where there is an Enumeration of the ancient owners there is a Recital of Stephen de Wyke William le Taylour John Tancrey and Richard Betts who had an Interest in it but before the beginning of Richard the second all these Families were mouldred away and vanished For in that Kings Reign I find it by the Court Rolls of this place in the hands of Sir Richard de Hoo and Richard Skippe and they about the latter end of Richard the second by deed conveyed it to Simon Spencer and he some few years after alienated it to John Standford Gentleman who suddenly after Passed it away to Richard Smith in whose hands it had not long continued when the same Devolution brought it over to John Eastfield Esquire Son of Sir William Eastfield who was Knight of the Bath and Lord Maior of London in the year 1438. and from him it was by Sale carried off to William Rogers and he by a Fine levied in the thirty third year of Henry the sixth demises and sells it to Philip Belknap of Canterbury Esquire Maior of that City in the year 1458. and Sheriff of Kent in the thirty fourth year of Henry the sixth he married Elizabeth Daughter of John Woodhouse Esq by whom he had Issue Alice his only Daughter and Heir who was matched to Henry Finch of Nitherfield Esq Father of Sir William Finch Banneret who in his Mothers right was invested in the possession of the Moâ—t and from him is it now by Successive right devolved to the Right Honourable John Lord Finch created Baron of Fordwich by the late K. Charles when he was Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England St. Dunstans in Canterbury was the Ancient Seat of the noble Family of Roper VVilliam Rosper or de Rubra Spathâ for so the Name is written in old Dateless Evidences and Elnith his Wife the Daughter and Heir of Edward de Apuldore flourished in the Reign of Henry the third and were great Benefactors to the Priorie of Saint Martins in Dover Iohn de Rubrâ Spathâ or Rosper did eminent Service in Scotland under Edward the third for which that Prince rewards him and William Clifford as appears by a Deed recorded in the Earl of Dorsets Pedigree about the twenty ninth year of his Reign with the third part of those Forfeitures that were due from the Jews then inhabiting in London for the Violation of some Penal Statutes enected against them Edmund Son of Ralph Roper was an eminent Man in the Reign of Henry the fourth and Henry the fifth under whom he was Justice of the Peace for this County and died the third year of Henry the sixth 1433 and lies buried in this Church of St. Dunstans John Roper his Son and John VVestcliffe as the Records of this Family instruct me were Correctors and Surveyours of the Customes of the Cinque Ports in the ninteenth year of Henry the seventh Jo. Roper his Grandchild was Attorney General to Henry the eighth and Prothonotary of the Kings Bench as appears by the Inscription on his Monument in St. Dunstans Church 1524 and VVill. Roper who was Sheriff of Kent the first and second year of Philip and Mary and matched with Margaret Daughter of Sir Thomas More Lord Chancellor of England who as the Inscription on her Monument was Graecis Latinisque Literis Doctissima succeeded his Father in the Office of Prothonotary of the Kings Bench which he discharged with much of Fidelity and Care fifty four years and left it to his Sor Thomas Roper Esquire 1577 in which year he died and from this Thomas is this Mannor of St. Dunstans which for so many Centuries of years hath constantly confessed the Signorie of this Name now descended to his great Grandchild Mr. Edward Roper Esquire Capell in the Hundred of Folkstone was parcel of that Estate which celebrated the Family of Averenches to have been its Proprieraries which continued no longer in the
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
present Proprietary of it But though the Family be worn out at this place yet from a Cadet of this Name who did once possess Wierton in Boughton Quarry now the Mansion of Sir Anthony St. Leger did Sir Gregory Norton now of Sussex Knight and Baronet lately deceased originally sprout forth There is another place in this Parish called the Den of Ivetegh which was anciently the Inheritance of a Family who bore that Name and though the Deeds now in the Hands of my Cozen Mr. Thomas Petley of Vilston do discover the Possession to be resident in this Name no higher then the Rule of Henry the fixth yet it is probable because the Name was local it was theirs long beyond that Time from Ivetegh it came to Mascall a Family whose Estate was formerly at Berming and from this Name it was by Sale demised to Lambe who some three descents since alienated his Interest in it to Perry extracted from the Perrys of Worcestershire but this Family lately determining in Females Elizabeth marryed to Mr. Thomas Petley of Vilston Ann and Mary these three are the Vihble Coheits of that Estate which related to it Crayford in the Hundred of Little and Lesness contains diverse places in it of eminent Consideration fitst Howbery offers it self up to our View It was in the Reign of Henry the third and Edward as appears by ancient Court Rolls and other Evidences the Patrimony of the noble Family of Northwood who held it for severall Descents in an uninterrupted Channel untill the Reign of Richard the second and then the Title and Propriety of it was by the Revolution of Sale transplanted into Abermill but here the Possession was so cursory and transient that before the end of Henry the fourth it was surrendred to Nicholas Carew of Surrey and John Cornwallis of London who by joynt Concurrence in the fifth year of Henry the fifth conveyed it to Richard Bryan and he in the first year of Henry the sixth passed it away to Roger Apylton one of the Auditors to that Prince and his Father Henry the fifth and Agnes his Wife Widow of Thomas Coveley or Cowley and the Reversion in Fee to her Son Thomas Cowley which accordingly after her Decease descended to him and from him it was transported by Descen to his Grandchild John Cowley who in the twenty second year of Henry the eighth alienated it to John Judde whose Son Henry Judde about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth resigned up the Possession by Sale to Sir Richard Fane in whose Family after it had fixed untill that Age which was within the Confines of our Fathers Remembrance it was by Purchase made the Patrimony of Draper and is still the Inheritance of Master ........ Draper now in his Minority Newbery is the second place of Account which was in elder Times ennobled by being parcell of that Inheritance which confessed the Dominion of St. John and Edward St. John as appears by the Records of this place flourished here in the Reign of Edward the first and Edward the second and dying without Issue left his Estate here to Isabell his Sister and Coheir matched to Henry de Burgherst and he in her Right dyed possest of it the twenty third year of Edward the third as appears Rot. Esc Num. 94. parte secunda After this Family was crumbled away at this place I find it folded up in the Demeasne of Poynings the last of which who enjoyed it was Thomas Poynings who about the Beginning of Henry the sixth conveyed it to John Kingston Esquire in which Family it made its aboad untill the Reign of Henry the eighth and then I find it departed from this Name and cast into the Possession of Sir Thomas Lisley whose Descendant about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth conveyed it to Apylton of Marshalls Court in this Parish where they had been resident many Descents before and Roger Apylton gave this and Marshalls Court in Dower with his Daughter Frances matched to Mr. Francis Goldsmith who almost in our Remembrance passed away Newberry to Draper Ancestor to Mr. Draper now Proprietary of it but Marshalls Court was alienated to Pix whose Descendant not many years since sold his Interest in it to Mrs. Touse of London who hath setled it in Marriage on her Daughter matched to Collonel Wood of Kingston on Thames Ellam is the last place of Remark in Crayford it gave Seat and Sirname to a good old Family who for many Descents passed under the Notion and Estimate of Gentlemen before they deserted the Possession of this Seat and bore Argent a Sword in Bend Dexter Sables Henry Ellam dyed 1471 and lyes entombed in Crayford Church John Ellam deceased 1481 and had there likewise his place of Sepulture both whose Monuments Time and a Casual Fire invading the Church have miserably dismanteled the last of this Name who was possest of this place was John Ellam who in the sixteenth year of Henry the seventh alienated it to Henry Harman who was then Clerk of the Crown in which Family it continued untill the latter end of King James and then it was passed away with May Street which Henry Harman abovesaid purchased of Cowley and Bulbeck of Bubeck Street in this Parish in the twentieth of Edward the fourth to Draper whose Descendant Mr ....... Draper is entituled to the Interest of both these places The Arch Bishops of Canterbury had anciently some Concernment in Crayford for as I find by Record William Arch Bishop of Canterbury in the twentieth of Richard the second obtained the Grant of a Market to this place to be weekly observed on the Tuesday and a Fair yearly on the Vigil the Day of our Ladies Nativity and four Dayes after Northcrey lies in the Hundred of Rokesley and though an obscure Village in it self yet is made eminent by containing within its Limits the Mannor of Rokesley which contributes a name to the whole Hundred it was as high as can by Record be traced the Inheritance of Rokesley Greogrie de Rokesley Lord Maior of London in the year 1275 which was in the third year of Edward the first an eminent man in those times he was for as by the Chartularies of London it appears he was Keeper of the Kings Exchange in London and Say-master Generall of the Kings Mint nor was his Son of less reputation for Sir Richard de Rokesley so was he called was Seneschal of Poictou and Governour of Montreul in Picardy about the latter end of Edward the first but died without issue Male and left Ioan his Daughter and Heir who was matched to Sir Thomas de Poynings Father of Richard Lord Poynings and so Rokesley became the Inheritance of that Family but Northcrey remained longer in Rokesley for Roger de Rokesley a Cadet of this Family paid respective Aid for Northcrey in the twentyeth year of Edward the third but it seems went out without Issue so that Northcrey devolved to Poynings as the next of Alliance for Richard Lord
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
cast into the Revenue of Denny by whose Daughter and Heir it is lately become the Demeasn of Mr. Robert Filmer second Son of Sir Robert Filmer of Sutton not long since deceased Winchcombe is an ancient Seat likewise in Crundall which ever since the Reign of Edward the second hath acknowledged the Carters as appears by private Evidences for its uninterrupted Proprietaries and is still in the Tenure and possession of that Name and Family Cuckston anciently written Cuckleston lies in the Hundred of Totlingtrough and was given to the Church of Rochester by Ethelwolfe Son of King Egbert See Textus Roffensis first Monarch of the English Saxons this King Ethelwolfe after his decease which happened to be about the year 857. was for his several and exemplary acts of Charitie and pious Munificence towards the Church of which Cuckston till these unhappy times ravished it away stood a visible Monument Recorded in the Register of Saints VVhornes-Place in this Parish was erected by Sir VVilliam VVhorne who was Lord Maior of London in the year 1487. upon which though he setled his Name he could not so fasten it to his Family but that the next Age by Purchase brought it over to Vane where the Title had not long fixt but the vicissitude of Sale alienated it to Barnewell who about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth sold it to Nicholas Lewson of the County of Stafford Esq whose Grandchild Sir Richard Lewson desirous to settle himself in his own County where a vaste Estate lay spread which had been transmitted to him from his Ancestors passed away this by Sale to John Marsham Esquire originally extracted from the Marshams of Norfolk where many years before they had flourished under no contemptible Estimate D. D. D. D. DArent in the Hundred of Acstane is very often written North-Darent it belonged in the Conquerours time to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury as the Record called Doomsday Book instructs me and was exchanged for the Mannor of Lambeth by Hubert Walter Arch-Bishop Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice with Gilbert Glanvill Bishop of Rochester in the year of our Lord 197. which exchange was afterwards confirmed by Richard the first Saint Margaret-Hills now united to this Parish had formerly a Church which being decayed and the Congregation diminished it was by Cardinall Pole in the year 1557. incorporated into Darent It was anciently and is so still distinguished by the Name St. Margaret-Hills which additionall Character it borrowed from a Family originally called Hells and then by Tradition and Vulgar corruption afterwards stiled Hills a Family which had large Possessions both here at Dertford and at Ash likewise by Sandwich John de Hells had a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannors of Hells and his Estate at Dertford in the seventeenth year of Edward the first and from this John de Hells did Sir Edmund Hills descend and he about the beginning of Edward the sixth alienated this Mannor to Lane whose Son Henry Lane went out in a Daughter and Heir called Martha who matched to Edw. Rolt descended from the Roults of Bedford-shire in Right of which Alliance Mr. Thomas Rolt his Grandchild is now invested in the Possession of this Place Dartford gives name to that Hundred wherein it is situated and before the Foundation of the Nunnerie was a Mannor which was wrapt up in the Demeasne of the Crown there was a Family called Tingewike which had it in Lease for when King Edward the third Pat. An. primi Edw. tertii Memb. 6. granted the Royalties of the Mannor of Dartford to Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent paying as a Rent-Service of 30. l. per annum it is mentioned in the Patent that he should hold them all in as ample a manner as Alice Tingewike formerly had done upon his decease it reverts to the Crown and the same King Edward in the year 1355. and in the fiftieth year of his Reign erects here a Nunnerie whose Lady-Abbess and the Nuns of the Covent were for the most part in succeeding times elected into this Cloister out of the noblest Families of the Nation Upon the suppression King Henry the eighth converted the House into a Palace for his own habitation and under that notion it continued till K. James by exchange passed it away to Robert E. of Salisbury who conveyed it to Sir Edw. Darcy whose Grandchild Edward Darcy Esquire descended from the noble Family of Darcy of Yorke-shire at this instant possesses the Fee-Simple of it The Mannor of Temple in this Parish was involved in that Revenue which was marshal'd under the Jurisdiction of the Knights Templers as the very Name doth seem to insinuate and upon the totall disannulling this order here in England was by a Statute made in the seventeenth year of Edward the second setled on the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem where it was fixed and constant untill the disbanding of that Order likewise in this Nation by King Henry the eighth and then it was annexed to the Patrimony of the Crown and rested there untill K. James exchanged it with Robert E. of Salisbury who sold it to Edw. Darcy Esq whose Grandchild Edw. Darcy Esq hath lately conveyed it by Sale to his Brother in Law Mr. Will. Gough The Mannor of Charles is Seated in this Parish and was a Branch of that Estate which fell under the Signorie of the ancient Family of Charles from whom it assumed its appellation Of this Family was Edw. Charles who was Captain and Admiral of the Fleet from the Thames-Mouth North-ward as appears Pat. 34. Edw. 1. after this Family had left the Possession of this place which was about the beginning of Richard the second Nicholas de Brember was planted in the Proprietie but he was scarce warm in his new atchieved Purchase but he fell under the guilt of high Treason only for being too fast in his Loyaltie and Faith to his Prince and too loose in his fidelity to his Country for there it seems that blind distinction had its first rise and growth which like some Alembeck distil'd and dropped the Power of the King distinguished apart from his Person upon the forfeiture of his Life and Estate together which was in the tenth year of Rich. the second It was by that Prince suddenly after conveyed by grant to Adam Bamme Lord Maior of London in which Family after it had for many Ages been seated it was as appears by an exemplification now in the hands of Mr. Took of Dartford transmitted by Sale to Death who about the latter end of K. James passed it away to Goldsmith of Marshals-Court in Creyford who some few years since sold all his Concernment in it to Mr. Tooks branched out from the ancient Family of the Tooks of Bere in West-Clive though since this Name setled at Dartford it hath by Depravation been called Tuke Horsemans-Place is a Mansion of good account likewise in Dartford in the sixteenth year of Edward the second I find it owned one Thomas
did the Cloister of Davington remain a Seminary of religious Women whilst their revenue without was the Fuel which supported and nourished the Flame on the Altar But when the reign of Henry the eighth approached which became decretory and critical to all these Nurseries of a lazy and speculative Devotion the demeasn which sustained this Covent was by Henry the eighth plucked away and in the eight and thirteeth year of his Government was by patent knit to the patrimony of Sir Thomas Cheyney And his Son Sir Henry Lord Cheyney in the eighth year of Q. Eliz. conveyed it by Sale to Jo. Bradborn descended as appears by his Seal affixed to his Deed by which he alienates it again in the tenth year of Q. Eliza. to Avery Giles from the Bradborns of Darbyshire But in this Family the residence of it was very brief and transitory for his Son Francis Giles in the twentieth year of Q. Eliza. passed it away to Mr. Jo. Edwards and from this Family though the Fate of purchase did not rend it away yet that of marriage did for this Jo. Edwards leaving only one Daughter and Heir called Ann she by matching with Io. Boade of Essex Esquire linked this to his revenue and from him it is descended to Mr. Io. Boade the present Lord of the Fee Little Davington or Davington-court not far distant from that house which was the Nunnerie was formerly wrapped up in that Demeasn which confessed the Dominion of the Earls of Atholl Lords of Chilham by whom the Mansion it self was built as their Arms in Stone-work in the great Hall before they were taken down by Mr. Tho. Mills did abundantly testifie and having for many years acknowledged their Signory at last it devolved to David de Strabolgie Earl of Atholl who dying without Issue-male in the forty ninth year of Edw. the third left it to Philippa one of his two Coheirs who was matched to Io. Halsham and from him did a successive Right bring it down to Sir Hugh Halsham his Grandchild who about the beginning of H. the sixth passed it away to Ja. Drylond who determined in one Daughter and Heir called Constance Drylond who was matched to Sir Tho. VValsingham of Scadbery Knight who in her right became possessor of it and transmitted it to his Son Sir Ja. VValsingham who was Sheriff of Kent in the twelfth year of H. the seventh and kept his Shrievalty at Davington and from him did it descend to his Grandchild Sir Tho. VValsingham who almost in our Grandfathers remembrance conveyed it by Sale to Simons and he not long after to Coppinger And his Son having about the beginning of K. James mortgaged it to Freeman they both joyned and by mutual Concurrence fixed their right in Mr. Tho. Mills of Norton who deceasing without Issue-male it came by Ann his Sole Daughter and Heir to be the Inheritance of Sir Io. Mill of South-hampton who conveyed it to his Brother Dr. Mill and he some few years past alienated it to his Kinsman Mr. Tho. Mill and he serled the propriety of it on his Son Mr. Tho. Mill who hath very lately transmitted all his Right in it by Sale to Tho. Twisden Esquire Serjeant at Law now of Brabourn in East-Malling Since my Writing of this I have discovered by an old Survey of Davington collected by Mr. Tho. Millâ— that Io. Lewknor of Sussex Esq had in the twenty first year of H. the sixth an Interess in Davington-court derived to him by Joan his Wife Sole Inheritrix of Sir Hugh Halsham which he not long after passed away to Mr. James Drylond Detling in the Hundred of Maidstone gave Name to a Knightly Family famous for Fortitude and Chivalrie in token whereof a Massie Lance all wrearhed about with thinn Iron place is preserved in the Church like that of VVillam the Conquerours at Battel in Sussex as the very Spear by them used and left as a memorial of their Atchivements in Arms and an Emblem also of their extraordinary Strength and Abilitie In which respect those in Bedington-Hall in Surrey celebrate the renown of the Carewes atchieved at Tilt and Turnament and that in Lullingston-Hall in Kent the like for the Peches As also that in Gerards-Hall in London upon which a Romance is drest up by the vulgar report fancying he was some Giant when the truth is he was of the Knightly Family of Gizors and Constable of the Tower and this his Capital Mansion was Castellated as the Seat of the Basings was another strenuous Family at Basings-Hall in London these matters allude much to the manner of the Romans whose Victories were aplauded and the Victors in their Triumphs extoll'd by Trophies and other Monuments and Ensigns of Honour as Pancirolus Rosinus and others have judiciously observed that have treated of these kind of Rituals But to return to the Subject from which this discourse hath diverted me in this Family of Detling did the Possession of this place for many Ages remain constantly seated till the beginning of the Reign of Edward the fourth and then John Detling written in some Old Deeds Brampton alias Detling transmitted it by Sale to Richard Lord Woodvill Lord of the Moat in Maidston not far distant created Earl of Rivers Lord Treasurer and Constable of England by his Son in law King Edward the fourth in the year 1466. whose Grandchild Anthony Woodvill Earl Rivers being attainted upon supposed Treason in the first year of Richard the third which was made so by that Usurper and those black Engins which he had raised upon him because he too cordially asserted the Interest of Edward fifth it escheated to the Crown and that Prince in the second year of his Government granted it to Sir Robert Brackenbury Lievtenant of the Tower who it seems disliking a Tenure which was caemented with Blood passed away his right immediately after to Richard Lewknor who had some estate here before by matching with Eleanor Coheir of Tho. Towne which Tho. Towne wedded to Bennett Heir of John Detling and this Richard Lewknor about the latter end of Henry the seventh gave it in franck Marriage with his Daughter to Hills Hills resolved into two Daughters and Coheirs one of which was married to Vincent and the other was matched to Martin and so upon the Division to avoid all Disorder and Confusion Detling was split into two Mannors one was called West-Court which accrued to Vincent and the other was termed East-Court which was annexed to the Demeasne of Martin Martin about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth sold East-Court to Webbe in which Name after it had for severall years been fixed it was in our Fathers Memory passed away to Smith who not many years since alienated it to Sir Edward Henden one of the Barons of the Exchequer who upon his Decease gave it to his Nephew Sir John Henden and from him it is now descended to his eldest Son Edward Henden Esquire But Westcourt was by Vincent passed away to Morton of Whitehorse in
John de Vescy held for term of her Life begotten upon Dergavile his Concubine Daughter to Dunwald a petty Prince in Ireland he made a Feoffment of all his Lands in England to Anthony Beck Bishop of Durham to the use of William Vescy of Kildare his base Son and also infeoffed King Edward in Kildare in Ireland and in Sproxton in Scotland for Licence of his good Leave and Assent to the other Feoffment William de Vescy of Kildare was slain in the Warrs of Stripling in Scotland The King of England himself being then present in Person By which means the State being in the Bishop of Durham he disposed of Alnewike Castle in the North to Henry de Percy that had married Idonia de Clifford and considering that the Estate of Lands at Eltham came from the Crown the said Bishop reserving an estate for life disposed of them back again to the Crown he himself dyed there the twenty eighth of March 1311. In the fifth year of Edward the second and had bestowed great cost in building there The Stone-work of the outward Gate being Castle-like is a remnant of the work of that Time The Palace it self being much more modern and Augmented by several additions of the Kings of England who in a manner kept here their constant residence and here were made the Statutes of Eliham the precedents for Government of the Kinâ—s House to this day The Bishop of Durham being dead K. Edward the second kept his residence here 1315 9 Edw. 2. and his Q. was here brought to bed of a Son called John of Eliham K. Edward the third intending to give a princely reception to K. John of France which had been Prisoner in England and came over to visit the King 1363. and dyed before his return entertained him here at Eltham K. Henry the fourth kept his last Christmas at Eliham 1412. K. Henry the fifth his Son and Successor lay there at Christmas likewise when he was fain to depart suddenly for fear of some that had conspired to murther him K. Henry sixth made it his principal place of residence and granted the Tenants of the Mannor of Eltham a Charter of renovation of a Market in the seventeenth of his reign which containeth more ample priviledges than any such grant that yet I have seen as will be likewise evident to those who will peruse the original Record of that year in the Tower of London K. Edward the fourth greatly to his cost repaired the House Pat. Anno 21. Edw. 3. pars 2. Memb. 2. and inclosed Hornpark so called being the Site of the Mannor of West-horn which was anciently in the Kings Demeasne For King Edward the third in the twenty first year of his reign granted liberty to all his Tenants of this Mannor to be toll-free throughout England K. Henry the seventh set up the fair Front there towards the Moat and was usually resident there I find in a Record in the Office of Arms that he did usually dine in the Hall and all his Officers kept their Tables there and at such time as he created Stanley Baron Monteagle by reason of some Infection then reigning in and near the City of London none were permitted to dine in the Kings Hall but the officers of Arms who at the serving in the Kings second Course of meat according to the Custome came and proclaimed the Kings style and the style of the said new Lord. King Henry the eighth built much at Greenwich with Bricks made here at Eltham and then neglected this place yet he lived here sometime and kept a royal Christmass at this place 1515. There is an ancient place in this Parish called Henleys which in the time of King Edward the third was a Marnor belonging to John de Henley whose House was moated about the situation is yet extant below the Conduit-head but he dying without Issue it came by his guift to King Edward the third and was annexed unto the Mannor by William de Brantingham his Feoffee The Mannor East-horn and Well-hall was in the year 1100. possest by Jordan de Iriset or Brinset first establisher of the Order of Knights Hospitallers here in England In Ages of a lower Descent that is in the reign of Edward the third it was held by Iohn de Poultney and from that Family about the reign of Richard the second it devolved by Sale to Chichley Iohn Tatterst all married Agnes the Daughter of Iohn Chichley of Wolwich Son of William Chichley Alderman of London and by her had VVell-hall and East-horn he had Issue by her two Daughters Ann was married unto Sir Ralph Hastings and Margery was married unto Iohn Roper Esquire and Agnes their Mother was remarried to VVill. Kene who likewise had Issue by her from whom the Mansells of Wales are extracted and by this Descent are of the Blood and Kindred of Henry Chichley Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury Founder of All-Souls Colledge in Oxford but VVell-hall and East-horn were united to the patrimony of Roper and have continued here so fixed that they are the present Inheritance of Edward Roper Esquire To this Mannor the Chancel of St. Michael in the South-side of Eltham Church belongeth called sometimes Tatershalls Chancel In the windows the Matches before mentioned are impaled in Coloured glass The utmost extent of this Hundred East-ward reacheth to Shooters-Hill so called of the Thievery there practised where Travellers in elder Times were so much infested with Depraedations and bloody mischiefs that order was taken in the sixth of Richard the second for the enlarging the High-way according to the Statute made in the Time of King Edward the first so that they venter still to rob here by prescription Pat. 6. R. 2. pars 2. Mem. 34. and some have been so impudent to offer to engage the Sun shining at mid-day for the repayment of money called borrowed in a Theevish way to the great charge of the Hundred that still was in the Counter-bond and King Henry the fourth granted leave to Thomas Chapman to cut down burn and sell all the Woods and Under-woods growing and confining to Shooters-Hill Pat. 7. H. 4. pars 2. Memb. 12. on the South-side and to bestow the money raised thereby upon mending the High-way Surely Prince Henry his Son and Sir John Falstaffe his make-sport so merrily represented in Shakespear's Comedies for examining the Sandwich Carriers loading at this place were not the Surveyers Mottingham in the Hundred of Blackheath is a Hamlet and member to Eltham enjoying like priviledges which are annexed to both these places as being of ancient Demealn It was formerly written Modingham denoting that it was proudly situated for so we interpret Mod in old English It passed away from the Crown with the Mannor of Eltham to Jo. de Vescy and returned back again with it inhabited in the time of K. Edw. the third by the Family of Bankwell and after in the reign of H. the sixth by the Chesmans the last
of which Name which held this place was Tho. Chesman whose Female-heir Alice brought this Seat to her Husband Rob. Stodder Ancestor to Will. Stodder Esq not long since deceased who was proprietary of it A strange and marvellous Accident happened at this place upon the fourth day of August 1585 in a Field which belongeth to Sir Percival Hart. Betimes in the morning the ground began to sink so much that three great Elme-Trees were suddenly swallowed into the Pit the tops falling downward into the hole And before ten of the Clock they were so overwhelmed that no part of them might be discerned the Concave being suddenly filled with water the Compass of the hole was about 80. yards and so profound that a sounding line of fifty Fathoms could hardly find or feel any bottome ten yards distance from that place there was another piece of ground sunk in like manner near the high-way and so nigh a dwelling house that the Inhabitants were greatly terrified therewith Edenbridge in the Hundred of Westerham was ever esteemed a Chappel of ease to the Parish of Westerham The first that I discover by the beams of Record to have been possest of Edenbridge were the Stangraves who had here their capital Mansion which was known by their Name John de Stangrave obtained a Charter of Free-warren to Edenbridge in the twenty sixth year of Edw. the first Sir Rob. de Stangrave was his Son and Heir who was with Edw. the first at the Siege of Carlaverock in Scotland and there for his generous Service received the Order of Knighthood and dyed seised of Edenbridge and Stangrave the twelfth year of E. the third Rot. Esc Num. 52. After the Stangraves were vanished the Dynleys were setled in the Signory of these above-mentioned places Jo. de Dynley had a Confirmation of the Chatter of Free-warren to Eden-bridge in the fourteenth year of Edward the third and immediately after passed away his Interest here to Hugh de Audley Earl of Gloucester Lord of the Mannor and Castle of Tunbridge by whose Daughter and Heir the Lady Margaret Audley Stangrave and Edenbridge came to acknowledge the Signory of Ralph Stafford Earl of Stafford and he dyed seised of them in the forty sixth year of Edward the third and in this Family of Stafford as they were successively Earls of Stafford and Dukes of Buckingham was the propriety of these places resident untill the twelfth year of Henry the eighth and then Edward Duke of Buckingham Lord high Constable of England having unadvisedly consulted with a Monk and a Wizzard touching the Succession of the Crown fomented so Vast a Stock of Fears and Jealousies in the Brain of that Cautious Prince that they could not be extinguished but by his Blood which was poured out on a Scaffold as the last expiation of that Treason which was by Cardinal Wolsey pinn'd upon him and likewise of his Prince's Fury Upon this his untimely Exit his Estate escheated to the Crown and King Henry the eighth not many years after granted Westerham Eden Bridge and Stangrave which were parcell of the Confiscation to Sir John Gresham Knight from whom they by Descent are now devolved to Marmaduke Gresham Esquire who enjoys the instant Possession of them Delaware is a Seat of very venerable Account in this Parish It was the Seat of Gentlemen of that Name as high as the Reign of Henry the second as appears by old Evidences now in the Hands of Mr. Seyliard of which Robert de la Ware was the last who about the latter end of Edward the third went out without Issue-male so that Dionysia Delaware who was matched to William Paulin became Heir to this place In Paulin it remained constantly resident till the beginning of the Rule of Henry the sixth and then William Paulin determined in a Daughter and Heir likewise who was wedded to John Seyliard of Seyliard in Hever which is still in the Possession of Mr. Seyliard of Gabriells in this Parish and who descended from Ralph de Seyliard who flourished about the Reign of King Stephen In an old Pedigree of Seyliard now treasured up amongst the Evidences of Delaware there is enrolled the Coppy of a Deed without date by which Almerick d'Eureux Earl of Gloucester who flourished in the Reign of Henry the third demises Lands to Martin at Seyliard and other Lands called Hedinden to Richard at Seyliard who were Sons of Ralph from which Ralph John Seyliard Esquire now Proprietary of this anâ—â—ent Mansion of Delaware by a Steady and unbroken Current of many Descents in a Direct Line is originally extracted The Mannor of Sharnden in this Parish was parcell of that Estate which belonged to the Lords Cobham of Sterborough Castle not far distant and continued folded up in the Patrimony of this Family till the Government of Edward the fourth and then Thomas Lord Cobham of Sterborough deceasing without Issue-male Anne matched to Edward Lord Borough of Gainsborough became his Heir in which Name and Family the Title of this place successively streamed down till almost our Times and then the Lady Katharine Borough to whom it was assigned by Thomas Lord Borough her Husband to defray Debts and other Uses passed it away to Sir Edward Richardson Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench whose Grandchild the Lord Edward Richardson Baron of Cromartie in Scotland does now possesse the Signory and Inheritance of it Elham in the Hundred of Lovingborough is anciently written Helham which denotes the Situation of it in a Valley amongst Hills Though now the Magnificent Structures which in elder Times were here be dismantled and have only left a Masse of deplored Rubble to direct us were they stood yet in Dooms-day Book it is written that the Earl of Ewe a Norman and neere in Alliance to the Conquerour held it and left the Reputation of an Honour unto it as the Record of the Aid granted at the making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth of Ed. the third doth warrant For the Mannor of Mount adjacent to Elham is said to be held of the Honour of the Earl of Ewe by Knights Service In Testa de Nevill there is mention of Gilbert Earl of Ewe who then paid respective Aid in the twentieth year of Henry the third at the Marriage of Isabell that Prince's Sister From this Gilbert Earl of Ewe it went away to Edward eldest Son to Henry the third who obtained a Market and Fair to Elham by Charter in the thirty fifth of Henry the third and after he had fortified it with these Priviledges in the forty first year of the abovesaid Prince conveys it by Sale to Boniface of Savoy Arch-bishop of Canterbury Boniface to decline the Envy and Emulation of his English Opposites which he and the rest of those Forreiners and Aliens had contracted upon themselves by their practicall Turbulencies in the Managery of the principal Affairs of State under Henry the third passed it away by Sale to Roger Lord Leybourne a great Partisan and
the Church for diverse Ages untill the Title was by the Generall Dissolution dislodged and in the thirty fifth year of Henry the eighth was by Royall Concession from that Prince invested in Sir Walter Henley Serjeant at Law and a Man under an eminent Character in those Times from whom about the beginning of King Edward the sixth it passed away by Sale to Linch a Family of good Antiquity in Kent from whom the Linches of Lemster in Ireland are primitively descended and have been for some Descents seated at Linch Knock a Castle in that Province After the Linches the Gibs's about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth were by Purchase seated in the Inheritance and continued in it untill very lately the Title was unfixed and by the Transposition of Sale planted in Mr. Jaques of London Erith in the Hundred of Little and Lesness was a Mannor which was circumscribed within the Revenue of Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer that powerfull Baton whose Story I shall pencill out more exactly at Leeds-Castle but before him Guncelin de Badelesmer This Guncelin de Badelesmer was Justice of Chester See Mr. King's Vale Royall who lyes buried at Badelesmer with a fair Pourtraicture upon his Tomb cut out in Wood enjoyed it and held it at his Decease which was in the twenty ninth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 50. And this Guncelin was Son to Giles de Badelesmer who as the Annals of St. Austins informs us was slain at a Battell commenced against the Welsh in the year 1258 whilst he vigorously asserted the Interest of his Country against their wild Excursions But to advance where I first left off Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer before mentioned had such a particular Affection to this place that in the ninth year of Edward the second he obtained a Charter of Free-warren to this Mannor and suddenly after by his Confederacy with Thomas Earl of Lancaster and the rest of the Nobility knit together in Combination against that Prince forfeited his Estate and Life to the Crown And then Edward the second as appears by the Patent Rolls of that time in the fifteenth year of his Reign grants it for life to David de Strabolgie Earl of Atholl Son to the infortunate John Earl of Atholl who was offered up a Sacrifice to the Fury of Edward the first because he had done too little for him and too much for his bleeding and gasping Country of Scotland and this Earl held it at his Decease which was in the first year of Ed. the third Rot. Esc Num. 85. After his Death it reverts to the Crown and then King Edward the third not only reverses the Processe and Judgement issued out against Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer but likewise by Patent in the second year of his Reign restores this Mannor and diverse other Lands to Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer his Son And he dyed seised of it in the twelfth year of that Prince's Reign but left no Issue-male so that his four Daughters became his Heirs whereof Eliz. was one of them who was first matched to William Bohun Earl of Northampton and after to Roger Mortimer Earl of March to whose Patrimony this in his Wives Right upon the Quadripartite Division of this wide Estate was united and Edmund de Mortimer this Mans Son enjoyed it at his Death which was in the fifth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 43. And left it to his Son Roger Earl of March and Ulster and he had Issue Roger Mortimer and Ann who married Richard Plantagenet de Conisburgh Earl of Cambridge second Son of Edmund of Langley Duke of York and this Richard Earl of Cambridge having involved himselfe with Henry Lord Scroop and Sir Thomas Grey of Northumberland in a Treasonable Design against the Life of Henry the fifth in the second year of his Reign as he was embarking at South-hampton for France there to justifie his Title to that Crown by the Power of the Sword was convicted and executed and left Issue Richard Plantagenet who was in the year 1426 created Duke of York and upon the Decease of his Mothers Brother Roger Mortimer Earl of March without Issue he became not only Heir to his Estate but likewise to that of his Right to the Crown which first had devolved to him and after his Death to this his Sister Ann Countesse of Cambridge Mother to this Richard Duke of York from Philppa Wife to Edmund Mortimer Earl of March their Grandfather which Philippa was sole Heir of Lionell Duke of Clarence third Son of Edward the third and elder Brother to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster fourth Son of that Prince from whom the Lancastrian Family had wiredrawn and spun out a forced usurped and distorted Title to the English Diadem Upon his Decease at the Battle waged at Wakefield where he found an untimely Sepulcher whilst he most vigorously disputed his Claim to the Scepter against the House of Lancaster this mannor with the Crown devolved to his Son King Edward the fourth and here it dwelt with the Royall Revenue untill King Henry the eighth in the thirty sixth year of his Reign passed it away to Elizabeth Countesse of Shrewsbury Widow Dowager of George Earl of Shrewsbury by whom she had Issue John who dyed unmarried and Ann first matched to Peter Compton Esquire by whom she had Issue Sir Henry Compton who was Heir to her Estate here at Erith and secondly wedded to William Earl of Pembroke Sir Henry Compton had Issue William created Earl of North-hampton in the sixteenth year of King James and Sir Thomas Compton who dying without Issue gave his Estate here which was setled on him by his Father upon his Marriage with Mary Countesse of Buckingham to his Nephew Sir William Compton a younger Son of Spencer Earl of Northampton who hath very lately alienated his Interest here to Mr. Lodowick of London Bedenwell in this Parish had formerly the Repute of a Mannor when it was the Inheritance of a Family called Boreford or more vulgarly Burford Rose de Burford held it at her Death which was in the third year of Edward the third Rot. Ese Num. 52. And afterwards I find James de Burford obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Lands at Bedenwell in Erith in the thirty fifth year of Edward the third After this Family was expired which was before the end of Richard the second it came to be the Possession of Draper descended from an ancient Family of that Name in the County of Notingham who concluded in a Female Heir For William Killom matched with the sole Daughter of John Draper by whom he obtained Bedenwell but with this Proviso that he should change his Name to Draper which hath been ever since both by Draper of Crayford and Draper of Hering-Hill in Erith punctually performed But since this solemne Stipulation Bedenwell in severall peices hath been sold to Turner Gainsford of Crowherst in Surrey who not many years since alienated his Proportion to Cholmeley and
to a Family who held it as appears by Testa de Nevill in the twentieth year of Henry the third In Times of a lower Descent it was the Possession of a good old Family called Groveherst William de Groveherst paid respective Aid for it at making the Black Prince Knight and from him it devolved to his Successor Richard Groveherst who in the Reign of Henry the fourth determined in three Daughters and Coheirs espoused to Richard Tickhill Richard Hextall and John Petit who about the Beginning of Henry the sixth passed one Moiety of it to John Martin whose Successor and Descendant Edward Martin above-mentioned passed it away with Franks mentioned in Horton Kirkby in whose Revenue it lyes now couched about the beginning of Q. Elizabeth to Alderman Bathurst from whom with Franks it is now devolved by Descent to be the Inheritance of Sir Edward Bathurst Ralph de Fremingham obtained a Weekly Market to his Mannor of Farningham on the Tuesday and a Fair yearly to continue for four Days the Vigil the day of St. Peter and Paul and two days after by Grant from Henry the third in the fifty fifth year of his Reign Pat. An. 55. Hen. 3. Memb. 12. Which Grant was renewed and confirmed to John de Fremingham in the seventh and eighth years of Richard the second Chimbham is another Mannor in this Parish which did give Name to a Family of that Appellation for I find in the Book of Aid that when John de Fremingham pays Aid for his Mannors of Farningham and Chimbham there is a Recitall of Lawrence de Chimbham which formerly held it in the Reign of Henry the third But it is evident both by that Record and by the Inquisition taken after his Death which was in the twenty third year of Edward the third that John de Fremingham held it and transmitted it to his Son Ralph de Fremingham whose Son and Heir John Fremingham dying without Issue Ann his Sister entred upon the Possession of this as his next Heir and brought it with her to her Husband Roger Isley of Sundridge And so this Family became concerned in it and kept their Interest here until the Reign of Henry the seventh and then it was passed away to Sibill of Littlemoat in Ainsford in which Name the Propriety had not been long wrapt up when this Family found its Sepulcher in a Female Heir For Ed. Sibell the last of this Name resolved into a Daughter and Heir matched to Hide and he not many years since conveyed it by Sale to Alderman Bunce of London Fairfield in the Hundred of Langport was given to the Church of Christ-Church in Canterbury by St. Edm. Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of the University of Oxford about the year 1238 and more to fortifie the Donation affixed his Seal Sigillo suo confirmavit say the Records of Christ-Church to the originall Grant This upon the Suppression was upon the Institution of the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury by Henry the eighth confirmed by Grant to them Faukham in the Hundred of Acstane was the Seat and gave the Sirname to an ancient Family called Faukham The first whom I find upon Record is Walleran de Faukham who flourished here in the Reign of Henry the second as appears by the Book called Nova Feoffamenta taken in that Princes Reign and kept in the Exchequer Afterwards in Times of a more modern date it acknowledged the Signory of the Lord Grandison Baron of Ferneborough and Otho de Grandison is said in the Book of Aid with Gilbert de Kirkbie to have held one Knights Fee in Faukham of the Bishop of Rochester which Rose de Faukham and William de St. Clere of Ford in Wrotham formerly held and this Otho Lord Grandison held it at his Death which was in the thirty third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 41. And left it to his Son Thomas Grandison who dyed without Issue in the forty ninth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 36. So that his Estate here and in other places was divided between his Sisters and Coheirs whereof this came to be possest by Sir John Northwood in Right of Agnes one of his Sisters from whom by a constant Line of Succession it was guided down to his Son Sir Roger Northwood who was extinguished in a Female Heir called Albina Northwood matched to John Diggs of Diggs Court in Berham Esquire who was Sheriff of Kent in the second year of Henry the fourth and so in her Right this Mannor devolved to this Family and lay couched in their Estate until the latter end of Henry the eighth and then it was passed away to Barham of Berham-Court in Teston In which Name the Propriety had not been long resident when Thomas Barham Esquire concluded in a Daughter and Heir called Ann who was espoused to Sir Oliver Boteler who cast this into his Revenue from whom it is now come down to Sir Oliver Boteler Baronet only Son of Sir William Boteler slain at Cropready Bridge in asserting the Royall Quarrell Frendsbury in the Hundred of Shamell hath severall places in it worthy of our Cognisance The first is Eslingham which was given to the Church of St. Andrews in Rochester by Kenulfus King of Mercia as the Book called Textus Roffensis informs me But by the Registers of that Church I find that John de St. Clere held it in Lease of the Covent about the ninth year of Edward the third and after him a Family called Neal who had large Possessions about Higham were Lessees to the Cloister In the sixth year of Henry the sixth I find John Rykeld held it and kept his Shrievalty at this place after him a Family called Frogenhall was by Right of Lease in the Reign of Henry the seventh possest of it but upon the Suppression of this Monastery of St. Andrews in the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth this Mannor was found to be Lease to Audley and Fisher and then the Fee-simple in Reversion was granted to Thomas Lord Cromwell Earl of Essex who being by the Malice of his Enemies who had raised all their Black Engines of Mischief upon him aspersed with the Calumnious Reproach of high Treason was attainted in the thirty second year of Henry the eighth and made a Peace-offering to the Fury of his irreconcileable Adversaries then this by Escheat returns back to the Crown after which that Prince by his Royall Concession makes it the Inheritance of Sir Will. Drury of Norfolke in which Family it remained untill Times of our Knowledge and Remembrance and then the Interest was by Sale translated into Henry Clerk Esquire Serjeant at Law and late Recorder of Rochester from whom it is now come down to his Son and Heir Francis Clerk Esquire collaterally descended from that eminent Souldier Sir John Clerk of Willoughby in Warwick-shire who took Lewis de Orleans Duke of Longueville Prisoner in that memorable Encounter commenced between Bomy and Spours Villages not far
seemed to be Corrivalls with the Egyptians who expended more upon the Structure of their Tombs then Houses because they knew they were to dwell longer in them But I have digressed I now proceed Thus have you seen how this Seat fell under Signiory of Diggs and the succeeding Records of this Family will inform you that the Title made its aboad in this Name untill allmost that Age we call our Fathers and then it was transmitted by Sale to Archer from whom not many years since a Fatality like the former hath now brought it to bee the Possession of Thatcher Feversham affords a Name to the whole Hundred wherein it is placed In the year 812 in the Charter of Kenulf King of Mercia it is called the Kings little Town It seems it was of no bigg Dimension then though it be multiplyed and swolne into a greater Bulk since yet as small as it was Athelstan in the year 903 held a publick Moot or great Counsell here which Assemblies since the Normans entring here were termed Parliaments and enacted severall Laws in this Convention Probably enough it belonged to the Crown in elder Times and was a Mannor-house of the Kings for William the Conquerour as the Records of St. Austins testifie gave the Advowson of the Church to that Abby in the year 1072 and the Mannor it self to a Norman in Recompence of some signal Service But when King Stephen resolved to erect the Abby there he compounded with William de Ipre Earl of Kent and gave him the Mannor of Lilly-Church in Exchange for it and his Queen Matilda raised a stately Monastery which she stored with Monks of the Order of St. Bennet which were brought thither by Clarembald the first Abbot from the Abby of St. Marys at Bermondsey in Southwark and procured a Letter to be writ from Peter Abbot of that place to absolve and release them from all Obedience to the Order of the Cluniac's And here was K. Stephen Matilda his Wife and Eustace Earl of Boloign his Son Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle solemnly enter'd Of which former King it is observed that though his Reign were rough and tempestuous by Reason of his perptuall Debates and Contests with Mawd the Empresse and her Son concerning the Title yet were there more Religious Convents erected in his Rule then either before or after which made it appear though the Times were bad they were not impious And certainly from the uneven and imperfect Prospect which those Times folded up in the Flame and Smoak of Civil War have afforded us of this Prince and of his Sway of the Scepter we may conclude that in all things he was fit to be a King but that he was one Thorne the Chronicler relates two Contests that happened between the Monks of St. Augustins and others the first was between them and King John animated by Hughbert Archbishop of Canterbury touching the Right of Patronage of the Church of St. Mary Charity at Feversham The K. apprehending the Advowson of the Church belonged to him or at least made to believe so by the Archbishop presents a Clerk to the Church and commands his Presentment should be received which they not only disobeyed but ejected the Clerk and sent diverse of their Monks to maintain the Possession of the Church by strong Hand Which the King understanding commanded Reginald de Cornhill the Sheriff to disseise them and restore his presented Clerk which he in Order to the Kings Injunction not without a vigorous Resistance by the Monks effected Upon which the Monks complain to Stephen the Popes Legat who then was there journeying to Rome and in his Way sojourned at their Cloister And he compassionating their Condition advised them to send their Prior to Rome least the Power of the See Apostolick might by this Affront and Inroad upon it be trampled under Foot Hereupon the Pope upon Advertisement received issues out a Commission to understand the Matter in Debate But the Monks upon a serious Debate with themselves knowing the King 's impetuous Temper they found out a more compendious Method for an Accommodation and presented the King with two Hundred Marks in a Purse and a meet Palfrey for his Saddle by which Donative they so endeared the K. that they obtained Restitution of their Right and made him for the future their gratious Patron Another Conflict fell out after this between the Abbot and Maior and Burgers of this Town about some Intrusions and encroachments made by the Townsmen as was pretended upon the Franchises of the Church You may be sure Thorn who relates it is warped with a partial Engagement to his own Fraternity and with that Caution you may read him Upon the Dissolution made in the Reign of Henry the eighth this Mannor with all its Priviledges returned to the Crown and lay incorporated with its Revenue untill the Reign of King Charles And then it was granted to Sir Dudley Diggs of Chilham Castle who not long after setled it on his second Son Mr. Jo. Digg who not long since demised it to Sir George Sonds of Leeze-court Fishbourne in this Parish is an ancient Mannor from whence a Family of that Sirname borrowed its Appellation One John de Fist bourn was a Witnesse to that Charter by which a place called Messewell was given to Feversham Abby in the Reign of Henry the second Afterwards in the Reign of Edward the third I find the Dreylonds to be possest of it but their ancient Seat was at Cokesditch in this Parish For in a Deed dated the twenty fifth year of Edward the third John the Son of Stephen Dreylond whereby he demises some Land in a place called Crouchfield to William Makenade writes himself of Cokesditch and in this Family did the Interest of Fishbourne continue untill the Beginning of Henry the eighth And then it was alienated to Simons to which Name the Title hath remained constantly allied to this Day Nor was Cokesditch fixed in Dreylond by a Tenure more permanent for katharine Sole Heir of Sir Richard Dreylond was matched to Reginald Norton of Milton Esquire and so with her both the Name and Propriety of this place were entombed in this Family and this Reginald upon his Decease gave it to his second Son William Norton and from him successively was it transmitted to others of that Line untill those Times which confined upon our Fathers Remembrance And then it was alienated to Parsons who was not long seated in his new Acquists but he conveys it away to Ashton by whose Daughter and Heir it is lately transplanted into Buck. Frittenden in the Hundred of Cranbroke resolves it self into several places which call for our Notice The first is Comden It was clapsed up within the Revenue of the Priory of Leeds untill the Storm or Hurricano rather in the Reign of Henry the eighth threw it into the Demeasn of the Crown And then that Prince in the thirty second year of his Reign
conveyed it by Grant to Sir Walter Henley and he in the thirty fourth year of Henry the eighth transmitted it by his Deed to Sir John Baker whose Successor Sir John Baker even in those Times which entrenched on our Remembrance passed it away to Mr ....... Cleyton of London Bewper is the second place of account in this Parish It was in elder Times an Appendage or Fragment of that Demeasn which did contribute to the Support of the Abby of Feversham and upon the Suppression of that Cloister or Seminary by Henry the eighth it was in the thirty fifth year of that Princes Reign granted to Sir Thomas Moil who not long after passed it away to Robert Prat. And his Son Master Franci Prat primo Elizabethae by Fine conveyed it to Mr Edward Bathurst who not many years after transplanted his Interest here by Sale into Sir Richard Baker Ancestor to Sir Jo. Baker of Sisinghurst Baronet who now by paternal Succession is entituled to the instant Signory of it Wallinghurst and Buckhurst are two petty Mannors which belonged to the Abby of Feversham but upon the Suppression of that Covent they were pared off and by Grant from Henry the eighth in the twenty ninth year of his Reign were enstated upon Thomas Lord Cromwell Earl of Essex But long he was not endowed with them for in the thirty second year of that Prince's Government he was bespattered and blasted with an Accusation of high Treason which the Subtlety of his Adversaries had woven so closely together that he was entangled in it and being attainted forfeited both his Life and Estate to the Fury I cannot say Justice of an incensed Prince Amongst the Ruines of his Patrimony these two places were comprehended and upon his Shipwrack it returned to the Crown And then King Henry the eighth by a new Grant in the same year they escheated passed them away to Sir John Baker of Sisingherst in Cranebroke from whom they are now come down to Sir John Baker Baronet his Successor Upper Peasridge was involved in that spatious Inheritance which fell under the Dominion of the Lord Badelesmer of whom I shall speak more at Leeds and when he by his Disloyalty had forfeited both Life and Fortune to the Crown this was enwrapt in the Escheat But was restored in the second year of Edward the third to Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer this Mans Son and he in the twelfth year of that Prince held it at his Death Rot. Esc Num. 44. But Giles his only Son dying without Issue his great Estate was split into parcells and this with some more of his Demeasne was allotted to Mawd his Sister and Coheir who was matched to John Vere Earl of Oxford and he in her Right was possest of it at his Death which was in the thirty fourth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 84. And in this Family did it reside untill the Beginning of Henry the fourth and then it was passed away by Sale to St. Leger to whose Patrimony it remained annexed untill the Government of Philip and Mary and then an Alienation like the former brought it over to Lone descended from the Lones of Lancashire where there is yet a House of the Name and being thus fixt in this Family the Possession continues still united to it Fordwich in the Hundred of West-Gate was given to the Abbot and Monks of St. Austins as the Annalls of that Convent testifie by King Edward the Confessor and was given ad Vestitum for Reparation of their Apparell And there is a Tradition that Hemp-Hall which was an Appendage to this Mannor did pay a quit-Rent in Hemp but certainly it must be then for the use of those secular persons which related as Officers and Servants to this Cloister for the Monks themselves being under the Rule of Bennet harrowed their Skin with Shirts of Hair and slept vestiti in their Apparell the more to tame and controle the Mutinies and Disorders of the Flesh But to advance After this Mannor which the Piety of former Ages had planted in the Revenue of the Church had for a large Decursion of Time owned no other Proprietary it was by the Dissolution in the twenty ninth of Henry the eighth emptied into the Income of the Crown where it lay untill Edward the sixth in the seventh year of his Reign granted it to Sir Thomas Cheyney and he not long after alienated his Concernment in it to John Johnson from whom it came over by Purchase to Paramour who passed it away to the Lady Elizabeth Finch Widow of Sir Moile Finch whose Son Thomas Finch Earl of Winchelsey almost in our Memory passed it away to John Finch Baron of Fordwich late Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England in the year 1640 and in him does the instant Signory of it reside Folkstone does contribute a Name to the Hundred in which it is situated The Mannor it self with the Mannor of Walton was given to the Nunnery by Eadbald King of Kent which it seems was of that Repute in those Times that Eanswide his Daughter was there vailed a Nun under the Rule of St. Bennet and Ermenred and Ercombert his Sons changed their hopes of a Crown into those of one more celestiall and folded up all their Earthly Glories in a Monastick Cowle which they assumed at this place under the Discipline of St. Bennet But this Cloister was some Ages after partly by the Fury of the Danes and partly by the Impressions of the Sea reduced into a heap of Ruines so that in the Reign of William the Conquerour William de Muneville laid the Foundations of a new Priory in another place of the Town which was much augmented afterwards by William de Averenches who had married his only Daughter But it seems upon the former Devastation of this religious Seminary the Mannor had returned to the Crown for in the year one thousand thirty and eight Canutus restored to Christ-church in Canterbury as the Records of that Covent do intimate this Mannor of Folkston which Athelstan Son of King Edward in the year nine hundred twenty and eight had formerly granted to them for the health of his Fathers Soul and to the Honor of Vlfhelme Arch-priest of Canterbury but with this Restriction he limits and bounds this his Concession that this Mannor thus returned to the Church should never be alienated by the Arch-bishop without the Consent of the King and the Covent of Christ-church who it appears joyned with William the Conquerour and the Archbishop of Canterbury and fastned it again to this Priory where it remained untill it was torn away by the Suppression in the Time of Henry the eighth and annexed to the Crown Afterwards that Prince in the thirtieth year of his Reign transplanted his Interest in it and Walton by Grant into Edward Lord Clinton and he the same year passed them away to Thomas Lord Cromwell Earl of Essex who being attainted in the thirty second year of the abovesaid Prince
inhabiting at Hougham not far distant and Robert de Hougham dyed seised of it in the forty first year of Henry the third In the Reign of Edward the second I find the Clintons possest of it and William de Clinton Earl of Huntington dyed seised of it in the twenty eighth year of Edward the third and from him it descended to his Kinsman John de Clinton great Grandfather to John Lord Clinton who about the Beginning of Henry the seventh sold it away to Davis from which Family by a Daughter and partly by Purchase it came over to Lessington and he in our Fathers Remembrance alienated his Concernment in it to Hopday whose Son is the instant Possessor of it Bredmer or Berdmer is the last place worthy any Consideration It is partly situated in Folkston and partly in Cheriton that there was a Family of this Name was most certain For in ancient Deeds and Court Rolls of Valoigns who was Lord of Cheriton after Scotton I find frequent mention of severall of this Name who held Land of this Family But in the Book of Aid I find William de Brockhull held the fourth part of a Knights Fee in Cheriton which was this in the twentieth year of Edward the third From this Name by Elizabeth Heir of Thomas Brockhull it came to be the possession of Richard Selling Esquire and here it rested untill the Beginning of Henry the eighth and then it was passed away to Edmund Inmith a Retainer to Thomas Lord Clinton who gave it to his second Son Edmund Inmith and he was extinguished in two Daughters and Coheirs one was married to Reyner and the other to Baker who in her Right shared this place and in the Reign of King James passed it away by Sale to Ben who holds the instant Possession of it G. G. G. G. DEptford in the Hundred of Blackheath and Lath of Sutton at Hone so called from the deep Channel of Ravens-purg'd The River that here slydeth into the Thames was heretofore called West-Greenwich from the turning of the River Thames in such a crooked Compass and the green Meddows adjacent Gislebert Magminot or Magminiot for he was a great Favorite to William the Conquerour was one of those eight Barons and Trustees that were joyned to John de Fiennes for the sure Guard of Dover Castle and were assigned competent Lands for the maintenance of that Service his Castle or Scite of his Barony hath been long time buryed in its own Ruines yet some remains of Stony Foundations make me conjecture it stood nere Says Court in Bromfield upon the Brow of the Thames Bank neere the Mast Dock where the Skeleton of Sir Francis Drake's Ship was layd up and in a very short time nothing left of her but the Fame of her Captain and Steersman cannot perish so long as History shall last But to return to the former Subject it may appear by the Quire of Dover Castle transmitted on Record in the King's Exchequer that it had the Reputation of a Barony and these Knights Fees were held of it Pevinton Kanc. duo Feeda Militum Estswale Kanc. unum Feedum Militis Davinton Kanc. duo Feoda Militum Cuckleston alias Cuckston Kanc. unum Feodum Militis Waldeswareschare Kanc. 3. Feoda Militum Leckhamsted-Bucks unum Feodum Kennington-Hert duo Feoda Militum Gothurst Northampton unum Feodum Militis Hertwell-Northampton duo Feoda Militum Brandiston-Suffolk duo Feoda Militum Hecchesham-Surrey duo Feoda Militum Whitfield Kanc. unum Feodum Militis Coudham-Kanc duo Feoda Militis Bredinghurst Kanc. unum Feodum Militis Thornham Kersoney tria Feeda Militum Bingbery Kanc. tria Feeda Militum Brickhill-Buck unum Feodum Militis Haec sunt Feoda de Baronia de Magminot quae tenentur de Willielmo de Say quae ipse tenet de Rege per Baroniam Et reddunt Wardam ad Castrum Dovoriae Per 32. Septimanas You may find mention of Walkelme Magminot in the Catalogue of the Lord Wardens But the Daughter and Heir of this Line was married to Say from whom it came to be called Says-Court which Name it still retaineth And was by reason of the Commodiousnesse of the Meadows belonging to it and Stalls there erected made a place in the Time of the late King for feeding Sheep and Oxen served by Composition for the Kings House William Duke of Suffolk held the Mannor of West-Greenwich and one Messuage in Deptford Anno 29. Hen. 6. by West-Greenwich which was ment by that which we now call Deptford Strand and by Deptford is ment the upper Town where a fair strong Stone Bridge lately erected doth acknowledge the sole Royal bounty of K. Charles by this Inscription This Bridge was re-edified at the only charge of King Charles in the fourth year of his Reign Anno Dom. 1628. In former Times it w as repaired at the Charge of the Contry adjacent For I find by a Record in the Tower Esc Anno. 20. Edw. 3. n. 66. Quod Reparatio Pontis de Depeford pertinet ad homines Hundredi de Blackheath non ad homines Villarum de Eltham Moding-ham Wolwich The Treasurer of the Navy hath here a commendable and convenient House for his Residence at the Dock to view the building and repayring the States Ships and what is most expedient for the Manufacture of Cordage Anchors and other Provisions for Ships by which means the Town is so greatly increased in small Tenements and the Statute for Cottages excepting Market-Towns and such places as are used for building of Ships that for number of Inhabitants and Communicants it may compare with diverse Counties in the Kingdome which great Increase of the Parish caused them to new build another Isle on the North-side the Church to which the East-Indian Company of Merchants were good Benefactors And the Chancel enlarged with beautifull Additions partly at the Cost of Sir William Russell Knight and Baroner Treasurer of the Navy and the circumspection of Doctor Valentine the late learned and worthy Incumbent of the place Adjoyning to the Church The Company of Navigators and Seamen incorporated by King Henry the eighth have a Hall or House for their meetings and Consultations Certainly the use of this Society is most considerable and commendable for the Common-wealth upon all Occasions may from them receive necessary Intelligence of all the Roads Waterings Depths and Conveniences of most part of the Maritime places in the Known World One thing more I have to mention and that is Hacham which was in K. Hen. the seconds Time the Seat of Hacham lying upon the Confines of Kent and Kent-fields or Kent-lands within this County as Kent-Hatch in Westerham is the very out-side of this Shire As that place towards Surrey called Kent-House designs the Bounderies of this County between Bekenham and Croydon Divers Inquisitions taken since that time have found Hacham to be in Kent And I believe the Mannor of Bredingherst before mentioned was formerly in this Shire which is now slipt into Surrey
at Peckham Rey in Camberwell The Reception of Prisoners from the County of Surrey being for a good Space used to be at New Cross hath begot an opinion that there was the out-side of Kent but those that will justly denote the Ambitus and Bounds must not think it begins at Kent-street because it is so called of the Road-way into Kent Nor that Kentish Town by High-gate is part of this Shire though it pertake of the Customes of Gavel-kind Nor at Sir Thomas Waterings Kanc. Inq. 7. R. 2. n. 30. post Mort. E. fillii Tho. Dolsil where the Pilgrims to St. Thomas of Canterbury that disobedient and pertinacious Arch-bishop watered their Horses But a small Bridge beyond Hatcham in the Road to London neere which is a Road or Way to Bredingherst which by an Inquisition taken in the seventh of King Richard the second appeareth to be in Kent In the forty third of Edward the third it appears that the Mannor of Hachesham was granted to the Prioresse of Dertford Caus 43. E 3. M. 6. and many parcels of Land that came by Escheat as held of that Mannor lying in Surrey after the Death of Jo. the Son of Jo. Adam were confirmed to that Foundation by the King all which returning into the Hands of Henry the eighth upon the publike Suppression this Mannor with its Appendages was for ever setled by the Crown on the Company or Brother-hood of the Haberdashers in London East-Greenwich is the next Town to Detford so called because it standeth more East-ward then the other formerly spoken of In Latin named Viridis Sinus in Saxon Grenawic that is the Green Town upon the Turning Creeke of the River In the Time of the Danes Invasion they often made their Road at this place and made it remarkable by their Cruelty shewed unto Ealphege Arch-bishop of Canterbury whom in the year of our Lord a thousand and twelve they cruelly executed with most exquisite Torments whose Death together with the cause thereof Ditmarius Mersepurgius who about the same time lived hath thus in the eighth Book of his Chronicles described I understood saith he by the relation of Sewald a pitifull Deed and therefore memorable namely that the perfidious Crew of Norman Souldiers under Thurkill as yet their Captain took that excellent Prelate Arch-bishop of the Citty of Canterbury named Ealphege with the rest and them after their wicked manner imprisoned and bound yea and put him to endure Famine and unspeakable pains This good man moved with humane Frailty promiseth unto them a Summe of Money and for the obtaining thereof did set down a Time between That if in this Space he could not by some acceptable Ransome escape this momentary Death he might yet in the mean while purge himself with many a Grone to be offered as a lively Sacrifice unto the Lord. But when as the Time and space appointed were come and gon this greedy Gulph of Pirats called forth the Servant of the Lord and in threatning-wise demand this Tribute promised unto them to be speedily and out of hand paid Then he as a Meek lamb Here am I quoth he ready to undergo even for the Love of Christ whatsoever ye presume now to do against me that I may deserve to become an example of his Servants and nothing am I troubled at this day And whereas I seem unto you a Lyer it is not my own Will but great need and Poverty that hath done it This body of mine which in this Exile I have loved over much I present as culpable unto you and I know it is in your Power to do with it what yee intend but my sinfull Soul that regardeth not you I humbly commend to the Creator of all things As he was thus speaking the whole Rabble of these prophane Wretches hemmed him round about and getteth together diverse and sundry weapons to kill him which when their Leader Thurkill saw a far off he came quickly running and crying do not so I beseech you and here with my whole heart I deliver unto you all my Gold and Silver and whatsoever I have here or can by any means come by save my Ship only that you would not sin against the Lord's annointed But this unbridled anger of his Mates harder then Iron and Flint was nothing mollified with so gentle Words and fair Language of his but became only pacified by shedding his innocent blood which presently they altogether confounded and bleanded with Ox-heads Stons as thick as Hail and Billets hurled at him And to the memory of this said Ealphege is the Parish Church here consecrated But far more splendid hath this sumptuous Pallace been ever since Humphrey Duke of Gloucester Brother to King Henry the fifth builded the same and called it Placence And likewise the Castle and inclosed the Park For doing them both he had the King's Charter XI Hen. 6. Rex concedat quod Humfridus Dux Glocestriae Elianora uxor ejus possdent Karnellare Manerium suum de East-Grenwich Imparcare CC. Acras terrae inter Manerium suum praedictum For it was not lawfull for any man to fortifie his House or raise a Castle or place of Defence without Licence from the Crown for Fear of inward Sedition and was therefore inquirable before the Escheator in the twenty fourth Article of his Office Item de Castellis Dominicis Karnellatis sine Regis licencia The word having its derivation from Charneux whichin French signifieth the indented Form of the Top of a Wall which hath vent and crest commonly called Imbattelling because it was very serviceable in fight to the Defendant within who might at the loops or lower places and other cranies in the Walls and Bulworkes annoy the Enemy that assayled the same and might also shroud himself under the higher Parts thereof Afterward King Edward the fourth bestowed some cost to enlarge this work Henry the seventh followed and beautified the House with the Addition of the Brick Front to the water side But King Henry the eighth as he exceeded all his Progenitors in setting up sumptuous Houses so he spared no Cost in Garnishing Greenwich Queen Ann in the time of King James builded that new Brick-work towards the Garden and laid the Foundation of the House of Delight towards the Park which Queen Mary hath so finished and furnished that it far surpasseth all other of that kind in England In Memory of the many Camps that have been here Certain places within this Parish are called Combes namely East-Combe where that godly good Gentleman William Lambert Esquire dwelt that gave us the first Description of this Country in his Perambulation and made this work the more easy to any that should endevour further Progresse therein Facile est inventis addere difficile invenire Westcombe with its Appendant Members related to the noble Family of Badelesmer and upon the Attainder of artholomew Lord Badelesmer escheating to the Crown they lay clasped up in its Revenue untill King Richard the
second granted them to Sir Robert Belknap the Judge upon whose Attainder they were granted in Fee to Robert Ballard Esquire Pincernae suo his grand Boteler That is the Mannors of Westcombe and Spittlecombe in Greenwich two Watermills in Detford with their Appurtenances in Charlton and Writle-mersh after which that Name continued a long time in this place of whom you may read more among the Sheriffs of Kent untill about the fourth of Philip and Mary Westcombe was altenated by Nicholas Ballard to John Lambert Esquire whose Successor Thomas Lambert not many years since alienated it to Hugh Forth from whom it is lately gon over by Sale to Mr ...... Biddulph of London Soon after the Conquest this Greenwich was parcell of the Possessions of the Bishop of Liseux in France and bore Service to Odo then Bishop of Baieux and Earl of Kent After the Mannor belonged to the Abbot of St. Petres of Gaunt in Flanders till such time as King Henry the fifth seising into his Hands by occasion of War the lands of the Priors Aliens bestowed it together with the Mannor of Lewsham and many other Lands also upon the Priory of the Brotherhood to the Monks of Shene which he had then newly erected to which it remained till the Time of King Henry the eighth who annexed it to the Crown unto which it now belongeth and is called the Honor East-Greenwich Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth were both born here and King Edward the sixth a Miracle of Princely Towardnesse ended his Life in the same House King Edward the third 1376 in the fifty first year of his Reign founded the Religious House of Friers Aliens or Dominican Friers Sir John Norbury Knight high Treasurer of England is reckoned a Benefactor to the same after the Dissolution of this House and its Annexion to Shene by King Henry the eighth Another House of observant Friers was erected here by King Edward the fourth as we read in Jo. Rosse Circiter Annum Regni Edwardi quarti venerunt Fratres observantes Ordinis Minorum ad Greenwich habebant Cantariam Capellam Sancti Crucis And King Henry the seventh builded that House for them adjoyning to the Pallace which is yet there to be seen There are moreover in the Town two Colledges or Almes houses for the Sustentation of poor Persons the one builded by William Lambert Esquire which he named the Colledge of Queen Elizabeths poor People and as the Prying Adversaries of out Religion then observed was the first Protestant that built an Hospital The other standing by Thames-side was founded by Henry Howard Earl of Northampton Lord Privy Seal Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports and Knight of the Garter And inlarged and Beautified the Castle which is famous in the Spanish Fables from whence there is a most fair and pleasant Prospect open to the River winding in and out almost redoubling of it self the green Medows and Marshes underlying the Citty of London and Country round about Described by Berkley in his Euphormio And also for a L'env'oy to Greenwich you may read the Verses of Leland the Antiquarian Poet adjoyning to Greenwich Blackheath of which the Hundred taketh the name so called of the colour of the Earth or Bleacheath of the high and cold Situation for bleak signifieth cold Also Campus Martis it may well be called for besides the Burthen of the Danish Camps it hath born three rebellious Assemblies One in the time of King Richard the second Moved as shall be farther declared in Offham by John Tylar whom William Walworth then Maior of London slew with his Dagger in Smithfield and thereupon upon the Tradition comes that the City had given them for an Augmentation to their Eschochen a Dagger in the Dexter-point or Canton so to be born by them for ever Jack Cade that Counterfeit Mortimer and his Crew conducted the second who araying themselves here and passed to London where they did to Death the Lord Say and others and executed their malice upon the Records and Monuments of the Law Burning down the Office of Armes which was then kept at Cole-Harbour burning destroying their Rolls Registers and Books of Armory Their main Drift and Design being to bring in Parity And their Insurrection was here assembled by Michaell Joseph Black-smith and the Lord Audley under the Reign of King Henry the seventh at which time they and their Complices received their just Desert the Common Numbers of them being discomfited and slain and the Leaders themselves taken drawn and hanged Of this last there remaineth yet to be seen upon the Heath the place of the Smith's Tent called commonly his Forge and of all there the great grave-Hills of such as were buryed after the overthrow These Hills in the West-Country upon diverse Champions and Plains where is no small Store of the Like are called Barowes of the old English word Burghes which last word melted into Buryings being a Spring of the old Stock we do yet retain alive The first and last of these Commotions were stirred of Griese the Common people conceived for the Demand of two Subsidies Of which the one was unreasonable because it was taxed upon the Polls and exempted none The other was unseasonable for that it was exacted when the heads of the common people were full of Perkin Warbeck The third and middlemost grew upon a grudge that the People took for yielding the Dutchie of Aniou and Maine to the King of Sicily The coming of whose Daughter after that the King would needs have her to Wife notwithstanding his precontract made with the Earl of Armenac was not so joyfully embraced by the Citizens of London upon Blackheath wearing their red Hoods Badges and blew Gowns as in Sequele the Marriage and whole Government it self was known to be detested of the Country Commons by bearing in the same place Harnesse Bowes Bills and other Weapons Thus far the Story of Blackheath proves but sad and tragical That which remains is of a more glorious and splendid condition consisting of Ovations and Triumphs for when the Emperour of Constantinople came to require Aid against the Turks King Henry the fourth with all Princely respect went to meet him at this place and so conducted him to London And when King Henry the fifth returned from his victorious Conquest of France the Lord Maior and Citizens of London went forth in their best Equipage to attend his Reception at this place at which time the King made many Knights Bannerets And K. Hen. the eighth that excelled in all Triumphal matters met Anne Cleve daughter to the Dake of Cleve Graveney in the Hundred of Boughton was in the year of our Lord eight hundred and eleven by Archbishop Vlfred bought of King Kenwolfe as the Book of Christ-church sets it forth ad opus Ecclesiae Christi to the repair of the Cathedral In the year of Grace eight hundred and thirty Werhardus a Priest of much Power in England by the injunction of the Arch-bishop gave Graveney
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
Sydley Baronet who now is entituled to the Right and Propriety of it Hastingleigh in the Hundred of Bircholt did anciently confesse the noble Family of Haut to be its Proprietaries and was in their Possession untill the beginning of Henry the fourth and then Edward Haut passed it away to Robert Poynings of Ostenhanger and in the Revenue of this Family was enwrapt untill the Decease of Sir Edward Poynings in the twelfth year of Henry the eighth and he dying without any Issue of his Body lawfully begotten and there being none that could justly entitle himself by Right of Blood or Alliance to his Possessions it devolved by Escheat to the Crown and K. Edward the sixth in the last year of his reign by Royal Concession invested the Right of this Mannor in the City of London and there it is still resident Hawkherst in the Hundred of Barnefield was granted by William the Conquerour to the Mannor of Wye which with all its Appendages was to hold of the Abby of Battle and remains though that Abby be supprest a Member or Limb of that Court to this Day Congerherst in this Parish was a Mansion that formerly gave Seat and Sirname to a Family so called and which in a Successive Series did relate to this Name untill Mildred Congerherst Sole Daughter and Heir of Thomas Congerherst matching with Thomas Scott made this the Propriety of that Family to which it is still united The Royalty and Rents of Haukherst upon the Suppression of the Abby of Battle were in the thirty third year of Henry the eighth granted to * He was likewise Privy-counsellor to those three Princes and one of the Executors of Henry the eighths Will. Sir John Baker Attorney Generall and Chancellor of the Exchequer to that Prince King Edward the sixth and Queen Mary but Differences and Clashings breaking out between the Descendant of Sir John Baker and the Heir of the Lord Hunsdon Lord of Wye touching claims to bury all future Animosities in Amity and mutual Compliance Sir Henry Baker in the seventeenth year of King James conveyed it to Henry Cary Lord Hunsdon now Earl of Dover who some years since passed it away to Sir Thomas Finch Father to Heneage Earl of Winchelsey now Lord of the Fee Haukherst had a Market anciently now shrunk into Disuse on the Tuesday and a yearly Fair three Days viz. the Vigil the Day of St. Lawrence and the Day subsequent to it both procured by the Abbot of Battle as the original patent instructs me in the fifth year of Edward the first Hawking in the Hundred of Folkstone contains two little Mannors within its Verge which must not be passed over in Silence The first is Bilchester which belonged to the Knights Templers but upon their Suppression in the second year of Edward the second it escheated to the Crown and remained there untill new provision was made by the Statute called Statutum de Terris Templariorum passed in the seventeenth year of the abovesaid Prince to enstate it on the Knights Hospitalers and make it part of their Revenue and accordingly was united to their Patrimony nor was any hand so bold as to tear it off untill the generall Suppression of this Order in the Raign of Henry the eighth did invest it in the Crown and that Prince in the thirty third year of his Reign granted it to Sir Anthony Aucher in Lease and he not long after assigned it to Thomas Sommersall by whom it was made over to Richard Simonds but the Fee-simple continued in the Crown untill the year 1648. The second is Fleggs Court which was folded up in that Demeasne which related to the Abby of St. Radigunds and upon the Suppression of that Cloister was exchanged by Henry the eighth in the twenty ninth year of his Reign for other Lands with Thomas Cranmer Arch-bishop of Canterbury and so remained free from violation untill these Times wrapt it up in the Demeasne of that See Hedcorne in the Hundred of Eyhorne containd within its Limits First Modenden vulgarly called Mottenden where was a Monastery for Monks of the Order of Crouched Friers and founded by Sir Ric. de Rokesley the Head of which Covent was called Minister and in the cloudy Times of Popery was much resorted unto by the enchanted Vulgar by reason of some special Priviledges they were endowed with as of granting of pardons and others of the like Nature all which met with their Sepulcher in the Ruine of this Abbey and that fatall and destructive Wound it received in its finall Dissolution from the Hand of Henry the eighth which Prince upon its escheating to the Crown granted it in the thirty sixth year of his Government to Sir Anthony Aucher And he in the second year of Edward the sixth passed it away to Sir Walter Henley by whose Daughter and Coheir it came to Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury Esquire who in the sixth year of Edward the sixth conveyed it to Christopher Sackvill Esquire from which Family in our Grand-fathers Remembrance it came over by Sale to Franklin and his Successor George Franklin dying without Issue bequeathed it by Testament to his Kinsman Sir William Sydley whose Grand-child Sir Charles Sydley Baronet is intituled to the instant Fee-simple of it Kents Chauntry is a second Place of Account in Headcorne called so because here was a Chauntry founded by one John Kent in the sixth year of Edward the fourth and a large Demeasne settled upon it to support the Chauntry Priest that was to officiate there all which upon the suppression was in the two and thirtieth year of Henry the eighth granted to Sir Anthony St. Leger whose Son Sir Warham St. Leger about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth passed it away by Sale to Beresford of Westernham from which Family in our Memory it went away to South-land and he very lately hath alienated it to Mr. ...... Belcher now Minister of Gods Word at Ulcombe Kelsham is a third Seat in this Parish which may challenge our Consideration because it was the Residence formerly though now transformed into a Farm-house of Gentlemen known by this Sirname who might have been ranged and marshalled amongst the prime Gentlemen of this County and bare for their Coat Armour Sable a Fesse engrailed Argent between three Garbes Or. One of them stood depicted in coloured Glasse in the Church windows with his Arms upon his Tabard but by the Assaults of Age and other wild and sacrilegious Impressions is now utterly defaced and demolished nor is the Family in any better condition that having many years since deserted the Possession of this Place for about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth it was conveyed to Johnson from whom very lately it is come over by Purchase to Stringer Rishford is a fourth Mannor circumscribed within the Bounds of Headcorne which in the twentieth year of Edward the third was possest by a Family called Pend who as it appears by the Book of Aid paid a respective supply for
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
augmented the Revenue of that Priory Yet there is an ancient Seat in this Parish called Rumpsted which never was couched in the Spiritual Patrimony for it had anciently Owners of that Appellation Sir William de Rumpsted held this and a Castellated Mansion in Sevenoke of that Denomination in the Raign of Edward the first and he had Issue Sir John Rumpsted possest of this place and Rumpsted in Sevenoke and as the Tradition asserts educated Sir William Sevenoke Lord Mayor of London in the year of Grace 1418. In Ages of a nearer Descent to us that is in the third year of Henry the sixth I find Richard Peverell to have enjoyed it And in Times subsequent to these the Peckhams but their Possession was very frail for in the Raign of Queen Elizabeth I find it to be in Figge a Name of no despicable Character in this Parish but it was very transitory here likewise for about the Beginning of King James the Title was interwoven with the Interest of Thompson who in our Fathers Remembrance conveyed it by Sale to Mr. ...... Taylor Fruiterer to the abovesaid Prince and his Discendant not many years since alienated it to Mr. Stringer of Goudherst I. I. I. I. ICkham in the Hundred of Downehamford was given by King Offa to Christ-church and to the Monks of that Covent in the year 781. under the Notion of fifteen Plough-lands and was for a Supplement of Dyet This Donation in the year 958. was confirmed by Athelward Odo the Arch-bishop of Canterbury being then present and attesting the Ratification In the Time of Edward the Confessor when the first Design of Doomesday Book was started it was rated at four Sullings or Plough-lands nor did it fall in that Account when that generall Register was perfected which was in the twentieth year of the Conqueror defending it self at the same Estimate and upon the Appraisment was valued at thirty pound And here it was fastned until King Henry the eighth finding the Revenue of the Church was diffused into too wide a Latitude and Circumference contracted it by a general Dissolution into a narrower Orbe and having rent off this Mannor from the Ecclesiastical Demeasne like an Excrescence sprouting out from a luxuriant Stem he ingrafted it again by his Letters Patent on the Dean and Chapter of Christ-church and they settled it by Lease on Edward Isaack a Noble Confessor for the Protestant Religion in the Raign of Queen Mary when so many were sent to Heaven like so many Elias's Flammeis vecti Quadrigis in Chariots of fire who rather chose to desert his Country then abandon his Religion and to lose his Estate rather then to debauch or relinquish his Conscience as his Epitaph on an old Tablet affixed to a Pillar contiguous to his Grave-stone in the Nave of Christ-church at Canterbury does instruct us Upon his Recesse this was seized upon by the Crown and Queen Mary by Grant united it to the Revenue of George Lord Cobham whose infortunate Grand-child Henry Brooke being attainted in the Raign of King James that Monarch restored his Estate forfeited here to Robert Cecill Earl of Salisbury his Brother in Law whose Son Robert now Earl of Salisbury holds the instant Possession of it but hath lately alienated some part of it to Mr. Roger Lukin of London Apulton is a second Mannor in Ickham written in old Deeds Apylton as being the Inheritance of a Family of that Name for in an old Deed of Reginald de Cornehill that was owner of Lukedale in Littlebourne not far distant one William de Apylton of Ickham is a Witness but whether this Family was knit by any Relation to the Noble Family of the Apyltons of Essex and Suffolk I am incertain Afterwards the Denis's were possest of it and one John Denis of Apulton in Ickham who was Sheriff of London in the year of Grace 1360. Founded here a Chauntry in the Raign of Edward the third as appears by an old Manuscript in the Hands of Mr. Thomas Denne lately deceased and was called Denis Chauntry and the Lands which relate to it are at this Day styled Denis Lands After this Family was worn out I find one Adam Oldmeade by the private Deeds to be in the Raign of Henry the fifth and Henry the sixth owner of it from whom before the latter end of that Prince it came over by Sale to Bemboe and from him to Hunt in which Family it made no long stay For about the latter of Henry the seventh I find it alienated to Dormer a Branch of the Dormers of Buckinghamshire and from this Name not many years after it went away to Gason a Name very ancient in this Parish and here likewise was the Possession of as brief a Date for Dormer by Sale passed it away to Hodgekin whose Ancestors were formerly possest of Uffington in Gonston and transmitted it by Sale to Ashenden and here likewise was the Title very variable for within the Circle of fourscore years it acknowledged not only this Family but Rutland Winter and d ee to have been its Successive Proprietaries from the last of which not many years since it was by Sale carried off to Frostall in which name it is still resident The Mannor of Baa in this Parish had anciently Possessors of that Sirname as appears by an old Fragment of Glass in the Church Windows whereon is superscribed this incoherent Inscription Hic ...... Ba ..... and at the Pedestal of another antiquated Portraiture Thomas de Baa After the Baas the Wendertons of Wenderton in Wingham were possest of it for several Generations until William Wenderton about the Beginning of Henry the eighth passed it away by Sale to Hugh Warham Esquire Brother to the Arch-bishop and he gave it in Dower with Anne his Daughter matched to Sir Anthony St. Leger Lord President of Ireland whose Descendant Sir Warham St. Leger passed it away to Mr. ...... Denue of Denne Hill in Kingston whose Heir Mr. Thomas Denne late Recorder of Canterbury almost in our Memory alienated it to Curling Before I leave Ickham I must inform the Reader that Peter de Ickham was born in this Parish a man whom both Ball in his Centuries and Pitseus in his Track de Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis do highly magnifie for a man of eminent Literature whither I refer my Reader Ivie-church in the Hundred of St. Martins and Aloesbridge contains sundry Places within its Confines not to be entombed in silence The first is Capells-Court the Seat of a Family of that Sirname and were written frequently At Capell and in Latin de Capella and were a Family certainly of signall Account in Kent as appears by their Land which lay scattered in Linton and Boxley where John de Capell held Land called Tattellmell in that Parish in the thirty seventh year of H. the third as appears by a Charter of Inspection of that Prince wherein he confirms Land to the Abby of Boxley which bordered on the Land of John de Capell at Tattellmell
of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 59. in right of his Wife Juliana Sole Heir of Roger de Leybourn Lord of Leybourne Castle and she after him likewise was in possession of it at her decease which was in the forty third year of Edw. the third Rot. Esc Num. 47. But this after her departure for want of Heirs either direct or collateral escheating with a wide and opulent patrimony to the Crown it made its aboad there untill Rich. the second in the Beginning of his reign granted it to Sir Simon de Burley Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports and Knight of the Garter who being infortunately attainted in the tenth year of Rich. the second this Mannor by escheat reverts to the Crown and that Monarch in the eleventh year of his reign grants the Custody of Langley Park to William Arch-B of Cant. which his Grand-father K. Edw. the third had in the ninth year of his reign by a special Grant indulged to Will Lord Clinton and Julian his Lady licensed to be inlarged with 200 Acres of Land but the Mannor it self was granted to the Dean and Canons of St. Stephens in Westminster in the twelsth year of his reign as appears by an Inquisition taken at that time Rot. Esc Num. 159. and amply confirmed in the twenty first year of the abovefaid Prince as appears Pat. 1. Memb. 35. Parte tertia and remained folded up in their revenue until the general Suppression in the reign of H. the eighth dislodged the Title and planted it in the Crown and then that Prince by a new Concession made it the demeasn of Leven Buffkin descended from an ancient Family of that Name in Sussex and his Successor in our Fathers memory passed it away to Nat. Powel Esq and he not many years since demised his Interest in it by Sale to Sir Edw. Hales Knight and Batonet from whom it is now descended to his Grandchild Sir Edw. Hales of Tunstall Baronet Brising is another Mannor in Langley worthy the remembrance even in this that it gave Seat and Sirname to a Family of that denomination Sarin de Rising held in the twentieth year of Edw. the third and paid respective Aid for it at making the Black Prince Knight In times of a more modern Character the Astrys were invested in the possession And Jo. Astry held it at his decease as appears by an old Will in the fourth year of Edw. the fourth of this Family was Ralph Astry who was Sheriff of London in the first year of Richard the third and likewise William Astry who dyed seised of it in the thirty fifth year of Henry the eighth but after his Exit the Title was of no longer date in the Tenure of this Family for the Vicissitude of purchase about the Beginning of Edw. the sixth brought it from this Name to own the Signory of Leven Buffkin Esq one of the Justices of the Peace of this County and in his posterity did it reside until those Times which were of our Fathers Cognisance and then it was conveyed by Sale to Powel from whom not many years since the same revolution hath devolved it back into the possession of the instant proprietary Mr. Leven Buffkin Lee in the Hundred of Blackheath in Barbarous old Latine written Laga was the residence of an ancient generous Family called Bankwell and there is a place in this parish called Bankers by Corruption of the Name which in Orthography of more Antiquity and Truth was written Bankwells from whence certainly at first issued this Sirname In the thirty first year of Edward the first John de Bankwell had a Grant by the King's Charter to have Free-Warren to all his Lands in Lee Levesham and Bromley And in the return of John de Shelving High Sheriff of Kent in the sixteenth and part of the seventeenth year of Edward the second of all the Knights and men at Arms in this Connty William de Bankwell is mentioned in the second degree he dyed the twentieth year of Edward the third and left Thomas Bankwell his Heir who in the thirty fifty year of that Prince's Government deceased possest of Lee and a very large proportion of other Land in Modingham Sherfholt now I think corruptly called Shrawfield Littlecroft Bankers both in Lee Bromley Levesham Eltham Chiselhurst Detling Langshot and Wickham by Bromley and left three Sons according to the Custome of Gavelkind Heirs to his Inheritance which were John William and Robert Bankwell but upon the distinguishing the Estate into parcels Lee Bankers and Sherfholt now corruptly called Shrawfield fell to be the patrimony of John Bankwell and in this Mans Lineage did the Inheritance of these places divers years reside till the Name was circumscribed in a Female Heir who being wedded to John Arrapon brought this place to be an adjunct to his Inheritance And here I confess for want of information either from publick or private Record I am at a losse and cannot discover whether by Arrapon it was sold to the Crown and from the Crown transmitted to Woodvill or else immediately passed away by sale to Richard Woodvill Earl River who enjoyed it but upon his Son 's untimely death on a Scaffold at Pomfret being by the malice and subtlety of Richard the third blasted with an Aspersion of Treason that fatal Stroke which separated his Head from his Body divided his Estate here from this Name and Family and united it by Escheat to the Crown In whose Revenue it was resident until King Henry the eighth as is manifest by the original Patent granted it to Sir Thomas Wroteley In times of a more modern Aspect that is about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth I find it in the Tenure of Thomas Sackvill Lord Buckhurst but how it devolved to him I confesse I know not and from him it descended to his Grandchild Richard Sackvill Earl of Dorset who exchanged it with King James whose Successor King Charls sold the Royaltie and Fee-simple of it to Ralph Freeman Lord Maior of London who gave it in Marriage with his Daughter and Heir to Sir George Sonds of Leeze-Court in Shelvich Knight of the Bath who by a Right derived from that Match is the present Lord of Lee and its two Appendages Bankers and Shrawfield Leeds Town and Castle lies in the Hundred of Eyhorne and were by William the Conquerour in the twentieth year of his Reign as appears by the Text of Dooms-day Book assigned to Hamon de Crevequer whom he had constituted one of the Trustees to assist his Cousin John de Fiennes in the Conservation and Guard of Dover Castle who chose this for the Capital Seat of his Barony of Crevequer or decrepito Corde for so it is rendered in Latin and of Chetham near Rochester for of that place likewise he and his posterity sometimes writ themselves Barons and here erected a stupendous Castle which because it was environed with Water was called the Moat Hamon de Crevequer married Matilda Sole Daughter and Heir of William
de Averenches Baron of Folkstone and had Issue by her Robert de Crevequer who by Disloyalty lost himself and his Soveraign's Favour And then this Mannor being seised on by the Crown King Henry the third the more to oblige and endear Roger de Leybourn gave him this Mannor and Castle in exchange for some Lands which he enjoyed at Troscliff as appears Pat. 52. Hen. tertii But it seems either he or his Successor quickly re-invested the possession into the Crown as being a piece of Strength that the Prince began to look upon with Jealousie and Caution for Edward the second as is manifest Pat. 10. Edwardi secundi granted the Mannor and Castle of Leeds with the Advowson of the Priory to Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer who was great Grandchild to Guncelin de Badelesmer * Ex per vetusto Rotulo penes Edo Dering Militem Baronettum defunctum which Guncelin with his Brother Ralph de Badelesmer are enrolled in the List of those Kentish Gentlemen who accompanied King Richard the first to the Siege of Acon and Son to * See the late Printed Book styled the Vale-Royal of Cheshire published by Mr. King Guncelin de Badelesmer who was Justice of Chester in the Reign of Edw. the first an Office eminently considerable and of much importance in that Age in exchange for the Mannor of Addrisley in Shropshire And the Advouson of the Church and the Addition of this swelled both his Estate and Ambition to that heighth that he must be Master of all the remarkable places in Kent or else his Sails could not fill For he had the Barony of Fitz-bernard at Kingsdown Tong Castle Chilham Castle Ridlingswould and Hothfield But such a Tempest rose at this place as utterly overwhelmed him with one Gust The History is well made up by many Authors the Abstract is thus Queen Isabel Wife to Edward the second who had ever been the Nurse of peace and laboured to accord the King and his Barons making her progresse towards Canterbury was disposed to lodge in this Castle as belonging to the Lord Badelesmer who had been long King Edward's Steward and sending her Marshal to make ready for her and her Train they who kept the Castle told him plainly that neither the Queen nor any else should enter without Letters from their Lord. The Queen her self goes to the Castle and receives the same Answer whereupon she is necessitated to take such Lodging otherwhere as could be provided Of which Indignity she complains to the King who resented it with so much passion as instantly with an Army collected in London he layes Siege to the Castle carries it hangs the Castellan Thomas Colepeper sends the Lady and Children of the Lord Badelesmer to the Tower and seises upon his Goods and Treasure He to revenge this Devastation of his Castle associates with the Barons then in Arms who pretended the Common good and publick Liberty of the People they being still that unhappy Vessel which every Tempest shipwracks but no Calm secures Or indeed being like the Sea which never swells into Disorder untill it be breath'd upon by intemperate Winds and yet even those very Winds break to pieces those waters which they first raised into Billows and Surges But to go on This Design whether the Foundation on which it was fixt were crazy and infirme or not I know not was Ruinous to Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer and the Barons his Partisans for they were defeared by the Forces of King Edward and amongst the rest this Lord and the Lord Ashburnham being by their misfortune made prisoners were put to Death at Canterbury Upon this Shipwrack this Castle reverts to the Crown and Arch-bishop Arundell having a mind equivalent to his Birth gets such a Grant of this Castle as in many Acts of his he dates them At his Castle of Leeds and you may observe that this would not serve the turn neither for he was at the same time Constable of the late before builded Castle of Quinborough But the Estate he had in it determined with him and then it remained in the Crown and was reputed one of the Kings Houses and the Custody was conferred upon some of the principal Gentlemen of Kent whom the King pro tempore favoured And it seems it had the Reputation to be a piece of important Strength in the reign of Henry the fourth for Richard the second as Fabian in his Chronicle relates fol. 165. was by that Prince sent prisoner to this Castle In the Raign of Edward the fourth I find the propriety of it altered for that Prince seeking to endear the St. Legers to him who were then a Family who had a powerfull Influence upon this County made Ralph St. Leger Esquire Constable of the Castle of Leeds and annexed the park too to his Grant for anciently there belonged two Parks unto it though both are now clearly disparked and vanished but the Fee-simple remained in the Crown untill Edward the sixth in the fourth year of his Rule granted it to Anthony St. Leger his Successor who was Lord Deputy of Ireland and improved the English Interest in that Province by his Prudence and Magnanimity to that heighth and Advantage that he reduced most of the old Septs of the Irih Nobility and made them become Feodall to the English Scepter which could never be accomplished since the first Conquest of Ireland till his Time but his Son Sir Warham St. Leger was the last of the Name who was proprietary of Leeds-Castle for he sold it to Sir Richard Smith who not long after determined in two Daughters and Co-heirs matched to Sir Timothy Thornhill of Kent and to Mr. Barrow of Suffolk who both by mutual Consent did devest themselves of their Interest in it and by Sale transplanted the Inheritance into Sir Thomas Colepeper now of the Parish of Hollingbourne who setled it in marriage upon his Son Sir Cheyney Colepeper now Lord of the Fee The Priory of Leeds was founded by Robert de Crevequer soon after the building of the Cattle and not long after the Conquest and stored with black Canons or Canons of St. Augustins and dedicated to St. Mary and St. Nicholas The Successors of this Robert de Crevequer were all of them Benefactors Robert de Crevequer Son of Dan. de Crevequer who was Son of Rob. de Crevequer the Founder dedit Terras Canonicis de Leed pro Salute Animae Reg. Hen. secundi qui eum aluit Militem fecit says the Coucher Book There was a goodly Church annexed to this Priorie parallel to many Cathedrals whose Glory and Beauty were both blasted when the Priorie above mentioned suffered the Common Calamity of that great Tempest of the Dissolution This upon that Suppression augmenting the Revenue of the Crown continued with it until K. Edward the sixth in the fourth year of his reign passed it away by Grant to Sir Anthony St. Leger whose Son Sir Wartham St. Leger about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth conveyed it
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.
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
together by a noble and generous Resistance against the Furious Impressions and Onsets of the Duke of Guise and the French Army who then pressed upon it with a straight and vigorous Seige But to go on after this Place had continued in the Name since the time of the first Concession even till ours it was lately by Sir Anthony Aucher of Bourne sold to Sir John Roberts of Canterbury East-Leigh was the Mansion of a Family which took their Denomination from hence and there is mention in the Book of Aid of William de Leigh and Robert de Leigh who held Land of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury by Knights Service in the twentieth of Edward the third when this Family was vanished and had deserted the Possession of this place which was about the Beginning of Edward the fourth the Allens who came from Borden and Sedingbourne were ingrafted into the Inheritance but enjoyed it not long for in the Age subsequent to the first Purchase it was alienated to Fogge who by as short and sudden a Vicissitude disposed of his Right in it to Cobbe of Cobbes-court not far distant in which Family the Title was as brief and as incertain as in any of the former for by them after a Possession of some few years it was alienated to Salkeld descended originally from the Salkelds of the North-riding in York-shire and Bishoprick of Durham Sibeton vulgarly called Sibton and Sifton is another Mannor which is contained within Lyminge It was of higher Calculation the Patrimony of Tibetot a Family of no mean Account both in the Counties of Leicester and Nottingham And Robert Tibetot was possest of it at his Death which was in the seventeenth year of Edward the third but after this Man I find no farther Remembrance of any of his Stock or Posterity at this place so that it seems his Son sold it to VValter Leigh or at Leigh of East-Leigh in this Parish who was likewise concerned in an Estate in Hertfordshire where he was conservator of the Peace in the first year of Richard the second and in this Family did it reside many years after For Tho. Leigh held it in Possession at his Decease which was in the seventeenth year of Henry the sixth but after his Death it was passed away to Allen where the Inheritance stayed not long for from them it went away by Sale into the Patrimony of Sir Jo. Hales who was Baron of the Exchequer in the raign of Henry the eighth whose Posterity an Age or two since alienated their Interest here to Salkeld Limne in the Hundred of Street in ancient Records written Limen is improved into a high Estimate from those many reliques and places of Antiquity which lie scattered within the Limitts of it And though now it carry with it an uncouth and desolate Aspect yet it was more flourishing in elder Times when Prince Edward Son to King Henry the third being then Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports at this place exacted an Oath of Fidelity of the Barons of the same to his Father against the Maintainers of the Barons War And at this Place or some other member of the Franchise to which the Court is adjourned from Shepway the Limenarcha or Lord Warden receiveth his Oath at his first Entry into his Office Berewick in this Parish was upon the Suppression of the Priory of Christ-church by King Henry the eighth re-enstated on the Arch-deacon of Canterbury who had here a Castellated Mansion long before that tempestuous Dissolution seated upon the Brow of a Hill and affording a delightful Prospect into France The Pages of Dooms-day Book represent it thus rated to us in the twentieth of William the Conquerour In Limwarled in Hundred de Strate habet Willielmus de Edesham de terra Monachorum 1 Manerium Berwick de Archiepiscopo quod tenuit Godridus Decanus pro Dimidio Sullingi se defendebat nunc similiter est appretiatum XI lb. Court at Street celebrates the Memory of the noble Family of Hadloe or Haudloe who as is manifest by ancient Records were in Times of a very high Ascent Lords of this Mannor * Nicholas de Hadloe is in the Rol of those Kentish Worthies who accompanied Richard the first to the Siege of Acon Nicholas de Hadloe had a Charter of Free-warren to all his Lands in Kent and the Grant of a market weekly and a Fair yearly to his Mannor of Court at Street in the forty first year of Henry the third John de Hadloe is in the Register of those Kentish Knights who accompanied Edward the first into Scotland and for his remarkable Service at the Seige of Carlaverock was made Knight and Banneret by that Prince in the twenty eighth year of his Raign In the tenth year of Edward the second a Licence or Patent was granted to John de Hadloe and Mawd his Wife to fortifie and embattle diverse Castles and Mannors in which this was couched In the first year of Edward the third he was summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron and left this Mansion thus solemnly ennobled to Nicholas de Hadloe in whom the Male-line expired so that Alice one of his Daughters and Coheirs upon the Partition of the Estate brought this to be the Patrimony of John Colvill and he in her Right held it at his Decease in the seventeenth year of R. 2 d. as appears Rot. Esc Num. 9. And from him did an uninterrupted Clew of paternal Succession transport it to Edward Colvill Esquire who in the thirty fifth year of Henry the eighth alienated it by Sale to Edward Thwaits Esquire and from him it did descend to Edward Thwaits who in the eleventh year of Queen Elizabeth conveyed it by Sale to Edward Jackman and in this Family did it reside until that Time which fell within the Circle of our Fathers Remembrance and then it was passed away to Sir William Hewett who upon his Decease by Testament setled it upon his third Son the instant Possessor Mr. Will. Hewet Bellaview Otterpoole and the Appendant Mannor of Wellop are all circumscribed within the Verge of Limne The first of which was both an eminent and ancient Seat of the Criolls before they translated themselves to Ostenhanger by matching with the Heir of Auberville and the two last were wrapped up in that Revenue which was as an Appendage both to support and enhaunce the Grandeur of it and went collectively together with Joan Daughter and Heir of Bertram de Crioll to Richard de Rokesley in the twenty third year of Edward the first and remained with this Family but untill the next Age and the same Vicissitude carried them off by Joan his Sole Inheritrix to Thomas de Poynings in which Name the Propriety resided untill the twelfth year of Henry the eighth and then they devolved by Successive Descent to Sir Edw. Poynings but he dying without any legitimate Issue and there being none of his Alliance that could by any collateral Affinity pretend any visible or manifest
Title to the Estate it devolved by escheat in the fourteenth year of that Prince to the Crown from which Bellavieu was again suddenly granted away to Rich. Bernys Esq and he not long after disposed of it by Sale to Tho. Wombwell of Northfleet who in the twenty fifth year of Henry the eighth conveyed it to Peter Heyman Esquire from whom not long after it went away to Bedingfield descended from Gentlemen of a deep and ancient extraction in the County of Suffolk and in this Family did it fixe untill the Custome of Gavelkind having broken and split this Mannor into several parcels and so made it the Inheritance of several Brothers they by a joint Concurrence alienated their collective Interest in it to Sir Edward Hales Knight and Baronet Grandfather to Mr. Edward Hales who now enjoyes the Fee-simple of it Otterpoole continued in the Crown untill the thirty seventh year of Henry the eighth and then it was invested by Grant in Sir James Hales from which Family about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth it came over by Sale to Thomas Smith Esquire commonly called Customer Smith Ancestor to the right honorable Philip Viscount Strangford the instant Lord of the Fee Wellop another parcel of the escheated Demeasne of Poynings though it were granted in Lease to Knatchbull and others yet the Fee-simple still lodged in the Crown untill K. Charles passed it away to Sir Edward Hales Knight and Baronet from whom it is now by Descent devolved to his Grandchild Sir Edward Hales of Tunstall Lingsted lies in the Hundred of Tenham and hath two places in it of emiminent Reputation The first is Bedmancore which was in Times of a very high Ascent wrapped up in the Patrimony of Cheyney of whom I shall speak more at Patricksbourn Cheyney their principal Seat the last of which Family that held it was William de Cheyney who dyed possest of it in the eighth year of Edward the third as appears Rot. Esc Num. 58. But after his Decease it was not long resident in this Name for in the twenty seventh year of the abovesaid Prince I find it in the Tenure of William de Apulderfield of whose Family take this compendious prospect He was descended from * Ex veteri Rot. penes Edo Dering Mil. Baronettum desunctum Henry de Apulderfield of Apulderfield in Coudham who with his Son Henry are inserted in the Catalogue of those eminent Kentish Gentlemen who were engaged with Richard the first at the Siege of Acon in Palestine * See the Roll of Gascony Henry de Apulderfield another of this Family accompanied Henry the third in his Expedition into Gascony and his Son * See the printed Laws of Romney Mersh Henry de Apulderfield with John de Lovetot did by a Commission dated the fifteenth of November in the sixteenth year of Edward the first sit as Justices of the Sewers for Romney Mersh And this Henry was Sheriff of Kent the twenty sixth and twenty seventh of the abovesaid Prince and had Issue William de Apulderfield the above-mentioned Lord of Bedmancore who was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty seventh and twenty eighth of Edward the third and again the thirty first thirty fourth thirty fifth thirty sixth thirty eighth and fourty fourth years of the above mentioned Prince and held his Shrievaltie at Lingsted Henry Apulderfield his Son was Sheriff of Kent the fifty first of Edward the third in which that glorious Prince paid that Tribute to Nature we all owe and from this Man did Bedmancore descend to his great Grandchild Sir William Apulderfield a Man of very great Eminence in the Raign of Henry the sixth and Edward the fourth who concluded in a Daughter and Heir called Elizabeth matched to Sir John Phineux Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in the Raign of Henry the seventh as is attested by his Monument in Hern Church and he in her right became possest of Bedmancore but it was not long fastned to this Name for this Man likewise concluded in two Female Coheirs whereof Jane Phineux one of them matched with John Roper Esquire and Middred the other wedded James Diggs of Diggs-court in Berham Esquire from the first Alliance Christopher now Lord Roper of Tenham is lineally extracted and by Right of that Conjugal Union is fortified in his present Possession and Title to this place Next to be remembred is Sewards the Seat of a second Stock of the well-spread Family of the Finches ever since they married the Heir of place and Name and after they had sprouted out into many fair Branches at Kingsdown Norton Selling and other places The Sole Heir of this House at Sewards was married to Sir Drew Drury of Norfolke Knight Gentleman Usher of the Privy Chamber to Q. Elizabeth a Gentleman of incorrupt Integrity and Wisdome to whom wee ascribe the building of the great House against the Church where Mr. James Hugison kept his Shrievaltie in the seventeenth year of the late King having some years before purchased it of Sir Drew Drury his Heir Linton in the Hundred of Twyford was anciently under the Jurisdiction and Signiory of Proprietaries called Capell who had a Seat adopted into their Sirname and called Capells-court a Family certainly of great Antiquity and no lesse Revenue in this Track John at Capell held Lands at Boxley called Tattelmell in the thirty seventh year of Henry the third as appears by that King's Charter of Inspection of the Foundation of Boxley Abbey Cart. 37. Memb. 9. Thomas at Capell and James at Capell were to find two Hobelers or leight Horsmen at Denge Mersh in the eleventh year of Edward the third And in this Family did the Title and Propriety of this place reside untill the raign of Henry the sixth and then it was passed away to Baesden where after it had for many years been permanent it was almost in our Grand-fathers Remembrance transplanted by Sale into Sir Anthony Mayney Knight Grand-father to Sir Jo. Mayney Knight and Baronet the instant Lord of the Fee Some part of Linton did for many Descents relate to a Family called Welldish who had here a Chappel called Welldish his Chappel and bore upon their Seals appendant to ancient Deeds three Talbots passant upon a Chiefe a Fox in the same posture with the Talbots which was assumed by this Family as the vulgar and constant Tradition of this Parish asserts to perpetuate and inforce the Memory of one of their Ancestors who was Huntsman to William the Conquerour Finally after this Name had been fixed at this place for so many Descents a considerable part of their Estate was in that Age wee name our Grand-fathers passed away to VValter Mayney Esquire from whom his Successor Sir Jo. Mayney now claims the Propriety of it Littlebourne in the Hundred of Downchamford was many Hundred years since given to the Church of Canterbury as the Annalls of St. Angustins testifie by Withredus King of Kent But here is the Mannor of
Welle in this Parish which was alwayes under the Jurisdiction of Lay Proprietaries It was first the position of John de Welle sometimes written At Well from the position of his Dwelling which perhaps was in a bottom but this Man in the forty fourth year of Hen. the third made Ranulph Joremer his Feoffe in Trust who sold it for his Use to Reginald de Cornehill by whose Daughter and Heir it came to Garwinton of Beakesbourne and in this Name after it had been fixed some four Descents it went away to Haut for William Garwinton died without Issue and so Margaret his Kinswoman matched to Richard Haute who was a second stock of the Hauts of Bourne became his Heir but long the Right of it was not united to his Family For Richard Haut this Mans Son left likewise onely a Daughter and Heir called Margery who altered the Possession and brought it with Her to her Husband William Isaack who had by her Edward Isaack and he determined in two Daughters and Coheirs Mary married to Thomas Apulton of Waldingfield in the County of Suffolk and the other first matched to ....... Sydley and after to Sir Henry Palmer who by Donation from his Wife was endowed with the Fee-simple of Well Court and his Successor in our Father's Memory alienated it to Lievetenant Colonel Prude slain at the Siege of Maestricht who left it to his Son Mr. Searles Prude whose two Daughters and Coheirs are by his Will after his Widow's Decease entituled to the Inheritance Reginald de Cornehill in the forty fourth year of Henry the third exchanged Lands with John de St. Leger for Lands at Lukedale in Littlebourne where he founded a Chantry which was endowed with a new accession of Land by his Wife Matilda de Cornehill and was confirmed by Patent from Henry the third Lose in the Hundred of Maidstone was in old Saxon Records written Hlos which imports as much as the Lot or Portion It was as the Book of Christ-Church informs us given by Ethelwulf King of the South-Saxons to Sneta a Widow and her Daughter and they gave it back again to the Monks of Christ-Church in Canterbury to apparel them In the Conqueror's Time upon the general Survey recorded in Doonesday-Book it was accounted as part of the six Sullings of Ferneleigh Pimps Court that gave Name to the Knightly Family of the Pimps is in this Parish although they made Nettlested their more frequent place of abode William de Pimpe held this and other Lands by a whole Knights Fee in the twentieth year of Edward the third at the making the Black Prince Knight and from this William was John Pimpe Esquire who was Sheriff of Kent in the second year of Henry the seventh lineally descended who sold this Place to Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham Lord Constable of England whose dysastrous Fate having engaged him to make some dark Applications to a Wizard and a Monk about the Succession of the Crown Henry the eighth a Prince of much Jelousie and Fury like an Industrious Spider spun out Venome enough out of this unhappy Address of his to poyson him with the Guilt of High Treason and so made the forfeiture of his Life and Fortune pay the price of his Vanity upon whose Ruine his Estate was not long after his Death and Attaint which was in the thirteenth year of Henry the eighth by that Prince granted to his Confident and Favourite Sir John Rainsford who after a brief enjoyment of it passed it away to Sir Henry Isley who being attainted in the second year of Q. Mary for supporting by his Assistance and Concurrence the Defection of Sir Thomas Wiat this reverted to the Crown and the same Princess in the second year of her Government granted it by Patent to Sir John Baker whose Successor Sir John Baker Baronet hath lately passed it away to Thomas Floyd of Gore Court Esquire Luddenham in the Hundred of Middleton with the appendant Mannor of Bishops-Bush was a Branch of that spatious Revenue which did in these parts own the Northwoods for Possessors and Roger de Northwood in the forty first year of Henry the third amongst divers Parcels of Land which he altered from the Nature of Gavelkind into Knights Service of the which there is a particular Recapitulation in the Book of Aid changed ninety Acres of Mersh Land which lay partly in Iwade and partly in his Mannor of Luddenham into that Tenure After the Northwoods the Frogenhalls were Possessors of this place and William Frogenhall had this amongst other Lands in this Track which he died seised of in the eighth year of Richard the second his Son and Heir was William Frogenhall Father to Thomas Frogenhall the last of the Name at this Place for he left no Issue Male so that the Daughters became his Coheirs One of whom was Anne who married Thomas Quadring of London and so this place became hsi Inheritance as being her Proportion of Frogenhalls Estate but it quickly found an other owner for Joan Quadring his onely Daughter and Heir by marrying with Richard Dryland of Cokesditch in Feversham incorporated it with the Demeasn of that Family since which Alliance it hath by a constant Succession been fixt in the Possession of the Name of Dryland untill of late years by an Heir General it came to own the Signory of Kirton Luddesdowne in the Hundred of Taltingtrough was though now a petty obscure Village more noted formerly when it was the Patrimony of the Barons Montchensie of Swanscamp-Castle Warren de Montchensie one of them obtained a Charter of Free-Warren to this Mannor of Ludsdowne in the thirty seventh year of Henry the third afterwards this Mans Successor William de Monchensie held it and sat in Parliament as Baron of Swanscamp and dying in the year 1287 without Issue Male left this and diverse other Places to Dionys his Sole Daughter and Heir who was married to Hugh de Vere but died without Issue in the year of our Lord 1314 by which means the Title of this Place diverted to Joan de Montchensie Sister to William above-named and She matched in Marriage with William de Valentia Earl of Pembroke half Brother to King Henry the third and by him had Aymer de Valence who expired in two Female Coheirs one of whom called Isabel was married to Lawrence de Hastings who in her Right was afterwards Earl of Pembroke and Proprietary of the Fee-simple of this Place from whom it descended to his Grand-child John Hastings Earl of Pembroke who dying in the fourteenth year of Richard the second left his Estate in Kent in which this was involved to his two Kinsmen Reginald Grey and Richard Talbot and upon the Division of it this Mannor was lincked to the Patrimony of Grey and remained untill the Beginning of Henry the fixth interwoven with the Revenue of this Family and then I find it under the Signory of that eminent Peer and glorious Souldier Thomas Montacute Earl of Salisbury
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
Horspoole Esquire who in the Memory of these Times alienated the Fee-simple to Mr. English of Sussex Secondly the Mannor of Maidstone it self with the Palace fall under Consideration They were in Times of elder Account belonging to the Family of Cornhill and so continued till William de Cornhill desiring to exemplifie his Zeal and Devotion by some eminent Acts of Piety to the Religion which those Times asserted gave them to Stephen Langton Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in the seventh year of the Raign of King John many of whose Successors were Benefactors both to the Church and Palace Boniface of Savoy Arch-Bishop of Canterbury about four hundred years since built here an Hospital then styled the New-work to the Honour of St. Peter and Paul and Thomas the Martyr which Hospital William Courtney likewise Arch-Bishop pull'd down and instituted a Colledge upon the Ruines of it for secular Priests devoted to the Honour of All Saints And also erected the Collegiate Church as the Walls diaper'd in sundry places with his paternal Coat do easily evince John Vfford also Arch-Bishop about three hundred years since began the Foundation of the Palace here but dying before he had compleated the same Simon Islip his Successor gave it its Perfection and being afterwards crumbled into Decay Iohn Morton likewise Arch-Bishop not onely repaired but augmented it Maidston was governed by a Portreve until the Time of King Edward the sixth by whose incorporation it came to be governed by a Maior which Priviledge being lost because this Town was enwrapped in Sir Thomas Wiats Insurrection against Q. Mary Q. Elizabeth not onely restored the same but to improve it to more eminence with a farther Addition of Honour raised it into the Degree of a Borough Maidstone by the Influence of Boniface of Savoy Arch-Bishop of Canterbury had the Grant of a Market procured to be held here weekly on the Thursday as is manifest Pat. 45. Hen. tertii Memb. secunda Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury about two hundred and forty years since erected a Chauntry for the Brothers of Corpus Christi now converted into the Free-School who by the Rules of their Primitive Institution were to pray for the Fraternity of the Guild The Mannor and Palace of Maidston being exchanged with the Crown by Thomas Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was by K. Henry the eighth about the thirty second year of his Raign granted to Thomas Wiat the elder and his infortunate Son Sir Thomas VViat being attainted in the second year of Queen Mary it devolved by Escheat to the Crown and continued there untill Queen Elizabeth granted it to John Astley Esq Master of the Royall Jewells from whom it descended to Sir Jacob Astley created Lord Astley by the late King Charles at Oxford in whose Descendants the Propriety is at this instant resident But the Mannor continued in the Tenure of the Crown even untill the Raign of King Charles For when King James had by his gracious Charter created Dame Elizabeth Finch Widow of Sir Moile Finch of Estwell onely Daughter and Heir of the right Honourable Sir Thomas Heneage of Copped-hall in Essex Vice-Chamberlane and one of the Privy Councel to Queen Elizabeth Vice-Countesse Maidston to her and her Issue-male She obtained the Mannor in Fee Farme for ever and transmitted it to her Son Sir Thomas Finch in her Right Earl of VVinchelsey from whom both the Title of Viscount Maidston and the Right of the Mannor are devolved by Paternal Succession to the Right honourable Heneage Finch the present Earl of VVinchelsey and Vicecount Maidston Leland notes that the Arch-Bishop's Palace was anciently a Castle and I verily believe it was the Caput Baroniae for the Arch-Bishops had more than one and excepting that at Saltwood I have diligently Searched and can find none so likely as this Goulds and Shepway do thirdly expose themselves to our Survey they were formerly the Demeasne of Vinter of Vinters not far distant and so remained till Robert Vinter Founded in Maidston Church that Chantry which bears the Name of Gould's Chantry about the fortieth year of Edward the third and then he annexed both these places to the Foundâ—tion for those Divine Offices which were there to be performed but upon the Suppression of this Oratorie King Henry the eighth granted Goulds and Shepway to Sir Thomas VViat who afterwards sinking under the crime of High Treason in the second year of the Government of Queen Mary She upon his attaint granted them to Sir VValter and Gervas Henley Esq from which Family by Purchase they came over to Andrews but stayed not long there for in our Fathers Memory they were sold to Sir Humphrey Tufton late Sheriff of Kent part of the year 1654. and part of the year 1655. Bigons alias Digons was the ancient Seat of the worthy Family of the Mapelysdens and I have a Deed in my Custody wherein one Edward Mapelysden is mentioned with this Addition Edwardus Mapelysden de Digons The Deed bears Date from the twenty fifth of Edward the third and after the possession had been for many Generations Successively resident in this Family one of this Name being unfortunately concerned in the Defection of Sir Thoma Wyat was blasted with the guilt of High Treason and so by Consequence his Estate by Confiscation escheated to the Crown from which it was granted to Nicholas Barham after Serjeant at Law who did much improve this Fabrick with a Supplement of Building from whose Heir it passed away by Sale to Hawle and from him again soon after to Sir Francis Berneham to whom this Mansion owes much of its Magnificence and Splendor whose Son and Heir Mr. Edward Barneham Esquire has lately alienated his Interest in it to Mr. Beale of London Jordans-Court is a fifth place which may exact our Notice because it gave Seat and Sirname to a Family of that Denomination the next Family after this was expired which held it was Roper of the Ropers of St. Dunstans in Canterbury and John Roper sold it to Edw. and Wil. Brouch of Bersted about the thirty sixth year of Henry the sixth and they quickly after alienated their Concernment to Atwood from whom the same Fate carried it away to Peirce who by Sale transmitted his Right to Cook and he suddenly after demised it to Crooke where after the Title had made some short abode the Possession was passed over to Potkins extracted from the Fotkins of Sevenoke where the Name was very ancient from Potkin by his Daughter and Coheir it descended to Virgo who about the latter end of Q. Elizabeth by Sale translated the Possession into Washington Justice of Peace and often in the Commission of Sewers who sold it to Godwin from whom by Purchase it came to be the Inheritance of Crisp who in our Memory conveyed it away to Smith and he some few years since by Sale invested the Propriety in Mr. Beckman Sixthly Sheals is not to be forgotten because it was the Inheritance of Fremingham for Ralph de
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
was transplanted by Sale into John Norden who in our â—â—â—â—dfathers memory demised it to Pordage Predecessor to Mr ........ Pordage of Râ—â—â—ersham who is now entitled to the Fee-simple of it Mere-Court is a third place of Account in this Parish calle◠〈◊〉 from its Situation near the Sea which our Saxon Ancestors called Mere and is câ—â—â—â—marily used in that sense for any wast heap of Waters as Lakes and Pools that are 〈◊〉 all sides lockt in by the Land by the Dutch to this day But I cannot find that it evâ—â— had any Possessors that extracted their Sirname from hence for in the Raign of Edward the third I find Arnold de Savage held it and so did his Grandchild Eleanor Savage who was matched to William Clifford and he by this Alliance became invested in the Possession and in this Family did the Title lie couched untill the beginning of Henry the seventh and then I can track no farther Evidence of their Possession of this place In the Raign of Edward the sixth I find it to be invested in the Name of Croft and remained tied to the Patrimony of that Family untill David Crofts died in the twenty second year of Queen Elizabeth and left it to Jo. Croft Helen and Margaret his Daughters and they upon the death of their Brother who was an Ideot becomming Joynt-heirs to this place in the forty second year of Q. Elizabeth passed it away to Mr. Stephen Hulks who bequeathed it to his Son and Heir Mr. Jo. Hulks and he upon his Decease which was not many years since gave it to his second Son Mr. Charles Hulks who now is in Fruition of it N. N. N. N. NAtindon in the Hundreds of Bridge Petham and Whitstaple is an obscure Village not far remote from Canterbury and only calls for some Remembrance in this respect that the Mannor of Staplegate is situated within the Limits of it which was the Seat of an eminent Family which bore that Sirname who were Lords not onely of this Place but of much other Land in Romney Mersh and had certainly this Denomination ingrafted originally upon them because they collected the Kings profits and Customes arising out of the Staple of Wooll fixed at Staplegate in Canterbury The first of this Family whom I find eminent is Edmund Staplegate who paid respective Aid for his Mannor of Bilsington and his other Lands in Kent in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight and he was Father to Edmund Staplegate who at the Coronation of Richard the second held that signall Contest before John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster then High Steward at that solemn Inthronization with Richard Earl of Arundell about the Office of Chief Butler as I have before mentioned in Bilsington But to return to that Discourse from whence this emergent Controversie did divert me Edmund Staplegate in the thirteenth year of Richard the second enjoyed this Mannor at his Death but after his Deeease the Title was not long liv'd in this Name for in the Raign of Henry the fifth and Henry the sixth as appears by the Testimony of ancient Court Rolls it was in the Possession of Leichfield who was Master of much Land about Tilmanston and Betshanger and in the twenty second year of Ed. the fourth it was by Roger Lichfield passed away by Sale to William Haut Esquire Father to Sir William Haut in whom the male-line determined so that by Elizabeth his Daughter and Coheir it came to be the Inheritance of Sir Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury who about the first year of Edward the sixth alienated it to Philip Chowte Esquire and from him the like Fate bore off the Title to Sir Anthony Aucher and he about the latter end of Edward the sixth disposed of his Right in it to Sir James Hales of the Dungeon Ancestor to Sir James Hales of the same place who not many years since demised the Premises to Mr. Smith of High-Gate upon whose late Decease the Title like a Pythagorean-Soul is transmigrated into his Heir Nettlested in the Hundred of Twyford was the ancient Seat of the noble and ancient Family of Pimpe William de Pimpe paid respective Aid for this Mannor and other Lands which lay not far distant from this place which he held by a whole Knights Fee at the making the Black Prince Knight the twentieth of Edward the third Reginald Pimpe was his Son and Heir and served out the Office of high Sheriff of Kent for him in the forty ninth year of Edward the third in which year he dyed It is probable that this William was knighted because there is a Tombe in Nettlested Church with this Inscription affixed to his Tombe-stone Hic jacet Domina Margareta de Cobham quondam Vxor Willielmi Pimpe Militis quae obiit 4 Septembris 1337. From whence it may be probably collected that the above recited William Pimpe though he is not mentioned as a Knight in the Register of the Sheriffs yet afterwards for some exemplary Services by him performed and managed might be invested with the Order of Knighthood From this Man in the continued Succession of a direct Line See more of Pimp in my Discourse of Sea-watches did Reginald Pimpe descend who determined in Ann Pimpe who was his Sole Heir and so this ancient Family which had under a venerable Character of Antiquity for so many Ages flourished at this place as the Monuments in the Church not yet dismantled do sufficiently evince was about the latterend of Henry the seventh extinguished and Nettlested fell under the Patrimony of John Scott of Scotts Hall from whom Edw. Scot Esquire is lineally extracted and in Relation to this Alliance is the instant Proprietary of Nettlested Lomewood is a second place of Account in Nettlested it belonged formerly to a Cloister of black Cannons in Oxford dedicated to St. Friswith which being suppressed by Cardinal Wolsey in the year 1525 when he intended to erect the magnificent Fabrick of the Colledge of Christ-church this Mannor was resigned up to the Crown and was by King Henry the eighth in the twenty seventh year of his raign granted to Sir Edward Nevill who gave it in Martiage with his Daughter Katharine Nevill espoused to John Roydon Esquire of Roydon-Hall in great Peckham and he determining in Elizabeth Roydon his Sole Heir she by matching with Roger Twisden Esquire planted it in his Revenue and from him hath the Interest of Descent transported it along to his Grandchild Sir Roger Twisden of Roydon Hall Knight and Baronet Newenden in the Hundred of Selbrittenden was erected in the place where the old Roman City of Anderida was situated and was called by the Britons Caer Andred very aptly by Leland styled in Latine Noviodunum from the Saxon Nywandun in English by Corruption called Newenden which in the original imports as much as The new Hill in the Valley This was that Station and City of the Romans mentioned in the Banner of the Count or Lord
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
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
Num. 14. And from him did it by a constant Tide of uninterrupted Interest surrender it self up to Sir Edward Poynings who in the fourteenth year of Henry the eighth dyed without any lawful Issue and as it appeared too then without any collateral Alliance that could by any Title knit by never so far distant an Affinity to him lay the Foundations of any pretended Claim to his estare so that it escheated to the Crown and K.H. the eighth in the thirty second and thirty third of his Rule granted it to I. Limsey who not many years after passed it away to Alderman Garret of London Ancestor to Sir Iohn Garret of the County of Hertford Baronet in whom the possession of this place is at this instant resident Preston in the Hundred of Wingham was the Inheritance of the Lord Leybourn William de Leybourn had a Grant of a Market and a Fair to his Mannor of Preston in the thirty fifth year of Edward the first from whom it descended to his Son Roger de Leybourn who went out in a Daughter and Heir called Juliana Leybourn so often mentioned in this Discourse who first matched to John de Hastings a Kinsman of Laurence de Hastings Earl of Pembroke That he was not his Son is most evident for then he must by Consequence have been her second Husband for William de Clinton who was her second Husband and hath been by publike Records always so reputed deceased by the Testimony of all in the twenty eighth of Edward the third Juliana his Wife in the forty third year of that Prince Rot. Esc Num. 57. And John de Hastings in the forty ninth year of Edward the third which upon a serious Computation of Time makes it impossible that this John de Hasting whom all conclude to have been her first Husband should be that John who was Son to Laurence Earl of Pembroke nor could it be any other William de Clinton then this before mentioned First because he was the last Earl of Huntington of the Name Secondly if we should make him to be any other he must be designed Husband for this Juliana after the Death of this John de Hasting who survived this Juliana six years as appears by the former ballancing of Time which will appear altogether absurd and impossible Thirdly all do concurre that this VVilliam de Clinton who was her second Husband was Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports in the twelfth year of Edward the third Admiral of the Narrow-Seas Westward in the fifteenth year and had the Custody of all the Kings Forrests Southwards beyond Trent in the seventeenth year of that Prince's Government which could be no other than this VVilliam Earl of Huntington who although he were fruitful in Offices he was not so in Children for he dyed without Issue by this Lady Juliana who after his death remained in the State of Widowhood for ought I can yet discover untill her decease for in the Escheat-roll mentioned before she is styled Comitissa de Huntington upon whose death none appearing either directly or collaterally who justly could entitle themselves to her Patrimony the Crown claimed it as an escheat and Richard the second granted it to Sir Simon de Burleigh Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports who being afterwards attainted in the tenth year of that Prince it was re-invested in the royal Revenue and was not long after by Richard the second granted to the Abby of St. Mary Grace on Tower-hill and some part of it to the Priory of Canons Langley and sometimes written Childrens Langley and here it dwelt untill the general Suppression and then King Henry the eighth in the thirty fifth year of his reign granted it to Sir Thomas Moile whose Daughter and Coheir Amy Motle incorported it into the demeasne of her Husband Sir Thomas Kempe where it had had no long aboad when this Sir Thomas dyed without Issue-male and left his estate to be divided between four Daughters and Coheirs Anne one of whom carried this away to Sir Thomas Chichley of the County of Cambridge whose Son Thomas Chichley Esquire hath lately by Sale transmitted his Right in it to Mr. ..... Spence and Mr. Robert Spence of Baukham in Sussex Preston by VVingham had the Grant of a Market procured to it on the Monday and a Fair of three days continuance at the Feast of St. Crosse in the thirty fifth of Edw. the first Sir Simon de Burleigh had the Grant of a Market renued to this place on the Friday and a Fair by the space of three days at the Feast of St. Mildred the Virgin in the tenth year of Richard the second Petham gives Name in part to that Hundred wherein it hath its Position being called the Hundred of Bredge and Petham and was always a Mannor folded up in the revenue of the Arch-bishop though I confess I cannot trace out in the wilderness of Antiquity who was the first Donor If you peruse the Pages of Doomes-day Book you wil find it there thus represented Petham est proprium Manerium Archiepiscopi in Tempore Edwardi Regis se defendebat pro VII Sullings nunc similiter est appretiatum XX lb. And this is enough to refute that mistake in Eadmerius not long since printed by Mr. Selden which I believe is only by Accident and not voluntary which says that Anselm mortgaged or pawned Peckham to the Monks of Canterbury which was long before given to them by Q. Edgiva Indeed it should have been printed Petham that being always as you have seen a Mannor of the Arch-bishops till it was engaged which it seems was never redeemed for it continued in the revenue of the Monks in Christ-church until the Dissolution and then it was transplanted into the revenue of the Crown and lay there until K. James in our Fathers memory granted it to Tho. Thompson Esq Ancestor to Mr. Thompson Esq who now enjoys the possession of it Swerdling is a Mannor in this Parish of as eminent Account as any in this Track and was the Capital Mansion of the Noble and ancient Family of Valoigns Ruallo de Valoigns was Sheriff of Kent in the first year of Henry the second and in the Pipe-rolls of that year is written of Swerdling and he was witness to King Stephen's Charter Rot. Pipae de An. 13. Hen. tertii whereby he grants the Mill at East-Bridge in Canterbury to the Monks of Christ-church Waretius de Valoigns is in the Catalogue of those Kentish Gentlemen who assisted Richard the first at the Siege of Acon in Palestine Robert de Valoigns had the Repute of a Baron in the thirteenth year of Henry the third and under that Notion held the fourth part of a Knights Fee of Wallingford Castle Allan de Valoigns was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty first thirty second thirty third and thirty fourth years of Henry the third and held his Shrievalty at Swerdling Waretius de Valoigns in the forty fifth year of Henry the third by
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
the hand of Robert Duke of Normandy his eldest Brother and afterwards to fortifie this Design started out into an open Defection and seised upon this Castle of Rochester but William Rufus with so much Expedition and Courage crushed these Attempts that they became abortive for in the year 1088. he besieges his Uncle Odo in this Fortress and presses upon him with so much Vigor and Animosity that he forces him to surrender to discretion but though he took not away his Life he did that of his Liberty and sent him Prisoner to Tunbridge-castle not under the Notion of Bishop of Bajeux for that would have infringed and invaded the Franchises of the Church but under that of the Earl of Kent After this there was by the mediation and umpirage of Robert Fitz Hamon and Henry Earl of Warwick a Composition made between William Rufus and Gundulphus Bishop of Rochester the Result of which was this The Prince was to confirm the Mannor of Hedenham to this Sea and the Bishop to ballance this Concession with something which had the Face of Retribution was to expend sixty pound in some additions to the Castle and accordingly erected the great square Tower a Morsel which hath been too hard for the Teeth of Time and by the vastness of the instant remaining Skeleton witnesses the strength of it to Posterity when it was in its primitive Grandeur before the Rage of War and the Fury of Elements threw it into this wild Disorder and Confusion yet it is even in this shattered Condition a better Alphabet to the Memory of the Bishop its first Founder then his own Monument or Repository for that lies entered in forgotten and neglected Ruines but this still preserves his Name and is called Gundulphus's Tower And being thus improved and fortified with these new Accessions it is not to be wondered at that this Piece was of that signal Estimate in elder Times that King Henry the first by the Advice of his Councel in the year 1126 granted the Custody of this Castle and the Office of Castellan annexed to it to William the then present Arch-bishop of Canterbury and his Successors with free liberty to erect a Tower that is another Fortresse equivalent or Correspondent to Gundulphs Tower which before was erected for the Defence of this City and Castle In Times succeeding to these that is in the year 1215 William de Albineto or Albiniaco in the Latine of those Times and written D' Albinet in the Usage of ours was Governour of this Fortresse for the factious party of the mutinous Barons who were then in actual Arms against King John but this Prince invested it with a formal Leaguer and after the bloody Debate of a three Moneths Siege forces the above-mentioned D' Albinet to a Surrender wherein though the Virtue of the Opponent was considerable yet it was ruinous to him and the Event hath left us Faith enough to believe that Strength without the Concurrence of a Loyal Principle which may support it is like an Egyptian Reed which ordinarily runs into the Fingers and wounds them which lean upon it In the year after this the Nobility then combined and in Arms against King John finding that their Forces were much empaired and diminished by severall unsuccesful Encounters with that Prince and that they must be forced to resign themselves up to those rigorous Conditions that he would impose upon them called in Lewis the Dolphin of France who landing in the Isle of Thanett with a considerable Army advanced to Rochester and by the concurrent Assistance of the Barons who had united their strength with his made such a furious Onset upon this Castle that like a Tempest which bears down all before it he carried it by Assault In the year 1264. broke out that fatal Contest between Simon Montfort Earl of Leicester and Henry the third the Foundation or Original of which was this That Earl being the great Assertor of the English Liberty against the turbulent Eruptions of Forrainers endeavoured to tear away those Strangers that being placed too near the Royal Throne had obstructed and forelaid all the Avenues and Passages both to the Heart and Eare of that Prince and this dismal clashing like the Collision of two Flints was productive of so wasting and destructive a Fire that it had like not only to have consumed the Crown and Scepter but likewise to have cast the whole Kingdome it self into a heap of Flame and Ruines some Sparks of which were darted hither For this Earl about the Time above specified begirt the City and Castle of Rochester with a powerful Army and that he might multiply all Advantages to himself which might inforce his Design and intercept the Succour intended the Besieged he burned the Bridge whose Frame was then made up of Wood and destroyed a Fortress that was placed upon it which was compounded of the same Materials and having effected this he pressed so hard upon the Castle that he not only pillaged the adjacent Church and Abby but likewise subdued the outward Ward or Gate and had certainly by an absolute Conquest at chieved the whole had not King Henry arrived most opportunely and by a succesful encounter wrested both Earl Warren who had so vigorously maintained it and that likewise from the Impressions of his Fury After this I find little of Moment to have been acted at this place only I find the Castle to have been deposited in the Hands of several eminent Persons who were extracted from Families whose Blood was of as noble a Tincture as any in this County and these held it under the Notion of Castellani or Guardians of it an Office of a very important Concernment in elder Times The first of which who was entrusted with it was William St. Clere whose Ancient Seat before his Successor by the Match of the Coheir of Aldham removed to Ightam was at Woodland in Kingsdown and he died in the Tenure of this place in the forty eighth year of Henry the third After him I discover Robert de Hougham Lord of Hougham by Dover to have had the Custody of it and he died invested in this Office in the second year of Edward the first and in the next year after Robert de Septuans from whom the Harfleets of East-Kent are descended had the Care and Command of it In Times of a nearer Approach to us I find William Keriel or Criol was entrusted with the Care and Government of it and was possest of this Charge at his Death in the first year of Henry the fifth After whose Exit the Custody was committed to Thomas Lord Cobham and he held it at his Decease which was in the eleventh year of Edward the fourth But after this it began so to languish away into its own Ruines that it grew rather an Object of Pity than of Envy and rested amongst the Mannors of the Crown untill King James in the seventh year of his Reign granted that goodly Skeleton of the Castle
Possession and transmitted his Concernment in it by Sale to Richard Charles and he enjoyed it at his Decease which was in the fifth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num 92. And so did Nicholas Charles his Successor in the eleventh year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 16. And Robert was his Son and Heir who dying without Issue it was united to the Demeasne of Richard Ormeskirk in right of Joan Sister and Heir of the above-mentioned Robert and he in the third year of Henry the fourth alienated it to Henry Perey Earl of Northumberland and he not long after passed it away to Rickhull in which Family it rested untill the seventeenth year of Henry the sixth and then it was by Deed conveyed from William Rickhull Esquire to Thomas Glover and Henry Hunt who had then the Custody or Guardianship of Rochester-Bridge and to the successive Wardens of it towards the Preservation and Reparation of its Fabrick for ever so that at this instant it is parcel of that Revenue which rescues this noble Structure from Decay and Ruin Nashenden next offers it self up to our Remembrance In the raign of Edward the second I find it entituled to the Possession of a Family called Aspall and in the twentieth year of Edward the third John Aspall paid respective Aid at making the Black Prince Knight But before the latter end of Richard the second this Family had surrendred the Inheritance of this place to Peckham the last of which Name which held it was John Peckham who as the Records of Rochester-Bridge informs me in the raign of Henry the sixth made it part of that Demeasn by Sale which was to support with its Income the Fabrick of Rochester Bridge in whose Revenue you may at this instant still find it resident Rolvenden gives Name to the Hundred wherein it is placed and is resolved into several places of eminent Consideration which do not only call for a Survey but even exact it The first is Halden called in Records the Mannor of Lambin alias Halden and the Reason of this Denomination is because it assumed the first part of this Name from Lambinus de Langham who held it under the Distribution of a whole Knights Fee as the Book called Testa de Nevill demonstrates in the twentieth year of Henry the third at the Marriage of Isabell that Prince's Sister at which Time he accounted so for it After this Family was departed from the possession of this place which was about the beginning of Edward the third the Haldens were by purchase setled in the Possession and William de Halden Son of John de Halden died seised of it in the fiftieth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 45. and left it to his Son John Halden but he expiring about the beginning of Henry the fourth in Joan his Daughter and Heir she by matching with John Guldeford Esquire made it parcel of his Patrimony and from him it devolved by Descent to Sir Richard Guldeford who was Knighted at Milford-haven by H. the seventh and was afterwards one of the Privy Counsel to that Prince In the eighth year of his reign he with Courage and Prudence opposed James Lord Audley and his Cornish Squadrons in that Eruption which they made upon this County and in the Battle waged near Deptfordbridge between King Henry the seventh and those Rebels represented such signal Testimonies of personal Magnanimity that he was by that Prince made a Banneret at Black-heath His Son Henry Guldeford Esquire in the first year of Henry the eighth went into Spain and engaged himself under Ferdinand and Isabella King and Queen of Castile and Aragon in their Wars commenced against the Moores and demeaned himself with that Fidelity and exemplary Resolution in all Conflicts entertained with those barbarous Infidels that upon the Reduction of the Province of Granada the above-mentioned Prince for his signal Service performed in his and the Christian Quarrel added to his Paternal Coat as an Augmentation A Pomgranet slipped upon a Canton being the Arms of that regained Province and likewise dignified him with the Order of Knighthood In the fourth year of Henry the eighth he was again invested with the abovesaid Order by that Prince and in the fifth of his reign he commanded one of the Royal Navy called the Regent in which Ship he acted Things worth the future Remembrance in that Sea-fight which was waged between the English and French near Brittain and in the same year as appears by the Original Patent bearing Date the twenty eighth of May he was made Standard-bearer of England and carried it at the Siege of Terwin His Son Sir Edward Guldeford in the fifteenth year of Henry the eighth received the Order of Knighthood for his Service at Tourney and was Captain of the Horse under the Duke of Suffolk at the second Siege of Terwin which was in the fifteenth year of that Prince and not long after reduced Boghan-castle taking the Advantage of the Winter which had sealed up the Marshes which environed it and made it almost inaccessible in a Frost In fine this worthy Souldier and Patriot dying without Issue-male left this Mannor of Halden to be enjoyed by Jane his Sole Inheritrix matched to John Dudley Duke of Northumberland and he having unhappily engaged himself in that ruinous Design which was to devest Queen Mary of the Royal Diadem and place it on the Head of the Lady Jane Grey wedded to his Son Guilford Dudley was in the first year of that Queen for that insolent Attempt which proved unsuccessful attainted and beheaded his Estate here being confiscated to the Crown the Mannor was given by that Princess to Sir John Baker her Attorney General Ancestor to Sir John Baker Knight and Baronet who at this Instant enjoyes the Mannor but the Demeasne of it was granted to Sir Henry Sidney whose Grandchild Robert Earl of Leicester not many years since conveyed it to Sir Thomas Smith of London whose Grand-child Robert Smith Esquire lately died possest of it There are twelve Denns which hold of this Mannor of Lambin aliàs Halden and at the Court-day elect twelve Officers called Beadles to collect the Quit-rents which relate to it The Names of them here ensue Midsell in Rolvenden Stallenden in Rolvenden Ramsden in Benenden West Bishoppenden in Benenden Folkinden in Benenden and Sandherst Holnherst in Benenden Elderherst in Halden and Tenterden Ilehinden in Woodchurch Mensden in Tenterden Strenchden in Tenterden Smeeth in Stone in the Isle of Oxney Blackbrooks and Pisenden in Witresham Casingham is a second place of Estimate In Ages of a very high Ascent I find it had Owners of the same Sirname for in Testa de Nevill I find that William de Casingham held the Mannor of Casingham now corruptly called Keinsham with Orlovingden another inconsiderable Mannor annexed unto it in the twentieth year of Henry the third and paid respective Aid for it accordingly under the Notion of the fourth part of a Knights Fee
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
Inheritance of that Family and rested there until the first year of Henry the eighth and then it was passed away by Sale from Sir John Fogg Knight to Ralph Banister In Times of a lower Descent that is about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth I find it by Court-rols possest by Tucker who about the latter end of that Princess alienated his Concernment in it to Smith who in our Fathers Remembrance transplanted the Title by Sale into Doctour Fotherbie Dean of Cantorbury whose Son Mr. Charles Fotherbie continues now Proprietary of it Secondly Grove-place offers it self up to our Notice as being the Habitation of a Knightly Family called Grove who in old Deeds are sometimes written at Grove and sealed as appears by the Labells-affixed to their Evidences with three Escollops upon a Cheveron In the reign of Henry the sixth I find it devolved by Descent to Sir John Grove who was a great Benefactor to the Church of St. Peters in Sandwich where he lies buried with the Arms above-mentioned upon his Shield but not long after this Family determined in a Daughter and Heir who linked this Seat to the Inheritance of St. Nicholas who about the latter end of Edward the fourth conveyed it to Quilter in which Name it was resident until the latter end of Henry the eighth and then it was passed away to Linch and hath remained ever since incorporated into the Revenue of that Family so that at present it is come down to Mr. John Linch a Noble Confessor for the Interest of the Church and Protestant Religion There is a Family in this Parish called Omer which as appears by old Court-rols Tombs Deeds and other Evidences have been constantly resident almost four Hundred years Seasalter in the Hundred of Whitstaple did belong to the Priory of Christ-church but by whom it was given the Records of that Covent are silent only I find that it was part of that Revenue which supported their Diet and Table and likewise I discover that Pope Gregory the ninth in the tenth year of his Papacy by his Bull appropriated the Parsonage to the Priory above-mentioned and likewise was granted for the better improving their Lively-hood and Subsistence If you will see under what Notion it passed in the twentieth year of William the Conqueror Doomesday Book will inform you that it was valued upon the Terrier at two Carucats of Land and upon the Appraisment was rated at five pound This Mannor upon the Resignation of that Estate which related to the Convent abovesaid into the Hands of Henry the eighth was setled by that Prince on the newly erected Dean and Chapiter of Christ-church and there it remained until these calamitous Times Ellenden in this Parish belonged to the Abby of Feversham and was as the Lieger Book of that Covent informs me given to the Monks of that Cloister by John Ellenden and here it was incorporated and fixed until the publick Dissolution unhinged and unrooted it and planted it in the Crown and afterwards King Henry the eighth in the thirty fifth year of his Government granted it to Mr. Thomas Arden miserably afterwards assassinated by his Wife at Feversham and he the same year conveyed it to John Nedeham from whom it came over to his Son and Heir John Nedeham Gentleman and he in the thirty second year of Queen Elizabeth alienated it to Mr. Michael Beresford of Westerham who not long after passed it away to Sir George Newman Doctour of the Civil Law and Knighted in the sixteenth year of King James and from him by successive Right it is now descended to his Son and Heir George Newman of Rochester Esquire Seale in the Hundred of Codsheath was a Mannor which belonged to the Crown until the first year of King John and then it was passed away by Grant to Baldwin de Betun Earl of Albemard and Hawis his Daughter and Heir by matching with William Mareschall Earl of Pembroke incorporated it into his Demeasne but Gilbert Mareschall this mans Successor deceasing without Issue Roger de Bigod Earl of Norfolk in Right of Mawde his Mother who was Sister and Heir General to the abovesaid Gilbert was setled in the possession of this Mannor and he in the eleventh year of Edward the first by Gift or Donation transmits it to Otho Lord Grandison a man certainly of great power in those Times for as it appears Pat. 4. Edwardi primi he had a certain Agreement woven of sundry Articles and made between Henry the third and the King of Castile deposited in his Custody in the fourth year of Edward the first And in the fifth year of that Prince as appears Pat. 5. in seedulâ he had the Government of Jersey assigned to his Care during Life After this Family of Grandison went out which was about the Beginning of Richard the second for Thomas de Grandison dyed possest of Seale in the forty ninth year of Edward the third Parte prima Num. 62 the noble Family of Brian of Holoway in Devon was invested in the Possession and Sir William Brian or Briene for so he is styled on his Tomb dyed possest of it in the year 1395 and lyes buryed in Seale Church mailed in Armor with a Huntsmans Horn at his Head upon which the Conjecture of the Country is that he was a great Hunter when the Truth is it was placed there to signifie or denote the Tenure of some part of his Land which was in Cornage But to return the next Family which succeeded Brian in the Inheritance of Seale was the ancient Family of Fiennes and this as I find by some Court-rolls was in the reign of Henry the fourth and James Fiennes second Son of William Fiennes Esquire was the first of March in the twenty fifth of Henry the sixth summoned to the Parliament at Bury as Baron of Say and Seale but this place after this newly atchieved Honor continued not long in this Name for William Lord Say in the second year of Edward the fourth passed it away to Geffrey Boleyne Grand-father to Sir Thomas Boleyne who was made Knight of the Garter and Treasurer of the Kings House in the fifteenth created Viscount Rochford in the seventeenth and lastly raised to the Earldome of Wiltshire and Ormond in the twenty first of Henry the eighth but his infortunate Son George Viscount Rochford being beheaded and leaving no Issue it devolved to Queen Elizabeth in Right of Queen Anne her Mother one of the Sisters and Coheirs and she in the first year of her reign passes it by Grant to her Kinsman Henry Cary whose Grandchild Henry Cary Earl of Dover alienated it by Sale to Richard Sackvill Earl of Dorset who passed it away in our Fathers Memory to Richard Smith vulgarly called Dog Smith and he not many years since deceasing without Issue bequeathed the Fee-simple of it to St Thomas Hospital in Southwarke Hall-place in Seale is a second place of Account It was in the thirty sixth year of Edward the third as an
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
is another place of Account in Stockbery It was in Times of an elder Inscription written Godsted as giving Seat and yielding a Sirname to a Family so called William de Codested alias Godsted held it at his Death which was in the twenty seventh year of Edward the first and had Issue William de Codested who was likewise in possession of it at his Death which was in the Enjoyment of it in the ninteenth year of Issue Richard de Codested who was in the Enjoyment of it in the ninteenth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 43. which was the time of his Decease and from him it descended to John de Codested styled by the vulgar John de Cowsted who bare for his Arms Gules three Leopards heads Argent which was assumed by Higham who about the beginning of Richard the second matched with the Sole Heir of this Family and in this Name it remained until the beginning of Henry the sixth and then it was partly by Sale partly by marching with a Daughter of this Family enstated upon Petit in which Family the Title of this place was fixed and permanent until those Times which came within the precincts of our Grandfathers Remembrance devolved it to O borne but Edward O borne not many years since determining in Mary his Sole Heir she by espousing of William Fagge hath knit it to that Revenue which now confesses his Descendants for proprietaries Stodmersh in the Hundred of Downhamford was innobled anciently by being parcel of the Revenue of the Saxon Kings of Kent and rested in their Demeasne until Lotharius one of the Kentish Kings made Godd his Heir and as Thorne records in his Annals setled it on the Abby of St. Augustins and remained successively interwoven with the Patrimony of that Convent until the publick Suppression in the reign of Henry the eighth rent it away and then that Prince in the thirty seventh year of his reign granted it to John Masters and he upon his Decease setled it on his Son Mr. Thomas Masters and he dying without Issue-male left it to his Daughter and Co-heir Elizabeth Masters who by matching with Mr. William Courthop knit the propriety of it to his Inneritance and he had Issue Mr. Thomas Courthop who in Right of this Alliance is now entituled to the instant possession of it Stroude in the Hundred of Shamell was granted in the eleventh year of Henry the third by the same Prince Magistro Fratribus Militiae Templi Solomonis that is to the Knights Temples who had here an eminent Mansion which from its being of their possession hath ever since acquired the Name of the Mannor of Temple After the suppression of this rich and magnificent Order in the second year of Edward the second upon what pretences and colourable Insinuations I have discovered in my Description of Temple Ewell this Mannor was united to the Crown And though a principal part of the Lands which related to this Order in this County before their Dissolution was by that Act of Parliament called Statutum de Terris Templariorum setled on the Knights Hospilaters yet this was lodged in the Royal Revenue until the twelfth year of Edward the third and then he conferred it by Grant on Mary Countess of Pembroke who about six years after bestowed it on the Abbess and Sisters Minorites of the profession of St. Clare at the Abby of Denney in Cambridgeshire to which place she had removed them from Waterbeach where they were first planted by her And here did this Mannor reside until another Tempest more fatal and ruinous then the former arose in the reign of Henry the eight which like a Whirl-winde ravished it away from the Revenue of the Church and then that Monarch in the thirty second year of his reign made it the propriety of Edward Elrington Esquire But it seems the Title of Church-Land is stuck so thick with the Curses of the first Donors that it becomes like a Moath received into a Garment which like an ingrateful Guest commonly destroyes the House which entertained it and so it was here for in the same year it was granted the abovesaid Person alienated it to George Brook Lord Cobham whose infortunate Grandchild Henry Lord Cobham was enwrapped in that obscure and mysterious Design of Sir Walter Rawleigh which was muffled up in such a complicated Veile of that magical Mist called Reason of State and other Intrigues of wrested policy that it remains dark and perplexed until this Day indeed the Crimes of this unhappy Gentleman were by the mercenary Tongues of some Lawyers who were in pension to the Interest of those who then steared the Helm of State and who like some Trumpeters knew how to sell their Breath to the best advantage aggravated and multiplied to that Bulk and Dimension that he was convicted of high Treason in the beginning of King James and though he lost not his Life he did that of his Estate here at Stroude which was by the abovesaid Prince conferred by Grant on Robert Cecill Earl of Salisbury principal Secretary of Estate in Respect he had matched with Elizabeth Brook Sister to this infortunate Lord from whom it descended to his Son the Right Honorable William Cecill Captain of the Band of Pensioners to his late Majesty and Earl of Salisbury who in our Fathers Memory passed it away to Mr. Bernard Hide Esquire one of the Commissioners of the Custome-houes to the late King Charles and he upon his Decease gave it to his third Son Mr. John Hide who not many years since alienated it to James Duke of Lenox from whom after some brief possession it was conveyed to Mr. Blague whose Son Mr. Izaack Blague by Descendant Right is now entituled to the Propriety of it The Chappel of St. Nicholas in Stroud was by Gilbert Glanvill Bishop of Rochester with the Consent of the Prior of Rochestor William Arch-deacon of the same See and likewise of the Parish Priest of Frendsbury within the Precincts of whose Village Church and Congregation it was in elder Times circumscribed erected and improved into a Mother-church and that for these two Reasons First it was divided by too great Distance from the Church of Frendsbury And secondly the Inhabitants began to multiply to that Number that it was probable that in Decursion of Time the above recited Church would be in no Capacity for the Reception of so great a Conflux and therefore it was judged convenient by the Authority of that Age to establish Stroud into a Parish independent to Frendsbury and assign to it not only a Church-yard for the Sepulture of their Dead but likewise a Competency of Tiths exceptâ solummodo Decimatione Bladi that is I conjecture the Tithery of Grasse only excepted for the Support of the Incumbent for the Time being as the Records of the Church of Rochester inform us Shorham in the Hundred of Cods-heath hath several places within the Verge of it which may deserve our Notice The first is
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
Digge who promiscuously writ themselves in elder Times sometimes of Barham and sometimes of VVestwell as appears by many of their ancient Evidences and other Muniments yet extant In the reign of Edward the third there was one Adomarus de Digge who frequently writ himself of Westwell but whether it were he that was the Judge or not I cannot positively aver In fine after this place had for many Ages acknowledged the Signory of this Family it came down to John Digge in whom the Male-line ended so that his Female Heir being wedded to Henry Aucher annexed it to the Revenue of that Family and from him hath the Title by a Thread of many years been guided down to Mr. ...... Aucher Dean-court may be registered likewise in the Catalogue of the principal Mannors of this Parish It was in Times of elder prescription the Inheritance of Hussie who likewise was entituled to the possession of Dean-court in Wingham now the Mansion of the Oxendens by purchase from this Family Henry Hussie a man of great power as appears by that large Estate he was Lord of both at Wingham Lenham Boughton Malherbe and elsewhere died possest of this Mannor in the eighteenth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Numb 36. and from him did it in an even and an undivided Current glide along in this Name until the latter end of King Henry the eighth and then it was passed away by Sale to Milan in which Family the propriety of this place is now resident Nash-court is the next place in Westwell that cals for our Survey in old Deeds I find a Family that sometimes writ At Ash and sometimes Nash into which the former Name resolved who were possessors of it In Times of a lower Step that is in the thirty second year of Edward the third as appears by the close Roll of that year Rot. Esc Num. 94. Alanus de Hanekin held it but before the latter end of Richard the second this Family had quitted the possession by Sale to Brockhull of Calchill and was not long after that is about the twelfth year of Henry the fourth by Henry Brockhull conveyed to John Darell Esquire Sheriff of Kent in the eleventh year of Henry the fourth and Brother of Sir William Darell under-Treasurer of England and in this Name it was permanent until the last year of Edward the sixth and then it went away by Sale to Sharpe of Nin-house in great Chart and hath been now for five Descents resident in that Family Beamonston vulgarly called Beamston is partly situated in West-well and partly spread into East-well but the greatest part of the Demeasne is circumscribed within the Bounds of this Parish And in the twentieth year of Edward the third as appears by the Book of Aide was held by Thomas at More at making the Black Prince Knight But before the fourth year of Henry the fourth this Family was extinguished for at the Marriage of Blanch that Prince's Daughter as appears by the Roll of Blanch Lands kept in the Exchequer John Amias was possest of it and paid respective Aide for it as having purchased it of At-More and in this Name did it reside until the reign of Henry the seventh and then it was conveyed by Sale to John Moile Esquire Father to Sir Thomas Moile who left this with much other Land to Katharine his Daughter and Co-heir matched to Sir Thomas Finch in Right of which Alliance it is now devolved to be the Inheritance of his great Grand-child Hencage Finch the instant Earl of Winchelsey Perytowne lies likewise within the Limits of Westwell and is registered in the Catalogue of those Lands that William de Aldon died possest of in the thirty fifth year of Edward the third and continued chained to the Inheritance of this Family until about the twenty seventh of Henry the sixth it was passed away with much other other Land to Cardinal Kempe who setled it in the twenty eighth year of that Prince on his newly erected Colledge of Wye and rested there until the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth and then it was resigned into the Hands of that Prince and he in the thirty eighth year of his reign granted it to Thomas Cawarden or Carden Esquire and he not long after conveyed it by Sale to Sir John Baker of Sisingherst whose Successor Sir John Baker Baronet hath this present year 1657. alienated it to Nathaniel Powell of Ewherst in Sussex Esquire Woditon or Wolton is the last place of any Note in Westwell It was originally parcel of the Inheritance of a Family called Wolton or Woditon Ivo de Woditon held it in the year 1236. and left it to his Son John de Wolton who had Issue Richard de Woditon or VVolton a man of principal Note in the twentieth year of Edward the third who held both this Mannor and VVoditon by Berham which he held of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury by Knights Service at making the Black Prince Knight And in this Man's Successors did the Propriety constantly reside until the latter end of Henry the sixth and then some part of it was conveyed to John Hampton and he about the beginning of Edward the fourth passed it away to Richard Rasel who died possest of it as appears by his Will in the twentieth of that Prince but there was some part remained unsold until William Wolton dying 1540 ordered it by his Deed to be passed away to Feoffees in Trust to discharge Debts which accordingly was performed and the Remainder conveyed to Rasell in the Descendants of which Name and Family the entire proprietie is at this instant remaining Werehorne in the Hundreds of Ham and Blackbourne was partly under the Jurisdiction of the Church and partly under the Signory of temporal and Lay Proprietaries that Moitie of it which was of secular Interest belonged to a Family called Bedford Rich. de Bedford obtained a Grant of a Market to it weekly on the Tuesday and a Fair of three days continuance at the Feast of St. Matthew as appears Cart. 52. Henrici tertii Memb. 12 which was renued and confirmed to the abovesaid Person in the eighth year of Edward the first and he in the seventeenth year of that Prince died possest of it as is manifest Rot. Esc Num. 20. But after him it was of no long date in the Tenure of this Family for in the reign of Edward the second I find it in the possession of Hugh de VVindlesore or VVindsor but was not long chained to their Patrimony neither for about the beginning of Edward the third it was alienated to Moraunt of Moraunts Court but about the beginning of Richard the second Sir Thomas Morant Son of VVilliam Moraunt Sheriff of Kent the twelfth and thirteenth year of Edward the third to whom that Prince issued out a Mandate that but one Bell should be rang in any Steeple towards the Sea-Coast in Kent determined in a Female Heir who was matched to James Peckham of Yaldham Sheriff of Kent
peradventure may be attributed to the Evaporations of youth which is alwayes volatile and airy rather then to any setled and contracted Habit of vitious Distempers and mutinous passions which was lodged within Him But to proceed when Willesborough had by a successive thread of many Ages been guided along through several Descents down to John Brent he died and left John Brent his Heir who expiring without Issue Margaret his eldest Sister became the Inheritrix of all his possessions and she being matched with John Dering Esquire of Surrenden Dering this place by Female right became transplanted into the Patrimony of that Name and Family and Sir Edward Dering about the year 1635 conveyed it to Robert Scot of Canterbury Esquire whose Son and Heir Thomas Scot of Canterbury Esquire is now proprietary of it Wilmington in Hundred of Dartford resolves it self into two Mannors which exact a peculiar Cognisance and the first is Rue Hill so it was anciently written though now by vulgar Acceptation it is called Rowe Hill It was in Ages of a higher Track the patrimony of an illustrious and generous Family called Gise who were in those times as eminent for the largeness of their possessions as they were for the Antiquity of their Extraction and from hence were the Gises of the Counties of Hereford and Gloucester originally sprouted out Anselmus de Gise had a Charter of Free Warren granted to his Lands at Rue Hill in Wilmington in the twenty second year of Edward the first but it appears the Possession of this place invested and fortified with this Grant was not long after united to this Family for John Gise this mans Grand-child sold it to Nicholas Brember who in the twelfth year of Richard the second being blasted with an impeachment of high Treason fell an Oblation to the fury of those Lords who upon pretence of asserting the publick Liberty sought to fetter up the majesty and prerogative of their Prince within those narrow Restraints and Limits which they prescribed to empale it in and pare off the power of the Crown which like Sampson's Locks being shaved Kings remain like other men Upon his attaint Rue Hill resolved into the revenue of the Crown and King Richard the second in the fourteenth year of his reign granted it to Adam Bamme of London and in his Lineage was the Inheritance of it sundry Generations wrapt up till in our Grand-fathers memory it was alienated to Brett from whose successor the same Alteration rowled the possession not many years since into Smith The second is Highlands which was parcel of the Demeasn of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem and upon the Dissolution of their Alberge here in England was granted about the thirty fifth year of Henry the eighth to Sir Thomas Moile and Sir Maurice Dennis the last of which passed away his Concernment in it to Sir Thomas Moile by whose Daughter and Co-heir called Amy Moile it came to be possest by Sir Thomas Kempe who left it to his Son and Heir Sir Thomas Kempe who conveyed it to his Brother Mr. Reginald Kempe who in our Fathers memory passed it away to Lancelot Bathurst Esquire Father to Sir Edward Bathurst who is the instant proprietary of it Wodnesborough lies in the Hundred of Eastrie and spreads it self into many places of no despicable Account First there is Shelving which was as high as any Evidence can waft us to discover the Demeasn of Houghham of Hougham by Dover a Family rooted in as deep Antiquity as any in this Track Robert de Hougham is enrolled in an ancient Register of those Kentish Gentlemen who supported the cause and Quarrel of Richard the first at the Seige of Acon Sir Robert de Hougham his Son died possest of it in the second year of Edward the first and left Robert Hougham his Heir who determined in Daughters and Co-heirs so that Benedicta Houghham one of them being married to John Shelving this became his Demeasn where he erected a House upon which he fixed his Sirname and called it Shelving which in those Times was of considerable Repute though since by the frequent impressions of Age it is shrunk into Decay and Obscurity from Shelving one Moitie of it by Sale was transmitted to St. Leger and so continued distinguished in the Interest of it till both Shelving and St. Leger did by a mutual Concurrence pass away their joynt right in it to Dynley where it had not long been Seated but the like Fatality transferred the Possession of it to White and here the Title of it was as unfixt and unstable also for from this Family by purchase it was carried into the Revenue of Knight who in our memory altered his Interest in it by Sale to Mr. Solomon Hougham of Sandwich primitively issued out in a Collateral Line from Sir Robert Hougham upon whose late Decease his Son and Heir Mr. Richard Hougham is now possessor of it Ringleton does secondly exact some Remembrance It was anciently the Interest of Perot for Thomas Perot held it at his Death which was in the fourth year of Edward the third but when this Name was extinguished in a Daughter and Heir William Langley by matching with Her entituled himself to the Possession of this place in which Family the Inheritance for sundry Generations was settled till the Vicissitude of Time by Sale conveyed it into the Demeasn of John White who was originally a Merchant of the Staple and did by several Acts of exemplary Munificence evidence himself to be a liberal Benefactor to Canterbury But long it was not fastned to the Possession of this Name for his Successor alienated it to Butler of Heronden in Eastrie from which Family Ringleton by the same Mutation was brought to own the Possession of Neame and his Son Daniel Neame sold it to Spencer of Sandwich whose Successor Nicholas Spencer dying without Issue his Sister who was wedded to Hughs descended from Hughs of Middleton Stony in the County of Oxford who was branched out from the Hughs of North-Wales by a Relative right deduced from that Alliance has planted the present Possession in the Patrimony of that Name and Family Thirdly upper Hamwold may fall under a Disquisition because it was wound up in the Estate and Propriety of Greenshield whose principal residence was at Greenshield in Whitstaple corruptly called Grimgil where I have spoken more largely of this Family onely this I shall add that Henry Greenshield who died in the last year of Edward the fourth was a munificent Benefactor to the poor and other indigent and necessitous people of the Town of Sandwich to whom he bequeaths by his last Testament very liberal Donations for their relief and support After this Family of Greenshield was mouldered away at Hamwold I find the Elis's invested in the Possession but whether by Alliance or Purchase I cannot discover After they went out the Family of Francis was by Purchase from them seated in the Inheritance to whose Interest it was not many
lies entombed under an Arch in the Southwall with his pourtraicture insculped in a Marble in Minster Church whose Tomb is become the Scene of much Falshood and popular errour the vulgar having digged out of his Vault many wild Legends and Romances as namely that he buryed a Priest alive that he swam on his horse two miles thorough the Sea to the King who was then neer this Island on Shipboard to purchase his pardon and having obtained it swam back to the Shore where being arrived he cut off the head of his said Horse because it was affirmed he had acted this by Magick and that riding on hunting a twelvemoneth after his horse stumbled and threw him on the Scull of his former Horse which blow so bruised him that from that Contusion he contracted an inward impostumation of which he dyed and in memory of which an Horse Head is placed at his Feet which fictitious Story is rent into the disunion of so many absurd circumstances that I shall represent to the Reader the Foundation on which this fabulous Natrative was formerly established which is no more but this Sir Robert de Shurland above-mentioned being Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports and a man of eminent Authority under Edward the first obtained Grant of priviledge by Charter to have wrack of Sea upon his Lands confining on the Sea Shore neere Shurland now the extent of this Royaltie is evermore esteemed to reach as far into the Water upon a low ebb as a man can ride in and touch any thing with the point of his Launce and so you have the explication of this marvel and the couching either of whole Creatures or part of them at the Feet of worthy personages is most frequent both now and in elder Times that these inanimate Representations might be the Symbols or Hieroglyphicks to intimate to posterity those Virtues which were resident in them when alive But to proceed the abovementioned Sir Robert de Shurland having improved his Reputation with many noble and worthy Actions left That only to perpetuate his Name to posterity having no Issue-male to continue it for he left only one Daughter and Heir matched to W. de Cheyney of Patricksbourn Cheyney who was son and heir to Sir Alexander de Cheyney who is in the Inventory or List of those Knights Bannerets who were ennobled with that Dignity by E. the first at the Siege of Carlaverock in the twenty eighth year of his reign and in Right of this Match dyed possest of it in the eighth year of E. the third Rot. Esc Num. 58. And from him did it come down to his great Grandchild Sir John Cheyney who was Knight of the Garter and frequently Knight of this Shire in sundry Parliaments under the Government of Henry the fourth in the first year of whose reign as our Chronicles inform us he was sent Embassador to several forreign Princes to represent to them the Reasons or Motives which induced him to assume the English Diadem and in the first and second year of that Prince he was chosen Speaker of Parliament Sir William Cheyney another of this Family of Shurland was first a Judge and secondly Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in the reign of Henry the fifth but the greatest Honour this Mannor atchieved was when it came to be possest by Sir Thomas Cheyney who was Knight of the Garter Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports Constable of Quinborough Castle and one of the Privy Councel to Henry the eighth and he had Issue Sir Henry Cheyney created Henry Lord Cheyney of Tuddington by Queen Elizabeth who having exchanged this Mannor of Shurland with that Princesse it remained with the patrimony of the Crown untill the second year of King James and then it was by royal Concession from that Prince made the Inheritance of Philip Earl of Montgomery and after of Pembroke upon whose late decease it is now come to confesse the Signory of his second Son Mr. James Herbert Kingsborough is another Mannor in this Parish whose Name tacitly intimates to us that it was involved formerly in the Revenue of the Crown and was the place which the Inhabitants frequented not only for the holding of a Court for the choice and election of the Constables of the Island but likewise here assembled to nominate and appoint those Wardens or Bailiffs that were to take Cognisance or Charge of the passage called King ferry which divides the Island and the main Land of me County this Mannor after it had for many Generations layn folded up in the royal Demeasne was by Queen Elizabeth granted to Mr. Henry Cary who about the Beginning of K. James passed it away to Swaleman whose Descendant is still entituled to the propriety of it Leisdon next offers it selfe up to our view which was parcel of that estate which acknowledged the noble and ancient Family of Grey or Rotherfield in Sussex for its ancient Owners The first which made this Family eminent was John de Grey who was frequently summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron in the reign of Edward the third and dyed possest of this Mannor in the thirty third year of that Prince Rot. Esc Num. 38. And so did Robert Grey his Successor in the second year of Henry the fourth After his Exit I do not find it long constant to the Signory of this Name for about the Beginning of Henry the sixth it was alienated to Lovell and by virtue of this purchase Sir William Lovell held it at his Death which was in the twenty third year of Henry the sixth After this Family had abandoned the possession the Cheyneys of Shurland were by purchase planted in the Inheritance and remained setled in the Fee-simple of it untill Sir Henry Lord Cheyney exchanged it with Queen Elizabeth Nuts called so vulgarly but in the ancient Court-rolls named Notts as being the Inheritance of a Family called Nott is a little Mannor in Leisdon which after it had for many descents acknowledged no other proprietaries but this Family about the Beginning of Edward the fourth was rent from them by purchase and transplanted into Bartholomew a Family which were Owners anciently of much Land about Lingsted Throuley and other places in that Track and continued Masters of this Lordship untill the reign of Henry the eighth and then it was conveyed to Sir Thomas Cheyney whose Son Sir Henry Cheyney about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth passed it away to Sampson a Family which had been possessors of Sampson-court not far distant many hundred years and were descended from William Sampson who was frequently summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron in the reign of Edward the first From Sampson it was again in our Fathers Memory carried off to Oâ—borne in the Descendants of which Family the right is still fixed Werdon is the last place of Account in this Island It was in times of an elder Inscription involved in the Inheritance of Savage of Bobbing and in the twenty third year of Edward
elder Times made their Applications by humble Addresses to the Crown of whose Revenue this Parish was a Limb to rescue them from that Burden which crushed the shoulder and to permit that this Parish Suo integro Dominio Jurisdictione complecterctur might be circumscribed within the Sphere and Circumference of its own Signiory without any adherence or Connexion to any other but it seems the Beams of majesty not beating with any propitious Influence on this Design it grew not up to that Stature and perfection it did first aspire to so that it remained an imperfect Moiety of a Mannor under which Notion it is represented to us at present Yet in the ninth year of Edw. the first Eleanor Wife to that Prince obtained a Market weekly and a Fair yearly to be observed at this place and being improved with these advantageous Franchises it remained marshalled in the Inventory of the Royal Demeasne untill the second year of King James and then it was passed away by Grant to Philip then Earl of Mout Gomery upon whose late Decease it was disposed by Will to own the Interest of his second Son Mr. James Herbert Cheveney and Cheveney House are both within the Verge of Marden and were entituled to a Family of that Sirname Henry de Cheveney held it at his Death which was in the second year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 59. And after him Joan the Wife of John Cheveney his Son was in Enjoyment of it at her Decease which was in the thirty second year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 5. But after this I find no farther Remembrance of this Family at this Place for in the second year of Richard the second I discover by an ancient Court-Roll one William Atweld to have held the Propriety of it And in this Family was the Title lodged until the Beginning of Henry the sixth and then it was transmitted by Sale to Couper and in the thirteenth year of that Monarch I find one William Couper to have discharged some Persons of some Amerciaments and Fines imposed upon them for not performing Suite and Service at this Mannor of Cheveney and in this Family was the Interest successively resident until the Beginning of Q. Mary and then this House and Mannor being by the Custome of Gavelkind ground into two Parcels and those possest by two Brothers Coheirs one of them passed away Cheveney House to Maplesden in which name it is yet constant and the other alienated the Mannor of Cheveny to Lone from whom Mr. ....... Lone the instant Proprietary is lineally extracted Sipherst is another little Mannor in Marden which had Possessors here of that Sirname until the latter End of Edward the third and then they being abolished and the Fee-simple abandoned and surrendred to William Atweld about the second year of Richard the second that Name was entituled to the Estate here until the Beginning of Henry the sixth and then it was alienated with Cheveney to Couper in whom the Fee-simple had not been long constant when it was demised to John Field and he made his Will in the seventeenth year of Edward the fourth and gives it to his Son Jo. Field and from him did it by descendant Right devolve to his Successor Edward Field who held it the fourth year of Q. Elizabeth and after gave it to his Kinsman Thomas Gilbert whose Successor Thomas Gilbert having settled it on his Widow Sibil Gilbert it is now in her Right possest by her second Husband Mr. Richard Knight Tildens Stubbins and Brooke are three other inconsiderable Mannors in this Parish which had three owners of these Denominations the first of which were Persons of Eminence in this County and had an Estate at Wye Catts place in Brenchley and at Tilmanston likewise as it appears by the Book of Aid where there is an Assessement laid upon the Lands of William Tilden in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight But to proceed the Propriety of these three Places were constantly under the Dominion of these three Families until the latter End of Henry the fourth and then Stubbins was passed away to Tilden in whom both Stubbins and Tildens remained combined and wound up together until the Beginning of Henry the sixth and then they were demised to Thomas Stidolfe Esquire and he made his Will in the year 1453 and therein mentions Stubbins and Tildens to have been purchased of Tilden and Brooke of Richard Brooke but this Family about the Beginning of Henry the seventh determining in a Female Inheritrix matched to Richard Vane Esquire united these three Mannors to his Patrimony and from him by the traverses of several Descents are they now come down to be possest by the right Honourable Mildmay Vane Earl of Westmerland Monkton is a Mannor in Marden which made up the Demeasn of the Priory of Leeds and upon the suppression of that Cloister was by K. Henry the eighth granted to Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury Esquire who not long after alienated it to Thomas Wilfor'd Esquire and he in the seventh year of Q. Elizabeth to Thomas Stanley in which Family it remained until our Fathers Remembrance and then it was demised by Sale to Mr. ...... Board of Sussex St. Mary Church in Romney Mersh lies in the Hundreds of St. Martins and New-Church and was anciently folded up in that large Demeasn which did acknowledge the Dominion of the Criolls John de Crioll or Keriel of a younger Extraction from Bertram de Crioll held it at his Death which was in the forty ninth year of Edward the third and transmitted it to his Son Sir Nicholas Criol from whom by a continued Succession it devolved to Sir Thomas Crioll Knight of the Garter who falling an Oblation at the Battle of St. Albans to the Cause and Quarrel of the House of York by his Daughter and Heir it came to be the Inheritance of John Fogge Esquire who left it to his Son Thomas Fogge and though he determined in two Daughters and Coheirs Alice matched to William Scot and Anne first married to Edward Scot and after to Henry Isham yet it seems to improve and continue the Name he gave this and other Lands to his Kinsman George Fogge whose Posterity enjoyed it even until our Fathers Memory and then it was alienated to Carkeredge St. Maries in the Hundred of Hoo was as appears by Sir Thomas Wisemans Evidences for I can trace not any Notice of it in Publick Records in the Raign of Edw. the fourth for no higher do the Deeds arrive at in the Hands of one William Halton who sold the same to William Lemyng Citizen and Grocer of London as appears by a Deed dated the twenty second day of October in the eighth year of the said King's Raign Afterwards I find this abovesaid Mannor in the Hands of Sir John Brooke Lord Cobham in the Raign of Henry the seventh but from whom it came to him the Evidences do not discover but
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