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
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
under the Signorie of Catwick and John de Catwick held it and paid respective Aid for it as appears by the Book of Aid at making the black Prince Knight After this Family had deserted the possession of this place I discover by some old Deeds that Commence from the Reign of Rich. the second that the Frankenhams were Lords of the Fee who before the latter end of Henry the fifth were gon out and then it came to own the Propriety of Poynings and went along with this Name untill it devolved to Sir Edward Poyning who had it in possession at his Death which was in the twelfth year of Henry the eighth and after a solemne and signall Inquisition taken in the fourteenth year of that Monarch to discover if there could be traced out any collaterall Alliance for he dyed without any lawfull Issue that could justifie a Claim to his Estate and there none appearing who could do it this Mannot with much other land escheated to the Crown and then the abovesaid Prince granted this to William Lewknor Esquire in which Family it had not rested many years when it was conveyed by Sale to Vane from whom by the like Vicissitude in that Age we call our Fathers it came to be the Possession of Walter of Faukham The Priorie of St. Helens in London had some Interest at South-Ash in the fourth year of Henry the fourth as appears by the Rolls of Blanch Lands kept in the Exchequer but whether upon the Suppression it were wrapped up in the Mannor of Ash and so conveyed in the general Concession or Grant as being a Perquisite I am incertain Ashford in the Hundred of Chart and Longbridge was one of those Mannors which was marshalled under the Jurisdiction and Propriety of the eminent Family of Crioll Simon de Crioll in the twenty seventh and twenty eighth year of Henry the third obtained a Charter of Free Warren to his Mannor of Ashford and Mawde de Crioll his Widow dyed seised of it in the fifty second year of Henry the third and left it to her Son Will. de Keriell who as Will. Glover Somerset Herald out of an old Court Roll does attest confirmed that change his Mother had designed in her life time and passed away this Mannor to Roger de Leybourne for Stocton in Huntington-shire and Rumford in Essex and from him did it come down to his great Grandchild Juliana de Leybourn sole Heir of Roger de Leybourne whose second Husband William de Clinton Earl of Huntington was possest of it at his Death which was in the twenty eighth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 59. And after him Juliana his Countesse deceasing without Issue and without Kindred in the fourty third year of the abovesaid Prince it escheated to the Crown and this Monarch desiring to enhance the Revenue of the Church rather then his own gave it to the Deans and Canons of St. Stephens in Westminster which Donation was confirmed by Richard the second in the twelfth year of his Reign and afterwards more amply ratified with all the Franchises it was anciently fortified with in the twenty first year of his Rule as appears Pat. 1. Memb. 35. par 3. and with it conveyed divers Lands here at Ashford and elsewhere which were formerly relating to the Family of Leybourne but being granted to Sir Simon de Burleigh returned back to the Crown upon his Attaint which was in the tenth year of the abovesaid Prince and here in the Revenue of this Cloister did it make a secure abode untill the rough Hand of Henry the eighth like that of Aeolus scattered such a Tempest upon these and all other Cloisters that they shrunk into a common dissolution and then this Mannor being in that whirlwind ravished from the Church and transplanted into the Crown was by that Monarch granted with Westure which was purchased by Cardinal Kempe of Aldon about the twenty eighth of Henry the Sixth and setled on the Colledge of Wie and came to the Crown upon its Supression to Sir Anthony Aucher and Jo. Polsted and they not many years after conveyed them by Sale to Sir Andrew Judde who expiring in a Female Heir called Alice she by matching with Sir Thomas Smith annexed them to his Revenue and from him is both Ashford and Westure come down by descendant Right to his great Grandchild Philip Viscount Strangford Repton in this Parish was the Seat of that ancient Family of Valoigns Waretius de Valoigns in a Deed whereby on Ash-Wednesday in the the fourty fifth year of Henry the third releases some Services due to his Mannor of Swerdlin to Cecilia Widow of Richard Greenbold writes himself of Repton Rualonus de Valoigns was Sheriff of Kent in the first year of Henry the second and dwelt sometimes at Repton and sometimes at Tremworth The last of this Family at this Place was Waretius de Valoigns who concluding in two Daughters and Coheirs one of them by matching with Sir Tho. Fogge brought this and much other Land to own the Title of that Family and they afterwards made this their Seat which was productive of Persons as eminent for Piety Prudence and Valour as any that this County either in Times which have been tempestuous or else in those which have been calm and serene hath been fertile in one of which was Sir Io. Fogge Comptroller of the House and Privie Counsellor to Edward the fourth who founded a Colledge here at Ashford consisting of a Prebendarie as the Head and of certain Priests and Choristers as Members But to proceâ—d after this Seat had so many Generations acknowledged the Interest of this Family it was in the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth alienated by George Fogge to Sir Michael Sonds and he conveyed it to Iohn Tufton Esquire whose great Grandchild the right Honorable Iohn Tufton Earl of Thanet is the instant Lord of the Fee There was a perpetuall Chauntry here at Ashford in a certain Chappell dedicated to the Virgin Mary which was founded by Will. de Sodington for which he had a Concession from royall Authoritie as appears Pat. 17. Edw. 3. parte secunda Memb. 37. The Land which was tied to support it lay in Ashford Willesborough Charing and Kennington which upon the Suppression being dispersed into many Hands I shall decline any farther labour to trace out Ashford had a Market upon the Saturday which was allowed by the Judges Itinerant to William de Leybourn in the seventh year of Edw. the first which being thus ratified and confirmed continueth in force upon that Day even at this instant I had almost forgot Merdall which is the last Mannor in this Parish It was included in the Patrimony of Corbie untill Robert Corbie of Boughton Malherbe concluded in a Daughter and Heir called Joan Corbie matched to Sir Nicholas Wotton twice Lord Maior of London by which Marriage all that vast Demeasne which acknowledged the Interest of that Family came to be united to this and continued many years
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-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
de Audley in right of his Wife Sister and Heir to the abovesaid Gilbert whom our Printed Books of Nobility call Isabell though in the Inquisition taken after his Death which was in the twenty first of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 39. She is styled Margaret entered upon the Inheritance of this place but the Fatality of the other Family did likewise cleave to this for the Spindle prevailed against the Spear Margaret being Sole Daughter and Heir to this Hugh Audley in whom the Name at this place met with a sad enterment and the Estate by her matching with Ralph Stafford Earl of Stafford found another Proprietary and he in her Right held it at his Decease which was in the forty sixth year of Edward the third and transmitted it to his Son Thomas Earl of Stafford who likewise was in the enjoyment of it at his Death which happened in the sixteenth year of Richard the second and from him was the Possession transported along by an unbroken Thread of Descent to Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham and Earl of Stafford a Man magnificent but infortunate who being accused of high Treason attainted and beheaded in the twelfth year of Henry the eighth and his Estate here confiscated in the thirteenth and rested in the Crown untill the abovesaid Prince in the thirty first year of his Reign granted it to Paul Sidnor and he not long after passed it away by Sale to William Lambert Esquire who setled it upon the Colledge of Alms people at Greenwich which is vulgarly called Q. Elizabeths Colledg with a Limitation reserved that the Heirs male of his Line might hold it in Lease for ever and in case they might fail that the last might dispose of it by Testament or Deed to whom he pleased by virtue of which Reservation Mr. John Lambert of Sevenoke Esquire is at this instant Lessee to the Colledge for this Mannor Bokinfold in this Parish is an eminent Mannor which belonged to that Chauntry and Chappel which was founded here by Hamon de Crevequer and confirmed as appears by the first Book of Compositions kept amongst the Records of the Church of Rochester with the Demeasne appertaining to it in the forty first year of Ed. the third and continued being thus forseited and secured by the Royal Charter untouched untill the generall Suppression and being dissolved the Revenue which anciently supported it was in the thirty first of Henry the eighth carried of by Grant to Paul Sidnor Esquire who not long after passed it away to Sir John Gates to whom it was again confirmed in the first year of Edward the sixth but he being infortunately attainted in the fourth year of the abovesaid Prince as being one of the Partisans of the Duke of Somerset to whose Service and for whose Cause he sacrificed his Head this returned to the Crown and dwelt in its Revenue untill Queen Elizabeth granted it away again to Katharine Tong who suddenly after alienated her Interest in it to Revell and he about the latter End of Queen Elizabeth passed it away to Colepeper from whom in our Fathers Memory it went away to Dyke and very suddenly from him again to Mr. Benedict Barnham by one of whose four Daughters and Coheirs it came to be the Patrimony of Soam who lately hath demised his whole Concernment in it to Mr. George Brown formerly of Spelmonden in Kent now of Buckland in Surrey There was formerly a Park at this Place for in the second year of Edward the second Bartholomew de Badelesmer held the Mannor and Park of Bockinfold in Fee by grant from that Prince and the advowson of the Free Chappel of the same and Edward the second in the nineteenth year of his Reign being on his way to France to do his Homage for the Dutchy of Apuitain suddenly drew back his Foot and retired to this Place where he reposed himself and caused many to be indicted for their unlawfull and irregular hunting in the Park at Bokinfold nor hath Time so dismantled or disparked it but that yet there are some Memorials or Vestigias remaining which attest the Truth of the Premises Criolls Court is another Manor in Brenchley which by Joan Daughter of Bertram de Crioll and Heir Generall of her Brother John de Crioll it came to Sir Richard de Rokesley and by his Daughter and Heir Joan to Thomas de Poynings whose Successor Sir Ed. Poynings dying in the twelfth year of Hen. the eighth without Issue or any collateral Alliance in the fourteenth year of that Prince it escheated to the Crown afterwards it was granted in the thirty first year of that Prince to Paul Sidnor Esquire employed as Agent to that Prince into Spain and he not long after alienated it to William Lambert Esquire who setled it upon the Colledge of poor people at Greenwich of his Erection with a Reservation that the Heits male of his Line might hold it in Lease for ever by virtue of which limitation it is now enjoyed by Mr. John Lambert of Sevenoke Esquire Parrocks in this Parish was anciently a Mannor relating to a Family of that Denomination which continued Lords of the Fee untill the latter end of Henry the seventh and then it was by Sale conveyed to William Hextall Esquire who dying without Issue male Margaret his sole Daughter and Heir brought this and much Land beside to be the Inheritance of William Whetenhall Esquire from whom the right of Descent wafted it down to his Successor Sir Richard Whetenhall who in the twelfth year of Queen Elizabeth demised it to William Brooke Lord Cobham who not long after passed it away to Sir Thomas Nevill Grandfather to the right honorable Mildmay Earl of Westmerland now Possessor of it Mascals Capgrove or Capgrave and Chekeswell are three Mannors in Brenchley also which as the Book of Aid informs me were in the tweneieth year of Edward the third in the possession of John de Capgrave and it is probable that John Capgrave an eminent Monk an Ornament to Learning and to the Priory of Christ Church who flourished in the year 1484 and is mentioned with so much Honour by Pitseus was descended from this man in whose Name these Mannors were not after this long permanent for as the learned and laborious Sidrach Petit does informe me in his Inquest of Kent they fell in the Reign of Richard the second under the Signory of Vaux whose Successor about the latter end of Henry the sixth alienated his Propriety in them to Humphrey Stafford Duke of Buckingham whose infortunate Grandchild Edward Duke of Buckingham being attainted in the twelfth year of Henry the eighth these with the Residue of his Estate escheated to the Crown from which not many years after they were passed away to Edward Ferrers Esquire and he conveyed his Right to Whetonhall who about the beginning of King James demised them to Ouldsworth who not long after sold them to Bartue and he almost in our Memory transmitted them by Sale to
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
who stuck so close to the Cause and Quarrel of Simon de Montfort the active Earl of Leicester after whose Ruine at the Battle of Evesham and the total Discomfiture and Dissipation of of his Forces in that signal Conflict he was found in the Register of those Kentish Gentlemen who were pardoned by the pacification at Kenelworth and died possest of it in the twenty third year of Edw. the first Rot. Esc Num. 48. and in some old Deeds it is called Caput Baroniae de Say now the vulgar opinion was formerly that that thirteen Knights Fees and a half made up a Tenure per Baroniam now how much in value a Knights Fee was was the Question in elder Times some affirming it to be 50 l. others 30 l. and diverse again but 25 l. but the common received opinion is which hath been generally allowed of by all our Law Books that it is in Estimate but 20 l. consisting of eight Carucates or Hides of Land for they are coincident allowing to every Carucate or Ploughed Land an 100. Acres which was anciently thought to be as much as one team of Oxen could plough up in a year but the Tenure it self which was compounded of these Knights Fees was altogether incertain for unless it be that Manscript stiled Modus Tenendi Parliamentum which is of no higher Age then the Reign of Edward the third there is no Record does state or fix it Walter de Meduana or Mayney Ancestor to the Mayneys of Linton held twenty Knights Fees as appears by the Red Book kept in the Exchequer Folio 84 yet was not under the Repute of a Baron Walter de Wahull had the possession of 30. Knights Fees and John de Port of 50. yet neither of them out of so vast a Tenure could multiply or inforce to themselves the Stile or Title of Baron whereas on the contrary Roger de Leybourn who marryed the Coheir of Vipont and was really a Baron makes a recognisance of his Service as appears by Kirkbies Inquest kept in the Exchequer and taken in the ninth year of Edward the first but for two Knights Fees and an half from all which recited passages is evinced that this Title of Baronage flowed only from the Favour and Indulgence of the Prince who by his Writ or Summons called those who had merited well by some worthy undertakings to this Dignity and Title and not from the vastness of their Patrimony though this did very much concurre afterwards to support their Baronage in its true Value and Lustre But to proceed Jeffrey de Say this Mans Successor had view of Franck Pledge here in the eighth year of Edward the third that is as appears by the Statute of Frank Pledge made in the eighteenth year of Edward the second he was to take Cognisance of those Disorders and Excesses in his Court Baron that were committed by those which held in Free-Soccage of his Mannor of Berling as well as of those which held in Knights Service or Villen age and this Jeffrey in the thirty third year of Edward the third dyed possest of this place Rot. Esc Num. 37. and left it to his Son William de Say who likewise was in the Tenure of it at his Death which happened in the forty third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 43. Parte secunda and transmitted it to his Son John de Say who likewise held it at his Decease which was in the sixth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 67. and from him did it devolve by descent to his Son and Heir Jeffrey Lord Say who about the latter end of Richard the second alienated his Interest here by Sale to Richard Fitzallan Earl of Arundell Lord Treasurer and Lord high Admirall of England from whom it came over to his Son Thomas Fitzallan Earl of Arundell and Lord Treasurer of England likewise who dying in the year 1416. without Issue Joan one of his Sisters matched to William Beauchampe summoned to Parliament as Baron of Aburgavenny in the sixteenth year of Richard the second became his Coheir and so he by this Alliance was acknowledged for Lord of the Fee but his Son Richard Beauchampe created Earl of Worcester in the year 1420 dying without Issue male in the ninth year of Henry the fifth Elizabeth his sole Daughter and Heir by matching with Edward Nevill who in her Right became Baron of Aburgavenny annexed Birling and Comfort Parke to his Revenue and he dyed possest of it in the sixteenth year of Edward the fourth and from him did it descend to his great Grandchild Henry Lord Aburgavenny who in the twenty ninth of Queen Elizabeth dying without Issue male gave it to his Kinsman Sir Edward Nevill afterwards Baron of Aburgavenny whose Grandchild John Nevill Lord Aburgavenny possesses now the Signory of it Bobbing in the Hundred of Milton was the ancient Seat of the illustrious Family of Savage Roger de Savage obtained a Charter of Free Warren to his Lands at Bobbing Milsted and elsewhere in the fifth year of Edward the second his Father Sir John de Savage was engaged with Edward the first at the remarkable Siege of Carlaverock in Scotland in the twenty eighth year of his Reign and there for his Signal Service was with Thomas Savage his Brother created Knight Banneret Sir Arnold Savage this mans Grandchild was Sheriff of Kent the fourth and ninth years of Richard the second and was afterwards Speaker of the Parliament in the second year of Henry the fourth as appeats by the late printed Abridgement of the Parliament Rolls preserved in the Tower and was one of the Privie Counsell to that Prince as appears by the private Evidences of this Family his Daughter Eleanor was first matched to Sir Reginald Cobham by whom she had no Issue and after was remarried to William Clifford Esquire Son of Sir Lewis Clifford Knight of the Garter descended from Clifford of Cliffords Castle in Herefordshire who upon the Decease of his Wifes only Brother this Sir Arnold Savage without Issue in her Right as Heir Generall entered upon his Estate here at Bobbing and was Sheriff of Kent in the fourth year of Henry the fifth and again in the thirteenth year of Henry the sixth his Kinsman Robert Clifford Esquire Brother to Richard Clifford first Arch-Deacon of Canterbury secondly Bishop of Worcester and thirdly Bishop of London was Knight of the Shire for Kent in the eighth year of Henry the fourth and lyes buryed in the middle Isle in the Body of Christ Church in Canterbury though now his Portraicture in Copper with the Inscription affixed with the many Coats declaring his Descent and Alliance are torn off and defaced the above mentioned William had Issue Lewis and John Lewis had Issue Alexander Clifford Esquire who was Sheriff of Kent the fifth year of King Edward the fourth and he had Issue Lewis Clifford Esq who was likewise Sheriff of Kent the thirteenth of Henry the seventh and from this Lewis was Henry
first from Chelsfield it passed away to Otho Lord Grandison who paid respective Aid for this Mannor by the sixth part of a Knights Fee at the making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth year of Edward the third but there it had but a frail abode for Sir Thomas de Grandison this mans Son conveyed it over by Sale to Richard Lord Poynings whose Daughter and Heir Eleanor matched to Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland and in his Line was the Right of it for some Descents interwoven till in the Reign of Henry the seventh it was by Sale resigned up to James Walsingham Esquire whose Son Sir Edmund Walsingham alienated it to Giles in the Reign of Edward the sixth which Giles descended from Giles of Lords in Shelvich where for many years before they had been planted and from Giles about the latter end of Q. Elizabeth it came over by purchase to Captain Henry Lee of London who going out in Sisters and Coheirs it is now come by two of them to Serjeant John Clerk of Huntington-shire the principal Possessor and Mr. Thomas Norton of London Ferneborough is but a Chappel of Ease devoted to the honour of St. Giles but belongs to the Mother-Church of Chelsfield which is dedicated to St. James as appears by the Records of the Church of Rochester It was a principal Seat of the Lord Grandison who made this the Head of their Barony William de Grandison held it at his death which was in the ninth year of Edward the third * Otho de Grandison obtained a the grant of Market to Ferneborough in the eighteenth of Edw. the first which was renewed to Hen. Earl of Lancaster in the eighteenth year of Edward the third and the grant of a Fair added at the Feast of S. Giles the Eve and Eight dayes following Otho Lord Grandison this mans Son obtained a Charter of Free Warren to it in the eighteenth year of Edward the third but long after this it did not remain linked to the Inheritance of this Family for in the Reign of Richard the second I find Fleming invested in the Possession whose Tenure was very transitory for not long after by Purchase it was brought into the Demeasn of Petley from whom by as swift a Fatalitie it went away to Peche of Lullingston which Family determined in Sir John Peche in the Reign of Henry the seventh who dying Issueless Elizabeth his Sister and heir brought this and a spatious Inheritance to her husband John Hart Esquire from whom M. William Hart now of Lullingston Esquire is lineally extracted and in right of this Alliance is at this present entituled to the Possession and Signorie of Ferneborough There is a third Mannor in this Parish called Godington which was anciently the Habitation of a Family which was represented to the world under that Name Simon de Godington paid respective Aid for his Mannor of Godington at the making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth year of Edward the third as the Book of Aid informs us and after this Family expired at this place Richard Lord Poynings became Lord of the Signorie of it from whom with Eleanor his Daughter and Heir it went over to Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland but did not long fix in that Family for for almost two hundred years last past the Possession hath been constantly united to the Name of Haddon a Family of principal Account in this Track as may appear by their Arms viz. A Leg couped and wounded which are Registered in the old Rolls and Ordinaries of Kentish Armorie alwayes with this addition Haddon of Kent and sometimes of Godington in Kent Hewat is another small Mannor in Cheslfield One Jeffrey de Hewat was possest of it in the Time of Henry the third ut apparet ex Charta sine Data which was for many Descents the Petleys of Down originally from whom it devolved to a Cadet of that Family who planted himself at Moulsoe in this Parish and there is a Deed in the hands of Mr. Thomas Petley of Vielston of John Coldigate of Coldigate a Farm in Halsted which bears Date from the eleventh year of Henry the fourth to which one William Petley of Chelsfield is Teste After it had been resident for sundry Generations in this Branch of Petley which sprouted out from those of Down the Title in that Age which ushered in this was by Sale from Edward Petley transferred to Mr. Thomas Petley of Vilston in Shorham another Branch shot out from the principal Stem of the Petleys at Down and he left it to his second Son Mr. Ralph Petley of Riverhead in Sevenoke not long since deceased whose Heir who is Proprietary of this place is at this instant in his Minoritie Northsted is situated likewise in Chelsfield and in the reign of Edward the third confessed a Family called Francis for its Proprietaries Simon Francis held it at his death which was in the thirty second year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 33. and acquired it by Purchase of Otho de Grandison who held this and Chelsfield as appears by the Book of Aid in the twentieth year of the former Prince but about the beginning of Henry the fourth this Family had surrendred the possession of this Mannor to Vuedall or Udall a Noble Familie and Masters of much Land both in Surrey Sussex and Hant-shire Sir John de Vuedall was one of the Knights who was with Edward the first at the Siege of Carlaverock Sir Peter D'Vuedall sat as Baron in Parliament the eighth and ninth of Edward the second Nicholas Vuedall was Constable of Windsor under Edward the third John Vuedall was Sheriff of Sussex and Surrey the second fourth and seventh years of Henry the fifth and again the first fifth and twelfth year of Henry the sixth William Vuedall was Sheriff of Sussex and Surrey the eighth of Henry the sixth and he in the sixth year of that Princes Government conveyed it to John Shelley of Bexley whose Successor William Shelley about the latter end of Henry the eighth passed it away to Mr. John Leonard of Chevening whose great Grand-child Henry Lord Dacres not many years since conveyed it to the Lady Wolrich who upon her decease setled it on her Kinsman Mr. ....... Skeggs of the County of Huntington Chelsfield had a Market obtained by Otho de Grandison in the eighteenth year of Edw. the first to be held there weekly on the Monday and a Fair to be observed there yearly by the space of three dayes at the Feast of Saint James Choriton in the Hundred of Folk-stone was the Inheritance of an ancient Family called Scotton Robert Scotton who was Sheriff of Kent the seventh eighth ninth and tenth years of Edward the first lived here and held his Shrievalty at this place and was of eminent Rank in this Track for he was Lieutenant of Dover Castle under the Prince abovesaid and held this Mannor under the Estimate of a whole Knights Fee of the Lord of
in the Chancel of Eightham Church and Jo. Clement was his Brother and Heir whose Daughter Ann Clement was married to Hugh Pakenham who in her Right possest the Moat and he about the Reign of K. Edw. the sixth joyning with Sir William Sidney who had matched with Anne his only Heir passed it away to Sir John Ailen Lord Maior of London in the year 1526 and then again 1536 who left it to his Son Sir Christopher Allen and he about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth conveyed it by Sale to John Selby Esq whose Son Sir William Selby dying without Issue to continue it in the Name gave it to Mr. George Selby of London whom it acknowledges at this instant for Lord of the Fee In the North-side of the Church of Eightham in an Arch in the Wall beneath the Quire lyes the Representation of a Knight wrought in Stone and his Arms pourtrayed on the Coat Armour on his Breast according to the usage of eminent Souldiers in the Reign of Edward the third This was Sir Thomas Cawne extracted originally out of the County of Stafford he had not much Land of Inheritance in Kent all I find was at Nulcomb a place so called in Seal as appears by his Deed of Purchase of John Ashburneham dated the thirty ninth of Edward the third but matching with Lora de Morant the Daughter and Heir of Sir Tho. Morant of Morants Court after his Death remarried to James de Peckham he thereby improved and enhaunsed his Fortune in Kent He died without Issue for ought as yet can be discovered his Arms as they be inserted in the Rolls and Registers of Staffordshire are empaled in the Chancel window with the Arms of Morant Elmested in the Hundred of Wye was a Limb of that Revenue which fell under the Signiory of the noble and ancient Family of Heringod In Testa de Nevill there is mention of Stephen de Heringod who paid respective Aid in the twentieth year of Henry the third for Lands which he held at Hardres and Elmsted Stephen de Heringod this mans Grandchild dyed about the beginning of Edward the first and determined in a Daughter and Heir called Grace de Heringod who was matched to Philip de Hardres and so this Mannor in her Right became incorporated into the revenue of this noble Family and remained for many Generations fastned to this Name untill the Age which almost commenced from our Fathers Memory and then Dane-Court a Branch of this Mannor was sold to Cloake and Elmested it self by the same Fatality went out to Marsh whose Successor very lately hath fixed his Interest by Sale in Lushington Evington Court is an ancient Seat in Elmested which was the Inheritance of Gentlemen of that Sirname who bare a Fesse between three Steel Burgonets for their Coat Armour and in a Book coppied out from old Deeds and digested into a just Volume by William Glover Somersett Herald and now in my Custody there is the Copy of an old Deed without date wherein William Fitz-Neal called in Latin Filius Nigelli does passe over some Land to Ruallo de Valoigns which is fortified by the appendant Testimony of one Robert de Evington who was Ancestor to the Evingtons of Elmsted of whom there is mention in the Deeds of this place in the Reign of Hen. the third and Edward the first After this Family was gon out the Gays a Family of no mean Account in this Track were incorporated into the Possession descended originally out of France where there is a Family which even at this Day is known by the Name of Le-gay and is planted in Normandy from whence those of Jersey and Gernesey are extracted a Branch of which is transplanted into South-Hampton and there for ought I know flourishes at present And to justifie the Truth of this their Extraction in the Leiger Book of Horton-Priory there is mention of one John le Gay who was a Benefactor to their House and though they are called at this day only without the Addition Gay yet this hath happened by Disuse and Intermission by not adding it in their Customary writing and affixing it to their Name But to proceed Evington Court though it was not originally erected by this Family yet certainly it was much inforced by Supplement and additionall Building for diverse places of the House are in Relation to the Name adorned with Nose-Gays In Conclusion after it had owned many of this Name of no vulgar Ranck for its Proprietaries it was about the beginning of Henry the seventh by Christopher Gay alienated to John Honywood Esquire of the eldest Family of the Honywoods from whom in a direct Line Edward Honywood Esquire Son and Heir of Sir John Honywood lately deceased is extracted and is now invested in the Possession of this place Elmested had the Grant of a Market obtained to it to be observed weekly on the Thursday and a Fair yearly on the Vigil and Day of Saint James by the Procurement of Henry de Haut Pat. 28. Edwardi tertii N. 20. Elmeston in the Hundred of Wingham was parcell of the Demeasne of the Lord Leybourn Juliana de Leybourn Wife of Roger de Leybourn had an estate here at her Death which was in the first year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 86. and her sole Heir was the Lady Juliana Leybourn first married to John de Hastings and after to William de Clinton but dyed without Issue by either in the forty third year of the Reign of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 57. and as it appears without any visible Alliance that could justify their Title to her Estate for the Crown feised upon it as legally escheated Richard the second granted Elmston to Simon Burleigh and upon his Attaint it returned to the Crown by Defailance of any who could pretend a Claim unto it King Richard the second about the fourteenth year of his Reign granted it to the Abby of Childrens Langley Before I proceed any farther in this Discourse I shall justifie what I before asserted that is that the first Husband of Juliana de Leybourn was John de Hastings a Kinsman of Lawrence de Hastings Earl of Pembroke but not his Son John de Hastings as some suppose and this is obvious if we consider that William de Clinton deceased by the Testimony of all in the twenty eighth yeer of Edward the third Juliana his Widow called in the Escheat Roll Comitissa de Huntington dyed in the forty third year of that Prince and John de Hastings Earl of Huntington in the year 1375 which happened in the forty ninth year of Edward the third which must necessarily upon a serious Computation of Time fall out six years after this Countesse's Decease to whom had she been matched she would have preserved the Stile of Comitissa de Pembroke and not that of Huntington But to return into that Track from whence this Digression hath made me wander after it remained Cloistered up in the Revenue of
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
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
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
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
It was when it flourished most but a Cell of Benedictin Monks belonging to Saint Peters in Gaunt and paid to them 40 s. per Annum as a Rent-Service as appears Rot. Esc An. 12. Ric. secundi N. 72. And so continued till King Henry the fifth perceiving the ill Effects and impressions which the Influence of Priories-Aliens and their Fraternities might cause upon those Religious persons who were his Subjects who were altogether chained by a Connexion of Canonical Obedience to them suppressed this and sundry others of the like Nature and with their Revenue endowed that stately Monastery which he erected at Shene storing it with Carthusian Monks and dedicating it to the Name of Jesus of Bethlem and in the Patrimony of this Cloister did this Mannor lie included till the total Dissolution in that general Shipwrack in the Rule of Henry the eighth and then it returned to the Crown and there was lodged till Queen Elizabeth in the fifth year of her Government granted it to Ambrose Dudley Earl of Warwick who soon after exchanged it for other Lands with the said Princess and she in the year 1575 granted it in Lease for a space of forty years to Sir Nicholas Stodard of Modingham which expiring in the year 1605 King James passed it away in Lease for forty years more to Sir Francis Knolls and the Fee-simple in Reversion to John Ramsey Earl of Holderness who dying before the Expiration of the Lease gave it to his Brother Sir George Ramsey whose Son John Ramsey when the former Lease was worn out which was about the year 1645 sold the Fee-simple to Mr. Reginald Grime Catford in this Parish was formerly a Mannor which anciently was involved in the Inheritance of the Abels of Hering-Hill in Eriâ—h and John Abel had a Charter of Free Warren to this and other of his Lands in Lewsham in the twenty third year of Edward the first and after this Family was worn out the Lords Mountacute were Lords of the Signory and Fee-simple of it for William de Mountacute Earl of Salisbury obtained by Charter a Confirmation of Free Warren to this Mannor of his of Catford in the fifth year of Edward the third and in this noble Family did the Possession dwell till Richard de Nevil married Eleanor Daughter and Heir of Thomas de Mountacute Earl of Salisbury and in her Right had the Title of that Earldome and the Possession of this Place enstated upon him and divers of the Windows of the most ancient Houses in Lewsham are stained and coloured with his Armes This was that Rich. who gave up his Life to the Cause and Quarrel of the House of York and with Richard Duke of York most resolutely asserting the Truth and Justice of their Title to the Crown perished in the fatal and infortunate Battle commenced with the Partisans of the Lancastrian Claim between Sandall and Wakefield and afterwards his Son Richard Earl of Warwick he that broke and piec'd up the Scepter as he pleased and his younger Son John Nevil created Marquess Montacute by Edward the fourth in the year 1470 fell in that dysastrous Encounter waged with Edward the fourth at Barnet upon whose Ruines and Tombs he built his Throne and with their Blood coemented the Fabrick of his future Greatness But whether upon the Shipwrack of this Family it came by Escheat to the Crown or else to George Duke of Clarence second Brother to Edw. the fourth who espoused Isabel Daughter and Coheir of Richard E. of Warwick is incertain though it is probable it did because in a Great House of Mr. Streets at Lewsham the Armes of the Duke of Clarence stand empal'd with Nevil In Times of a more modern Aspect Catford was the Polsteds a Family of very deep Antiquity in Surrey for Hugh de Polsted gave Lands called Inwood by his Deed dated the sixteenth year of King John to the Abby of Waversley in that County but whether this place came to them or not by Grant from the Crown or by Purchase from some other I am ignorant 't is certain that Francis Polsted Cousin and Heir to Richard Polsted sold Catford to Brian Annesley Esquire in Reversion after the Decease of Elizabeth Wife of John Wolley and Widdow of the said Richard in the twentieth year of Queen Eliz. And He afterwards dying without Issue Male his two Daughters married to Sir William Harvey after Lord Harvey of Kidbrook in Kent and Sir John Wildgoose shar'd the Inheritance of this Place There were two Chantreys founded at Lewsham One by Rich. Walker for one priest to celebrate Mass at the Altar of the Trinity for the Founder's Soul The other by Roger Fitz who by the Appointment of his last Will the seventeenth of Henry the seventh devised that his two Houses the Lion and the Ram in the Stews on the Banck-side near London should be sold to build the Chantry House and indow it with maintenance for one Priest to celebrate at the Altar of the Trinity in Lewsham Church for the Founder's Soul Leybourne in the Hundred of Larkfield was the ancient Demeasn of the Lords Leybourne who erected here a Castle esteemed a strong Pile in our Ancestors Dayes however the Ruines and Raggs of it at present appear mean and despicable yet it hath by several Gradations sunk into this Condition The first of which Family which I find to be eminent was * Ex veteri Rot. penes Edw. Dering Militem Baronettum desunctum Roger de Leybourne who is enrolled in the Catalogue of those Kentish Knights who accompanied Richard the first to the Siege of Acon and another Roger de Leybourne is in the Roll of this Kentish Gentlemen who assisted Henry the third in his Expedition into Gascony in the thirty seventh year of his Raign and afterwards was a principal Partisan of Simon de Montforts in his Emotions and rude Essorts against his Scepter and Government for which he was pardoned by the Act of Amnestia or Pacification of that Prince made in the fiftieth year of his Raign at Killingworth and this is that Roger which slew Ernulphus de Monteney at a meeting of the round Table in the thirty sixth year of Henry the sixth and was the Husband of Eleanor Countess of Winchester Sir Henry and Sir Simon de Leybourne are recorded in the List of those Kentish Gentlemen who assisted the Edward the first in his Siege of Carlaverock in Scotland in the twenty eighth year of his Reign and for their signal Service performed in that Expedition were dignified with the Order of Knighthood William de Leybourne one of this Family was frequently summon'd to sit in Parliament as Baron in the Raign of Edward the first and by that Title subscribes in that memorable Letter which the abovesaid Prince and all the English Peerage wrote to the Pope in the year of Grace 1301 that is in the twenty ninth of Edward the first 's Government to justifie those Grounds on which the war was
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
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
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
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
and by Sale transmitts it to John Mew and from him about the latter end of Henry the fourth both these Mannors with all their Appendages were passed away to Iohn Tutsham and Nicholas Remkin of Eastmere but he determined in Alize Remkin his Sole Inheritrix who by matching with Thomas Rolfe of Tunbridge brought her Interest in Albans and Black-pits to be the Inheritance of that Family but long the Right of both these places continued neither in Rolfe nor Tutsham for about the beginning of Henry the sixth they were alienated by Sale to Thomas Stidulfe of Badsell Esquire and he by Deed bearing date 1463 that is about the third year of Edward the fourth settles them on his two Sons Robert and Henry Stidulfe and in the Deed there is a remembrance that they were purchased of Rolfe and Tutsham From Robert they descended to his Son Thomas Stidulfe who was Heir both to his Father and his Uncle but he concluded in a Daughter and Heir who was matched about the latter end of Henry the eighth to Richard Vane Ancestor to the right honorable Mildmay Fane now Earl of Westmerland who in Right of this Alliance now enjoys Black-pits but Albans was by Henry Vane Successor to the above-mentioned Richard in the year 1589 passed away to Roger Twisden of Roydon-Hall Esquire Grand Father to the instant Proprietary Sir Roger Twisden Knight and Baronet Eastmere is another Mannor in East-Peckham which acknowledged a Family called Remkin anciently to be its Possessors John Remkin was Father of Christian Remkin who held it as appears by an ancient Court-roll in the thirty fourth year of Edward the third and from him did it by paternal Vicissitude devolve to Nicholas Remkin in whom the male-line failed so that Alice his Sole Daughter became the visible Heir to his Estate and she by matching with Thomas Rolfe of Tunbridge knit this and other Land here at Great Peckham to his Patrimony but it did not long thus continue united for John Rolfe his Son in the sixth year of Henry the sixth conveys it to Richard Ruyton and he in the eighth year of the abovesaid Prince alienated it to William Hextall but he deceasing without Issue-male Margaret his Sole Daughter by her Inter-marriage with William Whetenhall originally descended from the ancient Family of Whetenhall of Whetenhall in Cheshire cast it into the Possession of that Name from whom it is now descended to my worthy Friend Thomas Whetenhall of Hextall Court Esquire Spilfted is a fourth Mannor in this Parish It was the Inheritance for diverse Ages as appears by the Evidences now in the Custody of Sir Roger Twisden of an ancient Family called Cayser the last of which Name who enjoyed this place was John Cayser who went out in Daughters and Coheirs one of which was wedded to Matthew Chetwind to whom this place upon the Separation of the Estate into parcells in his Wifes Right accrued and he after some small residence in the Possession passed away his Right by Sale in the one and fortieth year of Queen Eliz. to Roger Twisden Esq Grand-father to Sir Roger Twisden Knight and Baronet the instant Lord of the Fee a Person upon whom I need drop no other Character when I say that in these times when there is such a Damp and Astonishment by publick blastings and discouragements cast upon Literature He is both a Gentleman and a Scholler Here is likewise a Seat in Peckham very venerable for its Antiquity which in old Rolls is called Hextall Court and was the Mansion of Gentlemen of principal Account in this Track In a Deed without Date Simon de Hougham does demise certain pieces of Land to John de Hextall which lay within the Limits of the Parish of Hougham where anciently this Family enjoyed no contemptible Possessions as well as at East-Peckham The last of this Name at this place was William Hextall who dyed without Issue-male and left Margaret his only Heir who was matched to William Whetenhall Esquire in the raign of Henry the seventh descended from the ancient and illustrious Family of Whetenhall of Whetenhall in the County of Chester and so it was incorporated into the Income of that Family where it hath ever since remained so that it is now the present Inheritance of Thomas Whetenhall Esquire West-Peckham or Little Peckham in the Hundreds of Twyford and Littlefield was annexed to the Demeasne of the Knights Templars when John Colepeper founded a Praeceptory here for them in the year of our Lord 1 .... which upon the finall Extirpation and Dissolution of their Order here in England in the second year of Edward the second was granted to the Knights Hospitallers and was sometimes called a Praeceptory and sometimes a Commandry Now a Praeceptory was a Benefice in Kind and was termed so because this and all others of the same Capacity were possest by the more eminent sort of Templars whom the Chief Master created and called Praeceptores Templi A Commandry was some principal Mannor of the Knights Hospitallers wherein was placed some Brother of the Order who could not dispose of the Profits of it but was to mannage it only to the Use of the whole Fraternity deducting so much of the Revenue as might support his Livelyhood and Subsistence of which see more in Dr. Cowells Interpreter in his Notes and Comment upon the word Commaundry This upon the Suppression was by Henry the eighth in the thirty second year of his raign granted to Sir Robert Southwell afterwards of the Privy Councell to King Edward the sixth and Queen Mary who not long after alienated it to Sir Edmund Walsingham of Scadbery Lieutenant of the Tower from whom it came down by Descent to my Noble Friend Sir Thomas Walsingham his Great Grand-child who not long since passed it over by Sale to his Son in Law Mr. James Masters Oxenheath is an ancient Mannor in West-Peckham and was many Ages past the Demeasn of Colepeper Walter Colepeper dyed seised of it in the first year of Ed. the third Rot. Esc Num. And from him by Successive Transmission threaded together by many Descents did it devolve to ...... Colepeper who determined towards the latter end of Henry the seventh in three Daughters and Coheirs Margaret the eldest was matched to William Cotton of the County of Cambridge Joyce the second was wedded to Edmund Howard a younger Son of Thomas Duke of Norfolke who was Father to Katharine Howard one of the infortunate Wives of Henry the eighth and the third was espoused to Barham of Barham-court in Teston and these three Sisters shared his Inheritance and this upon the Partition was annexed to the Demeasn of Cotton whose Successor passed it away by Sale to Chowne of Faire-lane in which Name it did not long continue for Sir George Chowne in our Fathers Memory being desirous to abridge and contract all his Estate into the County of Sussex alienated this Seat to Nicholas Miller Esquire who upon his Decease bequeathed it to his
Henry the fourth Robert Tame paid respective Aid for it at the Marriage of Blanch that Kings Daughter After Tame was worn out the Sidleys possest it and John Sidley Esquire who was Auditor to Henry the seventh added much to this House as well as to his Estate and from him is it now descended to Sir Charles Sidley Baronet whom it owns for present Lord of the Fee Ripple in the Hundred of Cornile was a Mannor which alwayes related to the Abby of St. Austins and was in the Surrender of this Abby into the Hands of Henry eighth in the twenty ninth year of that Prince found to be involved in the Demeasne of that Covent from whom it went over to the Crown and remained there until Queen Elizabeth in the thirty second year of her Government passed it away to Sir John Hall who not long after alienated his Interest here to Gokin in which Family the Propriety hath ever since continued But Watling was originally of secular Concernment and was wound up in the Patrimony of the Lord Leybourn Thomas de Leybourn enjoyed it at his Decease which was in the thirty fifth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 10. From whom it went along with the Residue of his Estate to his Son Sir Roger de Leybourn with whom the Male-Line sunk into his Sepulcher and Juliana de Leybourn was his Sole Heir and she was first matched to Iohn de Hastings and afterwards to William de Clinton Earl of Huntington but had no Issue by neither nor was there any which could by a Claim of collateral Affinity stave off the Claim and pretences of the Crown unto her Estate so that upon her Decease which was in the forty third year of Edward the third that Prince seised upon her Inheritance as an Escheat and his Granchild Richard the second granted this to the Abby of Chidrens Langley upon whose suppression it devolved with all its perquisites to the Crown and Henry the eighth granted it in the thirty fifth year of his raign to Sir Thomas Moile one of the Justices at that Time of this County from whom by Amy his Daughter and Coheir it was cemented into the Patrimony of Sir Thomas Kempe but it was not long after unsodered for in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth it was sold to William Sherley of Sussex who in our Grand-fathers Remembrance alienated it to Crayford of Mongeham whose Successor not without an eager contest commenced with one Durbon and Kidder by his Predecessor who pretended an Interest in it conveyed to them by an antecedent Judgement acknowledged by the above-said Shirley is now setled in the Possession of it River in the Hundred of Bewsborough contains two remarkable places within the Boundaries of it The first is Kersoney which was the Inheritance of a Family called Paganell or more vulgarly Paynell Isolda Wife of John Paynell held it at her Death which was in the seventeenth year of Edward the second In Times of a lower Descent I find it in the Tenure of Phineux the last of which Name at this Place was Sir John Phineux Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the raign of Henry the seventh and he determining in Daughters and Co-heirs Jane one of them by matching with John Roper of St. Dunstans Esquire made it the Patrimony of that Family from whom in our Grand-fathers Remembrance it was passed away to Best Ancestor to Mr. ...... Best of Canterbury Esquire who is the instant Proprietary of it The second is Archers-Court which gave both Seat and Sirname to a Family so called one Nicolas Archer held it in the first year of Edward the second and so did Thomas le Archer in the third year of Edward the third and left it to his Son William Archer who paid respective Aide for his Lands here at River and at Atterton and Coperland in the twentieth year of Edward the third at the making the Black Prince Knight From Archer it came to a Family called Baudrede and continued divers years in this Name until in the first year of Edward the fourth it was conveyed by Sale with Coperland to Thomas Doilie Esquire Afterwards in the raign of Henry the eighth it was exchanged with the Crown and that Prince in the thirty sixth year of his managing the English Scepter granted it to Sir James Hales in whose Family it remained until almost that Time which we entitle to our Fathers Remembrance and then a part of it was passed away by Sale to Lee but the other parcel continued constant to the Interest of Hales until not many years since not only that proportion which was in the possession of Lee but likewise that other above-mentioned were both alienated by their respective Proprietaries to Sir Hardres Waller Rodmersham in the Hundred of Milton was the Inheritance of a Family whose Sirname was Pine John de la Pine enjoyed it in the twentieth year of Henry the third as appears by private Evidences and so did James de la Pine his Grandchild who deceased in the thirty seventh year of Edward the third and left it to his Son and Heir James de la Pine a Child of nine years old at his Fathers Exit and he preserved it untill the latter end of Richard the second and then it was transmitted by Sale to Podach now called vulgarly Pordage descended originally from John de Podach who flourished as appears by an ancient Pedigree relating to this Family in the raign of Henry the third and held Lands in the County of Devon which bore his Name and was called Podach and from this above-mentioned Iohn is Mr. Tho. Pordage aliàs Podach now of Rodmersham by a multiplyed Efflux of many Descents lineally extracted and bears now the Fesse in his Coat Armour plain whereas by ancient Monuments and Seals affixed to old Evidences it is manifest his Ancestors bore it Checque Upon what Grounds the modern Alteration is establisht I confesse I know not it is enough that the Dignity of the Family is yet supported by that ancient Inheritance which they have for so many Ages and yet do possesse here at Rodmersham Pitstock in Rodmersham is a little Mannor which augmented the Revenue of the Nuns of Minster in Shepey but when that ruinous Tempest broke forth in the raign of Henry the eighth which like an Hurricano tore up by the Roots the Ecclesiastical Patrimony this was supplanted and thrown into the Demeasne of the Crown and then the abovesaid Prince in the twenty ninth year of his Rule granted it to Sir Thomas Cheyney and his Son Henry Lord Cheyney about the thirteenth year of Queen Elizabeth alienated it to Samuel Thornhill Esquire who upon his Decease gave it to his second Son Sir Iohn Thornhill from whom by descendant Right it is now come over to his Son and Heir Charles Thornhill Esquire Newburgh is partly situated in Rodmersham and partly in Lingsted and anciently had the Estimate of a Mannor and gave Name to a Family that
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
likewise and bore for their Coat-Armous Argent six Lionceux Rampant Sables in assimilation I believe of the Lord Leybourne his Neighbour who was a Person of a vast power and no less Estate in this Track but before the latter end of Henry the third this Family was extinguished and vanished and then the next Family which stept into the possession of these places upon the extinction of this was the Noble Family of Leybourne of Leybourne-castle Thomas de Leybourne held it at his Decease which was in the first year of Edward the second and transmitted them to his Successor Roger de Leybourne who died seised of them in the beginning of Edward the third and left only one Daughter and Heir called Juliana Leybourne who in Relation to that vast proportion of Revenue which accrued to her upon his Decease was styled the Infanta of Kent she was first married to John de Hastings a Kinsman of Lawrence de Hastings who was Earl of Pembroke who dying without any Issue surviving by this Lady upon his Decease she chose for her second Husband William de Clinton Earl of Huntington but by him likewise had no Issue as appears by the Inquisition taken after her Death which was in forty third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 57. nor could there be any discovered that by collateral Affinity to this Lady by her Fathers side could elude the Escheat by pretending a Title to the Estate so that it devolved to the Crown as the Common Heir Jure patronatûs as the Civillians call it by Right of patronage and protection and King Edward the third in the fiftieth year of his reign granted Watringbury Chart and Fowles which were parcel of the above-mentioned Revenue of Leybourne to the Abby of St. Mary Grace upon Tower-hill in whose Revenue they lay couched till the general suppression in the twenty ninth of Henry the eighth and then they were by that Prince in the thirty sixth year of his reign granted to Giles Bridges and Robert Harris who immediately after passed them away to Sir Robert Southwell from whom by as quick a Transition they went away to Sir Edward North and he alienated them to Sir Martin Bowes from whom they passed away to Sir Iohn Baker who suddainly after devested himself of his Right to them and sold them to Nevill de la Hay where it is to be noted that these Revolutions of the Title fell out in less then thirty year Nevill de la Hay had Issue George de la Hay who about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth passed away Watringbury to Wilkinson and Chart and Fowles to Roger Twisden Esquire Wilkinson in our Fathers Memory conveyed Watringbury by Sale to Sir Tho. Stile Knight and Baronet Father to Sir Tho. Stile Baronet the instant proprietary of it Chert and Fowls descended to Sir William Twisden Knight and Baronet Father to Sir Roger Twisden now possessor of them both to whose Papers I owe for the latter part of my Intelligence concerning the successive Possessors of these above recited Mannors I had almost forgot to inform the Reader that in the fourth year of Edward the second Henry de Leybourne obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Lands at Watringbury amongst which Chart in this Parish is particularly recited Westbery is another Mannor in this Parish which had anciently proprietaries of that Sirname the last of which Name was Iohn Westbery who deceased without Issue and so transmitted his Right in it by Testament to Agnes Ellis his Neece and she in the twenty third year of Henry the sixth alienated her Interess in it to Richard Fishbourne in whom it was not long resident for he in the thirty third year of that Prince conveyed it by Sale to Sir Thomas Browne of Bechworth-castle in Surrey Controller of the House and Privy Councellor to Henry the sixth from whom by an even Stream of Descent the Title flowed down to his Successor Sir Thomas Browne who in the twenty fifth year of Queen Elizazeth passed it away to Roger Twisden Esquire Grand-father to Sir Roger Twisden Knight and Baronet in whom the present proprietie of this place is resident Canons is the last Mannor in this Parish It is called so because it anciently belonged to the Prior and Canons of Leeds and after it had for many Ages rested in the Demeasne of this Convent it was by the Dissolution in the reign of Henry the eighth which like a general Inundation broke in upon the Patrimony of the Church swept away but was by Grant from that Prince suddainly after setled on the Dean and Chapter of Rochester and made a Branch of their Revenue Watringbury had the Grant of a weekly Market on the Tuesday and a three dayes Fair at the Feast of St. Iohn Baptist both procured to it by Hugh de Leybourne in the fourth year of Edward the second East-Well in the Hundred of Wye was anciently the possession of a Family which extracted its Sirname from hence Matilda de Eastwell held it at her Decease which was in the fifty second year of Henry the third Rot. Esc Num. 32. But soon after this this Family was faded away at this place and then it devolved to be a Limbe of that Revenue which acknowledged the Jurisdiction and possession of Bertram de Crioll and he held it in the twenty third year of Edward the first but his Son John Crioll dying without Issue about the beginning of Edward the third it came down to Richard de Rokesley Seneschall and Governour of Ponthieu and Monstreul as appears Pat. 1. Edwardi secundi in the reign of Edward the second who had married Joan Sole Daughter and now Heir of Bertram de Crioll but the same Vicissitude not long after carried it off from this Name for he went out likewise in two Daughters and Co-heirs one of whom called Agnes by matching with Thomas de Poynings emtombed the Name in his Family and the Estate here at East-well and else-where in his Patrimony but as one ingeniously observes the World it self is but a great Ball cast down into the Aire to sport the Stars and all the depopulations of Kingdomes and ruine of Empires is but their pastime so I may likewise infer that great Families from their tumblings and rollings are but the mockery and disports of Time and so it appeared here for Richard Lord Poynings Successor to the abovesaid Thomas died the eleventh year of Richard the second and left his Estate here to his Sole Daughter and Heir Eleanor matched to Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland in whose right he became Lord Poynings and so Eastwell became linked to his Revenue and dwelt in this Name and supported the Signory of Percy untill the Fate of Sale dissodged it for in the twenty third year of Henry the eighth Henry Earl of Northumberland passes it away to Sir Thomas Cheyney William Walsingham and William Fitz Williams and they not long after conveyed it to Sir Christopher Hales
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
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
he had Issue Nicholas Manston who matched with Eleanor only Daughter of Edmund Haut Esq and had Issue Julian his Sole Heir who was matched to Thomas St. Nicholas of Thorn in the Parish of Minster in Thanett which Seat accrued to his Grandfather by the Heir of Sir John Goshall This Thomas St. Nicholas dyed in the year 1474 and by his last Will recorded in the Prerogative at Canterbury he disposes his Body to be buryed before the Image of St. Nicholas in the Chancel of Thorn at Minster and Roger St. Nicholas was his Son and Heir who determined in a Daughter and Heir called Elizabeth matched to John Dynley of Worcestershire Whose Successor about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth conveyed his Right in Manston Powcies which likewise was annexed to the revenue of St. Nicholas by the Heir of Goshall and Thorne in Minster to Sir John Roper afterwards created Baron of Tenham by King James whose great Grandchild the Lord Christopher Roper does still enjoy Manston and Thorne but Powcies is lately passed away by Sale to Edward Monins of Waldershare Baronet Vpper-court is a third place in St. Laurence which may exact our Notice because it augmented the demeasn for many Generations of the illustrious Family of Crioll of whom I have spoken before in Sarre and remained parcel of their Inheritance until the latter end of Henry the sixth and then it was passed away by Sir Thomas Crioll to John White Esquire and he dyed possest of it in the ninth year of Edward the fourth but before the latter end of Henry the seventh the possession of this place had deserted this Name and was cast by Sale into the Revenue of Bere and was constant to their Signory untill almost the times which bordered upon our Fathers Remembrance and then it was by Sale conveyed to Johnson in which Family it is at this instant resident Nether-court is the last Seat in St. Laurence which calls for our remembrance It was in Times of an elder Inscription wrapt up in the Inheritance of the ancient and knightly Family of Goshall of Goshall in Ash and continued in their possession untill the reign of Henry the fourth and then this Family going out in a Daughter and Heir she by espousing St. Nicholas made it come to acknowledge the Signory of that Family and was permanent in their Name untill the latter end of Henry the seventh and then a Vicissitude proportionate to the former made it parcel of the Demeasn of John Dynley of the County of Worcester Esquire who matched with Elizabeth Sole Heir to Roger St. Nicholas and remained united to their Interest untill the Beginning of the reign of Q. Eliz. and then the right this Family held in it was by Sale transplanted into Maycott from whom not long after the same Devolution brought it to Lucas where after some small aboad the Title discarded that Name and came by purchase to own John Anthony for proprietary and he in our Fathers Memory passed it away to Mr .... Johnson in whose descendants the Jurisdiction and possession of this Mansion remains still concentered Minster is an eminent Mannor which anciently belonged to the Abby of St. Augustins being fenced in and invested with several Franchises and signal Immunities and when King Canutus translated the Body of St. Mildred to Canterbury and deposited it in a peculiar Shrine in the Chappel of St. Augustin's Abby a Draught of which is represented to the Readers View in Mr. Somners Survey of Canterbury this Mannor with all those Appendages which like so many Limbs made up the Body of that demeasn which supported the Cloister of St. Mildred as namely the Mannors of St. Johns and St. Peters and St. Laurence was translated by that Prince likewise and linked by his Confirmation to the Abby of St. Augustins But how both Minster and those other Mannors abovesaid came originally to be the ecclesiastical patrimony shall be now my task to discover Egbert or Egbright the third Christian King of Kent after Ethelbert had by a tacit Consent or Connivance permitted one Thunner to paddle in the Blood of his two Kinsmen or as William of Malmesbury will have it his Brothers called Ethelbert and Etheldred persons of a pregnant hope who like two early Stars as soon as they began to glitter and shine fell suddenly into Umbrage and were hid and eclipsed with their own Ruines he to assoil his hands from those stains this murder might seem to have bespattered them with and to make some Recompence or Expiation for so barbarous and clandestine an Assassination made an Herodian-oath that he would give Domneva Mother of these slaughtered Innocents whatsoever she would demand of him and she biassed and warped by the Advice of the Monkish Counsellors of those times asked of him as much Ground to endow an Abby with as a tame Deer which she had nourished could Run over at a Breath to which the King had immediately consented had not one Timor opposed this design saying It was too great a Boon for her to ask or for him to grant upon which the earth opened says Thorne the fabulous Chronicler of St. Augustins and swallowed him up and became both his Grave and Executioner and the place where he sunk in was as the abovesaid Author asserts untill the reign of Richard the second which was the time he lived in called Timors-leap Well The King amazed with this stupendious Accident assented to her Demand and the Deer being let loose ran forty eight Ploughlands over before it desisted And thus Domneva by the Aid and Concurrence of the King erected within the precincts of Minster a Monastery for veiled Nuns over which she constituted Mildred the first Abbesse who was Daughter to Wolfchere King of Mercia and she gathered to her Assistance an Assembly of seventy Virgins who being defirous to renounce the World were here vailed for Nuns by Theodorus then Arch-bishop of Canterbury And it seems this Mildred was a Virgin of that austere regular and inculpable Life in the Vogue and verdict of those cloudy times that her name is registred in the Calender of English Saints and had that Title attributed to her both whilst her Body lay at Minster and after its translation to St. Austins He that will survey the Bed-roll of her Miracles recorded at large one of which was that when the Danes in the reign of King Etheldred harrassed this Island and put this Cloister at Minster into a heap of flame and ruines her Body remained entire amidst the Embraces and Scorchings of that devouring and ravenous Element let him read Thorne lately printed and the Book called Nova Legenda Angliae and when he hath done he will find that wise-men will laugh not in Applause but in Contempt of such religious Romances But I return to Minster which as I said before being transplanted into the patrimony of St. Augustins by Canutus Hugh the Abbot of that Cloister to rescue this Town from that decay
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
Sepulchre of Christ against the Assaults of Infidels is incertain for it was customary in those times if they did but vow to undertake the protection of the Crosse in the Christian Quarrel to insculpe their Figures upon their Sepulchres armed and Crosselegged This abovesaid Sir Henry de Cobham was again Sheriff of Kent in the first and ninth years of Edward the second Stephen de Cobham Son and Heir of this Sir Henry was Sheriff of Kent the eighth ninth and tenth years of Edward the third Tho. de Cobham was Sheriff of Kent in the first year of Richard the second John de Cobham was one of the Conservators of the Peace in this County in the third fifth sixth ninth twelfth and eighteenth years of Edward the third a place of no small Consequence in that Age the end of it being to appease Tumults regulate and bridle the Disorders and Excesses of all Irregular Persons whether Felons Outlaws or other Malefactors of what Complexion soever and lastly to secure the Peace of the County from all Eruptions either inbred or forraign This man had Issue Thomas Lord Cobham Father to John Lord Cobham in whom the male Line determined so that Joan became his Daughter and Heir who was first matched to John Delapole secondly to Sir John Ouldcastle by whom she had only a Daughter that died an Infant and thirdly to Reginald Braybrook who dyed as appears by the Inscription on his Tombe in Cobham Church in the year 1433 and by him she had only Joan who was Heir to them both and she by being wedded to Thomas Brook of the County of Somerset Esquire knitt Cobham and a large Income besides to her Husbands Patrimony And this man had Issue by her Sir Edmund Broke who was summoned to Parliament as Baron of Cobham in the twenty third year of Henry the sixth and he was in the direct Line Ancestor to Henry Broke Lord Cobham Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports in the first year of King James who being too deeply concerned in the Design of Sir Walter Rawleigh which was as some who pretend to unravell it in the whole Webb by private Collusion and Treaty with Count Aremberg the Spanish Legat to draw over some Forces from Flanders by whose powerfull Concurrence they might engage this Nation in the Flame of Civill Contention since from that they expected their Light though others wrap it up in so many Vails and Umbrages that the whole Scene of this Attempt becomes perplexed and mysterious made the forfeiture of his Estate here at Cobham though not his Life become the price of his undertaking which being thus rent away by this Escheat from the Patrimony of this Family was soon after by King James invested by Grant in his Kinsman Lodowick Stuart Duke of Lenox who expiring without Issue it did successively devolve to his Nephew James Duke of Lenox upon whose late Decease it is come over to ....... his Dutchesse Dowager only Daughter to George Villiers Duke of Buckingham in whom the blood of those three noble Families Villiers Manours and Beaumont appears to be concentered Cobham-Colledge was founded by John Baron Cobham of Cobham in year 1362 for a Master and Chaplains to pray for the Souls of him his Ancestors and Successors Cobham-Bury lyes likewise in this Parish and was always esteemed as an appendant Mannor to Cobham having originally and successively the same Proprietaries and being found wrapped up in the Patrimony of the infortunate Henry Lord Cobham it escheated upon his Attainder to the Crown and was suddenly after by King James granted to Robert Earl of Salisbury whose Son and Heir the right honorable Robert Cecill Earl of Salisbury some few years since transferred his Right in it by Sale to one Zachary King of Watford in the County of Hertford Henherst is the last place of note in Cobham which as the Records in Rochester inform me was given to the Priory of Leed Castle by Robert de Crevequer upon his Foundation of that Cloister and continued folded up in its Revenue until the Whirlwind of the generall Suppression rent it off and King Henry the eighth granted it to George Lord Cobham who immediately after conveyed it to Sir George Harpur Esquire whose Son Sir Edward Harpur about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth passed away his Concernment here to Mr. Thomas Wright from whom it descended to his Son and Heir George Wright Esquire who dying without Issue gave it to his Kinsman Sir George Wright and his Son not many years since surrendered it by Sale to Doctor Obert Physitian to the late Queen Mary The Tythes of this Mannor were given by one Goscelinus as the first Book of of Compositions at Rochester discovers to me in the year 1091 to the Priory of St. Andrews in that City which upon the Suppression were by King Henry the eighth granted to George Brook Lord Cobham which upon the Attainder of his infortunate Grandchild Henry Lord Cobham in the second year of King James returned to the Crown and here the Propriety made its aboad untill the late King Charles by his royal Concession made them the Inheritance of Mr. Stephen Alcock of Rochester Esquire Cobham had the Grant of a Market weekly on the Monday and a Fair yearly on the Day of St Mary Magdalen procured to be observed there at those stated times abovesaid by John Lord Cobham in the forty first year of Edward the third Because I have mentioned before and shall have frequent occasion to mention hereafter those Kentish Gentlemen who were embarqued with Edward the first in his victorious and triumphant Expedition into Scotland and were dignified with the order of Knighthood for their Assistance given to that Prince in his succesfull and auspicious Siege of Carlaverock in the twenty eighth year of his Reign I shall represent to the Reader a List which I have collected from an Authentick Roll gleaned from very ancient Registers and other Records by that eminent Antiquary Robert Glover Esquire Sir Henry de Cobham Sir Reginald de Cobham of Cobham and Roundall in Shorn Sir Stephen de Cobham Sir Henry de Cobham le Uncle Sir Simon de Leybourn Sir Henry de Leybourne of Leybourne Castle Sir Jeffrey de Say de Birling Sir Ralph de St. Leger Sir John de St. Leger of Vlcombe Sir Thomas de St. Leger Sir Jeffrey de Lucy Sir Aymery de Lucy of Newington Lucies Sir Thomas de Lucy Sir John de Northwood Sir John de Northwood his Son of Northwood in Milton Sir John de Savage Sir Thomas de Savage of Bobbing Court Sir Roger de Savage Sir Stephen de Cosington in another old Roll there is mention of Sir William de Cosington it is probable they were deslinct persons but both of Cosington Hall in Alresford Sir Peter de Huntingfield of West-Wickham Sir Robert de Crevequer but of what place is not mentioned in the Roll. Sir Simon de Crioll of Walmer Sir Maurice de Bruin de Bekenham Sir Bartholomew de
crumble away for in the thirty second year of that Prince William Cosin by Deed passed it away to William Hextall William Gainsford and Nicholas Gainsford in the fifth year of Edward the fourth Hextall surrenders all his Interest here to William Gainsford Esquire so he is written in the Deed and from him did it descend to Nicholas Gainsford whom I find to be Justice of the Peace for Sussex and Kent in the reign of Henry the seventh and from him is that Family successively branched out who are the instant proprietaries of this place Waystrode is another obscure Mannor in this Parish which was the possession of as obscure a Family wich bore that Sirname who continued Lords of the Fee untill the Beginning of Henry the sixth and then it was passed away to May in which Name it had not been permanent untill the latter end of that Prince but the same revolution conveyed it into the possession of a Family whose Sirname was Still in whose Successors the title hath remained so constant that the Inheritance of this place is at this instant resident in this Name and Family Cowling in the Hundred of Shamell had still the Barons Cobham of Cobham of whom I have discoursed so largely at that place for possessors and came down along with them to John Lord Cobham who expired in Joan Cobham his Daughter and Heir who was first espoused to John Delapole secondly to Sir John Oldcastle who for asserting the Doctrine of the Lollards notwithstanding his many great Atchievements in Military Commands which rendered him gracious with his Prince and glorious in our Chronicles he was in the first year of Henry the fifth quite subverted by a Romish Tempest raised by the Ecclesiasticks of those Times and martyr'd in a most inhumane manner by hanging him first and burning his Body also thirdly she was matched to Reginald Braybrook by whom she had only Joan her Daughter and Heir who was wedded to Thomas Brook of the County of Somerset Esquire from whom descended William Lord Brook Lord Warden of the Cinque ports in the reign of Queen Elizabeth who gave this Mannor to George Brooke his second Son and he being unhappily entangled in that mysterious Design of his Brother Henry Lord Cobham and Sir VValter Ramleigh by the Losse of his Head at VVinchester did expiate this unhappy undertaking but this being setled by entail and in Marriage also upon his Son who was in this latter Age known by the Name of Sir VVilliam Brook was by King James restored to this person then in his Minority upon whose Decease it descended to Sir Iohn Brook as the Heir male of the Family who was created Lord Brook by the late King at Oxford Cowling Castle was erected by Iohn Lord Cobham by Concession from Richard the second as appears Pat. 4. Richardi secundi which grant of his in the whole Tenor of it he caused to be inscribed in a large Table of Stone upon the Front of the Castle so careful was he to conform to the Laws of the Land which had a particular Aspect upon private embattelling a Species of Fortification prohibited si facta fuerit sine Licentia Domini Regis The Mannor of Mortimers in this Parish was the patrimony of Gentlemen of that Sirname Hugh de Mortimer who had a Grant of a Fair to Cliff in the forty first year of Henry the third was possessor of this place In Ages of a lower descent Iohn Mortimer who in the eleventh year of Edward the third was to provide an Hobler or Light Horseman for the security of the Coast about Genlade in Hoo lived at this place which had long before born the Name of his Ancestors After this Family had left it the Inglefields a noble Family in Barkesshire descended from * Ex veteri Rotulo Familiae de Inglefield Hasculfus de Inglefield who flourished about the latter end of King Canutus were by purchase ingraffed in the possession and here in this Name did the Title setle till about the latter end of Henry the seventh and then it was alienated to Iohn Sidley Esq Auditor to that Prince from Sidley it went over by purchase to Polhill Ancestor to George Polhill Esq eldest Son of Sir Thomas Polhill who is the present possessor of it Crundall in the Hundred of VVye was one of the Seats of the noble and ancient Family of Hadloe who had here a Mansion which at this day perpetuates their memory and is called Hadloe place Iohn de Hadloe had a Charter of Free-warren to Crundall and Hadloe in the first year of Edward the third he was son to Iohn de Hadloe who dyed seised of it in the eleventh year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 25. Of this Family was Nicholas Hadloe son of Edmund de Hadloe who ended in Amabilia Hadloe who matched with Honewood of Honewood in Postling but Crundall and Hadloe were sold away before to VVaretius de Valoigns by whose Daughter and Coheir they came over to Thâ—mas de Aldon and in that Name they continued several descents until the former Fatality brought it to languish into a Female Heir who was wedded to Heron of the County of Lincolne who desirous to draw all his estate into an entire Bulke passed away his estate here to Kempe and there it had no long continuance neither for by Mary one of the Coheirs of Sir Thomas Kempe it went away to Sir Dudley Diggs who suddenly after devested himself of his right to Crundall and Hadloe-place and in our Fathers memory passed them away by Sale to Mr ...... Gay Tremworth in this parish See more of Valoigns at Swerdlin in Petham was one of the ancient Mansions of Valoigns Allan de Valoigns who was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty first thirty second thirty third and thirty fourth years of Henry the second had his Residence here as well as at Repton in Ashford and is often written in the pipe-Rolls of those years Valoigns de Tremworth from this man did descend VVaretius de Valoigns who in the fourteenth year of Edward the third obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Lands at Tremworth Hougham and other places in Kent and in whom the male Line failed for he concluded in two Daughters and Coheirs one of whom was matched to Aldon and so Tremworth came to own the Jurisdiction and Dominion of that Family and here it remained for divers Descents till Time that with successive Vicissitudes rolles all things into their determined period brought this Family to find its Tomb in a Female Heir who was married to Heron from which Family about the reign of Henry the eighth it passed away by Sale to Kempe of which Family was Sir Thomas Kempe who dying without Issue male left it to his Brother Mr. Reginald Kempe and he had Issue Thomas Kempe who deceasing without Children this Thomas his two Sisters married to Clark and Denny became his heirs and upon the Division of the Estate Tremworth was
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
the Propriety of Folkston and Walton returned to the Crown and resided in the Royal Patrimony untill the second year of Queen Mary and then they were regranted to Edward Lord Clinton abovesaid who not long after conveyed them to Mr. Henry Herdson whose Grandchild Mr. Francis Herdson alienated them to his Uncle Mr. John Herdson about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth and he upon his Decease without any lawfull Issue gave them to his Nephew Sir Basill Dixwell Knight and Baronet descended from the ancient Family of Dixwell in the North-riding of York-shire Who likewise making his Exit without any lawful Issue Mark Dixwell Esquire his Nephew became his Heir and from him is the Propriety of both these places descended to his Son and Heir Basill Dixwell Esquire The Nunnery of Folkston abovesaid being much defaced was in the Time of Henry the third reedified and reestablished by John de Clinton and John de Segrave and Julian his Wife which was upon this second Erection stored with Nuns who were to live as formerly under the Rule of St. Bennet and dedicated to St. Peter and St. Eanswith But when it was found in the second year of Henry the fifth that it related by forrein Dependance to the Abby of Lolley in Normandy it was by that prudent and cautious Monarch Supprest There were five Churches anciently in Folkston three of which were dedicated to St. Peter St. Mary and St. Paul all which and one more whose Name is not now obvious were long since by the Assaults of the Elements and Devastations of men utterly dismantled only that which was erected in the year 1095. by Nigellus de Muneville and devoted to St. Mary and St. Eanswith hath been too hard a Morsel for the teeth of Time to consume Folkston had the Grant of a Market procured to be held here weekly on the Thursday by the Mediation of Geffrey Fitz-Peter in the sixth year of King John which was confirmed to William de Averenches in the sixteenth year of the abovesaid Prince and renewed to Sir John Segrave in the twenty second year of Edw. the third Richard the second granted to Sir John Clinton that a Market should be observed weekly at Folkston on the Wednesday and a Fair yearly on the Vigil and Day of St. Giles as appears Pat. 13. Richardi secundi Membr 14. Pars 2. Eabald King of Kent about 1000 years since built a Castle at the South part of this Town of Folkston which being shrunk into Decay William de Averenches erected a Fort in the year 1068 on the Foundation of the formerly demolished Pile whose ruinous Shell or Skeleton is yet visible I have seen a Leafe by some injurious Hand torn out from the Leiger Book of Folkston which sets forth the entertainment which the Family of Poynings were to have when they came to hear Masse at the Priory a subtle Artifice used by the Monks of that Age to catch the Benevolence of the noblest and most opulent Families of the Nation that certainly had not the Statute of Mortmain or Law of Amortization made in the seventh year of Edward the first restrained and contracted the unlimited Bounty of the Laity to these religious Cloisters almost all the Land which was of secular Interest had been ingulphed in the Revenue of the Church so that as one well observes this over-active and operative Devotion would have dedicated all to God and have left Little or Nothing to have given to Caesar Terlingham and Ackhanger were the Patrimony as high as the Reign of the Conquerour as Doomsday instructs us of William de Muneville the Repairer and Restorer if not Founder and Establisher of Folkston priory By whose Daughter and Heir they devolved to William de Averenches who had Issue William de Averenches in whom the male-line failed so that Matilda de Averenches his Sole Heir by matching with Hamon de Crevequer Baron Leeds Castle made them parcel of his Demeasne who by his Addition so swelled his Estate that he was styled the great Lord of Kent and was of that Esteem in this County that by a generall Consent and Councell of the Barons of the Cinque-ports the Custody of the Sea-Coast from Hastings to Pool was committed to his Care and Inspection Pat. 19. Hen. tertii Memb. 14. And he held these Mannors at his Death which was in the forty seventh year of Henry the third Rot. Esc Num. 33. And left them to his Son Hamon de Crevequer who was enwrapt in the Faction and Rebellion of Simon de Montfort Earl of Leicester raised against Henry the third but was by that Act of Oblivion and Clemency styled Dictum de Kenilworth passed by that Prince in the fiftieth year of his Reign called to Mercie and to most part of his Estate excepting Leeds-Castle Bersted Chetham and some other peices but dyed without Issue so that Eleanor matched to Bertram de Crioll Juliana first matched to Nicholas de Sandwich and secondly to Roger de Segrave and two others who were wedded to Lenham and Pateshull became as they were his four Sisters his four Coheirs And upon the partition of the Estate these two Mannors came over to be the Patrimony of Crioll and Bertram de Crioll above mentioned held them at his Death which was in the twenty third year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 48. And left them to John his only Son who dying Childlesse Joan his Sister matched to Sir Richard de Rokesley became his Heir but he determining likewise in a Female Heir called Joan she by espousing Sir Thomas de Poynings Father of Michaell de Poynings of Terlingham raunged these places under the Demeasn of that Family in which they remained untill the latter end of Henry the seventh and then Sir Edward Poynings gave them in Dower with Mary his natural Daughter to Thomas Lord Clinton whose Son Edw. Lord Clinton about the Beginning of Queen Mary by Sale passed them away to Herdson from whom by Testament they came over to Dixwell in which Family the Possession of them is still permanent Morehall is a small Mannor in this Parish to which William de Valentia obtained a Charter of Priviledges in the twenty seventh year of Henry the third After him I find the Morehalls to be Possessors of it who ingrafted their own Name upon it and John de Morehall paid respective Aid at the making the Black Prince Knight for his Mannor of Morehall in the twentieth of Edward the third After this Family was extinct the Bakers of Caldham about the Reign of Henry the fourth were invested in the Possession and not many years after Brandred by one of the Coheirs of Baker became Lord of the Fee from which Family by Sale it passed away to Sir Thomas Brown from whom descended Sir Mathew Brown Knight who in our Grand-fathers Memory conveyed his Right in it to Godman who is still Lord of the Fee Hope-House in Folkston belonged to the Houghams a noble and knightly Family
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
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
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
William le Marshall Earl of Pembroke to whom her Father gave with her in Marriage Kemsing Sawters and much other Land in this County but this Mans Successor Anselme le Marshall Earl of Pembroke dying without Issue Robert Bigod Earl of Norfolk by Mawd his Mother the Heir Generall of the Family as being Sister to Gilbert Marshall Earl of Pembroke entered upon the Estate of that Family here at Kemsing and he passed it away to Otho Lord Grandison with the Advowson of the Church of Kemsing in the eleventh year of Edward the first And after this Family was worn out I find the Says to Step into the Inheritance and Geffrey de Say held it at his Death which was in the forty third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 24. Parte secunda From whom the Propriety flowed down to his Successor Geffrey Lord Say and he concluded in two Daughters and Coheirs whereof Elizabeth one of them was affianced to Sir William Fiennes who in her Right was invested in Kemsing and from him was the Title by Descent transported over to William Lord Fiennes Son of James Lord Fiennes and he in the second year of Edward the fourth passed it away to Sir Geffrey Bolein Great Grand-father to George Viscount Rochford who was beheaded and left no Issue in the Raign of Henry the eighth so that this upon his Father Sir Thomas Boleyn Earl of Wilts departure without any other Issue-male in the thirtieth year of Henry the eighth devolved to that Prince who seised upon it in Right of his Wife the infortunate Anne Bullen who was eldest Sister to the unhappy Viscount And here in the Revenue of the Crown did it lie couched until Queen Elizabeth in the first year of her Raign passed it away by Grant to her Kinsman Henry Cary Lord Hunsdon Son of William Cary Esquire of the Body to Henry the eighth and of Mary his Wife Sister to Q. Anne Mother to the above said Princesse and his Grandchild Henry Earl of Dover alienated his Right in it to Richard Earl of Dorset and he not many years since passed it away to Mr. ...... Smith vulgarly called Dog-Smith who upon his Decease settled the Fee-simple for ever on the Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwarke There was an old Knightly Family which tooke their Sirname from this Parish and was styled Kemsing and their Coat was Argent a Fesse and Cheveron interlaced Sables now quatered by Mr. William Hart of Lullingston Esquire in Right of Peche who married the Heir General Kenardington in the Hundred of Blackborn is by Contraction called Kenarton and although it cannot much boast of the healthful situation thereof yet it hath had Lords and Owners of a very great Estimate Will. de Normannia held it in the Raign of K. John and part of the Raign of Henry the third as appears by the Pipe Rolls which relate to those Times and concern this County Rafe de Normanvill is registred in the list of those Kentish Gentlemen who were with Richard the first at the Seige of Acon in Palestine After him his Son Thomas de Normannia or Normanvill for so he is written in the ancient Rolls succeeded in the Possession of it but died in the eleventh year of Edward the first without Issue-male so that by his only Daughter and Heir it devolved to be the Possession of Sir William de Basing with the Mannor of Cockride likewise which was folded up in her Inheritance and was one of those Knights who accompanied King Edward the first in the twenty eighth year of his Raign in that succesful Expedition which he was ingaged in when he undertook the Conquest of Scotland After him William de Basing held it and was Sheriff of Kent in the eighth year of Edward the second and dying in his Shrievalty Margaret his Widdow accounted for the Profits of the County as the Records of the Pipe Office set forth Sir Thomas de Basing his Son died seised of it in the twenty third year of Edward the third and paid respective Aid for it under the Notion of a whole Knights Fee at making the Black Prince Knight and left it to John his Son a Child of eight years of Age who after was Knighted and died possest of it in the seventh year of Richard the second and left it to Thomas his Son and Heir then eleven years of Age and he had Issue Thomas likewise who dying without Issue John Basing his Uncle was found to be his Heir but was scarce planted in his new acquired Patrimony but he also in the twenty fourth year of Henry the sixth expired without Issue so that the Inheritance devolved to Alice his Sister matched to Thomas Mackworth as the Heir General of the Family And thus were the Basings at this Place extinguished who before they planted in Kent were registred amongst the prime Gentlemen of Middlesex Salomon de Basing was Sheriff of London the last year of King John Adam de Basing was Lord Mayor of London in the thirty sixth year of Henry the third and Robert de Basing succeeded in that Office in the seventh year of Edward the first and Basings-Hall ows both his Name and Foundation to this Family and John Stow in his Survey of London ascribes to them the Degree of Barons of the Realm But to return into that Path from whence this Discourse had diverted me After Mackworth which by Female Devolution was possest of this Mannor was worn out which was about the Beginning of Henry the seventh The Hornes of Hornes-place in this Parish were by Purchase settled in the Inheritance Gentlemen certainly they were of as eminent Account as any in this Territory and had been Proprietaries of this Seat for many Hundreds of years for one Ralph de Hurne of Kenardington was one of the Recognitores magnae Assisae in the Raign of King John Persons who before the Office of Justice of Peace was instituted did supply their Place and were much in Resemblance like the Grand Inquest at this Day being assistant both by their presence and concurrent Counsels to the Justices in Eyre in all the great Decisions which did relate to Causes Criminal emergent à tribus Forisfacturis or the three Forfeitures Murder Felony and Breach of the Peace But to proceed In this Family did the Propriety both of Hernes-place and Kenardington thus purchased of Mackworth lie rolled up together until the twelfth year of Queen Elizabeth and then Bennet Horne the Heir General of both these being matched to ...... Guldford a Romish Catholick he to decline the Oath of Supremacy fled beyond Sea with his Wife upon whose Recesse the Crown seised upon that Estate which had formerly accrewed to him in behalf of his Wife at this place as escheated upon the Statute of praemunire And the above said Princesse immediately after granted the Premises thus forfeited to Walter Moile of Buckwell Esquire Ancestor to Mr. Robert Moile who claims the present Signiory both of Kenardington
and Hornes-place Kenington in the Hundreds of Chart and Longbridge was a Mannor which alwaies related to the Crown as is intimated by the Name where lie tacitly couched some Hints of those who were Proprietaries of it And Keningbrooke which is circumscribed within the Limits of this Parish was annexed by William the Conqueror to his Royal Mannor of Wye and was looked upon as an Appendage to it and followed the Fate of it at the common Dissolution when the other was plucked away from the Patrimony of Battell Abby in which ever since the Original Donation of William the Conqueror it had been resident and was with the Mannor of Wye by Queen Elizabeth granted in the first year of her Raign to her Kinsman Henry Cary Lord Hunsdon and his Grand-child Hen. Earl of Dover not many years since passed it away by Sale to Sir Tho. Finch Father to Heneage Finch now Earl of Winchelsey in whose Revenue it is at this instant setled Bibrooke is a second Place in Kenington which claims some Consideration It was as appears by very old Evidences the Patrimony of a Family called Godwin which flourished here in the Raign of King John Henry the third and Edward the first but after this it began to wither and before the latter end of Edward the third was altogether crumbled away the last of whom that I find by publique Record to be invested in the Possession was William Godwin who enjoyed it at his Death which was in the thirty second year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 93. The next Family after this which was entituled to the Possession was Belknap but Sir Robert Belknap being infortunately attainted and banished in the tenth year of Richard the second to whose Cause and Quarrel he had wholly vowed his Life and Service and his Estate as to the principall part confiscated in which this lay involved the same Monarch in the thirteenth year of his Raign granted it to William Ellys who was at that Time one of the Conservators or Justices of the Peace of this County whose Capital Seat was at Burton in this Parish though in very old Deeds it is written Burston as being indeed the Seat of a Branch of that Family from whom it came over about the latter end of Edward the second to Ellys but in the Name of Ellys the Title of Bibrooke was not long-liv'd for about the Beginning of Henry the sixth I find it by Purchase invested in Shelley by whose Heir General it devolved in the Time of Edward the fourth to May from whom not long after it was alienated to Tilden where it continued until about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth and then the same Revolution transported the Title to Best who about the latter end of that Princesse passed it away by Sale to Hall Ancestor to Mr. Nevill Hall the present Lord of this Mansion but Burton was more constant to the Family of Ellys and remained linked to the Patrimony of that Name until that Age which bordered upon our Fathers Remembrance and then it was demised by Sale to Hall in whose Descendant Mr. Nevill Hall the Propriety is at present resident Keston in the Hundred of Rokesley belonged in the twentieth year of William the Conquerour as the Pages of Dooms-day Book inform me to Gilbert de Magninot and there it is written Cheston and continued in his Name untill the latter end of King John and then by the Heir Generall of this Family it came to be possest of Say of Says-court in Deptford but stayed not long in this Name for in the twenty fourth year of Edward the first Alexander de Cheyney dyed possest of it as appears Rot. Esc Num. 26. But in his Posterity likewise it had no long Residence for about the Beginning of Edward the third it was conveyed to Stephen de Ashway and he in the thirty eighth of this Prince obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor of Keston And here the Title fixed untill the Beginning of Henry the fourth and then it was alienated with Baston which had still the same original and successive Proprietaries with Keston to Squerris of Squerries-court in Westerham and here it made its aboad untill the latter end of Henry the sixth and then it devolved by Dorothy Daughter and Coheir of Thomas Squerrie to Richard Mervin of Fountell in Wiltshire who passed away Keston and Baston both which accrued to him upon the Division of Squerrie's Estate to Philp Reynolds and Thomas Tregarthen as his Trustees and they in the eighth year of Edward the fourth convey them both to Richard Scroope and Stephen Scroop from whom about the latter end of Edward the fourth they came to Henry Heyden Esquire and he in the first year of Richard the first as is manifest by an old Court-rol held a Court here at Keston and from him did the Propriety by the Steps of several Descents come down to that worthy Person Sir Christopher Heydon who about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth demised all his Interest in Keston and Baston to Sir Samuel Lennard whose Son Sir Stephen Lennard is still entituled to the Fee-simple of them Mr. Camden conjectures in his Britannia something of the Name of Caesar to be couched in the Etymologie of this place because at Baston adjoyning there is an ancient Camp stupendious for the heighth of double Rampiers and depth of double Ditches hardly paralleled elsewhere and questionlesse the work of many Labouring Hands Of what Capacity it was is not now exactly to be discerned much of it being overgrown with a Thicket but very vast it was as may be collected from its remains which are yet apparent And most probable it is that Camp which Julius Caesar pitched when the Britons with their united strength gave him the last Battle and then the successe being not equall to their Courage retired and gave him way to pierce into Surrey and so towards the Thames by Noviomagum or Woodcott where he planted a spatious City and standing Camp Kingsdown in the Hundred of Wrotham is spread into two Mannors called Northcourt and Southcourt both which anciently acknowledged themselves to be parcell of the Demeasne of Fitz Bernard who flourished here under the Notion and in the Degree of Barons and had this Mannor by Grant from Henry the first and with it had these priviledges annexed to it Toll and Theam Sac and Soc Furcas in Latrones Captos that is Infangthef and Outfangthef Tumbrell and Pillory and lastly Assisam Panis Cerevisiae that is a power to take Cognizance of the Weights and Measures of Bread and that Beverage which was then in use within the Precincts of this Mannor and all these were allowed to Ralph Fitz Bernard as granted before by Henry the first by the Judges Itinerant in the seventh year of Edward the first and this Man was Son to John Fitz Bernard who was rated after the value of a whole Knights Fee for his Mannor of Kingsdown as appears by Testa
But left no Issue so that Joan his Kinswoman matched to Richard Haut became his Heir and he had Issue Richard Haut in whom the Male-line concluding William Isaac in Right of his Wife Margerie who was Daughter and Heir to the above-mentioned Richard entered upon his Estate here at Permested and about the Beginning of Henry the eighth passed it away by Sale to Edward Knevet of Newington Belhouse Esquire and his Daughters and Coheirs by joint Sale demised it to Tho. Lord Cromwell and he in the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth alienated it to Christopher Hales Esquire afterwards knighted first Attorney Generall and then Master of the Rolls under the abovesaid Prince and his Son Sir James Hales conveyed it away to Thomas Alphew aliàs Alphy Yeoman From this Man it came over by Sale in the fifth year of Queen Elizabeth to William Downe of Maidstone Draper and he in the sixth year of that Princesse transmitted it by the like conveyance to Doctour Vincent Denne Doctour of the Civil Law Grand-father to Mr. Vincent Denne of Grays Inne Esquire the present Lord of the Fee A Person to whose Conduct and supply this particular Survey ows a grateful Remembrance because by his Concurrent Aid it was guided along through all those Difficulties which might have probably intercepted it in its farther progresse Denhill in this Parish was not only the Seat but likewise the Seminary of a Family of eminent Note in this County Ralph de Den held much Land in Romney Mersh and likewise at Buckhurst in Sussex as appears by an old Roll now in the Hands of the Earl of Dorset about the twentieth of William the Conqueror and is styled in the Record Son of Robert Pincerna a Name imposed upon his Father from being as is probable either Butler or Sewer to Edward the Confessor an Office of no vulgar Account in those Times Sir Alured de Den flourished in the Raign of Henry the third and was a Person of signal Estimate in that Age for when the Laws of Romney Mersh were compiled by that venerable Judge Henry de Bath from which all England receives Directions for Sewers this Sir Alured and Nicolas de Haudloe were his Associates and Assistants in the Composure of them in the forty second year of Henry the third on Saturday next after the Nativity of St. Mary and which makes this Sir Alured de Den more remarkable he sealed even in that Age divided by so remote a Distance from us with three Leopards Heads couped and full faced which is the ancient paternal Coat of this Family Indeed if I should enter into a particular Discourse of all those Persons who have been originally extracted from this Family and were formerly eminent not only within the private Sphere of this County as being invested with the Commission of Justices of the Peace and other Offices of publique Trust and Concernment but likewise shone like Stars of the first Magnitude within the two Orbes of Divinity and the Law both Civil and Municipal the Survey of this Place which I intend to retrench within as narrow Bounds as may be must swell into a particular Treatise it is enough therefore to inform the Reader that it hath been so many Centuries of years folded up in the Propriety of Den. that there is no Gappe at all in the Succession between Ralph de Den the first of that Name and Tho. Den Esq the last who in a direct Line enjoyed it Nor hath it yet departed from the Name for the above mentioned Thomas lately deceasing without Issue-Male Vincent Donne of Grays-Inn Esquire collarerally issued out of this Family by matching with Mary his yongest Daughter and Coheir in Right of this Alliance is now in the instant Possession of it Kingsnoth in the Hundreds of Chart and Longbridge did in elder Times give Sear and Sirname to a Family which assumed its Denomination from hence who bore as appears by Seals appendant to their ancient Deeds Ermin upon a Bend five Cheverons and John de Kingsnoth who flourished here about the latter end of Edward the first sealed with that Coat and this Inscription encircles the Seal Sigillum Joannis de Kingsnoth Yet I find Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer who was attainted in the seventeenth year of Edw. the second had some Interest in this Mannor which upon his Conviction escheated to the Crown and rested there until Richard the second granted it out again to Sir Robert Belknap the Judge who had not long before purchased that proportion which Kingsnoth was concerned in So that by this Concession it came entirely to own the Signory of this Family But he being infortunately attainted and cast into Exile in the tenth year of the above said Prince this Mannor was annexed to the Revenue of the Crown and was lodged there until Henry the sixth in the twenty seventh year of his Raign granted some part of it to Sir Thomas Brown of Bechworth Castle in Surrey and with it a Charter to inclose a Parke which had Liberty of Free-warren annexed to it and likewise the more to endear him licensed this Town to hold a Fair yearly on Michaelmas Day but the principal part of it was conveyed by Sale to Cardinal Kemp who about the twenty eighth of Henry the sixth settled it on the Colledge of Wye where it remained until the Resignation of its Revenue into the Hands of Henry the eighth in the twenty ninth year of his Raign and he by Royal Concession made it the Demeasne of Thomas Lord Cromwell afterwards Earl of Essex Who being attainted of High Treason in the thirty second year of that Prince it escheated back to the Crown and then a Moiety of it in the thirty fifth year of his Government was granted to Sir John Baker from whom by hereditary Conveyance it was delegated and transmitted to his Successor Sir John Baker of Sisingherst Baronet who some few years since hath alienated his Concerment here to Mr. Nathaniel Powell of Ewherst in Sussex The other Moiety of it lay folded up in the Patrimony of the Crown untill the first year of Queen Elizabeth and then it was by that Princesse granted to her Kinsman Henry Cary afterwards created Baron Hunsdon from whom by the Channel of Descent it was transported to his Grand-child the Right Honorable Henry Cary Earl of Dover who in our Memory conveyed it to Sir Thomas Finch afterwards Earl of Winchelsey Father to the instant Proprietary the Right Honorable Heneage Finch now Earl of Winchelsey Munfidde in this Parish was originally the Seat of the Clere's written in their ancient Deeds le Clere. But as all Families have their Vicissitudes and Tombs and like the Sea which is circumscribed and shut in with a Girdle of Sand are fettered to a determinate Period so was this for about the latter end of Edward the third Henry le Clerc concluded in Susan le Clerc who was his Daughter and Heir and she by matching with Sir Simon Woodchurch annexed
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
Master or Conservator of her Jewells whose Son Sir Jo. Astley upon his Decease bequeathed it to his Nephew Sir Norton Knatchbull Knight and Baronet who is the instant Proprietarie of it Champions-Court is the second place of Account in this Parish It was in elder Times the Mansion and Demeasne of a generous Family whose Sirname was Campania and was certainly a Family of eminence in elder Times Robert de Campania is inserted in the Register of those Kentish Gentlemen who accompanied Richard the first to the Seige of Acon John de Campania his Grandchild obtained the Grant of a Market to Newenham weekly on the Thursday and a Fair yearly to continue the Vigil the Day of St. Peter and Paul and the Day after and was one of those Knights of Kent who was embarked in the Seige of Carlaverock in Scotland with Edward the first in the twenty eighth year of his Raign In Times of a younger Aspect the Name by Depravation and vulgar Use languished into Champion and so continued till it expired in Daughters and Coheirs one of which was Katharine Champion who by matching with Robert Corbett descended from the Corbetts of Morton Corbett in the County of Salop upon the Division of Champions Estate united this to his Revenue where it had not long rested but the same vicissitude brought this Name to determine in female Coheirs likewise two of which called Joan and Elizabeth were espoused to Samuell Slap and Ralph Hart. Samuell Slap had Issue Joan Slap who dyed childlesse and so this Mannor was cast into the Possession of Richard Hart Son of Ralph Hart the Successor of Richard Hart in our Fathers Memory alienated his Interest in it to Sir Henry Spiller and he not many years since conveyed all his Right and Title to it by Sale to Mr. Weckerlin descended from the Weckerlins a Family of good Ranke and Account in Upper Germany A third place of Note in Newenham is Sholand whih was in the Raign of H. the third as an old datelesse Deed discovers to us the Patrimony of Adam de Stomynton and after this Name went out the Bournes of Sharsted in Dodington not far removed from this place were about the twentieth year of Edward the third possest of this Lordship from them by purchase the Propriety was carried over to Chevin descended from the Chevins of Chevins-court in Marden and Thomas Chevin of this place married Thomasin Coheir of Champion of Champions Court in this Parish From Chevin the Interest of Sholand did descend by Sale to Maycott and from them by the same Fate to Adye a Family of Note and very much Antiquity as to the Name in this Track whose Right it had not long acknowledged but by the same Devolution the Title was invested in Steere from whom by Purchase it came over to Sayers descended from those of York-shire who in that Age our Fathers lived in sold his Concernment in it to Mr. Hugison of Dover in whose Heirs the Propriety of this place is at this instant resident Newington-Belhouse lies in the Hundred of Folkston and was in the Raign of King John and Henry the third the Possession of Hubert de Burgo Lord Chief Justice of England and from him it descended to his Son John de Burgo who in the fifty fifth year of Henry the third passed it away by Sale to Thomas de Belhouse by the Name of Newington juxta Hieth And probably this may be a Reason why this Family after they had adopted this Mannor into their own Name assumed a Coat which had some Affinitie with that of Hubert de Burgo videlicet Or upon a Bend Gules three Lozinges Argent and Gules which I suppose was done to preserve the Memory of him of whom it was first purchased But to proceed Sir Thomas de Belhouse great Grandchild of the above-mentioned paid respective Aid for this Mannor by the Name of Newington-Belhouse in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight and died possest of it in the forty eighth year of that Princes Raign from whom a descendant Right brought it down to his Heir John de Belhouse who enjoyed it so narrow a space of Time that it is left upon Record that he died seised of it in the forty ninth year of Edward the third and Robert Knevit a younger Son of Sir John Knevit Lord Chancellor of England who had married the Heir Generall of this Family was found to be his Heir and it was this Robert or else probably his Son who in the seventh year of Henry the fourth had a Patent of Confirmation of Liberty of Free-warren to his Lands at Newington formerly granted to Thomas de Belhouse After the Line of the Knevits was extinguished at this place which was about the beginning of Henry the eighth this Mannor devolved to the Cloptons for Edmund Knevit of Stanwaymagna in Essex had three Sisters who were Coheirs to him and their Father Edward Knevit Esquire Thomasin the eldest was matched to Sir William Clopton of Kentwell in Suffolk for his second Wife and Katharine the second Sister was married to John Clopton Esq eldest Son of the above-said Sir William and Dorothy the third was matched to Thomas Carnaby but these desiring to Contract all their Patrimony within the Verge of Suffolk alienared this Mannor in the twenty seventh year of King Henry the eighth with much of their Land in the Mersh to Thomas Lord Cromwell who being attainted in the thirty second year of Henry the eighth this Mannor escheated to the Crown and lay couched in its Revenue untill the first year of Queen Mary and then it was granted to Edward Lord Clinton who in the last year of the above-said Princesse conveyed it with all its perquisites to Henry Herdson whose Grandchild Francis Herdson almost in that Age we entitle to our Fathers Remembrance alienated it to Mr. Henry Brockman Grandfather to the instant Proprietarie James Brockman Esquire Sene and Bithborough were two ancient Seats which related to the Knightly Family of Valoigns of whom I shall speak more in my Discourse of Petham but before the latter end of Edward the third this Family was extinguished and then one of the two Daughters and Coheirs upon the Distinction of the Estate parcells brought these two places to be the Inheritance of Sir Francis Fogge who lies buried Cross-legg'd in Cheriton-Church with the Arms of Fogge and Valoigns empal'd upon his Tombe and from him did the Propriety and Title in an uninterupted Channell stream down to George Fogge Esquire who alienated Sene in our Grandfathers Memory to Honywood and Bithborough to Mr. Henry Brockman who added much to the ancient Building so that it is now become the Seat of that Family Bertrams in Newington is so called because it was parcell of the Estate of Bertram de Crioll who died possest of it in the twenty third year of Edward the first and left it to Joan his Heir espoused to Sir Richard de
Rokesley by whose Sole Inheritrix likewise called Joan it was linked to the Demeasn of Sir Thomas de Poynings from whom the Clew of Descent guided it down to Sir Edward Poynings who dying in the twelfth of Henry the eighth without any lawfull Issue or any visible kindred that could pretend a Title to the Estate it lapsed to the Crown and Henry the eighth granted it to Thomas Lord Cromwell upon whose attainder it being again escheated Queen Mary in the first year of her Rule granted it to Edward Lord Clinton who in the last year of that Princess passed it away to Mr. Henry Herdson whose grandchild Mr. Francis Herdson conveyed it by Sale to Mr. Henry Brockman in whose Grandchild Mr. James Brockman the instant Inheritance is fixed Blackose is another little Mannor in Newington which as Sadrach Petit's Inquest an Authentick Manuscript informs me was as high as the raign of Henry the third the Possession of Nicholas de Morehall a Family who were owners of much Land at Folkstone and elsewhere in this Track and in this Name did it continue untill the latter end of Richard the second and then it was transmitted by Sale to William Edwy who paid a proportionate Aid for it at the Marriage of Blanch Daughter of Henry the fourth in the fourth year of his raign from whence much of our Land in Kent which was rated at the same Time and upon the same Design hath assumed the Appellation of Blanch-Lands After Edwy went out which was in the raign of Edward the fourth it became the Possession of Wreake and Thomas Wreake as the abovesaid Sidrach Petit who lived in that Age instructs me exchanged it with Will. Warham Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and continued annexed to the Demeasn of that See until the great Exchange made by Tho. Cranmer in the twenty ninth of Henry the eighth with that Prince and then it was made the Demeasn of the Crown and after some brief abode there was granted away to John Honywood Esquire Newchurch in Romney Mersh gives Denomination to the whole Hundred wherein it is situated and dilates and spreads it self into several places which call for some Remembrance The first is Peckmanston which was as high as the Rayes or Light of any Evidence can direct to a Discovery the Inheritance of the Lords Leybourne and was annexed to that vast Revenue which they entituled themselves to in this County and so continued till Sir Roger de Leybourne left this with much other Land to his Sole Daughter and Heir Juliana married to William Lord Clinton Earl of Huntington who dyed in the twenty eighth year of Edward the third but without Issue by this Lady who deceasing likewise not long after the Crown upon a Serious and solemne Disquisition discovering none that upon the Stock of any collateral Alliance could pretend to her Estate seised upon it as an Escheat and King Richard the second in the eleventh year of his Government granted it to the Abbey of Childrens Langley amongst whose Revenue it rested till the Dissolution of that Covent and after that King Henry the eighth by royal Donation planted the Possession in the thirty fifth year of his Raign in Sir Thomas Moile a Gentleman in those Times of principal Estimate in this County and of the Privie Councel to that Prince from whom by Amy his Daughter and Coheir it came suddenly after to be the Inheritance of Sir Thomas Kempe who in the raign of Queen Elizabeth sold it to Thomas Smith Farmer of the Customes to that Princesse and he bequeathed it to his third Son Sir Rich. Smith by whose Daughter and Coheir the Title and Right of it at this instant is lodged in Mr. Barrow of Suffolke Est-Bridge in this Parish is a second place which exacts our Remembrance This with Honychild in St. Maryes Parish likewise in Romney Mersh did anciently belong partly to the Abby of Bradsole ailà s St. Radigunds in Dover and partly to the Knights of St. Jo. which upon the general Suppression in the twenty ninnth year of H. the eighth of all religious Cloisters and Seminaries were swallowed up in the Demeasne of the Crown and lay there till E. the sixth granted them in Lease to Cuthbert Vaughan Esq who afterwards in the fourth year of Queen Elizabeth purchased the Fee-simple of them of the Crown and upon his Decease which happened not long after disposed of Honychild to his Son in Law Roger Twisden Esquire and Est-Bridge Sir Will. Twisden â—old Honychild to Sir Will. Sydley Grandfather to Sir Charles Sydley the instant Owner to his Wives Son Richard Dering Esquire in Right of which original Donation Sir Edward Dering of Surrenden Dering in Pluckley Baronet great Grandchild of this Mr. Richard Dering is present Possessor of this Mannor of Est-Bridge Thirdly Silwell in this Parish is not to be omitted it was in elder Generations an Appendage or Limbe which made up the Body of that plentifull Income which appertained to the Abbey of Boxley in this County and upon the Dissolution was with much other of the Church Demeasn by Henry the eighth granted to Walter Henley Esquire after created Sir Walter Henley and one of the Privy Councell to Henry the eighth and Edward the sixth But as though there had been some fatall malediction which like original Sin did cleave to the Possesssion he left no Issue-male to enjoy that large Patrimony he had thus archieved but concluded in three Daughters and Coheirs Elizabeth matched to William Waller of Grome-Bridge Helen first married to Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury Esquire Secondly to Sir George Somerset and Thirdly to Thomas Vane of Burston in Hunton Esq and then Anne wedded to Richard Covert of Slaugham in Sussex Esq who shared by these matches and alliances a considerable part of his Inheritance in which this Mannor of Sylwell was involved Newington in the Hundred of Milton has the Addition of Lucies prefixed before it to distinguish it from Newington in the Hundred of Street It was the Ancient Patrimony of the Noble Family of Lucy the first whom I find amongst Records of deep Antiquity was extracted out of Normandy within the Precincts of which Province or upon the Verge and Margent of it there is a Signory of that Name yet existent G. de Lucy so he is written in the most authentick Copies of the Battle Abby Roll entered England with William the Conqueror Fulbert de Lucy and in some old Registers written Sir Fulbert changed his Name of Lucy into that of Dover when he was by William the Conqueror made one of the Assistants to John de Fiennes in the Guard of Dover-Castle having fifteen Knights Fees assigned to him in that Track for the Support of his Dignity and Trust * See Seldens Titles of Honor pag. 644. William de Dover was one of the Magnates or Peers who was Teste to the Charter of Maud the Empresse whereby she creates Miles of Gloucester Earl of Hereford Hugh de Dover was Sheriff
Throuley Boughton Malherbe and Wormesell and held of Queen Court and Ospringe de died possest of both these places in the twenty fifth year of Edward the third as appears Rot. Esc Num. 43. and left them to his Kinsman Sir Nicolas Loveine though some part of the Demeasne belonged to Poulteney until the ninth year of Edward the fourth which Sir Nicholas obtained a an Exemplification by Patent in the thirty eighth year of Edward the third how many Knights Fees which lay divided and dispersed into severall places belonged to his Mannor of Ospringe this Sir Nicholas had Issue Nicholas Loveyne and Margaret Loveyne Nicholas her Brother deceased without Issue and so Philip St. Clere of Aldham St. Clere who had matched with this his Sister became his Heir and she was found to be possest of these places at her Death which was in the tenth year of Henry the fourth and in her Right did it descend with Queen Court which was leased out by Nich. Loveyne to Nicholas Potin who was Sheriff of Kent the twenty first of King R. the second and held his Shrievalty at this place to Thomas St. Clere who held it at his Decease which was in the twelfth year of Edward the fourth Rot. Esc Num. 46. But after his Departure I do not find it long knit to the Demeasn of his Family for about the beginning of Henry the seventh I find it in the Possession of William Cheyney of Shurland Esquire and from him was the Title of Ospringe and Queen Court derived by successive Right to his Grandchild Henry Lord Cheyney who about the thirteenth year of Queen Elizabeth passed them away to Mr. Rich. Thornehill Great Grandfather to Mr. Richard Thornehill Son and Heir of Colonel Richard Thornhill who is at this instant Proprietarie of it Plomford and Bavell are two little Mannors in Ospringe which belonged partly to the Nunnery of the Minster in Shepey and partly to the Abby of Feversham which upon the Suppression of those two Cloisters were granted by King Henry the eighth to Thomas Colepeper Esquire and he not long after alienated them to Sir Thomas Cheyney whose Son Henry Lord Cheyney passed them away in our Grandfathers Memory to Greenstreet of Clacksfield in Borden and are still wrapt up in the Inheritance of that Family The Maison le Dieu here at Ospringe was founded by Lucas de Vienna for the Knights Templers and was one of those Mansions where they reposed themselves in their progresse towards their other Demeasne which lay spread into East-Kent and Romney Mersh The Revenue which was to support this Seminary lay at Lurdenden in Challock and at Hokeling Radymersh Ryde and other places in the Isle of Shepey In the twenty fifth of Henry the third Roger de Lingsted had a Grant of these Lands for Terme of Life as likewise of all the Fishery Messuages Reliese Revenue and Homage appertaining to them as appears Pat. Anno 25. Henrici tertii Memb. 30. In the forty second and fifty first of Henry the third there was a Confirmation of Land and Priviledges to this House and in this Condition it continued partly under the Knights Templers and in lower Ages under the Knights Hospitallers untill the Tempest of the generall Dissolution shook it into that neglected heap of Ruines wherein at present the ancient Fabrick is visible Elverland in this Parish is a Mannor which for many Generations hath been annexed to the Demeasn of St. Johns Colledge in Cambridge Selgrave now corruptly called Selgrove is another Mannor in Ospringe It was a Branch of that large Inheritance which lay scattered ore the Face of this Territory and acknowledged the Dominion of the noble Family of Norwood Roger de Northwood held it at his Decease which was in the thirteenth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 25. And transmitted it to his Son Roger de Norwood after whom I do not find the Possession was long permanent in this Family for about the latter end of Edward the third Ralph de Spigurnell was concerned in it as Proprietarie and he bequeathed it to his Wife Elizabeth Spigurnell who sold it to John Winchelsey and the Convent of Christ-church in Canterbury in the sixteenth year of Richard the second in whom the Fee-simple continued untill it was wrested away by the Generall Dissolution in the raign of Henry the eighth and then that Prince passed it by Grant to George Barley who not many years after alienated his Interest in it to Sonds of Throuley from whom in our Fathers Memory it came by Sale to Cleve Ospringe had anciently a House or Maison le Dieu so called because it was a Receptacle for Leprous people and other persons afflicted and assaulted with Diseases which in Times of elder Inscription were still esteemed to be imposed by the Finger of the Divinity and this had a Confirmation of ample Immunities and Liberties by Patent in the forty seventh and which were renued in the fifty first year of Henry the third Otford in the Hundred of Codsheath was given to the Church and Sea of Canterbury by Offa King of the Mercians in the year 785 to expiate the Guilt of that Blood which he had before drawn from the Veins of Aleric and his Kentish Men in a Battell waged at this place in the year 774 and which was aggravated because those he had slaughtered had their Names enrolled in the Register of Christians And which was granted in the originall Donation ad Pascua Porcorum to the Pannage of those Hoggs that fed in the Arch-bishops Chase and in the Revenue of this Sea was the Interest of this Mannor treasured up till about the Beginning of the Rule of Henry the eighth and then some envious Eyes looking about with Regrett and Desire upon the Diffused Patrimony of the Church William Warham Arch-bishop of Canterbury to extinguish both the passions of these men and their ravenous Appetite together about the twelfth year of that Prince's Raign exchanged this Mannor for other Lands and so it became incorporated into the Revenue of the Crown There was a Chantry founded at Rye-house in this Parish by Henry de Apulderfield in the forty sixth year of Edward the third as appears Pat. Anno. 46. Edwardi tertii Parte secunda Memb. 19. Whose Revenue upon the Suppression was by Henry the eighth granted to Palmer which Family had been of deep Antiquity before in this Parish and from whence the Palmers of Snodland and likewise of Howletts in East-Kent were originally descended but it seems the security of this royal Patent could not rescue it from being sold some years after to Bosvill whose Descendant now holds the instant Fee-simple of it Otham in the Hundred of Maidstone was a Branch of that Demeasne which did in this Track acknowledge the Signiory of the ancient Family of Valoigns William de Valoigns is mentioned in the Book called Testa de Nevill to have paid Aid for Lands at Petham Ashford and Otham in the twentieth year
of Henry the third at the marriage of Isabell that Prince's Sister and it is probable that this VVill. de Valoigns dyed possest of Otham in the tenth year of Edward the first for his Name was VVilliam likewise as appears by the escheat Roll marked with the Number 54. after whom his Successor Stephen de Valoigns held it who was certainly a man of some important Account in those Times for he was one of the Conservators of the Peace in the raign of Edward the third After Valoigns the knightly Family of Pimpe was by purchase invested about the latter end of Richard the second both in the Possession of Otham and Gore-court and to this Name was the Inheritance both of Otham and Gore-court by a Chain of severall Descents successively united till at last the ordinary Devolution of purchase brought them over to Isley of Sundrich and within the Circle of this Family was the Propriety of them circumscribed till the second year of Queen Mary and then Sir Hen. Isley being fatally engaged and entangled in the unsuccessefull Attempt of Sir Thomas Wiatt could not unravell himself untill he had satisfied the Justice of that Queen with the forfeiture of his Life and augmented the Revenue of the Crown with the Confiscation of his Estate from which these two places as being parcell of his escheated Patrimony were by Patent soon after passed away to Sir Walter Henley one of the Serjeants at Law to the abovesaid Queen Mary who dying without Issue-male bequeathed Gore-court to Hellen his Daughter and Coheir who was matched to Thomas Colepeper and Otham to his Brother Thomas Henley from whom it is come down to Walter Henley Esquire who is the present Lord of the Fee but Gore-court was by Colepeper demised by Sale to Buffkin where after the Possession had for severall years been fixed it was almost within the Pale of our Remembrance by purchase made the present Inheritance of Tho. Floyd Esquire Stoneacre in this Parish is an Ancient Seat which for some Centuries of years has acknowledged no other Proprietary then Ellys but whether Burton in Kenington or this Mansion were the original Fountain from whence this Family did extract its first Etymology is incertain for once they had one and the same Possessor The Deeds that fortifie their Interest in this place reach as high as the Time of Edward the second and instruct us that Ellis which enjoyes it now is by a stream of many unintercepted Descents issued out from John Ellis who possest it then There was the Foundation of a Religious Seminary of Canons Praemonstratenses or white Canons begun at Otham by Ralph de Dene but the Situation of the Place being not accommodated to Health they were by Ela de Sackvil removed and transplanted into her new erected Priory at Begham where till the common Suppression they continued undisturbed and fixed Otteringdon in the Hundred of Eyhorne does represent to us in Prospect the Memory of a Family to whom it contributed in Times more Arcient both Seat and Sirname Ralph de Ottringden held it at his Decease which was in the fifteenth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 29. But in his Son Sir Lawrence de Ottringden both the Name and Male Line failed together for his Daughter and Heir brought it along with her to Peyforer who about the latter end of the raign of Edward the third was extinguished likewise by the same Fatality in Julian Peyforer who was his Heir General and she by espousing Thomas St. Leger Esquire intermixed the Right of this place with the Inheritance of this Family and who lies entombed in this Church with this Compendious Superscription endorsed upon his Grave-stone Hic jacet Thomas St. Leger de Otteringden qui obiit 1408. But a Revolution as suddain as the former quickly snatched away Otteringden from the Patrimony of this Name for by Joan who was Co-heir to the above-mentioned Thomas St. Leger it was rowled into the Revenue of Henry Aucher Esquire sprouted out from the Illustrious Stem of Aucher of Losenham and in this Family was the Interest of this place successively laid up till the Time of Queen Elizabeth and then the whole Demise was by Sale transmitted to Lewin in whom a Descent or two after the Male-Line determining the Female Heir brought it to Rogers of the West from whom the like Fatality hath lately devolved it to Charles Lord Mansfeld eldest Son to the Right Honorable William Cavendish Marquess of Newcastle Putwood is another Mannor in this Parish which in Times of elder Etymology did acknowlede it self to be under the Signory of a Family who extracted their Sirname from Vienne in Dauphine in France and in several Deeds without Date there is mention of William de Vienna who was invested in Land here at Putwood and Ospringe and in the twentieth year of Edward the third Lucas de Vienna paid respective Supply at the making the Black Prince Knight for Lands which he held at Putwood and Ospringe After this Family was dissolved and gone the Quadrings which was about the beginning of Richard the second were settled in the possession where after some small Residence of the Title it went away by Sale about the latter end of Henry the fourth to the Ancient Family of Goldwell of great Chart and here after it had made some cursory aboad the same Devolution cast it into the Inheritance of Dryland of Cokes-ditch in Feversham to whose possession after the Title had for many years cleaved it was transported by purchase into the Patrimony of Atwater so styled because it is probable this Family had formerly their Residence near some Fountain or Stream but their Original from whence they primitively issued was from about Ospringe for there I find Robert Atwater possest Land at his Death which was in the fifth year of Edward the third and in this Name did the Title of the place lie couched until the latter end of Henry the eighth and then by Sale it was incorporated into the Revenue of Sir James Hales but long it remained not thus mingled for the Fate of purchase untwisted it and not many years after threw it into the Possession of Sayer from whom in Times which almost bordered upon our Memory it was by Sale wafted over to Mr. James Hugison of Dover and he bequeathed it to a second Son whose Female Heir Mrs. Jane Hugison by lately matching with Mr. John Roberts Esquire eldest Son to Sir John Roberts of Canterbury hath entituled him to the Propriety of it Herst in this Parish was the Ancient Demeasne of Filmer and here were they seated until by matching with the Heir of Argall they were transplanted to East Sutton I have seen an old Court-roll relating to the Mannor of Monkton in this Parish which by the Antiquity of it seemed to commence from the raign of Edward the second although the Date which stood in the Front by the in urious Hand of Time was almost expunged and so hardly
Buckingham who lost both his Life and Estate being attainted in the thirteenth year of Henry the eighth After his Tragedy they continued until the twenty fourth year of Henry the eighth in the possession of the Crown and then they were passed away by Grant to Sir Edward Guldford and again confirmed to him in the twenty eighth year of that Prince's raign and from him not long after by Joane his Female Heir they increased the Patrimony of John Dudley after Duke of Northumberland and he in the thirtieth year of Henry the eighth alienated them to Thomas Cromwell Earl of Essex whose Story Tragedy and Attaint in the thirty second year of the abovesaid Prince are represented to our view in such obvious Characters that I shall not need again to unvail them Upon his ruinous Catastrophe they revert to the Crown and lay shut up in the Royal Revenue until the thirty seventh year of Henry the eighth and then they were made by a new Grant the Inheritance of William Wybourn and Anthony Brown Esquires but that Proportion which was setled in Brown was not long resident in that Family for in the sixth year of Queen Elizabeth it was alienated to William VVybourn Esquire nor was the Interest of these places of any long Date after this in VVybourn for in our Grand-fathers Memory the Fate of Sale annexed them to the Patrimony of Thomas Sackvill Lord Buckurst whose Grand-child the Right Honorable Edward Sackvill Earl of Dorset not many years since conveyed his Right in them to Mr. ...... Amherst Halkewell is an eminent Mannor in this Parish and was a Branch of that Demeasne which fell under the Signory of the Priory of Begham and so remained until the Dissolution and then it was by Henry the eighth about the Time of their suppression that is 1525. granted to John VVybourn who was Tenant to that Abby upon the Suppression but was Anciently seated at a place called Culverdens whither they arrived from about Crofton in Orpington where they originally were planted about the latter end of Henry the third and from this Iohn VVybourn was Mr. Benjamin VVybourn descended who upon his late Death hath left this Mannor to his Widow Mrs. Blanch VVybourn eldest Daughter to Sir Iohn Philipott of the County of South-Hampton Bencrouch Highlands and Prigles were Mannors which related to the Patrimony of the Abby of Rothers-bridge in Sussex and in the year 1525 were pared off from the Ecclesiasticall Revenue by Cardinal Wolsey when he layed the Foundations of his Stately Colledge at Christ-church in Oxford which like some Embrio for want of Maturity became imperfect and indigested by his Death and then these places being found in his Hands at his Decease were seised upon by Henry the eighth who in the twenty fourth year granted them to George Guldford Esquire who not long after conveyed them by Sale to Sir Alexander Colepeper who had a Confirmation of them from the Crown about the thirty fifth year of that Prince's Government and in this Family did they continue laid up untill the Title was in our Fathers remembrance dislodged and by Sale resigned up to Nicholas Miller Esquire who upon his Decease without Issue left them to his Nephew Sir Nicholas Miller and he upon his late Decease hath left them to his Son and Heir Humphrey Miller Esquire Preston situated in the Hundred of Feversham contains sundry places within the Boundaries of it of no vulgar Account The first is Makenade which was the Mansion for many Ages of Gentlemen of that Sitname whereof VVilliam Makenade was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty third year of Edward the third and held his Shrievalty at this House which then was of more Magnificence though now it lye almost gasping in its own Ruines being crushed into that Disorder by the rough Hand of Time from this Man it descended to his Grandchild VVilliam Makenade who in the eighth year of Henry the fourth dying without Issue-male Constance Makenade his only Daughter became his Heir who carried this Seat along with her to her Husband John VVaterslip by whom she had Issue Margaret matched to Henry London and Joan wedded to Thomas Mathew who upon the Division of the Estate shared this House and the Land which related to it in which Family after the Inheritance had been for several years shut up it at length by Sale went out to Maycot who about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth passed it away by Sale to Martin James Esquire Register of the Chancery whose Great Grand-child Mr. ....... James enjoys the present Fee-Simple of it Perry Court in Preston was the Mansion of a good old Family called Barrett who enjoyed this Seat as high as the raign of Edward the second and then I find it was under the Signiory of one Iohn de Perry to whom and to whose Family it seems it afforded anciently both Seat and Sirname Valentine Barrett who matched with Cicelie Daughter and Coheir of Marcellus Att Leeze and Niece of Sir Richard Att Leeze was the last of the Name who held this place for he determined in Cicelie his only Daughter and Heir who was wedded to John Darrell of Cale-hill Esquire for his first Wife who was elder Brother of Sir William Darrell under-Treasurer of England branched out from the knightly Family of the Darrells of Sesay in York-hire whose Heir General matched with the Ancestor of Dawney now Proprietary of that place and by this Alliance Perry Court came to be knit to to the Demeasn of Darrell of Cale-hill for many Descents untill in the raign of Henry the eighth it fell to be divided between two Brothers Sir James Darrell Knight and John Darrell Gentleman John Darrell in the first year of Henry the eighth alienated his proportion to Stephen Jennins and he in the sixth year of that Prince conveyed it to Thomas Michell and he in the eighth of his raign passed it away to Robert Dokket who two years after demised it to Alan Percy and Alan Percy in the fourteenth year of Henry the eighth transmitted it by Sale to John Park who likewise purchased the other Moiety the same year of Sir James Darrell and so became sole Owner of Perry Court from whom by Elizabeth his Sole Daughter and Heir it was carried off to John Roper of Lingsted Esquire and he in the twenty fifth year of Q. Eliz. transferred all his Concernment in it to William Finch by whose Daughter and Coheir it was annexed to the Inheritance of Sir Drue Drewry of Norfolke and he in the Beginning of King James passed it away to Thomas Bennet Esquire whose Descendants are still entituled to the Possession of it Westwood is a third place in Preston not to be declined in our Account It was as high as I can trace out under the Jurisdiction of the eminent Family of Poynings Michaell Poynings who was Son of Thomas Lord Poynings held it at his Death which was in the forty third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc
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
Rogers alienates it by Sale to Stephen Drayner and it is probable Rogers purchased it of Norton which Family as appears by the Feudaries Book held much Land here at Smerden and at or near Romden But to return In Drayner the Interest of this place was fixed until the seventeenth of Queen Elizabeth and then William Drayner passed it away by Sale to Sir Roger Manwood and he in the eighteenth year of that Princess alienates it again to Martin James Esquire Remembrancer of the Exchecquer and from him by the Devolution of successive and paternal Right it is now come down to acknowledge the Propriety of Mr. .... James Snergate in the Hundred of Aloe bridge celebrates the Memory of an Ancient Family styled Alarar Gervas Alarar was Captain and Admiral of the Fleet of Ships set forth and furnished by the Cinque-ports in the fourteenth year of Edward the first and Gervas Alarar was his Grand-child whose Widow Agnes Alarar was in possession of it at her Death which was in the forty second year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 1. But before the end of Henry the fourth this Family was shrunk into an Expiration and then Walter Moile who was a Judge in the reign of Henry the sixth succeeded in the Possession and he by a Fine levied in the thirtieth year of Henry the sixth demises it to Hugh Brent from whom about the latter end of Edward the fourth it was conveyed to Cheyney and in this Name it was fixed until Henry Lord Cheyney in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth alienated it to Henry Nevill Lord Aburgavenny who in the twenty ninth year of Queen Elizabeth dying without Issue-male Mary Nevill was found to be his Sole Inheritrix and she by matching with Sir Thomas Vane knit this Mannor to his Patrimony and his Son Francis Vane created Earl of Westmerland in the twenty second of King James alienated it in our Fathers Memory to Jackman who not long after sold it to Sir Edward Henden one of the Barons of the Exchecquer who upon his Decease gave it to his Nephew Sir John Henden whose Son and Heir Edward Henden Esquire now enjoyes the Signory of it Smeth in the Hundred of Bircholt hath in the Limits of it Scots-hall which is now and hath been for divers Descents the Inheritance of eminent Gentlemen of that Sirname whom I dare aver upon probable Grounds were originally called Balioll. William Balioll second Brother to Alexander de Balioll frequently writ his Name William de Balioll le Scot and it is probable that upon the Tragedy of John Earl of Atholl who was made prisoner by Edward the first and barbarously executed in the year 1307. whilst he endevoured more nobly then successfully to defend the gasping Liberty of Scotland against the Eruptions of that Prince this Family to decline the Fury of that Monarch who was a man of violent passions altered the Name of Balioll to that of their Extraction and Country and assumed for the future the Name of Scot. That the Sirname of this Family was originally Balioll I farther upon these Reasons assert First the ancient Arms of Balioll Colledge in Oxford which was founded by John Balioll and dedicated to St. Katharine was a Katharin-Wheele being still part of the paternal Coat of this Family Secondly David de Strabogie who was Son and Heir to the infortunate Earl abovesaid astonished with an Example of so much Terror altered his Name from Balioll to Strabogie which was a Signory which accrued to him in Right of his Wife who was Daughter and Heir to John Comin Earl of Badzenoth and Strabogie and by this Name King Edward the second omitting that of Balioll restored Chilham-castle to him for Life in the fifteenth year of his reign Thirdly the Earls of Bucleugh and the Barons of Burley in Scotland who derive themselves originally from Balioll are known at this instant by no other Sirname but Scot and bear with some inconsiderable Difference those very Arms which are at present the paternal Coat of this Family of Scots-hall Having thus traced out the Name I shall now represent a Scale of those eminent Persons who have either directly or collaterally been extracted from Scots-hall Sir William Scot who was knighted the tenth of Edward the third was Lord Chief Justice and Knight Marshal of England in the reign of that Prince Sir Robert Scot was Lieutenant of the Tower in the year 1424. Sir John Scot was Comptroller of the House one of the Privy Councel to Edward the fourth and Marshal of Calais Thomas Scot who was first Bishop of Rochester next of Lincolne Provost of Beverley Arch-bishop of York Lord Chancellor of England and Privy Councellor to King Edward the fourth altered his Name from Scot to Rotheram as being the place of his Education and Nativity but it is probable originally issued out from this Family Sir William Scot who was Son to Sir John above-mentioned was Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports Sir John Scot his Son was knighted by the Prince of Castile for signal Service performed by him against the Duke of Gueldres Sir Reginald Scot was Captain of the Castle of Callis Sir Thomas Scot was Commander in Chief of the Kentish Forces who assembled upon the plains by Northbourn to oppose the Spanish Invasion in the year 1588. All of which were either directly or collaterally Predecessors being of the same Family to Edward Scot now Proprietary of Scots-hall Esquire who was Son and Heir of Sir Edward Scot who was made Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of K. Charles Thevegate is a second Mannor in this Parish which was in elder Times the Inheritance of Gentlemen of no mean Account in this Track Robert de Passeley or Passelew for they are promiscuously so written was Treasurer of England under Peter de Rivallis in the reign of Henry the third as Mat. Paris in the Life of that Prince does record Edmund de Passeley was with Edward the second at Borough-Bridge in the seventeenth year as the Pipe-roll of that Time discovers and probably was instrumental in the Defeat given there to the Nobility then in Arms against that Prince and from him this Mannor did descend to John Passeley Esquire who in the reign of Edward the fourth determined in Elizabeth his sole Heir matched to Reginald Pimp Esquire who likewise had the Fate to conclude in a Female Inheritrix called Ann who was wedded to Sir John Scot of Scots-hall and Shee united Thevegate to the Revenue of that Family and from him is the Right of it by Descent transportted to his Successor Edward Scot of Scots-hall Esquire Smeth had the Grant of a Market procured to it by the Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the tenth year of Edward the third Shepebourn in the Hundred of Wrotham was the Patrimony of an ancient Family called Bavent whose principal Estate lay in Sussex and Surrey Adam de Bavent in the twelfth year of Edward the first obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor
of Shepbourn and in the thirteenth year of that Prince's reign had as appears Pat. 13. Edwardi primi Memb. 28. a Grant of a Market weekly to this place to be held on the Monday and a Fair for three Days Space at the Feast of St. Giles and this Adam de Bavent or else his Son was one of those eminent Kentish Gentlemen who was embarked with Edward the first in his Expedition into Scotland and was one of those who were created Bannerets at the Siege of Carlaverock in the twenty eighth year of his reign Roger de Bavent was summoned in the fourteenth year of Edward the second to sit in Parliamennt as Baron After whom I find no more mention of this Family as Possessors of this Mannor for it is probable the Religion and muffled Perswasion of those Times had so warped the Piety and Devotion of this Family that they setled it on the Priory of Leeds for by an old Rental of that Covent I find it wrapped up in their Demeasn in the reign of Edward the third and remained parcel of their Income until the general Shipwrack in the reign of Henry the eighth and then it was in the thirty sixth year of that Prince granted to Sir Ralph Vane and Anthony Tustham Esquire who not long after having passed away his Interest in it to Sir Ralph Vane it hath continued ever since to acknowledge the absolute Signory of this Family so that the right of it now rests in Sir Henry Vane Son and Heir to Sir Henry Vane Secretary of Estate to his late Majesty Fairlane is an eminent Seat in this Parish which likewise did confesse the Signory of the Family of Bavent but before the latter end of Edw. the third they had abandoned the Possession of it and then it came to confesse the Signory of Colepepers who remained Lords of the Fee untill the latter end of Henry the fourth and then it was transmitted by Sale to Chown in which Family after the Propriety had been constantly resident untill that Age which almost was circumscribed within the Verge of our Remembrance Sir George Chown the last of this Name at this place desiring to contract his Revenue solely within the Confines of Sussex alienated his Estate here to Sir Henry Vane Comptroller of his late Majestie 's Houshould and principal Secretary of Estate who having much beautified and adorned the ancient Fabrick with new Additions upon his late Decease bequeathed it to be enjoyed by his Lady Dowager Stelling in the Hundred of Lovingborough was with Wadenhall which lyes partly in this Parish and partly in Petham parcell of the Inheritance of the illustrious Family of Haut and William de Haut had Stelling and Wadenhall in the first year of Ed. the first and this above-mentioned VVilliam founded a Chappel at VVadenhall and dedicated it to St. Edmund the Saxon King of the East Angles and in this Family these Mannors continued untill the latter end of the reign of H. the sixth and then VVill. Haut lineally extracted from the above-said VVilliam conveyed Stelling to Humphrey Stafford Duke of Buckingham and this being forseited to the Crown upon the Attainder of his Grandchild Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham in the thirteenth year of Henry the eighth this lay enwrapped in the royal Revenue untill Queen Mary in the first year of her reign granted it with much other Land to Edward Lord Clinton who about the last year of that Princesse alienated it to Mr. Henry Herdson whose Grandchild Mr. Francis Herdson about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth passed it away to Mr. John Herdson his Uncle who dying without Issue disposed of it by Will to his Nephew Sir Basill Dixwell of Terlingham in Folkstone from whom by descendant Devolution it is now come down to his Heir General Mr. Basill Dixwell of Broom in Barham But VVadenhall remained in the Name of Haut untill by the Steps of several Descents it was wafted along to Sir VVilliam Haut one of whose two Daughters and Coheirs called Elizabeth being wedded to Sir Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury brought it to acknowledge the Interest of that Family and he having exchanged it with Edward the sixth it confessed the Signory of the Crown untill Queen Elizabeth in the forty second year of her reign granted it to Sir John Sotherton Baron of her Exchequer whose Heir in the memory of these Times gave up his Right in it by the Fatality of Sale to Mr. Benjamin Pere of Canterbury The Advowson of the two Parsonages or Rectories of Stelling and Vpper Hardres were granted to the Priory of Tunbridge in the twenty sixth year of Edward the third Pat. 3. part 2. Memb. 3. Selling in the Hundred of Street hath several places in it which cannot be declined without some Memorial Willmington and Somervill are the first that occurre and they gave Seat and one of them Sirname to a Family of Repute in that Age because I find they had Land in other places in the County Roger de Wilmington held the Possession of them at his Death which was in the eleventh year of Edward the third and left his Estate here and elsewhere to be shared between his four Daughters and Coheirs matched to Ordmere Bromming Brockhull and St. Laurence but upon the Division of the Estate these accrued to St. Laurence and in Right of paternal Devolution John St. Laurence Son of Thomas St. Laurence held these at his Decease which was in the tenth year of Richard the second and from him their right devolved to his Son Thomas St. Laurence whose Sole Daughter and Heir Katharine brought them to be the Inheritance of Sir William Apulderfield who about the latter end of Henry the sixth passed them away to Ashburnham and Till and the first of those having wholly setled his Right in them by Sale in Till they rested in this Family until the reign of Henry the eighth and then Peter Heyman Esquire having wedded the sole Inheritrix of Till they were transplanted into the Patrimony of that Family and from him the Propriety descended to his great Grandchild my worthy Friend Sir Henry Heyman Baronet lately deceased Haringe is a second place of Consideration it was as high as any Clew of Record can lead us the Possession of the Gurneys Hugh de Gurney who is in the Register of those who entered England with William the Norman held it under his Scepter In Ages almost of the next Step or Descent the Sharsteds had it and Robert de Sharsted who flourished under Edward the first Edward the second and dyed in the eighth year of Edward the third was possest of it at his Decease but this Name was suddenly worn out for in the Time subsequent to this Henry Brockhull of Brockhull in Saltwood enjoyed it who likewise had some Interest in Wilmington and Somervill which his Successor sold to Ashburnham and here the Propriety made its aboad untill the latter end of Henry the sixth and then it was conveyed to
Inglethorp and to the Demeasne of this Name it was linked untill the Beginning of Henry the seventh and then it was wafted over by Sale to Morton and here the Title lodged untill our Grand-fathers memory and then it was alienated to Willonghbie and Sir Francis Willoughbie sold his Concernment in it to Ralph Heyman Esquire from whom it came over to his Son and Heir Sir Peter Heyman who some years since upon the Marriage of his second Son Peter Heyman setled it on him whom yet it owns for Proprietary Hodiford is the last place of any Estimate In elder Times a Family was setled here which borrowed its Sirname as it did its Residence from this Mansion for John Hodiford or Hodinorth was Lord of the Demeasne but when this Name departed from this place the Cardens were the next in order who were Possessors of the Fee from whom by the Vicissitude of Sale it was transmitted to Cobbe where the Title had not long been lodged but it was by the like Devolution conveyed by James Cobbe the last of the Name who enjoyed it to Thomas Godfrey Esquire a Person to whom by several Engagements both of Learning and Friendship I stand now obliged Shelvich in the Hundred of Feversham was formerly the Patrimony of Atleeze a Family of no contemptible Value in this Circuit who layd the Foundation of a House near the Leas and from its Situation extracted their Sirname but the greatest Honor which accrued to this House in elder Times was that it was the Cradle of Sir Richard Atleeze who was Sheriff of Kent in the reign of Edward the third and several times a Member or Burgesse of those Parliaments which assembled in that Age but dying without Issue Marcellus Atleeze his only Brother became his Heir but he not long after made his Exit in two Daughters and Coheirs whereof Lucy the eldest was matched to John Norton Esquire and Cicely the youngest was wedded to Valentine Barret of Perry-court but Norton upon the Division of the Estate was in his Wifes Right entituled to this Mannor and in this Family after the Title had for many discents resided it was by an ever Thread of Succession guided down to Sir Thomas Norton of Milton who not many years since passed it away to Sir Richard Sonds originally extracted from an ancient Family which about the reign of Henry the third had their Habitation at Sonds-place at Darkin in Surrey whose Son and Heir Sir George Sonds Knight of the Bath by Discent from him claims the Interest and Signory of it and hath upon the old Foundation of Leeze-Court erected a Pile so set out with all the cunning and Pomp of Magnificence that it is scarcely to be out-rivalled by a Fabrick of that Bulk in any part of the English Nation Sir Richard Atleeze lyes entombed in Shelvich Church under a fair Gravestone with his Portraicture in Brasse annexed as likewise that of his Lady as fairly insculped with this Epitaph affixed to both their Figures Hic jacet Dominus Ricardus Atleese Miles ac Domina Dionisia uxor ejus qui quidem Ricardus obiit Anno Dom. 1394. Coperhams-Sole in this Parish for several Centuries of years hath confessed the Belks to have been its Proprietaries who it is probable extracted their Name out of Denmark where the Name is yet spreading and the Family noble and numerous Stephen de Belk is mentioned in Testa de Nevill a Book kept in the Exchequer to have paid respective Aid for Land which he held in this Track at the Marriage of Isabell Sister to Henry the third in the twentieth year of that Prince's reign which is enough to justifie the Antiquity of this Family in this Track Shepeards Forstall was for many Descents the possessionof a Family called Ruck one of whom lies entombed at Rye and was an eminent Person in the reign of Henry the eighth being Bow-bearer to that Prince and bore for his Coat Armour as it appears affixed to his Grave-stone Sables a plain Crosse Argent between four Flower de Lis Or. The last of this Name which held this place was Nicholas Rucks who about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth dying without Issue gave it to his Nephew Mr. Nicholas Oliver who hath lately passed it away by Sale to the Colledge of Alsoules in Oxford Lords is the last place of Account in Shelvich in the reign of Edward the second and Edward the third it had Owners of that Sirname but ever since the latter part of Richard the second it hath constantly acknowledged the Family of Giles until this present to have been its successive proprietaries One of this Family called Alexander Giles was Steward to the Abbot of Lesnes in the reign of Edward the third and I have seen a Release under his Hand and Seal given to one John VValden of Erith in the twenty fifth of the abovesaid Prince for some Services due from that Person of the Covent abovesaid Sevington in the Hundreds of Chart and Longbridge was in Ages of as high as any Record can step to the Barrie's a Family of great Antiquity in this Track Sir Robert de Barrie is in the Register of those who were engaged in Ireland under Henry the second where he was the first as Mr. Camden reports which man'd and brought the Hawk to hand and grew up to that Repute as he was called by the Irish Barriemore or the great Barrie William de Barrie this mans Successor was one of the Recognitores Magnae Assisae for this County in the Time of King John and lived at the Moat in this Parish where many of his Successors who were Lievtenants of Dover-castle and Conservators of the Peace in Kent had their Residence the last of whom was Robert Barrie whose Female Heir brought this Mannor to Radcliff and he not many years since conveyed the Moat to Alcock by whose Daughter and Heir it is now united to the Demeasne of Bois Sevenoke is like a Fountain which streams into several places of Note which we cannot passe by without some Consideration The first is Blackhall which was the possession of a Family called Totihurst the first whom I find possest of it was William de Totihurst and he flourished here as appears by the ancient Court-rols a great part of the reign of Edward the third and Richard the second The next whom I find by the same Evidences setled in the Inheritance is Thomas Totihurst and he held it in the reign of Henry the fifth and Henry the sixth and had Issue Robert Totihurst who was as appears by an Inscription upon his Tomb Servant to Cardinal Bourchier and died possest of this Mannor in the year 1512. and transmitted it to his Son Thomas Totihurst Esquire Justice of Peace of this County who about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth alienated it to Sir ...... Boswell Grand-father to Sir Leonard Boswell who dying without Issue his Sister the Lady ...... Boswell Widow of Sir William Boswell as Heir General to
Life and Forfeiture of his Estate and then this Seat upon his unsuccessful Exit returning to the Crown it was by the abovesaid Princess granted to her Cousin Reginald Poole Cardinal for his Life and a year after as he should by Testament dispose After his Death it reverts again to the Crown and then Queen Elizabeth in the third year of her reign grants it to Robert Dudley Earl of Leiceister and he the same year resigning it back into the Hands of his Soveraign it was by Lease made over to John Lennard of Chevening Esquire but the Fee-simple was by Royal Concession invested in the seventh year of Queen Elizabeth in Thomas Sackvill Lord Buckhurst and his Grand-child Richard Sackvill Earl of Dorset almost in our Remembrance conveyed the Fee-simple reserving it yet still in Lease to himself and his Heirs paying such a Rent-charge as is there specified for ninety and nine years to Mr. Richard Smith vulgarly called Dog-Smith who upon his Decease not many years since setled the propriety of it for ever upon St. Thomas Hospital in Southwarke The Honour of Sevenoke was granted by Queen Elizabeth to her Kinsman Henry Carey Lord Hunsdon in the first year of her reign from whom it devolved to his Grand-child Henry Carey Earl of Dover he passed it away by Sale to Richard Sackvill Earl of Dorset who alienated his Interest in it to Mr. Richard Smith who upon his above-mentioned Decease gave it with Knoll which both were exchanged and so united to the Royal Demeasne by William Warham to the Hospital of St. Thomas in Southwarke Kepington is the last place considerable in this Parish which was wrapt up in that Demeasne which owned the Signory of the Lords Cobham of Cobham as appears by an Inquisition taken in the thirty fifth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 62. Parte secundâ and after a Decursion of several Descents came by the Heir General of this Family to be possest by Brook whose Descendant about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth conveyed it to Burges and by his Sister and Heir it came over to Hanger who alienated it to Cowper and he not long since to Mr. Thomas Farnaby Spelherst in the Hundreds of Somerden Codsheath and Watchling stone hath many places in it of Repute First Grome-bridge which is a Chappel of Ease belonging to Spelherst and is dedicated to St. John it is in old Registers written Gromen-bridge and Gormen-bridge from some Saxon who was anciently Owner of it as Godmanchester in Huntingtonshire upon the same Account in old Orthography bears the Name of Gormonchester a Saxon having been possessor of it of that Denomination This Mannor in elder Times confessed the Dominion and Title of the Noble Family of Cobham Henry de Cobham and Joan his Wife obtained a Market to be observed weekly on the Thursday and a Fair three Dayes yearly videlicet the Vigil the Day of St. John Port-latine and the Day after as is manifest from an old Charter which I have seen whose Date commences from the fourteenth year of Edward the first the Market and Fair were kept where now the new Chappel is erected by the piety and expence of that Worthy Patriot John Packer Esquire late one of the Clerks of the Privy Seal After the Cobhams were departed from the possession of this place the Lords Clinton became by purchase Proprietaries of it and John de Clinton who was often summoned to fit as Baron in Parliament in the Time of Richard the second died possest of it in the twenty second year of that Prince Rot. Esc Num. 16. from whom the Title flowed in this Family until the latter end of Henry the fourth and then it was passed away to Waller of Lamberherst where and in Sussex they were before Masters of very ample Possessions for Thomas Waller and Katharine his Wife granted to Thomas Waller of Lamberherst his Father Richard Brenchley and John Brook all his Lands Messuages and Tenements in the Villages and Parishes of Rotherfeild Witheham Wadhurst Lamberhurst Little Horsted Alfricheston and Bucksted together with the moiety of the Advouson of the Church of Little Horsted as appears Claus 11. Richardi secundi in Dorso Memb. 35. Richard Waller Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the sixteenth year of Henry the sixth and kept his Shrievalty at Grome-bridge and was before Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex in the twelfth year of that Prince This is that renowned Souldier that in the Time of Henry the fifth took Charles Duke of Orleans General of the French Army Prisoner at the Battle of Agin-court brought him over into England and held him in honorable Restraint or Custody at Grome-bridge which a Manuscript in the Heralds-Office notes to be twenty four years in the Time of which his Recess he newly erected the House at Grome-bridge upon the old Foundation and was a Benefactor to the repair of Spelherst Church where his Arms remain in Stone-work over the Church-porch but lest such a signal peece of Service might remain entombed in the Sepulchre of unthankful forgetfulness the Prince to convey the Memory of this glorious Action to Posterity assigned to this Richard Waller and his Heirs for ever an additional Crest videlicet the Arms or Escocheon of France hanging by a Labell on an Oake with this Motto affixed Hae Fructus Virtutis This Richard was great Grand-father to William VValler of Grome-bridge Esquire Sheriff of Kent the twenty second of Henry the eighth and he was Father to Sir VValter VValler who was Grand-father to Sir VVilliam VValler now possessor of Winchester-castle and Father of Sir Thomas Waller which Sir Thomas almost in our Fathers Memory passed away Grome-bridge to Thomas Sackville Earl of Donset whose Grand-child Edward Earl of Dorset not many years since conveyed it to John Packer Esquire Father to ...... Packer Esquire now possessor of this place There was a Chauntry founded at Grome-bridge in the thirty eighth year of Henry the third by VVilliam Russell and Hawis his Wife as appears by the first Book of Compositions in Registro Roffensi Hollands in this Parish next cals for a View It was in Ages of a very high Date the Patrimony of a Noble Family of that Sirname and are in the Chartularies of this Parish recorded to have been great Benefactors to the Church of Spelherst and were allied to Thomas Holland Earl of Kent who matched with Joan Daughter of Edmund of VVoodstock but before the beginning of Henry the sixth this Family was worn out and vanished and then the VVallers stepped into the possession in which Family the Right of it did many years reside until it was in our Fathers Memory alienated to Thomas Sackville Earl of Dorset from whose Successor it passed away by Sale to Lindsey and from him not many years since the like Revolution carried it off to Caldicot Ferbies is another Seat of no vulgar Consideration in Spelherst if we consider that it gave Sirname to a Family of important Account in this
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