was Sheriff of Kent in the nineteenth year of Henry the eighth William Kempe of Oslantis Esquire who afterwards was invested with the Order of Knight hood was Sheriff of Kent in the twentieth year of Henry the eighth He was second Son of Sir Thomas Kempe and after his elder Brother Christopher Kempe deceased without Issue succeeded in the Patrimony He married Eleanor Daughter and Heir of Robert Brown Esquire third Son of Sir Thomas Brown of Bechworth Castle Sir Edward Wotton of Boughton Malherbe Knight who matched with Dorothy one of the Daughters and Coheirs of Sir Robert Reade Knight Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty first of Henry the eighth William Waller of Gromebridge in Spelherst Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the twenty second of Henry the eighth Sir Richard Clement of the Moat in Ightham was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty third of Henry the eighth Sir William Finch of the Moat in the Parish of St. Martins in Canterbury was Sheriff of Kent the twenty fourth year of Henry the eighth Thomas Roberts of Glastonbury in Cranbroke Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the twenty fifth of Henry the eighth Sir Thomas Poynings of Ostenhanger Knight afterwards created Lord Poynings in the thirtieth year of Henry the eighth was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty sixth year of Henry the eighth He married Katharine Daughter and Coheir of John Lord Marney but deceased without Issue in the thirty seventh year of the abovesaid Prince Sir Edward Wotton of Boughton Malherbe was again Sheriff of Kent the twenty seventh of Henry the eighth Sir Thomas Wiat of Allington Castle was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty eighth year of Henry the eighth He married Elizabeth Daughter of Sir Thomas Brooke Lord Cobham by whom he had Issue Sir Thomas Wiat afterwards beheaded Sir William Haut of Hautsbourn was again Sheriff of Kent the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth Sir William Sidney of Pencehurst Knight Banneret Tutor to Prince Edward afterwards Edward the sixth was Sheriff of Kent in the thirtieth year of Henry the eighth He was Son and Heir of Nicholas Sidney Esquire who married Anne Daughter of Sir Will. Brandon Knight slain at Bosworâ—h Field Aunt to Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk This Nicholas was Son and Heir of William Sidney Esquire by Thomaâ—…in his Wife Daughter and Heir of John Barrington Esquire descended from the right ancient and Knightly Family of Barrington of Barrington Hall in Essex Sir Anthony St. Leger of Ulcomb Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty first year of Henry the eighth Anthony Sonds of Throuley Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty second of Henry the eighth Reginald Scot of Scots Hall Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty third year of Henry the eighth Sir Henry Isley of Sondridge and of Farningham was Sheriff of Kent the thirty fourth of Henry the eighth Sir Humphry Stile of Langley Park in Bekenham Knight Son and Heir of John Stile Alderman of London and Elizabeth his Wife Daughter and Coheir of Sir Guy Wolston Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty fifth of Henry the eighth Sir John Fogge of Repton was Sheriff of Kent the thirty sixth year of Henry the eighth Sir Percival Hart of Lullingston Knight was Sheriff of Kent the thirty seventh year of Henry the eighth Henry Crispe of Quekes in Birchington in the Isle of Thanet Esquire who received the Order of Knighthood before his Death was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty eighth year of Henry the eighth in which year this Prince shrunk to Ashes Sheriffs of Kent in the Time of K. Edward the Sixth William Sidley of Scadbery in Southfleet Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the first of Edward the sixth Sir George Harpur of Sutton Valence was sheriff of Kent in the second year of Edward the sixth Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury Son and Heir of Sir Alexander Colepeper was Sheriff of Kent in the third year of K. Edward the sixth Sir Thomas Wiat of Allington Castle Son and Heir of Sir Thomas Wiat and Grandchild of Sir Henry Wiat was Sheriff of Kent in the fourth year of K. Edward the sixth Sir Henry Isley of Sundridge was Sheriff of Kent in the fifth year of K. Edward the sixth Sir John Guldford of Hemsted in Benenden was Sheriff of Kent the sixth year of K. Edward the sixth After this year this Pious young Monarch was not long Liv'd for all his early blooming Glories were shortly after blasted by a too sudden Death Sheriffs of Kent under Queen Mary Sir Robert Southwell of Merworth Knight afterwards Master of the Rolls was Sheriff of Kent in the first year of Queen Mary He held Merworth where he lies buried in Right of his Wife Margaret Daughter and sole Heir of Sir Thomas Nevill Speaker of the Parliament in the time of Henry the eighth and one of his Privy Councel and third Son to George Nevill Baron Aburgavenny William Roper of Well Hall in Eltham was Sheriff of Kent in the first and second year of Philip and Mary Sir Thomas Kempe of Ollantie near Wye was Sheriff of Kent in the second and third year of Philip and Mary part of the year was supplied for him by Thomas Moile Esquire George Vane of Badsell Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the third and fourth year of Philip and Mary Thomas Wotton of Boughton Malherbe Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the fourth and fifth year of Philip and Mary In which year Callis was lost which Blow sat so heavy upon her Heartstrings that the Cordage not able to undergo the Pressure was crackt with the Burden which was lodged upon it Sheriffs of Kent under Queen Elizabeth Thomas Wotton of Bonghton Malherbe continued in that Office part of the first year of Q. Elizabeth and the remainder of the year was supplied by Nicholas Crispe Esquire who kept his Shrivealty at Grimgill in Whitestaple but more properly Greenshields from a Family so called who were once Proprietaries of it Warham St. Leger of Ulcomb Esquire afterwards Knighted in the year 1565 was Sheriff of Kent in the second year of Queen Elizabeth John Tufton of Hothfield in Kent Esquire Son and Heir of Nicholas Tufton Esquire who was possest of Tufton in Nordiam in Sussex was Sheriff of Kent the third year of Queen Elizabeth Richard Baker of Sisingherst in Cranbroke Esquire Son and Heir of Sir John Baker Chancellor of the Exchequer and one of the Privy Councel to Q. Mary was Sheriff of Kent in the fourth year of Q. Elizabeth Sir Thomas Walsingham of Scadbery in Chiselhurst Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the fifth year of Q. Elizabeth Sir Thomas Kempe of Ollantie Knight that was Sheriff before in the third year of Q. Mary served in that Office again in the sixth year of Q. Elizabeth John Mayney of Biddenden Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the seventh year of Q. Elizabeth but died before his year was out and the rest of the Time
of Kent the second year of Henry the seventh Sir Henry Ferrers of great Peckham Knight who was Sheriff before in the fifth year of Edward the fourth was Sheriff of Kent again in the third year of Henry the seventh Walter Roberts of Glastenbury in Cranbroke Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the fourth year of Edward the fourth Sir William Boleyne Knight of Hever Castle and of Seale Son of Sir Ieffery Boleyne Lord Maior of London and Anne his Wife Daughter and Coheir of Thomas Lord Hoo and Hastings was Sheriff of Kent in the fifth year of Henry the seventh Sir William Scot Son and Heir of Sir Iohn Scot was Sheriff of Kent in the sixth year of Henry the seventh This our Sheriff new built Scots Hall which was before decayed and ruinous John Darell of Cale-Hill Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the seventh year of Henry the seventh He was Esquire of the Body to that Prince and Captain of the Launciers in that part of the County wherein he lived and having had his Estate torn from him by Richard the third as being a Correspondent of Henry the seventh had it restored to him with several other Mannors by that Prince He was Father to Sir Iames Darell who was Knighted at Turwin by K. Henry the eighth and was Captain of Hames Castle and Governour of Guisnes Thomas Kemp of Ollantie near Wye Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the eighth year of Henry the seventh He married Emeline one of the two Daughters and Coheirs of Valentine Chich and Philippa his Wife Daughter and Heir of Sir Robert Chichley Knight sometime Lord Maior of London and Brother to Henry Chichley Arch Bishop of Canbury Sir Richard Gulford of Halden who was Knighted at Milford Haven and made Banneret at Blackheath was Sheriff of Kent the ninth year of Henry the seventh John Peche of Lullingston Esquire who afterwards received the Order of Knighthood was Sheriff of Kent in the tenth year of Henry the seventh John Digge of Digges Court in Berham was Sheriff of Kent the eleventh year of Henry the seventh Sir Iames Walsingham of Scadbery in Chiselhurst was Sheriff of Kent the twelfth of Henry the seventh Lewis Clifford of Bobbing Court Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the thirteenth year of Henry the seventh Robert Wotton of Boughton Malherbe Esquire afterwards Knighted and made comptroler of Callis was Sheriff of Kent the fourteenth of Henry the seventh Alexander Colepeper of Bedgebury Esquire in Goudherst was Sheriff of Kent in the fifteenth year of Henry the seventh He afterwards received the Order of Knighthood Thomas Iden of Westwell Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the sixteenth year of Henry the seventh Sir William Scot of Scots Hall who was Sheriff in the sixth year of Henry the seventh was Sheriff of Kent again in the seventeenth year of that Princes Government Ralph St. Leger of Ulcomb Esquire Son and Heir of Ralph St. Leger was Sheriff of Kent the eighteenth year of Henry the seventh William Cromer of Tunstal Esquire who afterwards received the Order of Knighthood was Sherift of Kent the ninteenth of Henry the seventh John Langley of Knowlton Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the twentieth of Henry the seventh Sir Thomas Kempe of Ollantie Knight of the Bath was Sheriff of Kent the twenty first of Henry the seventh Sir Alexander Colepeper of Bedgebury was Sheriff of Kent again the twenty second year of Henry the seventh Henry Vane of Tunbridge Esquire second Son of John Vane of Tunbridge Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the twenty third year of Henry the seventh Reginald Peckham of Yaldham in Wrotham Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the twenty fourth of Henry the seventh in which year that Sagacious Monarch shook off the Garment of his Mortality Sheriffs of Kent under the Scepter of Henry the Eighth Sir William Cromer of Tunstal Knight who was Sheriff before in the ninteenth of Henry the seventh managed that Office again and was Sheriff again of this County in the first year of K. Henry the eighth James Digge of Digges Court in Berham Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the second year of Henry the eighth Sir Thomas Boleyne of Hever Castle Knight was Sheriff of Kent in the third year of Henry the eighth in the fifteenth year of Henry the eighth he was made Knight of the Garter and Treasurer of the Kings House in the seventeenth year he was created Viscount Rochford and in the twenty first of Henry the eighth he was invested with the Title of Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond Sir Thomas Kemp of Ollantie made Knight of the Bath at the Marriage of Prince Arthur Eldest Son to Henry the seventh was again Sheriff in the fourth year of Henry the eighth Sir John Norton of Northwood in Milton Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the fifth year of Henry the eighth Sir Alexander Colepeper of Bedgebury Esquire was Sheriff of Kent the sixth year of Henry the eighth Tho. Cheyney of Shurland Esquire afterwards made Knight of the Garter was Sheriff of Kent in the seventh year of Henry the eighth Sir William Scot of Scots Hall Knight was made Sheriff of Kent the eighth year of Hen. the eighth and before that in the sixth and seventeenth years of Hen. the seventh Sir Thomas Boleyne of Hever Castle Knight was again Sheriff of Kent the ninth year of Henry the eighth John Crispe of Quekes at Birchington in the Isle of Thanet Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the tenth year of Henry the eighth Sir John Wiltshire of Stone near Dartford Comptroller of Callis was Sheriff of Kent in the eleventh year of Henry the eighth John Roper Esquire of St. Dunstans without the Walls of Canterbury and of Well Hall in Eltham was Sheriff of Kent the twelfth of Henry the eighth Robert Sonds of Town Place in Throuley and of Sonds Place in Darking in Surrey was Sheriff of Kent in the thirteenth year of Henry the eighth Sir John Fogge of Repton in Ashford was Sheriff of Kent in the fourteenth year of Henry the eighth George Guldford of Hemsted in Beneuden Esquire who married Elizabeth Daughter and Heir of Robert Mortimer of Mortimers Hall in Essex and the Lady Elizabeth Howard his Wife Daughter to John Lord Howard Duke of Norfolk was Sheriff of Kent the sixteenth of Henry the eighth Sir William Haut of Haut bourn Knight Son and Heir of Sir Thomas Haut made Knight of the Bath at the Marriage of Prince Arthur with Katharine of Castile was Sheriff of Kent the sixteenth year of Henry the eighth Henry Vane of Tunbridge Esquire who was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty third year of Hen. the seventh discharged that Office again in the seventeenth year of Hen. the eighth This Henry Vane is he that had Command in an Expedition into Scotland in the beginning of the abovesaid Prince Vide Speed William Whetenhal of Hextal Place in East Peckham Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the eighteenth year of Henry the eighth Sir John Scot of Scott Hall
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
Solley who not many years after transmitted it by Sale to Mr. Jo. Ward of London whose Widow Mrs. Katharin Ward now holds it in Right of Dower Goldstanton in this Parish is a second place of Note and was as high as the Beam of any Evidence will guide me to discover the Patrimony of Leybourn Roger de Leybourn who was in the Register of those Kentish Gentlemen who were pardoned by the Pacification called Dictum de Kenelworth for seeking to support with seditious Arms the Cause and Quarrell of Simon de Montfort held it in the fiftieth year of Henry the third and from him did it descend to his great Grandchild Juliana de Leybourn who dying without Issue or Alliance in the forty third year of Edward the third this with Overland escheated to the Crown but was granted out again by Richard the second to Sir Simon de Burley who being attainted and convicted of high Treason in the tenth year of his Reign that Prince link'd it by a new Donation to the Abby of Childrens Langley But yet I find that in the Reign of Henry the fourth Richard Cliderow who was Sheriff of Kent in the fourth year and most part of the fith year of that Prince and then again in the sixth year of Hen. the fifth held it I suppose only as a Lessee and kept his Shrivealty at this Place a Man he was of no contemptible Account in those Times as I shall discover more amply at little Betshanger which was his capital Seat But to return after this Mannor had made its aboad in the Demeasne of the above mentioned Covent untill the Dissollution in the Reign of Henry the eighth it was then torn off and granted to Tho. Lord Cromwell Earl of Essex upon whose Attaint in the thirty second year of the above said Prince it escheated back to the Crown and then it was granted in the thirty fourth year of Henry the eighth to Vincent Engham Esquire whose Descendant Sir Tho. Engham some few years transplanted his Concernment in it by Sale into Mr. ......... Courcelis of London Nevills Fleet in this Parish was more anciently called Butlers Fleet as being parcell of the Revenue of that Family and the Book of Aid in the Exchequer which makes an enumeration of the ancient Owners mentions one Richard de Boteler to have been its ancient Possessor but in the twentienth year of Edward the third when that Book was taken William Lord Latimer of Corbie Knight of the Garter and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports held it and in the thirty eighth obtained by the Charter of that Prince a Market to be held at Ark on the Thursday and a three days Fair at our Lady Day and from him as in divers Records it is evident did it acquire the Name of Latimers Fleet but stayed not long under that Title for he determined in Eleanor his Daughter and Heir matched to John Lord Nevill who in her Right became Lord of this Mannor and from him did it contract the Title of Nevils Fleet and lay couched in the Patrimony of this Name untill the Beginning of Edward the fourth and then it was alienated to Cromer and James Cromer in the eleventh year of Henry the seventh alienated it to John Isaac from whom not long after it was brought over by Purchase to Kendall and in that Name it fixed untill the Beginninig of Henry the eighth and then it was alienated to Sir John Fogge and he before the end of that Prince conveyed it to Ralph in which Name it was resident untill the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth and then it was demised to Spracklin and Sir Adam Spracklin almost in Times under our Fathers Cognisance passed it away to Harfleet in which Family you may at this instant find it Molands in this Parish gave Seat and Sirname to a Family so called who before the end of Edward the second were worn out and then it became the possession of Harfleet aliás Septuans who much improved the House with additional Buildings where the Arms of this Family do stand yet in Panes of very old coloured Glasse with this Motto annexed Dissipabo inimicos Regis mei ut paleam alluding either to their Coat which was three Fans such as they fan and winnow Corn with or else to William de Septuans who dyed in the year 14011. and warred as the Records of this Family inform me under Edward the third in France and by his Will registred in the Prerogative Office at Canterbury which I mention for the Novelty of it he gives Manumission or Freedome to diverse of his Slaves or Natives and Sir William Septuans was his Son who lyes buryed in Christ Church in Canterbury and as his Epitaph on his Tomb instructs me dyed in the year 1448. and from him did the Title stream in this Name untill the Reign of Henry the eighth and then I find this Seat in the possession of Robert Read but it was not long out of the Name for about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth I find it reinvested again in Harfleet and remains an eminent Mansion of this Family at present Many of this Sirname lye buryed in Ash Church for those three Altar Tombs in the Church yard and those on each side the North Dore were the Repositories or Exchequers that treasured up the Remains of divers of this Family all which had their Figures and Arms insculp'd in Brasse annexed to their Sepulchers which by the impression of Times and the Assaults of Sacrilegious Hands are quite dismantled and torn off Wingham Barton is another eminent Mannor in this Parish which belonged to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and when John Peckham founded his Colledge at Wingham in the year 1282. there was an Exhibition setled on that Seminary or Brotherhood issuing out of this Manuor from whence it is supposed by some it contracted the Name of Wingham Barton though I rather conjecture it was called so from its Situation in opposition to another of that Name called Firmins Barton lying by Canterbury But to proceed this continued Archiepiscopal untill the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth and then it was exchanged by Thomas Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with the Crown and rested there untill Q. Elizabeth granted it to Sir Roger Manwood whose son Sir Peter Manwood passed it away by his Trustees not many years since to Sir William Curteen of London and he gave it in Dower with his daughter matched to Henry late Earle of Kent who upon his decease ordered it to be sold to discharge some Debts and was accordingly not long since by his Countess conveyed by Sale to Mr. James Thurbarne of Sandwich one of the Cinque Ports Son of James Thurbarne Esquire a Justice of Peace in this County in the Reign of K. James whose Ancestors from 1331 have continued very eminent in the Cinque Ports especially in Hasting and Romney as also in Romney Mersh as appears by divers ancient Records But the ancient Mannor-House was in the
seised of it in the fourth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 31. but this Name determining not long after in a Female Heir She by matching with Langley of Warwick-shire linked it to his Patrimony and William Langley in Right of this Alliance was possest of Hartanger in the fourth year of Henry the fourth and here it made its abode untill the latter End of Henry the sixth and then it was conveyed by Sale to Sir Thomas Brown aboved mentioned and his successor about the Beginning of Henry the seventh But the Mannor of Soles remained longer in the Name and possession of that Family John Soles held it at his Decease which was in the forty ninth year of Edw. the third Rot. Esc Num. 40. Parte secunda whilst this Family flourished under the Notion of one of the most ancient of East-Kent but continued here but untill the fourth year of Henry the fourth and then I find it linked to the Inheritance of Thomas Newbregge of Fordwich and in his Posterity did the propriety fix untill the Beginning of Henry the seventh and then the Name expired having tranferred the Interest they had in this place to Mr. William Bois Ancestor to Mr. John Bois of Hode who passed away some part of it not many years since to Sir Anthony Percival but transmitted the Remainder to his Son and Heir Mr. John Bois of Hode Esquire Bradherst with its two small appendant Mannors Petesworth and Meresworth vulgarly called Meresborough is situated in the Hundred of Eyhorne and was formerly folded up in that wide and spacious Revenue which was the paternal Inheritance of the Lords Leybourne of Leybourne Castle the last of which was Roger Lord Leybourne in whom the Name determined as the Estate did afterwards in his sole Daughter and Heir Juliana de Leybourne who having no Issue surviving neither by her first Husband John de Hastings nor her second William de Clinton Earl of Huntington nor any who by a collateral Relation could fortifie or furnish out a claim to her inheritance these Mannors which were a Limbe of it were invested by Escheat in the Crown and by Edward the third were not long after setled on his newly erected Abby of St. Mary Grace on Tower-Hill and remained wound up in the Revenue of that Cloister untill the Common dissolution did unravel it and resigned these respective Mannors with the Remainder of their Demeasn up to the Crown and here the Propriety of them made its abode untill the third year of Edward the sixth and then they were by the Royal Concession of that Prince passed away to Sir Thomas Cheyney whose Son and Heir Sir Henry Cheyney Lord Cheyney of Tuddington alienated all his Interest here in the thirteenth year of Q. Elizabeth to Samuel Thornhill Esquire who upon his Decease gave his Estate here to his second Son Sir John Thornhill of Bromley Knight whose Son and Heir Charles Thornhill Esquire hath now the Signorie of it The Church of Bradherst though thrust into an obscure and silent Corner amongst Woods and other dark Recesses yet is enobled with a Monument of one of the Knightly Family of Northwood which hath this Epitaph endorsed Hic jacet Willielmus Northwood cum quatuor suis Filiis verus Haeres Domini de Northwood It is probable this Family had some Retreat or Mansion here at this Parish which upon their abandoning of Bradherst languished away insenbly into Ruine so that the Memory of it now is altogether neglected and forgotten Blackmanston in the Hundred of Worth had a Family of good Account in this Tract named Marings or Marins which it called Proprietaries Thomas de Marings held it at his Decease which was in the twenty sixth year of Edward the first and so did Joan Widow of Roger Marins his Son as appears by two Inquisitions taken after her Decease one in the sixteenth year of Edward the third and the other in the twenty third year of that Princes Reign but after this I do not find this place long permanent in this Family for in the forty fourth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 10. Henry de Hauts of Haut bourne died possest of it and from him did the Title by an even Clew of succession come down to Sir William Haut Son and Heir of Sir Thomas Haut of Hautsbourne who deceased without Issue Male so that this Mannor of Blackmanston upon the Division of his Estate came by Joan one of his two Daughters and Coheirs to fall under the Possession and Signory of Sir Thomas Wiat but continued not long tied up in his Demeasn for this noble but unfortunate Person being engaged past all Retreat in a Disastrous Combination against Q. Mary was attainted of High Treason and beheaded in the second year of that Princess and so this place being rent off by Escheat from this Family it lay couched in the Income of the Crown untill the twenty ninth of Q. Elizabeth and then it was granted by that Princess to Roger Parker Esquire who was one of her Pages and he not long after conveyed it by Sale to Sir William Hall of Bibrook in Kennington and his Son Nevil Hall Esquire in the year 1630 alienated his Right in it to Sir Edward Hales Knight and Baronet whose Grandchild Sir Edward Hales now of Tunstal Baronet upon the late Decease of his Grand Father abovesaid now succeeds in the Possession of it Bekesbourne in the Hundred of Downhamford distinguished from the other Bournes which are linked to each other by the River of Leving by the ancient Owners Name the Bekes It hath long time been a Member to Hasting in Sussex and enjoyeth like Liberty with the Cinque Ports which K. Edward the third made Declaration of by a special Writ in the forty third year of his Reign At which time and long after there was a small Navigation out of the River of Stoure up to this place Richard de Beke as we read in Testa de Nevil a Book kept in the Exchequer held some Lands here in grand Serjeantie to find one Ship each Time K. Henry the third should pass the Seas The Arch-Bishops of Canterbury had here a small but elegant House very commodious for their Recesse or Retirement the River brought so conveniently about it that the Trouts the principal Fish there are plentifully useful unto it Garwinton a Mannor and House most elegantly and commodiously situated in this Parish was possest by certain Gentlemen that extracted their Denomination from this Seat and held the same by Knights Service of the Abbot of St. Augustins neer Canterbury and Thomas de Garwinton a Man of valuable Consideration on this side of the County was eminent here in the twentieth year of Edward the third and from him did it descend to his great Crandchild Thomas Garwinton in whom the Male Line determined for he dying without Issue in the eleventh year of Henry the fourth Joan his Neice matched to Richard Haut a Cadet of the Hauts
of Hauts-Bourne was after a serious Inquisition found to be his Heir General and She having entituled her Husband to this Mannor his Son Richard Haut in Right of this Alliance was enstated in it but he concluding likewise in a Female Inheritrix called Margery She She by espousing William Isaac of Hopland knit this and much other Land to his inheritance whose successor by the same Fatality expired in a Daughter and Heir first matched to Sydley and secondly to Sir Henry Palmer on whom She setled this Mannor and his Descendant Sir Henry Palmer passed it away to Lieutenant Colonel Prude slain at Maestricht Father to Mr. Searles Prude whose two Daughters and Coheirs have lately conveyed it to Mr. George Curtis Bekenham near Bromley helps to give Name to the Hundred wherein it is placed and of old time was held by Gentlemen called in Latine Records de Rupella in French de la Rochel and in English Rokeley and were in their original Etymologie extracted from Rochel in France Richard de Rokeley died seised of this Mannor in the fifth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 6. and was succeeded in the Possession by Philip de la Rokeley and he held it likewise at his Death which hapened in the 23 year of Edw. the first Rot. Esc Num. 39. and left it to his Sole Daughter and Heir Isolda de la Rokeley matched to William Bruin by whom She had Issue Sir Maurice Bruin Chamberlaine to K. Edw. the third honoured with the Summons to Parliament as Baron amongst the Peers of this Realm who by a Right derived to him from his Mother was possest of this at his Death in the twenty ninth of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 38. and transmitted a wide and spreading Revenue to his Posterity here at Southokenden in Essex and at Roumere in Hantshire which last was given in Appendage to a younger Son from whom the Bruins of Athelhampton in the County of Dorset are lineally descended But when after a fair continuance this Family had flourished at this Place the Distaffe prevailed against the Speare and Sir Henry Bruins two Daughters and Coheirs about the Beginning of Edward the fourth divided his Inheritance each of them having a first and second Husband Alice the eldest was first married to Robert Harleston of Essex Esquire and after to Sir Thomas Heveningham and Elizabeth second Daughter was wedded first to Thomas Tirrell of Heron in Essex Esquire and after his Decease to Sir William Brandon Knight who was Standard-bearer to Henry the seventh at Bosworth Field where he was stain in asserting his Cause and Quarrel against Richard the third and he had Issue by her Sir Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk the Flower and perfection of English Chivalrie in his Time who sometimes kept his Residence at this place not as Proprietarie but onely as Lessee for the Sole Inheritance upon the Division of Bruin's Estate accrued to Tirrell and here entertained Henry the eighth with all the Cunning Pompe of Magnificence as he went to bestow a Visit at Hever on his discarded and repudiated wife Ann of Cleve But to go on this Mannor as I said before being annexed to the patrimony of Thomas Tirrell Humphrey Tirrell his Grandchild to whom it descended passed away one Moietie of it in the thirty fifth year of Henry the eighth to Ralph Warren and the other to Henry Parke Warren alienated his Proportion not long after to Bradbury from which Family about the latter End of Q. Eliz. it came over by Sale to Serjeant Gent who gave it in Dower with his Daughter to Sir George Dalston of Cumberland who in our Memory conveyed it to Sir Patrick Curwin of the same County and he some few years since sold his Interest in it to Sir Oliver St. John of Batricksey in Surrey who upon his Decease gave it to his Son then Mr. Walter but now upon the Death of his Nephew Sir Walter St. John Baronet the other Moitie by Joan sole Heir of the abovesaid Henry Parke came to be the Inheritance of Mr. Robert Leigh descended out of Cheshire whose Successor about the latter End of King James alienated it to Sir Henry Snelgrave from whom it descended to his Grandchild Mr. Henry Snelgrave who not long since passed it away to Mr. Walter now Sir Walter St. John Baronet who lately hath exchanged the whole Mannor for other Land with his Brother Mr. Henry St. John Langley in this Parish is a second Seat of eminent Account which was in elder Times the Possession of John de Malmains who obtained a Charter of Free-Warren to his Lands in Bekenham in the twelfth year of Edward the second which was renewed to Henry de Cliffe to whom they accrued by Purchase from Malmains in the third year of Edward the third but stayed not long in the Tenure of this Family for before the going out of Edward the third I find the Propriety invested by Sale in Langley to which Family the Foundation of that HOuse owes in part its Original on which they ingraffed their own Name which hath flourished under that Title ever since though the Family be withered away and gone the last of which Name at this place was Ralph Langley who with Roger Twisden Stephen Monins Edward Monins John Edingham or Engham Richard Edingham John Berton of Cotmanton in Shouldon John Berham John Betenham of Shurland in Pluckley and others Gentlemen of prime Rank in this County were summoned to appear before Robert Poynings and John Perry in the twelfth year of Henry the sixth to disclaim the Title of the House of York and this Ralph died in the year 1451 and ordered Langley and other demeasns at Bekenham to be sold for the discharging his Debts the purport and Effects of which Will were accordingly performed and his Estate at Bekenham and Langley passed away by Sale to John Violett whose Successors enjoyed it until the Beginning of Hen. the eighth and then it was conveyed to John Stiles Esq who much inlarged the House with a supply of Buildings and from him is it by Descent devolved to be the instant Possession of his Successor Sir Humphrey Stiles Knight and Baronet Kelseys lies likewise in this Parish and may justly exact our Notice by Deeds written in a Character that hath an Aspect upon the Reign of Henry the third John de Kelsey William de Kelsey and others of that Sirname are represented to have an Interest in this Seat and from hence it is probable the Kelseys of Surrey did derive their first Extraction however by the Injuries of Time they have been in succeeding Generations cast under the umbrage of an obscurer Fortune But I return After this Family had deserted the Possession of this place which was before the latter End of Richard the the second I find the Brograves stepped in and by purchase became Lords of the Fee a Family which in very old Deeds writ themselves Burgrave and sometimes Boroughgrave though now a more
third as appears Rot. Esc Num. 52. Parte prima And in this Name melted by a softer pronunciation in Times of a lower Date into Coluney did the propriety of it reside untill the Reign of Edward the fourth and then by an old Survey of Bersted I find it in the Hands of Thomas Coluney and this was in the fourteenth of that Princes Reign when most of this County was surveyed but after him I find no more of this Family entituled to the Possession for in the Beginning of Henry the seventh it was annexed to the Inheritance of Stonehouse whose ancient Seat was at Haselwood in Boughton Malherbe where they flourished for many Generations even down unto our Times and was constant to the Interest of that Name untill the Beginning of Q. Elizabeth and then it was passed away to Sir Thomas Floyd Receiver to that Princess and Justice of the Peace for this County and he much took off from the Obscurity of this Seat by adding an additional Magnificence by making the ancient Fabrick swell into the Dimensions not onely of a stately but an elegant Pile by an augmentation of Building and from him did it devolve by Descent to his Grandchild Mr. Thomas Floyd Esquire who some few years since transplanted his Right in it by sale into Mr. ...... Cage There is another Mannor in this Parish called Stone-house which formerly lay couched in that Revenue which gave support to the Priory of Christ Church but upon the Resignation of the Demeasn of that Cloister into the Hands of Henry the eighth it was by a new Grant linked to that Patrimony which was to be subservient to the Interest of the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church which had newly then from the Authority and Munificence of that Prince received its first Establishment And certainly from this place did the Stone-houses both of Kent Berkshire and Buckinghamshire either as Tenants to the Monks of the abovesaid Cloister or else as having some Mansion or Habitation of theirs situated no far distance from this Mannor anciently extract and spin out the primitive Original of their Name and Family This is my conjecture which I leave to more sober and severer Understandings either to embrace or else abandon and discard Brabourne in the Hundred of Bircholt Franchises was a Record drawn out of an old Manuscript does engage me to affirm the Inheritance in Times of a very ancient Date of a Lady called Salburga the Words of the Record that strengthen this Assertion are these Provaeda Matrona Nomine Salburga Domina de Brabourne Testamentum constitit ut qui tenerent Brabourne darent annuatim Sancto Augustino 40 Ambras Brasii that is Plates of Brass 4 Boves 15 Arietes 20 Panes 1 Piss Butyri 1 Piss Casei 4 Carucatas Lignorum that is four Carts Loads of Wood 20 Gallinas eâ Lege ut Monarchi singulis Diebus cantarent pro anima ejus Psalmum Exaudiat te Dominus c. This Records attests the abovesaid Lady to have died about the year 864. In Times of a lower Descent I find Alexander de Strabolgie Earl of Athol who flourished here in the Reign of Henry the third and Edward the first to have held it and from him did it devolve to his great Grandchild David de Strabolgie Earl of Athol who held it at his Death which was in the thirtieth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 19. and left it to his Son David de Strabolgie who dying in the forty ninth year of Edw. the third without Issue Male Elizabeth matched to Sir Thomas Percy from whose Heir General the Lord Borough of Ster-borough was descended and Philippa wedded to John Halsham of Halsham in Sussex shared his Inheritance but this Mannor upon the Partition acknowledged her for Inheritrix and She was in Possession of it at her Death which was in the nineteenth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 31. and by a Right derived from her did John Halsham possess it at his Decease which was in the second year of Henry the fifth Rot. Esc Num. 8. and from him did it descend to his Son Sir Hugh Halsham Knight who deceased in the twentieth year of Henry the sixth and left onely Joan Halsham his Daughter and Heir who was wedded to John Lewknor of Sussex Esquire and so this Mannor by this Alliance became the Inheritance of that Family but made no long abode in their Name for the abovesaid Io. Lewknor and Ioan his Wife in the fifth year of Edward the fourth passed it away to Sir Iohn Scott Comptroller of the House to K. Edward the fourth and from this Sir Iohn Scott is Mr. Edward Scott Esquire by an uninterrupted Chanell of an Original unquestioned Descent extracted who is at this instant by a Right transplanted unto him from many illustrious Predecessors entituled to the Possession of this place Bircholt in this Parish is made more eminent in this Account because it affords a Name to the whole Hundred wherein it is situated by Deeds of a very reverend and venerable Aspect which by the obsolete and antiquated Character seem to have been written in the Time of K. Iohn and Henry the third it is made the Inheritance originally of a Family called Bircholt Stephen de Bircholt possessor of this Mannor paid respective Aid for it as appears by the Book of Aid at making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth year of Edward the third But after the Reign of this Prince I do not find long permanent in this Family for in the Reign of Henry the fourth several old Court Rolls discover to me one Richard Halk or Hawke of Westhawks in Kingsnoth to be planted in the Possession and an old Arbor Radicalis or Tree from whence branches out the several Descents of Hawk or Halke and which is now preserved amongst the Evidences of Bircholt House this Family is made to have been Proprietaries of this Mannor ever since the Beginning of Richard the second nor is yet departed from the Name but remains at this instant knit to the rest of the Demeasn of this ancient Family Heminge is the last place of account in Brabourne which anciently yielded both Seat and Sirname to a Family of that Appellation I shall not need to make a Recapitulation from Deeds without Date of the Antiquity of this Family at this place it is enough that I shall inform the Reader that after it had been the Possession of this Name as may be traced out by Evidences almost three hundred years it was conveyed by William Heminge in the second year of Edward the sixth to Peter Nott in which Name the Title is now resident Benenden in the Hundred of Cranbrooke was as Doomesday Book informs me if not all yet for a principal part of it possest by one Godricus or Godric In Benenden mansit Godricus says the Record tenet XX. Acras in Alodio suo What this Alodium was the Civilians and out of them Sir Henry Spilman
Clifford lineally descended who almost in our Fathers Remembrance passed away his Interest here to Sir Coniers Clifford and the Lady Mary his Wife Widow of Southwell whom he had made joynt purchaser with him in the Conveyance after whose Decease she was remarried to Sir Anthony St. Leger of Ireland by whom she had Issue Sir Anthony St. Leger now of Wierton House in Boughton Montchentsey who by a Right derived from a Donation of his Mother divided the Mannor of Bobbing with his two half Brothers Henry and Coniers Clifford all whom not many years since by mutuall and joynt Consent alienated the whole demise to Sir Edward Duke of Cosington and he not long after passed away his Right in it by Sale to Sir Richard Gurney of London from whom the same Vicissitude and Conveyance hath now brought it to be the Patrimony of his Brother in Law Captain Henry Samford Esquire Borden in the Hundred of Milton hath nothing memorable in it but the Mannor of Criolls and Poyles for they were alwaies united together and were parcell of that spreading Demeasne which fell under the Signory of Bertram de Crioll and he dyed possest of them in the twenty third year of Edward the third and left it to John Crioll his Son and Heir who dying without Issue Joan his Sister and Heir Generall brought this and much other Land to be possest by her Husband Sir Richard de Rokesley but he likewise deceasing without Issue the same fatal Vicissitude brought it by Joan sole Daughter and Heir to be the Patrimony of Thomas de Poynings in which Family the Title flowed with an uninterrupted Current untill it devolved to Sir Edward Poynings who dyed in the twelfth year of Henry the eighth without Issue lawfully begotten and as it appears by the last Inquisition taken after his Decease in the fourteenth year of that Prince without any respective Kindred that could legally entitle themselves to his Estate so this Mannor escheated to the Crown and was granted by the abovesaid Prince to Sir Thomas Wiat who lost it again upon his attainder in the second year of Queen Mary but was restored again by Queen Elizabeth in the twenty fifth year of her Reign to his Son George Wiat Esquire only for life for the Reversion thereof was by King James by his Letters Patents bearing Date the fifteenth Day of June in the sixteenth year of his Reign granted to Thomas Hooker and Jo. Spencer Gentlemen who joyn after in a fine and settle it on the Heirs of Mr. George Wiat in the second year of King Charles Sir Francis Wiat was found to be his Heir who with his Ladies Consent Dame Margaret Wiat did by good and sufficient Assurance in Law not many yeers since convey it to Isaac Seward Gentleman Sutton Barne is a little Mannor in this Parish remarkable only in this that Roger de Savage Son of Sir John Savage obtained a Charter of Free Warren to it in the fifth year of Edward the second and continued with the Name untill the Heir Generall carried it away with Bobbing to Clifford in which Family it remained untill the latter end of Henry the eighth and then it was passed away to Platt Ancestor to Mr ....... Plat of Borden who now enjoys the Inheritance of it Bonnington in the Hundred of Street did anciently appertain to the Knights Templars and being found in the Register of their Demeasne at their total Suppression which was in the second year of Edward the second it was in the seventeenth year of that Princes Rule by a new Provision made by Act of Parliament setled on the Knights Hospitallers or of St. Johns of Jerusalem and so lay enwrapped in their Patrimony which was wide and spacious in this Track untill the Reign of Henry the eighth and then by the Suppression of this Order it was made parcell of the Royall Revenue untill the abovesaid Prince in the thirty fifth year of his Government granted it to Sir Thomas Moile and he not long after conveyed it by Sale to Sir James Hales of the Dungeon neer Canterbury from whom it devolved by successive Right to his Successor Sir James Hales who almost in our Memory alienated his Interest in it to Sir William Man of Canterbury Singleton is another Mannor in Bonington which was the Inheritance of a Family which anciently extracted its Sirname from the abovesaid Parish and was called Bonington of which Family was Ni. de Bonington who paid respective Aid for this Mannor at making the Black Prince Knight after this Family was extinguished which was about the Beginning of Richard the second the Breslands a Family who were Owners of a plentifull Estate in East Kent were entituled by Purchase to the Possession of this Mannor and continued in the Tenure of it untill about the latter end of Henry the fourth and then it passed away as appears by some ancient Court Rolls to Cobbe whose Arms viz. Argent a Cheveron between three Cocks Gules if not assaulted by the barrous rudenesle of these Times stand in old coloured Class both in the Churches of Bonington and Limne But to proceed Singleton had for several Generations and Ages been folded up in that Demeasne which related to this Family it was carried down by the Vicissitude of Time to Edward Cobbe Esquire who about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth deceased without Issue male and so both this Place and Cobbs place in Aldington became the Inheritance of Sir John Norton of Northwood by matching with Alice sole Daughter and Heit of the abovesaid Edward and from him did it transmit it self by Descent to his Successor Sir Thomas Norton of Northwood who dying without Issue male Elizabeth his Female Inheritrix brought this to be parcell of that Estate which acknowledges the Signory of Sir James Hales now of the place or Court called the Dungeon neer Canterbury Brookland in the Hundred of Aloesbridge anciently was wrapt up in the Patrimony of a noble Family called Passeley whose Seat was at Thevegate in Smeth Edmund de Passeley is the first whom in publick Record I discover to have been possest of it as appears by an Inquisition taken after his Decease in the nineteenth year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 57. but the aboad of this Family at this Place was no longer then untill the end of Henry the fourth and then it was by John Passeley alienated to the Lord Cobham of Sterborough and here was the Tenure and Title more transient and volatile then in the former Family for Thomas Lord Cobham of Sterborough dyed in the eleventh year of Edward the fourth and left it to his sole Daughter and Heir Ann matched to Edward Borough afterwards in her Right Lord Borough of Sterborough and Lord of this Mannor and in this Family was it fixed untill Thomas Lord Borough Grandchild to the abovesaid Edward about the middle of Queen Elizabeth passed it away to Eversfield of Sussex from whom by as quick a Transition it was
Grandchild John de Cobham in the thirty sixth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 43. Parte secunda And in this Family and its Descendants did they settle until the Reign of Henry the sixth and then by an old Survey of Chalke I find them in the Hands of Brent and continued in their Possession until the eighth year of Henry the seventh and then Jo. Brent Esq conveys them as appears by a Fine levied in that year to Sir Henry Wiat and his infortunate Grandchild Sir Thomas Wiat having by an unsuccesseful Solleviation or Rising forfeited them to the Crown in the second year of Queen Mary they remained there until Queen Elizabeth in the thirty seventh of her Rule granted them in Lease to Sir Peter Manwood who passed it to Menfield and he to Mr. James Crispe but the Fee-simple still remained lodged in the Royal Revenue until the late King Charles passed it away to the City of London in the year 1630 and that City the same year they were granted conveyed them to Mr. James Crispe who upon his Departure disposed them by Testament to his two Sons Mr. Thomas Crispe and Mr. James Crispe Challock in the Hundred of Calehill hath two places in it which may deservedly come within the Register of those Mannors which are in this Survey to be recorded The first is Otterpley which was an eminent Seat belonging to the ancient Family of Apulderfield The first that I find of Note in any publick Record to have possest it was Henry de Apulderfield who had the Grant of a Market and Fayre to his Mannor of Apulderfield in Coldham in the thirty eighth year of Hen. the third and this mans great Grandchild Henry de Apulderfield was Sheriff of Kent the fiftieth of Edward the third and held his Shrievalty at Challock His House was near East-well in the Earl of Winchelseys upper Park called Apulderfields Garden which is now so obscured in its own Ruins that we now with Difficulty trace out its Sepulcher made up of its own complicated Rubbish but this Mannor as to some Proportion of it was passed away before he was Sheriff to Edmund de Hant who held it at his Decease which was in the forty fourth year of Edward the third but neither of these Families lasted longer then the Beginning of Richard the second for then I find it entirely invested in Richard Lord Poynings who in the eleventh year of that Prince was possest of it at his Death and left it to his Sole Heir Eleanor matched to Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland in whose Successors the Right was constantly fixed until the twenty third year of Henry the eighth and then it was conveyed by Henry Earl of Northumberland to Sir Thomas Cheyney William Walsingham and William Fitz-Williams and they immediately after re-conveyed it to Sir Christopher Hales and his Son Sir James Hales about the latter end of Henry the eighth alienated it to Sir Thomas Moile by whose Daughter and Coheir Katharine it came to be the Inheritance of Sir Thomas Finch unhappily Shipwract by New-Haven in France a Person who deserved a longer Life and not so dark a Fate from whom by paternal Descent it is now transmitted to the right honourable Heneage Finch now Earl of Winchelsey Loringden and Deane are places in Challock worthy of Consideration There is a Tradition very frequent amongst the Country people in this Track that Loringden now altogether desolate and full of solitude was once the Mansion of Gentlemen of this Name one of which should have waged Combate with one of the Apulderfields of Otterpley not far distant about building a Chappel in the Valley which was pretended by Loringden to be erected on Land that was of his Fee-simple but because this without some more solid Foundation to support then Fame and Vulgar Report will appear but legend I will re-present to you what the original Muniments and Evidences have discovered to me in Relation to those who were Possessors of this place That there was a Family which bore the Name of Lourdingden or Loringden is most certain for there is a place in Challock which yet continues the Name of Lorindens Forestal but when I consulted the private Evidences of this place I found upon a serious Disquition they reached no higher then Henry the fourth and in his Reign it acknowledged it self to be of the Propriety of Cadman a Family grown into a reverend esteem by a long Prescription in this Track but the Name of Dean continued in being till the Reign of Henry the sixth and was in very ancient Deeds some of which are not limited with any Date written At Dean and A Dean and in that Princes Reign was by Sale passed away to the above mentioned Family of Cadman in which Name both Loringdean and Dean remained clapsed up till the entrance of K. James and then by a Sole Daughter and Heir they went over to Plomer who almost in our Memory transferred his Right in both of them by Sale to Peirce The Church of Challock being fallen down was new erected by the Apulderfields as the Glass windows and Stone work in divers places embroider'd and diaper'd with the Voided Cross which was their paternal Coat Armour do more then sufficiently testifie Cranebrook gives name to the Hundred wherein it is seated a Town very populous in respect it was one of the first places where the Manufacture of Clothing was professed and practised being brought into England in Edward the thirds Reign who by proposing rewards and granting many Immunities trained Flemings into this Nation in the tenth year of his reign to teach the English that Art of Draperie or Weaving and making woollen Cloth which is esteemed at this day one of the Butteresse which sustains the Common-wealth and certainly for making durable Broad clothes with very good Mixtures and perfect Colours Cranebrook doth with the most that way excell The first place of note in it which obviates the eye is Sisingherst but more properly and truly written Saxenhurst and as Bittenden not far distant derives its Name from the Brittons so in most probability did this take and assume its Denomination from the Saxons In Testa de Nevil a Book kept in the Exchequer which is a memorial of those who holding their Lands in the Knights Service paid relief in the twentieth year of Henry third towards the Marriage of the Kings Sister There is mention of John de Saxenhurst who was taxed for his Lands here at Cranebrook which certainly was this Sisingherst with the two little Mannors of Copton and Stone which had alwayes the same Owners with Sisingherst In times of a more modern Character the Berhams by the Female Heirs of Saxenhurst were Lords of Sisingherst with its two adjuncts Copton and Stone Richard de Berham who was Sheriff of Kent in the forty fourth year of Edward the third was here resident and is written of this place and Henry de Berham this mans Father paid respective
present Proprietary of it But though the Family be worn out at this place yet from a Cadet of this Name who did once possess Wierton in Boughton Quarry now the Mansion of Sir Anthony St. Leger did Sir Gregory Norton now of Sussex Knight and Baronet lately deceased originally sprout forth There is another place in this Parish called the Den of Ivetegh which was anciently the Inheritance of a Family who bore that Name and though the Deeds now in the Hands of my Cozen Mr. Thomas Petley of Vilston do discover the Possession to be resident in this Name no higher then the Rule of Henry the fixth yet it is probable because the Name was local it was theirs long beyond that Time from Ivetegh it came to Mascall a Family whose Estate was formerly at Berming and from this Name it was by Sale demised to Lambe who some three descents since alienated his Interest in it to Perry extracted from the Perrys of Worcestershire but this Family lately determining in Females Elizabeth marryed to Mr. Thomas Petley of Vilston Ann and Mary these three are the Vihble Coheits of that Estate which related to it Crayford in the Hundred of Little and Lesness contains diverse places in it of eminent Consideration fitst Howbery offers it self up to our View It was in the Reign of Henry the third and Edward as appears by ancient Court Rolls and other Evidences the Patrimony of the noble Family of Northwood who held it for severall Descents in an uninterrupted Channel untill the Reign of Richard the second and then the Title and Propriety of it was by the Revolution of Sale transplanted into Abermill but here the Possession was so cursory and transient that before the end of Henry the fourth it was surrendred to Nicholas Carew of Surrey and John Cornwallis of London who by joynt Concurrence in the fifth year of Henry the fifth conveyed it to Richard Bryan and he in the first year of Henry the sixth passed it away to Roger Apylton one of the Auditors to that Prince and his Father Henry the fifth and Agnes his Wife Widow of Thomas Coveley or Cowley and the Reversion in Fee to her Son Thomas Cowley which accordingly after her Decease descended to him and from him it was transported by Descen to his Grandchild John Cowley who in the twenty second year of Henry the eighth alienated it to John Judde whose Son Henry Judde about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth resigned up the Possession by Sale to Sir Richard Fane in whose Family after it had fixed untill that Age which was within the Confines of our Fathers Remembrance it was by Purchase made the Patrimony of Draper and is still the Inheritance of Master ........ Draper now in his Minority Newbery is the second place of Account which was in elder Times ennobled by being parcell of that Inheritance which confessed the Dominion of St. John and Edward St. John as appears by the Records of this place flourished here in the Reign of Edward the first and Edward the second and dying without Issue left his Estate here to Isabell his Sister and Coheir matched to Henry de Burgherst and he in her Right dyed possest of it the twenty third year of Edward the third as appears Rot. Esc Num. 94. parte secunda After this Family was crumbled away at this place I find it folded up in the Demeasne of Poynings the last of which who enjoyed it was Thomas Poynings who about the Beginning of Henry the sixth conveyed it to John Kingston Esquire in which Family it made its aboad untill the Reign of Henry the eighth and then I find it departed from this Name and cast into the Possession of Sir Thomas Lisley whose Descendant about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth conveyed it to Apylton of Marshalls Court in this Parish where they had been resident many Descents before and Roger Apylton gave this and Marshalls Court in Dower with his Daughter Frances matched to Mr. Francis Goldsmith who almost in our Remembrance passed away Newberry to Draper Ancestor to Mr. Draper now Proprietary of it but Marshalls Court was alienated to Pix whose Descendant not many years since sold his Interest in it to Mrs. Touse of London who hath setled it in Marriage on her Daughter matched to Collonel Wood of Kingston on Thames Ellam is the last place of Remark in Crayford it gave Seat and Sirname to a good old Family who for many Descents passed under the Notion and Estimate of Gentlemen before they deserted the Possession of this Seat and bore Argent a Sword in Bend Dexter Sables Henry Ellam dyed 1471 and lyes entombed in Crayford Church John Ellam deceased 1481 and had there likewise his place of Sepulture both whose Monuments Time and a Casual Fire invading the Church have miserably dismanteled the last of this Name who was possest of this place was John Ellam who in the sixteenth year of Henry the seventh alienated it to Henry Harman who was then Clerk of the Crown in which Family it continued untill the latter end of King James and then it was passed away with May Street which Henry Harman abovesaid purchased of Cowley and Bulbeck of Bubeck Street in this Parish in the twentieth of Edward the fourth to Draper whose Descendant Mr ....... Draper is entituled to the Interest of both these places The Arch Bishops of Canterbury had anciently some Concernment in Crayford for as I find by Record William Arch Bishop of Canterbury in the twentieth of Richard the second obtained the Grant of a Market to this place to be weekly observed on the Tuesday and a Fair yearly on the Vigil the Day of our Ladies Nativity and four Dayes after Northcrey lies in the Hundred of Rokesley and though an obscure Village in it self yet is made eminent by containing within its Limits the Mannor of Rokesley which contributes a name to the whole Hundred it was as high as can by Record be traced the Inheritance of Rokesley Greogrie de Rokesley Lord Maior of London in the year 1275 which was in the third year of Edward the first an eminent man in those times he was for as by the Chartularies of London it appears he was Keeper of the Kings Exchange in London and Say-master Generall of the Kings Mint nor was his Son of less reputation for Sir Richard de Rokesley so was he called was Seneschal of Poictou and Governour of Montreul in Picardy about the latter end of Edward the first but died without issue Male and left Ioan his Daughter and Heir who was matched to Sir Thomas de Poynings Father of Richard Lord Poynings and so Rokesley became the Inheritance of that Family but Northcrey remained longer in Rokesley for Roger de Rokesley a Cadet of this Family paid respective Aid for Northcrey in the twentyeth year of Edward the third but it seems went out without Issue so that Northcrey devolved to Poynings as the next of Alliance for Richard Lord
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
he dying in the twelfth year of Edward the third left it to his Son Giles Badelesmer who deceased without Issue and so his four Sisters became his Coheirs one of which called Margaret by matching with William Lord Roos of Hamlake united the Castle and Mannor of Chilham which accrued to her upon the Division of the Estate to his Revenue from whom successively it did devolve by a continued Rivulet of Descent to his Successor Thomas Lord Rosse who asserting the Cause and Quarrel of the House of Lancaster was in a Battle commenced between Edmund Beaufort Duke of Somerset and John Nevill Marquesse Montacute made Captive to the Partisans of the House of York and in the third year of Edward the fourth sealed his Faith to that Cause which he contended for with the Losse of his Head which was struck off at Newcastle but it seems the Mannor and Castle of Chilham was before this untimely Fate of his upon his being engaged in Armes with the Complices of the House of Lancaster by Edward the fourth in the first year of his Reign granted to Sir John Scott of Scotts Hall one of his Privy Counsel Pat. Anno pri Edwardi quarti Parte 4. Memb. 24 but it was but for Life for afterwards it returned to the Crown and rested there till Henry the eighth by royal Concession planted the Propriety in Sir Thomas Cheyney who inhabited here when Leland made his Kentish Perambulation which was in the Beginning of the Reign of that Prince from whom it came down to his Son Henry created Baron Cheyney by Queen Elizabeth who having by Riot and Profusion and other exorbitant Excesses wasted a noble and plentifull Patrimony in the tenth year of that Queens Government alienated the Mannor and Castle of Chilham to Sir Thomas Kempe whose Son Sir Thomas Kempe concluded in four Daughters and Coheirs Dorothy married to Sir John Cutts Ann matched to Sir Thomas Chichley Amy wedded to Sir Henry Skipwith and Mary espoused to Sir Dudley Diggs who being concerned in this Estate the three first by a joynt Concurrence passed away their Right to Sir Dudley Diggs and his Lady who was Master of the Rolls in the year 1636 and a great Assertor of his Countryes Liberty in the worst of times when the Sluces of Prerogative were opened and the Banks of the Law were almost overwhelmed with the Innundations of it from whom it is descended to his Son Mr. ...... Diggs Esquire in whom the Propriety and Interest of this Mannor and Castle does still continue Easture in this Parish was the Seat of a Family which was known by that Sirname and in several ancient Deeds which are not bounded or limited with any Date there is mention of John de Easture who lived here in the Reign of Henry the third and Edward the first after this Name was vanished the Apulderfields of Otterpley in Challock a younger Branch of the Apulderfields of Bedmancore were invested in the Possession and of this Family was Henry de Apulderfield who was Sheriff of Kent in the fifty first year of Edward third and likewise Proprietary of this place but when this Family resolved into a Daughter and Heir called Isabell she by matching with John Idelegh who had a large Income about Mepham Chalk and Cobham cast it into the Inheritance of that Family where it had not long remained but a Vicissitude like the former carryed it by Agnes the Female Heir of William Idelegh to Christopher Ellenden who was Master of a good Estate about Seasalter and Damian Bleane which Name not many years after shrunk into a Daughter and Heir likewise called Mary descended from Thomas Ellenden who was about the Reign of Henry the seventh matched to Edward Thwaits so that in her right that Family became setled in the Inheritance of this place and remained in the Possession till in that Age we stile our Grandfathers it was by Sale translated into Morton descended from the ancient Family of the Mortons of Millbourn St. Andrews in the County of Dorset whose Successor Mr. George Morton not many years since passed away his Interest in it by Sale to his Uncle John Finch Baron of Fordwich and Lord Keeper of the great Seal in the year 1640. Youngs is another Mannor in Chilham which by Deeds of a very high gradation in time which step into the Reign of Edward the second appears to be the Possession of a Family of that Appellation and when that was decayed and worn out at this Place the Beverleys who were a Family which had been planted at Tancrey Island in Fordwich ever since the latter end of the Reign of Edward the third were ingraffed in the Inheritance and continued by an undissolved Chain of several Ages seated in the Proprietie of it till George Beverley the last of this Name at this place in our Grandfathers Remembrance demised his right in it by Sale to George Barley where the Title found no long abode for he passed away his Interest to Fleet extracted from the Fleets of Fleet in the Isle of Thanet who suddenly after alienated it to Shepheard from which Family almost in our Remembrance it was by Purchase brought over to own the Signorie of Sir Dudley Diggs who upon his decease transmitted it to his eldest Son Mt. ....... Diggs Esquire in whom the present Proprietie of it is fixed Dane Court is a fourth Mannor within the Limits of Chilham not to be waved or declined in this present Survey It was anciently the Patrimony of Thomas de Garwinton of Welle in Littlebourne and he held it as appears by ancient Court Rolls in the Reign of Edward the first and Edward the second whose great Grandchild William Garwinton of Welle in the eleventh year of Henry the fourth dying without Issue upon a serious debate and winnowing of Collateral Alliances Joan Wife of Richard Haute was found to be his Cousin and Heir and so this place became in her Right the Inheritance of this Family but this mans Son called Richard likewise not long after deceasing without Issue male Margerie his only Daughter who was matched to Will. Izaack about the latter end of Henry the seventh became his Heir and so it fell under the Jurisdiction of that Name and remained entwined with their Demeasn till it about the beginning of the Government of Q. Elizabeth was by Edward Izaack sold to Hales from which Family in that Age our Fathers lived in by the same conveyance it went away to Spracklin issued out from the Spracklins of St. Lawrence in Thanet in which Name the Possession is at this instant resident There is a place in this Parish on the South-side of the River stretched out on a long green Hill which the Common People who bear the greatest sway in corrupting of Names call Jelliberies Grave The Historie it self will evidence the original of this denomination It was about this place that Julius Caesar respited his farther remove or advance into the bowels of this
Burgherst of Plumsted Sir Fulk de Peyferer Sir William de Peyferer of Ottringden Sir Robert de Shurland of Shurland in Shepey Sir Alexander de Cheyney of Patrick bourn Cheyney Sir Thomas de Bicknor Sir John de Bicknor of Bicknor Sir Robert de Septuans of Milton Septuans Sir Henry Fitz-Aucher of Losenham in Newenden Sir John de Hadloe of Court at Street Sir VVilliam de Valoigus of Repton in Ashford Sir William de Basing of Kenardington Sir Simon de Crey Sir William de Crey of Pauls Crey Sir Stephen de Gravesend of Nutsted Sir John de Champneys of what place is not mentioned but it is probable of Champneys in Pauls Crey Sir Robert de Eastangrave of Eastangrave in Eden Bridge Sir John Abell of Hering Hill in Erith Sir Nicholas de Malmains of Malmains in Stoke Sir Richard de Rokesley of Rokesley in North Crey Sir Jeffrey de Camuill of Westerham Sir John Segrave of Folkston Sir VVilliam Peche Sir Robort Peche of Lullingston Sir John de Newenham of Newenham Coldred in the Hundred of Eastrie was a Branch of that Estate which related to the Fraternity of the Maison de Dien in Dover to which in the fourteenth year of S. the first they obtained a Charter of Free warren which was looked upon in that Age as a priviledge of vast extent and circumference upon the Dissolution in the reign of Hen. the eighth it was by royal Concession from that Prince added to the Demeasn of Rich. Monins Esq great Grandfather to Sir Edw. Monins Baroner to whose Signory and Jurisdiction the propriety of this place at this instant submits it self Popshall in this Parish was anciently wrapt up in the Demeasn of Orlanston of Orlanston William de Orlanston held it as appears by an Escheat-roll marked with the number 86 in the reign of Hen. the third and transmitted it to his Son Will. de Orlanston who in the fifty first year of the above-mentioned Prince obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Lands at Orlanston and Pophall from him it descended to Will. de Orlanston who had Issue Jo. de Orlarston who held it in possession at his Decease which was in the forty sixth year of Edw. the third and had Issue VVill. Orlanston who by Sale transplanted the Interest of this place into Rich. Berham in which Family after the Title had for some Generations been resident a Vicissitude of the same Resemblance with the former cast it into the possession of Horne branched out from the Hornes of Horns-place in Apuldore who after some years investiture in the propriety of Popshall determined in a Daughter and Heir who was espoused to John Diggs from whom in a direct Line Sir Dudley Diggs of Chilham-castle was extracted who alienated his right in this place to Sir Will. Monins Knight and Baronet whose Son Sir Edw. Monins Baronet enjoys the instant Fee-simple of it Coldham in the Hundred of Rockesley is in the Pages of Doomsday Book written Caudham which denotes the bleak and chil situation of it In the twentieth year of VVill. the Conquerour it was parcel of the Demeasn of Gilbert de Magninot being involved in those Knights Fees which were assigned to him to be assistant to Jo. de Fiennes in the defence of Dover-castle And in this Name after it had some three Descents been lodged this Mannor went away about the beginning of K. Stephen to VVill. de Say with the Daughter and Heir of this Family VVill. de Say this Mans Son is in the Front or Van of that register which comprehends the Names of those Kentish Gentlemen who were embarked in the holy Quarrel with Rich. the first at the Siege of Acon Geffrey de Say was one of the Recognitores magnae Assisae in the second year of K. Jo. the Nature of which office and the Latitude of its Authority I rust and Concernment I have before unsolded at Cobham * Will. de Say was with Henry the third in his expedition into Gascony in the thirty seseventh year of his Rule Geffrey de Say was with Edw. the first at the Siege of Carlaverock in the twenty eighth year of his reign and for his noted Actings there was honoured by that Prince with Knighthood and dyed possest of this Mannor in the fifteenth year of Edw. the second and had the repute of a Baron at his Decease as had all his Successors likewise holding Birling Couldham and other places by that Tenure which is styled per Baroniam Geffrey de Say had view of Frank-pledge here in the eighth year of Edw. the third and was engaged with that Prince in the thirteenth of his reign in his triumphant Designs upon France Sir VVill. Say was his Son and Heir who went out from his Tabernacle of humane frailty in the forty third year of Edw. the third Rot. Esc Num. 43. and bequeathed his Estate here at Coldham to Geffrey de Say his only Son surviving who going out in two Daughters and Coheirs Joan one of them was matched to Sir VVill. Fiennes from whom descended Ja. Fiennes his second Son who was summoned to Parliament at Bury as Baron Say and Seale the first of March in the twenty fifth year of the abovesaid Prince and * This Ric. Fiennes was created Baron Dacres in the seventh of Henry the sixth Rich. Fiennes eldest Son who matched with Joan Sole Heir of Tho. Dacres eldest Son of Tho. Lord Dacres of Hurstmonseaux who had this Mannor by Descent from his Father from whom in a continued Series it came down to Gregory Fiennes Lord Dacres who in the thirty sixth year of Q. Elizabeth dyed without Issue and so Sampson Lenard Esquire by marrying with Margaret his Sister and Heir became Heir to Coldham and a large Inheritance besides and his Son Hen. Lenard in the reign of K. James was created Baron Dacres from whom Francis Lenard now Lord Dacres and proprietary of this Mannor is lineally extracted The Mannor of Apulderfield by contraction now called Apurfield lies in the precincts of this Parish which was long time possest by Gentlemen that took their Sirname from thence and branched numerously into divers parts of this Shire Hen. de Apulderfield in the thirty eighth of Hen. the third obtained a grant of a Fair and Market to his Mannor of Apulderfield In the eleventh year of Edward the second Iohn de Insula had a Charter of Free-warren granted to his Mannor of Apulderfield which was renewed to Stephen de Ashway in the thirty eighth of Edward the third who had a free Chappel annexed to it and in this Family of Ashway did the Title of this place for many Generations settle till at last the common vicissitude of Purchase made it the Demeasn of Denny from whom it came over by the same Alienation to Fiennes and is now in right of Margaret Fiennes Sister to Gregory Lord Dacres matched to Sampson Lenard devolved to his great Grandchild Francis Lenard the present Lord Dacre The Hamlet of Bettred is
cast into the Revenue of Denny by whose Daughter and Heir it is lately become the Demeasn of Mr. Robert Filmer second Son of Sir Robert Filmer of Sutton not long since deceased Winchcombe is an ancient Seat likewise in Crundall which ever since the Reign of Edward the second hath acknowledged the Carters as appears by private Evidences for its uninterrupted Proprietaries and is still in the Tenure and possession of that Name and Family Cuckston anciently written Cuckleston lies in the Hundred of Totlingtrough and was given to the Church of Rochester by Ethelwolfe Son of King Egbert See Textus Roffensis first Monarch of the English Saxons this King Ethelwolfe after his decease which happened to be about the year 857. was for his several and exemplary acts of Charitie and pious Munificence towards the Church of which Cuckston till these unhappy times ravished it away stood a visible Monument Recorded in the Register of Saints VVhornes-Place in this Parish was erected by Sir VVilliam VVhorne who was Lord Maior of London in the year 1487. upon which though he setled his Name he could not so fasten it to his Family but that the next Age by Purchase brought it over to Vane where the Title had not long fixt but the vicissitude of Sale alienated it to Barnewell who about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth sold it to Nicholas Lewson of the County of Stafford Esq whose Grandchild Sir Richard Lewson desirous to settle himself in his own County where a vaste Estate lay spread which had been transmitted to him from his Ancestors passed away this by Sale to John Marsham Esquire originally extracted from the Marshams of Norfolk where many years before they had flourished under no contemptible Estimate D. D. D. D. DArent in the Hundred of Acstane is very often written North-Darent it belonged in the Conquerours time to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury as the Record called Doomsday Book instructs me and was exchanged for the Mannor of Lambeth by Hubert Walter Arch-Bishop Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice with Gilbert Glanvill Bishop of Rochester in the year of our Lord 197. which exchange was afterwards confirmed by Richard the first Saint Margaret-Hills now united to this Parish had formerly a Church which being decayed and the Congregation diminished it was by Cardinall Pole in the year 1557. incorporated into Darent It was anciently and is so still distinguished by the Name St. Margaret-Hills which additionall Character it borrowed from a Family originally called Hells and then by Tradition and Vulgar corruption afterwards stiled Hills a Family which had large Possessions both here at Dertford and at Ash likewise by Sandwich John de Hells had a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannors of Hells and his Estate at Dertford in the seventeenth year of Edward the first and from this John de Hells did Sir Edmund Hills descend and he about the beginning of Edward the sixth alienated this Mannor to Lane whose Son Henry Lane went out in a Daughter and Heir called Martha who matched to Edw. Rolt descended from the Roults of Bedford-shire in Right of which Alliance Mr. Thomas Rolt his Grandchild is now invested in the Possession of this Place Dartford gives name to that Hundred wherein it is situated and before the Foundation of the Nunnerie was a Mannor which was wrapt up in the Demeasne of the Crown there was a Family called Tingewike which had it in Lease for when King Edward the third Pat. An. primi Edw. tertii Memb. 6. granted the Royalties of the Mannor of Dartford to Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent paying as a Rent-Service of 30. l. per annum it is mentioned in the Patent that he should hold them all in as ample a manner as Alice Tingewike formerly had done upon his decease it reverts to the Crown and the same King Edward in the year 1355. and in the fiftieth year of his Reign erects here a Nunnerie whose Lady-Abbess and the Nuns of the Covent were for the most part in succeeding times elected into this Cloister out of the noblest Families of the Nation Upon the suppression King Henry the eighth converted the House into a Palace for his own habitation and under that notion it continued till K. James by exchange passed it away to Robert E. of Salisbury who conveyed it to Sir Edw. Darcy whose Grandchild Edward Darcy Esquire descended from the noble Family of Darcy of Yorke-shire at this instant possesses the Fee-Simple of it The Mannor of Temple in this Parish was involved in that Revenue which was marshal'd under the Jurisdiction of the Knights Templers as the very Name doth seem to insinuate and upon the totall disannulling this order here in England was by a Statute made in the seventeenth year of Edward the second setled on the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem where it was fixed and constant untill the disbanding of that Order likewise in this Nation by King Henry the eighth and then it was annexed to the Patrimony of the Crown and rested there untill K. James exchanged it with Robert E. of Salisbury who sold it to Edw. Darcy Esq whose Grandchild Edw. Darcy Esq hath lately conveyed it by Sale to his Brother in Law Mr. Will. Gough The Mannor of Charles is Seated in this Parish and was a Branch of that Estate which fell under the Signorie of the ancient Family of Charles from whom it assumed its appellation Of this Family was Edw. Charles who was Captain and Admiral of the Fleet from the Thames-Mouth North-ward as appears Pat. 34. Edw. 1. after this Family had left the Possession of this place which was about the beginning of Richard the second Nicholas de Brember was planted in the Proprietie but he was scarce warm in his new atchieved Purchase but he fell under the guilt of high Treason only for being too fast in his Loyaltie and Faith to his Prince and too loose in his fidelity to his Country for there it seems that blind distinction had its first rise and growth which like some Alembeck distil'd and dropped the Power of the King distinguished apart from his Person upon the forfeiture of his Life and Estate together which was in the tenth year of Rich. the second It was by that Prince suddenly after conveyed by grant to Adam Bamme Lord Maior of London in which Family after it had for many Ages been seated it was as appears by an exemplification now in the hands of Mr. Took of Dartford transmitted by Sale to Death who about the latter end of K. James passed it away to Goldsmith of Marshals-Court in Creyford who some few years since sold all his Concernment in it to Mr. Tooks branched out from the ancient Family of the Tooks of Bere in West-Clive though since this Name setled at Dartford it hath by Depravation been called Tuke Horsemans-Place is a Mansion of good account likewise in Dartford in the sixteenth year of Edward the second I find it owned one Thomas
Confederate of Simon de Montforts the popular Earl of Leicester in his Quarrel commenced against Henry the third about removing of Strangers both from his Counsells and Throne for which after the Battle of Evesham where that Simon was defeated and slain he was by the Pacification made at Kenelworth in the fiftieth year of Henry the third absolved and pardoned soon after which he dyed and left this Mannor with much other Revenue to his Son Henry Leybourn and he was seised of it at his Death which was in the twenty eighth year of Edward the first from whom it went down to his Son Sir Roger Leybourn who dying without Issue-male Juliana Leybourn his Sole Daughter and Inheritrix entred upon the Inheritance and she was first wedded to John de Hastings and after to William de Clinton Earl of Huntington but by neither had she any Surviving Issue nor yet any collateral Alliance that could put in any pretended Claim to rescue it from an Escheat so that in the forty third year of Edward the third in which year she dyed it devolved to the Crown and Richard the second granted it to Sir Simon de Burley Knight of the Garter and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports a Man of great Virtues and no lesse Vices whose Pride and Ambition first galled others and lastly wounded himself and like some Physick wanting a peccant Matter to work upon preys upon the Vitalls themselves For bandying against some of the Nobility who pretended the Preservation and Sheltring of the peoples Interest against the impetuous Eruptions of an arbitrary Prerogative he was empeached of high Treason in the tenth year of Richard the second and was convicted and executed upon whose Calamitous Tragedie this by Escheat reverts to the Crown and the abovesaid Prince in the twelfth year of his Reign by Grant annexes it to the Revenue of the Canons of St. Stephens in Westminster where it was fixed untill the publick Suppression removed it and united it once more to the Patrimony of the Crown Richard de Albaney principall Butler to King William Rufus gave the Tithes of Elham to St. Andrews in Rochester See Textus Roffensis and then King Edward the sixth granted it in Lease for fourscore years to Sir Edward Wotton one of his Privie Councell whose Son Thomas Wotton Esquire passed it away by Sale to Alexander Hamon Esquire who determining in two Daughters and Coheirs Mary married to Sir Edward Bois of Fredvill and Katharine wedded to Sir Robert Lewknor this in his Wifes Right came over to the last but the Reversion in Fee was in the Beginning of the late King Charles by Sir Charles Herbert Master of the Revells purchased of the Crown and he some few years since alienated all his Concernment in this Mannor to Mr. Alst a Dutch Merchant of London Elham had the Grant of a Market procured to it on the Monday by the power of Prince Edward in the fifty fifth year of Henry the third which was after allowed and approved of before the Judges Itinerant when he was King in the seventh year of his Reign Shotleâ—field in Elham was as high as the Reign of Edward the second the Inheritance of a Family called le Grubbe who had Possessions of a considerable Value about Yalding by Maidston and Nonington in East-Kent In the third year of Edward the second Henry Peres and in another old Deed styled Pers or de Petris from his Habitation nere some place of a Rocky constitution demises some parcels of Land lying in Elham and Lyming to Thomas le Grubbe who is written in the Deed de Shotlesfield and from this Thomas did the Title descend by paternal Devolution to John Grubbe who in the second year of Richard the third conveyed it by Sale to Thomas Brockman of Liming and his Grandchild Henry Brockman in the first year of Queen Mary alienated it to George Fogge of Brabourn Esquire and he about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth sold his Interest in it to Bing who in that Age which was circumscribed within our Fathers Remembrance transplanted the Title by Sale into Mr. John Masters of Sandwich from whom it descended to Sir Ed. Masters of Canterbury and he upon his late Decease gave it to Dr ..... Masters his second Son Dr. of the Civil-Law Mount and South Blabden with Jaques Court were Mannors which were involved in the Patrimony of Anketellus de Rosse and he in the twentieth year of Wâ—lliam the Conquerour held them as appears by the Record of Dooms-day Book from which Name they passed away to Cosenton with Acris but with this Clause reserved that South-Blabden and Acris should hold the Mannor of Horton by knights Service which was a principall Seat of this Family of Rosse before it was sold to Kirkby In the seventh year of King Edward the third Stephen de Cosington obtained a Charter of Free-warren to these above recited Mannors This Man was Son and Heir of William de Cosenton who was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty fifth year of Edward the first and is sometimes written of Cosenton and sometimes of Mount in Elham and from these two did Sir John Cosenton extract his Genealogie and with it his Title to these two Mannors and he deceasing about the latter end of Henry the eighth without Issue-male his three Daughters ....... married to Duke Joan matched to Wood and Elizabeth wedded to Alexander Hamon Esquire became his three Coheirs and parted a large Patrimony Upon the Division Wood obtained South-Blabden and Jaques Court and Hamon carried away Mount Wood's Heir alienated the two first to Sir John Wilde of Canterbury whose Son Colonell Dudley Wilde upon his late Decease hath bequeathed them to his Widow during Life Hamon's Heir determined in two Daughters and Coheirs Mary was espoused to Sir Edward Bois of Fredvill and Catharine was matched to Sir Robert Lewknor descended from the noble and Illustrious Family of Lewknor in Sussex who in his Wifes right was invested in the Possession of Mount who upon his Death transmitted it to his Son Mr. Hamon Lewknor whose Widow Mrs. ..... Lewknor eldest Daughter to Dr. Hen. Kingsley Arch-deacon of Canterbury is now in the enjoyment of it Canterwood is another Mannor in this Parish whose Possessors I confesse I could never trace out by any Print of publick Record therefore I endeavoured to give my self Satisfaction by the private Evidences but the Heir being under Age the Deeds were deposited in the Hands of those who represented my Design in Surveying them through the Mists of Cautious Jealousies and Distrusts and so my Attempt became fruitlesse All the Intelligence I could gain as in Relation to that place was collected from an old Manuscript whose Hand seems contemporary to the Time of Henry the eighth and what I have drained from thence I shall now represent to the Reader Canterwood says this Escript was formerly the Estate of Thomas de Garwinton de Welle in Littlebourne who flourished in the Reign
County for in the Pipe-Rols relating to the Raign of King John I discover that Robert de Malavill was one of the Recognitores magnae Assisae in the fourth year of that Prince and then again in the seventh year of his Rule he was dignified with that eminent Place of Trust and he had Issue William de Malavil who was in the enjoyment of this Mannor at his Death which was in the Raign of Henry the third as appears by an escheat Roll marked with the number 56. And in this Family did the Right and Title of it lie involved untill the latter End of Edward the third and then the noted Family of Bures stept by Purchase into the Possession and John Bures as appears to me by an old Deed held it in the fourth year of Richard the second he was Son of William Bures who paid respective Aid for part of a Knights-fee which lay in Bromley in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight and William Bures Son of John lies entombed in Halsted Church pourtraied at length in Brass and mail'd in Armor upon a fair Grave-stone being Marble with this Inscription Hic jacet Willielmus Bures Armigeri Dominus Manerii de Halsted qui obiit 1454. And this was he who was Sheriff of Kent in the eleventh year of Henry the sixth But after his Death it was not long in the Fruition of this Name for about the Beginning of Edward the fourth I find it in the Hands of Thomas Bourchier descended from the Bourchiers of Essex and he about the Latter End of that Prince passed it away to Stephen Petley Esquire who lies buried in Halsted Church And in this Family was the Title fixed untill the Beginning of King James and then the Fatality of Sale did alternate the Possession and annexed it to the Inheritance of Sir Thomas Watson who dying without Issue-male his only Daughter and Heir was espoused to Sir William Pope afterwards created Earl of Downe in Ireland by King James and so in her Right this Mannor became the Inheritance of his Son the Right Honourable William Earl of Downe who not many years since passed it away to Mr. Edward Ash whose Widow Mrs. ........ Ash holds it at this instant in Right of Dower Halstow in the Hundred of Milton hath nothing memorable in it but Berkesore alias Basser-court which was as high as any print of Antiquity can direct me to discover the Patrimony of the Church for King Stephen devoted it to find a supply of perpetual Lights before the Chest or Shrine ante Capsam those are the words of the Record of Anselme the eminent Arch-bishop of Canterbury and it hath been many years past held by the Darrels of Cale-hill as Lessees and is still by that Right enjoyed by Sir John Darrell of the same place The Church of Halstow as the Records of Christ-church instruct us was given by Boniface Arch-bishop of Canterbury to buy Books for the Chaunter of that Covent Hamme in the Hundred of Eastry was as the Records of Christ-church in Canterbury inform me given to the Prior and Monks of that Covent in the year 934. by one Eylfleda but how it was rated in the Conqueror's Time when if not all yet at least the principal part of this County was surveyed the Pages of Doomesday Book are silent In brief the Moity of this Mannor for one Half of it was alwaies under the Jurisdiction of Lay-proprietaries being by the Donation abovesaid made parcel of the Spiritual Patrimony remained treasured up in the Revenue of the Church as in an unviolable Exchequer until both the Covent of Christ-church and all its Demeasne was surrendered into the Hands of Henry the eighth and that Prince in the thirty fifth year of his Raign granted that part of it which belonged to the Priory of Christ-church to Sir Thomas Moile who not long after passed it away to Sir Robert Oxenbridge Knight from which Family in our Grand-fathers memory it went away by Sale to Bois of Betshanger The other Moity of Hamme belonged to the Criolls of Walmer of which Family I shall speak more at that Place Simon de Crioll as I discover by old Deeds held it in the Raign of King John and Henry the third and transmitted it to his Son Nicolas de Crioll who held it at his Death which was in the one and thirtieth of Edward the first and from him did it by the steps of several Generations descend to Sir Thomas Crioll who was slain at the second Battle of Sr. Albans tamely and in cold Blood that is he was beheaded by Queen Margaret wife to King Henry the sixth in the thirty eighth of that Prince's Raign because he had been an eager Partisan of the House of Yorke and being thus infortunately cut off left that great Estate he was possest of in this County to two Daughters and Co-heirs one of which was matched for his second wife to John Fogg of Repton Esq Son and Heir of Sir William Fogg and he had Issue by her Thomas Fogg Serjeant Porter of Callis Esquire a Place of eminent Trust and Concernment in those Times And he ended in two Daughters and Co-heirs Anne first matched to Mr. William Scott Brother of Sir Reginald and secondly to Mr. Henry Isham and Alice first wedded to Edward Scott of the Moat in Sussex Esquire and after to Sir Robert Oxenbridge of the County of South-hampton but the Moity of this Mannor of Hamme upon the dividing the Estate into equal Portions fell to be the Inheritance of Edward Scott in Right of Alice his wife and his Descendant in our Grand-fathers Remembrance alienated all his Interest and Concernment here to Bois of Betshanger whose Successor Mr. John Bois of Betshanger Esquire is now entirely possest of this Mannor as namely of that Moity which came over to this Family by Purchase from Oxenbridge as well as of that which devolved to this Name by Purchase from Scott Harbledowne in the Hundred of Westgate though at present but an obscure Village and not of much Eminence was in Time of more ancient Date famous for three memorable Places First for an old Chappel situated upon the Margin of that Precipice which overlooks that way which leads to Canterbury In which Oratory as Tradition informs us was preserved the Slipper of Thomas Becket taken from one of his Feet after his being destroyed at his own Church at Canterbury and which as Report insinuates was bespattered with his Blood this being curiously enchased with Diamonds so much did those Times dote on this then reputed Saint and Martyr was let down for Passengers who travelled to Canterbury to offer up their Orizons at his Shrine to adore with a kiss nor was it returned but full fraighted and laden with the Benevolences of devoted Pilgrims The second was Polres which anciently had and still keeps the Repute of a Mannor John de Polre Son of John de Polre payd respective Aid for it in
granted both these Places to Sir Edward VVotton one of his Privy Councel whose Grand-child Sir Thomas VVotton was by King James invested with the Dignity and Title of Thomas Lord VVotton of Marley and was by Thomas Lord Wotton his Son settled in Marriage upon his Daughter Katherine VVotton with Henry Lord Stanhop Son and Heir apparent to Philip Earl of Chesterfeild and is at this instant in relation to the former settlement devolved in Abeyance to her Son the Right Honorable Philip Stanhop the present Earl of Chesterfeild Hern in the Hundred of Blengate has nothing memorable in it but Haw-house a Limb or portion of that wide Demeasne that the eminent Family of Apulderfield held in this Track and when this Name that had been deeply rooted in Antiquity Hern had a Market procured to be held there weekly on the Monday and a Fair yearly upon the Vigil and Day of St. Martin by the Archbishop of Cant. in the twenty fifth of Ed. the third as appears Cart. Num. 31. and had spread to a large extent in the Latitude of it was circumscribed in a Daughter and Heir called Eliz. matched with Sir Jo. Phineux this Seat was made by Female Interest an Addition to the Income of this Family and here it remained undivided from it till this Name determined in John Phineux Esqu issued from a younger Line of this Family who left only one Daughter and Heir married to Sir John Smith Grandfather to Philip Viscount Strangford who in relation to that Right this Match has invested in him is now the instant Proprietary Seas or At Seas Court is likewise involved within the Sphere and Limits of this Parish it was in Records anciently styl'd so though now through Disuse it be languished into an Intermission having lost its Name and the Estimate of a Mannor likewise For a Succession of some Ages it owned the Name and Interest of At Sea till Fate and Time that are the common Sepulchre of Families by Sale gave up the Fee-simple an Age or two since to Knowler whose Heir does yet entitle himself by Right of his Predecessours purchase to the Possession of it Hernehill in the Hundred of Boughton has two Places in it which may make it remarkable First Durgall Stroude which was in Times of higher Track the Martin's a very noble and illustrious Family in this Territory whose capital or principal Seat was at Graveney not far distant and here after it had flourisht by the Decursion of some Ages it fell into a Daughter and Heir called Margaret Sole Daughter and Heir to Matthew Martin who was married to William Norton of Cokesdish in Feversham and in her Right did he become Proprietary of this Mannor from whose Heir Thomas Norton the Property or Fee-simple was by Sale transferred into the Possession of Sir John Wild of Canterbury to whose Heirs General the Propriety of this Mannor does at present relate Secondly there is another Seat in this Parish vulgarly called Apes Court alias Lockley but indeed in truer Orthography writ Epes-Court a place so despicable that it had not been worth the Memoriall but that in all the circumstances of probability the Epes's of Canterbury assumed if not Seat yet at least Sirname from thence and it is the more possible because the Epes's have been ancient Tenants to the Church of Canterbury for the Mannor of Seas-alter divided by a neer Distance from this place in Ages of a more modern Date the Nevinsons were the Lords of the Fee and certainly this was their ancient Mansion before they were transplanted to Eastry this being sold in the Raign of King James by Sir Roger Nevinson to Sir John Wild of Canterbury in whose Heirs General Dudley Wild Esquire his only surviving Son being lately deceased without Issue the Possession continues fixed Hever in the Hundreds of Somerden and Ruxley had in elder Times a Castle See more of this Family at Northfleet which was the Capital Seat or Mannor built by Thomas de Hever who had liberty by the Charter of Edward the third granted to him in the fourth of his Raign not only to embattle his Mansion here but likewise had Free-warren annexed to his Lands in this place William Hever deceased without Issue Male and left only two Daughters and Co-heirs Joane married to Reginald Cobham of Sterborough and the other wedded to Brocas whence in Records it is sometimes called Hever Cobham and Hever Brocas and when the Cobhams went out the Bullens were the immediate Purchasers for Geffrey Bullen purchased this Place and his Grand-child Sir Thomas Bullen Knight of the Garter and Earl of VVilts lived here who was Father to Anne Bullen Wife to Henry the eighth and as he had here his Habitation so likewise he has here his Sepulcher and lieth emtombed in Hever-church but when his Son George Viscount Rochford upon pretence of some black Crimes acted against the Majesty of Henry the eighth fell under the Censure of High Treason this upon his Attainder or Conviction was escheated to the Crown and began to be reputed a Mansion of some Estimate when Anne of Cleve for some Time lived here and made it her residence but in Times subsequent to this I find it eminent for nothing till King James granted it to Sir Edward Waldgrave whose Successor yet possesses it Heys in the Hundred of Rokesley was formerly under the Jurisdiction of the Squirries a Family under a signal Notion of Eminence in this part of the County and was concluded some Ages within their Patrimony till it was bounded by two Daughters and Co-heirs one of which called Dorothy was married to Richard Mervin the other styled Margaret matched to Sir William Cromer who in Right of their Father Thomas Squirrie who held Heys in the eighteenth year of Henry the sixth entituled themselves to vast Possessions in these parts but this Mannor upon the Division accrued to Mervin and in his Posterity some years it found an abode till by Sale the Interest was transmitted to Peche but Sir John Peche deceasing without any Issue Male his only Daughter Elizabeth married to John Hart Esq extracted from the Harts of the County of Hertford was found to be his Heir and in Relation to that Mixture or conjunction does this Family yet continue Proprietaries of it Hinxhill in the Hundreds of Chart and Longbridge was part of that Estate which belonged to the Family of Strabolgie Earls of Atholl but whether or not it devolved to Alexander Balioll Earl of Atholl by Isabell his Wife one of the Co-heirs of Richard de Dover Lord of Chilham is altogether incertain because no Record that I ever yet saw reaches beyond the above mentioned Alexander this mans Son was John Earl of Strabolgie and Athol who having forfeited it in the Raign of Edward the first whilst he endevoured to buoy up the Liberty of his Country of Scotland which then seemed to be sunk in its own Ruines being trampled upon by the succesful Attempts of
seventh year was possest of the other Moiety of this place gave about that year by Charter some land to the Incumbent or Parson of St. Nicholas of Harbledown After these two Families had deserted the Inheritance I find the Archers about the Beginning of Edward the third to be entituled by Purchase to it and William le Archer so he is written in the Book of Aid paid an Auxiliary Supply for this Mannor in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight but his Son VVilliam Archer in the twenty first year of Richard the second passes away his Right by Sale to John Alkham of Alkham a Family that had taken deep Root in Antiquity downwards and had a spreading Revenue upwards in this Track but before the end of Henry the seventh were consumed and crumbled away and then the next Family which succeeded in the Possession was Herman who was likewise owner of Mary-place in Crayford and in this Name did the Interest of it fix until the latter end of Queen Elizabeth and then it was alienated to Andrews who some few years after demised the Fee-simple to Pepper and he almost in the Verge of our Remembrance sold it to Sir Thomas VVilford of Ilden and he in our Memory alienated it to Richards of Dover Although the greatest part of this Mannor was of secular Concernment yet I find that the Prior of St. Martins in Dover had some Interest in it as appears by an Inquisition taken after the Death of John Atte-hall where it is proved in the sixteenth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Numb 129. Parte secunda that he held Lands at his Death at Maxton of that Covent Siberston is the last place of Account in Hougham it gave Name in elder Times to a Family so styled for in an old Deed without Date in the Hands of Mr. Whittingham-Wood of Canterbury lately deceased I find Richard de Siberston demises it to John Monins and in another Deed I discover that John Monins Son of John Monins passes the third Part of his Mannor of Siberston to John Monins the elder in the thirty ninth year of Edward the third And this I think is Authority sufficient to evidence to the Publique that it was a parcel of that Estate that owned the Interest and Signory of that eminent Family in which it lay couched until the latter end of Henry the eighth and then it was by Sale transplanted into Pepper whose Successor in our Fathers Remembrance conveyed it to Moulton of Retherhed vulgarly called Redriff in Surrey in whose Descendants the Inheritance of it does still continue Hunton in the Hundred of Twiford celebrates the Memory of an ancient Family called Lenham who were once Proprietaries of it Nicolas de Lenham obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannour of Hunton in the forty first year of Henry the third but about the Beginning of Edward the third the Interest of it was departed from this Family for William de Lenham determined in Eleanor de Lenham his sole Inheritrix and she by matching with John Gifford wrapt up this and Bensted another little Mannor in this Parish which likewise was parcel of Lenhams Estate in the Demeasne of that Family and he and his Wife paid Releif for Hunton and Bensted in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight But after this it was not long permanent in this Family for about the Beginning of Richard the second it was passed away with Bensted to John Lord Clinton who in the twenty eighth year of Edward the third was found Heir to his Cozen William Clinton Earl of Huntington for that Land which he held Jure proprio nativo not Jure uxoris Julianae de Leybourne in this County And the Effigies of this John and of his Grand child ...... Lord Clinton who paid Relief in the fourth year of Henry the fourth for his Mannor of Hunton at the Marriage of Blanch that Prince's Daughter have escaped the furious Barbarity of these Times and stand yet undemolished in the Church-Windows and from this last did it descend to John Lord Clinton his Successor who about the Beginning of Henry the seventh alienated the Fee-simple to Sir Henry Wiatt one of the Privy Councel to the said Monarch and his Son Sir Thomas Wiatt the elder died seised of it in the thirty fourth year of Henry the eighth and transmitted it with Bensted which his Grand-father likewise bought of the Lord Clinton to his infortunate Son Sir Thomas Wiatt who adhering too strictly to an unhappy Clause in the Testament of Henry the eighth which obliges his Councel not to suffer his Daughters to espouse any Forrainer involved him in that dysastrous Design which could not be expiated but by the Forfeiture of his Life and Estate in which this Mannor of Hunton being concerned it was in the second year of Queen Mary granted to her Atturney General Sir John Baker of Sisinghurst from whom the Title in the Stream of Succession lately glided down to his Heir General Sir John Baker Baronet Son and Heir to Sir John Baker Baronet not many years since deceased Burston is another Mannor in Hunton which is eminent for being the Seat of John de Burston which the Dateless Deeds that relate to this Family from the probable Conjecture of the Hand-writing which is calculated for the Raign of Henry the third record to have lived in that Prince's Time and there was Land likewise about Wye and Crundall that acknowledged the Jurisdiction of this Family for in the forty fifth year of Henry the third Waretius de Valoigns Knight makes a Release of his Title to some Lands in those Parishes to John de Burston and in this Family did this Seat remain for many Descents and was productive of men of no despicable Account in this Track amongst whom William Burston was returned in the twenty ninth year of Henry the sixth by Gervas Clifton then Sheriff inter illos qui portabant Arma Antiqua In the Raign of Henry the eighth Alderman Head of London was resident here and added much both of Building and Magnificence to this Fabrick but certainly it was only as Lessee for I cannot find that he was ever Proprietary of it for about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth it was sold by Burston to Sir Thomas Vane who upon his Decease gave it to his second Son ...... Vane from whom it descended to his Heir Sir George Vane whose Widdow Dowager the Lady ...... Vane is now in Possession of it Hunton had the Grant of a Market procured to it by Nicolas de Lenham on the Tuesday and a yearly Fair to continue five Dayes the Vigil the Day of the Assumption of our Lady and three Dayes after Pat. 41. Henrici tertii Memb. 7. Hucking in the Hundred of Eyhorne is involved in the Mannor of Hollingbourne and was enstated on the Prior and Convent of Christ-church when that by a munificent Donation
by his Successor sold to Henry Chichley Arch-bishop of Canterbury who gave it as Dower to his Niece Florence Chichley married to Jo. Darrell of Cale-hill and he assigned it for the Lively-hood of his second Son whose Posterity have ever since enjoyed it Here was also in this Parish the Mansion of the Chitcrofts a Family of worth and eminent degree Their Blazon was precisely the same with the Colepepers of Bay-hall not far distant as if they had been a Cadet of the same House This is a matter which falls within the Cognizance of my Profession and because I meet with diverse ancient Houses in this County which did the like as well as in other Counties I cannot leave it without setting down such Notes and Observations as have been made upon it having met with so many Examples of that kind in the Survey of this Province For instance St. Nicholas of St. Nicholas in the Isle of Thanett in the very Eastern part of the Shire and Peckham in the Western side of this County bear the same very Coat Armour because peradventure they held Land of the Lord Say to whose Arms they did desire their own might be assimilated Tutsham of Tutsham-hall in West-Farleigh and Eastangrave of Eastangrave in Eden Bridge bear both alike Brenley of Brenley in Boughton under Blean and Ratling of Ratling in Nonington have no distinction Peyforer of North-court in Eseling and Lenham of Lenham lay claim to an Identitie of Impresse or Coat Armour and lastly so did Watringbury of Watringbury and Savage of Bobbing-court Now the Reason of this neere similitude was to preserve the Memory of those though otherwise of different Families who had given them Education or else by particular Feoffments had endowed them with Land or lastly as an acknowledgement of the Service and Fealty they owed them because they held their Lands by some petty Rent Charge or Homage of some principall Mannor of which they whose Coat-Armour they had thus imitated were Proprietaries West-Langdon lies in the Hundred of Bewsborough and was a Mannor belonging to the Abbey of West-Langdon which was founded by Sir William de Auberville of Westenhanger Knight to the Honour of St. Mary and St. Thomas the Martyr of Canterbury and filled with white Cannons or Cannons Praemonstratenses in the time of Richard the first Hugh de Auberville the Founder's Son and Sir William Auberville Son to this Hugh were Benefactors to this House and this last Sir Williams only Daughter and Heir being married to Nicholas de Crioll of Bellaview nere Limne Hill brought this Monastery to be under the Patronage of the Criolls whose Demeasn upon the Dissolution being made the Incom of the Crown it here resided till Queen Elizabeth granted it with all the priviledges annexed to it in the thirty third year of her Rule to Samuel Thornehill of London Esquire father to Sir Timothy Thornehill upon whose Decease his Lady Dowager had West-Langdon assigned to her by Right of Jointure as being enstated before upon her in Marriage East-Langdon in the Hundred of Cornilo did in elder Times augment that Patrimony which fell under the Signiory of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury In the year of Grace 824 Ulfred then Arch-bishop of Canterbury exchanged this Mannor and Eythorne with the Monks of Christ-church for the Mannor of Berham as the Records of that Priory discover to me and being thus united to their Demeasne it lodged there untill the Government of Henry the eighth and then upon the Suppression of the above mentioned Cloister it was surrendered up with the Remainder of its Revenue into the Hands of that King and he in the thirtieth year of his Government granted it to Mr. John Masters and Mr. Thomas Masters of Sandwich from whom it is now by Descent devolved to be the Inheritance of his Descendant Richard Masters Esquire Apulton and Southwould are two small Mannors which are seated within the Limits of East-Langdon and were scarce worth any memorial but that they were formerly marshalled under the Demeasne of the eminent Family of Male-mains in whom the possession was seated till Henry Malmains being embarked in the rebellion of Simon de Montfort against Hen. the second had expiated that Defection with the forfeiture of his Estate had he not been pardoned and absolved by the Mediation of the Abbot of Langdon to which Covent in Gratitude his Son and Heir Sir John Malmains in the sixth year of Edward the third gave for ever * Apylton and Southwood I find upon a second Survey lie both in Waldershare Apylton and Southwould the last of which was in the first year of Richard the third exchanged by the succeeding Abbot with * It is probable the Ancestor of Monins purchased Mansuers Langdon of Mansuer a Family in East-Kent Robert Monins Esquire for Mansuers Langdon These three places upon the Suppression of this Abby were by Henry the eighth in the twenty ninth year of his reign exchanged with Tho. Arch-B of Canterbury but were re-assumed by the Crown by another exchange 1 mo Eliz. though Southwould or Southwood was unjustly snatched away from Edward Monins Esquire in whose revenue it was found at the dissolution upon pretence it had been the former demeasne of the Abby of Langdon The Borough of Marton or Marton-street so called by Contraction but more truely Marshtown is circumscribed also within the Limits of East-Langdon and gave Name to a Family which from the Situation of the place did borrow their first Appellation and were in old Registers and other records written de Marisco And that it was frequent to mould a Sirname from the Site of the place and after to communicate it to their posterity as well as from the place it self is most evident for Gilbert de Marisco who was Lord of Wolwich in the reign of Edw. the first did assume that Sirname from the Situation of that place which was environed in a considerable part of it with moist and watery Mersh-land and so from the low level of this Borough did the Marshes now possessors of this place or the more principal part of it by right of Inheritance grown hoary and reverend by a prescription and possession of above three hundred years as appears by their own private Evidences in elder Times contract the denomitation of de Marisco which in Ages of a more modern Pedigree was melted by Usage Custome and common Consent into the instant Sirname of Marsh Langley in the Hundred of Eyhorne was in elder times the Inheritance of a Family called Ashway Will. de Ashway is by the book styled Testa de Nevil represented to have held it and have paid an auxiliary supply for it at the Marriage of Isabel Sister to Henry the third in the twentieth year of his reign After this Family was withered and shrunk into decay the Lords Leybourne were entituled to the Signory of it and Will. de Clinton Earl of Huntington held it at his death which was in the twenty eighth year
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
then commenced against the Scots and this William was Son of Roger de Leybourne which Roger was Sheriff of Kent the forty eighth and fiftieth of Henry the third The last of this Family was Roger de Leybourne who transmitted this Castle and Mannor to his Sole Daughter and Heir Juliana de Leybourne first matched to Jo. de Hastings and secondly to William de Clinton Earl of Huntingdon by both which Husbands She had no Issue so that dying in the forty third year of Edward the third after all Titles were winnowed by a serious Inquisition there was none discovered that could by a pretended Claim either of direct or collateral Alliance challenge her Estate So that her Patrimony here lapsed by Escheat to the Crown after which K. Richard the second by patent in the ninth year of his Raign Part. prima Memb. 26. grants it to Sir Simon Burleigh Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports but he being shortly after attainted with the Cuilt of High Treason and his Estate consiscated this Mannor and Castle reverts to the Demeasne of the Crown and the same King Richard in the twelfth year of his Raign grants it to the Abby of Grace upon Tower-Hill and in their Revenue it continued shut up till the Dissolution of this Covent and then King Henery the eighth about the thirty seventh year of his Raign granted it to Sir Edward North who not long after alienated it to Robert Gosnold and he in the second year of Q. Elizabeth gave it to Robert Godden who some few years after by Sale passed it away to Nicholas Lewson Esq of Whorns-Place in Cuckston whose Grandchild Sir Richard Lewson affecting more to live in Stafford-shire alienated his Kentish Lands amongst which this was sold to Henry Clerke Serjeant at Law and Recorder of Rochester who being lately deceased his Son and Heir Francis Clerke Esquire enjoys the Profits and Possession of it of whose Family I have spoke at Frensbury and shall speak more at Ulcombe The Grange in this Parish is the Mansion of Mr. Robert Oliver and hath been for sundry Descents resident in that Name though the Original Sirname be Quintin They being Descended from Anselinus or Anselmus de Quintin that paid respective Aid for the Mannor of Woodfold in Yalding in the twentyeth year of Edward the third at the making the Black Prince Knight Now if you will know how the Name of Quintin resolved into that of Oliver I shall inform you William Quintin Purchased Lands in Seal called Hilks the eleventh of February and in the eleventh year of Henry the sixth and in the Deed of Purchase he is often called Filius Oliveri without the Addition of Quintin and so by vulgar acceptation and inadvertency they came by common mistake to be called Oliver yet in all Deeds and other Escripts to preserve their Ancient and Original Denomination they write Oliver alias Quintin Lidde in old Saxon Records is written Hlida which certainly was derived from the Latine word Litus it importing as much in that Dialect likewise as the Shore and the Situation of the place being not far distant from the Sea does seem to abett the Etymologie It is Situated in the Hundred of Langport which extracts its Name from a Mannor in this Parish called Old Langport which was the Possession of a Family whose Sirname was Ikin And John Ikin I find by an Inquisition taken in the thirty second year of Edward the third was at his Death which was then possest of it After Ikin a good old Family called Hund were Lords of the Inheritance and Sir John Hund who lies buried in the Church of Lidde lived here in the Raign of Henry the sixth From this Family it by Sale passed away to Belknap in which Name the Possession had not been long resident for Sir Edward Belknap Son to Sir Henry Belknap who Purchased this place died without Issue and so his three Sistrs Anne Elizabeth and Alice became his three Co-heirs who married to Sir Edward Wotton Sir Philip Cooke of Giddy-Hall and Sir William Shelley of Michaelgrove in Sussex who sold his proportionable Share in this Mannor to Dannett and from Wotton and Dannett two parts of it were afterwards conveyed away by Sale to Godfrey and the third was alienated by Cooke to Sir Christoph Man of Canterbury New-Langport called likewise Langport Septuans was for many Descents the Patrimony of that Noble Family Robert de Septuans held it at his Death which was in the thirty third year of Henry the third and after him his Grandchild William Septuans or de Septemvannis was possest of it in the twenty fifth year of Edward the third and so remained by the links of some Descents fastned to the Inheritance of this Family till William Septuans this mans great Grandchild by Sale translated his Right in it to John Writtle about the Beginning of Henry the sixth where after the Possession had some years settled it was by Sale supplanted and Seated in Henry Fettiplace of Beselslith in the County of Oxford where after it had for many years been fixed it was at length sold from this Family to James But here it had a very short abode for Thomas James falling under a praemunire in the sixth year of the Raign of King James forfeited it to the Crown and that Prince the next year after passed it away to John Lord Haddington and he not long after to discharge some Debts in which he was engaged to Mr. Edward Cropley of London passed it over to him for his Satisfaction and re-imbursment Jacks alias Jaques-Court in this Parish was the Demeasne of Echingham a Family of principal Note in Sussex where they were Jure Nativo Seneschalls of the Rape of Hastings and of a proportionate Revenue at Echingham in that County The first that I find of note in this place was William de Echingham who paid respective Aid in the twentyeth year of Edward the third at the making the Black Prince Knight for Lands which he held here and in Welland-Mersh by the fourth part of a Knights Fee and in this Family did it for sundry Ages reside and was productive of men that were very usefull and subservient to the Interest of their Country whereof William Echingham Son of the former William was one of the Conservators of the Peace for the County of Sussex in the first year of Richard the second and died possest of this place in the fifteenth year of that Prince But at length the Distaff prevailed against the Speare for this Family concluded in a Female Heir for Thomas Echingham dying without Issue-male Margaret his only Daughter was married to Walter Blount who had by her Jacks-Court which he left to his Son Edw. Blount Lord Montjoy but he at his Decease leaving no Issue the Inheritance of this place came to Elizabeth his Sister and Heir married to Sir Andrew Windsor afterwards created Lord Windsor by Henry the eighth who alienated this Mansion to Clache by whose Daughter and
Welle in this Parish which was alwayes under the Jurisdiction of Lay Proprietaries It was first the position of John de Welle sometimes written At Well from the position of his Dwelling which perhaps was in a bottom but this Man in the forty fourth year of Hen. the third made Ranulph Joremer his Feoffe in Trust who sold it for his Use to Reginald de Cornehill by whose Daughter and Heir it came to Garwinton of Beakesbourne and in this Name after it had been fixed some four Descents it went away to Haut for William Garwinton died without Issue and so Margaret his Kinswoman matched to Richard Haute who was a second stock of the Hauts of Bourne became his Heir but long the Right of it was not united to his Family For Richard Haut this Mans Son left likewise onely a Daughter and Heir called Margery who altered the Possession and brought it with Her to her Husband William Isaack who had by her Edward Isaack and he determined in two Daughters and Coheirs Mary married to Thomas Apulton of Waldingfield in the County of Suffolk and the other first matched to ....... Sydley and after to Sir Henry Palmer who by Donation from his Wife was endowed with the Fee-simple of Well Court and his Successor in our Father's Memory alienated it to Lievetenant Colonel Prude slain at the Siege of Maestricht who left it to his Son Mr. Searles Prude whose two Daughters and Coheirs are by his Will after his Widow's Decease entituled to the Inheritance Reginald de Cornehill in the forty fourth year of Henry the third exchanged Lands with John de St. Leger for Lands at Lukedale in Littlebourne where he founded a Chantry which was endowed with a new accession of Land by his Wife Matilda de Cornehill and was confirmed by Patent from Henry the third Lose in the Hundred of Maidstone was in old Saxon Records written Hlos which imports as much as the Lot or Portion It was as the Book of Christ-Church informs us given by Ethelwulf King of the South-Saxons to Sneta a Widow and her Daughter and they gave it back again to the Monks of Christ-Church in Canterbury to apparel them In the Conqueror's Time upon the general Survey recorded in Doonesday-Book it was accounted as part of the six Sullings of Ferneleigh Pimps Court that gave Name to the Knightly Family of the Pimps is in this Parish although they made Nettlested their more frequent place of abode William de Pimpe held this and other Lands by a whole Knights Fee in the twentieth year of Edward the third at the making the Black Prince Knight and from this William was John Pimpe Esquire who was Sheriff of Kent in the second year of Henry the seventh lineally descended who sold this Place to Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham Lord Constable of England whose dysastrous Fate having engaged him to make some dark Applications to a Wizard and a Monk about the Succession of the Crown Henry the eighth a Prince of much Jelousie and Fury like an Industrious Spider spun out Venome enough out of this unhappy Address of his to poyson him with the Guilt of High Treason and so made the forfeiture of his Life and Fortune pay the price of his Vanity upon whose Ruine his Estate was not long after his Death and Attaint which was in the thirteenth year of Henry the eighth by that Prince granted to his Confident and Favourite Sir John Rainsford who after a brief enjoyment of it passed it away to Sir Henry Isley who being attainted in the second year of Q. Mary for supporting by his Assistance and Concurrence the Defection of Sir Thomas Wiat this reverted to the Crown and the same Princess in the second year of her Government granted it by Patent to Sir John Baker whose Successor Sir John Baker Baronet hath lately passed it away to Thomas Floyd of Gore Court Esquire Luddenham in the Hundred of Middleton with the appendant Mannor of Bishops-Bush was a Branch of that spatious Revenue which did in these parts own the Northwoods for Possessors and Roger de Northwood in the forty first year of Henry the third amongst divers Parcels of Land which he altered from the Nature of Gavelkind into Knights Service of the which there is a particular Recapitulation in the Book of Aid changed ninety Acres of Mersh Land which lay partly in Iwade and partly in his Mannor of Luddenham into that Tenure After the Northwoods the Frogenhalls were Possessors of this place and William Frogenhall had this amongst other Lands in this Track which he died seised of in the eighth year of Richard the second his Son and Heir was William Frogenhall Father to Thomas Frogenhall the last of the Name at this Place for he left no Issue Male so that the Daughters became his Coheirs One of whom was Anne who married Thomas Quadring of London and so this place became hsi Inheritance as being her Proportion of Frogenhalls Estate but it quickly found an other owner for Joan Quadring his onely Daughter and Heir by marrying with Richard Dryland of Cokesditch in Feversham incorporated it with the Demeasn of that Family since which Alliance it hath by a constant Succession been fixt in the Possession of the Name of Dryland untill of late years by an Heir General it came to own the Signory of Kirton Luddesdowne in the Hundred of Taltingtrough was though now a petty obscure Village more noted formerly when it was the Patrimony of the Barons Montchensie of Swanscamp-Castle Warren de Montchensie one of them obtained a Charter of Free-Warren to this Mannor of Ludsdowne in the thirty seventh year of Henry the third afterwards this Mans Successor William de Monchensie held it and sat in Parliament as Baron of Swanscamp and dying in the year 1287 without Issue Male left this and diverse other Places to Dionys his Sole Daughter and Heir who was married to Hugh de Vere but died without Issue in the year of our Lord 1314 by which means the Title of this Place diverted to Joan de Montchensie Sister to William above-named and She matched in Marriage with William de Valentia Earl of Pembroke half Brother to King Henry the third and by him had Aymer de Valence who expired in two Female Coheirs one of whom called Isabel was married to Lawrence de Hastings who in her Right was afterwards Earl of Pembroke and Proprietary of the Fee-simple of this Place from whom it descended to his Grand-child John Hastings Earl of Pembroke who dying in the fourteenth year of Richard the second left his Estate in Kent in which this was involved to his two Kinsmen Reginald Grey and Richard Talbot and upon the Division of it this Mannor was lincked to the Patrimony of Grey and remained untill the Beginning of Henry the fixth interwoven with the Revenue of this Family and then I find it under the Signory of that eminent Peer and glorious Souldier Thomas Montacute Earl of Salisbury
elder Times made their Applications by humble Addresses to the Crown of whose Revenue this Parish was a Limb to rescue them from that Burden which crushed the shoulder and to permit that this Parish Suo integro Dominio Jurisdictione complecterctur might be circumscribed within the Sphere and Circumference of its own Signiory without any adherence or Connexion to any other but it seems the Beams of majesty not beating with any propitious Influence on this Design it grew not up to that Stature and perfection it did first aspire to so that it remained an imperfect Moiety of a Mannor under which Notion it is represented to us at present Yet in the ninth year of Edw. the first Eleanor Wife to that Prince obtained a Market weekly and a Fair yearly to be observed at this place and being improved with these advantageous Franchises it remained marshalled in the Inventory of the Royal Demeasne untill the second year of King James and then it was passed away by Grant to Philip then Earl of Mout Gomery upon whose late Decease it was disposed by Will to own the Interest of his second Son Mr. James Herbert Cheveney and Cheveney House are both within the Verge of Marden and were entituled to a Family of that Sirname Henry de Cheveney held it at his Death which was in the second year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 59. And after him Joan the Wife of John Cheveney his Son was in Enjoyment of it at her Decease which was in the thirty second year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 5. But after this I find no farther Remembrance of this Family at this Place for in the second year of Richard the second I discover by an ancient Court-Roll one William Atweld to have held the Propriety of it And in this Family was the Title lodged until the Beginning of Henry the sixth and then it was transmitted by Sale to Couper and in the thirteenth year of that Monarch I find one William Couper to have discharged some Persons of some Amerciaments and Fines imposed upon them for not performing Suite and Service at this Mannor of Cheveney and in this Family was the Interest successively resident until the Beginning of Q. Mary and then this House and Mannor being by the Custome of Gavelkind ground into two Parcels and those possest by two Brothers Coheirs one of them passed away Cheveney House to Maplesden in which name it is yet constant and the other alienated the Mannor of Cheveny to Lone from whom Mr. ....... Lone the instant Proprietary is lineally extracted Sipherst is another little Mannor in Marden which had Possessors here of that Sirname until the latter End of Edward the third and then they being abolished and the Fee-simple abandoned and surrendred to William Atweld about the second year of Richard the second that Name was entituled to the Estate here until the Beginning of Henry the sixth and then it was alienated with Cheveney to Couper in whom the Fee-simple had not been long constant when it was demised to John Field and he made his Will in the seventeenth year of Edward the fourth and gives it to his Son Jo. Field and from him did it by descendant Right devolve to his Successor Edward Field who held it the fourth year of Q. Elizabeth and after gave it to his Kinsman Thomas Gilbert whose Successor Thomas Gilbert having settled it on his Widow Sibil Gilbert it is now in her Right possest by her second Husband Mr. Richard Knight Tildens Stubbins and Brooke are three other inconsiderable Mannors in this Parish which had three owners of these Denominations the first of which were Persons of Eminence in this County and had an Estate at Wye Catts place in Brenchley and at Tilmanston likewise as it appears by the Book of Aid where there is an Assessement laid upon the Lands of William Tilden in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight But to proceed the Propriety of these three Places were constantly under the Dominion of these three Families until the latter End of Henry the fourth and then Stubbins was passed away to Tilden in whom both Stubbins and Tildens remained combined and wound up together until the Beginning of Henry the sixth and then they were demised to Thomas Stidolfe Esquire and he made his Will in the year 1453 and therein mentions Stubbins and Tildens to have been purchased of Tilden and Brooke of Richard Brooke but this Family about the Beginning of Henry the seventh determining in a Female Inheritrix matched to Richard Vane Esquire united these three Mannors to his Patrimony and from him by the traverses of several Descents are they now come down to be possest by the right Honourable Mildmay Vane Earl of Westmerland Monkton is a Mannor in Marden which made up the Demeasn of the Priory of Leeds and upon the suppression of that Cloister was by K. Henry the eighth granted to Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury Esquire who not long after alienated it to Thomas Wilfor'd Esquire and he in the seventh year of Q. Elizabeth to Thomas Stanley in which Family it remained until our Fathers Remembrance and then it was demised by Sale to Mr. ...... Board of Sussex St. Mary Church in Romney Mersh lies in the Hundreds of St. Martins and New-Church and was anciently folded up in that large Demeasn which did acknowledge the Dominion of the Criolls John de Crioll or Keriel of a younger Extraction from Bertram de Crioll held it at his Death which was in the forty ninth year of Edward the third and transmitted it to his Son Sir Nicholas Criol from whom by a continued Succession it devolved to Sir Thomas Crioll Knight of the Garter who falling an Oblation at the Battle of St. Albans to the Cause and Quarrel of the House of York by his Daughter and Heir it came to be the Inheritance of John Fogge Esquire who left it to his Son Thomas Fogge and though he determined in two Daughters and Coheirs Alice matched to William Scot and Anne first married to Edward Scot and after to Henry Isham yet it seems to improve and continue the Name he gave this and other Lands to his Kinsman George Fogge whose Posterity enjoyed it even until our Fathers Memory and then it was alienated to Carkeredge St. Maries in the Hundred of Hoo was as appears by Sir Thomas Wisemans Evidences for I can trace not any Notice of it in Publick Records in the Raign of Edw. the fourth for no higher do the Deeds arrive at in the Hands of one William Halton who sold the same to William Lemyng Citizen and Grocer of London as appears by a Deed dated the twenty second day of October in the eighth year of the said King's Raign Afterwards I find this abovesaid Mannor in the Hands of Sir John Brooke Lord Cobham in the Raign of Henry the seventh but from whom it came to him the Evidences do not discover but
as appears by the Escheat Roll of that year marked with the Number 76. and left Mawde de Twitham heir to his large Possessions in this County who by marrying with Simon Septuans of Checquer in Ash by Sandwich invested him not only in the Signory of Dean-Court but likewise in his other Demeasne which lay dispersed in severall Branches over this County and he had Issue by her Sir William Septuans who matched with Anne Daughter and Heir of Sir Nicholas Sandwich and had Issue by her John Septuans Esquire who likewise wedded Constance Daughter and Heir of Thomas Ellys of Sandwich and had Issue by her John his eldest Son to whom he gave Hells Twitham Chilton Molands in Ash and other Lands in Kent Thomas his second Son who had Dean-Court in Mepeham and other Lands in this County and Gilbert Septuans his third Son who had his Mannor of Chequer in Ash above-said and from them it is sometimes writ At Chequer and afterwards Harfleet for some eminent Service by him performed at a Town of that Name in Normandy as the private Evidences of this Family do seem to insinuate under the conduct of Henry the fifth and so Successively by Custome and Prescription this Name became hereditary to all of the Name of Septuans who were either directly or Collaterally linked in Alliance to this Gilbert And in the Name of Harfleet alias Septuans did the Inheritance of this Mannor of Dean-Court sundry Ages reside till some few years since it was by one of this Name alienated to Mr. Francis Twisden third Brother to Sir Roger Twisden of Roydon-Hall Knight and Baronet Merworth stands in the Hundred of Littlefield and gave Seat and Sirname to a worthy Family of Gentlemen whose Ancestor branched out from a Family called St. Laurence William de Merworth is in the Register of those Kentish Knights who were embarked with Richard the first at the Seige of Acon upon which it is probable the Crosse Corslets were taken into the paternall Coat of this Family In the fifteenth year of King John one Roger the Son of Eustace de Merworth brought a Quare Impedit against the Prior of Leeds for the Adyouson of the Church of Merworth Roger de Merworth obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor of Merworth in the eighteenth year of Edward the first In the twentieth year of Edward the third as appears by the Book of Aid John de Merworth paid respective Aid for a whole Knight's Fee at Merworth and Crombery in Hadloe which he held of the Earl of Glocester at making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth year of Edward the third and an Inquisition taken after this mans Death for his Mannor of Merworth though the Inquisition for his Mannor of Maplescombe and other Lands was not taken untill the forty ninth of Edward the third finds John Malmains of Malmains in Pluckley to be his Heir who in the forty sixth year of Edward the third sells it to Humphrey Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and he about the beginning of Richard the second conveys it to Nicholas de Brembre Son of Sir John de Brembre who at the Battle of Trent as Mr. Selden relates in his Titles of Honour pag. 556. made himself eminent by a signall encounter with John de Beaumonour in the year 1350. And endevouring to support the prerogative of Richard the second in an Age wherin his Crime was too much Loialty against the Assaults of some of the Factious and Ambitious Nobility sunk under the waight of their Hatred and Opposition and being attainted of High Treason this in the tenth year of the abovesaid Prince Escheated to the Crown and the same King in the thirteenth year of his Raign granted it to John Hermensthorpe who immediately after conveyed it to Richard Fitzallan Earl of Arundell Lord Treasurer and Lord Admirall of England whose Son Thomas Fitzallan dying without Issue Joan one of his Sisters and Coheirs matching with William Beauchampe who was created by Writt Baron of Abergavenny in the sixteenth year of Richard the second knit this Mannor to the Patrimony of that Family where it continued till Richard Beauchampe this mans Son dying without Issue-male in the ninth year of Henry the fifth bequeathed it to Elizabeth his Sole Daughter and Heir who matched afterward to Edward Nevill Baron of Abergavenny from whom the Title both of the Barony and Merworth flowed down to his Great Grandchild Henry Nevill who died the twenty ninth year of Queen Elizabeth and left this Mannor to Mary his Sole Daughter and heir married to Sir Thomas Fane unto whom King James in the first Parliament which he held Restored Gave Granted and so forth the Name Style Title Honour and Dignity of Baroness le Despencer and that her Heirs Successively should be Barons le Desp neer for ever She had Issue by Sir Thomas Fane of Badsell in Kent Sir Francis Fane eldest Son Knight of the Bath whom King James in the twenty second year of his Raign December the 29. created Earl of Westmerland and Baron Burghurst being likewise by his Mothers Descent extracted from the female heir of that old Barony for Edw. le Despencer who maried Elizabeth Heir of Bartholomew Lord Burghurst and Rich. Beauchampe who married Isabell Daughter and Heir of Thomas Lord Despencer and his eldest Son Sir Mildmay Fane Knight of the Noble Order of the Bath now Earl of Westmerland doth not onely enjoy the Concomitant Titles of Despencer and Burghurst but the Mannor of Mereworth likewise with all the Royalties of it which were not inferiour to any which hathreceived Honour by its owners for it is holden in Chivalrie by an entire Knights Fee and a Free-warren which was formerly granted to it is yet extant and the Conveniences of a Park and Conies are not wanting Jotes-Court in this Parish of Merworth had as appears by severall old Deeds some without Date Owners who were written Jeotes and by contraction of the Name call'd Jotes but before the latter end of Richard the second this Family was crumbled away and gone and then it came to have the same possessors with Merworth as namely Fitz-Allan Beauchampe and Nevill the last of which who enjoyed it was Sir Tho. Nevil third Son of George Nevill Baron of Abergavenny which Sir Tho. was one of the Privy Councel to Henry the eighth and Speaker of the Parliament and he in the thirty third year of that Prince conveyed it by Sale to Sir Robert Southwell who in the thirty fifth year of Henry the eighth by the same Fatalitie passed it away to Sir Edmund Walsingham of Scadbery whose great Grandchild Sir Tho. Walsingham Knight hath not many years since alienated all his Concernment in it to his Son in Law Mr. James Masters Swanton-Court is the last place considerable in Merworth It lay couched in that Revenue which related to the Knights Hospitalers untill the publique Dissolution supplanted it and surrendred it to the Crown and K. Henry the eighth about
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
of Kent the eighth ninth tenth eleventh twelfth thirteenth and fourteenth years of Henry the second Sir Richard de Lucy was Lord chief Justice and Protector of England in the Raign of the above mentioned Prince of whom I have more largely discoursed at Lesnes in Erith * Ex veteri Rot. penes Edo Dering Mil. Baonettum defunctum Aymer de Lucy was with Richard the first in Palestine at the Seige of Acon and in Memory of some Signal Service manifested there in that holy Quarrel added the Crosse Crosselets unto his Paternal Coat which was before only three Pisces Lucii that is Pike Fish Geffrey de Lucy was frequently summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron in the Raign of Edward the first as the Rols of Summons which relate to that King's Time now preserved in the Tower sufficiently inform us This Geffrey with his two Brothers Aymery and Thomas de Lucy were engaged with Edward the first at the Seige of Carlaverock in Scotland in the twenty eighth year of his Raign and there received the Order of Knighthood They were Sons to Geffrey de Lucy who was constituted High Admiral of England in the Time of Henry the third as appears Pat. 8. Hen. 3. Memb. 4. William and Anthony Lucy both of this Family were frequently summoned to sit in Parliament as Barons in the Raign of Edw. the third In the sixth year of Edward the third Geffrey de Lucy who held Lucy's at his Death which was in the twentieth year of that Monarch had a Charter of Free-warren to this Mannor which priviledge was renued and confirmed by Henry the sixth to Sir Walter Lucy in the 27. year of his Raign in which year he dyed and left his estate here to his Son Sir Jeffery Lucy who with his Sole Daughter and Heir Mawd Lucy transmitted this Mannor to her Husband Sir William Vaux of the County of North-Hampton whose Son Thomas Vaux alienated it about the twenty seventh year of the Raign of Henry the eighth to Sir Roger Cholmeley a younger Branch of the Cholmeleys of Cholmeley in Cheshire from which Family in our Grand-fathers Memory it was by Sale passed away to Sead and from Sead by as quick a vicissitude it came over by purchase to Osborne by whom not many years since it was sold to Pagitt of London Tracies is a second place in this Parish which comes within this List it was in elder Times the Inheritance of a Family of that Appellation John de Tracy was Teste to an old Deed of Richard de Lucy which I have seen wherein he demises some Land to William de Frogenhall the Deed is without Date but by the Antiquity of the Character seems to commence from the Raign of Henry the third Whether these Tracies were extracted from the Tracies of Devon and Gloucestershire or not I cannot positively determine because these of Kent bore a different Coat from the other as appears by all old Ordinaries Vid. Argent two Bends between nine Escollops Gules After the Tracies had left the possession of this place which was about the Beginning of Henry the fourth the Colepepers of Bedgebury were by purchase seised of the Fee-simple of it but staid not long in the Fruition of it for in the Raign of Henry the sixth the Cliffords of Bobbing Court not far distant from whom by Sale in the Raign of Henry the eighth it fell under the Signory of Thomas Linacre Priest Frogenhall in this Parish likewise was a Branch of that wide Demeasne which lay diffused in this Territory and did acknowledge it self to be of the possession of the Ancient Family of Frogenhall whose Seat was in Frogenhall in Tenham but whether this were the Land which I mentioned to be by Deed transmitted to William de Frogenhall in the time of Henry the third by Sir Richard de Lucy I cannot positively determine though it was probable it was and that afterwards as was usuall in those Times to perpetuate the Memory of the Possessor William de Frogenhall fixed his own Name upon it And in this Family did the Possession continue till Thomas Frogenhall concluded in three Co-heirs of which Elizabeth was one who matched with John Northwood of Milton and so linked it to the Inheritance of that Family where it had not long remained when a semblable Fatality brought this Family likewise to expire in Daughters and Co-heirs so that this place came by Joane one of them to be the Fee-simple of Sir John Norton but was not long resident in this Family for he about the Beginning of Henry the eighth conveyed it to Thomas Linacre Priest above mentioned who dying in the seventeenth year of the above-recited Prince gave both Tracies and Frogenhall for ever to augment the Revenue of All-souls Colledge in Oxford The Mannor of Newington it self belonged as an Ancient Manuscript now in my Custody informs me to a Nunnery which was erected here in this Parish but by whom it was founded or endowed is unknown only this Manuscript I mentioned before rehearses a direful Tragedy which it cites as is pretended out of Thorn the Chronicler of St. Augustins and other old Manuscripts It was this Divers of the Nuns being warped with a malitious Desire of Revenge took the advantage of the Night and strangled the Lady Abbesse who was the Object of their Fury and passionate Animosities in her Bed and after to conceal so execrable an Assassination threw her Body into a Pitt which afterwards contracted the traditional Appellation of Nun-pitt but this barbarous offence being not long after miraculously discovered the Manuscript does not intimate how King Henry the third in whose Time this Tragedy was acted seised this Mannor into his Hands and having by Consent of the Church transmitted the Nuns who were culpable to the secular power by Death to make expiation for this Crime he sent the Guiltless Nuns into Shepey and after filled their Cloister with seven secular Canons four of which not long after as if some secret Impiety had lurked in the Wals of the Covent murdered one of the Fraternity upon which the King seises this Mannor again into his Hands which he had before given back to the support of this new instituted Seminary two parts of which laying in the Hamlet of Thetham by the two guiltlesse Canons with the approbation of Henry the third were assigned to the Abby of St. Augustins though some Writings more Ancient affirm them to be given under the Notion of two Prebendaries to that Covent by William the Conqueror and the other five parts of this Mannor were by the abovesaid Henry the third granted to his Lord Chief Justice Sir Richard de Lucy whose Son Almericus de Lucy saies the Manuscript did in the year 1278. exchange them with the Monks of St. Augustins And thus was this Mannor fastned to the Patrimony of the Church and so continued till the General Dissolution in the Time of Henry the eighth disunited it and linked it
raign of Henry the seventh left two Sons to Thomas his eldest he devised Fredville with his Estate there to William his youngest Bonington and the Lands annexed to it so that the eldest had the Fairest and the youngest the ancient Seat from Fredville are streamed out first the Boois's of Hode the second Branch of the eldest House Secondly those of Betshanger Thirdly Bois of Sandwich issued out from those of Betshanger From Bonington are extracted the Bois's of Willsborough being the second Branch of the second House Secondly Bois of Offington and thirdly Bois of Hawkherst From Thomas Bois above-mentioned is the Title of Fredville in a successive Line now devolved to his Successor Iohn Bois Esquire Elmington is a second place of Note in this Parish It was made eminent in former Times by being parcell of the Patrimony of Condye of Condies Hall in VVitstaple who likewise had some Interest in Fredville by purchase from Colkin which VVilliam Condy passed away to Thomas Charlton above-mentioned Which VVilliam was Son and Heir to Iohn de Condy who dyed possest of Elmington the fifth of September in the forty second year of Edward the third and by descendant Right was invested in the Propriety of this place but enjoyed it not long for he dying without Issue Robert Grubbe who had married Margaret Sister and Coheir of the abovesaid VVilliam entered upon the Possession But he likewise concluding in two Daughters and Coheirs Agnes one of them by matching with Iohn Isaack annexed this to his Inheritance and his Successor James Isaack about the latter end of Henry the seventh conveyed it to George Guldford Esquire who not long after transmitted the Interest he had in this place by Sale to Betenham in whom the Possession was but of a frail and narrow Continuance for from this Family a Vicissitude like the former about the latter end of Henry the eighth carried it away to Sir Christopher Hales and his Son Sir James Hales not long after demised it to VVilliam Bois Esquire Ancestor to Jo. Bois of Fredville Esquire who now holds the instant Signiory of it St. Albans is a third place in Nonington which exacts our Notice It is called so because it was wrapped up in the Revenue of the Abby of St. Albans and did partake of the like priviledges as that Monastery enjoyed a Scale of which you may read of recorded in the late printed Monasticum Anglicanum too tedious here to recapitulate It was in elder Times called Esole and was held by one Edmund de Akcholt in Knights Service whose Arms in Nonington Church videlicet Quarterly Argent and Azure over all a Bend componee Or and Gules are yet visible and obvious This Mannor upon the general Dissolution in the Raign of Henry the eighth being found involved in the Patrimony of the above said Abby was in the thirty second year of that Prince granted with all its Appendages to Sir Christopher Hales and his Son Sir James Hales about the Beginning of Edward the sixth conveyed it to John Sticker who in the fifth year of that Prince alienated it to Sir Thomas Colepeper of Bedgbery from whom not long after the same mutation transplanted it into Sir Thomas Moile and he demised the propriety of it by Sale to Thomas Hamon Esquire Auncestor to Anthony Hamon Esquire who now enjoys the present Signory of it At the Borough of Wolwich in this Parish is a place called Oxendens which was the Original Seminary and Fountain of those of that Name and Family in this County Ratling is another place in Nonington of principal Note It contributed in Times of a more Venerable Date both Seat and Sirname to a Family of that Appellation It would be too tedious and voluminous a Digression to recite all those whom Ancient Records represent to be the possessors of this Place I shall only take notice of Sayer de Ratling Son of Sir Robert de Ratling who was the last of the Name who enjoyed it and had it in Possession at his Decease which was in the tenth year of Richard the second and left Joane his Daughter and Heir who was matched to John Spicer from whom the Spicers who were Owners of the Mannor of Sherford in Monks Horton in this County were collaterally extracted but it appears they were of no long residence at this Place for this Man and his Name together went out in Co-heirs so that Ratling fell under the Dominion of a new Proprietary for by Cicely one of them it was knit to the Demeasne of her Husband John Izaack of Blackmanbery in Bredge and by this Alliance the Title became tied to this Family till Edward Izaack this mans Grand-child in the Raign of Henry the seventh by Sale collated his Right in it on Sir John Phineux whose Successor in the next Age after alienated it to Nevinson from whom not so many years are yet elapsed but that almost our Memory may attaque the time of the Sale By the same Fatality the Possession and Title was rowled into the enjoyment of the present Owner Sir William Cowper Oldcourt is a third place which may exact our Account it was anciently parcel of the Demeasne of a good old Family who derived their Sirname from the Parish of Goodneston vulgarly called Gonston by no far Distance removed from this place and continued in an uninterrupted Series from John William and Robert de Godneston of whom there is frequent mention in private Evidences and who flourished in the Raigns of Henry the third and Edward the first as their Dateless Deeds do intimate until the Raign of Edward the fourth possest of this place and then it went by Edith Daughter and Heir of Edward Godneston in whom the Name was entombed to Vincent Engham descended from the Enghams or Edinghams of Woodchurch from whom it went away by Sale to John Sydley Esquire Auditor to Henry the seventh who added much to the Splendor and Magnificence of the Sydleys of Southfleet by those additional improvements with which he encreased the Patrimony of that Family When this Name went out the next Family which succeeded in the possession of this place by purchase was Wild of Canterbury descended originally from the Wilds of the County of Worcester where they are entituled to an Extraction of deep Antiquity whose Successor Sir John Wild of Canterbury in that Age we call our Fathers passed away his Right in Oldcourt to Mersh who holds the instant Fee-simple of it Northbourne in the Hundred of Eastry was given to Christ-church in Canterbury by Eadbald King of Kent as the Records of that Church do assert after his Return to the Christian Faith for formerly by an open Desertion or Apostacy he had renounced those Principles of Religion which originally had been infused into him And being thus cast into the Revenue of the Church it remained incorporated in its Patrimony till the publique Dissolution made by Henry the eighth dissevered it and laid it up in the Lap of the Royal
Imposition was scrued or wound up too much he abates and mollifies it by these Engagements perpetually for the future to oblige and endear them to assert and maintain his new atchieved Royaltie But to return to my Discourse In times of a more recent Inscription that is in the seventh year of King John the Prior and Monks of Christ-church obtained a Market to this their Mannor to be observed weekly on the Wednesday as appears Carta de Anno septimo R. Joannis Memb. secund with which Franchise it continued invested untill the twenty ninth of Henry the eighth and then being by the Monks abovesaid with the Residue of their Revenue into the Hands of that Prince it remained with the Crown untill the thirty second year of his Government and then it was granted to Pereivall Hart of Lullingston Esq to whose pious and charitable Beneficence the Almes Houses at this place owe their original Foundation and from him is the Propriety of it now descended to his great Grandchild Will. Hart Esq Crofton in this Parish did formerly swel into so much of Grandeur and populacy that it was known for a Parish of it self till by Fire it was entombed in its present Desolations and by the Violence of that wild and impetuous Element reduced into a Heap of Flame and Ruines and certainly those deplorable Remains which yet expose themselves to an Inquisitive Eye and the Groundsells too and scattered Foundations of Houses which the Plough often raises out of their Sepulcher of Rubbish and represents to the publick View do evince this Truth to us that Towns and Villages have their stated Period of Duration and must at length find a Grave like Men. But though this Village be shrunk into this disordered Heap yet still it preserves the Reputation of a Mannor which it had anciently when it was the Inheritance of Wibourn a Family in elder Times of high Esteem and a considerable Revenue in this Territory Ralph de Wibourn held Lands here and in other places of Kent as appears by sundry ancient Deeds now in the Possession of Wibourne of Halkewell in the raign of Edward the first and did after execute a Deed for Land in Wrotham Hundred in the tenth year of Edward the second And in the twentieth year of Edward the third John de Wybourne paid respective Aid for his Lands here and at other places in this County at the making the Black Prince Knight after Wibourne had relinquished the Possession of this place which was about the latter end of Edward the third it went away by Sale to Sir Robert Belknap who was attainted and banished by that Factious Parliament which was held in the tenth year of R. the second for vigorously endevouring to vindicate and assert his Prerogative against the Invasions and Inroads which some of the turbulent Nobility of those times did attempt to make upon it but this though forfeited and escheated to the Crown upon his pretended Treason was by Richard the second restor'd to Hamon Belknap Lord of Oston in the County of Warwick and from him it was by Descent transferred to John Belknap his Son who upon his Decease which was in the fifteenth year of Henry the sixth bequeathed it to Sir Henry Belknap who determined in three Daughters and Coheirs Alice married to Sir William Shelley Anne matched to Sir Robert Wotton and Elizabeth first wedded to Sir Philip Cook of Giddy-Hall in Essex and after to I eonard Dannett of the County of VVorcester who divided his Patrimony but this upon ballancing the partition of the Estate fell upon the poising of it in equall portions to be the Demeasn of Sir VVill. Shelley who demised it by Sale to Sir Rob. Read Lord Chiefe Justice of the Kings Bench and he in the raign of Henry the seventh passed it away by Grant to the Hospital of the Savoy in ' London where it has ever since without any Interruption of the first Donation remained successively resident Bark-hart has obtained a place in the Map of Kent and therefore shall not want one in this Discourse It was built by Percivall Hart Esquire Father to the late Sir Percivall but it was adorned with this Name by Queen Elizabeth when she was magnificently entertained at this place by the above said Gentleman Upon her Reception she received her first Caresses by a Nymph which personated the Genius of the House then the Scene was shifted and from several Chambers which as they were contrived represented a Ship a Sea Conflict was offered up to the Spectator's View which so much obliged the Eyes of this Princesse with the Charms of Delight that upon her Departure she left upon this House to perpetuate the Memory both of the Author and Artifice the Name and Appellation of Bark-hart There is a Tradition that Thomas de Beckett Arch-bishop of Canterbury was born at Tubbingden whose Demeasne is partly situated in Ferneborough and partly in this Parish But to dissipate this received Fiction I shall manifest out of an old Parliament Roll of the thirty first year of Henry the sixth the original Truth that is so much of it as concerns his Cradle or place of Nativity The Record in its own Dialect speaks thus James Earl of Wiltshire and Ormond whose Fader and many of his Ancestors are lineally descended of the Blode of the glorious Martyr St. Thomas sometimes Arch-bishop of Canterbury The which glorious Martyr was born of his Moder within the Ground where now is set the House or Hospital of the said Martyr called St. Thomas Acres now in the City of London where the Body of the said Earl lies buried and Dame Joane Beauchamp late Lady of Burgavenny Crandame to the said Earl of Ormond and Wiltshire For Tubbenden it self it was Anciently the Demeasne of a Family which was known by that Sirname for by a Deed now in the Hands of Mr. Wittingham Wood of Canterbury Esquire it appears Gilbert Saundre of Crofton did demise several parcels of Land to John de Tubbenden of Ferneborough and to Richard Philip John and Robert his Sons in the twenty first year of Edward the first which justifies it Anciently to be the Possession of one of that Name After Tubbenden Belknap was Proprietary of this place and then successively by Alice his Co-heir Sir William Shelley of Michelgrove in Sussex from which Family it was brought down by Purchase in the beginning of the raign of Henry the eighth to be the Estate of Posier who after some few years continuance in the Possession demised his Concernment in it by Sale to Dalton issued out from the Daltons of Yorkeshire which Name suddainly resolved into a Female Heir known by the Name of Anne Dalton who by matching with Aunsell Beckett linked it to the Demeasne of that Family from whom it descended to his Son Matthew Beckett who upon his Decease bequeathed it to Mr. John Winterborn of London who hath lately passed it away to Mr. ...... Gee of the County of Yorke
Esquire St. Mary Crey in the Hundred of Rokesley though it be a Market Town yet is but a Chapâ—el of Ease to Orpington Before the Conquest one Elfgat held it as Doomes-day Book which makes a Recapitulation of the first Owners informs us of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury In the Conqueror's Time Hugh Nephew of Herbert Bishop of Baion possest it under the Notion of a whole Knights Fee In Ages of a more modern Date that is in the raign of Henry the third John de Maries descended from Thomas de Maries who accompanied Richard the first to the Seige of Acon enjoyed a whole Knights Fee at Ackmere and Sentling two eminent Mannors in this Parish but about the beginning of Edward the first had deserted the Possession and surrendered it to Gregory de Rokesley Grand-child to John de Rokesley who likewise was embarked with Richard the first at the Seige of Acon and he in the ninth of Edward the first obtained the Grant of a Market on the Wednesday and a three Dayes Faire at the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary to St. Mary Crey as appears Pat. 9. Edw. 1. Memb. 35. and left it to his Son Sir Richard de Rokesley who dying in the seventeenth year of Edward the second without Issue-male by Agnes one of his Daughters and Co-heirs to Thomas de Poynings in which Name it continued until the latter end of Edward the third and then I find it possest by Sir Robert Belknap who was attainted in the tenth year and banished into Ireland for too vigorously attempting to boulster up the Majesty and Prerogative of that Prince against the Assaults and invasions which were made upon it by a Factious Junto of the Nobility yet it was suddainly after restored to his Posterity for in the ninteenth of Richard the second I find Hamon Belknap reseated in the Possession by the Royal Concession and Indulgence of that Prince and from him it did devolve to his Grand-child Sir Henry Belknap which Family being enterred in Daughters and Co-heirs Sir Robert Wotton by matching with Anne that was one of them entituled himself in her Right to the Inheritance of both these Places and so by the Thread of a continued Descent was it brought down to Thomas Lord Wotton who settled them in Marriage upon his eldest Daughter and Co-heir Mrs. Katherine Wotton who was espoused to Henry Lord Stanhop Heir apparent to Philip Earl of Chesterfeild Orlanston in the Hundred of Hamme was the Inherirance of a Family of that Sirname William de Orlanston is registred in the List of those Kentish Gentlemen who assisted Richard the first at the Siege of Acon William de Orlanston his Son held it in the raign of Henry the third and obtained a Charter of Free-warren to it in the one and fiftieth year of Henry the third and more to improve the Grandeur of this his Mannor with Additional Franchises he likewise obtained a Market to be weekly observed here and a Fair yearly which was to continne by the space of three Dayes at the Feast of Holyrode as appears Pat. de 51. Hen. 3. Memb. 10. The Grant of which Market was renewed and confirmed to John Kemp Arch-bishop of Yorke and after of Canterbury in the twentieth year of Henry the sixth William de Orlanston this mans Grand-child was Sheriff of Kent in the second year of Edward the third and had the Custody of the County some part of the year following and died the thirty eighth year of Edward the third and had Issue Sir John Orlanston who was Burgess for Romeney as appears by some old Records in Dover Castle sundry Times both in the raign of Edward the third and Richard the second and matched with the Daughter and Heir of Sir William at Capell from which Alliance proceeded Richard Orlanston Esquire who died possest of Orlanston in the seventh year of Henry the fifth Rot. Esc Num. 16. and left his Inheritance to be divided between his two Sisters and Co-heirs Margaret matched to William Parker of Parkers in Werehorne and Joane espoused to William Scott of Scotts Hall who upon the Partition of the Ancient Patrimony was invested in his Wife 's Right in this Mannor of Orlanston from whom the Clew of many Descents hath transported the Propriety to the instant Possessor Mr. Edward Scott of Scotts Hall Esquire Here were Lands divorced from this Place by no far Distance called Oswareston for I find Henry Earl of Augie gave to the Monks of Bermondsey in Southwarke his Lands called Oswareston near Romelin in the Parish of Lyda and the Lands of John the Clerk in Bilsington of which see Vincents Book of Nobility Fol. 190. Westbery in this Parish was as high as the private Evidences of this Place can give us any Prospect to discover the Propriety of a Family called Prisott who was planted here as high as the Raign of Henry the fourth and t is probable much higher though the Deeds reach no farther Of this Family was Sir John Prisot the Judge of whom there is frequent mention in our Law Books which have an Aspect upon the Raign of Henry the sixth and in this Name was the Title of this Mannor carried down to the eighth year of Henry the eighth and then it was by Thomas Prisot passed away by Sale to George Hount in whom the Possession had not many years been resident but the same Fatality brought it over to Reginald Strogle who was in the Commission of the Peace in the Raign of Edward the sixth and was descended from a Family which was of a very high Original in Romney-Mersh where there are some Lands yet which bear their Name After Strogle had left it it came by Purchase to Mr. Bennet Guildford a Branch of the Guildfords of Hempsted who in the beginning of the Raign of Queen Elizabeth falling under the Censure and Penalty of a Pramunire for refusing the Oath of Supremacy and flying beyond Sea forfeited this place to the Crown and this Princesse immediately after passed it away by Grant to Walter Moile of Buckwell from whom not many years after this original Concession it went away by Sale to Mr. Francis Bourne Grand-father to Mr. ...... Bourne the present Proprietary of it Ospringe in the Hundred of Feversham was anciently a Limb or Appendage of the Royal Revenue until King Edward the thind in the tenth year of his Raign by Royal Concession or Grant passed it away to John de Pultency afterwards Lord Mayor of London to hold it in Fee of the Crown by the Service of a Rose offered up or presented as a Symbol of Annual Fealty and with this Mannor he granted him likewise all the Advousons of-Churches which formerly related to it to hold in Soccage only by the former acknowledgement In the nineteenth year of his Raign the above said Prince grants this John de Pulteney that Thomas Son of William de Dene should be accountable to him for all those Knights Fees which lay in
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
legible wherein at the Foot of it there is mention of one Edward Filmour so he was written in that Age from whom it is probable though now the Name by Time and prescription be in the last Syllable of it something violated the present Sir Edward Filmer eldest Son to that Learned Loyal and Worthy Person Sir Robert Filmer lately deceased is primitively extracted and this is confirmed by their own private Evidences which represent them for many Cenerations even till this present Possessors of this Place and wherein the Name is frequently written Filmor aswel as in latter Escripts Filmer There is another Mannor in Ottringden which anciently was reputed so though now by Disuse and Intermission it hath lost that Estimate and is called Hall-place by a very Ancient Court-roll Sans date now in the Hands of Mr. Paine It is represented in those Times when it had Tenants and Services belonging to it to be the propriety of one Roger Rev and in that Roll there is mention of one Thomas Franklin who held some Lands of this Mannor by paying yearly the Tribute or Rent-service of one Red Rose as the Symbol of his Homage And now for want of farther Light from the Ancient Deeds and Evidences I must make a leap to the raign of Henry the seventh and then I find Eugenius Cock in the nineteenth year of that Prince sels it to John Bunce of this Parish Gentleman in which Family the possession rested until very lately it was by Sale alienated to Mr. Paine Monkton is the last place in this Parish of Note It belonged before the suppression to the Nunnery of Davington and was given to that Cloyster by Matthew Son of Hamon Atfrith upon the first Erection of it which was in the thirty ninth year of Henry the third Upon the suppression and final Dissolution ' of this Covent of Davington by Henry the eighth it was by that Prince granted to Sir Thomas Cheney whose Son the Lord Henry Cheyney so fugitive is the Tenure of Church-Demeasne in the entrance into the raign of Queen Elizabeth passed it away to Godden who so small a space was resident in the possession that he hath only left us Notice that he sold it to William Lewin descended from the Lewins of Norfolk whose Son Sir Justinian Lewin concluded in a Daughter and Heir who was matched to Rogers of the County of Somersett and so in her Right it became interwoven with his Demeasne but remained not long thus involved in the Interest of this Name for in our Memory he deceased and left only a Daughter and Heir who is lately matched to Charles Cavendish Lord Mansfeld eldest Son to William Lord Marquess of Newcastle so that Monkton in his Ladies Right is now united to his Inheritance There are two Chappels in the Parish Church of Ottringden that on the North-side of the Chauncel is called Ottringdens Chappel where the Remains of several of the Ottringdens St. Legers Auchers and Lewins lie enterred that on the South-side is termed Bunces Chappel where the Ashes and Reliques of several of that Family slumber who were of no contemptible Note in this Parish where they had a Mansion which in old Evidences is called Bunces Court which hath been in their possession as appears by their own Deeds some Hundreds of years and from hence are the Bunces of Throuley likewise originally issued forth P. P. P. P. PAdlesworth in the Hundred of Lovingborough is so obscure and inconsiderable a Village that it should not have filled a place in this Register but that it was a portion of that wide Estate which lay spread over the Face of all the adjacent Territorie and acknowledged it self to be under the Jurisdiction of the Criolls Bertram de Crioll died about the middle of Edward the first and left Joan his Sole Heir who had been before matched to Sir Richard de Rokesley of Rokesley Court in Northcrey and so Padlesworth became the Rokesley's but did not long cleave to that Name for he expired likewise in two Female Co-heirs whereof one of them called Joan was matched to Thomas de Poynings and he left Issue Michael Poynings from whom it came down to his descendant Robert Poynings who passed it away by Sale to Fogge of Sene in Newington in which Family the Title for many Descents lay involved even until our Fathers Remembrance and then it was alienated to Dynley who is the instant Lord of the Fee Padlesworth in the Hundred of Larkefeild was as high as the raign of H. the third the Possession of a Family called Chetwind who immediatly after exchanged it with Hamon de Gatton for the Mannor of Hocklin in the County of Bedford but kept it not long for after it had continued some smal Interval of Time in this Family it was alienated to the Noble Family of Huntingfeild after whom succeeded Bele and then it went away by Sale to Bullock who by the same Devolution surrendred the possession to Diggs where it had but a very transitory aboad for he conveyed it away to Peckham from whom the ordinary Mutation made by Purchase brought it to own the Propriety of Vineley who translated his Interest by Sale unto William Clifford of Bobbing-court and he about the beginning of Henry the fixt fixed the Title and Possession by Sale in Robert Bambergh Where it is to be noted that this quick and suddain Revolution of the Title of this place in those Families which intervened between Huntingfeild and Bambergh happened in lesse then a Circle of fifty years as appears by the original Conveyances now in the Hands of Mr. Marsham But to advance in that Discourse where I broke off Robert Bambergh above-mentioned was not long settled in his new Acquists but he deceased and left it to his Daughter and Heir who was matched to Nicolas Wotton Esquire from whom in a direct Line it came down to Thomas Lord Wotton who settled it in Marriage upon his Daughter and Co-heir Katherine Wotton with Henry Lord Stanhop eldest Son and Heir apparent to Philip Earl of Chesterfeild and this Lady hath since passed it away to my Noble Friend John Marsham of Whornes-place in Cuckeston Esquire from whose Deeds and Papers I have drawn my present Intelligence Patricksbourn in the Hundreds of Bredge and Pet-ham in Ancient Records hath still the Addition of Cheyney annexed to it for indeed it was the first and original Residence of the Cheyneys before they translated their Habitation to Shurland in Shepey by matching with the Heir of Shurland Alexander de Cheyney is registred in the Catalogue of those Kentish Gentlemen who accompanied Richard the first to the Siege of Acon In Testa de Nevill an Ancient Book kept in the Exchecquer there is mention of Gulielmus de Casineto so they are written in Latine that is William de Cheyney who paid respective supply in the twentieth year of Henry the third at the Marriage of Isabell that King's Sister for his Lands at Patriksbourn Cheyney
Nephew Sir Nicholas Miller to whom we ascribe the new Additions which are set out with all the Circumstances both of Art and Magnificence and is now possest by his Son and Heir Hump. Miller Esquire Pencehurst is seated upon the utmost Boundary of the Lowy of Tunbridge and was an eminent Mansion of a very Ancient Family whose Sirname was Penchester of whom there is mention in the Great Survey of England taken in the twentieth year of William the Conqueror vulgarly called Doomes-day Book and in this Family did the possession reside until the two Daughters and Co-heirs of the famous Sir Stephen de Penchester who was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle in the Raign of Edward the second and who died seised of it in the year of that Prince's Government Rot. Esc Numb ... divided the Inheritance Joane the eldest was matched to Henry Lord Cobham of Roundall in Shorne and she carried away Allington-castle Alice the other Daughter and Co-heir was wedded to John Lord Columbers and she had Pencehurst and other Lands for her proportion And he had Issue by her Thomas de Columbers who by his Deed dated at Pencehurst in the eleventh year of Edward the third passes away his Right in it to Sir John de Poultney and he in the twelfth year of the above-mentioned Prince obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor of Pencehurst and in the twentieth year of Edward the third paid Aid for it at making the Black Prince Knight and held it at his Decease which was in the twenty third year of that Prince and left it to his Son William Poultney who immediatly after alienated it to Guy Lovain who had Issue Sir Nicolas Lovain who held Pencehurst in the forty fourth year of Edward the third and married Margaret eldest Daughter to John Vere Earl of Oxford re-married to Henry Lord Beaumont and after to Sir John Devereux Knight of the Garter Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports Constable of Dover-castle and Steward of the Kings House in the eleventh year of King Richard the second In the sixteenth year of whose raign he had Licence by Letters Patents to fortifie and embattel his Mansion-house at Pencehurst His Daughter and Heir was matched to Walter Lord Fitz-water from whom the Earls of Sussex descended and he had a Brother named Sir Walter Devereux from whom the late Earl of Essex was derived and the Arms of this Sir John Devereux were not long since extant in a Window on the North-side of Pencehurst Church But he only enjoyed this Mannor in Right of his Wife for after her Death it devolved to Philip St. Clere of Aldham St. Clere in Eightham who married Margaret Daughter of Sir Nicolas Lovain above-mentioned Sister and Heir to her Brother Nicolas Lovain who died without Issue And by her he had John St. Clere who passed away his Right here to John Duke of Bedford third Son to Henry the fourth and he enjoyed Pencehurst at his Decease which was in the fourteenth year of Henry the sixth but dying without Issue it came down to Humphrey Duke of Gloucester fourth Son of Henry the fourth who was strangled in the Abby of Bury by the procurement and practises of the Duke of Suffolke and he likewise going out without Posterity it returned to the Crown And Henry the sixth in the twenty fifth year of his raign granted it to Humphrey Stafford Duke of Buckingham whose infortunate Grandchild Edward Duke of Buckingham endeavouring by a specious Semblance of Vanity and Ostentation guilded with all the Cunning and Pompe of Magnificence to make himself popular and entering afterwards into Consultation with a Monk and another who pretended to the dark Art of Necromancy about the Succession of the Crown poured in so many Jealousies into the Bosome of Henry the eighth which were multiplied to the height of Treason by the malice of Cardinal Wolsey that nothing could allay or appease them but the Effusion of this mans Blood in the twelfth year of that Prince upon a Scaffold Upon whose infortunate Exit this Mannor escheated to the Crown and here it remained until King Henry the eighth granted it to his faithful Servant Sir Ralph Vane who being entangled with John Duke of Somersett in that obscure Design which was destructive to them both in the fourth year of Edward the sixth this was again seised upon by the Crown as escheated by his Conviction and remained with its Revenue until the above-said Prince in the sixth year of his Government by Royal Concession planted the Inheritance in Sir William Sidney his Tutor who was likewise Lord Chamberlain of his Houshold and one of his Privy Councel from whom it is descended to his great Grand-child the Right Honorable Robert Earl of Leicester designed Lord Lievtenant of Ireland by the late King Charles and he is the instant Proprietary of it Pencehurst Halymote is another little Mannor in this Parish and had still the same Owners with Pencehurst and upon the Tragedy of Edward Duke of Buckingham devolving by Escheat to the Crown lay couched in the Royal Revenue until the State not many years since passed it away by Grant to Colonel Robert Gibbons Pepenbury vulgarly called Pembury is seated in the Hundreds of Watchlingston and Twyford and contains within the Limits of it that noted Seat called Bayhall which was the Ancient Seat of the Ancient Family of Colepepers The first of which whom I find made eminent by Record is Thomas de Colepeper who was as appears by the Bundels of incertain years in the Pipe-Office one of the Recognitores Magnae Assisae in the raign of King John a place if we consider the Meridian of those Times for which it was calculated that is before the establishment of the Conservators of the Peace of eminent Trust and Concernment And certainly this man was Father of that Thomas Colepeper who was brought upon the Stage and his Tragedy represented at Leeds Castle where he was sacrificed to the Anger of Edward the second because he was a more faithful Castellan to the Lord Badelesmer then he was a Loyal Subject to his Soveraign and with his Life he lost his Estate here at Pepenbury Yet I find by the close Rols of the seventeenth year of Edward the second Memb. 5. that there was much of his Land here and in other places by the Indulgence of that Prince restored to his Son Thomas de Colepeper but yet the Mannor and this Seat remained lodged in the Crown yet certainly it was no contemptible parcel of Land that was granted back for Richard the second by Royal Concession gave Licence to Thomas Colepeper to inclose fifty Acres of Land into a Park at Pepenbury But to advance In the twenty fifth year of Henry the sixth the Crown devests it self of its Right to both these places and transplants it by Grant into Humphrey Stafford the Duke of Buckingham from whom they descended to his infortunate Grand-child Edward Duke of
Burwash-court from whom it is now devolved by Descent to his Successor Mr. ...... Boughton The Abbot of St. Augustines to adde more eminence to this Mannor not only obtained a Charter of Free-warren to Plumsted in the thirty sixth year of Henry the third but likewise by Grant procured a Market to be held here weekly on the Tuesday and a Fair yearly three Dayes at St. Nicolas videlicet the Eve the Day and Day after both which were allowed before the Judges Itinerant in the seventh year of Edward the first Plumsted had anciently Laws and Ordinances for the better securing the Mounds and Banks of the Mersh against the Eruptions and Inundations of the Thames which almost were of the same Resemblance and Complexion with those of Romney Mersh A Scale of several Statutes are delivered to us by Rastall in his Abridgement which concerned the Inning and preserving of Plumsted Level The first was enacted in the twenty second year of Henry the eighth Cap. 3. and was printed The second was made in the fourteenth year of Queen Elizabeth and was never printed The third was ratified in the twenty third of Queen Elizabeth Cap. 13. and printed The fourth and last was confirmed in the twenty seventh year of Queen Elizabeth Cap. 27. and likewise printed Burwash-court is an eminent Seat in this Parish made more illustrious by being wrapped up in the Revenue of the Noble Family of Burgherst or Burwash Bartholomew de Burgherst died possest of it in the twenty eighth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 38. And left it to his Son Bartholomew Lord Burwash who in the forty third year of the above-said Prince coveyed it with much other Land to Sir Walter de Paveley Knight of the Garter in which Family it continued until the raign of Richard the second and then it was alienated to VVilliam Chichley Alderman of London who left it to his Son John Chichley by whose Daughter and Heir Agnes it came to be possest by John Tattershal of VVell-hall in Eltham who about the beginning of Henry the sixth conveyed it to Boughton in the Descendants of which Family it had a permanent aboad untill that Age that our Remembrance had an Aspect on and then it was passed away to Mr. Rowland VVilson of London and he upon his late Decease gave it to his Daughter and her Heirs who was first matched to Doctour ...... Crisp and now secondly to Colonel ...... Row of Hackney R. R. R. R. RAdigunds vulgarly called the Abby of St. Radigunds leads up the Van of this Register It was founded by Hugh the first Abbot who was before a Monk in the Priory of Christ-church in the raign of King Stephen as the Book of Christ-church and the Return into the Court of Augmentation made in the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth do both inform me Their Rule was derived from Austin Bishop of Hippo their Habit Black whence they are sometimes styled Black-Canons and sometimes Canons of St. Austins The Revenue which appertained to this Cloister lay not fat divided from this place as namely at Alkham Sotemore Combe Hawking Padlesworth and Pising where they had a Mannor as appears by an Inquisition taken in the thirty fifth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 147. This upon the Dissolution lapsing with all its Revenue to the Crown King Henry the eighth exchanged Pising with Thomas Cranmer Arch-bishop of Canterbury but the Mannor of St. Radigunds it self remained annexed to the Royal Revenue until Queen Elizabeth in the thirty second year of her raign granted it to Simon Edolph Esquire descended from the Edolphs of Romney Mersh where they were very ancient in whose Successor Sir ...... Edolph the propriety of this place is still resident Raculver in the Hundred of VVhitstaple had a Monastery founded here for Monks to live under the Rule of St. Bennet But the Mannor it self was given with all its Train of Appendages as namely Pasture Glebe Mersh-land and the adjacent Shore and estimated at twenty five Mansions or Cottages bis denis senisque estimatum Cassatis those are the words of the Record by King Eadredus in the year nine hundred forty and eight to the Sea of Canterbury in the presence of his Queen Edgiva and Arch-bishop Odo and if you will descry what Estimate it had in the Time of the Conqueror Doomes-day Book will afford you a discovery Raculf Tempore Edwardi Regis se defendebat pro VIII Sullings est appretiatum XL. lb. II. lb. V. s. tres Minutes that was a Coin I believe equivalent to our now English Pence minus Though the Church be now full of Solitude and languished into Decay yet when Leland made his Perambulation it was in a more splendid Equipage If you please to hear him he thus describes it The old Building of the Abby Church continues says he having two goodly spiring Steeples In the entring into the Quire is one of the fairest and most ancient Crosses that ever I saw nine Foot in height it standeth like a fair Columne The Basis is a great stone it is not wrought the second Stone being round hath curiously wrought and and painted the Images of our Saviour Christ Peter Paul John and James Christ saith Ego sum Alpha Omega Peter saith Tu es Christus Filius Dei vivi The sayings of the other three were painted Majusculis Literis Romanis but now obliterated The second Stone is of the Passion The third Stone contains the Twelve Apostles The fourth hath the Image of our Saviour hanging and fastned with four Nails sub pedibus sustentaculum The highest part of the Pillar hath the Figure of a Crosse In the Church is a very ancient Book of the Evangelies in Majusculis Literis Romanis and in the Borders thereof is a Crystal Stone thus inscribed Claudia Atepiccus In the North-side of the Church is the Figure of a Bishop painted under an Arch In digging about the Church they find old Buckles and Rings The whole Print of the Monastery appears by the old Wall And the Vicarage was made of the Ruines of the Monastery There is a neglected Chappel out of the Church-yard where some say was a Paroch-Church before the Abby was suppressed and given to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury Thus far he But the greatest Honor which in elder Times did accrew to this Village was that King Ethelbert after he had founded the Abby of St. Austins removed his Residence from Canterbury and fixed his Pallace at this place which his Successors the Kings of Kent enobled by their presence but when this Kingdome was swallowed up in that of Mercia and Mercia afterwards in that of the West Saxons Reculver had the Grant of a Market procured to it on the Thursday by William Arch-B of Canterbury in the 7th of Edw. the second this Mansion of theirs found a Sepulcher likewise in their Ruines so that now we can trace it out no where but in Annals and
was by Etheldred let loose from the Veins of his Danish Subjects universally in this Nation and certainly it was this Swain that erected the Castle here to preserve a Winter Station for his Ships and though it now lye gasping in its own Rubbish yet there are yet some Characters and Signatures remaining which evidence and declare to us that there was once a Fortresse there where there is nothing now but dismantled Ruines The Tradition of the Country is that that Valley which interposes between that Hill which ascends up to Northfleet and that which winds up to Swanscamp was once covered with Water and being locked in on each side with Hills made a secure Road for Shipping which invited the Dane to make it a Winter-Station for his Navy and the same Report will tell you likewise of Anchors which have been digged up about the utmost Verge of that Mersh which is contiguous to the Thames and certainly if we consider the Position of this Valley which is nothing but a Chain of Mershland interlaced with a Stream called Ebbs fleet which swells and sinks with the Flux and Reflux of the adjacent River and the Dimension of their Ships then at that Time in use which were not of any extraordinary Bulk this Tradition is not improbable Near this place Stigand the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Egelsine Abbot of St. Augustines assembled the Kentish Men into an Army pretending it was better to dye like Men in asserting and vindicating their Native Liberties with Swords in their Hands then like Slaves to prostitute themselves to the Insolence of the Conquerour by a cheap and tame Submission with Halters about their Necks which had so great an Influence and Impression upon their Spirits that they resolved their Franchises and themselves should find one Tomb together rather then they would give up both to the Sword and Will of an imperious Victor and indeed soon after they managed their Stratagems with that Successe that William Sirnamed the Conquerour advancing with his Normans into Kent to reduce Dover-Castle which was then made good against him he and his Army dropped into those Ambushes which the Kentish Inhabitants had strewed for him where he had indisputably perished had he not by Charter fortified and confirmed those Immunities they then contended and strugled for and which remain unviolated either by any forrain or domestick Eruption even untill this Day The Mannor of Swanscamp it self was as farre as Record can guide us to discover the Inheritance of the Montchensies called in the Latine Repertory de Monte-Canisio and Hubert de Montchensey as appears by Dooms-day Book was the first of that Name of any Eminence who was Lord of the Fee and after him his Son William de Montchensey by paternal Right held it and so dyed in Possession of it in the year 1287 from whom it descended to Dionis his Daughter and Heir and in Relation to her to her Husband Hugh de Vere who became by this Addition of Estate thus accruing Baron of Swanscamp and sat under that Notion in the Parliament which was summoned in the first year of Edward the second but he dying without Issue William de Valence Earl of Pembroke claimed it in Right of his Wife Daughter and Heir to John de Montchensey second Brother to William de Montchensey who was Father in Law to Hugh de Vere above-mentioned from whom it descended to his Son Aymer de Valence who dying without Issue in the seventeenth year of Edward the third Isabell his Sister matched to Lawrence de Hastings became his Heir who in her Right was Earl of Pembroke and Baron of Swanscamp and left it to his Grandchild John de Hastings Earl of Pembroke who dying without Issue in the fourteenth of Richard the second in the fifteenth year of that Prince Reginald Grey and Richard Talbot in respect of Marriage were found to be his Heirs and upon the Partition of the Estate this was united to the Demeasne of Talbot in which Family after it had rested untill the latter end of Henry the sixth it was conveyed to Sir Thomas Brown of Bechworth Castle whose Son Sir William Brown in the twelfth year of Edward the fourth surrendered them into the hands of Edward the fourth for the use of his Mother Cicely Dutchesse Dowager of York upon whose Decease it returned to the Crown and lay there untill the first year of Q. Elizabeth and then it was granted to Ralph Weldon Esq great Grand-father to Colonel Ralph Weldon the instant Lord of the Fee Alcharden alias Combes is another place in this Parish worthy this Survey It was many Hundred years since the Inheritance of a Family called Cumbe or Combe who continued resident in the Possession untill the reign of Edward the fourth and then it went away from them by Sale to Swan of Hook-House in Southfleet in which Family it was fixed untill the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth and then it was conveyed to Lovelace who not long after passed it away to Carter and he alienated it to Hardres from whom about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth the Vicissitude of Sale carried it off to Fagge who in the tenth year of King James transmitted it by Sale to Hudson whose Descendant not many years fince demised it by Sale to Mr. Richard Head of Rochester Ince-Grice is the last place considerable in Swanscampe It related before the general suppression to the Priory of Dartford but being torn off by King Henry the eighth it was by Edward the sixth in the fifth of his reign granted in Fee-Farm to Martin Muriell but the Fee-simple remained in the Crown until Queen Elizabeth in the fifth year of her Rule passed it away to Edward Darbishire and John Bere who not long after jointly conveyed it to Jones who in our Fathers Memory alienated it to Holloway whose Son and Heir Mr. Thomas Holloway hath lately demised his Interest in it to Captain Edward Brent of Southwarke Staple in the Hundred of Eastry hath two places memorable First Crixall which was Anciently written Crickleaddshall when in Ages of a higher Ascent it confessed the Family of Brockhull for its Owners which were Lords of it but until the twenty eighth of Edward the first and then it was setled upon a Daughter but whether she brought it or not by Marriage to Wadham which Family I find about the latter end of Edward the third to have been possest of it I cannot discover and where the Light of Record is dim I must acquiesce in silence William Wadhaem as I trace out by an old Pedigree of Fogg lived in the reign of Henry the fourth Henry the fifth and Henry the sixth under the Scepter of which Princes he managed the Office of Justice of the Peace for the County of Somerset and left his Estate here to his Son and Heir Sir Nicholas Wadham who determined in a Daughter and Heir matched to Sir William Fogg by which Alliance this Mannor came to be ingrafted into the
Track who had their ancient Residence at this place and sealed as high as Edward the third with a Fesse Ermin between three Goats heads erased in Labells affixed to their Deeds which was the Paternal Coat-Armour of John de Fereby for so is the Name written in ancient Muniments who flourished in the reign of Edward the second and Edward the third But this mans Posterity being desirous to transplant themselves to Pauls Crey where they had before purchased Lands called Hokinden of Dynley about the latter end of Richard the second conveyed that Estate they had here about the beginning of Henry the sixth to Waller of Grome-bridge and continued for many years folded up in the Revenue of that Family until very lately it varied its Possessor being by purchase made the Inheritance of Alderman Chiverton of London Rust-hall in this Parish had likewise Proprietaries of that Sirname one of which Family called John Rust was Maior of Feversham in the raign of Henry the sixth and there lyes entombed and about that Age. this Family surrendered their Concernment here by Sale to Waller in which Name it resided untill the forty second year of Queen Elizabeth and then it was conveyed by Richard Waller Esquire to Mr. George Stacy who not long after passed it away to Bing in which Family the Possession is at this instant fixed Ewherst is the last place which must be mentioned and indeed it is worth our Recording because this and Read in Marden was the ancient Patrimony of Read many Discents before Sir Robert Read Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the reign of Henry the seventh transplanted himself to Chiddingstone by matching with the Coheir of Alphew yet still remained Possessor of this place which he transmitted with Katharine one of his four Daughters and Coheirs matched with Sir Thomas Willoughbie and after the Title had been knit to this Family by the Links of some Discents it was by Sale not long since transferred to Knight Siberts-would vulgarly called Shepeards-well lies in the Hundred of Bewsborough and hath two places in it worth our Notice The first is West-court which was given as the Records of Christ-church testifie to Alfric the Abbot by King Etheldred in the year 944 and conveyed not long after by Scotlandus the Abbot his Successor to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and hath been ever since as a Limbe or Branch of that See Upton-court is a second place of Repute Several old datelesse Deeds discover to us that it was in elder Times the Patrimony of a Family called Vpton from whom it is probable that the Vptons of Feversham who for many years have flourished there under a fair Estimate of Antiquity were originally descended but before the end of Edward the third this Family was crumbled away at this place and then the Goldsburghs or Goldsboroughs were invested in the Possession and remained Masters of this Seat untill the Beginning of Henry the seventh and then this Name began to moulder away into Decay and Oblivion and surrendred their Interest here by Sale to Guldford in which Name it found an aboad untill the latter end of Henry the eighth and then it was conveyed to John Bois Esquire Ancestor to John Bois of Fredvill Esq now Lord and Proprietary of it Swink-field in the Hundred of Folkstone was originally and as high as any Evidence will leave us any Track or Print to walk by to a Discovery the Possession of the noble Family of Crioll who held here two little Manors called Bouington alias Bointon and Northcourt which were both given by Nicholas Keriell or Crioll in the third year of Richard the second to one John Phineux Esquire for that Protection and Shelter which he by a Magnanimous and vigorous Assistance supplied him with even to the saving of his Life at the Battle of Polcteirs and being thus fastned to this Family the Interest of both these places continued intermingled with their Inheritance untill they came by successive Discent to be possest by John Phineux Esquire extracted from a Son by a second Wife of Sir Jo. Phineux the Judge who determined in a Daughter and Heir matched to Sir John Smith who in her right was invested in the Propriety of both these places from whom they are now come down to his Grandchild Philip Smith Viscount Strangford There was a Praeceptory here at Swingfield which belonged to the Knights Hospitallers of the Nature Capacity and Condition of which I have spoken before at Little-Peckham which upon the Suppression of their Order here in England was by Henry the eighth in the thirty third of his reign granted to Sir Anthony Aucher who not long after passed it away to Palmer descended from an ancient Family of that Sirname in Sussex so that it is now the Inheritance of Sir Henry Palmer of Wingham Baronet In the twentieth year of Edward the third John Monins held Land here and paid respective Aid for it as the Book of Aid informs me at making the Black Prince Knight I should not have mentioned this Record but to shew that this noble and eminent Family I am bold to call them so since the above-mentioned John Monins is styled in the former Record Esquire can put in its claim to as high and illustrious Descent as the most of the Families of this County can justly and primitively entitle themselves to Snodland in the Hundred of Lark-field was given to the Priory of St. Andrews in Rochester by Egbert King of the West-Saxons in the year 838 and is an Appendage to Halling being setled by Henry the eighth upon the Suppression of the former Covent on the Dean and Chapiter of Rochester The Courtlodge by the Church was as high as I can by the Guide and Direction of Evidence trace out the Palmers who as appears by very ancient Deeds sealed with a Cheveron between three Palmers Scrips William le Palmer who was Owner both of this and Rye-huose in Otford flourished here in the reign of Edward the third and stood depicted in the Church-Window with the above-recited Arms on his Tabard or Surcoat untill some rude hand defaced the Signature Another of this Name lies entombed in Snodland Church whose Epitaph alluding to his Name is registred by Weaver amongst his printed Monuments of the Diocesse of Rochester and after this Name was extinguished at this place the Leeds's were the next Family who by purchase entituled themselves to the Possession of it and I remember amongst some Church-notes of this County collected by the eminent Robert Glover Esquire there is mention of one Will. Leeds who lyes enter'd in Snodland Church with his Armes viz A Fessee between three Eagles affixed to his Graves-stone but it seems the Date Pourtraicture and Coat being insculped in Brasse were by sacrilegious Handstorn off for now there is no appearance of them nor of this Family neither who not many years since dispossessed themselves of their Interest in this place and by Sale gave it up to
Reginald Sir Stephen and Sir Henry de Cobham who lies buried here at Shorne are in the Catalogue of those Kentish Knights who supported the Cause and Quarrel of Edward the first at the Siege of Carlaverock in Scotland in the twenty eighth year of his Reign Jo. de Cobham was frequently summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron in the Reign of Edw. the third Richard de Cobham was made Knight Banneret by Edward the third for his exemplary Service performed against the Scots as appears Pat. Edw. tertii Parte secunda Memb. 22. This Mannor escheating to the Crown upon the Attainder of Henry Lord Cobham in the second year of K. James it was by that Prince granted to Lodowick Duke of Lenox who upon his Decease bequeathed it to his Nephew James Duke of Lenox who being lately dead Esme Duke of Lenox his onely Son is now heir apparent of it Stowting lies in a Hundred which borrows its Name from this place In the reign of K. Iohn sundry ancient Records which have an Aspect upon that Prince's Time inform us that Stephen de Haringod was Lord of this Mannor and had the Grant of a Market to be held weekly at this place on the Tuesday and a Fair to be observed yearly for the space of two dayes viz. the Vigil and Day of Assumption of the Virgin Mary as is manifest Cart. 16. Joan. Num. 43. and died possest of it in the forty first of Henry the third But after this mans exit I can track no more of this Stem or Stock to have been proprietaries of it The next Family which was successively entituled to the possession was the noble Family of Burghurst or Burwash the first of which whom by some old Deeds I discover to have held this place was Bartholomew de Burwash who received the Order of Knighthood by Edward the first for his Noble and generous Assistance given to that Prince at the Seige of Carlaverock in the twenty eighth of his Reign and he had Issue Stephen de Burwash who obtained a Charter of Free-Warren to his Mannors Stowting Sifleston Ditton and Burwash in Chiddington in the first year of Edward the third and died possest of this Mannor and Hundred in the third year of that Prince's Government as appears Rot. Esc Num. 41. and from him did it descend to his Grand-child Bartholomew Lord Burwash who in the forty third of the abovesaid Monarch conveyed this Mannor with much other Land to Sir Walter de Paveley Knight of the Garter in which Family the possession was constant but until the beginnning of Richard the second and then it was passed away by Sale to Trivet from whom the same Fatalitie about the fifteenth year of that Prince brought it over to Sir Lewis Clifford and by Descent this devolving to his Successor Lewis Clifford he in the twelfth year of Hen. the sixth conveyed it by a Fine then levied to William Wenlock who not long after alienated his Right in it to Richard beauchampe Baron of Aburgavenny who had Issue Richard Beauchampe in whom the Male Line determined so that Elizabeth his onely Daughter and Heir being matched to Edward Nevill brought this Mannor and the Barony of Aburgavenny to be united to that Family and continued linked to the Demeasn of this Name until it was by Descent brought down to Henry Nevill Baron Aburgavenny who about the latter end of Henry the eighth passed it away to Sir Thomas Moile whose Daughter and Coheir Amy Moile united it to the Inheritance of her Husband Sir Thomas Kempe whose Son Sir Thomas Kempe setled it on his Brother Reginald Kempe and from him it descended to his onely Son Mr. Thomas Kempe who dying without Issue it came to be shared by his two Sisters and Co heirs matched to Denny and Clerk and they not many years since by mutual Concurrence and Assent alienated their joynt Interest here to Jenkins of Aythorne Stockbery in the Hundred of Milton celebrates the Memory of the illustrious Family of Crioll who lived here in Reputation amongst the eminent Gentry of this County and in the Recital of their Possessions in this Parish their Mansion was called a Castle and divers of their old Deeds bore Teste at their Castle of Stockbery Sir Nicholas de Crioll was the first that brought this Family into Repute and Eminence for he was one of those who accompanied Edward the first in the twenty eighth year of his Reign in his fortunate Attempt upon Scotland when after a pertinacious Siege he reduced the Castle of Carlaverock a piece in the repute of those Times held almost inexpugnable and for his signal Service in that Expedition was created Knight Banneret and died possest of this place in the thirty first of Edward the first and in this Name and Family did the Title of this place by an uninterrupted Current of Descent stream down to Sir Thomas Crioll Knight of the Garter eminent for several Services performed under the Scepter of Henry the sixth who being infortunately beheaded at the second battle of St. Albans whilst he endeavoured to support the Title of the House of York in the thirty eighth year of Henry the sixth determined in Daughters and Co-heirs one of which was wedded to Edward Bourchier who cast this Mannor into his possession and he in her Right died seised of it in the fourteenth year of Henry the seventh but after this it was not long constant to the Interest of this Family for in the twenty third year of the abovesaid Prince Robert Tate died seised of it by right of purchase And in the Descendants of this Name was the Possession involved by a long Series of years until those Times which almost fell under our Cognizance and then this Mannor was conveyed to Sir Edward Duke of Cosington in Alre sord whose Lady Dowager in Right of Joynture hath now the enjoyment of it The Mannor of Gillested in this Parish did formerly relate to the noble Family of Savage and was wrapped up in those Lands to which John de Savage Grand-child to Rafe de Savage who was with Richard the first at the Siege of Acon obtained a Charter of Free-Warren in the twenty third year of Edward the first and Arnold Savage Son of Sir Thomas Savage died possest of it in the forty ninth year of Edward the third and left it to his Son Sir Arnold Savage whose Daughter and Heir Elizabeth Savage was first matched to Reginald Cobham by whom she had no Issue and after to William Clifford Esquire second Brother to Robert Clifford who was often Knight of the Shire in the Reign of Henry the fourth whose Posterity in Right of this Alliance were possest of this place until the latter end of Hen. the eighth and then it was altenated to Knight Ancestor to Mr. William Knight upon whose Decease his sole Daughter and Heir Mrs. Frances Buck Widow of Mr. Peter Buck of Rochester lately deceased is now entred upon the Possession of it Cowsted
by a Chain of Descent to his Grand-child Sir Charles Sydley Baronet the present Lord of the Fee Pole vulgarly called Poole is another Mannor in Southfleet And was in elder Times the Inheritance of a Family called Berese for I find by a fine levyed in the thirty seventh year of Henry the third that Richard de Berese fells this Mannor under the Notion of a Carucate of Land to Reginald de Cobham of Roundall in Shorne and from him did it by a continued Thread of Succession devolve to John Cobham Esquire in whom the Male-line of that Name ended and he dyed seised of it in the ninth year of Henry the fourth Rot. Esc Num. 10. And lett it to Joan his Sole Inheritrix who by Reginald Braybrook her third and last Husband had Issue Joan her only Daughter and Heir who brought this Mannor and a liberal Revenue besides to her Husband Thomas Brook of the County of Somerset Esquire Grand-father to Thomas Lord Brook who about the Beginning of Henry the seventh passed it away to Sir Henry Wiat one of the Privy Councel to that Monarch from whom it descended to his noble but infortunate Grandchild Sir Tho. Wiat who in the second year of Q. Mary forfeited this and his Life together so that from thenceforth it was clasped up in the Income of the Crown untill Queen Elizabeth in the twenty fifth year of her reign restored it to his Widow the Lady Joan Wiatt and George Wiat Esquire his Son and Heir father to Sir Francis Wiat who upon his Decease left it to his Widow Dowager the Lady ..... Wiatt who is now in possession of it Scadbery in Southfleet hath been for some Centuries of years the possession of the Family of Sidleys who were in Times of very high Ascent seated in Romney Mersh for there are some Lands there which at this Day they call by the Name of Sidleys and Sidleys Mersh In this Mansion there is a Room whose sides are covered with Wainscot and on one of the Plates or Pains which appears to be exceeding ancient the Arms of Sidley are carved in embost-work viz A Fesse wavee between three Goats heads erased and these Letters underneath W. and S. with the year of our Lord affixed in Figures whose Date commences from 1337. And although the Structure of this House hath like a Snail shifted its ancient Shell yet in all its Mutations and Vicissitudes which must certainly have very much disordered the Fabrick when it was cast into a new mould and frame and ravelled and discomposed the Materials yet this Panel of Wainscot hath been like a Relique religiously preserved to justifie not only the Antiquity of this Seat but of the Family of Sydley also which is presumed to have been resident at this place before the above-mentioned Calculation from whom Sir Charles Sidley Baronet claims the Original of his Title to this Mansion and his Extraction or pedigree likewise untwisted into many Descents and now at last wound up in him Shouldon in the Hundred of Deal hath two remarkable places which are situated within the Limits of it First Hull presents it self to our View it was formerly under the Signory of the illustrious-Family of Ratling or Retling in Nonington Thomas de Retling paid respective Aid for this and divers other Lands of ancient Inheritance in the twentieth year of Edward the third at the making the Black Prince Knight and left it to his Son Sir Richard de Retling whose Widow the Lady Sarah Retling and afterwards Wife of John de St. Laurence died possest of it in the tenth year of Richard the second and left it to John Spicer who had married Joan Daughter and Heir to her first Husband but he concluding in a Daughter and Heir by this his first Wife called Cicely who was Heir to her mother Joan Spicer shee by matching with Iohn Isaack knit it to the Propriety of that Family But before the twenty first of Henry the sixth he had fixed the Inheritance in Iohn Bresland in whom it was not long resident for he suddenly after altered his right and about the Beginning of Edward the fourth put it over by Sale to Phineux of Swink-field whose Successor Robert Phineux by as quick and early a Vicissitude placed the possession about the Beginning of Henry the eighth in George Monins Esquire whose Successor in that Age which was circumscribed within the Pale of our Fathers Remembrance passed it away to Crayford of Great Mongeham Secondly Cotmanton puts in its Claim for some memorial likewise even in this respect that it was the Demeasne of the noble Family of Crioll or Keriell who were of some considerable Repute in this Track as appearsby by the Book styled Testa de Nevill kept in the Exchequer where they are represented in the twentieth year of Henry the third to have held Land in this Skirt of the County and in Ages of a modern Aspect that is in the twentieth year of Edward the third I find Iohn de Criol gave a pecuniary supply at the making the Black Prince Knight but before the end of Edward the third he was departed from the possession of this place which by Sale was resigned up to Roger Digge and he dyed in the possession of it in the third year of Ric. the second Rot. Esc Num 19. And in this Family it continued untill the reign of Henry the seventh and then it was alienated to Barton descended from the ancient Family of Barton of Barton-hall in the County of Lancaster from whom the like Mutation about the latter end of H. the eighth carried it off to the Family of Brown and from them it passed away by Sale into the Possession of Richardson upon whose going out the Family of Smith by a Devolution like the former not many years since stept into the Inheritance of it Sundrich in the Hundred of Codsheath was the Possession as high as any Light collected from Antiquity can waft us to a Discovery of an Ancient Family called in Latine-Records de Insula and in English Isley Iohn de Insula obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Lands at Sundrich in the eleventh year of Edward the second and he had Issue Iohn Isley who married Joan Daughter to Sir Ralph de Fremingham and by her had Issue Roger Isley Esquire who in Right of his mother became Heir to his Uncle Iohn Fremingham Esquire who deceased without Issue in the twelfth year of Henry the fourth and this Roger Isley had Issue William Isley Esquire who was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty fifth year of Henry the sixth and he had Issue John Isley Esquire who was Justice of the Peace and Sheriff of Kent in the fourteenth year of Edward the fourth and deceased in the year 1484 as appears by an Inscription affixed to his Monument yet extant notwithstanding the late general Shipwrack of the Remains of Antiquity in Sundrich-church and he had Issue Thomas Isley Esquire Father of Sir Henry Isley who was
was father to Will. de Septuans who was seised of it when he deceased which was in the twenty fifth year of Edw. the third but it seems it was not long permanent in the Tenure of this Name for immediately after the Gowers had it and Iohn Gower when he died was in the enjoyment of it which was in the forty third year of Edward the third from whom not many years after it was by purchase transported to Iohn Brockhul Esquire and with the Demeasn of this Family did the right of this place many years appear to be interwoven till Anne Daughter and Heir of Henry Brockhull married to Sir Iohn Taylor and then both the Name and Estate were swallowed up in this Family where the possession for sundry Ages remained till lately it was conveyed by Sale to Freake issued out from the Freakes of the County of Dorset who by marrying the Darghter of Sir Thomas Colepeper of Hollingbourne has planted himself in this County There was a Castle anciently in Thurneham which as Darel affirms in his Tract de Castellis Cantii had both its Name and Foundation from Godardus a Saxon being called Godard Castle which is so despicable an Heap that not the least Crums or Fragments continue of the Ruines which might signifie to us the lest symptome of its former strength and Grandeur Tunstall in the Hundred of Milton did about the twenty ninth of Henry the third confess it self to be under the Dominion of Walter de Grey who was Lord Paramont of this place but long did not remain invested in the Signory of it for in the forty fourth year of Henry the third I find Iohn de Burgh descended from Hubert de Burgh in the possession of it and he that year by the favourable compliance of that Prince obtained a Charter of Free-Warren to his Mannors of Norton and Tunstall but before the latter end of Edward the first this Family had deserted the Inheritance of this place and then the next which succeeded proprietarie of it was Thomas de Brotherton Earl of Norfolk who ending in Daughters and Co-heirs Margaret one of them being first matched to Iohn de Segrave and afterwards to Walter de Mayney descended from VValter de Meduana or Mayney who held twenty Knights in this County in the reign of Henry the third brought this to be the Demeasn of her second Husband Walter de Mayney a person on whom the Beams of Majestie reflected with so vigorous impression that he was summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron in the reign of Edw. the third and in whom that Prince reposed so great a confidence that as Daniel represents to us in his Chronicle he and his Son Edward the Black Prince fought under his Colours in a private Habit against Monsieur de Charmy a Frenchman near Calais in Picardy in the twenty third year of his reign and deceased full of Fame and of Years in the forty fixth of that Prince but determined in Anne Mayney his Sole Inheritrix who by matching with John Hastings Earl of Pembroke linked this Mannor to his Inheritance but he dying in the thirteenth year of Richard the second Reginald Grey and Richard Talbot were found to be his Heirs and they bring a pleading in the fifteenth year of the Prince abovesaid against John le Scroope who pretended some Title to his Estate and having rescued it from collateral Claim about the beginning of Henry the fourth conveyed it to Sir Robert Knolles who in the seventh year of that Prince passed it by Fine then levied to Sir William Cromer Lord Maior of London his Son William Cromer Esquire who was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty third year of Henry the sixth and was afterwards in the twenty seventh year of that Prince barbarously assassinated by Jack Cade whilst he endeavoured to impeach that Arch-Incendiarie in his March towards London He married Elizabeth Daughter of James Fiennes Lord Say and Seal by whom he had Issue Sir James Cromer Father of Sir Will. Cromer who was Sheriff of Kent the ninteenth year of Henry the seventh and the first year of K. Henry the eighth and George Cromer who was Arch-Bishop of Armagh in Ireland This Sir William had Issue James Cromer Esquire from whom descended Will. Cromer Esq his Son and Heir who was Sheriff of Kent the ninth and twenty seventh of Q. Elizabeth and had Issue Sir James Cromer of Tunstall Knight Sheriff of Kent in the second year of K. James in whom the Male-line determined so that Francis his Daughter by his first Wife matched to Sir Mathew Carew Elizabeth his Daughter by his second Wife wedded to Sir Iohn Steed of Steed-hill and Christian born likewise by that Venter married to Sir Iohn Hales eldest Son to Sir Edward Hales of Wood-Church became his Co-heirs Upon the partition of the Estate Tunstall was shared by Sir Iohn Hales from whom it is now descended to his Son and Heir Sir Edw. Hales Baronet who lately hath begun to erect upon the ancient Foundation a Frabrick of that stupendious Magnificence that it at once obliges the eye to Admiration and Delight Vfton is a place of Repute Seated in this Parish but it is raised up to a higher estimate since we find it was anciently parcel of the patrimony of Shurland for Robert de Shurland had a concession by Charter of Free-Warren to sundry of his Lands in Kent amongst which there is a recital of Vfton afterwards in Times subsequent to this by the Heir General of Shurland it was cast into the possession of Cheyney and Will. de Casineto for so this Name is rendred in Latine Records or William Cheyney held it at his Death which was in the eighth year of Edward the third and after for many Descents it had layn included in the Interest and proprietie of Cheyney it was by a Daughter and Heir put into the Demeasn of Astley from whom again the like flux of Circumstances bore away the Inheritance and transferred it to Harlackenden the instant Lord of Vfton Gore-Court in this Parish in Times of elder Derivation was the Seat of a Family whose Sirname was At-Gore and sometimes in ancient Court-rolls written De la Gore called so from their Habitation which was situated near some publick way Gare Gate and Gore importting no more in the Saxon Dialect then some common passage But to proceed Henry At-Gore held Gore-Court when he deceased which was in the thirty first year of Edward the third and for several Generations was the Inheritance knit to his Name till the common Fatalitie of Time brought it to expire in Alice Gore the Heir General of this place and of Iohn Gore the last of the Male-line who enjoyed it and she disposed of her Concernment in it to Will. Croyden in which Family after the possession had resided it was alienated to Wood descended from the Woods of Muston in Hollingbourne in whom the right of Gore-Court continues still invested Tunbridge gives Name to that
assaults his Rear with that Courage that he forced that Duke to a Disorderly Retteat leaving his Canon and Carriages behind him as the Reward of his Valour and Fortune In the twenty seventh year of Henry the sixth he was sent over into France with fifteen hundred men as a fresh supply to buoy up the sincking Affairs of the English in that Nation with which he recovered many pieces of strength but overlaid with Multitude in an Encounter at Formigney by the Earl of Clermont and the Constable of France after he had with unparallel'd Testimonies of personal Courage endeavoured to preserve the Fortune of the Day he received a Defeat the Enemy buying his Victory at so dear a rate that it almost undid the Purchaser Lastly his Fate cast him into that Civil Contest which broke out between the two Houses of York and Lancaster and being satisfied with the Justice of those principles upon which the first had engaged in Arms became an eager Assertor of its Claim to the Diadem and having enbarked himself with Richard Earl of Warwick then the Atlas of that Faction in defence of it at the second Battle of St. Albans perished in the Ruines of that Field and by an unstained though a Calamitous Fidelity became the great Example of Loyalty to the House of York And he dying without Issue-male one of his Daughters and Co-heirs by matching with John Fogge of Repton Esquire brought this Mannor upon the partition of the Estate between Fogge and Bourchier who wedded the other to be annexed to the Demeasn of that Family and upon his Decease it descended to his Son Thomas Fogge Serjeant Porter of Callis who dying without Issue-male Anne Fogge who was one of his two Daughters and Co-heirs Aregrim a Saxon held the Mannor of Minshull in Cheshire as Dooms-day Book testifies in the Time of the Conquerour ut liber homo first matching with William Scot and afterwards to Henry Isham brought this to be parcel of the Inheritance of her second Husband but his Son Edward Isham about the latter end of Q. Elizabeth concluding in Mary Isham his onely Inheritrix she by espousing Sir George Perkins united it to his Patrimony and he setled the Reversion of it after his Wives decease upon Mary his Daughter married to Sir Richard Minshull of Cheshire created Baron of Minshull 1642 descended from that eminent Souldier Michael de Minshul who for his glorious service performed in the Quarrel of Richard the first at the Siege of Acon had the assignment for ever of the Crescent and Star for the Coat-Armour of this Family And he and the Lady Mary Perkins concurring in a joynt Sale passed it away in the second of King Charles to James Hugison of Lingsted whose Son John Hugison Esquire by descendant right is entituled to the Possession of it Waltham in the Hundreds of Bredge Petham and Stowting was anciently a Member of that Revenue which acknowledged the Interess of the Knights Templers as appears by a Survey taken of this Mannor in the year of Grace one thousand one hundred and eighty and registred in the Book styled de Terris Templariorum which is preserved in the Remembrancers Office in the Exchequer and in that Survey there is mention made of Ivo de Haut who held Lands at that Time of Temple Waltham lying at Petham not far distant which justifies the Antiquity of that Name in this Track Upon the total suppression and extinction of this Order here in England on pretence of some prodigious Crimes stuck upon it which whether they were imaginary or real must be discussed in that Critical Day when the secrets of all Hearts and the Bottome of all Secrets shall be opened this Mannor of Waltham was in the seventeenth year of Edward the second by Grant invested in the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem commonly called the Knights Hospitalers and here in this Order it rested until the reign of Henry the eighth and then being dissolved by that impetuous Tempest which like a Hurricano fell upon this and all other Conventual Orders in this Nation it was swallowed up in the Revenue of the Crown and there lay couched till the latter part of Queen Elizabeth and then it was in the forty second year of her swaying the English Scepter granted to John Manwaring Esquire from whom by Hope Manwaring his Daughter and Heir the Interess went to Humphrey Hamond upon whose Decease she was re-married to Sir Robert Stapylton a Person who hath erected his own everlasting Tomb and Epitaph in those exquisite Translations of his of Pliny's Panegyrick to Trajan Juvenal's Satyrs and lastly Strada's History of the Wars and other Transactions of the Low Countries who by purchase from his Son in Law Mr. Manwaring Hamond holds the instant Fee-simple of it Eshmerfeild is another eminent Mannor in Waltham and cals for some Respective Account because in Ages of a higher pedigree it confessed it self in the Revenual of the signal Family of Crioll for Bertram de Crioll possest it at his Death which was in the twenty third year of Edward the first and though he expired in a Daughter and Heir yet it continued still in the Tenure of a younger House until Bennet Daughter and Co-heir of Sir Thomas Crioll who was slain at the second Battle of St. Albans brought it to her Husband John Fogge Esquire whose Son Thomas Fogge about the beginning of Henry the seventh alienated his Right and Concernment in it to Sir Thomas Kempe in which Family the Inheritance remained until the latter end of Queen Elizabeth and then it was passed by Sir Thomas Kempe this mans Grandchild to Roger Twisden Esquire whose Grandchild Sir Roger Twisden Knight and Baronet conveyed it to Sir John Ashburnham to whose Widow the Lady Ashburnham it accrued upon his Decease as having been before by speciall Compact made part of her Dower so that she at this instant hath the Use of the emergent profits and income of it Whetacre is another small Mannor that lies within the Circle of this Parish not worth the memorial were it not for a Family which extracted its Sirname from hence for I find Nigellus de Whetacre mentioned in the Book of Aide to have held Lands here in the twentieth of Edward the third In Times of a lower Date that is about the reign of Henry the sixth I find the Family of Hels or Hils descended from the Hels of Hels-court in Woditon to be planted in the possession and in this Name was the Interest of it constant until the beginning of Edward the sixth and then it was alienated to Prude whose Successor couveyed it to Alderman Cockain of London from whom the same Stream of Vicissitude carried it into Beacon Watringbury in the Hundred of Twiford was in Ages of a very high Gradation the Patrimony of a Family which enjoyed that Sirname and held not only the Mannor of Watringbury it self but Chart and Fowls which lie within the Precincts of this Parish
Attorney General to Henry the eighth and he died possest of it in the thirty third year of that Prince and left it to his Son Sir James Hales who not long after alienated it to Sir Thomas Moile Chancellour of the Court of Augmentations who erected almost all that stupendious Fabrick which now so obliges the Eye to Admiration and left it to Sir Thomas Finch who had married Katharine his Daughter and Co-heir a Gentleman who merited a calmer Fate and a Nobler Tomb for after many gallant Archievements performed at Newhaven in France he suffered Shipwrack in his return to England and left it to his Son Sir Moile Finch who very much inlarged Eastwell-court with both sumptuous elegant and convenient Additaments and left it in Dower to his Widow Elizabeth Finch Daughter and Heir of Sir Thomas Heneage first created Viscountess Maidstone by King James and after Countess of Winchelsey in the year 1638. by King Charles from whom both the Honour and East-well descended to her Son Thomas Earl Wenchelsey and from him to his Son the Right Honorable Heneage Finch now Earl of Winchelsey and Viscount Maidston Since I am so happily engaged to a Discourse of this eminent Family of Finch I shall discover in Landskip the deep Antiquity of their first Extraction They were originally descended from Henry Fitz-Herbert Chamberlain to King Henry the first who married the Daughter and Heir of Sir Robert le Corbet and had Issue by her a Son named Herbert and he was Father to Herbert Fitz-Herbert who by his first Wife Lucy Daughter and Co-heir of Milo Earl of Hereford and Lord High Constable of England had Issue a Son named Peter Fitz-Herbert from whom the Herberts Earls of Pembroke originally issued out and by his second Wife Matilda after his Deeease remarried to the Lord Columbers he had Issue Matthew Fitz-Herbert who was one of the Magnates or Barons at the compiling of Magna Charta and was one of the powerful Partisans of King John at the making the accord between that Prince and his Barons at Running-Mead between Windsor and Stanes his Son likewise called Matthew Fitz-Herbert was the fourth Baron mentioned in the Roll of that Parliament which was convened at Tewksbury The alteration of this Name into Finch was about the tenth of Edward the first at which Time Herbert Fitz-Herbert purchased the Mannor of Finches in Lidde of which being entire Lord as he was not of Netherfeild he assumed his Sirname from that as many other Families fell in that Age under the same Mutation and borrowed Sirnames from those places which were wholly under their possession and Signory In the eighth year of Edward the second there was a Supersedeas issued out mentioning that Herbert Fitz-Herbert called Finch was a Ward in the twenty eighth year of Edward the first and so could not personally serve with the King in his Wars in Scotland and therefore was released of his Escuage for all his Estate in Kent and Sussex which together with some of the ancient Patrimony and several Knights Fees at Netherfeild in Sussex and elsewhere are not yet departed from this Noble Family Westwell in the Hundred of Calchill was confirmed to the Monks of Christ-church in Canterbury for a supply in their Diet in the year 1241. But it seems they were questioned Quo Warranto they possest this Mannor and after a Solemn Decision per patriam it is affirmed and attested in the Confirmation of the abovesaid Prince that it was enstated upon them by his Predecessors and continued afterwards unquestionably parcel of the Demeasne of the Cloister abovesaid until it was resigned by the Monks of Christ-church into the Hands of Henry the eighth and so it rested in the Crown until not many years since it was granted to Sir Nic. Tuston of Hothfield The Parsonage anciently belonged to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury until Thomas Arundell the Arch-bishop gave it in the year 1397. to the Monks of Christ-church to counterpoise those vast expences which they were to be at in re-erecting the Nave or Body of the Cathedral called Aulam Ecclesiae by Eadmerus which Simon de Sudbury plucked down and had intended that it should like a Phoenix have rose more glorious out of its Ashes but was intercepted in his Design by a suddain Death being beheaded by Wat Tiler and the confluence of his impious and barbarous Complices This Church thus appropriated was confirmed to the Monks abovesaid in the year 1400. by King Henry the fourth and upon the suppression was re-enstated upon the Dean and Chapiter of Christ-church by Henry the eighth Ripley-court is a Seat of good Antiquity in this Parish and more eminent because it afforded a Sirname to Gentlemen of good Ranke in this Track of which Number was Richard de Ripley who died seised of this Mannor in the thirtieth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 91. and in an old Deed is called Miles Archiepiscopi that is he held this Mannor of the Arch-bishop by Knights Service but before the latter end of Edward the third this Family was vanished and then the Brockhuls and Idens succeeded in the possession the last of which was a Family of great Antiquity and no lesse Revenue about Iden in Sussex and Rolvenden in this County For in the year 1280. as appears by a Fine levied that year John the Son of Thomas de Iden passes away Lands to John de More And of this Family was Alexander Iden Esquire Sheriff of Kent in the thirty fourth year of Henry the sixth who in the twenty eighth year of that Prince slew Jack Cade who had borrowed the disguised Person of Mortimer excited thereunto as was the Opinion of those Times by the Suggestions of Richard Duke of Yorke to fathom the Peoples Affections to that man in the strength of whose Title he intended in the future to claim the English Diadem But the Attempts of Cade being disappointed by the formerly infatuated but now disenchanted Multitude's deserting of him who began to risent his Fraud and Imposture upon their total Dissipation shrowded himself in some of those Grounds which belonged to Ripley-court and lay not far distant from Hothfeild and were then in the Tenure of VVilliam Iden Justice of the Peace and Father of the abovesaid Alexander where being discovered he was by that Worthy Person offered up a Sacrifice to the Justice of Henry the sixth But I have digressed I now return After this Seat had for so many Descents been the Residence of this Family and the Cradle and Seminary of many Worthy Persons who had been subservient and ministerial to the Honour and Interess of this County by their Magnanimity and Prudence it went away from Iden by Sale to Darell and George Darell in the last year of Edward the sixth conveyed it to Baker Ancestor to Mr. ...... Baker of VVindsor now proprietary of it Diggs-court is another eminent Seat in this Parish which was the Mansion of the Noble Family of Diggs or
peradventure may be attributed to the Evaporations of youth which is alwayes volatile and airy rather then to any setled and contracted Habit of vitious Distempers and mutinous passions which was lodged within Him But to proceed when Willesborough had by a successive thread of many Ages been guided along through several Descents down to John Brent he died and left John Brent his Heir who expiring without Issue Margaret his eldest Sister became the Inheritrix of all his possessions and she being matched with John Dering Esquire of Surrenden Dering this place by Female right became transplanted into the Patrimony of that Name and Family and Sir Edward Dering about the year 1635 conveyed it to Robert Scot of Canterbury Esquire whose Son and Heir Thomas Scot of Canterbury Esquire is now proprietary of it Wilmington in Hundred of Dartford resolves it self into two Mannors which exact a peculiar Cognisance and the first is Rue Hill so it was anciently written though now by vulgar Acceptation it is called Rowe Hill It was in Ages of a higher Track the patrimony of an illustrious and generous Family called Gise who were in those times as eminent for the largeness of their possessions as they were for the Antiquity of their Extraction and from hence were the Gises of the Counties of Hereford and Gloucester originally sprouted out Anselmus de Gise had a Charter of Free Warren granted to his Lands at Rue Hill in Wilmington in the twenty second year of Edward the first but it appears the Possession of this place invested and fortified with this Grant was not long after united to this Family for John Gise this mans Grand-child sold it to Nicholas Brember who in the twelfth year of Richard the second being blasted with an impeachment of high Treason fell an Oblation to the fury of those Lords who upon pretence of asserting the publick Liberty sought to fetter up the majesty and prerogative of their Prince within those narrow Restraints and Limits which they prescribed to empale it in and pare off the power of the Crown which like Sampson's Locks being shaved Kings remain like other men Upon his attaint Rue Hill resolved into the revenue of the Crown and King Richard the second in the fourteenth year of his reign granted it to Adam Bamme of London and in his Lineage was the Inheritance of it sundry Generations wrapt up till in our Grand-fathers memory it was alienated to Brett from whose successor the same Alteration rowled the possession not many years since into Smith The second is Highlands which was parcel of the Demeasn of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem and upon the Dissolution of their Alberge here in England was granted about the thirty fifth year of Henry the eighth to Sir Thomas Moile and Sir Maurice Dennis the last of which passed away his Concernment in it to Sir Thomas Moile by whose Daughter and Co-heir called Amy Moile it came to be possest by Sir Thomas Kempe who left it to his Son and Heir Sir Thomas Kempe who conveyed it to his Brother Mr. Reginald Kempe who in our Fathers memory passed it away to Lancelot Bathurst Esquire Father to Sir Edward Bathurst who is the instant proprietary of it Wodnesborough lies in the Hundred of Eastrie and spreads it self into many places of no despicable Account First there is Shelving which was as high as any Evidence can waft us to discover the Demeasn of Houghham of Hougham by Dover a Family rooted in as deep Antiquity as any in this Track Robert de Hougham is enrolled in an ancient Register of those Kentish Gentlemen who supported the cause and Quarrel of Richard the first at the Seige of Acon Sir Robert de Hougham his Son died possest of it in the second year of Edward the first and left Robert Hougham his Heir who determined in Daughters and Co-heirs so that Benedicta Houghham one of them being married to John Shelving this became his Demeasn where he erected a House upon which he fixed his Sirname and called it Shelving which in those Times was of considerable Repute though since by the frequent impressions of Age it is shrunk into Decay and Obscurity from Shelving one Moitie of it by Sale was transmitted to St. Leger and so continued distinguished in the Interest of it till both Shelving and St. Leger did by a mutual Concurrence pass away their joynt right in it to Dynley where it had not long been Seated but the like Fatality transferred the Possession of it to White and here the Title of it was as unfixt and unstable also for from this Family by purchase it was carried into the Revenue of Knight who in our memory altered his Interest in it by Sale to Mr. Solomon Hougham of Sandwich primitively issued out in a Collateral Line from Sir Robert Hougham upon whose late Decease his Son and Heir Mr. Richard Hougham is now possessor of it Ringleton does secondly exact some Remembrance It was anciently the Interest of Perot for Thomas Perot held it at his Death which was in the fourth year of Edward the third but when this Name was extinguished in a Daughter and Heir William Langley by matching with Her entituled himself to the Possession of this place in which Family the Inheritance for sundry Generations was settled till the Vicissitude of Time by Sale conveyed it into the Demeasn of John White who was originally a Merchant of the Staple and did by several Acts of exemplary Munificence evidence himself to be a liberal Benefactor to Canterbury But long it was not fastned to the Possession of this Name for his Successor alienated it to Butler of Heronden in Eastrie from which Family Ringleton by the same Mutation was brought to own the Possession of Neame and his Son Daniel Neame sold it to Spencer of Sandwich whose Successor Nicholas Spencer dying without Issue his Sister who was wedded to Hughs descended from Hughs of Middleton Stony in the County of Oxford who was branched out from the Hughs of North-Wales by a Relative right deduced from that Alliance has planted the present Possession in the Patrimony of that Name and Family Thirdly upper Hamwold may fall under a Disquisition because it was wound up in the Estate and Propriety of Greenshield whose principal residence was at Greenshield in Whitstaple corruptly called Grimgil where I have spoken more largely of this Family onely this I shall add that Henry Greenshield who died in the last year of Edward the fourth was a munificent Benefactor to the poor and other indigent and necessitous people of the Town of Sandwich to whom he bequeaths by his last Testament very liberal Donations for their relief and support After this Family of Greenshield was mouldered away at Hamwold I find the Elis's invested in the Possession but whether by Alliance or Purchase I cannot discover After they went out the Family of Francis was by Purchase from them seated in the Inheritance to whose Interest it was not many
the reign of Henry the seventh who erected here that House which ever since hath been adopted into his Name he was descended from the Starkyes of VVrenbery and Oulton in Cheshire and lyes entombed under a fair Monument in the Parish Church of St. Leonards Shorditch in London which the Injuries of time and impious Mechanicks together have much empaired but it seems the Name of the House could not entail it on his posterity for his Successor sold it to Sir John Rainsford a man of great Demeasne about Lose East and VVest-Barming and of no lesse Authority with Henry the eighth who not long after conveyed it over to Lambe from whom the Fate of Sale brought the Inheritance to Nicholas Lewson Esquire whose Grandchild Sir Richard Lewson upon those motives which incited him to alienate Rings which was to contract his whole Demeasne into Staffordshire transferred his Right in this likewise to Jo. Marsham Esq formerly one of the six Clerks of whose Learning and Merit I have spoken when I treated of Rings Beaulies-court is the last place of Note in this Parish to be discoursed upon it was formerly in Records written Sellers and gave Sirname to a Family known by that Appellation for John at Seller under that Orthography he is recorded in the Book of Aide held this place by Knights Service of the Bishop of Rochester in the twentieth year of Edward the third and the Arms of this Family stand depicted in an old pane of Glasse yet remaining in VVouldham-church videlicet Argent a Salteir between four Mullets Gules and is now quartered by Beauly for when this Name concluded in a Female Heir she by her espousals with Beauly knit this Seat and the propriety of it to their patrimony who for some Additions they angmented the House with changed the Name of Sellers into Beaulies-court and by a Right brought down to him by a Chain of Sundry Generations from the former Alliance does Mr. Thomas Beauly now of London Merchant claim his present Interest in it VVye gives Name to the whole Hundred wherein it is placed and is in Latine Records frequently called Vaga or wandring and in the British Dialect it imports as much from whence they imposed the Name of VVye on a noted River in Herefordshire from its crooked and perplexed Digressions It was a Mannor which belonged to the Crown before the Conquest and King VVilliam the first gave it to Battell Abby I recite the Donation because it reserves the Earl of Kents Deniers or tertium Denarium a singular Testimony of grounding and conferring the Dignity and justifies the unparallelled Title it hath of being called Regale Manerium de VVye The Royal Mannor of VVye for the Signory of 22 Towns lying crosse the Country from hence to Battell pertain unto it Aldons Dods VVest-Sture Bromsford Shotenton with the Mannor of the Vicaridge were given by John Kempe first Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor of England and after Cardinal to the Colledge of VVye which he had erected and dedicated to St. Martin and St. Gregory which upon the Suppression were setled in the patrimony of the Crown till Queen Elizabeth granted them to her Kinsman Henry Cary Baron of Hunsdon whose Grandchild Henry Earl of Dover not many years since conveyed them to Sir Thomas Finch Earl of VVinchelsey whose Son Heneage Earl of VVinchelsey has the instant Signory of them Ollantigh was a place of no Account till Cardinal Kemp instituted here an Oratory or Chappel which is yet annexed to the House but the Mansion it self was built by Sir Thomas Kempe made Knight of the Bath at the marriage of Prince Arthur eldest Son to Henry the seventh and in this Name the possession continued till Sir Thomas Kempe this mans Successor deceased without Issue-male and left four Daughters and Coheirs matched with Diggs Cutts Chichley and Skipwith who all by mutual Consent did devest themselves of their right to this place and by Sale transmitted it to Sir Timothy Thornhil whose Grandchild Mr. Hen. Thornhil though not without much strugling and Contest there being lately another Title derived from Reginald Kempe Brother to Sir Tho. set up against his does hold the instant propriety of it Wilmington is an ancient Seat in this Parish which had formerly the Reputation of a Mannor and was parcel of the Revenue of the noble Family of Corbie for Robert de Corbie did enjoy it at his Death which was in the thirty ninth year of K. Edward the third and after this Family was dislodged from the Possession the Chivalers came in and enjoyed the Inheritance for William Chivaler held it at his Decease which was in the first year of Richard the second after whom John Mowbray Duke of Norfolk possest it about the year 1461 who dying without Issue John Howard his Kinsman was invested with the Title of Duke of Norfolk as being descended from the Lady Margaret Daughter of Thomas de Brotherton first Duke of Norfolk in the first year of Richard the third and with his Title he had the Inheritance of Wilmington which did not remain knit any long space to his Name for in the year 1486 he found an untimely Sepulcher with his Master Richard the third in the Ruines of Bosworth Field where he offered up his Life to the Cause of that Prince as a grateful Expiation of those Favours which he had received from his Bounty after whose Decease this place by Escheat was swallowed up in the revenue of the Crown where the Possession slumbered till K. Edward the sixth about the second year of his reign granted it to Edward Paget Esquire in which Family it resided until our Fathers Memory and then it was conveyed to Barrow Bilting is another place in Wye of no vulgar Estimate It lies partly in Godmersham and partly in this Parish and was for many hundred years the patrimony of a Family which bore that Sirname and remained linked to their Demeasn until the ninth year of Q. Elizabeth and then William Bilting deceasing without Issue Arthur Franklin and Richard Vidian were found to be his Heirs and upon the Division of the Estate into parcels this swelled the Estate of Franklin with a new Addition and continued in that Name until not many years since partly by Sale and partly by Marriage it was settled upon Mr. William Cowper of Maidstone upon whose late Decease it is now devolved by successive Right to his Descendant Mr. ....... Cowper now in his Minoritie Perry Court is the next place which obliges us to a Consideration It was wrapped up in that Demeasn which related to the Colledge of Wye and was purchased by Cardinal John Kempe of Thomas Aldon whose Ancestors had held it many Descents before in the twenty eighth year of Henry the sixth and by him annexed to the Colledge above mentioned of his own Institution and Foundation But the publick Dissolution in the reign of Henry the eighth having snatched it away it was by the Grant of that
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
Villare Cantianum OR KENT SURVEYED and ILLUSTRATED Being an exact DESCRIPTION of all the Parishes Burroughs Villages and other respective Mannors Included in the County of KENT And the Original and Intermedial Possessors of them even until these Times Drawn out of Charters Escheat-Rolls Fines and other Publick Evidences but especially out of Gentlemens Private Deeds and Muniments By THOMAS PHILIPOTT Esq formerly of Clare-Hall in Cambridge TO WHICH IS ADDED An Historical Catalogue of the High-Sheriffs of KENT Collected by JOHN PHILIPOTT Esq Father to the Authour LONDON Printed by William Godbid and are to be sold at his House over against the Anchor Inne in Little Brittain M.DC.LIX To the Nobility and Gentry of KENT My Lords and Gentlemen I Have at last demolishd those difficulties which intercepted this Work in that progress it endevoured to make to offer it self up both to yours and the publick view Yet I do not deny in a Peice made rugged with so many knots several Mistakes and Omissions must through Inadvertency and Mis-information have slip'd in some of which had their first extraction from the Presse and some their birth from my Pen All which I have collected into a Table of Addenda which is immediately subsequent to the Preface whither the Reader may retire to disperse all scruples Secondly I have not added any Numerical Alphabet to direct the Reader since the Book is so Alphabetically digested that the Work is a Directory Beam or Ray to it self To which I have annex'd as an Appendage a particular Description of all the circumambient Kentish Islands Thirdly I have not so tyed my self up to those severer Discourses which I have extracted from either publick or private Record but that I have embroider'd this Peice with Discourses of a softer complexion as at Bilsington I have unfolded the Causes of the Depravation of the ancient Clergy both in Doctrine and Manners at Birling I have discovered the nature of that Tenure Antiquity call'd Tenure per Baroniam at Ewell I have unravell'd the first Institution of the Knights Templers and the probable causes of their total extirpation at Newington Lucies I have discours'd largely of Vrne Enterment at Rodmersham no less of the Institution of the Knights Hospitallers at Werth I have treated of the Antiquity of Seals at Wymings Would of the Ancient Dignity of the Pileus and have at several other places enterlac'd this Work with collateral Discourses of the same tincture Whatsoever this Peice may appear in the whole Frame and Bulk of it I do assure you it was not born without your Influence it is ready to die at your Command and cannot live but by your Acceptance But I know you have both Art and Candor and as I cannot but hope but that a merciful Interpretation will be emergent from the first so I cannot doubt but the last will give so noble an Allay to your Justice that if it cannot totally absolve yet it may at least excuse My Lords and Gentlemen The humblest of your Servants THOMAS PHILIPOTT A Table of ADDENDA or OMISSIONS Courteous Reader I Here represent to thy View those Mistakes and Omissions I mean the most material ones which I promised to rectifie in my Epistle those which follow are to be pardoned by thy Charity or at least supplied by thy Candor And first Page 7. Line 36. for Beanors read Beacons p. 8. l. 9. add had l. 10. for this r. these l. 11. expunge to it In the List of the Lieutenants of Dover Castle p. 14. after Sir Henry Heyman add Col. Algernon Sidney p. 18. l. 42. for in Hundredo r. in isto Hundredo p. 20. l. 19. add of l. 44 46. for Robert VValler r. Robert VValleran p. 21. l. 5. for Smerdlin r. Swerdlin p. 39. l. 44. for required r. repaired In Tottington and Eccless at Alresford p. 47. l. 27. for of his Heir r. by his Heir l. 29. for Ancestors r. Successors In Nevills Fleet at Ash p. 51. l. 23. for Ark r. Ash In Fleet at Ash p. 53. l. 16. add whom Following an old Pedigree of Poynings I have at Easthall in Aynsford p. 45. at Tottington in Alresford p. 47. Northcrey p. 108. Horsmonden 190. printed that Tho. de Poynings matched with Joan Sole Heir of Sir Richard de Rokesley upon perusal of the Pipe-roll of the seventeenth of Edward the second I find that this Sir Richard died and left two Daughters his Co-heirs Agnes the eldest was wedded to Tho. de Poynings and Joan the youngest was matched to Hugh de Pateshul In Badelesmer p. 56. l. 33. acknowledge r. acknowledgement l. 37. his only Son r. his onely Brother In Digges Court p. 60. l. 7. an Appendage to it r. an Appendage to this Name In the Description of Hartanger p. 60. l. 31. this must be all added passed it away to Richard Merywether in whose Descendant Line the Title flowed with so even and undisordered a Chanel that it is still wrapped up in this Name and Family In Brabourne p. 69. l. 26. following an old Glossary of Sidrach Petits I have rendered 40 Ambras Brasii forty Plates of Brass upon a second Review I find that Ambras in old Record is the contracted word for Amphoras and Brasium signifies Malt so it must be rendered forty Measures of Malt. In my desciption of Brabourne I likewise have omitted the Mannor of Combe of which I now give this Account Combe was anciently the Habitation of Gentlemen of that Sirname of considerable repute in this Track for Rich. de Cumbe and Simon de Cumbe his Son were assistants to Sir Jo. de Northwood when he was Sheriff of Kent the twentieth of Edward the first the last of this Name was Will. de Cumbe who dying without Issue Male in the reign of Rich. the second his Sole Inheritrix brought it to be possest by her Husband John Scot of Scots Hall from whom it is now devolved to Edward Scot Esquire In Beausfield p. 67. l. 1. for Henry the ninth r. Henry the eighth l. 2. for Henry the fourth r. Edw. the third and then add this and then it came to be enjoyed by Malmains and was resident in this Family until Tho. Malmains dying without Issue Male his onely Female Heir brought it to swell the Patrimony of John Monins Esquire In my Description of Bireholt in Brabourne p. 70. l. 3. and an old Arbor Radicalis r. and as it appears by an old Arbor Radicalis In my Description of Bokingfold in Brenchley p. 73. l. 46 47. for but he being infortunately attainted in the fourth year of the abovesaid Prince as being one of the Partisans of the Duke of Somerset r. but he being infortunately attainted in the first year of Q. Mary as being one of the Partisans of Jo. Dudley Duke of Northumberland and the same Mistake is to be rectified in my Description of Bokenfold at Goudherst where p. 173. l. 26 27. for John Seymour Duke of Somerset r. Jo. Dudley Duke
Roper Baron of Tenham in whom it is at this instant resident There was a Castle anciently here at Apledore which when the Danes in the reign of Etheldred Father of Edmund Ironside made this County the Scene of their Devastations was mingled by the flame they put it into in the year 892. in its own Rubbish yet like a Phaenix it rose into new shape and frame again out of its Ashes and continued in the Register and under the notion of the Castles and Fortresses of this County until the year 1380. and then as How relates in his Chronicle who likewise represents the former Tragedie the French making an hostile Eruption on this part of the County made it once more a pitied and calamitous heap of flame and ruine out of whose dismantled reliques the Church now visible was not only repaired but as some from ancient Tradition affirm wholly reedified a probable Argument of the ancient Grandeur Magnificence and Strength of this now totally-demolished Fortresse I had almost omitted the Mannor of Frenchay which likewise lies within the Circle of Apledore and had in elder Times as appears by old evidences Owners of that Sirname but the greatest Glory that it atchieved was that ever since the reign of Edward the third untill the Government of Henry the eighth it acknowledged the Family of Haut for its Proprietaries the last of which was Sir William Haut who concluded in two Daughters and Coheirs whereof Joan the youngest matched to Sir Thomas Wiat shared his estate at this place but he being attainted in the second year of Queen Mary this was confiscated to the Crown and lay there untill the twenty fourth of Queen Elizabeth and then it was granted back to George Wiat Esquite whose Son Sir Francis Wiat not many years since passed it away to Thomas Floyd of Gore-court in Otham Esquire and he in the year 1636 alienated it to Sir Edward Hales of Tunstall Knight Baronet whose Grandchild Sir Edward Hales is now in possession of it Apledore had anciently a Market to be observed here weekly granted to it by Edward the third in the thirty second year of his reign which since is vanished into Disuse by Intermission Adisham in the Hundred of Downhamford was given to the Monks of St. Augustins as appears by Christ Church Book by Ethelbald Son of Ethelbald King of Kent Anno Domini 616. Cum Campis Silvis Pascuis c. as the Record mentions ad illam pertinentibus ad Cibum Monachorum Ecclesiae Christi Cantuariae liberam ab omnibus servitiis fiscali Tributo exceptis tribus istis Consuetudinibus id est Communi Labore de quo nullus excipiatur Pontis Constructione vel Arcis and whereas we frequently trace in ancient Chartularies these three Letters L. S. A. which may at first appearance seem to wrap up some gloomy and mysterious sense they import no more but this that Lands which were given by Charter to the Church should be Liberae sicut Adisham that is be fortified with the same Franchises and Liberties as Adisham Originally was The Austins for some Hundreds of years have been Tenants for this and the Mannor of Godmersham to the Church as if to improve and gratifie the Memory of Augustin their first Abbot the Monks of Christ Church were determined to plant some of their Patrimony in that Name though perhaps but of accidental Coincidence Aldington is the next place to be remembred in the Hundred of Street and Bircholt Franchise more eminent because here are chosen the Officers yearly relating to the Mannors of Romney Mersh Queen Edgiva mother to King Edmund and King Edred gave this Town to Christ Church in Canterbury in Grosse with other Lands Anno Dom. 961. But in the General Survey of the Churches Lands in the Conquerours Time the Arch-Bishops had twenty one Sullings or Plough-Lands there and was valued together with the Appurtenances at Stouting and Lyming at 107 l. and 25 Burgesses held of it The Arch-Bishops of Canterbury did usually retire to their Mannor-house here and had both a Park empailed and a Chase for Deer called Aldington Frith by which Name we express Places where Deer ranged at large as in a Forrest But when the Kings of England intended to pare off something of the Revenue and Power of the Arch-Bishops which was in their Estimate of too vast and wide an Extent this Mannor with many other was passed away by Exchange to the Crown in the twenty ninth of Henry the eighth by Thomas Cranmer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury Ruffins-Hill in this Parish was the Seat of the Godfrey's ancient Gentlemen whose Estate by two Daughters and Coheirs came to the Clerks of Kingsnoth and the Blechendens But whether descended from Godfrey le Falconer the Son of Balder unto whom K. Henry the second assigned gave and granted much Land in these Parts to hold in Serjeantie by the Service of keeping two Hawks for the King and his Successors I cannot positively say Much of the Land lay in Hurst and the Mannor is called Falconers Hurst and those that for many Generations held it resolved into the Name of Michel-Grove whose Heir General brought this and other fair Demeasns to Shelley's Ancestor of Michel-Grove in whose Name it resides at present The Coat very well alluded to their ancient Name and Tenure and is Quarterly Argent and Azure over all a Falcon Or. Hurst was formerly a Parish and the Church was dedicated to St. Leonard but it is now languished into Decay and Ruine and the Inhabitants assemble for the Performance of divine Offices at Aldington Ainsford in the Hundred of Axtane lieth upon the River of Darent and gave Seat and Sirname to a worthy Family that continued till the Time of Edward the second It hath the Ruines of an ancient Castle which reckons them and the Arsicks to have been the Founders There is another Seat in this Parish of venerable Antiquity called Arkesden whose owners bore the same for their Sirname and were of the Number of the Grand Assise in King John's Time after them the Cobhams were possessors of it and Reginald de Cobham had License the fourteenth of Edward the third to Castelate his House and paid respect of Aid for the same the twentieth of Edward the third at the making the Black Prince Knight From the Cobhams of Sterborough it came by the Heir General to the Lord Burgh or Borough from whom by Sale it devolved its Right on Sir Samuel Leonard Father of Sir Stephen Leonard which Sir Stephen enjoys it at this Day Southcourt and Mayfield are two Mannors lying in the Precincts of this Parish and did anciently relate to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury from whom by exchange they passed over to Dunham and from that Family to the Wiats in which Name and Family they remained till upon the Attainder of Sir Thomas Wiat they escheated to the Crown which by Grant invested their Right and Interest in J. Leonard of Chevening from whom they are
much as the Tower of London they have been very high thick strong and well embattled the Matter of them is Flint marvailous and long Bricks both white and red of the British Fashion The Ciment was made of the Sea and small pibble There is a great likelyhood that the goodly Hill about the Castle and especially towards Sandwich hath been well inhabited Corn grâ—ws there in marvailous plenty and in going to Plough there hath been Time out of Mind and now is found more Antiquities of Romane Money then in any place else of England Surely Reason speaks that this should be Rutupinum for besides the Name somewhat toucheth the very near passage from Calis Cliffs or Calis was to Ratesborough and now is to Sandwich which is about a Mile off though now Sandwich be not celebrated because of Goodwin Sands and the Decay of the Haven There is a good Flight shot off from Ratesborough toward Sandwich a great Dike cast in a round Compass as if it had been for Defence of Men of War the Compass of the Ground within is not much above an Acre and it is very hollow by casting up the Earth They call this place their Little Borough within the Castle is a little Paroch Church of St. Augustine and an Hermitage I had Antiquities of the Hermit who is an Industrious Man not far from the Hermitage is a Cave where Men have sought and digged for Treasure I saw it by Candle within wherein were Conies it was so streight that I had no mind to creep far in In the North-side of the Castle is an Head in the Wall now sore defaced by the weather they call it Q. Berthas Head near to that place hard by the Wall was a Pot of Roman Money lately found Thus far He. The Ancient Lords of the Castle were the Earls of Oxford and Edward Earl of Oxford in the Beginning of Q. Elizabeth alienated it to Gant Ash juxta Faukham lies in the Hundred of Acstane anciently written Clacstane and was in elder Times the Inheritance of the Latimers William de Latimer held it in the thirtieth year of Edward the first and by the Royal Indulgence of that Prince obtained a Charter of Free-Warren to his Mannor of Ash which he held of Roger de Mowbray After the Latimers were worn out the noble Family of Grandison succeeded in the possession and Otho de Grandison held it as appears by the Book of Aid in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight by the fourth part of a Knights Fee But after this there is little Evidence that it was long constant to the Interest of this Family for in the Reign of Richard the second it was wrapped up in the Demeasn of Cressel a Family that were entituled to a large Revenue both at Chiselhurst Hartley and elsewhere in this Track but it seems took no deep root at this place for in the fourth year of Henry the fourth the Knights Hospitalers held it at the Marriage of Blanch that Princes Daughter but whether they had it by Purchase or Exchange from Cressell the Record in the Exchequer does not specifie and here it became fixed and was esteemed as one of the principal Mannors relating to their Order in this County untill the Reign of Hen. the eighth and then in the thirty seventh year of that Prince not without much contest and strugling this was with the rest of their Revenue surrendred and being made parcel of the Income of the Crown K. Edw. the sixth about the second year of his Reign granted it to Sir Martin Bowes and he had Issue Will. Bowes who determined in two Daughters and Coheirs Eliz. matched to Will. Buggin and Ann married to Sir Edmund Fowler who divided his Patrimony and this upon the partition was united to the Revenue of Fowler and continues still to acknowledge his descendants for Proprietaries South-Ash is another Mannor in this Parish which had Owners in elder Times of that Name for in the Book of Aid I find that John at South-Ash paid an auxiliary supply for his Mannor of South-Ash at making the Black Prince Knight but it is possible this Mans original Name was Hodsoll and borrowed this Name from the Situation and Position of his Habitation which was Southerly and that which induces me to this Conjecture is that upon a perusall of the original Evidences I find that the Family of Hodsoll was long before possessors of this Mannor a particular Series of whom I could discover to the Reader but that I will not clog this Treatise with superfluities nor is this Mannor departed from the Signorie of this Name but is at this instant involved in the patrimony of Mr. William Hodsoll Hodsoll and Halywell are two other little Mannors in Ash whereof the last hath been the Seat of Hodsoll who borrowed their Sirname from the first many hundred years and in Relation to this assumed the bearing of three Stone Fountains two and one such as used to be dedicated to some Saint and were frequented anciently by such who reposed any Confidence in his vertue and miraculous efficacie whose Name they bore and of this Figure was â—hat Stone Well at Brackley commonly called St. Rumbals Well much frequented in the misty Times of Popery for the Cure of sore Eyes and other Maladies and that this was the ancient Coat of this Family is most certain for William Hodsoll who in severall Deeds writ himself Esquire both in the Reign of Henry the fifth and Henry the sixth sealed with the three stone Fountains only but now I know not upon what consideration the Fesse Wavee is added so that that the Coat is now Azure a Fesse Wavee between three stone Fountains Argent But to proceed as Hodsoll and Halywell have for so many Generations owned the Title of that Name and Family so hath no Vicissitude of Time so carryed off the Propriety of them but that they are still the present Demeasne of Mr. William Hodsoll North-Ash is another Mannor in this Parish which hath been accounted a Limb of the great Mannor of St. Johns at Sutton at Hone and upon the Suppression of the Alberge of the Knights Hospitallers here in England who for many hundreds of years had owed this Mannor was by Henry the eighth granted to Sir Maurice Dennis by whose Coheir it came to Wrote and he passed it away to Thomas Smith Esquire who upon his Decease gave it to his second Son Sir Tho. Smith in whose Descendants the Interest of it is wrapped up at present Scotgrove is the last place of Account in Ash it was in Ages of a very high Ascent the Estate of a Family called Torpell Mabilia Torpell Widow of John de Torpell who held it in the Reign of Henry the third dyed in the enjoyment of it in the Time of Edward the first as appears Rot. Esc Num. 27. In Times of a lower Gradation I find this Family vanished and then this Mannor came to be
in his Glossarie will inform you Alodium est praedium liberum saith he nulli Servituti obnoxium quod opponitur Feudo nam olim Feuda non possent vendi sine consensu Domini At Alodium vero est quod per omnem haeredum seriem discurrit cuivis è populo etiam reclamante Domino dare possit aut venundari The result of all which is this that the word Alodium signifies a Free Inheritance or Patrimony not chained up to any particular Service whatsoever which hath the least Resemblace or symtome of servitude either by Custome Prescription or Law imprinted upon it and may in English be styled Free Soccage and which being transmitted and conducted along by an uninterrupted Series of Descent from Posterity to Posterity might be pawned mortgaged or alienated to any Person whatsoever whereas on the contrary Lands which were Feudal could not be passed away without the Lords consent And this agrees with the Municipal Laws of France which anciently styled those Persons whose Lands were fortified with that Tenure Leuds Francs id est Nobiles nullius Domini Imperio evocati Homines sui Juris non Feudalis id est nullo Feudi Gravamine coerciti vel restricti that is Men of a noble Extraction free and unrestrained whose Demeasns were not manacled and tyed up with the Obligations of any Tenure which was Servile as those whose Lands were Fendal But enough of this I shall now return to Benenden which as it gave Seat to the above mentioned Godricus so it seems his Descendants extracted there Sirname from thence and assumed the Denomination of Benenden and bare for their Armes in a Shield Azure a Lobster Or and certainly were of Account in this Track for John the Son of Roger de Benenden held a Knights Fee in Benenden in the twentieth year of Edward the third But as all Families are chained up to a fixed Period like the Sea which is it self bound in with a Girdle of Sand so had this its conclusion likewise for Joan Benenden the Heir General of this Name by matching with Sir William Brenchley Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas fastned this Mannor to his Inheritance and they both lie buried in Christ Church in Canterbury He died as the Date upon their Tomb for they slumber under one Marble insorms me in the year 1446 and She in the year 1453. But after his Decease the Title of this place did quickly acknowledge another Proprietary for the Heir General of this Family matched to More of More Court in Ivy-Church where having been many Generations they dislodged from so solitary an Habitation and planted themselves at Benenden where they erected a House and adopted it into their own Name by styling it More Court but though it still stand an Alphabet to the Memory of this Family by bearing their Sirname yet did it not many years after its first Institution and Frame acknowledge the Signory of this Family for John More Esquire in the first year of Q. Mary conveyed it to Mr. William Watts from whom by successive Right it is now come down to Mr. ......... Watts and owns him for its present Proprietary The Mannor of Hempsted in this Parish anciently that is about the twentieth year of Henry the third belonged as appears by the Book in the Exchequer called Testa de Nevil to Robert de Hempsted from whence he assumed his Sirname which could not make the Title long liv'd in his Family for about the Beginning of Edward the third I find it passed away to Echingham of Sussex and James de Echingham held it by the fourth part of a Knights Fee in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight but after this the Title was not long constant to the Interest of this Family for about the Beginning of Richard the second I find it in the Hands of Sir Robert Belknap the Judge who being attainted in the tenth year of that Prince by the Malice and crooked Arts of a factious and insolent Nobility there was Survey taken of his Estate in the fourteenth year of his Reign and then this Mannor with the residue of his Estate escheated being annexed to the Crown it was by Richard the second granted to William de Guldford Sheriff of Kent in the eleventh year of that Prince descended from Henry de Guldford a great Benefactor to the Priory of Taning in the twenty eighth year of Edw. the first and who is mentioned in the Book of Aid to have held the Mannor of Wickham near Lidde in Kent by Knights Service in the twentyeth year of Edward the third and the abovesaid William having thus by the Favour of his Prince obtained this Mannor made it his Seat and transmitted it to his Successors who much improved it with the Supplement of Additional Buildings so that it hath not only formerly for many Generations continued to be the Seat of this Familie but is likewise a Mansion relating to this Name at this instant Great Maytham in Benenden was a Mannor which related to the Proprietie of the noble Family of Malmains whose principal Seat was at Malmains in Stoke in the Hundred of Hoo Nicholas Malmain Grandchild of John Malmain who likewise held this Mannor in the twentieth year of Henry the third paid a proportionate supply for Maytham at making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth year of Edw. the third and died possest of it in the twenty third year of that Prince But after this it was not long permanent in this Name for in the fourth year of Henry the fourth Nicholas Carew held it at the Marriage of Blanch that Princes Daughter and in his Family was the Title constant untill the latter End of Henry the eighth and then it was passed away to Thomas Lord Cromwell afterwards created Earl of Essex who being convicted of High Treason in the thirty second year of Henry the eighth it escheated to the Crown and that Prince in the thirty third year of his Rule granted it to Sir Thomas Wiatt who the same year conveyed it by Sale to Sir Walter Henley of Coursehorne the Kings Serjeant at Law and he not long after disposed of it to Thomas Colepeper of Bedgbury Esquire who had wedded Hellen one of his three Daughters and Coheirs and he in the last year of Edward the Sixth alienated some part of the Land which related to it to Richard Parker and Anthony Franklin but the Mannor it self rested in Colepeper of Bedgebury untill the late King granted it away not many years since to Alderman Wright of London as being forfeited to the Crowne because the Lord of it did not pay those Scots and Assessements which were laid upon him towards the Reparation of the Banks of the Mersh and by Margaret the Daughter and Coheir of the abovesaid Alderman is it now become the Inheritence of Mr. Richard Cordall of London Esquire Lowden or little Maytham is the last Mannor in this Parish and was
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
second place to be considered of in this Parish it borrows its Sirname from Adam de Wierton who as appears by old Deeds which by the Antiquity of their Character seem to commence from the Reign of King Henry the third was Possessor of this place and having inocculated his own Name upon it it sprouted out not in loose Suckers and Excrescencies but in those who were by lineal Descent from him justly and successively entituled to the Propriety of this Mannor untill the latter end of Richard the second and then it was by Sale transmitted to Robert Purse and there is one of this Name but whether this Man or his Son I am incertain who was Lord of Wierton House who lyes buryed in Boughton Church in the North Isle with this Inscription on a Plate of Brasse affixed to the Wall Hic jacet Robertus Purse qui obiit 145 bona multa huic contulit Ecclesiae that is he built the Belfrey and the North Isle and those are the good Works registred in his Epitaph and over his place of Sepulture his Portraicture in painted Glass was preserved entire untill the eruption of the late intestine War and then the tempestuous and ill managed or rather overheated Zeal of these Times which like an overheated Brain still concludes in Madnesse disordered it into a Heap of Ruines after this mans Exit I do not find it acknowledged this Family long for Robert Purse this mans Son alienated it to Richard Norton and his Wife Margaret Norton lyes enterr'd within that Seat which belongs to Wierton House as the Date on her Tombstone instructs me in the year 1470 and in this Family did the Title for many Generations inhabit untill that Age which fell under our Cognisance and then it was demised by Sale to Sir Anthony St. Leger of Ireland who still is the Proprietary of it Holbrook is the last Place to be taken Notice of in this Parish it was anciently involved in the Demeasne of a Family which in ancient Deeds and Court Rolls were written Halbroke and bore as is evident in old Registers and Armorials Azure A plain Crosse between four Mullets Or Frettee of the first and having continued here many Descents about the Beginning of Henry the fifth languished away and then the Propriety of this place came to confesse the Signory of Haut of Hautsbourn and dwelt in their Patrimony untill Sir William Haut determined about the latter end of Henry the eighth in two Female Coheirs whereof Joan was matched to Sir Thomas Wiat and he in her Right was enstated in the Inheritance of this place and about the latter end of Edward the sixth the Contract being fortified with his Ladyes consent passed it away to Smith Ancestor to Mr. ....... Smith who still possesses it as part of his Inheritance Boughton Alulph or Aluff in the Hundred of Wye had this appellative Distinction united to its Name to intimate to us that in the Saxons Time it owned the Jurisdiction of one Alulphus a Saxon into whose Name to derive his Memory down to us it hath been ever since adopted But in the Ages after the Conquest it was wrapped up in the Estate of the ancient Family of Burgherst now vulgarly called Burwash Robert dâ— Burgherst is the first who is brought on the Stage by publick Record and presented to our Remembrance and he held it at his Death which was in the thirty third year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 41. and is amongst the Register of those who accompanied that Triumphant and Succesfull Prince in his fotunate Expedition against the Scots and he left it to his Son Stephen de Burgherst who in the second year of Edward the second obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor of Boughton Aluff and in the third year of that Prince paid his Debt to Nature from whom it descended to his Son Stephen de Burwash who had a Renovation of the former Charter of Free-warren confirmed to this Mannor in the first year of Ed. the third his Son and Heirwas Bartholomew Lord Burgherst who had a Charter of Free-warren confirmed to all his Lands in which this was involved in the twelfth and sixteenth years of Edward the third and was certainly a Person of much Eminence in those Times for he is recorded by Daniell in his Chronicle to have been one of those to whom the abovesaid Prince committed the Conduct of his Army at the Battle of Crescy and was summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron as appears amongst the Summons of that Age he deceased in the twenty eighth year of Edward the third his Heir apparent was Bartholomew Lord Burgherst who was Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Household and was frequently summoned to sit as a Peere of the Realm by Edw. the third as it appears Registered in the late printed Abridgement of the Records of the Tower and he in the forty third year of Edward the third passed away this Mannor and much other Land to Walter de Pavely in Paveley the Possession was resident but untill the Beginning of Richard the second and then it was conveyed to Trivet but here it was of no long fixed continuance neither for Sir Thomas Trivet about the fifteenth year of the abovesaid Prince passed it away to Lewis Clifford from whom it descended to his Successor Lewis Clifford Esquire who in the twelfth year of Henry the sixth by a Fine then levied transplanted his right in it into William Wenlock and he not long after transmitted it by Sale to Richard Beauchampe Baron of Aburgavenny whose Son Richard Baron Aburgavenny concluded in Elizabeth Beauchampe his Sole Heir who was matched to Edward Nevil in her Right Lord of this Mannor whose Descendants constantly remained invested in the Inheritance untill the latter End of Henry the eighth and then it was alienated to Sir Thomas Moile and he dying without Issue Male Katharine his Daughter and Coheir fastned it to the Demeasn of her Husband Sir Thomas Finch where it hath ever since remained so constant and permanent that it now confesses the Signory of the right honourable Heneage Finch the instant Earl of Winchelsey Seaton Ulley and Potbery are three little Mannors lying within the Verge of this Parish the first of which held in grand Serjeantie of the Crown with this respective Service to be performed by the Lord of the Fee Esse vantrarius Regius quando Rex iverit in Vasconiam donec per usus fuerit pari Solutarum pretio 4 d. which wiser Heads who pretend to unravell the Intrigues and Criticisms of Law Latin interpret thus to be the Kings fore Footman when he shall go into Gasconie untill he hath worn out a pair of Shoes which cost 4 d. All these Mannors were wrapped up in the Demeasn of Crioll and Bertram de Crioll died seised of them in the twenty third year of Edward the first whose onely Daughter Joan being matched to Richard de Rokesley called in some old Records Sir
the Rowths of Darbyshire from which Alliance Sir John Rowth claims at this instant the Possession Nash Court is a Seat of very reverend Antiquity especially since for some Centuries of years it hath been as is apparent by their own private Evidences the Mansion of the Hawkins a Family of deep Descent and illustrious Account in this Track but made more eminent by being the Cradle of that Learned Gentleman Sir Thomas Hawkins who for his accurate Translation of Caussinus his holy Court from the French Original into English and his other well polished Labours cannot be decyphered or limned out to Posterity under too worthy an Attribute Colkins is the last place though not of the least Account which in this Parish is to be considered it was built by John Colkin originally a Citizen of Canterbury and he at his Death which was in the tenth of Edward the third was in possession of it there are several of this Mans Posterity which lye entombed in Boughton with a Griffin Segreant which was their Paternal Coat affixed to the Front of the Gravestone William Colkin and Agnes his Wife are there enterr'd with this Inscription Orate pro animâ Will. Colkin Agnet Ux. qui quidem obierunt Anno Dom. 1460. and the rest is defaced this Mans Father John Colkin sleeps there with this Inscription annexed to the Marble Hic jacet Johannes Colkin qui obiito ctavo Die Aprilis Anno Dom. 1405. But not long after the Decease of William Colkin abovesaid did the Possession of this Seat continue permanent in this Family for his Son John Colkin sold it to Henry Petit Father to Cirjacus or Sidrach Petit who drew up a Survey of all the Mannors of Kent which held by Knights Service of the Crown in the twenty eigth year of Henry the eighth from whom Mr. Petit the present Lord of Colkins does extract both his Descent and Title Dane Court in this Parish also cannot be passed by without some Inspection In elder Times Sir Allan de Dane challenged the Signorie of it and as he took his Sirname from it so he had his Habitation here in the Reign of Edward the third and it continued a Mansion for his Descendants divers years after but in the Reign of Henry the fourth I find the Foggs Lords of the Fee the last of which that held it was Sir Jo. Fogge who died possest of it as appears by his Will in the seventeenth year of Henry the seventh and left it to his Son and Heir Sir Jo. Fogge from which Family not many years after it came to own the Propriety of Petit of Colkins in the Descendant of which Family the Interest of it is yet resident Tho. At Hurst here founded a Chappel in the eighth of Richard the second and dedicated it to Saint Nicholas which was for the use of Lazars and poor Leprous people lodged in an Hospital not far distant of this Mans Foundation also Bourdfield or Boresfield in the Hundred of Eyhorn was formerly a Parish and the remains of some part of the Stonework of the Church as likewise the Bounds of the Church-yard are yet obvious but since its decay it hath been incorporated into Oltringden and is now looked upon as an Hamblet of that Parish It was for many Descents the Patrimony of the Lords Cobham of Sterborough and so continued untill Thomas Lord Cobham died in the eleventh year of Edward the fourth and left one onely Daughter and Heir called Ann Cobham who was matched with Edward Borough after in her Right as Heir General created Lord Borough of Sterborough from whom this Mannor descended to his Grandchild Thomas Lord Borough who in the twenty fifth year of Q. Elizabeth conveyed it to John Pakenham and he not long after alienated it to John Lewin Esquire in which Family it remained untill our Remembrance and then by the Heir General it was carried off to Rogers of the County of Somerset and the like vicissitude hath by the Female Inheritrix of that Family brought it now to acknowledge Charles Cavendish Viscount Mansfield Heir apparent to William created Marquess Newcastle by the late King at Oxford Bishops-Bourn in the Hundred of Bredge and Petham is called so because it was given by K. Kenulfus at the Request of Athelard Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to the Priory of Christ Church in the year of Grace 789 and in the Charter there is a Recital of one Aldhun a pious Citizen of Canterbury who first bequeathed it to that Covent and the Charter of Confirmation informs us that it was given to the Monks ad Vestimentum corum for a supply of Vesture In the year 811. Arch-Bishop Ulfred exchanged Eastry of Bourn with the Covent above mentioned and in the Demeasne of that See it lay couched untill the latter end of Hen. the eighth and then Tho. Arch-Bishop of Canterbury exchanged it for other Lands with Sir Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury who in the thirty fourth year of the abovesaid Prince conveyed it to Sir Anthony Aucher Ancestor to Sir Anthony Aucher Knight and Baronet the instant Proprietary both of this and Hautsbourn which next summons a Remembrance Hauts-bourn before it was enlarged with the Additional Appellation of Haut afforded both Seat and Sirname in elder Times to a Family of venerable Antiquity in these Parts John de Bourn lived here and had a Charter of Free-warren granted to it in the seventeenth year of Ed. the first but when this Name resolved into a Daughter and Heir who was married to Shelving this Mannor lost the Name of Bourn and was called by Addition Shelving Bourn and remained sometime under that Notion untill a Vicissitude of the same Nature with the former entombed this in a Female Inheritrix likewise who being married to Edw. Haut the first Addition was removed and wrapped up in a second for thenceforth in publick Records it was frequently stiled Hauts-bourn and so continued under that Name and in that Family untill Sir William Eaut about the latter end of Hen. the eighth dying without Issue Male this Family determined in two Daughters and Coheirs one of whom called Elizab. being matched to Sir Thowas Colepeper of Bedgebury brought Bourn to be the Inheritance of that Family and he in the thirty fourth year of Henry the eighth passed it away to Sir Anthony Aucher descended from Aucherus the Saxon who was of eminent Note at Newenden in this County of whom more shall be spoken when I come to treat of that place Bursted is the last Place to be taken Notice of in this Parish which in ancient Deeds is written Burghsted and was the Inheritance of a Family of that Sirname but the cheifest Honour which it acquired in times of a more modern Aspect is that for several Descents last past it hath constantly confessed it self to be part of the propriety and Patrimony of Denne a Cadet of the Denns of Denne Hill Boxley in the Hundred of Maidston had an Abby filled with Cistertian Monks and
founded by William de Iper of Flanders advanced by King Stephen to be Earl of Kent in the year 1145 K. Richard the first as the Register of this Abby denotes was a great Benefactor to the Covent who were originally transported hither from Clarevall in Burgundy upon the Suppression the House with the Demeasne adjacent was in the thirty second of Henry the eighth granted to Sir Thomas Wiat Father to Sir Thomas Wiat one of his Privy Counsel a man of an unbroken though a calamitous Virtue who thinking it a lesse stain to forfeit his Estate then to debauch his Consience stuck close to that Sacramental Covenant by which he and the rest of the Councel had oblieged themselves to Henry the eighth to preserve as much as in them lay his two Daughters Mary and Elizabeth from confederating with any forreign Alliance and so engaged in that Design which over set him and sunk him and his Patrimony into that Ruine we find him and it lost at present for upon his Attainder Queen Mary in the second year of her Reign granted out his Estate as if it were by Retail to several sons but this Mannor and some other small peices were given back to the Lady Joan Wiat his Widow for the support of her self and Family and this is all which of that vast and wide Revenue of his which lay scattered in this and other Counties is held by his Posterity at this Day Wevering in this Parish is a Mannor held by Knights Service and Waretius de Shelving Son of John Shelving and Hellen de Bourn Daughter and Heir of John de Bourn held it by this Tenure to find a Horse for the Kings Army in Wales Cum uno Sacco Brochiâ pro Esquilar ipsius Domini Regis so it runs in the Latin Record taken in the third year of Edward the third after this mans Decease John de Shelving was this mans Heir and in his Right enjoyed this Mannor though it was not wholly his till he married Benedicta Daughter and Coheir of Robert de Hougham who likewise held some part of it and then he transmitted it entire to his Son William Shelving whose Sole Daughter and Heir being married to Edward Haut of Hauts Place in Petham who was Sheriff of Kent in the eighth of Henry the fourth this and an opulent Demeasne beside became interwoven with the Revenue of that Family and here the Possession seemed to be laid up till Sir William Haut of Hautsbourn this mans great Grandchild dyed and left only two Coheirs Joan matched to Sir Thomas Wiat and Elizabeth married to Sir Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury so wavering by this Alliance accrued to Sir Thomas Wiat from whom in the twenty fourth year of Queen Mary it was by forfeiture torne away but was in the twenty fourth year of Queen Elizabeth restored with the Mannor of Boxley to the Lady Joan Wiat Widow of the abovesaid Sir Thomas and her Son George Wiat for three Lifes the Reversion was sold by King Charles to Mr. Stephen Alcock who alienated the Fee Simple to Sir Francis Wiat. Vinters is contained also in Boxley it gave Seat and Sirname to as noble a Family and of as deep Antiquity as any in this Track Roger Vinter lived here who was one of the Conservators of the Peace for the County of Kent in the eighteenth year of the Reign of Edward the third he deceased in the forty seventh of the abovesaid Princes Government and John Vinter was his Heir who sold Vinter to Fremingham in the tenth year of Henry the fourth from whom it was conveyed by a Female Inheritrix to Isley of Sundrich and here it rested till Sir Henry Isley being folded up in the same attempt with Sir Thomas Wiat upon the blasting of that Designe forfeited his Interest in it to the Crown Queen Mary granted it to Cutts who some years after devested himself of his right in it and by Sale disposed of it to Sir Cavaliero Maycott who suddenly alienated it to Covert who transferred it by the like Devolution about some five and twenty years since to Sir John Tufton Knight Baronet whose second Son Sir Charles Tufton upon the late Decease of his Brother Sir Benedict Tufton is the present Lord of the Fee I had almost forgot to mention which certainly must much improve the Honour of this Place that King Edward the second in the fifteenth year of his Reign lying at Boxley Abby granted the Charter to London to elect yearly one of the City at their own pleasure to be their Maior Boughton Malherbe in the Hundred of Eyhorne did very probably take its Denomination from a Family of that Sirname who were of eminent Account in the County of Devon for I find Sir William de Malherbe was witnesse to a Deed of Reginald de Mohun by which he gives much Land to the Abby of Axminster as appears Pat. 14. Hen. tertii Memb. 33. parte prima In the Reign of Henry the third by several old Deeds I discover it to be marshalled in the List of those Lands which confessed Robert de Gatton Son of Robert de Gatton who was one of the Recognitores magnae Assisae in the second year of King John to have been its Proprietarie and he dyed possest of it in the forty eighth year of Henry the third and left it to his Son Hamo de Gatton in whom the male Line determined so that this Mannor upon the Partition of his Inheritance devolved by Elizabeth his Daughter and Coheir to be the Patrimony of William de Dene who obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Lands here in the renth year of Edward the second but he not long after enjoyed the Benefit of this priviledge for he conveyed it to Robert Corbie who in the thirty sixth year of Edward the third had Licence by this Princes Grant to build after a fortified Mannor the Terms are Kernellare Turrellare that is to make Cranies and Loopholes to discharge Crossebows and other missile Weapons and to embattel with Towers and Curtain Walls the Mannor House at Boughton from him it descended to Robert Corby his Son and Heir who dyed and left only one Daughter and Heir Joan marryed to Sir Nicholas Wotton twice Lord Maior of London and so by Female Right this Mannor became the Possession of this Family and in a continued Series was it carryed down from Sir Nicholas to Thomas Lord Wotton not many years since deceased whose Lady Dowager Mary Daughter and one of the Coheirs of Sir Arthur Throgmorton of Paulers Perry in the County of North-Hampton as parcel of her Joynture did lately before her Decease enjoy it Colbridge Castle lay in Boughton Malherbe under the Hill towards Headcorne and hath found a Sepulcher now under its own Rubbish King Henry the third in the forty third of his Reign granted Licence by his Charter to Sir Fulke Peyforer to fortifie and build after a Castle-like Manno this Mansion House at Colbrge it
Denne who deceasing without Issue Male Margaret his only Daughter and Heir brought it over to her husband Edw. Hougham after whose death it is to devolve to two Daughters who are the surviving Issue of that Wife namely Elizabeth matched to Mr. Edward Rose of Chistlet and Ann wedded to Mr. John Betentham now of Canterbury The Dungeon is another Mannor in Canterbury It was formerly belonging to an ancient Family called Chich Ernaldus de Chich was a man of principal note under Henry the second Richard the first and K. John and the Aldermanry of Burgate in Canterbury did in elder times appertain to this Family Thoma Chich was was Bailiff of Canterbury 1259. and again in the year 1271. was a principal Benefactor to the Church of S. Mary Bredin in Canterbury whose Name in an old Character together with his Effigies are set up in the west Window as his Coat is likewise in Stone-work in the Chancell John Chich was Bailiff of Canterbury in the twenty third and again in the twenty sixth year of Edward the third in the year 1320. Robert Malling then Commissary of Canterbury gave Sentence upon clear Evidence by ancient muniments and otherwise that the Hospital of St. Laurence in Canterbury should not only receive the Tithes of the Mannor of the Dungeon but likewise of 300. Acres adjacient to it but this was not without the Tye or Tribute of some Remuneration for in Autumne John Chich who was then Lord of the Dungeon was to receive for his Servants five loaves of Bread two Pitchers and an half of Beer and half a Cheese of four pence and he himself was to receive unum par Cirocecarum ferinarum one pair of Holyday Gloves and one pound of Wax in Candles and for his Servants three pair of Gloves Thomas Chich this mans Son was Sheriff of Kent in the forty fourth year of Edward the third and held his Shrivealtie at the Dungeon but in Valantine Chich this mans great Grandchild not only the male line but likewise the possession of this place failed for he about the beginning of Edward the fourth passed it away to Roger Brent Esq and he died seised of it as appears by his Will recorded at Canterbury in the year 1486. But in this Family it was not long after this resident for in the beginning of Henry the eighth by an old Court Roll I find one John Butler of Heronden in Eastrye possest of it and he conveyed it to Sir John Hales Chief Baron of the Exchequer and when Leland visited Kent which was in the thirtieth year of Henry the eighth he lived here and from him is it now come down to his Successor Sir James Hales the instant Proprietarie of it The Moate alias Wyke is a third Mannor within the precincts of Canterbury and had owners of that Sirname For I read in Testa de Nevill that Stephen de VVyke possest it in the twentyeth year of Henry the third and paid respective Aid for it at the marriage of Isabel that Princes Sister and in the Book of Aid where there is an Enumeration of the ancient owners there is a Recital of Stephen de Wyke William le Taylour John Tancrey and Richard Betts who had an Interest in it but before the beginning of Richard the second all these Families were mouldred away and vanished For in that Kings Reign I find it by the Court Rolls of this place in the hands of Sir Richard de Hoo and Richard Skippe and they about the latter end of Richard the second by deed conveyed it to Simon Spencer and he some few years after alienated it to John Standford Gentleman who suddenly after Passed it away to Richard Smith in whose hands it had not long continued when the same Devolution brought it over to John Eastfield Esquire Son of Sir William Eastfield who was Knight of the Bath and Lord Maior of London in the year 1438. and from him it was by Sale carried off to William Rogers and he by a Fine levied in the thirty third year of Henry the sixth demises and sells it to Philip Belknap of Canterbury Esquire Maior of that City in the year 1458. and Sheriff of Kent in the thirty fourth year of Henry the sixth he married Elizabeth Daughter of John Woodhouse Esq by whom he had Issue Alice his only Daughter and Heir who was matched to Henry Finch of Nitherfield Esq Father of Sir William Finch Banneret who in his Mothers right was invested in the possession of the Moâ—t and from him is it now by Successive right devolved to the Right Honourable John Lord Finch created Baron of Fordwich by the late K. Charles when he was Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England St. Dunstans in Canterbury was the Ancient Seat of the noble Family of Roper VVilliam Rosper or de Rubra Spathâ for so the Name is written in old Dateless Evidences and Elnith his Wife the Daughter and Heir of Edward de Apuldore flourished in the Reign of Henry the third and were great Benefactors to the Priorie of Saint Martins in Dover Iohn de Rubrâ Spathâ or Rosper did eminent Service in Scotland under Edward the third for which that Prince rewards him and William Clifford as appears by a Deed recorded in the Earl of Dorsets Pedigree about the twenty ninth year of his Reign with the third part of those Forfeitures that were due from the Jews then inhabiting in London for the Violation of some Penal Statutes enected against them Edmund Son of Ralph Roper was an eminent Man in the Reign of Henry the fourth and Henry the fifth under whom he was Justice of the Peace for this County and died the third year of Henry the sixth 1433 and lies buried in this Church of St. Dunstans John Roper his Son and John VVestcliffe as the Records of this Family instruct me were Correctors and Surveyours of the Customes of the Cinque Ports in the ninteenth year of Henry the seventh Jo. Roper his Grandchild was Attorney General to Henry the eighth and Prothonotary of the Kings Bench as appears by the Inscription on his Monument in St. Dunstans Church 1524 and VVill. Roper who was Sheriff of Kent the first and second year of Philip and Mary and matched with Margaret Daughter of Sir Thomas More Lord Chancellor of England who as the Inscription on her Monument was Graecis Latinisque Literis Doctissima succeeded his Father in the Office of Prothonotary of the Kings Bench which he discharged with much of Fidelity and Care fifty four years and left it to his Sor Thomas Roper Esquire 1577 in which year he died and from this Thomas is this Mannor of St. Dunstans which for so many Centuries of years hath constantly confessed the Signorie of this Name now descended to his great Grandchild Mr. Edward Roper Esquire Capell in the Hundred of Folkstone was parcel of that Estate which celebrated the Family of Averenches to have been its Proprieraries which continued no longer in the
Name then the End of K. John for then William de Averenches dying without Issue Male Matilda his onely Daughter and Heir brought Capell with the two little Mannors Halton and Wolverton alias Wolton to be possest by Hamon de Crevequer called in the Language of those times the great Lord of Kent from him they descended to his Son and Heir Hamon de Crevequer who dying about the forty seventh year of Henry the third without Issue his Estate in Kent and elsewhere was seised on by that Prince as having died in Actual Arms against him but was by the Act of Pacification made at Kenelworth in the fiftieth year of his Reign restored to his four Sisters whereof one was espoused to John de Lenham the second was matched first to Nicholas de Sandwich and next to John de Segrave Matilda the third was wedded to Bertram de Crioll and the fourth was married to William de Pateshull but upon the Division of the Estate Capell with its two Appendages Halton and Wolton accrued to Crioll by whose Daughter and Heir they came to Sir Richard de Rokesley and then by Joan his Sole Inheritrix to Tho. de Peynings in which Family they remained untill the twelfth year of Henry the eighth and then Sir Edward Poynings dying without any lawfull Issue they came by Mary his natural Daughter to Edward Lord Clinton to whom they were by Grant confirmed in the thirtieth of that Princes Reign and he in the second year of Q. Mary passed them away to Mr. Henry Herdson whose Grandchild Mr. Francis Herdson conveyed them to his Uncle Mr. John Herdson and he dying without Issue setled them on his Kinsman Sir Basil Dixwell Knight and Baronet whose Kinsman Mr. Basill Divwell of Broome in Barham is now Proprietarie of them Caldham high mounted is another Mannor in this Parish which informs us that in elder times a Family of that Denomination held it which before the End of Richard the second had passed it away to Baker a Family of good Account in this Track who had a peculiar Chancel belonging to them in Folkstone Church near the Vestry Door over the Charnell House John Baker was Gentleman Porter of Callis under Henry the fifth and sixth and dying without Issue male Robert Brandred who had matched with one of his two Coheirs was planted in the Possession and he about the latter end of Henry the sixth passed it away to Sir Thomas Brown whose Grandchild Sir Matthew Brown exchanged it with Henry the eighth about the thirty sixth of his Reign and he granted it away to William Wilford John Bennet and George Brigges and they in the thirty seventh of his Government alienated their Right in this place to John Tufton Esquire Ancestor to the right Honourable John Earl of Thanett who still possesses the Signory of it Charlton in the Hundred of Blackheath anciently written Ceopleton that is the Town inhabited with honest good stout and usefull men for Tillage and Country businesse It anciently belonged to William Fitz Oger as Doomsday Book saith and was after given to the Monastery of Bermondsey neer Southwarke by Robert Bloett Bishop of Lincoln Anno sexto Willielmi Secundi King Henry the third gave the Prior of that House Liberty by his Charter in the fifty third year of his Reign to hold a Market there weekly and a Fair once in every yeer three days together viz. upon the Eve upon Trinity Sunday and two days after the Market was held weekly upon the Monday and was not long since ciscontinued but the Fair is not disused but kept yearly upon St. Lukes day and called Horn Fair by reason of the great plenty of all Sorts of Winding Hornes and Cups and other Vessels of Horn there brought to be sold King James granted the Mannor to Sir Adam Newton Knight and Baronet Tutor to Prince Henry who there hath built a goodly brave House and left the Care with his Cost to enlarge and beautify Gods House the Parish Church to Sir David Comingham Knight and Baronet late Coforer to Prince Charles Mr. Newton his Brother and Mr. Peter Newton Gentleman Usher to the late King Charles who have most amply discharged that Trust and in a manner new builded a great Part thereof and erected the Steeple new from the Ground and furnished it with a good Ring of Bells decorating the same Church without and within so worthily that it surpasseth most in the Shire Kedbroke neer Charlton was formerly a Parish but when the Church decayed and the paucity of the Inhabitants could not support the Charge that was to maintain the same they were by Composition annexed to Charlton it is of late become of better Note since it pleased King Charles to create Sir William Harvey Knight and Baronet and Baron Harvey of Rosse in Ireland a Peer of this Realm also by the Name of Baron Harvey of Kedbroke it being part of his Ladies Inheritance as being Daughter and one of the three Coheirs of Brian Annesley Esquire who having it in Lease from the Crown bought the Fee-simple of Edward Blunt of Wrickelmersh Esquire to whom it was conveyed by his Father in Law Sir William Garaway of London Knight who had purchased it of King James in the Beginning of his Government to whose Royal Demeasne it had been fastned ever since the Suppression of the Priory of Bermondsey in whose Patrimony it was involved in the Reign of Henry the eighth In the time of King Henry the sixth Pat. 26. Hen. sexti Parte secunda Memb. 27. the Church of Kedbroke was appropriated to the Priory of St. Mary Overies in Southwarke the Vicarage not endowed but being shrunk into Decay and Solitude the Inhabitants for many yeers last past have resorted for the performance of Divine Duties to the Parish Church of Charlton Chalke in the Hundred of Shamell was parcel of that Demeasne which related to the Abby of Bermondsey as appears by Kirkbies Inquest a Book kept in the Exchequer and collected in the ninth year of Edward the first wherein that Cloister is represented to have had the Possession of this place at that Time and here it remained untill the generall Dissolution snatched it away in the Time of Henry the eighth and that Prince afterwards devolved it to Sir George Brook from whom it descended to his Great Grandchild Sir William Brook who dying in the year 1643 without Issue male it came over to his Kinsman Sir Jon Brook as Reversioner in Entail and he some few years since passed it away to James Duke of Lenox lately deceased whose Son Esme Stuart now Duke of Lenox is the Heir Apparent of it Felborough Clam Lane and Rainhurst were a Limb of that wide Revenue which lay scattered and diffused over the face of all this Hundred and acknowledged it self to be under the Signory of the Family of Cobham Henry de Cobham held them as appears by Kirkbies Inquest in the ninth year of Edward the first and so did his
Aid at the making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth year of Edward the third for sundry parcels of Land which he held in Kent and amongst the rest for his Lands at Cranebrook and in this Family was the possession of this place with that of Copton and Stone concentered till the latter end of Henry the seventh and then part of Sisingherst with Copton and Stone was sold to Mr. Tho. Baker Father to Sir John Baker Attorney General and of the Privy Counsel to Queen Mary and likewise Chancellor of the Exchequer and under-Treasurer who purchased the residue and raised that Magnificent Pile within the Park which now charmes with so much Delight the eyes of the Spectators and from this man by the channel of paternal and lineal Descent is the Inheritance of Sisingherst Copton and Stone emptied into Sir John Baker Baronet the instant Lord of the Fee Secondly Glastenbury is not to be forgotten since it is of so great a Name elsewhere and is called as the other is from Glastney the Saxon Idiome of Inis Witrin the Watry or Glassie place The House which stands in a Park is moated about and hath been for many Generations the capital Mansion of the ancient Family of Rokchurst ever since Stephen Rokehurst or Roberts of Curtesden and in old Records sometimes written Rokehurst Den in Goudherst about the beginning of Henry the fourth married Joan Sole Heir of William Tilley of Glastenbury whose Ancestors had flourished at this place as private Evidencs instruct me ever since the reign of Edward the first and in right of that Alliance became Lord of this Mansion This Stephen Roberts aliàs Rokehurst was Grand-child of William Roberts aliàs Rokehurst and that William was great Grand-child of William de Rokehurst who in the reign of William the Conquerour as the Evidences of this Family inform me came out of Anandale in Scotland into England and to preserve the memory of this man did the Family till the Government of Henry the seventh write Roberts alias Rokchurst till in the East window of the North Chancel of the Church of Cranebrook which was built by Walur Roberts Esq in that Princes Reign as also in most of his Deeds and Conveyences the alias was left out Coursehorne finds place to be remembred in the Map of Kent and then must not be forgotten here it hath been for above three hundred years as appears by private Records the Inheritance of Henley in an Escheat Roll taken in the seventeenth year of Edward the third and marked with the number 92. After the death of Richard Haudloe who it seems had Lands at Cranebrook there is mention of one Gerva Henley that was one of the Jury and concerned in the Inquisition But that which much improves the Fame of this Mansion is that it was the Cradle of Sir Walter Henley Serjeant at Law a man of eminent repute in this County in the Reign of Henry the eighth and by his three Daughters and Coheirs Elizabeth married to ....... Waller of Grome-bridge Hellen first matched to Thomas Colepeper of Bedgbury secondly to Sir George Somersett and thirdly to Thomas Vane of Burston and lastly Ann wedded to Richard Covert of Slaugham in Sussex knit those Noble Families together in one Alliance but Coursehorne did by Descent come over to his Brother Gervas Henley Esquire from whom Sir Thomas Henley now of Coursehorne is lineally extracted Another ancient place there is in Cranebrook called Hartridge the possession in times past of a worthy Family of that Sirname among them chiefly to be remembred is Thomas Hartridge for he was one of the Conservators or Justices of Peace in this County in the thirty fourth year of Edward the third when there was but eight only in the whole Shire It hath been since much honoured by the Will fords who by James Willsford a most worthy Senator of London derive themselves from the right ancient Family of Willsford of Willsford in Devonshire and are fairly spread from hence into many Branches both in this County and elsewhere and after it had thus for divers Descents been resident in this noble Family the Possession was in our Fathers remembrance united by purchase to the Patrimony of Tindall now of Sutton Valence Fifthly Betenham is not to be passed over in silence which is a Note worthy Place in this Parish that gave both Seat and Sirname to the Betenhams but when the eldest Line had only three Daughters and Coheirs matched to More Dering and Fisher who divided the Patrimony this in his Wifes right was annexed to the Demeasn of More and this after More had alienated his Interest in it came to acknowledge for Sole Owners the Roes of which Family was the right Noble Sir Thomas Roe Knight Chancellor of the most Noble Order of the Garter and of the Privy Councel to the late Kidg Charles and severall years Embassador to the Great Mogor Great Turk King of Sweden and lastly to the Princes of the Protestant Union in Germany in the year 1642. After which Negotiation most prudently transfacted he returned and died but in this Family it remained not long for in the remembrance of that Age our Fathers lived in it was by Sale demised to Mansfield in whom the Possession is at this present setled There are two places more which may be registred in this Inventorie The first is Plechinghurst which was an ancient Seat belonging to the Sharpeighs of Sharpeigh a Family of deep rooted Antiquitie in this Track Robert de Sharpeigh flourished here at Cranebrook about the beginning of Edward the first and was witness to a Deed of William de Brindens of Brinden In this Parish formerly the Linds and now the Holdens but this Deed is without Date another Robert Sharpeigh of Sharpeigh and Cranebrook as I find by an ancient Roll was in Commission as Justice of the Peace about the latter end of the Government of Henry the seventh But as all sublunary things are crushed and overturned by the wheel of an inconstant Vicissitude so by Consequence are our Possessions likewise for after this place had been for so many Descents the Inheritance of this ancient Family it was almost within the Verge of our Remembrance first alienated to Martin and by him not long since by Sale demised to Walter The second is Buckhurst which is the last place of Account within the circuit of this Parish If we go to trace the Antiquity of thse Families who were the ancient Proprietorrs of it we shall find that it acknowledged Hadloe and Buckhurst for its elder Possessors that the first had some concernment here not only the private Deeds and Muniments of this place do evince to us but likewise by an Inquisition taken after the decease of Richard de Hadloe by which it is evident he held some Estate here in the seventeenth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 32. And that the second Family had some Interest here not only the Authority abovesaid doth justifie
Num. 62. And from these two did it descend by the successive steps of paternal progression to Tho. Lord Rosse who was beheaded at Newcastle upon Tine and attainted in the fourth year of Edw. the fourth as a Complice of the House of Lancaster and likewise to John Tiptoft Earl of Worcester who was attainted and beheaded in the year 1470 as a Partisan of the House of York so that the whole Mannor by the several Attaints being swallowed up in the Revenue of the Crown it was by Edw. the fourth in the eighteenth year of his Reign granted to Roger Lord Wentworth and Margaret his Wife Widow of Tho. Lord Rosse and Tho. Lord Wentworth this mans Successor about the Beginning of Q. Eliz. alienated it to Barnham and Slany who immediately after disposed of their right in it by a joynt Sale to Barker from whom by the like Fate within the Verge of that Age which fell under our Grand-fathers remembrance it came over to Sir Rob. Jackson and he not many years since conveyed it by Sale to Sir Oliver Boteler Grand-father to Sir Oliver Boteler Baronet in whom resides the present Signorie of it But Waldeslade was given by Rich. the second in the eleventh year of his Reign as the Book called Feoda Militum kept in the Exchequer intimates to the Abby of Canous Langley frequently written Childrens Langley and lay involved in their revenue till the general Dissolution and then King Henry the eighth in the thirty fifth year of his reign granted it to Sir Thomas Moile from whom the Fee-simple by Amy his Daughter and Co-heir devolved to Sir Thomas Kempe and he in the tenth year of Q. Eliz. passed it away to Jo. Mabbe who in the twentieth of her reign alienated it to VVilliam Emes from whom in the twenty fifth of that Princess it devolved to Richard Fogge Esq and he in the twenty sixth year of her Government conveyed it to Mr. Ex Autographis penes Rich. Lea de Delce magna Armig. Tho. Cocks who in the thirty sixth of that Queen transferred it by Sale to Mr. Richard Lea from whom it descended to his Son and Heir Captain Rich. Lea of Great Delce Esquire and he by Sale gave up his right to his second Brother Mr. Thomas Lea who dying without Issue gave it to his Nephew the instant Proprietary Richard Lea now of Great Delce Esquire The late Repair of the Parish Church and new Building of the Steeple commends the religious Care and Cost of his late Majesties Commissioners and Officers of the Navy Royal in the year 1635. But the Arsenals Store-houses and Shipdocks erected by the late K. Charles are so magnificent and universally useful that they are become a principal Pillar of the Nations support so far as they relate to the naval defence of it and affords variety of imployment by the Manufacture of Cordage as also by the Careening and Building of Ships Chetham Hospital called St. Bartholomews was founded by Gundulphus Bishop of Rochester in the time of William Rufus to which the Norwoods of Norwood and the Crevequers as the Records of the Church of Rochester do specifie were plentitul Benefactors Chart Magna or Great Chart gives Name to the whole Hundred which lies about it and hath thereby a tacite Note of Antiquity and eminence annexed to it and was in the Saxons Time called Seleberts Chert In the year of Grace 788. King Cenulfe or Kenulfe at the Request of Arch-Bishop Athelard regranted this place to the Sea of Centerbury for Offa sometime before had wrested it from Arch-Bishop Janibert In the Time of the Conquest when the Church Demeasn was rated this was valued at three Sullings or Plough-Lands Goldwell is an ancient Mannor and Mansion in this Parish which was for many Ages and Descents the Inheritance of the noble and illustrious Family of Goldwell which in Times of an elder Aspect gave them both Seat and Sirname out of which two learned Bishops descended Jam. Goldwell who was Bishop of Norwich in the year 1472 and principal Secretary of State to Edw. the fourth who obtained a Grant from that Prince to found a Chauntry in Great Chart as appears Pat. 15. Edw. 4. Pars tertia And Tho. Goldwell Bishop of St. Asaph in the year 1555. But alass after this Mannor had been so long seated in the Patrimony of Goldwell it was at length alienated such is the volatile and unsetled temper of all earthly Inheritances not many years since by J. Goldwell to Sir Will. Withins and he passed it away to Sir J. Tufton Ancestor to the right honourable Jo. Tufton now E. of Thanet who by paternal Descent is now entituled to the Possession of Goldwell but Goddinton by Joan Goldwell who was Daughter and Heir to Tho. Goldwell a branch sprouted out of the principal Stem at Goldwell came to be the Inheritance of Tho. Tooke and hath for sundry Generations continued in that Name till this Day some of which lie buried in Chart Church with very fair Inscriptions unless the Sacrilegious Impiety of these Times hath ravished away the Brass which should stand an Alphabet to their Dust and in the upper Church windows about the second Story their Gentry Descent Matches and Alliance is most amply exprest in their Armories and that unless the wildness of some barbarous Hand have lately demolished them in coloured Glass Chelmington is another Mannor in this Parish which gave Sirname to a generous Family who I believe had here their Mansion too though by the repeated and successive Impressions of Age it be now enter'd in Rubbish and Oblivion finally after this place had for many Descents been wrapt up in the Revenue of this Name and Family it devolved at last to John Chelmington whose Effigies is represented to us in one of the Church windows by an armed Portraicture who deceased in the reign of Henry the fourth without Issue Male so that Eliz. Chelmington was his Daughter and Heir who by matching with Roger Twisden Esq cast it into the Patrimony of that noble and ancient Family in respect of which original Alliance the right of this Mannor is now fixed in Sir Roger Twisden Knight and Baronet a person to whom for his learned Conduct of these my imperfect Labours thorough the gloomy and perplexed paths of Antiquity and the many Difficulties that did assault me I am signally oblieged Little Chart lies in the Hundred of Calchill and does involve that place within the Precincts and Circumference of it which gives Denomination to the whole Hundred It was restored to the Monks of Christ Church in Canterbury by Kenulfe King of Mercia at the request of Arch-Bishop Athelard or Atheldred in the year of Grace 799. for King Offa had before violently torn it off from the Patrimony of the Church as appears by that ancient Record called the Book of Christ Church In the year 1044 one Elleric Bigge confirmed this Donation and it went then as it had done before by Assignation towards
Poynings died seised of both these Mannors in the thirteenth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc 148. whose Sole Heir Elianor was married to Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland whose Successor Henry Earl of Northumberland in the Reign of Henry the eighth in the twenty ninth year of that Prince bequeathed by Testament these Mannors to the Crown where they lay involved till the same Prince by Grant made them the Inheritance of Sir Roger Cholmeley one of his Judges who not long after alienated them to Sir Martin Bowes and he had Issue VVilliam Bowes who concluded in two Daughters and Coheirs Elizabeth married to Mr. VVilliam Buggin Esquire and Ann married to Sir Bdmund Fowler who shared his Patrimony but Northcrey and Rokesley upon the partition was annexed to the Demeasn of Buggin from whom it is descended to Mr. William Buggin his Son in whom the Possession is now resident Jackets Court in this Parish was a place which gave Seat and Sirname to Gentlemen of this Name I have seen an old Roll of Kentish Arms wherein Jacket of Jackets Court is recorded but the Arms were of so antiquated an Aspect that I could not distinguish neither the Colour nor Charge from Jacket by Sale it went away to Switzer a Name of signal Antiquity in this Track though never under the repute of Gentlemen one of which in the Reign of Q. Elizabeth conveyed it to Edmund Cook Esquire whose Son Mr. Lambert Cook passed it away to Alderman Leman and he surrendred his Right in it to Whiffen by whose Daughter and Heir it is lately come to be the Inheritance of Mr. Thomas Bales Esquire Barrister at Law Rokesley and Northcrey were formerly two distinct Parishes till Cardinal Reginald Pole when he visited Kent which was in the year 1557 finding it convenient by reason of their Situation and the narrowness of the Demeasn to lay them together united them into one so that Rokesley the Church by disuse being languished into decay hath been ever since esteemed an Appendage to Northerey Pauls Crey or Paulins Crey lies in the Hundred of Rokesley and gave Sirname to Sir Simon de Crey who was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports in the third and fourth year of Edward the first and afterwards in the twenty eighth year of that Princes Reign accompanied him in his victorious Expedition into Scotland and is in the Register of those Kentish Cavaleirs who were embarqued in that successfull Design After this Family was worn away Champneys a Name of celebrated Note in the County of Somerset was Lord of the Fee Hugh de Champneys is mentioned in the Book of Aid to have paid some respective supply for this Mannor at the making the Black Prince Knight in twentyeth year of Edward the third and Champneys Field so called at this day which lies in Sir Thomas Walsinghams Park and hath been for many Descents the Walsinghams was belonging to this man From Champneys it came down to Scroop a Noble and Ancient Family extracted out of the North-Riding of Yorke-shire Sir Henry le Scroope died possest of it in the fifteenth year of Richard the second and Thomas Scroope after him held it at his Decease which was in the fifteenth year of Edward the fourth after Scroope was gone out I find Talbot which was in the Reign of Henry the seventh to be fixed in the Possession of this place and is in some Deeds written Talbot of Grafton by whose Daughter and Heir it devolved to Danbie in the time of Henry the eighth descended from the Danbies of Middleham Castle in Yorke-shire in which Family after the Possession for divers years had inhabited it was about threescore years since sold away to Mr. James Smith of London who deceasing without Issue Male this by Mary his Sole heir is come to acknowledge Mr. Edward Waller of Beaconsfield Esquire for its instant Possessor Kitchin-Grove is a small Mannor in this Parish which for many Ages since was the Demeasn of Ferby written in ancient Deeds Ferbey from whom sundry Descents since it came by purchase to Heron but was not of that continuance here as in the former Family for after some fifty years Possession it was in the Reign of Henry the seventh alienated to Walsingham of Scadbury Ancestor to Sir Thomas Walsingham in whom the Proprietie of it is at this instant resident John Dynley had license here in the sixteenth year of Edward the third to build a Bridge over the River leading to his Demeasn Land at Hockenden in this Parish which with Walkelins hath been for above two hundred years the Inheritance of Sir Leonard Ferby and his Predecessors Pat. Anno 16. Edw. tertii Part. prima Votes-Crey in the Hundred of Rokesley taketh that Denomination from one Vote the owner thereof in the Conquerours time in Ages of a more modern Descent the Rokesleyes were Proprietaries of it and Gregorie de Rokesley was seised of it at his death which was in the twenty ninth year of Edward the first and left it to his Son Roger de Rokesley who by a fine levied in the thirty third year of the abovesaid Prince passed it away to John Abel Margerie his Wife and Walter his Son which Walter after by the same Devolution translated his right in it to Sir Simon de Vaughan who in the twentieth year of Edward the third paid respective Aid for it at the making the Black Prince Knight Then this Mannor came to Warner whose Successor John Warner was Sheriff of Kent in the twentyeth year of Henry the sixth and 't is probable by some empaled Coats in the Church windows that the Heir General of Vaughan was married to Warner but the two Statues upon an Altar-tomb in the Church likewise which the Injuries of Time and impious Sacriledge together have almost demolished belonged to Sir Simon de Vaughan and were when Mr. Robert Glover made his Collection of the Kentish Monuments entire after the Coheirs of Warner wedded to Jo. Herne and Denham divided his Inheritance at this place and upon the partition this accrued to Herne and Christopher Herne Esquire in the twenty first year of Henry the eighth passed it away to William Walsingham Esquire who upon his decease gave it to his Son and heir Sir Francis VValsingham principal Secretary of Estate to Q. Elizabeth who about the middle of this Princesses Government alienated it to Mr. John Gellibrand from which Name and Family the possession is at this instant it came down to Mr. John Gellibrand of London Chellesfield in the Hundred of Rokesley afforded in elder time both Seat and Sirname to a Family of principal Account who obtained a Market to this their Mannor weekly on the Monday and Simon de Chellesfield upon his Plea of prescription before the Judges Itinerant in the seventh year of Edward the first had an Allowance of it and William de Chelsfield had a Charter warren to his Lands in Chelsfield Shoram Nockholt and Orpington in the twelfth year of Edward the
Folkstone But before the latter end of Edward the second this Family had diserted the Possession of this place and surrendered their Interest here to Valoigns whose Time was very brief in the enjoyment of it for Waretius de Valoigus dying without Issue Male this Mannor accompanied his Daughter and Co-heir and was upon the division of his Estate linked with much other Land to the Demeasn of her Husband Sir Thomas Fogge who was Knight of the Shire for Kent several times under the Scepter of Edward the third and Richard the second Sir Francis Fogge another of this Family lies entombed in Cheriton Church with his portraicture Cross-legged affixed to his Sepulchral Stone which implies that he had obleiged himself by some vow to assert the Cross and Sepulchre of our Saviour finally after the Proprietie of this place had by the Current of many Descents flowed in this Family it devolved to George Fogge Esquire who about the latter end of Q. Elizabeth passed it away to Mr. Henry Brockman Grand-father to Mr. James Brockman Esquire the instant Lord of the Fee Enbroke is another Mannor in Cheriton which in the twentieth year of Henry the third was the Patrimony of Peter de Alkam and after his Descendants were Extinguished at this place it came by the ordinary fate of Purchase to Enbroke who having erected a Mansion upon the Demeasn it is probable adopted it into his own Sirname and called it Enbroke John de Enbroke held it in the twentieth year of Edw. the third and paid an auxiliarie supply for it as appears by the book of Aid at making the Black Prince Knight Michael Enbroke was a great Benefactor to the Fabrick of Choriton Church in the time of Rich. the second and it is probable those antient Tombs yet visible related to these two or some of this Family the last of which was John Enbroke who flourished here in the Reign of Henry the fourth after whose departure it came to be enjoyed by Thorold or Torold and Walter Torold conveyed it to Nicholas Evering in the seventeenth year of Henry the sixth in which Family the Possession was permanent and constant until that Age which was circumscribed within our Grand-fathers remembrance and then it was alienated to Mr. John Honywood of Elmsted Ancestor to the instant Proprietary John Honywood of the same place Esquire The Tombs in the Church adorned with several Portraictures and Sculptures of Persons deceased related to these two formerly recited Families which the rude hand of Time hath crushed into the disorder of so great a Ruine that now even the Monuments and Sepulchres themselves have found an enterment in their own Dust and Rubbish Godinton in Great Chart was an ancient Mansion of a Family of that Sirname Place Godinton Court Wurthin Singleton and Nin House in Page 105. after Chelmington Simon de Godinton lived here as appears by very ancient Deeds and so did Lucas de Godinton likewise John de Godinton is portraied in Coat Armour in an ancient window in the North-Isle of the Church having an aspect upon a Crucifix in the same Glass placed above him accompanied with eleven others of eminent note in this Track depicted in the same posture with him and this John had Issue William de Godinton who flourished here as appears by his Deed in the fourth year of Richard the second but before the beginning of Henry the fourth had passed away his Interest here to Richard Simon and John Champneys and they in the sixth year of the abovesaid Prince conveyed it to Thomas Goldwell Son of William de Goldwell and he determined in a Daughter and Heir called Agnes who was affianced to Thomas Tooke of Bere by whom he had Issue Ralph Tooke Richard and John Ralph went into Hertfordshire Richard planted himself at Bere by Dover and John Tooke by Donation from his Father was invested in Godinton and continued ever since an eminent Seat of that Family and is at present the residence of that worthy person Captain Nicholas Tooke descended from * See Fox Acts and Mon. pag. 182. Holinshed Chro. pag. 2. Stows Chr. pag. 103. Sieur de Toque or Toc who is recorded in the Rolls of those who entred England with William the Conqueror who hath so industriously and elegantly cultivated and improved our English Vines that the wine pressed and extracted out of their Grapes seems not onely to paralell but almost to out-rival that of France Court Wurthin is a place of good Account in Great Chart which likewise afforded a residence to Possessors of that Sirname William de Wurtin by his Deed without Date demises Land which lay circumscribed within his Mannor of Wurtin to Quikemanus de Bere Henry de Wurtin is in the Register of those twelve eminent persons who are depicted kneeling in a Glass window in this Church the last of this Name at this place was Thomas de Wurtin who about the beginning of Henry the fourth passed it away to Thomas Goldwell by whose Heir General it came with Godinton to Thomas Tooke of Bere who setled it on his third Son Mr. John Tooke from whom it is successively by Descent come down to my Noble Friend Captain Nicholas Tooke Esquire It is observable that there is a Coat of Augmentation united to the Paternal Coat of this Family which the Tookes of Godinton bear in the first quarter viz. Argent upon a Cheveron between three Greyhounds-Heads crased Sables three Silver Plates which was given to John Tooke by Henry the seventh as a reward for his diligence in that Embassie in which he was employed by that Prince the Plates were an Embleme of his Guerdon or Salary and the Creyhounds-Heads a Symbol of his Celeritie Singleton is another eminent Mansion in this Parish which had owners of that Sirname and bore in ancient Armorials as appears by their Deeds Two Cheverons between three Martletts Henry de Singleton is one of those twelve eminent Persons that are depicted kneeling in Coat Armour in a window in Great Chart Church and John Singleton this mans Successor was Justice of the Peace for this County in the Reign of Richard the second and Henry the fourth as appears by an old Roll of the Justices of those times collected by Thin But after this mans Exit the Title was not long wedded to this Family for about the latter end of Henry the sixth I find the Edinghams or Enghams to be by Purchase entituled to the Possession whâ— added much to the Lustre of the ancient Pile by adorning its Fabrick with increase of Building and contniued proprietaries of it untill the beginning of King James and then it was passed away by Sir Edward Engham to Richard Brown Esquire a Cadet or younger Branch of the Browns of Betsworth Castle in Surrey from whom it descended to his Grandchild Mr. Richard Brown who being very lately deceased it is now in behalf of Dower the Habitation of his Widow Mrs. Elizabeth Brown Daughter of Sir William Andrews
originall and he having thus improved it transmitted his Right in it by sale some few yeers since to Mr. Philip Warwick Chiddingston in the Hundred of Somerden hath the Addition of Cohbam as being the Inheritance of the Lords Cobham of Sterborough Castle Henry de Cobham had in the ninth year of King John a Charter for all his Lands in Kent of which these at Chiddingston with the two little Mannors of Reynsley and Tihurst In Ages of a lower Step Reginald Lord Cobham who was summoned to Parliament as Lord Cobham of Sterborough in the twenty second year of Edward the third died possest of them in the thirty fifth year of that Prince Parte prima Rot. Esc Num. 62. And here the Right continued till in Thomas Lord Cobham this mans great Grandchild the Male Line failed and resolved into Ann Cobham who was matched to Edward Borough Lord of Gainsborough in the County of Lincoln whose Grandchild Thomas Lord Borough some fifty years since passed away his Right in Chiddingstone Reynsley and Tihurst which had devolved to him by his Grandmother to Stretfield whose Son deceasing without Issue Male they became the Inheritance of four Daughters and Coheirs matched to Dillingham Shetterden Powell and Taylor only Reynsley before his Death was sold to Mr. Christopher Knight whose Heir does now possesse it Burwash Court in this Parish was the Patrimony of the Lords Burgherst by vulgar Depravation of the Name called Burwash Stephen de Burwash had a Charter of Free-warren to all his Lands in Kent in the first year of Edward the second Robert de Burgherst or Burwarsh possest it at his Death which was in the thirty third year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 41. and his Son Bartholomew Lord Burwash in the forty third year of Edward the third by Deed passes away much of his Land in Warwick-shire and Kent to Walter de Paveley and Matilda his Wife in which this lay involved from Paveley it came down by Purchase to John de Bore Trivet and Vaux whose Successors conveyed Burwash to John Alphew in the Reign of Henry the sixth Alphews Coheirs were marryed to ....... Brograve and Sir Robert Read Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the Time of Henry the seventh who in his Wifes Right carried away Burwash as parcell of her Dower but this man determining likewise in Daughters and Coheirs Katharine one of them was wedded to Sir Thomas Willoughby second Son to Christopher Willoughbie of Eresbie which Sir Thomas was likewise Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas Eliza. was matched to Sir Tho. Totihurst and a third was married to Th. Wotton Esquire Sir Thomas Willoughbie Esquire Son and Heir of Sir Tho. who joyned in a Fine with his two Uncles even now mentioned in the sixth year of Edw. the sixth and so by a mutuall Concurrence with them their united Concernment in Burwash was passed away to Mr. John and Mr. Robert Seyliard of Delaware in whose Name and Revenue the Title and Propriety of this place hath ever since kept so permanent an Aboad that it is still the Inheritance of Mr. John Seyliard now of Delaware Esquire Bore Place with the Mannor of Milbroke and Boresell was formerly the Inheritance as high as Henry the third of a Family which assumed its Sirname from hence and was called Bore and likewise took in to his Arms a Bore for his Cognisance in this Family the Right of these places successively dwelt till John Bore in the Time of Henry the sixth transplanted his Interest in them by Sale into John Alphew by whose Coheir they came over to her Husband Sir Robert Read and from him they went away by Katharine one of his Coheirs to Sir Thomas Willoughbie whose great Grandchild Percivall Willoughbie who having matched with Bridget one of the four Coheirs of Sir Percival Willoughbie of Notinghamshire devested himself of his Title to both these places to improve his Interest in that County and not many years since alienated them to Mr. Bernard Hide of London Esquire one of the Commissioners of the Custome House to the late King Charles whose Grandchild Mr. Bernard Hide is upon his Fathers late Decease now enterred into their Possession of Milbroke and Boreplace But Boresell now vulgarly called Bowsell was sold to Edmund Thomas of Whitley neer Sevenoke who is now in the enjoyment of it Chilham in the Hundred of Felborough was by William the Conquerour as the Pages of Doomsday Book instruct us assigned to Fulbert de Dover under the Notion of a whole Knights Fee for his Assistance and Association to John de Fiennes in the Guard of Dover Castle which eminent employment thus imposed upon him did induce him to wave his originall Sirname of Lucy and assume one derived from his Office yet Richard de Lucy this mans Son did it seems take up again his primitive Sirname for when King John by his Charter in the sixteenth year of his Reign Cart. 24. Num. 37. restores to Rose de Dover called in the Latin Record Rohesia the Castle of Chilham with all its Appendages he calls it there the Land which was her Grandfather Richard de Lucy's Inheritance This Rose de Dover was sometimes written in old Deeds de Lucy in Relation to which she sealed with three Pikes * Fishes called Lucii in Latin she matched with Richard base Son to King John by whom she had two Daughters and Coheirs Lora married to William de Marmion and Isabell espoused to David de Strabolgie Earl of Athol who in her Right became Lord of the Castle and Mannor of Chilham and transmitted it to his Son John Earl of Atholl who for his frequent Acts of Hostility and Rebellion against Edward the first in his Contest with the Scots being by the Fate of War made Captive was at Canterbury hanged on a Gibbet fifty Foot high that he might be as eminent in his Punishment as he was before conspicuous in his Crimes and being cut down halfe alive had his Head struck off and his Trunk cast into the Fire a Savage Manner of Punishment and hardly heard of before amongst us upon his Shipwrack and Confiscation of Estate it rested in the Demeasne of the Crown till King Edward the second in the fifth year of his Reign as appears Parte prima Pat. Edwardi secundi granted the Castle and Mannor of Chilham to Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer who quickly after lost it by his Perfidiousnesse and Disloyalty to that Prince so that it returned to the Crown and the abovesaid Prince as is evident by Pat. 15. 16. Edwardi secundi restores the Castle and Mannor with all the Goods and Chattels in it which belonged to Bartholomew Badelesmer to David de Strabolgie Grandchild to the first David for Life only which upon his Expiration was again united to the Royal Revenue and in the third year of King Edward the thirds Government it was by Patent granted to Bartholomew Badelesmer Son to the abovesaid Lord Bartholomew and
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
the last place considerable in Coldham or Coudham It was in elder times the Inheritance of Richard de Cherfholt who was discharged of Reveship by Jeffrey de Say in the fifteenth year of Edw. the second which Lord it seems bore a particular affection to this place for in the seventh year of Edw. the third he brings a pleading for a yearly Fair to be kept at this Hamlet on the day of St. Laurence that is on the tenth day of August which was allowed by Jo. de Stonar then one of the Justices Itinerant But to go on this above-mentioned Ric. dying without Issue-male his Daughter and Heir who was matched to William de Manning knit it to the possession of this Family he dyed the seventeenth year of Edw. the third and was Son of Stephen de Manning of whom there is mention in old Deeds which have an Aspect upon the third fourteenth eighteenth and twenty third years of Edward the first and he was descended of Simon de Manning to whom John Silvester of Westerham demises Land by Deed in the fourteenth year of Rich. the first and who as an old Pedigree which relates to this Family doth record was engaged in the Holy War in defence of the Cross and Sepulcher of our Saviour against the Saracens and Infidels under Rich. the first and from this Simon de Manning Mr. Sam. Manning now of London and Mr. Edw. Manning of Kevington are by successive Right derived to them by many Descents originally and lineally extracted Cosmus-Damianus-Bleane lies in the Hundred of Whitstaple and contains three places within the Boundaries of it which may fall under a Survey The first is Well-court which was anciently parcel of that Estate which did own the Family of at Leeze for its Possessors Sir Richard at Leeze dyed possest of it in the year 1394. but going out without Issue Marcellus at Leeze was his Brother and Heir who concluded in two Daughters and Coheirs Lucy first married to Jo. Norton and after to Will. Langley of Knolton in Kent by both which she had Issue and Cicily wedded to Valentine Barret of Perry-court but Norton and Langley as Heirs to the eldest Daughter shared the Estate here at Well-court and for many years did their Interest remain thus interwoven till is the eleventh year of H. the eighth Tho. Son of Jo. Langley releaseth all his right in this place to his Kinsman Sir Jo. Norton and he in the third year of Edw. the sixth passes away his Concernment in it by Sale to Tho. Green whose Successors George and Tho. Green in the seventh year of K. James alienated it by mutual Concurrence to Jo. Best in whose posterity the title and propriety is at this instant resident The second is Lambert Lands a Mannor which is couched partly within the Limits of Hernhill and partly within the Verge of this Parish It was in elder times an Appendage to the revenue of Feversham Abby but when the storm of Suppression which happened in the Government of the reign of H. the eighth had ravished it away from the patrimony of the Church and lodged it in the Crown it was by that Prince in the thirty sixth year of his reign granted to Tho. Arden but it seems it was but for Life for after he was Barbarously assassinated by his Wife and her inhumane Complices in the reign of Edw. the sixth and left no Issue that Prince granted it to Sir Henry Crispe of Quckes in whose posterity the title was permanent till that Age our Fathers lived in and then it was alienated to Sir Jo. Huett of the County of Darby who is yet the proprietary of it Hoad-court is and always was part of the Demeasn of East-bridge Hospital holding of the Master thereof East-bridge was formerly an Inn for poor devout Pilgrims who came to offer up their Visits and Orizons to the shrine of Tho. Becket after the demolishing of which in the reign of H. the eighth this Hospital sprang up out of its Luines and in the reign of Q. Eliz. Dr ...... Lawes being then Master of East-bridge Hospital it was granted for three lives to * He was Steward to five Arch-bs of Cant. Judge of the Chancery at Dover under 3 Lord Wardens and Recorder of Canterbury Sir Jo. Bois a person of an exemplary and regular life as appears by his diffusive Charity for he founded Jesus Hospital in the Subburbs of North-gate at Cant. which he furnished with eight Brothers four Sisters and a Warden all very plentifully provided for he died without issue and left his estate here to his Nephew Mr. Tho. Bois who erected for him a magnificent tomb in the Nave or body of Christ-church which the assaults of impious and savage hands have demolished and utterly defaced but though this Monument be thus crushed into uncomely ruines yet he hath transmitted his Fame to posterity which whenall the gandy and pompous Trophies of Art languish and shrink into their own Ashes shall stand both Brass to his Tomb and Marble to his Stone But to proceed from Mr. Thomas Bois abovementioned is the propriety of this Mannor devolved to his Grandchild Jo. Bois Esq a person who for his ingenious and candid Love to Literature may be justly said to be worthy of better times but fit for these that is though his Merit should have been calculated for the best of days yet it is made more eminent by his support of Learning in the worst Cowden in the Hundreds of Somerden and Westerham did anciently with its revenue support the Colledge of Lingfield in Surry till the publique dissolution came and tore it off and then it was by H. the eighth granted to H. Earl of Arundel from whom it suddenly after devolved by sale to Wiskenden whose Grandchild not many years since deceasing left it divided between his two Sons one of which hath lately alienated his Moiety to Ashdown though the other proportion still continues in the Name of Wickenden The Moat is an eminent Seat in Cowden which for many Generations confessed the Signory of a Family called Cosin or Cosins as is evident from several Deeds of certain parcels of Land which relate to this Mansion as the capital messuage which were conveyed some by Sale some by resignation from one Cosin to another Whence this Family was originally extracted I cannot collect because the evidences of this place from which I am to borrow my Intelligence extend no higher then this Family yet it is probable their first Cradle was in Norfolk where in elder times they were eminent for in the sixteenth year of E. the second I find one Jo. Cosin obtained License by parent to found a Chantry at Norwich as appears Pat. Anno 16. E. 2. Parte secunda Memb. 4. but whether this Family seated here were derived from him immediately or not is incertain Sure I am that after they had for many Descents been planted here about the latter end of Henry the sixth it began to
did the Cloister of Davington remain a Seminary of religious Women whilst their revenue without was the Fuel which supported and nourished the Flame on the Altar But when the reign of Henry the eighth approached which became decretory and critical to all these Nurseries of a lazy and speculative Devotion the demeasn which sustained this Covent was by Henry the eighth plucked away and in the eight and thirteeth year of his Government was by patent knit to the patrimony of Sir Thomas Cheyney And his Son Sir Henry Lord Cheyney in the eighth year of Q. Eliz. conveyed it by Sale to Jo. Bradborn descended as appears by his Seal affixed to his Deed by which he alienates it again in the tenth year of Q. Eliza. to Avery Giles from the Bradborns of Darbyshire But in this Family the residence of it was very brief and transitory for his Son Francis Giles in the twentieth year of Q. Eliza. passed it away to Mr. Jo. Edwards and from this Family though the Fate of purchase did not rend it away yet that of marriage did for this Jo. Edwards leaving only one Daughter and Heir called Ann she by matching with Io. Boade of Essex Esquire linked this to his revenue and from him it is descended to Mr. Io. Boade the present Lord of the Fee Little Davington or Davington-court not far distant from that house which was the Nunnerie was formerly wrapped up in that Demeasn which confessed the Dominion of the Earls of Atholl Lords of Chilham by whom the Mansion it self was built as their Arms in Stone-work in the great Hall before they were taken down by Mr. Tho. Mills did abundantly testifie and having for many years acknowledged their Signory at last it devolved to David de Strabolgie Earl of Atholl who dying without Issue-male in the forty ninth year of Edw. the third left it to Philippa one of his two Coheirs who was matched to Io. Halsham and from him did a successive Right bring it down to Sir Hugh Halsham his Grandchild who about the beginning of H. the sixth passed it away to Ja. Drylond who determined in one Daughter and Heir called Constance Drylond who was matched to Sir Tho. VValsingham of Scadbery Knight who in her right became possessor of it and transmitted it to his Son Sir Ja. VValsingham who was Sheriff of Kent in the twelfth year of H. the seventh and kept his Shrievalty at Davington and from him did it descend to his Grandchild Sir Tho. VValsingham who almost in our Grandfathers remembrance conveyed it by Sale to Simons and he not long after to Coppinger And his Son having about the beginning of K. James mortgaged it to Freeman they both joyned and by mutual Concurrence fixed their right in Mr. Tho. Mills of Norton who deceasing without Issue-male it came by Ann his Sole Daughter and Heir to be the Inheritance of Sir Io. Mill of South-hampton who conveyed it to his Brother Dr. Mill and he some few years past alienated it to his Kinsman Mr. Tho. Mill and he serled the propriety of it on his Son Mr. Tho. Mill who hath very lately transmitted all his Right in it by Sale to Tho. Twisden Esquire Serjeant at Law now of Brabourn in East-Malling Since my Writing of this I have discovered by an old Survey of Davington collected by Mr. Tho. Millâ— that Io. Lewknor of Sussex Esq had in the twenty first year of H. the sixth an Interess in Davington-court derived to him by Joan his Wife Sole Inheritrix of Sir Hugh Halsham which he not long after passed away to Mr. James Drylond Detling in the Hundred of Maidstone gave Name to a Knightly Family famous for Fortitude and Chivalrie in token whereof a Massie Lance all wrearhed about with thinn Iron place is preserved in the Church like that of VVillam the Conquerours at Battel in Sussex as the very Spear by them used and left as a memorial of their Atchivements in Arms and an Emblem also of their extraordinary Strength and Abilitie In which respect those in Bedington-Hall in Surrey celebrate the renown of the Carewes atchieved at Tilt and Turnament and that in Lullingston-Hall in Kent the like for the Peches As also that in Gerards-Hall in London upon which a Romance is drest up by the vulgar report fancying he was some Giant when the truth is he was of the Knightly Family of Gizors and Constable of the Tower and this his Capital Mansion was Castellated as the Seat of the Basings was another strenuous Family at Basings-Hall in London these matters allude much to the manner of the Romans whose Victories were aplauded and the Victors in their Triumphs extoll'd by Trophies and other Monuments and Ensigns of Honour as Pancirolus Rosinus and others have judiciously observed that have treated of these kind of Rituals But to return to the Subject from which this discourse hath diverted me in this Family of Detling did the Possession of this place for many Ages remain constantly seated till the beginning of the Reign of Edward the fourth and then John Detling written in some Old Deeds Brampton alias Detling transmitted it by Sale to Richard Lord Woodvill Lord of the Moat in Maidston not far distant created Earl of Rivers Lord Treasurer and Constable of England by his Son in law King Edward the fourth in the year 1466. whose Grandchild Anthony Woodvill Earl Rivers being attainted upon supposed Treason in the first year of Richard the third which was made so by that Usurper and those black Engins which he had raised upon him because he too cordially asserted the Interest of Edward fifth it escheated to the Crown and that Prince in the second year of his Government granted it to Sir Robert Brackenbury Lievtenant of the Tower who it seems disliking a Tenure which was caemented with Blood passed away his right immediately after to Richard Lewknor who had some estate here before by matching with Eleanor Coheir of Tho. Towne which Tho. Towne wedded to Bennett Heir of John Detling and this Richard Lewknor about the latter end of Henry the seventh gave it in franck Marriage with his Daughter to Hills Hills resolved into two Daughters and Coheirs one of which was married to Vincent and the other was matched to Martin and so upon the Division to avoid all Disorder and Confusion Detling was split into two Mannors one was called West-Court which accrued to Vincent and the other was termed East-Court which was annexed to the Demeasne of Martin Martin about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth sold East-Court to Webbe in which Name after it had for severall years been fixed it was in our Fathers Memory passed away to Smith who not many years since alienated it to Sir Edward Henden one of the Barons of the Exchequer who upon his Decease gave it to his Nephew Sir John Henden and from him it is now descended to his eldest Son Edward Henden Esquire But Westcourt was by Vincent passed away to Morton of Whitehorse in
of Edw. the second and Edw. the third whose great Grandchild Will. Garwinton dying without Issue Joan his Kinswoman matched to Richard Haut was in the ninth year of Henry the fourth found to be his Heir not only to this place but to much other Land in this Territory and she had Issue Richard Haut who concluded in a Female Heir whose Name was Margery who by matching with William Isaack linked this Mannor to his Revenue Thus farre this Manuscript Who were the Possessors since the Court-Rolls which do not ascend very high now in the Custody of Mr. Hugben discover The first Family which they recite is Hales and it remained in the Inheritance of that Name till towards the end of Queen Elizabeth and then it was by Sale transported over to Manwood who some few years after disposed of his Interest in it by the same Alienation to Sir Rob. Lewknor upon whose Decease it devolved to his Son Mr. Hamon Lewknor Esquire who hath upon his Death during the Minority of his Son left the Possession to be enjoyed by his Widow Bowick is a sixth place which must now come within the pale of this Discourse It was in Times of elder Inscription the Seat of the Lads who in diverse of their ancient Muniments and Evidences writ de Lad. Now if you will know where that place is seated I answer it is situated in Chart by Sutton where there is an ancient Farme which formerly had the Repute of a Mannor and is at this instant as it was in Ages of a higher Step known by the Name of Lads and was till almost our Grandfathers Memory in the Tenure of that Family after Lad was departed from the Possession of this Place the Nethersolls by Purchase were about the Beginning of Henry the seventh incorporated into the Possession and staid in it some few years and then alienated their Interest here to Aucher who about the latter end of Henry the eighth resigned the Title by Sale to Wroth in which Family it was resident until some few years since it was passed away to Elgar Oxroad is a seventh Mannor in Elham In a very old Court-Roll now in the hands of Mr. Shetterden of Eltham one John de Oxroad is represented to be the Possessor and in others of a more modern Complexion which bear date from Henry the fourth and so downwards untill the beginning of Henry the eighth the Hinckleys are discovered to us to be the Proprietaries of it and then this Name was extinguished in a Daughter and Heir for Isabell was the only Child of Thomas Hinckley who by espousing Joan Bene carried this place into the Possession of that Family where it was constantly fixed untill of late years the Title was by Sale transplanted into Mr. Daniell Shetterden of Eltham descended from the Shetterdens of Shetterden in great Chart which Land they have possest for diverse hundreds of years Ladwood is an eighth Mannor in this Parish written in old Evidences Ladswood from whence we may spin out a more then probable Conjecture that before the erecting the house by Rolfe it was a Wood belonging to Lad of Bowick but for some hundreds of years that is fince the latter end of Edward the third it hath constantly related to the Family of Rolfe a Name which Mr. Thinne conjectures in a Pedigree which he collected of this Family was contracted from the ancient German Name Rodolphus and Mr. Lambert in his Kentish Perambulation mentions one Rolph a Saxon who added much to the Castle of Rochester from whom it is not altogether improbable this Family which hath been so ancient at Elham might extract their first original Clavertie is the last place in this Parish which may exact our mention it did belong before the Suppression to the Knights Hospitallers and was one of those places in this Track which was a Commaundry to the more general Seminary of this Order planted at Edwell Upon the Dissolution of this Order here in England by Henry the eighth who condemned their Disorder and Luxury only to improve his own like the Lapwing who cries most when she is farthest off from her Nest this was added to the Demeasne of the Crown and King Edward the sixth granted it to Peter Heyman Esquire who was one of the Gentlemen off his Bedchamber and great Grandfather to Sir Henry Hamon Baronet who was the late Proprietarie of this Mannor of Claverty a person to whom if I should not affirm my self signally and extraordinarily engaged I deserved to be represented to Posterity under the darkest Complexion of Ingratitude Eightam Hamon de Crevequer held Eigtham in the Reign of K. John and then Sim. de Crioll in the Reign of Henry the third as appears by old Evidences vulgarly but corruptly and falsely called Ightam lies in the Hundred of Wrotham and hath that Denomination imposed upon it from the eight Hams or Boroughs which lie within the Verge of it The first is Eightham it self the second is Redwell the third is Ivie-Hatch the fourth is Barrow Green the fifth is St. Cleres the sixth is the Moat the seventh is Beaulies and the eighth and last is Oldborough which puts in its Claim to be of Roman originall for when Leland visited Kent which was about the beginning of Henry the eighth there was some Remains of an ancient Fortification and it is probable that this being the way which led to the great Roman Colonie at Noviomagum now called Woodcot in Surrey was at this place fortified upon all emergent occasions to secure their Retreat from any hostile Eruption The Mannor of Eightam it self was the Possession of William de Inge one of the Judges in the Reign of Edward the second this William de Inge was by his Country and Parentage of the County of Bedford and had Issue William de Inge who matched with Margery Daughter of Henry Grapenell and dyed seised in the fifteenth of Edward the second of this Mannor of Eightham his Daughter and Heir Joan was wedded to Eudo Lord Zouch of Harringworth and William le Zouch of Harringworth dyed possest of it in the fifteenth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 64. And in this Name was the Propriety of this place for sundry Generations successively resident untill the beginning of Henry the seventh and then it was alienated to Sir Robert Read Serjeant at Law and Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas who not long after going out in four Daughters and Coheirs Dorothy matched to Sir Edw. Wotton Margaret married to Sir John Harecourt of Elnall in the County of Stafford Katharine wedded to Sir Thomas Willoughbie Lord Chief Justice of the Common pleas and Eliz. espoused to Tho. Totihurst Esq they divided his Inheritance and this Mannor upon the Distinction of it into parcells this was added to the Revenue of Willoughby from which Family in our Grandfathers Remembrance it passed away by Sale to Jam. descended from Jacob van Hastrecht who was anciently seated in Cleve
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
untill King Henry the eighth tore it off by the Publique Dissolution and united it to the Royall Revenue where it had its fixed aboad untill the thirteenth year of King James and then it was granted to Mr. William Salter who not many years after passed it away to Mr. James Crispe from whom in our Memory partly by Purchase and partly by Exchange it went over to Mr. Jo. Child in whose Descendant the Propriety is still permanent Gravesend had anciently a Market on the Thursday and a Fair yearly on the Day of St. Edward the Confessor both granted to this Town in the thirtieth year of Edward the third Gillingham was a Mannor always relating to the Arch-bishops of Canterbury though the Donation by the Book of Christ-church be not specified If we survey the Pages of Dooms-day Book they will give us this Gilling ham est proprium Manerium Archiepiscopi in tempore Ewardi Regis se defendebat pro VI. Sullings est appretiatum hoc quod Archiepiscopus habet inde in Dominio VIII lb. c X.s. The Arch-bishops of Canterbury had here an eminent Pallace and held their Residence at it and gave Consecrations here to Bishops as we find it recorded in the Book called Textus Roffensis or the Text of Rochester East-court and West-court in this Parish were anciently knit together and resided in a Family called Gillingham Richard de Gillingham Son of Thomas de Gillingham held it at his Death which was in the twelfth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 176. And left it to his Son Thomas Gillingham who resolved into two Daughters and Coheirs Margaret married to John Thorpe who in her Right had West-court and Isabell matched to William Crensted who brought along with her East-court But as all things have their Fate and Vicissitude they did not long acknowledge the Dominion of either of them for Thorpe sold West-court to Nicholas Lawson of Whoorn-place in Cuckston who not long after by the same Devolution passed it away to Duling of Rochester by whose Female Heir it is now come over to Mr. Stephen Alcock but Thorp Ferme on which he had planted his own Name he alienated to Short and from this Family it went away again by Sale to May of Rochester Greensted endowed Benedict Webb his Sisters Son and in that Relation his Heir with the Title and Propriety of East-court whose two Grand-children Thomas and Christopher Webb by a mutuall and joynt Concurrence devested themselves of their Right and by Sale surrendered it up to Will. Painter Esquire Great Grand-father to Mr. Allington Painter the instant Proprietary of it Twidall is another Mannor of eminent Account and had Owners likewise of that Appellation The first that I find of the Name in Mr. Painter's Evidences which held both this and Dane-court is Robert de Twidall and he slourished here about the Reign of Henry the first and he had Issue Adam de Twidall from whom was lineally extracted Richard de Twidall who in the fourth year of Richard the second passed away this and Dane-court to John the Son of Robert de Beaufitz originally descended from Reade in Marden But in this Family the Possession was not very permanent for in some Descents after the Name went out into into Joan Beaufitz and other Coheirs and she by matching with Robert Arnold of Sussex did enstate the Possession of both these places upon this Name and Family and he bequeathed them as Dower to his Daughter Elizabeth Arnold and shee in the thirteenth year of Henry the seventh conveys them over to her Brother Henry and his Son William Arnold in the eighteenth year of Henry the eighth transports his Right in them by Sale to Thomas Benolt Clarenceux King of Arms from whom the like Conveyance in the twentieth year of that Prince brought itto Sir Hen. Wiatt one of the Privie Councel to Hen. the 8 whose Son Sir Tho. Wiat in the thirtieth year of that King exchanged them for other Lands with the Crown from which immediately after they were conveyed by Grant to Christopher Sampson who not many years after transplanted his Interest by Sale into Thomas Parker who conveyed away his Right in Twidall to William Painter Esquire great Grand-father to Mr. Allington Painter who now enjoys it but Dane-court was by Purchase brought over to Short in whom it had not long continued but the same Fatality carried it away to May of Rochester The Grange in this Parish sometimes written Grench did in the Conquerours time appertain to the old Lords called Hastings Ancestors of the Lord Hastings now Earl of Huntington In the Book called Testa de Nevill kept in the Exchequer we read that one Manasser de Hastings held Grench by Serjeanty under King Hen. the third and the particular Office in some more modern Records is described viz. that it is held of the King and not of the Cinque-ports as some do suggest by Serjeanty to find two men and two Oars in the Ship which carries over the King from Dover to Whitesand by Callis From Hastings it came over by Purchase to Richard Smelt Alderman of London whose Daughter and Heir Margaret Smelt carried it away to Richard Croyden likewise an Alderman of London in whom the male-line failing Margery his Sole Heir was matched to John Philipott Esquire Alderman of London in the Reign of Edward the third and Lord Maior of London in the Reign of Richard the second by which Prince he was invested with the Order of Knighthood for being so signally instrumental in the Ruine of Wat Tiler Jack Straw and his seditious Complices and had after the Addition of Gules A plain Crosse between four Swords Argent Pomell'd Or as a Coat of Augmentation annexed to his Paternal Coat viz. Sable a Bend Ermin for setting out a Fleet of Ships at his own expence and vanquishing John Mercer and his piratical Rabble who had so infested the narrow Sea that the Trade of the Merchant was brought into a deplorable Condition and had sunk had he not buoyd it up again by his Care and Magnanimity Yet how laudable soever the work were it escaped not the Envy of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster who questioned him at the Couucel-Board for that he being a private Person had embarked himself in an Attempt of so much Concernment without Order and Licence first obtained by the State but by the noble Favour he received from his honorable Friends there especially Rychard Fitzallan Earl of Arundell whose Arms he placed in his House as a Monument of Gratitude and left him a Legacie in his Will he was fetched off with Reputation But to proceed in Right of the former Alliance he was planted in the Possession of this Mannor and from him it devolved to his Grandchild John Philipott Esquire And he in the eleventh year of Henry the sixth exchanged this Mannor with Sir Richard Bamme Son of Adam Bamme Lord Maior of London for Twiford in Middlesex and from him it
John Proude who was unhappily slain at the Groll in the year 1628 whilst he did vigorously pursue the Quarrel of the States General at that Siege against the Capital Enemy of their Religion and Liberty the Spaniard and Mary espoused to Sir Edward Partrich for his first Wife but dyed without any Issue surviving by him Sir John Proud left only one Daughter called Ann who was first wedded to Sir William Springate and secondly to Mr. Isaac Pennington eldest Son to Isaac Pennington Lord Maior of London in the year 1643 in Right of which Alliance he at present holds this Mannor of Goodwenston Goodneston by Wingham vulgarly called Gonston lies in the Hundred of Wingham and was formerly parcell of the Patrimony of Hastings Earl of Pembroke bequeathed to him by his Kinsman John de Hastings who was first Husband to Juliana the Heir generall of Roger de Leybourn John de Hostings held it at his Death which was in the forty ninth year of Edward the third and so did his Son John de Hastings after him and brings a pleading for it in the fourteenth year of R. the second After them the Malmains were possest of it who had some Estate here before which they had by Purchase from Pine and Beauchamp about the Beginning of Edward the third and in this Family did it remain untill Henry Malmains about the year ........ deceased without Issue-male and then by Agnes his Daughter and Heir marryed to Thomas Goldwell it came to own the Jurisdiction of that Name and Family but was not long fastned to it for he ended likewise in a Female Heir called Joan who was wedded to Thomas Took of Bere Esquire and so by her it was united to the Revenue of this Family and here rested untill that Age which came within the Circle of our Grandsathers Knowledge and then it was passed away to Henekar from which Name in Times almost of our Cognisance it went away by a Revolution like the former to Kelley who conveyed it to Engham descended from the noble Family of the Enghams of Woodchurch who flourished so many Ages at Edingam and Pleurinden in that Parish Bonnington in this Parish is the ancient Seat from whence the numerous and Knightly Family of Bois did as from their originall Fountain issue out into Fredville Betteshhanger Haukherst and other parts of this Countie and do derive themselves from John de Bosco who is mentioned in the Battle-Abby Roll of those who entered this Nation with Will the Conquerour and certainly they have not been much lesse at this place then 17 Descents as the datelesse Deeds of several of this Family who writ themselves of Bonnington do easily manifest Nor hath it yet deserted the Name or departed from the Possession of Bois being at this present part of the patrimony of Sir John Bois to whose paternal Arms the late King for his eminent and loyall Service perform'd by him at Donnington Castle added as an Augmentation upon a Canton Azure a Crown imperial Or. Rolling is a third place in this Parish to be taken notice of It contributed a Seat as well as a Sirname formerly to a Family called Rolling Thomas Rolling held some Lands in Lease at his Death which was in the fisteenth year of Ric. the second Rot. Esc Num. 143. which Lands belonged to a Chauntry in St. Peters Church in Sandwich and lay in Eastry near his Mannor of Rolling After this Family was worn out the Idley's who had large Possessions about Mepham Cobham and Higham as appears by the Inquisition taken after the Death of John Idelegh in the forty third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 58. Parte secunda were by Purchase seated in the Possession and preserved it untill the Reign of Henry the eighth and then it was alienated to Butler of Heronden in Eastry from whom in the Beginning of the raign of Q. Eliz. it went away to Roger Manwood Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer whose Son Sir Peter Manwood in our Fathers Remembrance alienated it to Dickenson from whom not many years since it was brought over to be the Possession of Master .......... Richards Godmersham in the Hundred of Felborough was given to the Monks of Christ-Church in Canterbury by Beornulfus King of the Mercians in the year of Grace eight hundred twenty and one free as Adisham and it was at the Request of Arch-bishop Vlfred to supply the Covent both with Food and Raiment which Grant Arch-bishop Egelnoth who it seems had some Interest in the Place in the year one Thousand thirty and six did fully confirm And in the year one thousand three hundred fourscore and seven Thomas Arundell Arch-bishop of Canterbury with the especiall Licence of Richard the second appropriated the Tiths of the Rectory of Godmersham to the Church of Christ-church to the Support and Maintenance of the Fabrick of the Church abovesaid If you will see what Value was set upon this Mannor in the Time of the Conquerour I shall afford you a Sight of it out of Dooms-day Book Godmersham says that Register est Manerium Monachorum de Vestitu eorum in Tempore Edwardi Regis se defendebat pro VIII Sullings est appretiatum XX. lb. sed tamen reddit XXX That is it paid a Rent of thirty pound to the Church Yolands and Ford are two other little Mannors in this Parish which acknowledged themselves anciently to be parcell of the Inheritance of Valoigns And Robert de Valoigns dyed possest of these and much other Land in this Track in the nineteenth year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 41. Henry de Valoigns this mans Son was Sheriff of Kent in the fourteenth of King Edward the third and he had Issue Waretius de Valoigns and Stephen de Valoigns who planted himself at Gore-Court in Otham and is represented in Record to be one of the Conservators of the Peace for this County in the twenty ninth and thirty first years of Edward the third but Waretius de Valoigns determined in two Daughters and Coheirs one was matched to Fogge and the other to Thomas Aldon Son of Thomas de Aldon who was one of the Conservators of the Peace in Kent in the tenth and twelfth years of Edward the third and he in her Right was entituled to the Possession of these places And in this Family did it for diverse years continue untill the ordinary Mutation of Purchase rowled them into the Inheritance of Austin to which Name the Title remained constantly linked untill that Age we style our Grand-fathers and then they were by Richard Austin passed away by Sale to Broadnix so that they are now by paternal Right devolved to Thomas Broadnix Esquire in whose Estate the instant Propriety of them does lye involved Egerton in Godmersham was a Mannor which formerly swelled the demeasn of the noble Family of Valence who were Earls of Pembroke Aymer de Valence Earl of Pembroke held it at his Death which was in the
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
it at making the Black Prince Knight And here is much Land in this Parish which bears the Name of Pend a probable Argument of the Antiquity of it in this Track nor did it yeild to Time or desert the Possession of this Place but was constant in the Tenure of it until that Age we call our Grand-fathers and then it was alienated to a Family called Dominie alias Fullaker the last of which Name at this Place was Christopher Dominie alias Fullaker who not many years since passed it away to Mr. John Hulks of Newenham whose Son and Heir Mr. Stephen Hulks does now possesse the Signory of it Herietsham in the Hundred of Eyhorne was anciently a Limb of that Estate which was entituled to the Possession of the Noble Family of Crescy Hugh de Crescy died seised of the Mannor in the forty seventh year of King Henry the third and his Grand-mother Margery was Daughter of William de Cheyney of Patricksbourne Cheyney as appears Claus 52. Henrici tertii Memb. 6. in Dorso But he deceased without Issue and so his Brother Stephen de Crescy became his Heir and Lord of Herietsham and in this Family it continued until the latter end of Edward the second and then the Possession of this Place went from Crescy into Northwood as is manifest by the Book of Aid where Roger de Northwood is represented to have held this Mannor and have paid a proportionate Aid for it at making the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth of Edward the third and he deceased seised of it in the thirty fifth year of that King's Raign And in this Name it remained fixed until the Beginning of Henry the fifth and then it was transplanted into the Interest of a Family called Adam who had large Possessions in Essex and bore for their Paternal Coat vert a Plain Crosse Or and John Adam held it at his Death which was in the ninteenth year of Henry the sixth and left it to his Son John Adam after whom I do not find any more of the Family possest of it for in the Raign of Edward the fourth I discover by some Court Rols that James Peckham of Yaldham Esquire was Lord of the Fee and Reginald Peckham his Son that was Sheriff of Kent in the last year of Henry the seventh kept his Shrivalty at Herietsham but after this it was of no long continuance in this Family for in the fifteenth year of Henry the eighth Reginald Peckham passes it away by Sale to Edward Scott Esquire and he not long after transmits it by the same conveyance to John Hales one of the Barons of the Exchequer and from him one Moiety of it went away by Sale in the twenty eighth of Henry the eighth to John Norton Esquire and the other not long after to Sir Anthony St. Leger Norton conveyed his proportion to Ashburnham of Sussex and both St. Leger and Ashburnham in the Time almost of our Fathers Remembrance by a concurrent Sale demised their joint Right in it to Sir John Steed whose Successor Doctour ...... Steed Doctour of the Civil Law is the instant Proprietary of Herietsham East Farbon and Bentley are two little Mannors in this Parish which belonged to the Priory of Leeds and upon the suppression were made parcel of the Revenue of the Crown and remained there until King Edward the sixth in the fourth year of his Raign granted them to Sir Anthony St. Leger whose great Grand-child Sir Warham St. Leger about the Beginning of King James passed them away to Mr. ........ Steed Father to Doctour Steed who upon the Decease of his Nephew Cromer Steed without Issue Male as Reversioner in Entail is now settled in the Possession of these two Mannors West Farbon sometimes in old Deeds called little Herietsham lies likewise in this Parish and was granted in the two and fiftieth year of Henry the third to William de Valentia Earl of Pembrooke But after him I track no more of the Family at this place For in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight it was held by John Pennington and in the fourth year of Henry the fourth when Blanch that Prince's Daughter was married it acknowledged it self to be under the Signory of the above mentioned Family and continued divers years after united to their Interest But in the Raign of Henry the eighth I find them quite vanished from the Possession and a Family called Hede or Head entituled to the Inheritance and in this Name did it make its abode until the Raign of Edward the sixth and then it was conveyed by Sale to St. Leger where it rested until the Beginning of King James and then it was alienated by Sir Warham St. Leger to Mr. Benedict Barneham who left four Daughters and Co-heirs matched to Audley Constable Doble and Soame who equally shared his Estate and this upon the distinguishing of it into just Proportions augmented the Revenue of Constable Harbilton is another ancient Mannor in Herietsham It was in the twentieth year of Edward the third the Inheritance of Thomas de Malmains for at that Time as appears by the Book of Aid he paid a subsidiary supply for this and other Lands at making the Black Prince Knight After this Family was mouldred away which was before the End of Richard the second I find the Family of Maris was settled in the Inheritance William Maris who was Esquire first to Henry the fifth and after to Cardinal Kempe was Possessor of it and so was his Son William Maris Esquire who was Sheriff of Kent in the one and twentieth year of Henry the sixth After this Family I find the Moils about the latter end of the former Prince's Government to have stept into the Inheritance the first of which was Walter Moile who was Justice of the Peace for this County in the Raign both of Henry the sixth and Edward the fourth and left this and a spatious Patrimony besides to his Heir John Moile Esquire whose Son Robert Moile about the Beginning of Henry the eighth alienated it to Geffrey St. Leger Esquire from whom the Title for many years streamed into this Family until in that Time which fell under our Grand-fathers cognizance it was passed away by Sale to Steed Ancestor to Doctour Steed who is the instant Possessor of it Marley and Hopme Mill and in other Copies written Holme Hill did with their Income support the Chaunter of the Canons of Pauls to whose office they were annexed A Place certainly in elder Times of important Account for in the Records of Christ-church from whence Pitseus hath collected his Inventory of the English Writers there is mention of one Joannes de Teneth a Man as exemplary for his Piety as he was eminent for his Learning who was Chaunter to that Covent but this Office being entombed in the Ruines of those Canons of Paul in the General suppression the Revenue which upheld it was fixed in the Crown until King Edward the sixth
Hales Baronet in whose Revenue it at this instant is involved Beluncle is another Seat in this Parish whose Antiquity pleads for a Remembrance the first Family whom I find in Record to have been possest of it was Foliot Jordan de Foliot held it in the Time of Henry the second and Richard the first by the fifth part of a Knights Fee and from him did it descend to Richard de Foliot his Son and Heir who in the twentieth year of Henry the third passes it away by Fine to Reginald de Cobham who was Sheriff of Kent from the thirty third year of Henry the third to the fortieth of that Prince and was accounted one of the principal Seats which was couched in the Demeasne of this Family and in divers old Pedigrees and other Deeds they are written Cobham of Beluncle Of this Family was Henry de Cobham who was summoned to Parliament as Baron in the seventh year of Edward the third Stephen de Cobham who was summoned in the eighteenth year of that Prince And Thomas de Cobham who was summoned as Baron in the thirty eighth year of that Prince And in Cobham and then Brook did it continue until Henry Lord Cobham and his Brother George Brooke in the first year of King James being entangled in that cloudy Design of Sir Walter Rawleigh which continues muffled up in a Mist until this Day forfeited both their Estates and the last his Life But King James restored this to Henry Lord Cobham who dying without Issue it devolved to Sir William Brooke Son of George Brooke and he likewise deceasing without Issue-male in the year 1643. it came over to Sir John Brooke now Lord Cobham as Reversioner in Entail Hollingbourne in the Hundred of Eyhorne was given to the Monks of Christ-church in Canterbury for to supply them with Diet by Athelstan Son of Ethelred which Mannor he had before purchased of his Father and in the year 909. with his Licence and Consent bestowed it on that Covent free as Adisham If you will discover how it was rated in the Conquerors Time Doomesday Book thus represents it to you Hollingbourne saies that est Mancrium Monachorum de Cibo corum in Tempore Edwardi Regis se defendebat pro VI. Sullings nunc similiter Et est appretiatum inter totum hoc Maneriam XXX lb. This being thus fixed remained from the Original Donation locked up in the Ecclesiastical Patrimony until the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth and then it was surrendred into that King's Hands by the Prior and Monks of the Covent aforesaid and he that year exchanged it with Thomas Cranmer Arch-bishop of Canterbury There was the Gallows which appertained to the Priory of Christ-church here erected at Hollingbourne where those who had committed Murders Felonies or other Trespasses worthy of death within the liberties of that Covent were according to their priviledge of Infangtheof and Outfangtheof brought to exemplary punishment See Somner Fol. 286. There is a Mannor in this Parish called Ripple which had Owners of that Name for in the thirtieth of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 91. I find that Richard de Ripple held this and other Lands which he had in Lease from the Priory of Christ-church at his Decease but it only gave him Sirname and then left his Family for before the latter end of Edward the third it went from this Name to Sir William Septuans and he enjoyed it at his Death which was in the forty third year of Edward the third and transmitted it to his Son William Septuans who not long after conveyed it to John Gower in which Name it lay couched until the Raign of Henry the fourth and then it was alienated to Brockhull a Cadet of that Stock which flourished so long at Calehill and here it continued for many Descents in this Family until the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth and then Henry Brockhull dying without Issue-male Anne his only Daughter and Heir brought it to be the Inheritance of Sir John Taylor in which Family after it had lodged only until the latter end of Queen Elizabeth it was passed away to Sir Martin Barnham Elnothington is another Mannor in this Parish which had Owners likewise of that Sirname for in a Deed of Adam de Twisdens which bears Date from the one and twentieth of Edward the first one William de Elnothington is Witness But after this man I find no more mention in any Record of the Name In the Raign of Edward the third I discover Sir Arnold St. Leger of Ulcombe to be possest of it and in the forty second year he makes a Composition with divers of his Tenants for Lands that they held of this Mannor and from him like an uninterrupted Thread did the Title of this place passe thorough many Descents of this Family until at last it devolved to Sir Anthony St. Leger who almost in our Memory alienated it to Sir Thomas Colepeper Pen-Court is another Seat in Hollingbourne worthy our Notice It was in elder Times the Patrimony of a Family called Pen but whether the Pens of Codcot in the County of Bedford were descended from them or not is uncertain in Brief before the end of Edward the third this Family was worn out and then the Donets succeeded but held this Seat not long for by the Heir Generall it devolved with much other Land to St. Leger of Ulcombe and here it rested untill allmost our Remembrance and then it was passed away to Sir Thomas Colepeper and he again conveyed it to Mr. Mark Questwood of London who upon his Decease settled it for ever on the Company of Fishmongers in London Muston is likewise within the Verge of this Parish upon perusall of the ancient Deeds and Court-rols I found it to be written Moston as giving Name in the Raign of Edward the first to a Family of that Appellation which about the Beginning of Richard the second was wholly crumbled away and had surrendred the Possession to Wood in which Family the Inheritance hath ever since been permanent Greenway-court is the last place considerable in this Parish It was as high as the Conduct of any Evidence can guide me to discover parcell of the Patrimony of Atleeze and Sir Richard Atleeze dying without Issue in the year 1394 gave it to his Brother Marcellus Atleeze by whose Daughter and Coheir it came to be possest by Valentine Barret of Pery-Court and he about the Beginning of Henry the fourth conveyed it to Fitz Water in which Family it remained untill the Raign of Edward the fourth and then it was alienated to St. Leger with whose Inheritance it continued untill almost our Age and then it was by Sale transplanted into Sir Alexander Colepeper who upon his Decease gave it to Sir John Colepeper of Losenham Hope in the Hundreds of Langport and St. Martins hath nothing memorable in it but Crawthorn which for those worthy persons who have successively held it calls for some
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
this Mannor to his Patrimony and he the better to inforce and perpetuate the Memory of this Alliance and the Estate which devolved to him by so fortunate a Conjunction inverted his Sirname and writ it for the future Clerc alias Woodchurch in which Name the Propriety of this Place continued until the latter end of Q. Elizabeth and then it was alienated to Taylor of Shadoxherst in which Name the Interest of it had not long continued but that it was in our Remembrance by Sale conveyed to Whitwick West-Halks is a third Mannor in Kingsnoth which in elder Times was ennobled for affording a Residence to a Family of this Sirname who bore in ancient Seals a Fesse between three Hawks or Falcons and sometimes one a Family of no contemptible Estimate or shallow Antiquity in this Track as appears by old Escripts Pedigrees and other venerable Muniments which represent this Family under the Character of Gentlemen for above three hundred years Sampson de Halk died about the year 1360 and held not onely this place Ex Autographis penes Dom. Tho. Taylor but much other Land about Petham and other Parishes in that Track but about the latter end of Henry the sixth this Family had demised the Propriety of this place to Taylor of great Chart in which Name it was constantly fixed untill the latter end of Henry the seaventh and then it was sold to Clerc who about the latter end of Q. Elizabeth passed it away to Robert Honywood of Charing Esquire who upon his Decease settled it by his last Will on his second Son by his second Wife Col. ....... Honywood now the instant Lord of the Fee Knowlton in the Hundred of Eastrye was parcel of the Patrimony of the noble Family of St. Leger Hugh St. Leger who was one of the Recognitores magnae Assisae in the Raign of King John held this Mannor in the fourth year of the Raign of that Prince and left it to his Son John St. Leger who in the twelfth year of Henry the third exchanged it for other Lands with Reginald de Cornhill and he in the twenty fifth year of the abovesaid Prince passed it away by Sale as the Book of Christ-Church informs me to the Prior and Monks of that Covent but it seems not long after they exchanged it with Thomas Perot for he in the fourth year of Edward the third died possest of it as appears by his Office Rot. Esc Num. 31. and left onely a Female Heir who carried it along with her to Langley descended out of the County of Warwick and being thus chained by this Match to the Interest of this Family it remained for many Descents fastned to it and was productive in several Ages of Men of no vulgar Account William de Langley Son of William Langley was Sheriff of Kent the twenty first twenty third twenty fourth and twenty fifth years of Edward the third William Langley of Knolton was Sheriff of Kent in the fourth year of Henry the fifth and likewise Justice of the Peace for this County under that Prince John Langley Esquire was Sheriff of Kent in the twentieth year of Henry the seventh and had Issue Edward Langley Esquire who matched with Elizabeth Daughter of Thomas Peyton of Peyton Hall in the County of Cambridge descended from Peytonus de Vfford but he dying without Issue about the latter end of Henry the eighth his Wive's Brother Sir Robert Peyton by Reason of a former Match in the Raign of Henry the fifth between Peyton and a Daughter of Langley entered upon it as Heir General at Law and he not desirous to desert Cambridgeshire to transplant himself into Kent assigned Knowlton for Livelyhood to his second Son Sir John Peyton Grand-father to Sir Thomas Peyton the Primier Baronet of this County who as lineally extracted from him does enjoy the Propriety of it See more of this Family of Peyton in my Discourse of Werd L. L. L. L. LAmberherst lies in the Hundred of Little Bernefield and was sometimes written Lamberts-hurst from Lambert a Saxon Owner in old English this Name imports as much as bright or holy and glorious Lamp as Herebert is bright Lord. Part of this Parish is in Kent and the other part in Sussex distinguished by a small Stream which rises nere Cowden and glides through this Town towards Medway The Lordship of Lamberhurst it self with the Mannor of Woodroff belonged to the Monastery of Roberts Bridge and after the Dissolution were by Henry the eighth granted in the thirteenth of his Reign to Sir William Sidney Tutor to King Edward the sixth when he was Prince whose Successor Robert Sidney Earl of Leicester sold Lamberherst in our Fathers Memory to Mr. Porter and Woodroff to Sir Edw. Henden one of the Barons of the Exchequer who bequeathed it to his Nephew Sir John Henden lately deceased Hodleigh in this Parish was part of that Demeasne which related to the Colledge of Lingfield in Surrey which upon the Suppression was by Henry the eighth granted to Thomas Cardan from which Family it passed away to Edward Filmer Esquire Ancestor to Sir Edward Filmer eldest Son to Sir Robert Filmer lately deceased to whose Demeasne the Propriety of it is at present united The Abby of Begham in this Parish was founded by Ela de Sackvill and Sir Robert de Thurneham a man of principal Account in the time of Henry the third This Priory was suppressed by Cardinal Wolsey and filled with Cannons Praemonstratenses or white Cannons called so from their Habit. The Mannor which belonged to it was by royal Concession From Q. Elizabeth it passed away to Anthony Brown Viscount Montague who not long after alienated the Fee-simple to Alderman Barneham of London who gave it to Benedict a second Son and he dying without Issne-male one of his Daughters and Coheirs married with Dobell of Sussex and so carried it into the Inheritance of that Family where the Possession has ever since been setled Scotney in this Parish which hath borrowed that Appellation from its locall Situation and the over-shooting of the Water was the Residence of a Family distinguished by that Sirname and Denomination for one Walter de Scotney in Times of high Ascent was Proprietary of this Place but added not much Reputation to this Mansion for as Edmund de Hadenham a Chronicler of great Antiquity attests he in the year 1259 administred poyson by tacit Stratagem to the Earl of Gloucester and his Brother to destroy them of which the last dyed and the first escaped not without Danger of Life But to goe on After this Family was mouldered away at this place which was about the midst of Edward the third the eminent Family of Ashburnham of Ashburnham in Sussex were entituled to the Signiory of it Roger Ashburnham who was one of the Conservators of the Peace for this County of Sussex in the first year of Richard the second had here a castellated Mansion did sometimes inhabit at this place and was
to Norden and not long after alienated his right in it to Francis Colepeper Esquire who not long after disposed of it again by Sale to Norden in which Family it rested until the same vicissitude brought it to be the Inheritance of Covert from which Family hath the Fate of Sale not many years since brought it to be the instant Patrimony of Sir William Merideth Leigh in the Lowey of Tunbridge is sometimes written West-Leigh and very often West-Leigh alias Pauls It was in Ages of a very high Gradation the Penchester's and in Dooms-day Book there is mention of * See more of this Family at Pencehurst Paul de Penchester who held Lands here and at Pencehurst and from this Man was it by a continued Series brought down to Sir Stephen de Penchester Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle who exspired in two Daughters and Co-heirs whereof Joan the eldest was married to Henry Lord Cobham of Roundall in Shorn and Alice the other was married to John Lord Columbers as appears by an Inquisition taken in the third year of Edward the third and she had for her proportion assigned her the Mannors of West-Leigh and Pencehurst Sir Thomas de Columbers was Heir apparent to this John de Columbers and Alice his Mother and he by his Deed bearing Date from the eleventh year of Edward the third passed away all his Interest in this place to Sir John de Poultney Lord Maior of London and he died possest of it in the twenty third year of Edward the third immediately after I find Sir Nicholas Lovain Son of Guy Lovain interessed in the possession but whether it was by Marriage of Margaret Widow of Sir John Poultney or by purchase I cannot discover and he had Issue Nicholas Lovain who held it as Heir to his Father as appears by an Inquisition taken after his Deeease in the forty fourth year of Edward the third but this Nicholas dying without Issue Margaret Lovain his Sister became his Heir who brought it to her Husband Philip St. Clere of Aldham St. Clere Son of John St. Clere and they by joint Concurrence by their Deed of Sale bearing Date the tenth year of Henry the fourth passed it away to the Crown and that Prince bequeathed this Mannor of West-Leigh with several other Lands to John Duke of Bedford his third Son after Lord Regent in the minority of Henry the sixth but he deceasing and leaving no Issue it came to Humphrey Duke of Glocester his fourth Brother who being strangled by the procurement of William De la pole Duke of Suffolk in the Abbey of Bury and dying without any Posterity King Henry the sixth in the twenty fifth year of his Rule granted this Mannor being an Adjunct to Pencehurst to Humphrey Stafford Duke of Buckingham Ancestor to Edward Stafford who being attainted of high Treason in the thirteenth year of Henry the eighth lost both his Life Title and Estate and then it was granted by that Prince to Sir Rafe Vane who was made Banneret by that Prince for his remarkable Service in Scotland but he being unsuccessefully wound up in the Businesse of the Duke of Somerset in the fourth year of Edward the sixth was executed as guilty of Felony upon whose ruinous Catastrophe this Mannor by Escheat returning to the Crown it was in the seventh year of Edward the sixth granted to Sir William Sydney a person of deep Knowledge and unblemished Integrity great Grand-father to Robert now Earl of Leicester and Proprietary of West-Leigh There is another Mannor in this Parish called Philipotts which yielded a Sirname to a Family so styled and in a Deed which bears Date from the twenty eighth year of Edward the first whereby one John de Philipott does demise some parcels of Land to Robert Charles Bailiff of the Forest of Tunbridge he writes himself de Philipotts in Leigh but as all things have their Revolution which gives either their own Ruines or Oblivion to them for a Sepulchre so it was here For after this place had for some Hundreds of years been wrapt up in the Inheritance of this Family it at last came down to Thomas Philipott whose Daughter and Heir Alice was married to John Petley Esquire and so Philipotts fell under the Signiory of that Family but long it continued not there for this man determined in four Daughters and Coheirs one of whom matching with Children a Family so called interwove it with his Demeasne in which Name after it had for some years been fixed it was not long since by the Daughter and Heir of this Name brought to be the Inheritance of Polhill Lenham in the Hundred of Eyhorne is that place which Mr. Camden and Mr. Lambert conelude was Durolenum a City of the Romans mentioned by Antonius in his Itinerarium though others would have it to be about Newington by Sedingbourn But finding the consulary way went through this place and Roman Coine found many Times nere the Fosse and Surface of that way and that the high Road called Watling-street continued in the Line of the former till Rochester Bridge was built of stone and all that have written of that way do agree that it went through the middle of Kent I will not further dispute it but acquaint you that the Composition of the Name was from Dore Water in the British and Lenum which the Romans formed from some such sounding Name in the British Dialect and it is the more probable because from hence is a direct way to Limen the Romans Haven nere Hyth The Soile and Signiory were given to the Abby of St. Anstins by K. Kenwulf under the Notion of one and twenty Plough-lands in the year 804 and upon the Dissolution was united to the Crown till Queen Elizabeth passed it away by Grant to Tho. Wilford Esquire whose Son Sir Tho. Wilford conveyed it by Sale not many years since to Anthory Brown Viscount Montacute East-Lenham was long time since the Seat of the Husseys of whom I have spoken before in Boughton Malherbe Henry Hussey had a Charter of Free-warren to his Lands at East-Lenham Chilston and Stourmouth in the fifty fifth of Henry the third and from this Man did thethread of a continued Descent waft it along to Henry Hussey who about the twenty sixth year of Henry the eighth alienated the Possession to Mr. John Parkhurst descended from an ancient Family so called in Norfolke one of which Name was Bishop of Norwich in the year 1560 Ancestor to that ingenious Gentleman Sir William Parkhurst who has lately by Sale transmitted his Right in this Mansion to Mr. Wood of London Merchant Royton in this Parish had very good Gentlemen so styled who were no small space possessed of it and had a Free Chappel founded by Robert de Royton about the latter end of Henry the third from whence it borrowed the Name of Royton Chappel it being annexed to this mansion The Daughter and Heir of Royton was wedded to
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
who in so many remarkable and triumphant Conflicts asserted the Interest of this Nation in France in the Raign of the abovesaid Prince and at last received a mortal Wound by a Splinter of a Window struck into his Face by a Cannon shot at the Siege of Orleans of which he died 1428 and left his Estate here to his Natural Son James Montacute * Ex vetustis Autographis penes Rich. Lea Arm. de Rochester so written in the Deed but in all our printed Books of Nobility falsly and corruptly John and he in the thirtieth year of Henry the sixth conveyed it by Deed to Thomas Davy Gentleman and he not many years after alienated it to Edward Nevill Baron of Aburgavenny from whom it was transported by Descent to his Successor Henry Lord Aburgavenny who dying in the twenty ninth year of Q. Elizabeth without Issue Male gave it to his second Brother Sir Edward Nevill from whom it is come down to his Descendant John Lord Aburgavenny the instant Proprietary of it Buckland in this Parish did acknowledge the Bucklands for its Heirs and Possessors who sometimes did inhabit at Preston in Shorham and sometimes at this place which however now obscure and despicable was of Credit when Sir John Buckland paid respective Aid for his Lands at Ludsdown at the making of the Black Prince Knight in the twentieth of Edward the third from Buckland by a Daughter and Heir some few Ages since it came over with Preston in Shorham to Folhill and in that Family is the Title still at this instant resident Lullingston in the Hundred of Axtan was in ancient Records written Lullingston Rosse for Anketellus Rosse held Lands here in the twentieth of William the Conqueror William de Rosse this mans Grand-child as appears by the Pipe Rolls held two Knights Fees in Lullingston in the first year of King John Alexander de Rosse this mans Son was one of the Recognitores magnae Assisae or of the grand Assise about the end of that Prince's Rule but not long after this the Possession of this place was not lincked to this Family for Lora de Rosse Sole Daughter to William de Rosse by matching with William de Peyforer fastned it to the Revenue of that Stock from whence it assumed the Title of Lullingston Peyforer but it quickly deserted both the Title and Possessor for Gregory de Rokesley Lord Maior of London in the seventh year of Edward the first purchased it of the abovesaid William and in the same year obtained a Charter Warren to his Lands at this place In the twentieth year of Edward the third John de Rokesley Son to Walter Rokesley and Grand-child to the before mentioned Gregory paid Aid for the Mannor of Lullingston which held by a whole Knights Fee at the making the Black Prince Knight In the thirty third year of Edward the third Sir John Peche purchased the Mannor of this John de Rokesley this Sir John was Son to Sir John de Peche who was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle and was called to Parliament among the Barons in the fourth year of Edward the third In the same year he bought Lullingston he obtained a Charter of Free Warren to his Lands there which was renewed and by Confirmation fortified in the thirty fourth and thirty fifth of Edward the third Sir William Peche was his Son and Heir whose Widow the Lady Joane Peche who died seised of this Mannor in the eleventh year of Henry the fourth lies entombed in St. Mary Woolnoth Church in London Sir John Peche was Son and Heir to them both Sir William Peche was Son and Heir to this Sir John who died at Lullingston 1487 and had two Children Sir John Peche Knight and Banneret who died sans Issue which Sir John was a man of exemplary Account being Lord Deputy of Calais and of signal Charity as is evident by his Munificence and Bounty towards the Poor for he founded the Alms-Houses at Lullingston and gave 500 lb. to other Pious Uses to be performed by the Grocers Company in London of which he was Free and Elizabeth marched to John Hart Esquire who in his Wife 's Right upon the Decease of her Brother enter'd into the Possession of the Premisses from whom it is transmitted to William Hart Esquire his great Grand-child who hath the instant Signory and Fee-simple of this Mannor of Lullingston M. M. M. M. MAidstone giveth Name to the whole Hundred wherein it is seated an elegant Town it is whether we consider it in respect of the uniform and regular Building or of the healthful Situation of it spreading it self out partly upon a Hill and partly upon a Valley which are interlaced with a smal River which hath its Original about Leeds and on the other side its Banks are washed with the waters of the Medway from whence it primitively borrowed its Name being in Saxon called Medwegston The Places of most eminence which are circumscribed within the Limits of it are First Buckland which is situated on the opposite Banck of the River upon the Knob or Knoll of an Hill of easie Ascent from whence it takes in a various and delightful Prospect of the adjacent Valley It was anciently part of the Demeasn of the Bucklands but whether it originally gave Seat and Sirname to them or not is not evident because there was another Place which likewise bore this Name at Luddesdowne and which also acknowledged it self to be Parcel of their Proprietie John de Buckland held it at his Death which was in the third year of Edward the third and his Son and Heir was Sir John Buckland who was a Person of remarkable Reputation and Note in this Track for he had Lands about Wouldham Halling Snodland Ludsdowne and Shoreham as well as at this Place After this Name went out the Lords Cobham were Proprietaries of Buckland and in this Family was the Possession guided along by an undivided Clew of several Ages till the infortunate Henry Lord Cobham about the entrance into the Raign of King James being with Sir VValter Raleigh and others entangled in a Design which the then present Power after a serious and solemn Debate adjudged treasonable he could not unravel himself out of it but with the Forfeiture though not of Life yet of Estate but this Mannor before his Attaint being settled upon his Lady Francis Cobham as part of her Jointure upon his Decease was granted by the Crown to her and the Reversion to Robert Cecil Earl of Salisbury in respect he had married Elizabeth Daughter to William Brooke Lord Cobham and Sister to this last Lord Henry and She shortly after by marrying with ....... Fitz Gerald Earl of Kildare settled the present Interest of it in him and He and his Countess being embarked in a mutual and joint consent with the above-mentioned Earl of Salisbury passed away their Right in it about the year One thousand six hundred and eighteen to William
Horspoole Esquire who in the Memory of these Times alienated the Fee-simple to Mr. English of Sussex Secondly the Mannor of Maidstone it self with the Palace fall under Consideration They were in Times of elder Account belonging to the Family of Cornhill and so continued till William de Cornhill desiring to exemplifie his Zeal and Devotion by some eminent Acts of Piety to the Religion which those Times asserted gave them to Stephen Langton Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in the seventh year of the Raign of King John many of whose Successors were Benefactors both to the Church and Palace Boniface of Savoy Arch-Bishop of Canterbury about four hundred years since built here an Hospital then styled the New-work to the Honour of St. Peter and Paul and Thomas the Martyr which Hospital William Courtney likewise Arch-Bishop pull'd down and instituted a Colledge upon the Ruines of it for secular Priests devoted to the Honour of All Saints And also erected the Collegiate Church as the Walls diaper'd in sundry places with his paternal Coat do easily evince John Vfford also Arch-Bishop about three hundred years since began the Foundation of the Palace here but dying before he had compleated the same Simon Islip his Successor gave it its Perfection and being afterwards crumbled into Decay Iohn Morton likewise Arch-Bishop not onely repaired but augmented it Maidston was governed by a Portreve until the Time of King Edward the sixth by whose incorporation it came to be governed by a Maior which Priviledge being lost because this Town was enwrapped in Sir Thomas Wiats Insurrection against Q. Mary Q. Elizabeth not onely restored the same but to improve it to more eminence with a farther Addition of Honour raised it into the Degree of a Borough Maidstone by the Influence of Boniface of Savoy Arch-Bishop of Canterbury had the Grant of a Market procured to be held here weekly on the Thursday as is manifest Pat. 45. Hen. tertii Memb. secunda Thomas Arundel Arch-Bishop of Canterbury about two hundred and forty years since erected a Chauntry for the Brothers of Corpus Christi now converted into the Free-School who by the Rules of their Primitive Institution were to pray for the Fraternity of the Guild The Mannor and Palace of Maidston being exchanged with the Crown by Thomas Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was by K. Henry the eighth about the thirty second year of his Raign granted to Thomas Wiat the elder and his infortunate Son Sir Thomas VViat being attainted in the second year of Queen Mary it devolved by Escheat to the Crown and continued there untill Queen Elizabeth granted it to John Astley Esq Master of the Royall Jewells from whom it descended to Sir Jacob Astley created Lord Astley by the late King Charles at Oxford in whose Descendants the Propriety is at this instant resident But the Mannor continued in the Tenure of the Crown even untill the Raign of King Charles For when King James had by his gracious Charter created Dame Elizabeth Finch Widow of Sir Moile Finch of Estwell onely Daughter and Heir of the right Honourable Sir Thomas Heneage of Copped-hall in Essex Vice-Chamberlane and one of the Privy Councel to Queen Elizabeth Vice-Countesse Maidston to her and her Issue-male She obtained the Mannor in Fee Farme for ever and transmitted it to her Son Sir Thomas Finch in her Right Earl of VVinchelsey from whom both the Title of Viscount Maidston and the Right of the Mannor are devolved by Paternal Succession to the Right honourable Heneage Finch the present Earl of VVinchelsey and Vicecount Maidston Leland notes that the Arch-Bishop's Palace was anciently a Castle and I verily believe it was the Caput Baroniae for the Arch-Bishops had more than one and excepting that at Saltwood I have diligently Searched and can find none so likely as this Goulds and Shepway do thirdly expose themselves to our Survey they were formerly the Demeasne of Vinter of Vinters not far distant and so remained till Robert Vinter Founded in Maidston Church that Chantry which bears the Name of Gould's Chantry about the fortieth year of Edward the third and then he annexed both these places to the Foundâ—tion for those Divine Offices which were there to be performed but upon the Suppression of this Oratorie King Henry the eighth granted Goulds and Shepway to Sir Thomas VViat who afterwards sinking under the crime of High Treason in the second year of the Government of Queen Mary She upon his attaint granted them to Sir VValter and Gervas Henley Esq from which Family by Purchase they came over to Andrews but stayed not long there for in our Fathers Memory they were sold to Sir Humphrey Tufton late Sheriff of Kent part of the year 1654. and part of the year 1655. Bigons alias Digons was the ancient Seat of the worthy Family of the Mapelysdens and I have a Deed in my Custody wherein one Edward Mapelysden is mentioned with this Addition Edwardus Mapelysden de Digons The Deed bears Date from the twenty fifth of Edward the third and after the possession had been for many Generations Successively resident in this Family one of this Name being unfortunately concerned in the Defection of Sir Thoma Wyat was blasted with the guilt of High Treason and so by Consequence his Estate by Confiscation escheated to the Crown from which it was granted to Nicholas Barham after Serjeant at Law who did much improve this Fabrick with a Supplement of Building from whose Heir it passed away by Sale to Hawle and from him again soon after to Sir Francis Berneham to whom this Mansion owes much of its Magnificence and Splendor whose Son and Heir Mr. Edward Barneham Esquire has lately alienated his Interest in it to Mr. Beale of London Jordans-Court is a fifth place which may exact our Notice because it gave Seat and Sirname to a Family of that Denomination the next Family after this was expired which held it was Roper of the Ropers of St. Dunstans in Canterbury and John Roper sold it to Edw. and Wil. Brouch of Bersted about the thirty sixth year of Henry the sixth and they quickly after alienated their Concernment to Atwood from whom the same Fate carried it away to Peirce who by Sale transmitted his Right to Cook and he suddenly after demised it to Crooke where after the Title had made some short abode the Possession was passed over to Potkins extracted from the Fotkins of Sevenoke where the Name was very ancient from Potkin by his Daughter and Coheir it descended to Virgo who about the latter end of Q. Elizabeth by Sale translated the Possession into Washington Justice of Peace and often in the Commission of Sewers who sold it to Godwin from whom by Purchase it came to be the Inheritance of Crisp who in our Memory conveyed it away to Smith and he some few years since by Sale invested the Propriety in Mr. Beckman Sixthly Sheals is not to be forgotten because it was the Inheritance of Fremingham for Ralph de
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
I find that in the seventh year of that King's Raign the said Lord Cobham sold the abovesaid Mannor to Sir Robert Reade then Serjeant at Law but after Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas who concluding in three Daughters and Coheirs Dorothy matched to Sir Edward Wotten of Boughton Malherbe Katharin wedded to Sir Thomas Willoughbie second Son of Christopher Willoughbie Lord Willoughbie of Eresbye and Margaret married to Sir Iohn Harcourt of Elnal in the County of Stafford this Mannor of St. Maries in her right descending to this Family the abovesaid Sir Iohn and the Lady Margaret his Wise did in the thirtieth year of Henry the eighth exchange the said Mannor of St. Mary Hall with Iohn Wiseman Gentleman for the Priory of Ronton in the County of Stafford since which Time the said Mannor hath continued in the Name of Wiseman and is at this instant in the Possession of Sir Thomas Wiseman of Riven Hall in the County of Essex Knight Newland is a Mannor Situated in St. Maries which was as high as can be traced by any Track of Evidence the Inheritance of Somer vulgarly now called Somers Richard le Somer made his Will as appears by the Records of Rochester in the year of Grace 1347 and died seised of this Place Lands in Halstow Higham Leigh and elsewhere and from him did it come down by the Channel of Descent to John Somer who was Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Raign of Henry the sixth who was a great Benefactor to the Priory of Christ-Church in whose Cloister the Armes of this Family remain insculped in Stone as a Memorial of his Beneficence the last of this Family who held this place was Sir William Somer who was thrice employed as publick Embassador to forraign States by Queen Elizabeth and he deceased without Issue Male so that his two Daughters matched to Sir Alexander Temple and Sir James Cromer became his Coheirs but this Mannor of Newland upon the Petition was united to the Demeasn of Temple whose Heir hath lately passed it away to the Treasurers of the Chest for sick and mained Seamen at Chetham Mershham in the Hundred of Chart and Longbridge was given by Siward and Mawde his Wife to the Monks of St. Augustins for support of their Diet which Concession of their's was afterwards confirmed as appears by the Book of Christ-Church by the Royal Authority of Edward the Confessor and so remained wrapped up in the Demeasn of the Church till the Dissolution of that Covent and then it fell into the Revenue of the Crown and King Henry the eighth in the thirty third year of his Raign settled it on the newly erected Dean and Chapter of Canterbury Quatherington in this Parish vulgarly called Quarington was the ancient Residence of the Blechendens till William Blechenden by marriage with Agnes Daughter and Coheir of ....... Godfrey of Aldington became in her Right Master of Simnells in that Parish and so left his Habitation at Mersham to enjoy his new Acquists at Aldington certainly they were very anciently Seated if not at this place yet in this Parish for I have seen the draught of a Pedigree knit together by Clarenceux Cooke wherein they are brought down from Nicholas de Blechenden who flourished here at Mersham in the Raign of Edward the first though I confesse the Evidences of Quarington reach no higher then Will. Blechenden who is made in the Pedigree to be Grandchild to the abovesaid Nicholas and who flourished in the Raign of Richard the second after the Blechendens the Cleggates of Canterbury became in our Grandfathers Memory to be Lords of the Fee but not long after alienated their Right in it to Eastday of Saltwood from whom the like Current of Succession wâ—fted it over to Knatchbull from whom the Right descended to Sir Norton Knatchbull a Person who for his Favour and Love to Learning and Antiquitie in Times when they are both fallen under such Cheapness and Contempt cannot be mentioned without an Epithete equivalent to so just a merit Mepeham in the Hundred of Totingtrough was given to the Monks of Canterbury for their supply of Dyet by Ediva the Queen Mother of the two Kings Edmund and Eadred as appears by the Book of Christ-Church in the year of Grace 861. Upon the suppression of that Fraternitie it increased by its Addition the Revenue of the Crown but it was suddenly after in the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth restored to the Church and so continued till these infortunate Times chained it to the Patrimony of the See of Canterbury whose Arch-Bishops it seems had a speciall Regard to this place for William Courtney one of them re-builded the Church which by the Onsets of Time was shrunk into Dilapidation and Rubbish and erected likewise some Alms Houses here for the support and maintainance of the poor of this Parish The Mannor of Dodmore lies within the Circuit of Mepeham and was as high as the Beam of any Deed can discover to me the Possession of the noble and Knightly Family of Huntingfield Sir Peter Huntingfield by his Deed sans Date does demise it to his kinsman Walter Huntingfield and he by Deed likewise without any Date affixed to it passed it away to John Smith and he in the forty seventh year of Edward the third conveyed his Right in it by Sale to Richard Ideleigh from whom the Ideleighs of Easture in Chilham and Rollingin at Goodneston in East-Kent originally branched out But here the private Muniments of this place by whose Light I have walked break off so that I must make a Gap in my Intelligence and skip into the Raign of Henry the eighth In the ninth year of whose Government I find by the Court-Rolls of this place one Thomas Cavendish Esq to be possest of it from whom about the second year of Edward the sixth it went away to Henry Taylor afterwards within the Circuit of thirty years it was the Possession of John Giffard then of Walter Powre of Brenchley and after him of Henry Collins who in the year 1604. demised his Interest in it to Walter Kipping Gentleman of Kippings-Cross in Tuydley where they were resident before about five hundred year and now it is made by Dorothy Kipping his Daughter and Coheir part of the Patrimony of my Worthy and Ingenuous Friend Edward Darrell Esquire Dean-Court is likewise Seated within the Verge of Mepeham It was in elder times a Branch of that wide and opulent Estate which was marshal'd under the Signory of Twitham Alan de Twitham is enrolled in the Catalogue of those Kentish Gentlemen who were with Richard the first at the Seige of Acon Bethram de Twitham held it at his Death which was in the third year of Edward the third after Alanus de Twitham died seised of it in the twenty fifth year of the above-said Kings Raign and his Son Theobald de Twitham after him enjoyed it at his Death which was in the fourth year of Richard the second
on the Saturday which continues until this day Midley in the Hundred of Langport was parcell of the Inheritance of Echingham of whom more is spoken at Jacks-court in Lidde from whom by Margaret Daughter and Heir of Thomas Echingham it devolved to Walter Blount Esquire from him it descended to his Son Edward Blount Lord Montjoy who deceasing without Issue Elizabeth his Sister and Heir entered upon the Possession and she by matching with Andrew Windsor after created Lord Windsor by Henry the eighth swelled the Revenue of that Family by the Addition of Midley who not long after passed it away to Clache by whose Daughter and Heir it came over to Stringer and he transferred his Right in it by Sale to Scot and Scot conveyed the whole Demise to Godfrey whose Son Sir The. Godsrey does now possesse the Signory of the Premises Milsted in the Hundred of Milton though an obscure Village in it Self yet has been anciently eminent for several noble Families which have had their Residence within the Circuit of it For first Hogshaws gave not only Seat but Sirname likewise to a Family of that Denomination in whom when it had for many years continued Edmund Hogshaw in the eleventh year of Richard the second passed it away to Sir Thomas Lovell and he dyed seised of it in the second year of Henry the fourth and Thomas Lovell was his Heir after Lovell Greaves by purchase became entituled to the Possession of it whose Successor Robert Greaves in the ninth year of Henry the eighth passed it away to Roger VVake and this Roger VVake in the fifteenth year of the said Prince's Government alienated by Sale his Concernment in it to Richard Bernard who some few years after devested himself of his Right in it and sold it to Adam Henman of Lenham where after the Title some few years had fixed he in the twelfth year of Queen Elizabeth conveyed it over to Amias Thompson and he gave it in Dower with his Daughter Alice Thompson to Sir John Tooke from whom in the memory of these Times it devolved by Descent to his Son Captain Nicholas Tooke who passed it away by Sale to Mr. Richard Tilden Then we have here secondly another place which in some old Evidences is represented under the Name of Nottingham Court though now it bears the Name of Higham It was the Residence of a noble Family called Nottingham who were Owners of a large Patrimony in this Track and their Armes stand yet in old coloured Glasse in Milsted Church viz. Paly wavee of four pieces Gules and Artent The last of which was John Nottingham who expired in a Daughter and Heir called Eleanor Nottingham who by matching with Simon Cheney second Son of Sir Richard Cheney of Shurland brought this and a large Demeasne with it to acknowledge the Signiory of that Family in which Name without any Vicissitude to transplant the Title it is fixed at this day Milton Septuans in the Hundred of Westgate was anciently a Parish See more of this Family at Thurnham and had a Church appertaining to it though now by disuse it be languished into decay and shrunk into so narrow an Estimate that it has left only an Oratory or little Chappel which is yet visible to instruct us what was its former Glory which certainly was of no inconsiderable Account when it was the Seat of the elder House of Septuans who made this their Residence For VVilliam Septuans Son of William Septuans had here is Habitation when he was Sheriff of Kent which was in the fourth year of Richard the second but long after this Man did it not continue in the Name of Septuans for this Family as to that Branch of it which was planted at this place shrunk into a Daughter and Heir who was matched to Sir Francis Fogge and so this place fell under his Revenue And from him descended Sir Will. Fogge whose Successor Sir John Fogge of Repton Knight passed this away to Sir George Brown of Bechworth Castle in whom it remained till this Mans Grandchild Sir Thomas Brown of Bechworth aforesaid partly sold it and partly gave it in Dower with his Daughter Elizabeth Brown to Sir Robert Honywood of Charing whose eldest Son by this Match Sir Thomas Honywood of Marks Hall in Essex is now planted in the Fee-simple of it Moldash in the Hundred of Felborough is a Branch of the Mannor of Chilham but yet there is the Mannor of Flemings aliàs Bowers for so it is styled in Records and Court-rolls which deserves our Notice It was in the year 1019 as an ancient Court-roll now in the Hands of Mr. Chapman does inform me in the Hands of John de Fleming and probably here it remained diverse years though I can discover nothing which may evince the certainty of it for there is an Intermission or Gap in the Evidences In the twenty fourth year of Henry the sixth as appears by another ancient Court-roll it was the Possession of John Treswenall and in this Name it continued till the Raign of Henry the eighth and then it was alienated to Sir Thomas Moile in whose Posterity the Title and Demeasne was setled till our Fathers memory and then the Fee-simple was sold away to Mr. Henry Chapman Then secondly there is the Mannor of Witherling who had Owners who bore that Sirname and who had certainly the Possession of it severall Generations which is manifest from that compliance the Name had with the Mansion though the Evidence which I have drained from the Deeds and Muniments of this place reaches no higher then the Government of Henry the sixth for in the thirty eighth year of that Prince's Rule Joan Witherling the visible and only apparent Heir of this Family transmitted her Interest in it by Sale to William Keneworth whose Son William Keneworth by the like Fatalitie passed it away in the Raign of Henry the seventh to John Moile of Buckwell Esquire extracted from the Moiles of Bodmin in Cornwall and this John Moile in the fourth year of Henry the eighth sold it to Hamo Vidian a Name very ancient in Moldash for here is a Farme which at this Day carries the Name of Vidian-Forestall and his Grandchild William Vidian at this instant enjoys the Fee-simple of it Mongeham called for distinction Great-Mongeham to difference it from an Hamlet of that Name styled Little-Mongeham lies in the Hundred of Eastry and was given to the Church by Eadbert King of Kent for a supply both of Diet and Apparell of the Monks of St. Austins as the Book of Christ-Church does insinuate and upon the Dissolution of the Covent and annexing the Demeasn to the Revenue of the Crown it was by Henry the eighth in the thirty third year of his Raign granted to the Dean and Chapter of Christ-Church who conveyed it in Lease to John Fropchunt from whom by Purchase it was brought over to Gibs and is now the Patrimony and Hereditarie Right of Crayford a Name of deep and
Extraction in this Territorie by Purchase from the above recited Family There is a place in this Parish called Fogs-Court which is Register'd in the Inventorie of the Mannors of this County and although the Mansion-House which belongs to it be fallen into so low a degree of Contempt that it appears now to be litle more than a Caberet or Cottage yet it calls for some Remembrance even in this respect that it was the Patrimony of that noble and Illustrious Family and is the only Place of this County which I have yet met with that is adopted into their Sirname from Tho. Fogge Esq Serjeant Porter of Callis who was the last of this Name which possest it by Alice Fogge his Daughter and Coheir it came to be the Inheritance of her Husband William Scot and in this Family did the Patrimonial Interest of it reside till almost in our Memory the Signory and Propriety of it was from this Family by Sale translated into Mr. Philip Pownall of Sibertswould Great-Barville partly lying in Mongeham and partly in Tilmanston is the third place considerable in Mongeham It hath been for many Descents which have made up some Centuries of years the Possession of Crayford which are written in Deeds of a very high Ascent de Barville Magna In an old Roll which summs up those Kentish Gentlemen who were with Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick at the Battle of North-Hampton where after a warm and Bloody Debate the Title of the House of York by a glorious Victory was evidently asserted There is mention of William Crayford Esquire who afterwards as some private Evidences inform me now in the hands of Mr. Gethins neer Burntwood was made Bannerett by King Edward the fourth for his various undertakings and Services performed in several Encounters which had an Influence upon the Cause and Quarrell of the House of York and bore as is manifest by his Seal affixed to several Deeds Vpon a Cheveron three Eagles heads cresed which I mention to rectifie that â—istake which through inadvertency hath crept into our Visitations of Kent wherâ—â—he paternall Coat of this Family is represented to have been Vpon a Cheveron tâ—â—â—â— Falcons heads erased and from this eminent Person is Mr. Wil. Crayford Lord of thâ— Mannor in expectance by a Thread of direct Descent originally extracted Mongeham had an anâ—â—ent Market by prescription on the Thursday and Bertram de Crioll had a Grant of iâ— by the Charter of Henry the third which was allowed by the Judges Itinerant â—n the seventh year of Edward the first and a Fair yearly by the space of three Dayes viz. the Eve St. Luke's day and the day after Little-Barville is partly Situated in this Parish and partly in Tilmanston A Family called Pix and sometimes Picks were for some Centuries of years invested in the Possession and contracted this Name from some Office as the Successive Tradition of this Family affirms that they were anciently entrusted with about the Altar and the Utensils which related to it amongst which the Pix was the most considerable as being the Conservatory of the Host and so è Pixide nomen elicitum from their Care and Custody of the Pix they originally assumed their Sirname But to proceed after this Mannor had for so many Descents acknowledged this Name and Family about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth by Sale it came to confess the Signory of Crayford of Great-Barville with whose Revenue the Title and Propriety does at this instant continue Little-Mongeham next offers it self up to our consideration but of that I shall speak more at Northbourne Morston in the Hundred of Milton gave Seat and Sirname to a Family that fell under that Appellation as is evident by the Book of Aid where John de Morston is affirmed to have held it and to have paid an Auxiliary Contribution for it at the making the Black Prince Knight He was descended from Bartholomew de Morston who is in the list of those Kentish Gentlemen who assisted King Richard the first at the Siege of Acon But before the latter end of Richard the second this Family was worn out and then it fell under the Signory of Walter Fitz Walter of Essex who had beenin elder Times summoned frequently by Writ to sit as Baron in Parliament and from the abovesaid Walter did this Mannor by paternal devolution come down to his Son Humphrey Fitzwalter and he held it at his Death which was in the first year of Henry the sixth and had Issue John Fitzwalter who about the latter end of the abovesaid Prince alienated it by Sale to Cromer in which Family the possession was constant and resident untill the latter end of King James and then Sir James Cromer dying without Issue-male Christian one of his Daughters and Coheirs by matching with Sir John Hales upon the distinction of the Estate into parcells was united to the Patrimony of that Family from whom the Right by Descent is now transmitted to the instant Proprietarie Sir Edward Hales his Son and Heir Baronet Esthall is another Mannor in Morston which although it be now by the Vicissitude of Time and the injurious Impressions of Age shrunk from its elder Beauty into decay and Neglect yet in Ages of a higher date it was adorned with a nobler Character of Splendor when it confessed it self to be parcell of the Inheritance of an ancient Family called De la pine so they are written in their old dateless Deeds and bore for their Arms Sable three Pine Apples Or. James De la pine was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty sixth and part of the twenty seventh years of Edward the third and held his Shrievalty here at Esthall and died possest of it in the thirty seventh year of the abovesaid Prince and left it to his Son and Heir Thomas De la pine who about the beginning of Richard the second conveyed his Title and Concernment in it to Thomas St. Leger Esquire Sheriff of Kent in the twentieth year of Richard the second who dying without Issue-male Joan one of his Daughters and Coheirs by matching with John Ewias linked it to the Demeasn of that Name and from him did it transmit it self by Descent to his Son and Heir Humphrey Ewias who was seised of it at his Decease which was in the thirty third year of Henry the sixth and from him by a Thread of paternal Succession was it transported to his Grandchild William Eâ—ias in whom the Male-line determined so that by Alice his Daughter and Heir it came to confess the Signory of Thomas Hales who in the sixth year of Edward the sixth by a Fine and recovery wherein his Wife was concern'd passed away the whole Deâ—â—se to Sir Anthony Aucher whose Son Sir Anthony Aucher in the ninth year of Queeâ— Elizabeth by the same conveyance alienated it to Gardiner where the Title was so â—â—â—atile and mutable that it stayed with this Family but untill the tenth year of the abâ—â—â—said Princess and then it
was transplanted by Sale into John Norden who in our â—â—â—â—dfathers memory demised it to Pordage Predecessor to Mr ........ Pordage of Râ—â—â—ersham who is now entitled to the Fee-simple of it Mere-Court is a third place of Account in this Parish calle◠〈◊〉 from its Situation near the Sea which our Saxon Ancestors called Mere and is câ—â—â—â—marily used in that sense for any wast heap of Waters as Lakes and Pools that are 〈◊〉 all sides lockt in by the Land by the Dutch to this day But I cannot find that it evâ—â— had any Possessors that extracted their Sirname from hence for in the Raign of Edward the third I find Arnold de Savage held it and so did his Grandchild Eleanor Savage who was matched to William Clifford and he by this Alliance became invested in the Possession and in this Family did the Title lie couched untill the beginning of Henry the seventh and then I can track no farther Evidence of their Possession of this place In the Raign of Edward the sixth I find it to be invested in the Name of Croft and remained tied to the Patrimony of that Family untill David Crofts died in the twenty second year of Queen Elizabeth and left it to Jo. Croft Helen and Margaret his Daughters and they upon the death of their Brother who was an Ideot becomming Joynt-heirs to this place in the forty second year of Q. Elizabeth passed it away to Mr. Stephen Hulks who bequeathed it to his Son and Heir Mr. Jo. Hulks and he upon his Decease which was not many years since gave it to his second Son Mr. Charles Hulks who now is in Fruition of it N. N. N. N. NAtindon in the Hundreds of Bridge Petham and Whitstaple is an obscure Village not far remote from Canterbury and only calls for some Remembrance in this respect that the Mannor of Staplegate is situated within the Limits of it which was the Seat of an eminent Family which bore that Sirname who were Lords not onely of this Place but of much other Land in Romney Mersh and had certainly this Denomination ingrafted originally upon them because they collected the Kings profits and Customes arising out of the Staple of Wooll fixed at Staplegate in Canterbury The first of this Family whom I find eminent is Edmund Staplegate who paid respective Aid for his Mannor of Bilsington and his other Lands in Kent in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight and he was Father to Edmund Staplegate who at the Coronation of Richard the second held that signall Contest before John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster then High Steward at that solemn Inthronization with Richard Earl of Arundell about the Office of Chief Butler as I have before mentioned in Bilsington But to return to that Discourse from whence this emergent Controversie did divert me Edmund Staplegate in the thirteenth year of Richard the second enjoyed this Mannor at his Death but after his Deeease the Title was not long liv'd in this Name for in the Raign of Henry the fifth and Henry the sixth as appears by the Testimony of ancient Court Rolls it was in the Possession of Leichfield who was Master of much Land about Tilmanston and Betshanger and in the twenty second year of Ed. the fourth it was by Roger Lichfield passed away by Sale to William Haut Esquire Father to Sir William Haut in whom the male-line determined so that by Elizabeth his Daughter and Coheir it came to be the Inheritance of Sir Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury who about the first year of Edward the sixth alienated it to Philip Chowte Esquire and from him the like Fate bore off the Title to Sir Anthony Aucher and he about the latter end of Edward the sixth disposed of his Right in it to Sir James Hales of the Dungeon Ancestor to Sir James Hales of the same place who not many years since demised the Premises to Mr. Smith of High-Gate upon whose late Decease the Title like a Pythagorean-Soul is transmigrated into his Heir Nettlested in the Hundred of Twyford was the ancient Seat of the noble and ancient Family of Pimpe William de Pimpe paid respective Aid for this Mannor and other Lands which lay not far distant from this place which he held by a whole Knights Fee at the making the Black Prince Knight the twentieth of Edward the third Reginald Pimpe was his Son and Heir and served out the Office of high Sheriff of Kent for him in the forty ninth year of Edward the third in which year he dyed It is probable that this William was knighted because there is a Tombe in Nettlested Church with this Inscription affixed to his Tombe-stone Hic jacet Domina Margareta de Cobham quondam Vxor Willielmi Pimpe Militis quae obiit 4 Septembris 1337. From whence it may be probably collected that the above recited William Pimpe though he is not mentioned as a Knight in the Register of the Sheriffs yet afterwards for some exemplary Services by him performed and managed might be invested with the Order of Knighthood From this Man in the continued Succession of a direct Line See more of Pimp in my Discourse of Sea-watches did Reginald Pimpe descend who determined in Ann Pimpe who was his Sole Heir and so this ancient Family which had under a venerable Character of Antiquity for so many Ages flourished at this place as the Monuments in the Church not yet dismantled do sufficiently evince was about the latterend of Henry the seventh extinguished and Nettlested fell under the Patrimony of John Scott of Scotts Hall from whom Edw. Scot Esquire is lineally extracted and in Relation to this Alliance is the instant Proprietary of Nettlested Lomewood is a second place of Account in Nettlested it belonged formerly to a Cloister of black Cannons in Oxford dedicated to St. Friswith which being suppressed by Cardinal Wolsey in the year 1525 when he intended to erect the magnificent Fabrick of the Colledge of Christ-church this Mannor was resigned up to the Crown and was by King Henry the eighth in the twenty seventh year of his raign granted to Sir Edward Nevill who gave it in Martiage with his Daughter Katharine Nevill espoused to John Roydon Esquire of Roydon-Hall in great Peckham and he determining in Elizabeth Roydon his Sole Heir she by matching with Roger Twisden Esquire planted it in his Revenue and from him hath the Interest of Descent transported it along to his Grandchild Sir Roger Twisden of Roydon Hall Knight and Baronet Newenden in the Hundred of Selbrittenden was erected in the place where the old Roman City of Anderida was situated and was called by the Britons Caer Andred very aptly by Leland styled in Latine Noviodunum from the Saxon Nywandun in English by Corruption called Newenden which in the original imports as much as The new Hill in the Valley This was that Station and City of the Romans mentioned in the Banner of the Count or Lord
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
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
Num. 14. And from him did it by a constant Tide of uninterrupted Interest surrender it self up to Sir Edward Poynings who in the fourteenth year of Henry the eighth dyed without any lawful Issue and as it appeared too then without any collateral Alliance that could by any Title knit by never so far distant an Affinity to him lay the Foundations of any pretended Claim to his estare so that it escheated to the Crown and K.H. the eighth in the thirty second and thirty third of his Rule granted it to I. Limsey who not many years after passed it away to Alderman Garret of London Ancestor to Sir Iohn Garret of the County of Hertford Baronet in whom the possession of this place is at this instant resident Preston in the Hundred of Wingham was the Inheritance of the Lord Leybourn William de Leybourn had a Grant of a Market and a Fair to his Mannor of Preston in the thirty fifth year of Edward the first from whom it descended to his Son Roger de Leybourn who went out in a Daughter and Heir called Juliana Leybourn so often mentioned in this Discourse who first matched to John de Hastings a Kinsman of Laurence de Hastings Earl of Pembroke That he was not his Son is most evident for then he must by Consequence have been her second Husband for William de Clinton who was her second Husband and hath been by publike Records always so reputed deceased by the Testimony of all in the twenty eighth of Edward the third Juliana his Wife in the forty third year of that Prince Rot. Esc Num. 57. And John de Hastings in the forty ninth year of Edward the third which upon a serious Computation of Time makes it impossible that this John de Hasting whom all conclude to have been her first Husband should be that John who was Son to Laurence Earl of Pembroke nor could it be any other William de Clinton then this before mentioned First because he was the last Earl of Huntington of the Name Secondly if we should make him to be any other he must be designed Husband for this Juliana after the Death of this John de Hasting who survived this Juliana six years as appears by the former ballancing of Time which will appear altogether absurd and impossible Thirdly all do concurre that this VVilliam de Clinton who was her second Husband was Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports in the twelfth year of Edward the third Admiral of the Narrow-Seas Westward in the fifteenth year and had the Custody of all the Kings Forrests Southwards beyond Trent in the seventeenth year of that Prince's Government which could be no other than this VVilliam Earl of Huntington who although he were fruitful in Offices he was not so in Children for he dyed without Issue by this Lady Juliana who after his death remained in the State of Widowhood for ought I can yet discover untill her decease for in the Escheat-roll mentioned before she is styled Comitissa de Huntington upon whose death none appearing either directly or collaterally who justly could entitle themselves to her Patrimony the Crown claimed it as an escheat and Richard the second granted it to Sir Simon de Burleigh Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports who being afterwards attainted in the tenth year of that Prince it was re-invested in the royal Revenue and was not long after by Richard the second granted to the Abby of St. Mary Grace on Tower-hill and some part of it to the Priory of Canons Langley and sometimes written Childrens Langley and here it dwelt untill the general Suppression and then King Henry the eighth in the thirty fifth year of his reign granted it to Sir Thomas Moile whose Daughter and Coheir Amy Motle incorported it into the demeasne of her Husband Sir Thomas Kempe where it had had no long aboad when this Sir Thomas dyed without Issue-male and left his estate to be divided between four Daughters and Coheirs Anne one of whom carried this away to Sir Thomas Chichley of the County of Cambridge whose Son Thomas Chichley Esquire hath lately by Sale transmitted his Right in it to Mr. ..... Spence and Mr. Robert Spence of Baukham in Sussex Preston by VVingham had the Grant of a Market procured to it on the Monday and a Fair of three days continuance at the Feast of St. Crosse in the thirty fifth of Edw. the first Sir Simon de Burleigh had the Grant of a Market renued to this place on the Friday and a Fair by the space of three days at the Feast of St. Mildred the Virgin in the tenth year of Richard the second Petham gives Name in part to that Hundred wherein it hath its Position being called the Hundred of Bredge and Petham and was always a Mannor folded up in the revenue of the Arch-bishop though I confess I cannot trace out in the wilderness of Antiquity who was the first Donor If you peruse the Pages of Doomes-day Book you wil find it there thus represented Petham est proprium Manerium Archiepiscopi in Tempore Edwardi Regis se defendebat pro VII Sullings nunc similiter est appretiatum XX lb. And this is enough to refute that mistake in Eadmerius not long since printed by Mr. Selden which I believe is only by Accident and not voluntary which says that Anselm mortgaged or pawned Peckham to the Monks of Canterbury which was long before given to them by Q. Edgiva Indeed it should have been printed Petham that being always as you have seen a Mannor of the Arch-bishops till it was engaged which it seems was never redeemed for it continued in the revenue of the Monks in Christ-church until the Dissolution and then it was transplanted into the revenue of the Crown and lay there until K. James in our Fathers memory granted it to Tho. Thompson Esq Ancestor to Mr. Thompson Esq who now enjoys the possession of it Swerdling is a Mannor in this Parish of as eminent Account as any in this Track and was the Capital Mansion of the Noble and ancient Family of Valoigns Ruallo de Valoigns was Sheriff of Kent in the first year of Henry the second and in the Pipe-rolls of that year is written of Swerdling and he was witness to King Stephen's Charter Rot. Pipae de An. 13. Hen. tertii whereby he grants the Mill at East-Bridge in Canterbury to the Monks of Christ-church Waretius de Valoigns is in the Catalogue of those Kentish Gentlemen who assisted Richard the first at the Siege of Acon in Palestine Robert de Valoigns had the Repute of a Baron in the thirteenth year of Henry the third and under that Notion held the fourth part of a Knights Fee of Wallingford Castle Allan de Valoigns was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty first thirty second thirty third and thirty fourth years of Henry the third and held his Shrievalty at Swerdling Waretius de Valoigns in the forty fifth year of Henry the third by
his Deed remits divers Services to Cicely Wife of Robert de Grencbold which were due from her to his Mannor of Swerdling William de Valoigns was Sheriff of Kent the third fourth fifth and sixth years of Edward the first and his Son Sir William de Valoigns was engaged with Edward the first at the Siege of Carlaverock in Scotland and for some remarkable Service there performed received the Order of Knighthood Henry de Valoigns was Sheriff of Kent in the fourteenth year of Edward the third and he had Issue Waretius de Valoigns in whom the Male-line failed so that his two Daughters one matched to Sir Thomas Fogge Grandchild to Otho Fogge who came out of Lancashire into Kent about the Beginning of Edw. the first and the other wedded to Tho. de Aldon became his Heirs and this upon the breaking of the estate into parcels fell to be the proportion of Fogge in which Name after it had for divers ages continued fixed it was in that Age we style our Grandfathers alienated to Spelman and this Family not many years since determining in a Female Heir it is now by matching with her become the Inheritance of Hadds Sapinton in Petham was the Inheritance of a Family called Bregge for in the forty second year of Edward the third I find Jo. Bregge conveys this Mannor to Sir Richard Atteleeze and he dying without Issue it descended to Marcellus Atteleeze who was his Brother and Heir at Law but he suddenly after expir'd and with him the Name in Daughters and Coheirs whereof Luce who was one of them was first matched to John Norton Esq and after to William Langley of Knolton whose Heirs about the latter end of Richard the second concurred in a joynt and mutual Bargain and Sale and passed away their Interest in this Mannor which was too much disordered and ravel'd whilst it lay thus mingled to George Ballard Esquire from whom by the Clew of several Ages the Title went along to Nicholas Ballard Esquire who about the latter end of Philip and Mary alienated it to Langford and from this Name the four Brothers joyning in the Sale in that Age which was circumscribed within our Fathers Remembrance it was carried off by Sale to Cranmer of Canterbury whose Son Mr. ........ Cranmer is by Descent successively entituled to the present Propriety of it Hauts-place in this Parish was the Fountain from whence that noble Family which fell under that Sirname originally streamed out which afterwards dispersed it self in sub-divided Rivolets over the face of this County Ivo de Haut the first of this Name that ancient Record represents to us is mentioned in a Book kept in the Exchequer called Liber de Terris Templariorum which is a Survey of those Lands that Order held in England in the year of Grace One thousand one hundred and eighty and there it is affirmed that he held this Mannor of Temple Waltham and from this Ivo de Haut did the Title in a never-ebbing Current of Descent glide down to Sir William Haut who was Sheriff of Kent in the sixteenth year and then again promoted to that Office in the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth and not long after deceased and with him the Name found its Funeral in two Daughters and Co-heirs one of which termed Elizabeth was matched to Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury Esquire to whom this place in the right of his Wife devolved And from his Family in the Age within the confines of our Grand-fathers Remembrance it was passed away by Sale to Salkeld who not many years since conveyed the Possession over to Bateman There was a Chauntry founded at Depden in this Parish as appears by a Manuscript in the Hands of Mr. Thomas Den Recorder of Canterbury lately deceased founded and endowed by William Gratian Priest in the Raign of Henry the fourth Whose Revenue upon the Dissolution of this Chauntry in the second year of Edward the sixth was granted to Jo. Come and Richard Almot who not long after passed it away to Wilt. Forbrasse Yeoman a Name in some old Deeds written Fortbrasse which argues it to be of French extraction and from this Family it was about the Beginning of K. James carried off by Sale to Gregory who within the Verge of some few years fast past alienated the Title to Sladden of Liminge Postling lies in the Hundred of Hene and was in Ages of a very high Ascent the Patrimony of the Noble Family of Columbers a Name in Times of elder Cognisance of very great reputation in the West of England Philip de Columbariis or Columbers held it at his Decease which was in the fifth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 5. But after him I discover no more of this Family at this place The next that is represented to be Possessor of it is Hugh de Audley and he held it as appears by ancient Court-rolls in the raign of Edward the second and Edward the third and passed it away to Delves of Delves Court in the County of Chester where it seems it had no long aboad for about the forty third year of Edward the third John de Delves alienates it to Richard Earl of Arundell for which the Earl is pardoned because he purchased it without License first obtained from the King as appears Pat. de An o 43. Edw. tertii Parte secunda Memb. septim And in this Family was it for many Generations fixed and resident until the thirty eighth year of Henry the eighth and then it was by Sale transmitted to Sir Anthony Aucher But the Tenure of it in this Family was brief and Transitory for about the Beginning of Q. Elizabeth it went away from this Name to Robert Cranmer Esquire Nephew to Thomas Cranmer Arch-bishop of Canterbury who expiring in a Female Heir she brought it along with her to Sir Arthur Harris of Crixey in Essex from whom it is devolved to his Son and Heir Sir Cranmer Harris who holds the instant Possession of it Henewood is another Mannor in this Parish from whence the Honywood of Elmsted and those of Pett in Charing do extract their Sirname And Edmund de Honywood who in the raign of Hen. the third is remembred in the Front and Van of those in the Leiger Book of Horton Priory who were munificent Benefactors to that Covent is set down there to have been of Postling and as this Place was then so is it still through all that Flux and Decursion of Time which hath since elapsed wound up in that revenue which acknowledges the Signorie and Jurisdiction of this ancient Name and Family Pluckley in the Hundred of Calehill was originally a Mannor which owned the Arch-bishops of Canterbury for Lords of the Fee until Lanfranc Arch-bishop of Canterbury gave it to William Brother of John de Cobham who in the Grant is styled Miles Archiepiscopi not that he was ever any Knight or Souldier that attended upon him but that he granted him this Mannor to
hold in Knights Service of him and his Successors which was very usual and customary for the Arch-bishops and other great Prelates to do until King Edward the first growing jealous of the Power and Grandeur of the Clergie who endeavoured by their Bounty and magnificent Donations to oblige both the principal of the Nobility and Gentry and chain them up by these extraordinary Engagements to their Devotion caused the Statute called Quia emptores Terrarum in the one and twentieth of his raign to be made which restrains and supersedes for the future all new Creations of Mannors But to proceed VVilliam de Cobham being thus enstated in this Mannor in Gratitude to the first Donor altered his Name from Cobham to Pluckley Sir Richard de Pluckley this mans Grandchild flourished in the raign of King Stephen and Henry the second and founded the Church at Pluckley and from this man did VVilliam de Pluckley lineally branch out in whom the Male-Line concluded so that Agnes his Daughter and Heir by matching with John Surrenden Esquire cast Pluckley into the Possession of that Name and Family where it had not long sojourned when the same Vicissitude brought it over to Haut for James Haut wedded Joan Heir General of John Surrenden and so became Possessor of Pluckley but in this Name the Title was as volatile and mutable as in the former for this man went out in Daughters and Co-heirs one of them was wedded to Gouldwell and Christian the other was matched to John Dering Esquire in whose Right he was entituled to the Signory of Pluckley Now if you will inquire where lay the ancient Land of Dering if my Assertion might be credited I should affirm that it was at Stamford by Hieth where they were Lords of some part of the little Mannot of Heyton for by an old Roll I find that Normanus de Morinis married Kineburga Daughter and Heir of Deringus and his Son as was Customary in those Times called himself Deringus de Morinis and matched with Elveva Sister and Heir of Alanus de Heyton and so was invested in the Propriety of the Mannor of Heyton from whom it successively came down to Richard Fitz Dering who was Son of Dering and great Grand-child to this man who was the first who deserted the Sirname de Morinis and assumed that of Dering and died possest of the Mannor of Heyton in the forty second year of Henry the third And from this Richard Fitz Dering is Sir Edward Dering Baronet now lineally extracted who is the instant Lord of Pluckley and Surrenden Dering where Sir Edward Dering Knight and Baronet not many years since deceased raised that elegant Structure as eminent for its Magnificence and Beauty as it is for its Contrivance and Curiosity Pevington was formerly a Parish and had a Church dedicated to St. Mary though it be now languished into Dis-use and grown an adjunct to Pluckley The Patrons as well as Proprietaries of it were the Pevingtons a Knightly Family who borrowed their Sirname from hence The first whom I meet with is Sir Ralph de Pevington who flourished here in the raign of King John and King Henry the third and was Father to Sir William de Pevington who likewise died possest of this Mannor in the fifty fourth year of Henry the third from whom descended John and William Pevington who dying without Issue in the seventh year of Henry the fourth Amabilia their Sister matched to John Gobion became their Heir and she lies buried in the Church of Austin-Friars at Canterbury and is mentioned to have been a liberal Benefactresse to that Cloister about the Time of her Decease which was 1405. and had Issue by him Julian their only Daughter who was about the twenty seventh year of Henry the sixth matched to William Brent from whom descended Thomas Brent in whom the Name and Male-Line together was extinguished so that Margaret Brent matched to John Dering was the visible Heir of his Estate amongst which this Mannor of Pevington was enwrapped which came down in Right of this Alliance to Sir Edward Dering Knight and Baronet who upon his Decease gave it after the Death of his Mother the Widow Dowager of Sir Anthony Dering to Mr. Henry Dering the eldest Son by his last Lady Malmains in Pluckley was the Inheritance of a Family of that Sirname Eleanor Wife of John de Malmins died seised of it in the fourteenth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 51. And after by Court-rols I discover Henry Malmains to be possest of it from whom it descended to Richard Malmains who died as the Date upon his Tomb-stone in Plukley Church discovers to us in the year 1440. and left John Malmains his Heir after whom I descry no farther mention of this Family at this place The next Family which succeeded in the Inheritance was Dering not by any Right derived from Haut for they had espoused the Heir of that Name before Malmains was extinguished nor could it be by any Female Heir atchieved for there were but two Co-heirs of this Branch of Malmains who were wedded to Monins and Gouldwell And if it be answered that Dering married the Heir of the eldest House To that I answer that Nicholas Malmains who was of the elder Line deceased in the twentieth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 15. and left only a Daughter and Heir who was matched to William de Grandison so that it is evident by the Premises that this Mannor of Malmains devolved to Dering the instant Proprietary not by any match of Haut or of this Family it self by any Female Heir or Coheir of Malmains but by Purchase only Shurland is the last place of Account It hath been the Patrimony of Betenham of Betenham in Cranbroke for many Hundred years Stephen de Betenham is mentioned in Court-rols which take their Rise or Date from the Government of Hen the third and certainly this is that Stephen de Betenham which is mentioned to be one of the Recognitores Magnae Assisae an Office of very great Importance in elder Times in those Pipe-rols which relate to the raign of King John and from this Stephen hath the Title of this place by a constant and even Chain of Ages threaded together into an unbroken Succession come down to Mr. Betenham who holds the present Signory and Possession of it Plumsted in the Hundred of Lesnes was in the year of Grace 960. given by King Edgar to the Abbot and Convent of St. Augustins in Canterbury as Thorne their Chronicler testifies under the Notion of four ploughed Lands which afterwards Godwin Earl of Kent violently tore from their Patrimony and setled upon his Son Tostius but it was restored to that Seminary by William the Conqueror and remained fastned to their Revenue until the rough hand of Henry the eighth by a publick suppression unlinked it and then it was by that Prince in the thirty sixth year of his raign granted to Sir Edward Boughton of
this Family was mouldered away the Says of Coldham were interessed in the possession and Geffrey de Say possest it in the fifteenth year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 20. The next Family in Succession to these was the Mowbrays and Elizabeth Wife of Thomas Duke of Norfolk and Daughter of Richard Earl of Arundell held it at her Decease which was in the third year of Henry the sixth Rot. Esc Num. 25. And so did her Son John Mowbray Duke of Norfolke who deceased in the eleventh year of Henry the sixth Rot. Esc Num. 129. And was descended from John Mowbray who held it as appears by ancient Court-rolls as parcel of the Barony of Bedford in the reign of Edward the second After the Mowbrays the Nevill Barons of Aburgavenny were invested in the Fee and remained seated in the possession until the reign of Q Elizabeth and then Henry Lord Nevill in the twenty ninth year dying without Issue-male it was disposed with much other Land to his Brother Sir Edward Nevill from whom it is now brought down to his Grandchild John Lord Nevill who enjoys the instant Inheritance of it Ridley in the Hundred of Acstane acknowledges it self to have been anciently a Branch of the patrimony of the Lords Leybourn and Rog. de Leybourn in the 55 th year of H. the third sells Ridley excepting the Advowson to Bartholomew VVodeton In which Family the Title was not very permanent for in the reign of Edward the third I find the VVallis's to have been its Proprietaries Augustin VVallis obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor of Ridley in the twenty second year of Edward the third and dyed possest of it in the twenty eighth year of that Prince's Government Rot. Esc Num. 55. After the VVallis's were expired and vanished the Rickhills held this Mannor where it was not long constant for VVilliam Rickhill about the sixteenth of Henry the sixth conveyed it by Deed to Tho. Edingham or Engham who again in the ninteenth year of the abovesaid Prince passed it away by Fine to Robert Savery from which Name not many years after it came by the same Vicissitude to be the Inheritance of Bevill in whose Descendants it remained untill the Beginning of Henry the eighth and then it was by purchase fastned to the demeasn of Fitz and VValter Fitz by Deed whose dare commences from the twenty seventh of Henry the eighth conveyed it to Will. Sidley of Southfleet Esq Ancestor to Sir Charles Sidley Baronet to whom upon the late Decease of his Brother Sir William Sidley it owns for its present Possessor Ridlingswould is a Member of Dover Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer obtained the Grant of a Market to Ridling swould and a three Dayes Fair at St. Nicolas in the ninth of Edward the 2. as appears Pat. 9. Ed. 2. N. 57. and was parcel of the Honor of Fulberts and Fulbert de Dover held it as appears by Doomes-day Book in the twentieth year of William the Conqueror in Ages of a nearer Approach to us that is in the raign of Henry the third Richard de Dover and Roesia his Wife were possest of it as appears Ex Bundellis Annor incertorum Henrici tertii Rot. Esc Num. 237. When this Family went out the Badelesmeres stept in Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer that powerful Baron obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Lands here in the ninth year of Edward the second and was Steward too to the Houshold of King Edward the second as appears by a Confirmation of the Charter of the City of London which bears Date from that year of Edward the second and to which he as Teste writes himself Steward of the Kings Houshold but not long after being entangled in that Combination which was made by Thomas Earl of Lancaster and sundry other Barons against that Prince he forfeited both his Estate and Life as the price of that seditious Attempt but this with much other Land was restored to his Son Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer in the second year of Edward the third but he died without Issue in the twelfth year of that Prince Rot. Esc Num. 44. So that his large Revenue was proportionably divided between his four Sisters and Co-heirs whereof this was a Limb and fell in upon the partition to the Inheritance of John Vere Earl of Oxford by Matilda de Badelesmer and he held it at his Death which was in the fortieth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 38. But in this Family it did not long continue after his Exit for in the raign of Richard the second I find Robert Belknap possest of it and enjoyed it at his Death which was in the second year of Henry the fourth after his Return from his Exilement into Ireland whither he was banished for his too active asserting the Prerogative against the Liberty of the Populacie in the tenth year of Richard the second In the second year of Richard the third I find William Belknap Esquire was in the Fruition of it at his Decease Rot. Esc Num. 16. and from him did it devolve to his Successor Sir Henry Belknap in whom this Name was extinguisht so that his Estate was resolved into several parcels which came over to Alice his Daughter and Co-heir matched to Sir William Shelley Anne married to Sir Robert Wotton and Elizabeth wedded to Sir Philip Cooke of Giddie-hall in Essex and in these Families did the complicated Interest of this place remain concentered until that Age which fell under our Grand-fathers Cognisance and then it was by joint-Concurrence passed away to Edelph from whom it is brought down to Sir ...... Edolph who holds the present Signory of it Oxney-house in this Parish was an Ancient Seat of the Noble Family of Criol Matilda Widow of Simon de Criol died possest of it in the fifty second year of Henry the third and transmitted it to Bertram de Criol who held it at his death which was in the twenty third year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. After him his Son Bertram de Criol was setled in the possession but was not long liv'd after his Father for he died in the thirty fourth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 37. and left it to his Brother John Criol who dying without Issue it was brought over to his Sister Joan Criol who by matching with Sir Richard de Rokesley made it the Inheritance of that Name and Family and was in possession of it at her Death which was in the fifteenth year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 95. From whom it came down to Thomas Lord Poynings who had espoused Agnes one of the Coheirs of them two and in Right of this Alliance was his Successor Richard Lord Poyning found invested in it at his Death which was in the fifteenth year of Richard the second Parte prima Rot. Esc Num. 53. and left it to his Kinsman Robert de Poynings who passed it away by Sale to Tame and in the fourth year of
Henry the fourth Robert Tame paid respective Aid for it at the Marriage of Blanch that Kings Daughter After Tame was worn out the Sidleys possest it and John Sidley Esquire who was Auditor to Henry the seventh added much to this House as well as to his Estate and from him is it now descended to Sir Charles Sidley Baronet whom it owns for present Lord of the Fee Ripple in the Hundred of Cornile was a Mannor which alwayes related to the Abby of St. Austins and was in the Surrender of this Abby into the Hands of Henry eighth in the twenty ninth year of that Prince found to be involved in the Demeasne of that Covent from whom it went over to the Crown and remained there until Queen Elizabeth in the thirty second year of her Government passed it away to Sir John Hall who not long after alienated his Interest here to Gokin in which Family the Propriety hath ever since continued But Watling was originally of secular Concernment and was wound up in the Patrimony of the Lord Leybourn Thomas de Leybourn enjoyed it at his Decease which was in the thirty fifth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 10. From whom it went along with the Residue of his Estate to his Son Sir Roger de Leybourn with whom the Male-Line sunk into his Sepulcher and Juliana de Leybourn was his Sole Heir and she was first matched to Iohn de Hastings and afterwards to William de Clinton Earl of Huntington but had no Issue by neither nor was there any which could by a Claim of collateral Affinity stave off the Claim and pretences of the Crown unto her Estate so that upon her Decease which was in the forty third year of Edward the third that Prince seised upon her Inheritance as an Escheat and his Granchild Richard the second granted this to the Abby of Chidrens Langley upon whose suppression it devolved with all its perquisites to the Crown and Henry the eighth granted it in the thirty fifth year of his raign to Sir Thomas Moile one of the Justices at that Time of this County from whom by Amy his Daughter and Coheir it was cemented into the Patrimony of Sir Thomas Kempe but it was not long after unsodered for in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth it was sold to William Sherley of Sussex who in our Grand-fathers Remembrance alienated it to Crayford of Mongeham whose Successor not without an eager contest commenced with one Durbon and Kidder by his Predecessor who pretended an Interest in it conveyed to them by an antecedent Judgement acknowledged by the above-said Shirley is now setled in the Possession of it River in the Hundred of Bewsborough contains two remarkable places within the Boundaries of it The first is Kersoney which was the Inheritance of a Family called Paganell or more vulgarly Paynell Isolda Wife of John Paynell held it at her Death which was in the seventeenth year of Edward the second In Times of a lower Descent I find it in the Tenure of Phineux the last of which Name at this Place was Sir John Phineux Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the raign of Henry the seventh and he determining in Daughters and Co-heirs Jane one of them by matching with John Roper of St. Dunstans Esquire made it the Patrimony of that Family from whom in our Grand-fathers Remembrance it was passed away to Best Ancestor to Mr. ...... Best of Canterbury Esquire who is the instant Proprietary of it The second is Archers-Court which gave both Seat and Sirname to a Family so called one Nicolas Archer held it in the first year of Edward the second and so did Thomas le Archer in the third year of Edward the third and left it to his Son William Archer who paid respective Aide for his Lands here at River and at Atterton and Coperland in the twentieth year of Edward the third at the making the Black Prince Knight From Archer it came to a Family called Baudrede and continued divers years in this Name until in the first year of Edward the fourth it was conveyed by Sale with Coperland to Thomas Doilie Esquire Afterwards in the raign of Henry the eighth it was exchanged with the Crown and that Prince in the thirty sixth year of his managing the English Scepter granted it to Sir James Hales in whose Family it remained until almost that Time which we entitle to our Fathers Remembrance and then a part of it was passed away by Sale to Lee but the other parcel continued constant to the Interest of Hales until not many years since not only that proportion which was in the possession of Lee but likewise that other above-mentioned were both alienated by their respective Proprietaries to Sir Hardres Waller Rodmersham in the Hundred of Milton was the Inheritance of a Family whose Sirname was Pine John de la Pine enjoyed it in the twentieth year of Henry the third as appears by private Evidences and so did James de la Pine his Grandchild who deceased in the thirty seventh year of Edward the third and left it to his Son and Heir James de la Pine a Child of nine years old at his Fathers Exit and he preserved it untill the latter end of Richard the second and then it was transmitted by Sale to Podach now called vulgarly Pordage descended originally from John de Podach who flourished as appears by an ancient Pedigree relating to this Family in the raign of Henry the third and held Lands in the County of Devon which bore his Name and was called Podach and from this above-mentioned Iohn is Mr. Tho. Pordage aliàs Podach now of Rodmersham by a multiplyed Efflux of many Descents lineally extracted and bears now the Fesse in his Coat Armour plain whereas by ancient Monuments and Seals affixed to old Evidences it is manifest his Ancestors bore it Checque Upon what Grounds the modern Alteration is establisht I confesse I know not it is enough that the Dignity of the Family is yet supported by that ancient Inheritance which they have for so many Ages and yet do possesse here at Rodmersham Pitstock in Rodmersham is a little Mannor which augmented the Revenue of the Nuns of Minster in Shepey but when that ruinous Tempest broke forth in the raign of Henry the eighth which like an Hurricano tore up by the Roots the Ecclesiastical Patrimony this was supplanted and thrown into the Demeasne of the Crown and then the abovesaid Prince in the twenty ninth year of his Rule granted it to Sir Thomas Cheyney and his Son Henry Lord Cheyney about the thirteenth year of Queen Elizabeth alienated it to Samuel Thornhill Esquire who upon his Decease gave it to his second Son Sir Iohn Thornhill from whom by descendant Right it is now come over to his Son and Heir Charles Thornhill Esquire Newburgh is partly situated in Rodmersham and partly in Lingsted and anciently had the Estimate of a Mannor and gave Name to a Family that
the rudenesse of the Words which are here transcribed out of the East Window where they stand engrossed in an antiquated Character Margareta La Famma Gillam de Brockhilla fio Fera sata Shapella From hence branched forth the Brockhills or Brockhulls for anciently they were written so both ways both of Cale-hill and Aldington Septuans in Thurnham But the Male Line fayling here in Thomas Brockhull Elizabeth his Sole Daughter and Heir brought it to be possest by Richard Selling in which Family after the Interest of it stayed untill allmost our Fathers Remembrance it was by the same Devolution carried off to acknowledge the Propriety of Tournay Sandhurst in the Hundred of Selbrittenden was with much other Land granted by King Offa in the year 791 to Christ-church in Canterbury But Betherinden was always of temporal Interest for it afforded both Seat and Sirname to a Family of this Denomination and John de Bethrinden dyed seised of it in the year of Edward the third But not long after did it reside in this Family for this Name expired in a Female Inheritrix who was matched to Finch who united this Seat to his Demeasne and here it lay untill the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth and then it was rent off by Sale and placed in Pelham and from this Name a Mutation of the same Circumstance took it away and in our Fathers Remembrance annexed it to the Inheritance of Fowl and remains still with the Descendants of that Family Aldrinden is a third place of Account in Sandhurst had Owners of that Sirname of whom Roger de Aldrinden as the private Deeds of this place do inform me was the last in the Male descent who left it to his Daughter and Heir Christian Aldrinden and she in the twenty second year of Edward the third passed it away to John Sellbrittenden who not long after alienated it to Thomas Bourne and he held it as appears by an old Court-roll in the first year of Richard the second and from him did it by the Chain of Descent passe along untill it arrived at John Bourn who dying in the fourth year of Edward the fourth settled it by Will on Joan his Female Inheritrix matched to Thomas Allard and by this Alliance did it descend to his Son Henry Allard who had Issue John Allard who alienated his Right in it by Sale to John Twisden Gentleman in the thirtieth year of Henry the eighth from whom it came down to his Successor Mr. William Twisden who about the Beginning of King James sold it to Mr. Thomas Downton Esquire Father of Mr. Richard Downton of Istleworth Esquire Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex now Proprietary of it Combden is another Mannor in this Parish which was anciently possest by Fulk de Ballard that Fulk who as appears by the Book called Testa de Nevill in the Exchequer paid a respective supply for Land in Sandhurst at the marriage of Isabell Sister to King Henry the third in the twentieth year of that Prince but not long did the Propriety of this place rest in this Family for in the reign of Richard the second I find it in the Possession of the Whitfields an ancient Family descended from Whitfield in Cumberland of which Stock was Sir Ithan de Whitfield who in behalf of the Barons then knit together in an hostile confederacy against their Prince as an old French Manuscript informs me tue Borough-bridge 15. Edwardi secundi il est oit contre le Roy defended Borough-bridge against Edward the second And ever since the Government of that Prince above-mentioned was this place constantly fastned by the Thread of many Descents to the Patrimony though not of this Family yet of this Name until Sir Ralph Whitfield deceasing not many years since bequeathed it by Will to his Daughter Mrs. Dorothy Whitfield who hath now brought it by Marriage to be the possession of John Fotherly Esquire Here is a place in this Parish which however it be now under a cloudy and obscure Character was in Ages of a higher Gradation the Inheritance of the Noble Family of Twisden and certainly here they lived when they writ de Denna Fracta and from them it hath borrowed the Title of Twisden-street or Borough which it retains to this Day Indeed Twisden in the Original Saxon imports no more but the broken Valley or the Vale distinguished into two peeces Shadockherst in the Hundreds of Blackborn Chart Longbridge and Ham was the Inheritance of a Family called Forstall and sometimes written at Forstall which were of no contemptible Extraction in this County for in several Ancient Deeds I find John at Forstall and Richard at Forstall to be Witnesses and it is probable they were Possessors of this Mannor though the private Deeds reach out to our View no higher discovery then the reign of Henry the fifth for in the third year of that Prince's reign Joan Forstall passes it away by Deed to Stokys vulgarly called Stokes and in that Family was the Interest of it many years clasped up until at last the ordinary Vicissitude of Purchase brought it to be the Demeasne of Randolph who had an Estate likewise about Burham near Maidstone And from this Name about the beginning of King Edward the sixth it went away by Sale to Sir John Taylor who in the twenty fifth of Queen Elizabeth passed it away to John Taylor Esquire Ancestor to Thomas Taylor Esquire who is now invested in the Possession of it and from whom I confesse I have received my Intelligence concerning those who were the former Proprietaries of it Criols-court in this Parish was one of those Seats which related to the Patrimony of Bertram de Crioll and he died seised of it in the twenty third year of Edward the first and left it to his Son John de Crioll who deceasing about the beginning of Edward the third without Issue it devolved to Joan his Sister and Heir who was matched to Sir Richard de Rokesley but he likewise determined in Agnes Rokesley who was one of his two Female Co-heirs and she by matching with Thomas de Poynings entituled that Family to the possession of that wide Estate which devolved to her in Right of her Mother and from him did it descend to his Successor Sir Edward Poynings Son of Robert Poynings a man very eminent in the Government of Henry the seventh For this Sir Edward in the first year of his Rule immediatly after he had triumphed over Richard the third in Bosworth-field was chosen one of his Privy Councel to manage the publick Interest of the Nation Afterwards he most vigorusly opposed James Lord Audley and his Cornish Squadrons being then in Defection to Henry the seventh in the tenth year of his reign And this Sir Edward held it at his Death which was in the twelfth year of Henry the eighth though his Office was not found until the fourteenth of that Prince and then it being discovered that the whole Stock and Lineage
of this Family were extinguished and that there were none who were legally begotten for Sir Thomas Poynings was his natural Son that either in a direct or collateral Line could pretend a Title to his Estate it escheated to the Crown And Henry the eighth afterwards passed it away by Grant to William Taylor whose Sutcessor Mr. Thomas Taylor passed it away to George Taylor and he had Issue Mr. John Taylor who concluding in Anne his Sole Daughter and Heir she by a Match with Whitfeild annexed it to the Demeasne of that Name from whom again not many years since it came over by Sale to More who very lately hath alienated it to Mr. Thomas Taylor Esquire Mincing-court vnlgarly so called but Originally and in Old Records styled Minikens-court is likewife circumscribed within the Verge of Shadock herst It was parcel of that Income which did support in elder Times the Hospital of St. Jacobs in Tanington by Canterbury which was founded to be a Receptacle of Leprous Women and confirmed by Hubert Arch-bishop of Canterbury about the beginning of King John and to this Covent did it relate until the reign of King Edward the sixth and then though it had not been torn off from the Revenue of the abovesaid Hospital by the violent Hand of Henry the eighth yet it was alienated by that Prince and in the second year of his Rule it was granted to Robert Tatteshall Esquire to hold of his Mannor of East-Greenwich tantum per Fidelitatem Servitii and from him immediatly after it came over by purchase to Sir Edward Wotton And when Cardinal Poole visited Kent in the year 1557. he was found invested in it and from him did it by paternal Delegation devolve to his Successor Thomas Lord Wotton who setled it upon his eldest Daughter Katherine upon her Marriage with Henry Lord Stanhop Son and Heir to Philip Earl of Chesterfield and this Lady not long since hath alienated her Interest in it to Mr. Thomas Harfleet of Canterbury Stalesfeild in the Hundred of Feversham was a Limb of that vast Revenue which fell under the Jurisdiction and Signory of the Knights Templers and is registred under that Notion in that Book kept in the Exchequer styled Liber de Terris Templariorum And in Mr. Robert Glovers Church-Notes of Kent there is in this Church represented the Pourtracture of a Chevalier maled in Armour whose Face is only visible and that pourtracted with a long Beard which induces me to believe that it was the Effigies of some eminent Person of this Order for in all the Sculpture and Imagery of the Knights Templers both Ancient and Modern they are still delivered to Posterity under that Representation And Peter Auger falling under the Censure of a Knight Templer in the fourth year of Edward the second though Valett to that Prince because he nourished a long and diffused Beard was absolved and discharged by his Master by satisfying the publick that though he wore a long Beard he was no Knight Templer But to advance in my Survey After that fatal Tempest which was conjured up by the Magick of the Court of Rome and its Emissaries had in the second year of Edward the second shook this Order into a total Dissolution this Mannor which lay clasped up in their Revenue was united by Royal Concession to the Demeasne of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem and there it dwelt untill the general suppression in the reign of Henry the eighth dislodged it and threw it into the possession of the Crown where it lay involved until King Edward the sixth in the fourth year of his Government by Grant planted the Propriety in Sir Anthony St. Leger and he immediatly after passed it away to Sir Anthony Aucher who was afterwards slain bravely disputing the Interest of the English Nation at Calais against the Assaults of the French and his Successor about the beginning of King James alienated it to Salter from whom it is now come down to Sir Nicholas Salter who is entituled to the instant Fee-simple of it Darbies-court in this Parish gave Seat and Sirname to a Family which was known to the World by no other Denomination and certainly was a Family of generous Account in this Track for in very ancient Registers and Rols of Kentish Gentry I find this Coat to be borne by this Name videlicet Partie per Cheveron embattelled Or and Azure three Eagles counterchanged And of this Family was John Darby Esquire who was Sheriff of London in the year 1445. and built the South-Isle of St. Dionis Back-church near Lime-street where the Windows represent to our View the above-mentioned Coat as the best Index to the Memory of so munificent a Benefactor But to proceed Before the beginning of Henry the fourth the Propriety of this Mansion was by Sale conveyed from Darby to St. Leger where its aboad was of as brief a continuance for the Male-line failing in Thomas St. Leger Esquire who bought it by Joan his Daughter and Co-heir wedded to Henry Aucher Esquire it came over to be the Inheritance of that Family and in their Revenue was constantly fixed until the Age and Remembrance of our Grand-fathers and then it was alienated to Sir Michael Sonds of Eastry from whom by hereditary Right it devolved to Sir Richard Sonds of Throuley who in his Life-time passed it away to his Son and Heir Sir George Sonds now of Leeze-Court in Shelvich Knight of the Bath to whom the Possession of this Mannor at this instant is entituled Stamford in the Hundred of Folkstone is in it self a small obscure Village but made eminent by containing within the Limits of it Ostenhanger a Seat of as much Account and Eminence as any in the County The Demeasne which related to it was divided between the two noble Families of Crioll and Auberville Bertram de Crioll was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty seventh year of Henry the third and is written in the Pipe-roll of that year of Westenhanger a Name coincident with the other Sir William de Auberville lived at the Borough of Westenhanger when he founded the Abby of West-Langdon in the Time of Richard the first he had Hugh de Auberville who likewise as appears by the Leiger Book of that Covent being a liberal Benefactor to that Cloister was his Son and Heir and he had Issue Sir William de Auberville in whom the Male-Line determined and he had only a Female Inheritrix espoused to Nicholas de Crioll whether of a. Younger House or else a Younger Son to Bertram de Crioll above-mentioned I cannot discover Bertram de Crioll had Issue Bertram de Crioll who dyed possest of a great Proportion of Ostenhanger in the twenty third year of Edward the first as appears Rot. Esc Num. 48. And left it to Joan his Daughter married to Sir Richard de Rokesley who upon the Decease of her only Brother John de Crioll without Issue became his Sole Heir This Sir Richard de Rokesley was one of those
eminent Kentish Gentlemen that accompanied King Edward the first into Scotland and for his signal Service performed at the Siege of Carlaverock was made a Banneret by that Prince See Rot. Pipae de Anno 17. Edw. 2. but he likewise expired in two Daughters and Coheirs Agnes one of them was wedded to Thomas de Poynings and Joan the other was matched to Walter de Pateshull Upon the Partition of the Estate Rokesley's Interest in Westenhanger wholly accrued to Poynings and he had Issue Nicholas de Poynings who was summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron the thirty third year of Edward the third Michael Poynings who was likewise summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron the forty second year of that Prince and thirdly Lucas de Poynings who in the year abovesaid was honored with the same summons Upon the Devision of the Estate Westenhanger was annexed to the Demeasne of Michaell de Poynings and he had Issue Thomas de Poynings who was summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron in the sixth year of Henry the fourth his Son and Heir was Robert Poynings who in the twelfth year of Henry the sixth with Iohn Perry were designed by Authority to take the Subscriptions of those Kentish Gentlemen who were summoned in to renounce the Title of the House of York which it seems was then in secret Agitation to be set up against she House of Lancâ—ster and this Robert was oftentimes summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron in the reign of that Prince The last time I find him summoned was in the twenty third year of his Government and his Son and Heir was Robert Poynings who was likewise summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron in the reign of the above-mentioned Monarch and deceased the eighth year of Edward the fourth and left his Estate here to that worthy Person his Son and Heir Sir Edward Poynings of whom more hereafter I shall now discover how that Division of Ostenhanger which devolved to Nicholas de Crioll by the Heir of Auberville was passed away Nicholas de Crioll had Issue John de Crioll who in the nineteenth year of Edward the third obtained a Licence to found a Chantry in the Chappel of St. Johns in Ostenhanger and endow it with one Messuage forty five Acres of Glebe and six Acres of Pasture situated in Limn as appears Prima Parte Pat. de Anno 19. Edwardi tertii Memb. 4. And before in the seventeenth year of that Prince was permitted by Grant from the Crown to embattle and make Loop-holes in his Mansion house at Ostenhanger as is manifest secunda Parte Pat. de Anno 17. Edwardi tertii Memb. 34. And he left it secured and invested with these new acquired Franchises to his Son Sir Nicholas de Crioll and he dyed seised of it in the third year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 40. And from him did it successively devolve to Sir Thomas Keriell or Crioll who was slain at the second Battle of St. Albans in the thirty eighth of Henry the sixth whilst he asserted the Quarrel of the House of Yorke and dying without Issue-male Thomas Fogge Esquire in his Wife 's Right who was one of his Daughters and Co-heirs entered upon his Estate here at Ostenhanger and about the latter end of Edward the fourth passed it away to his eldest Brother Sir John Fogge of Repton who died possest of it in the seventeenth year of Henry the seventh and bequeathed it by Testament to his Son and Heir Sir John Fogge who about the beginning of Henry the eighth demised his Concernment here to Sir Edward Poynings which Edward Poynings was one of the Privy Councel to Henry the seventh and lived here when he so vigorously in the tenth year of that Prince opposed the proceedings of James Lord Audley who was afterwards defeated at Black-heath and likewise was Lord Deputy of Ireland and Knight of the Garter and by his Influence on that Nation was that eminent Statute enacted which ever since hath been adopted into his Family and called Poynings-Law He was likewise at the Siege of Terwin with Henry the eighth and was there for his eminent Service created Knight Banneret and Governour of that Town He died in the twelfth year of King Henry the eighth and was found after a serious Inquisition taken after his Death in the fourteenth year of that Prince to have neither any Issue lawfully begotten nor any collateral Alliance that could by any remote Affinity eptitle themselves to his Estate and so by Escheat it became invested in the Crown but King Henry the eighth out of his indulgent Bounty by Royal Concession made it the Inheritance of his natural Son Thomas Poynings who was a Person of excellent and elegant Composure and eminent Merit and was made Knight of the Bath at the Coronation of Queen Anne in the twenty fourth of that Prince's reign and afterwards having represented to the World signal Demonstrations in a publick Joust or Tournament of a remarkable Strength and Courage was in the thirty sixth year of Henry the eighth called to sit in Parliament as Baron Poynings of Ostenhanger but in the thirty seventh of that Prince's reign deceased without Issue upon whose Exit this Mannot reverts to the Crown and there lay couched until the first year of Edward the sixth and then it was granted to John Dudley Earl of Warwick afterwards Duke of Northumberland upon whose Attainder in the first year of Queen Mary it became again parcel of the Royal Patrimony and afterwards Queen Elizabeth about the beginning of her reign passed it away by Grant to her Kinsman Sir Thomas Sackville and he not long after alienated it by Sale to Thomas Smith Esquire vulgarly called Customer Smith who much enhaunsed the Beauty of the Fabrick which had been empaired and defaced with Fire with magnificent Additions from whom it is now transmitted by paternal Descent to his great Grand-child the Right Honorable Philip Smith Viscount Strangford who hath made it his principal Residence The Mannor of Heyton lies likewise in Stamford which was anciently possest by a Family of deep Antiquity which was known to the World by that Sirname and bore for their Cognisance in Ancient Armorials Gules three Piles Argent Alanus de Heyton called in some old Records Alanus Vicecomes because he was joyned as an Assistant to Ralph de Picot Sheriff of Kent in the execution of his Office in the third fourth and fifth years of Henry the second held a whole Knights Fee of Gilbert de Magninot in the Government of that Prince but deceased without Issue so that Elveva his Sister matched to Deringus de Morinis Son of Norman de Morinis became his Heir from whom the Mannor of Heyton descended to his Son Deringus de Morinis who still writ himself in his Dateless Deeds Dominus de Heyton and so did * It is probable this was the Richard Fitz-Dering who was with Richard the first at the Siege of Acon Richard Fitz-Dering his
in Marriage on Katharine-Wotton his eldest Daughter and Co-heir espoused to Henry Lord Stanhop and she by her Feoffees in Trust hath demised the Fee-simple to Mr. Robert Oliver of Leybourn Loveherst is another Mannor in this Parish was parcel of that Estate which by its Income supported the Priory of Leeds and upon the Suppression was by Henry the eighth granted to Sir John Gage in the thirty fourth year of his reign and he in the thirty sixth of that Prince demised it to Thomas Colepeper Esquire who not long after alienated it to Thomas Wilford Esquire from whom about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth it passed away by Sale to Mr. John Baker in whose Descendants the Title is yet resident Engeherst presents it self next to our View it is now vulgarly called Henherst in Ages of an higher Ascent Engeherst for some old Deeds without Date bounding some Land in this Parish of Stapleherst make it situated juxta Terras Osberti de Hengherst supra Dennam de Engherst and from this Den or Vally did that Ancient Family called Engherst or Hengherst take the first Extraction of its Name who bore as appears by several Seals for their paternal Armory Barrie of six peeces and having continued in the possession of this place for many Descents at last the Inheritance was transmitted to Henry Hengherst and he in the twenty third year of Henry the sixth by his Feoffees in Trust setles it on his Kinsman John Nash and in his Family I find it in the reign of Edward the fourth and Henry the seventh and here for want of clearer Intelligence I must leap to the reign of Queen Elizabeth and then the Fee-simple was invested in Roberts and from this Family about the latter end of that Princess it went away by purchase to Moodye who in our Fathers Memory alienated it to Samuel Ovenden by whose Daughter and Co-heir Elizabeth Ovenden it is now come to own the Heirs of her late Husband Mr. Partrich Tindall Spilsill-court is the last place of Account in this Parish it was as appears by very Ancient Deeds the Residence of a Family of that Name which before the end of King Edward the second was crumbled into Decay and then the Stangraves succeeded in the Possession for Robert de Stangrave at his Decease held some Estate at or in Spilsill in the twelfth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 52. But about the latter end of Edward the third this Family was likewise mouldered away and then it came to own the Signory of Maynie descended from Walter de Meduana or Maynie a man of that Repute as appears by the red Book in the Exchecquer Fol. 84. that he held twenty Knights Fees in this County but Mayneys situated in Bredgar was the Ancient Seat of this Name who having possest for so many Successions and Descents this Seat did not many years since transplant their Interest in it by Sale to Sharpeigh by whose Daughter and Heir it is now become the Inheritance of Mr. George Thompson of London Swalcliff in the Hundred of Blengate was given by Eadbald King of Kent as Thorn the Chronicler of St. Augustins informs me to the Cloister of St. Mildred at Minster in Thanett and was when her body was translated by King Canutus to the Abby of St. Augustins in Canterbury brought over along with it and knit to the Patrimony of that Cloister and the Monks of that Covent granted it away to be held in Fee by a Family which took its Denomination from thence and were called Swalclive and they held it the twentieth year of Henry the third as Testa de Nevill informs me and paid an auxiliary Contribution for it at the Marriage of Isabell that Prince's Sister but before the end of Edward the first this Family was expired and then the Family of St. Lawrence was setled in the Possession Thomas de St. Lawrence held it as appears by the Book of Aid kept in the Exchequer in the twentieth year of Edward the third at making the Black Prince Knight and dyed possest of it in the twenty second year of that Prince Rot. Esc Num. 9. And from him did it descend to his Grandchild Thomas St. Lawrence who setled it in Marriage with Katharine his Daughter and Heir matched to Sir William Apulderfield who determining in Daughters and Coheirs Elizabeth one of them espoused to Sir John Phineux Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench brought it to confesse the Signory of that Family but he deceasing without Issue-male Jane his only Daughter and Sole Inheritrix being matched to John Roper Esquire this Mannor became by this Alliance inoculated into his Patrimony and was resident in this Name untill the Beginning of King James and then it was conveyed to Mr. Benedict Barnham by one of whose four Daughters and Coheirs its Right and Title devolved to Soam of Suffolk who not many years since alienated his Concernment in it to Perry who hath lately transmitted it by Sale to Gould In the year 946. King Eadred gave Land at Swalclive to Heresigus one of his Servants and he again gave it to the Abby of St Augustins conditionally that a place of Sepulture might be reserved for him within their Cloister Snave in the Hundreds of Aloes-Bridge Ham and Newchurch was as high as I can discover a Portion or Member of that Patrimony which confessed the Signory of Haut and so continued untill Joan Daughter and Coheir of Sir William Haut being made the Wife of the unhappy Sir Thomas Wiatt a man of an unstained though an unsuccesseful Virtue this by Female Right became parcel of his Demeasne but when he and his Patrimony were demolished by that impetuous Gust of Misfortune which sunk them both into a heap of Ruines in the second year of Q. Mary this upon his Conviction of high Treason being escheated to the Crown that Princesse in the third year of her Government passed it away to Sir Henry Sidney Knight of the Garter and Lord Deputy of Ireland whose Successor the Right Honorable Robert Earl of Leicester not many years since conveyed it to Sir George Stonehouse Snavewick in this Parish was anciently wrapped up in the Demeasn of the Abby of St. Augustins but being pared off in the general Suppression by the rough Hand of Henry the eighth It was in the thirty fifth year of his reign granted for Life only to Sir Walter Henley but upon his Decease it returned to the Crown and lay there untill the late King Charls about the Beginning of his reign granted it to Mr. Patrick Black a Scotchman who not long after granted it in Lease to Sir Edw. Yates of Barkeshire and conveyed the Fee-simple in Reversion to Mr. Rob. Austin now of Hall-place in Bexley Swanscamp in the Hundred of Acstane hath contracted an eminent Character of Reputation since Sueno or Swain fixed here his Camp when he invaded England to expiate by a plenary Revenge that Blood which in so prodigal an Effusion
Inheritance of that Family and rested there until the first year of Henry the eighth and then it was passed away by Sale from Sir John Fogg Knight to Ralph Banister In Times of a lower Descent that is about the beginning of Queen Elizabeth I find it by Court-rols possest by Tucker who about the latter end of that Princess alienated his Concernment in it to Smith who in our Fathers Remembrance transplanted the Title by Sale into Doctour Fotherbie Dean of Cantorbury whose Son Mr. Charles Fotherbie continues now Proprietary of it Secondly Grove-place offers it self up to our Notice as being the Habitation of a Knightly Family called Grove who in old Deeds are sometimes written at Grove and sealed as appears by the Labells-affixed to their Evidences with three Escollops upon a Cheveron In the reign of Henry the sixth I find it devolved by Descent to Sir John Grove who was a great Benefactor to the Church of St. Peters in Sandwich where he lies buried with the Arms above-mentioned upon his Shield but not long after this Family determined in a Daughter and Heir who linked this Seat to the Inheritance of St. Nicholas who about the latter end of Edward the fourth conveyed it to Quilter in which Name it was resident until the latter end of Henry the eighth and then it was passed away to Linch and hath remained ever since incorporated into the Revenue of that Family so that at present it is come down to Mr. John Linch a Noble Confessor for the Interest of the Church and Protestant Religion There is a Family in this Parish called Omer which as appears by old Court-rols Tombs Deeds and other Evidences have been constantly resident almost four Hundred years Seasalter in the Hundred of Whitstaple did belong to the Priory of Christ-church but by whom it was given the Records of that Covent are silent only I find that it was part of that Revenue which supported their Diet and Table and likewise I discover that Pope Gregory the ninth in the tenth year of his Papacy by his Bull appropriated the Parsonage to the Priory above-mentioned and likewise was granted for the better improving their Lively-hood and Subsistence If you will see under what Notion it passed in the twentieth year of William the Conqueror Doomesday Book will inform you that it was valued upon the Terrier at two Carucats of Land and upon the Appraisment was rated at five pound This Mannor upon the Resignation of that Estate which related to the Convent abovesaid into the Hands of Henry the eighth was setled by that Prince on the newly erected Dean and Chapiter of Christ-church and there it remained until these calamitous Times Ellenden in this Parish belonged to the Abby of Feversham and was as the Lieger Book of that Covent informs me given to the Monks of that Cloister by John Ellenden and here it was incorporated and fixed until the publick Dissolution unhinged and unrooted it and planted it in the Crown and afterwards King Henry the eighth in the thirty fifth year of his Government granted it to Mr. Thomas Arden miserably afterwards assassinated by his Wife at Feversham and he the same year conveyed it to John Nedeham from whom it came over to his Son and Heir John Nedeham Gentleman and he in the thirty second year of Queen Elizabeth alienated it to Mr. Michael Beresford of Westerham who not long after passed it away to Sir George Newman Doctour of the Civil Law and Knighted in the sixteenth year of King James and from him by successive Right it is now descended to his Son and Heir George Newman of Rochester Esquire Seale in the Hundred of Codsheath was a Mannor which belonged to the Crown until the first year of King John and then it was passed away by Grant to Baldwin de Betun Earl of Albemard and Hawis his Daughter and Heir by matching with William Mareschall Earl of Pembroke incorporated it into his Demeasne but Gilbert Mareschall this mans Successor deceasing without Issue Roger de Bigod Earl of Norfolk in Right of Mawde his Mother who was Sister and Heir General to the abovesaid Gilbert was setled in the possession of this Mannor and he in the eleventh year of Edward the first by Gift or Donation transmits it to Otho Lord Grandison a man certainly of great power in those Times for as it appears Pat. 4. Edwardi primi he had a certain Agreement woven of sundry Articles and made between Henry the third and the King of Castile deposited in his Custody in the fourth year of Edward the first And in the fifth year of that Prince as appears Pat. 5. in seedulâ he had the Government of Jersey assigned to his Care during Life After this Family of Grandison went out which was about the Beginning of Richard the second for Thomas de Grandison dyed possest of Seale in the forty ninth year of Edward the third Parte prima Num. 62 the noble Family of Brian of Holoway in Devon was invested in the Possession and Sir William Brian or Briene for so he is styled on his Tomb dyed possest of it in the year 1395 and lyes buryed in Seale Church mailed in Armor with a Huntsmans Horn at his Head upon which the Conjecture of the Country is that he was a great Hunter when the Truth is it was placed there to signifie or denote the Tenure of some part of his Land which was in Cornage But to return the next Family which succeeded Brian in the Inheritance of Seale was the ancient Family of Fiennes and this as I find by some Court-rolls was in the reign of Henry the fourth and James Fiennes second Son of William Fiennes Esquire was the first of March in the twenty fifth of Henry the sixth summoned to the Parliament at Bury as Baron of Say and Seale but this place after this newly atchieved Honor continued not long in this Name for William Lord Say in the second year of Edward the fourth passed it away to Geffrey Boleyne Grand-father to Sir Thomas Boleyne who was made Knight of the Garter and Treasurer of the Kings House in the fifteenth created Viscount Rochford in the seventeenth and lastly raised to the Earldome of Wiltshire and Ormond in the twenty first of Henry the eighth but his infortunate Son George Viscount Rochford being beheaded and leaving no Issue it devolved to Queen Elizabeth in Right of Queen Anne her Mother one of the Sisters and Coheirs and she in the first year of her reign passes it by Grant to her Kinsman Henry Cary whose Grandchild Henry Cary Earl of Dover alienated it by Sale to Richard Sackvill Earl of Dorset who passed it away in our Fathers Memory to Richard Smith vulgarly called Dog Smith and he not many years since deceasing without Issue bequeathed the Fee-simple of it to St Thomas Hospital in Southwarke Hall-place in Seale is a second place of Account It was in the thirty sixth year of Edward the third as an
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
third but alass neither the Nobleness of the Name nor wideness of the Franchise could keep this Family from departing from this place for about the latter end of Henry the fourth I find it in the Tenure of the eminent Family of Apulderfield but setled not long here for Sir William Apulderfield about the middle of Edward the fourth concluded in Elizabeth Apulderfield who was his Sole Daughter and Heir who by matching with Sir Jo. Phineux Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in the Reign of Henry the seventh made it his Demeasn but the Title of this place did not long fix here for he dying without Issue Male Jane his only Daughter became his only Heir who by espousing of Jo. Roper Esq of St. Dunstans in Canterbury linked it to the Demeasn of this Family from whom in a continued Current of descent the Proprietie of it is now flowed down to William Roper a Cadet or younger Branch of this Stem Shorne in the Hundred of Shamell was as high as the Reign of K. John the Patrimony of the Noble Family of Nevil Jordanus and in some old Deeds written Jollanus de Nevil held the Mannor of Shorne as appears by the Pipe-Roll of that year and John de Nevil was his Son and Heir who held this Mannor in the thirtieth year of Henry the third but after him I can track no farther Mention of this Family at this place for in the fifty fourth of Henry the third as appears by the Pipe-roll of that year I discover Roger de Norwood to be Lord of the Fee this was that Roger de Norwood who disdaining to have his Lands held in that Lazy and sluggish Tenure of Gavelkind changed it into the more active one of Knights Service in the fourteenth year of Henry the third still reserving to himself by that Licence by which he obtained a Grant of the first to reserve the ancient Rent whereby his Lands held even in the Time of the Conquerour and he in the thirteenth year of Edward the first died possest of this Mannor and all its Perquisites at Oisterland in Cliff and other places and left it to his Son and Heir Sir John de Norwood who together with his eldest Son Sir John de Norwood accompanied that triumphant Prince Edward the first in his Victorious Design undertaken against the Scots in the twenty eighth of his Reign The Mannor of Shorn holding by this Tenure viz. to carry a White Banner forty Dayes together at their own Charges whensoever the King should commence a War in Scotland as appears by an Inquisition taken after the Death of Roger de Norwood in the thirty fifth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 23. Parte secundâ And this was customary not onely in England but elsewhere for Mr. Selden in his Titles of Honour observes out of Prelusius's his Discourses upon the State of Poland in the year 1530 Albert Marquess of Brandenburg and Mr. of the Teutonick or Dutch Order in Prussia receives his Investiture into that Dutchy per Vexilli Traditionem by the Delivery of a Banner from the Hands of Sigismund K. of Poland and his Brother George at his being enstated in that Signory by this Ceremony was suo Fratrum Nomine Vexillum contingere in his own and the Name of his Brother to place his Hands upon the Banner and when the above-mentioned Banner was delivered to an Heir who had not his Title and Right free from the Claim of an ambiguous and perplexed Competition he was onely admitted ad Contactum Extremitatum Vexilli ejusdem to touch the utmost or extream parts of this Banner The Tenure which was annexed to this Investiture was this to assist the K. of Poland with an hundred Horse whensoever he should personally advance into the Field against an enemie But to return John de Norwood was the last of this Name whom I find setled in the Inheritance of Shorne and he enjoyed it at his Decease which was in the second year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 35. But before the latter end of the Reign of that Prince it was removed from the possession of Norwood and by Sale plac'd in the Noble and ancient Family of Savage of Bobbing Court but not long after Sir Arnold Savage determining in Eleanor his Sole Inheritrix who was first wedded to Sir Reginald Cobham by whom she had no Issue and after to William Clifford Esquire she by this Alliance united it to the patrimony of this last Family and here it lay involved until the beginning of Q. Elizabeth and then it was passed away by George Clifford to Nicholas Lewson Esquire Grand-father to Sir Richard Lewson of the County of Stafford who desiring to circumscribe and collect his scattered Interest which lay dispersed in several parcels in this County into the closer circumference of Staffordshire alienated this Mannor almost in our Remembrance with all its Adjuncts at Oisterland in Cliff and other perquisites and out-Skirts to Mr. Woodier of Rochester in whose Lineage and Name the Title of it at this instant lies treasured up Ockington in this Parish was a Limb that made up the Body of that Revenue which anciently did swell into so vast a Bulk and Dimension in this Track and acknowledged for proprietaries the Noble Family of Cobham as appears by an Inquisition taken in the sixth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 45. where Stephen de Cobham was then found to have been possest of it at his Death and from him was the Title in a successive stream of Descent wasted down to the Reign of Hen. the seventh and then it was by Sale transplanted into Sir Henry Wiat where it flourished being supported with the Sap and Verdure of so Noble a Family until the fourth year of Edward the sixth and at that Time it was by Sale torn off from this Name for then Sir Thomas Wiat alienated it to Sir Anthony St. Leger and he passed it away to George Brooke Lord Cobham about the seventh year of Edward the siâ—â—â— whose great Grand-child Sir William brooke Knight of the Bath dying in the year 1643 without Issue Male it cescended to Sir John Brooke restored to the Barony of Cobham by the last King in the year 1644 as being Reversioner in entail Roundal though now shrunk into neglected Ruines was in elder Times the first Seat of the noble Family of Cobham from whence upon its Decay they were transplanted to Cobham Hall and was the Cradle of Men very eminent in their respective Generations of whom take this brief prospect * Ex veteri Rotulo penes Ed. Dering Militem Bar. dejunctum Henry de Cobham is enrolled in the List of those Kentish Gentlemen who were concerned with Richard the first at the Siege of Acon * Rotulus Pipae de Scutagio Wallia Reginald de Cobham accompanied Henry the third in his expedition against the Welch in the forty second year of his Reign Sir Henry Sir
Preston which was the Seat of an eminent Family called Buckland who bore for their Cognisance Argent an Eagle Sables beaked and ungued Or. Alan de Buckland was a noted Person in the Time of King John and being Lievtenant of Dover-castle that Prince directs a Command to him and William de Brewer who was joyned in Commission with him to surrender Dover-castle to Hubert de Burgh for his Service Sir Thomas de Buckland of this place had Buckland in Maidstone and Buckland likewise in Ludsdown and flourished in the reign of Edward the third and in several Deeds to which he was witness subscribes himself Miles In brief after this Family had continued possessors of this Mansion until the latter end of Henry the sixth it devolved to Thomas Buckland who dying without Issue-male Alice his only Daughter and Heir by matching with Thomas Polhill of Polhill-street in Detling cast it into the Inheritance of that Family from whom it came down to Mr. ...... Polhill who being not many years since deceased his Widow Mrs. ...... Polhill is now in the enjoyment of it Palstres alias Planars and Sepham are two ancient Seats likewise situated within the Confines of Shoreham and had both Owners of that Sirname William de Planar as appears by Deeds without Date held the first and so did John de Planar in the reign of Edward the first and died possest of it in the forty seventh year of that Prince's reign and in this Family did it continue until the beginning of Henry the sixth and then it was conveyed to Sepham of Sepham an eminent Family in this Parish who bore for their Coat-Armour Argent three Cinque Foils pierced Sables and were descended from William de Sepham who died possest of this place in the fifteen year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 12. and having continued Lords of both these Mannors of one by Descent and of the other by purchase until the latter end of Henry the seventh Mr. John Sepham who had in the fifth year of that Prince made an acknowledgment for them to the then Arch-bishop of Canterbury of whom it seems they both held passed away Sepham to William Martin and Palstres to Cobbe in which Families after they had remained until the latter end of Henry the eighth they were both demised to Mr. Francis Sandbach by whose Sole Heir Alice Sandbach they came to be the possession of David Polhill Ancestor to Mr. David Polhill who upon the late Death of his Grand-father Mr. David Polhill is invested in the Tenure of them Vielston now by vulgar Acceptation of the Name called Vilson is another Seat of eminent Account in Shoreham It primitively gave Seat and Sirname to a Family which radically was as deeply planted in Antiquity as any Family which then flourished on this part of the County some of the old Evidences now in the Hands of my Cozen Mr. Thomas Petley reach as high as the Government of the reign of Henry the third and then Hamon de Vielston demises several parcels of Land to Sepham of Sepham Timberden of Timberden Farm in this Parish likewise and several others of obscurer Account whose names are too tedious to recite by Deeds not circumscribed with any Date which argues him to be a Man in that Age illustrious both for Descent and Demeasn In Times which approached neerer to ours John de Vielston who paid respective Aid at making the Black Prince Knight for his Mannor of Vielston was eminent and was Sheriff of Kent in the sixteenth seventeenth eighteenth nineteenth and twentieth years of Edward the third and he left Issue John Vielston who deceasing without Issue John Ross his Sisters Son about the latter end of Richard the second became his Heir and he had Issue John Ross who dyed about the latter end of Henry the sixth without any Posterity so that he bequeathed it to his Kinsman John Berd who in the fourteenth year of Edward the fourth sold it to John Palmer from whom it went away by Sale in the eighteenth year of the above-mentioned Prince to Richard Page where it made its aboad till the nineteenth year of H. the seventh and then Edmund Page this Mans Son cast it by Sale into the Inheritance of Richard Wood who in the fourth yeer of Henry the Eighth alienates the Fee-simple to Robert Blague and he in the sixth yeer of that Prince demises it to William Petley of Halsted and he upon his decease bequeaths it to his second Son Mr. Thomas Petley from whom in a direct Line is my Cosin Mr. Thomas Petley descended in whom by original derivation from him the Interess and Right of this ancient Seat is at this instant invested The Castle of Shorham was if not built by yet certainly very anciently in the Possession of the Family of Aldham of Aldham St. Cleres in Kemsing one of which Name was Castellan of this place in the eighth year of Henry the third and was Ancestor to Sir Thomas de Aldham who flourished in the reign of Edward the second and Edward the third in whom the Male-line ended so that his three Daughters matched to Francis St. Clere Martin de Peckham and John de Novoburgo or Newborough of Newborough in the County of Dorset became his Coheirs and this Castle upon the Distinction of his Estate into parcels was annexed to the Demeasn of Newborough in which Family after the Title had as in a constant Chanel flowed untill the reign of Henry the eighth it was diverted by Sale into Polhill in which Family and Name the Propriety hath ever since untill this instant been fixed and permanent Southfleet in the Hundred of Axstone did belong to the Priory of St. Andrews in Rochester and was given to that Covent by Hamo de Heath in the year of our Lord 1346 which was not long before his Decease and I find by an old Manuscript which represents to us the Liberties and Franchises which were setled upon this Cloister that the Prior had by Prescription a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor of Southsleer yet though it were fortified with this Priviledge Hook in Southfleet hath been for some Centuries of years the Seat of the Swans who in the Reign of Richard the second as appears by their own Deeds writ Gen-men it could not be secure from that Tempest which arose in the reign of Heury the eighth which like a Whirlwind ravished it away from the Patrimony of the Church and lodged it in the Revenue of the Crown where it dwelt untill the thirty seventh year of Queen Elizabeth and then it was by Concession from that Princesse passed away to William Peter of Writtle Esquire who was Son to Sir William Peter Secretary of Estate to King Edward the sixth Q. Mary and Q. Elizabeth and he immediately after alienated it to Alderman Garret of London whose Successor in our Fathers Remembrance conveyed it by Sale to Sir William Sidley of Scadbery from whom it is now come down
Sheriff of Kent in the thirty fourth year of Henry the eighth and again in the fifth year of Edward the sixth but being unhappily entangled in the dysastrous Attempt of Sir Thomas Wiat was upon the frustrating of that Designe and the Dissipation and Discomfiture of those Forces who were to support it in the second year of Queen Mary convicted and attainted of high Treason and executed at Sevenoke upon whose Tragedy this Mannor with all its Appendages escheated to the Crown but was the same year restored to his Son William Isley Esquire who was Sheriff of Kent part of the seventh year of Queen Elizabeth after whose decease the Title of this place which had so many Centuries of years like an Inmate dwelt in this Name and Family ebbed away to another Proprietary for in our Fathers Memory it was alienated by Sale to Brooker who not many years since passed it away to Mr. John Hide second Son to Mr. Bernard Hide one of the Commissioners of the Custome-house to his late Majestie Brook-place in Sundrich so called from its contiguous Situation neer some Drill of Water did acknowledge for many discents the Signory of Isley the last of whom who dyed possest of it was William Isley Esquire who held it at his Decease which was in the fourth year of Edward the fourth Rot. Esc Num. 34. After whose Exit it came to John Isley Esquire who not long after passed it away to John Alphew and he determinig in two Daughters and Coheirs one of them by matching with Sir Robert Read Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the reign of Henry the seventh linked it to his Patrimony but he likewise went out in four Daughters and Coheirs Katharine one of which was matched to Sir Thomas Willoughbie Lord Chief Justice likewise of the Common Pleas and so he in her right was possest of this place from whom it came down to his Successor Thomas Willoughbie Esquire who about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth conveyed it by Sale to Mr. Hoskins of Oxted in Surrey descended from an ancient Family of that Name in Hereford-shire whose Successor Mr. Charles Hoskins being lately deceased the Fee-simple rests now in his Son and Heir Hethenden or Henden is another Mannor in Sundrich which was folded up in the Demeasn of the powerful and illustrious Family of the Clares who were Earls of Gloucester and Lords of Tunbridge by whose Heir general it devolved to Audley and this Family by the same Fatality languishing into a Female Inheritrix she by matching with Stafford cast this Mannor into his Revenue and in this Name was the Propriety resident untill Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham was infortunately attainted in the thirteenth year of Henry the eighth it was by escheat annexed to the Demeasn of the Crown and made its aboad there untill King Henry the eighth in the thirty fifth year of his reign granted it to Sir John Gresham and he dyed possest of it in the first year of Queen Elizabeth after whose Decease it remained constant to the Interess of this Family until the latter end of Queen Elizabeth and then it was alienated to Sir Thomas Hoskins of Oxsted in Surrey in the Descendants of which Family the Signory and Propriety is at this instant remaining The Roman Fosse or Way which extended or stretched out it self from Oldborough in Igtham to Baston in Heys and afterwards to Woodcot in Surrey did cut thorough this Parish for not many years since in digging near Come-banke a Seat so called which did formerly relate to the Isleys and is situated in Sundrich were discovered many Roman Urns of an antick Shape and Figure from whence we may probably collect thus much that there was formerly erected some Fortresse at or near Combe-banke its Situation being fitted for such a Design by the Roman Generals to secure their forces in their March to Noviomagum or Woodcot against any Impression or Eruption of the Britons Sturrey in the Hundred of Blengate was a Mannor by a Prescription of many Generations wrapt up in the Patrimony of Apulderfeild a Family whom we shall have occasion often to mention thoroughout the Body of this Survey and here it continued till this Name met with its Tomb in a Daughter and Heir known by the Name of Elizabeth who was wedded to Sir John Phineux and although he likewise concluded in a Female Heir matched to John Roper Esquire who drew along with her a great portion of the Estate yet this still remained fixt in this Name and Family even till our Fathers Memory and then John Phineux Esquire died and left this and other vast possessions to his Daughter and Sole Heir Elizabeth Phineux who brought them over to her Husband Sir John Smith eldest Son of Sir Thomas Smith and Grand-father to Philip Smith Viscount Strangford who by Right planted in him by so worthy a Predecessor does entitle himself to the Interess and possession of it Mayton in this Parish though now of no great Importance yet formerly gave both Seat and Sirname to a Family that passed under that Appellation from whom by Sale the Inheritance was transplanted into Diggs where for some Descents without any Interval it made its abode till it was by Leonard Diggs Grand-father to Sir Dudley Diggs sold to Goodhugh by whose Daughter and Heir it became the Demeasne of Baggs which Name likewise going out here into a Daughter and Heir she by matching not long since to Farmer has made it to own him for its instant proprietary Sutton by Walmer lies in the Hundred of Cornilo and was the Inheritance of a good old Family called Stroude Peradventure it assumed its Denomination from the Shore not far distant and was sometimes in the Saxon Denomination called Strond and as often Stroude John de Stroude held it as the Book of Aide denotes in the reign of Edward the first and when this Family was worn out the next who were invested in the possession were the Criols and Nicholas Criol or Keriel held it at his death which was in the third year of Richard the second whose Grand-child Sir Thomas Keriel being an active Champion of the Cause and Quarrel of Edward the fourth against the House of Lancaster was slain in the second Battle of St. Albans where the Title of both Parties was put to the bloody decision of a Field who leaving only two Daughters and Co-heirs one matching with John Fogge Esquire incorporated this into his Revenue from whom by purchase the Right was setled in Whitlock where it tarried not long but was by the like devolution transplanted into Maycot from which Name the same Fate of Sale carried it into the possession of Stokes who in our memory by the like alienation transmitted his Interess here to Meryweather Sutton commonly called East-Sutton lies in the Hundted of Eyhorne and was formerly the Braybrookes Henry de Braybrooke one of the Lord Wardens of the Cinque Ports had Lands here and in this Track as the
Book of Aide and the Book called Feoda Militum in the Exchequer do both inform us his Son was Gerard Braybrooke and his Grand-child was Reginald Braybrooke whose Heir Joan Braybrooke married to Thomas Brooke of the County of Somerset but whether this Reginald Braybrooke gave this Mannor to pious Uses or not and principally to the Abby of Leeds adjacent I cannot positively determine upon the Suppression it was granted as being parcel of the Demeasne of the Convent of Leeds by Henry the eighth in the thirty seventh year of his reign to John Tufton Esquire who passed it away by Sale to Mr. Richard Argall whose Heir Elizabeth Argall being married to Edward Filmer Esquire made it the possession of that Family and by a communicative Right from him does his Grand-child Sir Edward Filmer Son to Sir Robert Filmer lately deceased now hold the possession and propriety of it Sutton Valence and Chart by Sutton both lie in the Hundred of Eyhorne the last of which contracted the Appellation from formerly owning William de Valence Earl of Pembroke to be Lord of the Fee who certainly instituted that Castle that now even in its Reliques and Fragments with much of venerable Magnificence overlooks the Plain And when Aymer de Valence his Son concluded in a Female Heir Isabell she was wedded to Lawrence Lord Hastings who in relation to her became not only Earl of Pembroke but Lord of Sutton-Valence also and from him did it descend to his Grand-child John Hastings Earl of Fembroke the last Earl there of that Name who transmitted his Title of that place to Reginald Grey and Richard Talbot who flourished here about the reign of Henry the fourth and they had this Mannor by Testamentary Donation in the fourteenth year of Richard the second In the next Age subsequent to this I find the Cliffords of Bobbing-court to be the Proprietaries and to this Family was the Inheritance in a constant Union fastned till Nicholas Clifford Esquire deceased without Issue-male and left only one Daughter and Heir called Mildred who was first married to Harper secondly to More thirdly to Warren and lastly to Blount but she had only Issue by Harper and More for in her Right Edward Lord More of Mellifont in Ireland and Sir Edward Harper divided the Possession but the first desiring to contract his whole Revenue into Ireland and the other to make this adjacent to his principal Seat of Ruspar-hall in the County of Derby Sir Edward Harper alienated this to Sir Edward Hales Knight and Baronet and the Lord More Chart by Sutton to the same worthy Person Grand-father to Sir Edward Hales Baronet who not only enjoyes the Title of his Ancestors Dignity but that of the Possession in these places likewise Cheyneys-court in this Parish hath been adopted into that Name since it for many Descents acknowledged the Jurisdiction and propriety of that Family and I could unravel a Successive Series of many of that Name but that it is superfluous who were Lords of the Fee it is enough that Sir Thomas Cheyney sold it to Iden which Name suddenly after resolving into two Daughters and Co-heirs one matching with Brown and the other with Barton the last made it parcel of the Patrimony of that Family and when some years it had been continued in the possession of Barton it was in our Memory by Sale brought over to be the Demeasne of Wollett and it is now but whether by Purchase or by the Right of a Female Heir or not I cannot ascertain my self the propriety of Jordan Sutton at Hone lies in the Hundred of Acstane and gives Denomination to the whole Lath wherein it is situated It was long since a Mannor relating to the Revenue of the Knights Hospitallers who had here a Mansion-house called St. Johns where they often made their Retreat when they visited their other Demeasne Land which lay circumscribed within the Verge of this County but their Estate here was much inforced and improved by the Addition of the Mannor of Grandison which whether it came to them by Purchase or Donation from Thomas Lord Grandison who died the forty ninth year of Edward the third is incertain Upon the Suppression of the Alberge of these Knights of St. John of Jerusalem here in England their Revenue was assumed into the possession of the Crown and King Henry the eighth bestowed by Grant on Sir Maurice Dennis St. John's and to him does that magnificent and elegant Pile where now the Countess of Leicester makes her Residence owe the first Institution of its Shape and Beauty though it has been since extreamly inlarged by the Additions both of Bulk and Ornament by Sir Thomas Smith But to proceed St. Johns was conveyed from Sir Maurice Dennis by his Coheir to Thomas Cranfeild whose Grand-child Vincent Cranfeild has lately alienated his Right to Mr. Hollis of London Merchant Haly Sawters is another Mannor in Sutton in Hone a place though now obscure in it self and not re-presented to our Remembrance but by Annals and Record yet in elder Times it was raised up to a higher degree of Estimate when it had Proprietaries whose Nobility and Title added both Value and Lustre unto it The first of which Register whom I trace in Record to be entituled to the Possession was Laurence de Hastings Earl of Pembroke and he died seised of it in the twenty second year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 47. from whom the Title came down to his Son John de Hastings and he likewise was in the enjoyment of it at his Decease which was in the forty ninth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 70. After this Family had deserted the Inheritance I find Richard Fitz Allen Earl of Arundel to be invested in the Possession and he died in the Tenure of it in the one and twentieth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 2. From whom it devolved to Joan his Daughter and Co-heir matched to William Beauchamp Baron of Aburgavenny whose Son Richard Lord Beauchamp dying without Issue Male Elizabeth his Sole Daughter espoused to Edward Nevill Baron of Aburgavenny in her Right be came his Heir and he in the sixteenth year of Edward the fourth died possest of this Mannor of Sawters And here for want of Light both from publick or private Record I cannot discover to my Reader or my self whether or not it passed away immediately from Nevill to Maio whom I find about the beginning of Q. Elizabeth to be planted in the Possession though the Affirmation of some old people of this Parish who derived that Knowledge they have of it from the Tradition of their Ancestors that assert it did Thomas Maio in the twenty eighth of Q. Elizabeth passed it away to Rich. Paramour and he presently after disposed of it by Sale to Sir Henry Brooke who conveyed it to Robert Wroth Esquire and he to Edmund Hunt Esquire who alienated Haly and Sawters to Mr. William Hewson in the thirty fourth year of
Q. Elizabeth whose Son Mr. William Hewson of London transmitted Haly with Sawters by Sale some few years since to Mr. Edward Badbie Grandisons is the last place remarkable in this Parish It was the ancient Inheritance of the noble and illustrious Family of Grandison before Otho de Grandison who was Governour of Jersey for life by Grant from Edw. the first in the fifth year of his Reign did transplant himself to Seale which he had purchased in the thirteenth year of that Prince William de Grandison this mans Son was likewise Lord of this place to whom K. Edward the second assigned the Value of 44 lb. yearly Rent out of his Mannor of Dartford in Exchange for the Mannor of Iden and other Lands in Sussex and from this Man did the Signory of this Mannor accrue by Descent to his Grand-child Sir Thomas Grandison who dying without Issue in the forty ninth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 62. left it partly to John de Northwood who had married Agnes his Sister and Co-heir and partly to Margaret his Lady Dowager who died possest of it in the eighteenth year of Richard the second but after her Exit the Title was not long permanent in Northwood for in the twenty first year of the Prince abovesaid Richard Fitz Allen Earl of Arundel held it and died that year possest of it And here I confess for want of Light and just intelligence I must make a Leap to the Reign of Henry the sixth and then I find it in the Tenure of Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick and it is probable it devolved to him by the Heir of Beauchampe After his Decease it became the Possession of George Duke of Clarence who had matched with Isabel his Daughter and Co-heir by whom he had Issue Edward Plantagenet Earl of Warwick who was offered up on an early Scaffold to the waking suspitions and weary Jealousies of those two politick Princes Henry the seventh and Ferdinand of Castile being invited to an escape from his long Duress in the Tower by the Arts and Stratagems of that eminent Impostor Perkin Warbeck But indeed those who have calculated this Action and surveyed the whole Scene of this Tragedy have discovered that his nearness to the Crown as being the last Relick of the Male-Line of Plantagenet was the cheiefest Ingredient in the severe Sentence of this infortunate Gentleman After his expiration this Mannor came over to be the Patrimony of his Sister Margaret Countess of Salisbury who was matched to Sir Richard Poole by which marriage this Mannor was annexed to his Demeasn and he had Issue by her Henry Poole who with his Mother was attainted in the Reign of Henry the eighth upon whose fatal Shipwrack Grandisons was in the thirty fifth of that Prince placed by Grant in his Brother Geffrey Poole who not long after passed it away to Sir Thomas Moile by whose Daughter and Co-heir it came to be the Inheritance of Sir Thomas Kempe and he about the tenth year of Q. Elizabeth conveyed it to Mr. Jo. Mabbe who not long after transmitted it by Sale to Sir Christopher Heron who about the beginning of K. James alienated his concernment here to Cole by whom not long after it was demised to Sir Thomas Smith second Son of Customer Smith of Westenhanger in the Heirs and Descendants of which Name and Family the Possession is still resident Hackstaple is likewise within the Bounds of this Parish and was as high as the reach either of private or publick Evidence can bring down any light to our knowledge the Killingworth's and here for an indivisible succession of Ages did the Possession fix and reside until at last the common Fate of Families brought this Name here at Hackstaple to find its interment or Grave in a Daughter and Heir for George Killingworth had an onely She-Inheritrix whose name was Elizabeth and she was matched with Christopher Eglesfield Gentleman so that Hackstaple in her right was intermingled with the Demeash of this Family and here some years did it by this Conjugall Knot appear fastned till lately the Possession received an alienation for Francis Eglesfield of London Son to Christopher Eglesfield some few years since sold it to Mr Christopher Searle T. T. T. T. TAningnton is situated in the Hundred of Bredge and Petham and in Times of a very ancient Inscription did own the Name and acknowledge the Signory of a Family called Wallis Richard de Wallis held it in the twenty first of Edward the first and as it appears by the Pleas of that year had a signal Contest with the Prior of St. Gregories in Canterbury about his Right to the Presentation of that Church After Wallis was worn out it fell under the Signory of a Family called Mesingham but it seems was not long resident in their Possession for about the beginning of Richard the second Nicholas Mesingham releases to Thomas Chich all his Interess and Right in Tanington and other Lands situated in Heckington and other places but here likewise was the Possession as brief and inconstant for before the Expiration of the Reign of Henry the fourth I find it by purchase from Chich and Wallis setled in the Tenure of Geo. Ballard and he died seised of it in the eighth year of Henry the sixth and in this Family did continue until the reign of Edward the sixth and then it was alienated by Nicholas Ballard Esquire to Sir James Hales of the Dungeon from whom the right by Successive Delegation is now transmitted to Sir James Hales the instant Lord of the Fee Terstan in the Hundred of Twyford was involved in the Revenue of the Crown until Eleanor Q. of England exchanged this and West-Farleigh with the Monks of Christ-Church for the eminent Port of Sandwich which Exchange Edward the first as appears by the Records of that Cathedral by his Charter fully strengthened and confirmed Yet though it was prop'd and supported by that Authority yet it could not be so fastened and riveted into the Ecclesiastical Patrimony but that that storm which arose in the reign of Henry the eighth tore it away and then that Prince in the thirty fifth year of his rule passed it away to Sir John Baker from whom it is now devolved by successive right to his descendant Sir John Baker of Sisingherst Knight and Baronet and he hath lately passed it away to Mr. Jasper Cleyton of London Barham Court in this Parish re-presents to our remembrance that it was once the Mansion or ancient residence of the noble and illustrious Family of Barham this Name was in Times of a very reverend Inscription written Fitz-Urse Randal Fitz. Urse was one of those four who were concerned in the Assassination of that turbulent and ambitious prelate Thomas Becket Arch-Bishop of Canterbury who though peradventure for his violent invasion made upon the royal prerogative of his Soveraign Henry the second might have deserved the Guerdon of an exemplary Death yet the manner of taking
it was by a Revolution of the same Nature and Semblance transplanted into Sonds from which purchase Sir George Soâ—â—s Knight of the Bath now derives his Right and Inheritance in the Mannor and Signory of Town-place VVilderton in Throuley was eminent formerly for being marshalled under the Revenue of Giles Lord Badelesmer Father to Bartholomew Lord Badelesmer who by his opposing of Edward the second at Leeds Castle forseited this and his Life together to the offended Justice of that Prince but when his Sons Barth and Giles Lord Badelesmer were by Edward the third restored to their former Dignity and likewise to a principal part of his Estate this was folded up in that Restitution for when these above-mentioned Brothers deceased without any lawfull Issue their Sisters were found to be their Coheirs and Margery one of them being married to William Lord Rosse brought this to a piece of his Revenue from whom by Sale it went into the possession of Lewknor of Bodshead in Challock And when this Family was devested of it the Inheritance was by purchase setled in Evering descended from the Everings of Everings-court in Alkham by Dover where after it had some years found a continued Residence the Name and Title dissolved together for Edward Evering left only Mary Evering his Sole Heir who matching with John Upton Gentleman that Alliance fixed Wilderton in the Possession of that Name and part of it was in some years subsequent to this Match sold away to Arnold Terrey of this Parish but the Residue is yet constant to the Interess of Mr. Vpton of Feversham a person in whom the Scholler and Gentleman are so evenly mixt as to a Composition of Perfection that it is yet a Question which of them is the most predominant There was a religious House in Throuley which was a Cell to St. Bertins at St. Omer in Flanders but when Henry the fifth perceived the ill Consequences of having Fraternities and other religious Cells and Covents in this Nation which had in a manner their dependances upon other States contrary peradventure in Interess and Affection to this he suppressed this and many other of the like Condition and out of their Ruines and Revenue he erected the magnificent Monastery at Shene whose first Foundation entitles it self to his Piety and Munificence Thurnham in the Hundred of Eyhorne was the Patrimony of an ancient and Knightly Family of that Sirname made more eminent by the production of Sir Robert de Thurnham a person of considerable Account in the reign of Richard the first which Prince he accompanied to the holy War having before his designing himself to that Quarrel disposed his Estate to pious Uses whereof this at Thurnham was setled on the Colledge of Lingfield in Surrey and having thus disroabed himself of his secular Inheritance he with much Vigor and Alacritie assumed the Crusado or Vow to rescue the Sepulcher of our Saviour out of the possession of Infidels which resolution he so nobly prosecuted that he offered up his Life as an Oblation to the Justice of that cause which he had before so generously asserted After his Decease this remained cloistered up in the patrimony of the Colledge of Lingfield untill the general suppression and then growing parcel of the royal Revenue it lay there until King Edward the sixth granted it to Sir Edward Wotton whose Anceftor Sir Nicholas Wotton was invested long before in some part of this Mannor which did acrue to him in the reign of Henry the fourth by Joan Sole Heir of Robert Corbie and from this Sir Edward above mentioned was it entirely transmitted to his great Grand-child Thomas Lord Wotton who having setled it in Marriage on his eldest Daughter Katherin Wotton matched to Henry Lord Stanhop she by Sale hath lately given up her right to Mr. ..... Godden of London Binbery is an eminent Mannor in this Parish which as high as the Testimony of any either publick or private Evidences can instruct me did own the Signory of Northwood Roger de Northwood held it at his Death which was in the thirty fifth year of Edward the third and so did his Successor Roger Northwood in the last year of Henry the fifth But after this I do not find it long constant to the Interest of this Family for about the beginning of Henry the sixth I find by some ancient Court-rolls that it was passed away to Iohn Thwaits and he in the eighth year of that Prince conveyed his right in it to William Gascoigne in which Family the Title continued until the beginning of Edward the fourth and then it was transplanted by Sale into Cut or Cuts and in this Name the Interest of this place was constantly lodged until the beginning of King James and then it was demised to Sir Samuel Lennard of West-Wickham whose Son Sir Stephen Lennard is at this instant by paternal Right invested in the possession of it There was a Dysastrous Accident happen'd here at Binbery and it was this as the Tragedy is represented to us out of the old Evidences of the Lord Wotton The Lady Northwood in the Time of Edward the third standing on the precipice or hanger of a Hill to see a Fox digged out which had earthed himself there the Foundation being loose and Sandy sunk under her and the hanging Hill shot down so much earth upon her that she was stifled to Death with the unequal pressure e're they could disengage her from that weight which crushed her into this early Ruine Upon the Brow of the Hill not far removed from this place are the Ruines of an ancient Fortress called Godward Castle which Mr. Darell in his Tract De Costellis Cantii conjectures might borrow its Name from Godar dus a Saxou whereas it is more probable it did extract its etymology from the goodness and eminence of its situation as those Intrenchments at Stowting derive their Denomination from their tenable force and fortitude and certainly this is adequate to reason and its own elevated position it being so setled that it did not onely secure the way which led from the Roman Colony at Newington by Rainham but it is possible was a speculatory station much in use amongst the Romans to survey the Approaches of enemies in the Valley below Aldington Septuans in Thurnhem was the Cradle of an ancient Family of that Sirname * Ex Rot. penes Ed. Dering Mil. Baronettum defunctum Robert de Septuans is inserted in the Register of those noted Kentish persons who were engaged with Richard the first at the Siege of Acon * See Rot. Pipe de Scutagio Wallia Rob. de Septuans his Son was embarqued with Henry the third in his expedition against the Welch in the forty second year of his Reign Sir Rob. de Septuans was his Son and Heir who was honoured with that Dignity by Edward the first for his exemplary Service performed at the Siege of Carlaverock in the twenty eighth year of that Prince and he
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
Earls of Gloucester In the first year of Edward the first there was a Summons issued forth by Hugh de Bigod Earl of Norfolk and Governour of the Hundred of Hoo to injoyn Richard de Clare Earl of Gloucester to appear before him to assoil himself from such Accusations as should be objected against him which principally had an Aspect upon the War waged by him and Simon Montfort against Henry the third To which he alleadged in his Defence that he ought not to answer but before the Kings Justices of Eyre upon which a Commission was issued out in the third year of Edward the first to heare and decide the Controversie and Sir Stephen de Penchester and John de Rigate were the two Justices appointed by the King for the final determination of it and they upon a serious winnowing of the whole Matter in Debate did absolve the said Richard from the Crimes with which he had been unjustly bespattered and the rather because as to the principal part of them they had been before entombed in the pacification of Killingworth made in the fiftieth year of Henry the third After this I cannot find by that ancient Manuscript they style the Chronicle of Tunbridge that there was any signal Action commenced at this place because the Castle with all its perquisites not long after by the Heir of Audley coming into the possession of Stafford they planted themselves at Stafford-castle their principal residence and so this Fortress being neglected and deserted languished away insensibly into decay and ruine only in the reign of Edward the first I find that upon an Inquisition or Survey of the Priviledges of the Earls of Gloucester as they were Lords of Tunbridge it was concluded that the Arch-bishop of Canterbury had nothing to do within the Lowy or League That the Earl had Return of Writs Creation of certain Officers an especial Sessions in Eyre all which by Intermission are shrunk long since into disuse In the year 1264. to allay all emergent Controversie for the future Boniface the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Richard Earl of Glocester decreed that there should be a Perambulation made concerning their respective Bounds and it was not long after likewise concluded between the patties abovesaid that Earl Richard should hold his Mannor of Tunbridge and other Lands of the Arch-bishop by the Service of four Knights Fees and to be high Steward and high Butler which Office was likewise to be transmitted to his Successors at the Feast of the Arch-bishops Inthronization taking for their Service in the Stewardship seven competent Robes of Scarlet thirty Gallons of Wine thirty pound of Wax for his Lights Livery of Hay and Oats to feed fourscore Horse for two Nights the Dishes and Salt which should stand before the Arch-bishop in that Feast and at their departure the Diet of three Dayes at the Sole Expence of the Arch-bishop at four of their Mannors in any of the four Quarters of Kent wheresoever they pleased to fix ad minuendum sanguinem so they repaired thither with fifty Horses only To his Office of chief Butlership was allotted seven Robes like the former twenty Gallons of Wine fifty pound of Wax for furnishing out of Lights Livery for sixty Horse for two Nights the Cup wherewith the Arch-bishop should be served all the empty Hogsheads of Beer and for six Tun of Wine so many as should be drunk under the Bar also The Articles of which Composition in Times subsequent to this Compact were punctually performed between the Successors of either Party First in the year 1295. between Gilbert Earl of Gloucester and Robert Winchelsey next between the said Earl and Arch-bishop Reynolds then between Hugh Audley the Earl of Gloucester and the Arch-bishop John Stratford after that between Hugh Stafford Earl of Stafford to whom the Castle and Mannor of Tunbridge did devolve in right of the Heir General of Audley and Simon Sudbury and lastly between William Warham the Arch-bishop and Edward Stafford the last Duke of Buckingham of that Name in whose untimely Sepulcher these two great Offices found their final Enterment and he executed the Stewardship in his own person and the Butlership by his deputed Delegate Sir Thomas Bourchier Knight The Priory of Tunbridge was founded by Richard de Clare in the year of Grace 1191. and stored with Canons Regular or Canons of St. Augustins and dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen which upon the Petition of the Founder was confirmed by Pope Celestin in the same year it was erected In the year 1353. an unhappy Fire seised upon it which almost reduced the whole Structure into Ashes to ballance which Dysaster the Church of Leigh was appropriated to this Covent that by this additional support this Cloister thus defaced with Flame might again recover its former not only Bulk but Splendor likewise Somerhill is now an eminent Seat in this Parish and was certainly in elder Times allotted as a Mansion or place of Residence by the Earls of Gloucester to those Gentlemen who were Bailiffs of their great Chase called South-Frith one of whom was Richard de Philpot of Philpots in Leigh not far distant who flourished here in the reign of Henry the third and is written in an old Deed Balivus Forestae de Tunbridge sub Ricardo Comite de Clare After him I find one Nicholas Charles exercised this Office and flourished in it in the reign of Edward the second and when he went out divers of the Family of Colepeper and Vane who were Lords of much Land here about Tunbridge were successively invested in it whose Names it would be too tedious and impertinent to enumerate But to return That this Seat was anciently destined and devoted to the Uses above recited is very probable because it is situated on the Verge and exterior Margent of the Forrest and so by its commodious position had a peculiar Aspect upon those Affairs wherein this Chase and its Jurisdiction was concerned In fine after it had been subservient and ministerial for many hundred years to the successive Signory of the several Families of Clare Audley and Stafford it was in the thirteenth year of Henry the eighth by that infortunate person Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham who was crushed into an heap of Ruines by those dark and black Engins which Cardinal Wolsey that subtle Artificer of Mischief had raised upon him was with much other Land forfeited to the Crown and Queen Elizabeth about the middle of her reign by Royal Concession made it the Demeasne of her faithful Servant Sir Francis Walsingham principal Secretary of Estate who dying without Issue-male left it to his Daughter and Heir Frances who was first matched to the Invaluable Sir Philip Sidney secondly to Robert Earl of Essex and thirdly to Richard Burgh Earl of Clanrickard created Earl of St. Albans August the twenty third in the year 1628. to whose Son Vlike Burgh lately Earl of St. Albans and Clanrickard she bequeathed this Mannor of Somerhill Hilden is another
with his Hand supported that Prince when he first went out of his Ship to Land in Sussex afterwards when in the twentieth of that King's Government there was an universal Survey taken of each Mans particular Demeasn thoroughout the Nation who was of any Account or Eminence which we call Dooms-day Book there is a recital of the above mentioned Robert de St. Leger to have held Lands at Ulcomb which the Evidences of this Family do inform us were taken from a Pagan Dane whom he before had conquered and who inhabited at this place Guy de St. Leger as Mr. Fuller discovers to us in his Ecclesiastical History was appointed by William the Conquerour to be an Assistant Knight to Adelmere one of the Monks of Ely Raefe de St. Leger is registred in the Roll of those Kentish Gentlemen who accompanied Richard the first to the Siege of Acon and as the Inscription on his Leaden Shroud in the Vault of this Church does signifie was engaged in the Holy Quarrel fifteen years Another Rafe St. Leger and Hugh St. Leger were Recognitores magnae Assisae in the second year of K. John Sir Rafe de St. Leger Sir Jo. de St. Leger and Sir Tho. St. Leger were with Edw. the first at the Siege of Carlaverock in the twenty eighth year of his Reign and for their signal Atchievements there received the Order of Knighthood Indeed in times subsequent to this there was scarse almost any noble and generous undertaking but the Annals of our English History represent a St. Leger concerned and interessed in it And for their Collateral Alliances by which they became knit in Consanguinitie to several illustrious Families none in that particular have been more Successeful then themselves Sir Thomas St. Leger second Brother to Sir Rafe St. Leger married Anne Dutchesse of Exeter Sister to King Edward the fourth and so became twisted into the Family of that Prince by a Nearness of Alliance as he had before been taken into his Bosome by a union of Friendship by whom he had only Ann his Daughter and Heir who was wedded to Sir George Manners L. Rosse from whom the Earls of Rutland are in a direct Line branched out Sir James St. Leger this mans Brother matched with Anne one of the Co-heirs of Thomas Boteler Earl of Ormond from whom the St. Legers of the County of Devon were extracted out of which Stem was Sir William St. Leger who was Lord President of Munster in Ireland one thousand six hundred forty and two Sir Anthony St. Leger Father of Sir Warham was Lord Deputy of Ireland which place he managed with much of Prudence and Magnanimity his second Son Sir Anthony St. Leger Father to Sir Anthony St. Leger now of Wierton House in Boughton Monchensie died Master of the Rolls in Ireland which Office he discharged with a great deal of Faith and no less integrity Thus have I in Landskip pourtraied this noble Family which in an undivided Chain of Descent was setled at Ulcomb from the Conquerour's Time even till of late and then Sir Anthony St. Leger alienated his right in it which was grown reverend by a prescription of so many Ages to Serjeant Clerk of Rochester Father to Mr. Francis Clerk descended from Henry Clerk who was second Brother to Sir John Clerk who took the Duke of Longuevil prisoner at the Battle fought between Bomy and Spours The Church of Ulcomb belonged to Christ-Church in Canterbury and being Snatched away was restored by K. Edmund in the year 941. And about 430 years since was made a Collegiate Church by Stephen Langton Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Head thereof was called Arch-presbyter Boycot is another Mannor in Ulcomb which afforded both Seat and Sirname to a Family of that Denomination as appears by several old Deeds some of which are without Date which remember Stephen de Boycot John de Boycot and Alexander Boycot which last flourished here in the Reign of Edward the third and Richard the second and from him did it by paternal Delegation devolve to John Boycot and he had Issue John Boycot and Stephen Boycot one which sold his Proportion which accrued to him by the custome of Gavelkind to Richard Hovenden and the other by the like alienation transmitted his Interest in it to William Adam from whom it came over by Donation to Thomas Glover as is specified in the Deed of Sale by which the above-mentioned person in the first year of Henry the seventh alienates it to Richard Hovenden After Hovenden was crumbled away it came by purchase to be the possession of Clerk of Wood-Church the last of which Name which was entituled to the Inheritance was Humphrey Clerk Esquire who in the ninteenth of Q. Elizabeth alienated it to Thomas Sands and he in the twentieth year of the abovesaid Princess conveyed it to the Lady Elizabeth Berkley whose Grand-child Mr. ....... Berkley Esquire is now proprietarie of it Kingsnoth is the last Mannor in Vlcomb It was part of that Demeasn which related to the Abby of Feversham and continued united to its patrimony until the publick Dissolution filed it off and then it became the Interest of the Crown until Henry the eighth in the thirty second of his reign granted it to Sir Anthony St. Leger Knight of the Garter Lord Deputy of Ireland and one of his Privy Councel whose Son Sir Warham St. Leger in the tenth year of Q. Elizabeth conveyed it to William Isley Esquire who not long after passed it away to Anthony Sampson who in the twenty first year of Q. Elizabeth alienated it to James Austin and he in the year 1599 sold it to Robert Cranmer who dying without Issue Male Anne his Daughter and Heir brought it along with her to her Husband Sir Arthur Harris of Crixey in Essex who upon his Decease gave it to his second Son Mr. John Harris and his Son and Heir Mr. Cranmer Harris of Lincolns Inne enjoys the instant Inheritance of it Vp-Church in the Hundred of Milton was in elder Times in the Register of those Lands Mannors and Hereditaments which owned the dominion of the illustrious Family of Leybourn Rog. de Leybourn in the fiftieth year of H. the third had a Grant to hold his Lands at Hartlip Reinham and Up-Church by the fourth part of a Knights Fee and from him did the Clew of successive Descent in a continued Track transport it to his Great Grand-child Juliana de Leybourne Widow of John de Hastings not Father of Laurence de Hastings E. of Pembroke as some have erroneously printed but his Kinsman and next of William de Clinton Earl of Huntington whom she survived and died possest of this Mannor in the forty third year of Edward the third and as the inquisition after her Decease informs us without any Issue or kindred who might supersede the Interest of the Crown by pretending a direct or Collateral Title to her Estate so that King Edward the third by escheat became invested in this Mannor
Digge who promiscuously writ themselves in elder Times sometimes of Barham and sometimes of VVestwell as appears by many of their ancient Evidences and other Muniments yet extant In the reign of Edward the third there was one Adomarus de Digge who frequently writ himself of Westwell but whether it were he that was the Judge or not I cannot positively aver In fine after this place had for many Ages acknowledged the Signory of this Family it came down to John Digge in whom the Male-line ended so that his Female Heir being wedded to Henry Aucher annexed it to the Revenue of that Family and from him hath the Title by a Thread of many years been guided down to Mr. ...... Aucher Dean-court may be registered likewise in the Catalogue of the principal Mannors of this Parish It was in Times of elder prescription the Inheritance of Hussie who likewise was entituled to the possession of Dean-court in Wingham now the Mansion of the Oxendens by purchase from this Family Henry Hussie a man of great power as appears by that large Estate he was Lord of both at Wingham Lenham Boughton Malherbe and elsewhere died possest of this Mannor in the eighteenth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Numb 36. and from him did it in an even and an undivided Current glide along in this Name until the latter end of King Henry the eighth and then it was passed away by Sale to Milan in which Family the propriety of this place is now resident Nash-court is the next place in Westwell that cals for our Survey in old Deeds I find a Family that sometimes writ At Ash and sometimes Nash into which the former Name resolved who were possessors of it In Times of a lower Step that is in the thirty second year of Edward the third as appears by the close Roll of that year Rot. Esc Num. 94. Alanus de Hanekin held it but before the latter end of Richard the second this Family had quitted the possession by Sale to Brockhull of Calchill and was not long after that is about the twelfth year of Henry the fourth by Henry Brockhull conveyed to John Darell Esquire Sheriff of Kent in the eleventh year of Henry the fourth and Brother of Sir William Darell under-Treasurer of England and in this Name it was permanent until the last year of Edward the sixth and then it went away by Sale to Sharpe of Nin-house in great Chart and hath been now for five Descents resident in that Family Beamonston vulgarly called Beamston is partly situated in West-well and partly spread into East-well but the greatest part of the Demeasne is circumscribed within the Bounds of this Parish And in the twentieth year of Edward the third as appears by the Book of Aide was held by Thomas at More at making the Black Prince Knight But before the fourth year of Henry the fourth this Family was extinguished for at the Marriage of Blanch that Prince's Daughter as appears by the Roll of Blanch Lands kept in the Exchequer John Amias was possest of it and paid respective Aide for it as having purchased it of At-More and in this Name did it reside until the reign of Henry the seventh and then it was conveyed by Sale to John Moile Esquire Father to Sir Thomas Moile who left this with much other Land to Katharine his Daughter and Co-heir matched to Sir Thomas Finch in Right of which Alliance it is now devolved to be the Inheritance of his great Grand-child Hencage Finch the instant Earl of Winchelsey Perytowne lies likewise within the Limits of Westwell and is registered in the Catalogue of those Lands that William de Aldon died possest of in the thirty fifth year of Edward the third and continued chained to the Inheritance of this Family until about the twenty seventh of Henry the sixth it was passed away with much other other Land to Cardinal Kempe who setled it in the twenty eighth year of that Prince on his newly erected Colledge of Wye and rested there until the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth and then it was resigned into the Hands of that Prince and he in the thirty eighth year of his reign granted it to Thomas Cawarden or Carden Esquire and he not long after conveyed it by Sale to Sir John Baker of Sisingherst whose Successor Sir John Baker Baronet hath this present year 1657. alienated it to Nathaniel Powell of Ewherst in Sussex Esquire Woditon or Wolton is the last place of any Note in Westwell It was originally parcel of the Inheritance of a Family called Wolton or Woditon Ivo de Woditon held it in the year 1236. and left it to his Son John de Wolton who had Issue Richard de Woditon or VVolton a man of principal Note in the twentieth year of Edward the third who held both this Mannor and VVoditon by Berham which he held of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury by Knights Service at making the Black Prince Knight And in this Man's Successors did the Propriety constantly reside until the latter end of Henry the sixth and then some part of it was conveyed to John Hampton and he about the beginning of Edward the fourth passed it away to Richard Rasel who died possest of it as appears by his Will in the twentieth of that Prince but there was some part remained unsold until William Wolton dying 1540 ordered it by his Deed to be passed away to Feoffees in Trust to discharge Debts which accordingly was performed and the Remainder conveyed to Rasell in the Descendants of which Name and Family the entire proprietie is at this instant remaining Werehorne in the Hundreds of Ham and Blackbourne was partly under the Jurisdiction of the Church and partly under the Signory of temporal and Lay Proprietaries that Moitie of it which was of secular Interest belonged to a Family called Bedford Rich. de Bedford obtained a Grant of a Market to it weekly on the Tuesday and a Fair of three days continuance at the Feast of St. Matthew as appears Cart. 52. Henrici tertii Memb. 12 which was renued and confirmed to the abovesaid Person in the eighth year of Edward the first and he in the seventeenth year of that Prince died possest of it as is manifest Rot. Esc Num. 20. But after him it was of no long date in the Tenure of this Family for in the reign of Edward the second I find it in the possession of Hugh de VVindlesore or VVindsor but was not long chained to their Patrimony neither for about the beginning of Edward the third it was alienated to Moraunt of Moraunts Court but about the beginning of Richard the second Sir Thomas Morant Son of VVilliam Moraunt Sheriff of Kent the twelfth and thirteenth year of Edward the third to whom that Prince issued out a Mandate that but one Bell should be rang in any Steeple towards the Sea-Coast in Kent determined in a Female Heir who was matched to James Peckham of Yaldham Sheriff of Kent
third year of Henry the sixth Joan the Wife of Sir Iohn Grey one of the Sisters and Coheirs of the abovesaid Edmund was invested in the possession in the fourth year of the abovesaid Prince Not long after this it came to own the Signory of the Tiptofts and continued fastned to their patrimony until the renth year of Edward the fourth When Iohn Tiptoft Earl of Worcester being empeached of close Confederacy and Combination with the abovesaid Prince then forced into Exile was by the Parliament then principally moulded out of the Lancastrian Faction attainted and beheaded and his estate here confiscated to the Crown and there was lodged until the first year of Queen Elizabeth and then it was granted to Anthony Brown Viscount Montague who in the year 1592 deceased and left it to his Son and Heir Anthony Brown Viscount Montague and he setled it upon his second Son Mr. Stanislaus Brown who now is in the enjoyment of it East-wickham is situated in the Hundred of Little and Lesnes and celebrates the memory of the noble Family of Montchensey and was wrapped up in their Demeasn William de Montchensey held it at his Death which was in the fifty second year of Henry the third and left it to his Sole Daughter and Heir Dionis matched to Hugh de Vere but he dying without Issue in the seventh year of Edward the second as appears Rot. Esc Num. 51. the Title and possession diverted to VVilliam de Valentia Earl of Pembroke half Brother by the Mothers side to Henry the third who had matched with Joan Sister and Heir to VVilliam de Montchensey before named from whom it descended to his Son Aymer de Valence who dying without Issue Isabell one of his Sisters and Coheirs who was affianced to Laurence de Hastings summoned to sit in Parliament by Edward the third as Earl of Pembroke upon the approportioning the estate entituled her Husband to this Mannor and from him was the Title carried down to his Grandchild Iohn de Hastings Earl of Pembroke who was in possession of it at his Decease which was in the thirteenth year of Richard the second Rot. Esc Num. 30. And Reginald Grey was found to be his Heir in which Family it remained until the Beginning of Henry the sixth and then it was passed away to VVilliam Lord Lovell who was often summoned to sit as Baron in Parliament in that Prince's reign and from him it came down to his Grandchild Iohn Lord Lovell summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron in the second year of Edward the fourth and he about the Beginning of his reign passed it away to Iohn Lord Howard afterwards created Duke of Norfolk who being a close and eager Complice of Richard the third sunk in his Ruines in the Battle commenced at Bosworth and Henry of Richmond having by that successeful Combat ascertained himself to the English Scepter seised upon this Mannor by Escheat in the first year of his Reign as relating to a person who had actually appeared in Arms against him and being thus united to the Crown it lay couched in its Revenue untill the seventh year of Edward the sixth and then it was granted to Sir Martin Bowes who not long after passed it away to Alderman Oliff of London who left it to Joan his Sole Daughter and Heir matched to John Leigh Son and Heir of Nicholas Leigh of Addington in Surrey Esquire Father to Sir Oliff Leigh who much enhaunsed the Magnisicence of the ancient Fabrick with increase of Building and left it to his Son Sir Francis Leigh whose Widow the Lady Christian Leigh in Right of Dower is now in Possession of the Signory of it VVest-Wickham in the Hundred of Rokesley is much enobled by being anciently entituled to the possession of the eminent Family of Huntingfield Peter de Huntingfield held it who was Sheriff of Kent the eleventh twelfth and thirteenth years of Edward the third and is registred in the Scroles of those Kentish Gentlemen who accompanied Edward the first in his Victorious Expedition into Scotland in the twenty eighth year of his reign when he reduced Carlaverock by a successeful Seige for which his merit was repayed with the Honour of Knighthood his Son and Heir was Walter de Huntingfield who in the eleventh year of Edward the second obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor of West-Wickham a Market weekly on the Monday and a Fair yearly on the Vigil and day of St. Mary Magdalen as appears Pat. 11. Edwardi secundi Num. 23. And left it invested with these Priviledges to his Son and Heir Sir John de Huntingfield who paid Aid for three Knights Fees which he held in this County at making the Black Prince Knight and was a Man of that Eminence that he was summoned to sit as Baron in Parliament the thirty sixth year of Edward the third and several other Times during the Raign of the above-named Prince William de Huntingfield this mans Son was summoned likewise many Times to sit as Baron in Parliament about the latter end of Edward the third but dyed without Issue so that Joan and Alize Huntingfield his Cozens matched to Copledike and Norwich were his Heirs and by an old Deed I find that one John Copledike held this Mannor by Right of Partition the last year of Richard the second but it was not long after this fixed in the Patrimony of this Family for in the seventeenth year of Flenry the sixth Thomas Squerrie died possest of it and left it to his Son and Heir John Squerrie who dying without Issue in the fourth year of Edward the fourth Dorothy one of his two Sisters and Coheirs entituled her Husband Richard Mervin upon the Division of the Estate to the proprietie of this Mannor and he not long after passed it away to Richard Scrope who in the seventh year of Edward the fourth alienated it by Fine to Ambrose Creseacre who not long after transmitted it by Sale to Henry Heyden Esquire to whom the principal part of the ancient Pile now visible ows its Erection and from him did it devolved to that eminent Scholler and Souldier Justice of the Peace and Captain of the trained Bands of this County in the Reign or Queen Elizabeth Sir Christopher Heydon who about the latter end of that Princess passed it away to Sir Samuel Lennard Father to Sir Stephen Lennard who is entituled to the present propriety of it Wymingswould in the Hundred of Wingham contains within the Circuit or Limits of it an ancient Seat called Nethersole from its situation near some Pool or descending Pond and was as high as the Time of K. John and Henry the third the possession of a Family which was represented to the world under this Sirname for as it appears by the Original Deeds and Evidences which fortifie the Title of this Mansion Richard de Nethersoll flourished here about the Government of the abovesaid Monarchs and from him was it by a perpetuated Succession chained
to Clerke and so in all their Deeds subsequent to this Match have written Clerke alià s Woodchurch ever since But as all Families have their Descent and Period as well as Gradation and Ascent so had this for after this Mannor had for so many hundred years continued in this Family which had been productive of Men which had been planted in places of the greatest Eminence by which they were obliged to perform Service to their Country it came down at last to Humfrey Clerk Esquire who about the year 1594 passed it away by Sale to Walter Harlackenden Esquire by whose Daughter and Heir called Deborah Harlackenden it was united to the Revenue of Sir Edward Hales Knight and Baronet upon whose late Decease it is now descended to his Grand-child Sir Edward Hales Baronet who is entitled to the instant Signory of it Pleurinden in this Parish is a Branch of that Estate which fell under the Signory of the ancient and Knightly Family of Engham very frequently in old Deeds and other Monuments written Edingham and sometimes Hengham In a Deed wherein there is mention of a Match between ....... one of the Co-heirs of Sir Stephen de Penchester and Henry de Cobham and wherein some Land is conveyed over to Cobham there are these Persons recorded to be Testes to it William de Savage William de Oure Otho de Grandison and Roger de Hengham The Deed is very ancient and though not confined to any strict or precise Date yet commences from the reign of Edward the first and from this Roger did Vincent Engham Esquire lineally descend who in the ....... year of Q. Elizabeth passed it away by Sale to Roger Twisden Esquire Grand-father to Sir Roger Twisden Baronet in whom is fixed the instant Propriety of it Tounland is another Mannor in Woodchurch which had anciently Owners of that Sirname Rafe de la Thun died seised of this Mannor and other Lands in Woodchurch the forty third year of Hen. the third After him I find Richard de Tunland possest of it in the reign of Henry the third and Edward the first and had Issue Thomas de Tunlâ—nd who died seised of it in the fifth year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 13. and left it to his Son and Heir John de Tunland who was an eminent Benefactor to the priory of Leeds to which Covent he added this Mannor to improve their Revenue at the time of his Decease which was in the forty seventh year of Edward the third and here it remained until the Dissolution and then it was granted by Henry the eighth to Thomas Lord Cromwell and after his Attaint in the thirty second year of his reign being escheated it was in the thirty fifth of Henry the eighth regranted to Sir Thomas Moile Chancellor of the Court of Augmentation and he in the thirty sixth year of Henry the eighth passed it away by Sale to William Goodwin and Tho. Ancos and they not long after alienated their Right in it to Lucas in which Family it continued but until the Beginning of Q. Elizabeth and then it was conveyed by Sale to Thomas Godfrey whose Son James Godfrey in the tenth year of Q. Elizabeth transferred it by the like Devolution to Mary Guldford and she again in the eleventh year of that Princess demised it to Richard Guldford and he not long after sold it away to Shelley of Michelgrove and John Shelley as I find by a Court Roll relating to this place held it in the eighteenth of Q. Elizabeth and in the Descendant of this Name and Family is the Inheritance of it if I be not misinformed at this instant placed Henherst is the last place considerable in Woodchurch which was the possession of a Family of that Denomination of whom I have spoken at Stapleherst where they enjoyed another Mannor of this Name and of which Family this here was but a Cadet or younger Slip and was written sometimes Henherst and as often in old Deeds Engherst and continued Owners of this place until the reign of Henry the seventh and then it devolved to Sir Thomas Hengherst who was the last of that Name which held this place for he dying without Issue Male Humfrey Wise who had matched with his Daughter and Heir in her right was invested in the Inheritance of it but he deceasing likewise without Issue Male his sole Inheritrix united it by marriage to the Revenue of her Husband Mr. Robert Masters Great Grand-father to Mr. Edward Masters of Canterbury in whom the propriety of this place is at this prefent continued Henden likewise is an Appendage to Woodchurch from whence certainly the Name of Henden originally streamed out though it be brought down to our Times in so crooked and perplexed a Chanel that we cannot discover it in all the wandrings and Digressions of it though the Family was made more conspicuous by Sir Edward Henden one of the Barons of the Exchequer to the late King Charles who for his clear speculation and insight into the deepest and most mysterious Intrigues of the Municipal Law of England was commonly called the Picklock of it But this is a Diversion The ancient Proprietaries of Henden represented to us by the eldest Records were the Lords Burwash very frequently written Burghherst and Bartholomew Lord Burwash had a Charter of Free Warren granted to Henden in the eighteenth year of Edward the third And when this Family had deserted the Possession of this place the next which successively held it were the Capells of Capells Court in Ivie-Church and Richard Capell died seised of it in the fifteenth year of Richard the second and here after it had been for some Generations fixed the Name resolved into a Daughter and Heir who was matched unto Harlackenden and so it became twisted into the Revenue of that Family and so remained till Deborah Harlackenden the Heir General of Walter Harlackenden a Branch of this Stock by being wedded to Sir Edward Hales Knight and Baronet Grand-father to Sir Edward Hales now of Tunstall Baronet wound it up in the Demeasn and Interest of that Honourable Family The Borough of Harlackenden is situated in this Parish and has been for many hundred of years the Patrimonial Demeasn of that Name and Family as appears by a Tomb in the Church of Woodchurch whose Inscription signifies that one of them lies enterr'd there a little after the Conquest and though the Character be in the proportion and Shape of it very much like that which was in use in the reign of Hen. the fourth and Henry the fifth and so makes the Truth of it disputable yet to this 't is answered that there was an old Tombstone there before with the same Inscription upon it insculped peradventure in a Saxon Character or such an one as was proportionate to that time in which that person died who lies there entombed which being decayed his Successors to perpetuate and inforce the Memory of so ancient a Predecessor fixed this
Stone upon his Grave and to make the Memorial more obvious did cause the Epitaph to be engraven in such a Letter as was Customary to the Time of that Prince in whose reign it was laid upon the Ashes beneath In Greys Inne Hall by particular Inspection I have observed the Arms of this Family viz. Azure A fesse Ermin between three Lions Heads erased Or to be painted in an upper Window which appears to be of very venerable Antiquity and this justifies those fair Attributes of Noble Ancient and Illustrious which may with very good Reason be entituled to this Family of which is Thomas Harlackenden Esquire who by inherent right transmitted to him by a never-ebbing stream of so many multiplied Descents is the instant proprietary of this Borough Edingham vulgarly called Engham is the last place of Account within the Verge of Woodchurch and was in Times of elder date before they transplanted themselves to Singleton in Great Chart the Mansion of the Enghams who as they placed here their Seat extracted from hence to their Sirname a Family doubtless of profound Antiquity and no less Reputation as may appear by those large Possessions which they were interessed in in several parts of Romney Mersh written in old Records sometimes Edingham and by Contraction Engham and very frequently Hengham And it is very probable from the Identity of the Name that Rafe de Hengham the eminent Lord Chief Justice in the reign of Edward the first was of this Family * Pat. de Anno secundo Ed. tertii Parte secunda Memb. 23. Sir Audomer or Aymer de Engham was Justice of Chester in the second year of Edward the third and was issued out originally from this Family and it is possible Audomar or Odmer de Hengham who lies buried in Christ-Church at Canterbury in the year 1411 was his Son and what much enhaunses the Honour of this Family he is written in the Latin Inscription affix'd to his Tomb Audomarus Hengham Armiger and in this Name was the Inheritance of this place conducted along through many Generations of the Enghams even till our Grand-fathers Memory and then it was by sale alienated to Baker who is now the Possessor of that Seat which formerly made the Name of Engham so conspicuous in this County Wolwich has been in elder Times written Wolnewich is in the Hundred of Lesnes and was the propriety of Gilbert de Marisco who stands first in the Inventory of those who were its former possessors and he held it about the Beginning of Edward the first and assumed this Name de Marisco from that Estate which he enjoyed in the Mersh beneath this Town and it seems his Fortune was of no narrow Dimension for he held this Mannor under the Notion of half a Knights Fee in the above mentioned Prince's reign of Warren de Montchensie Baron of Swanscampe After him Sabina de Windlesor possest it about the seventeenth year of Edward the second by the fourth part of a Knights Fee also of the Barony of Montchensie at Swanscampe And then next successively to her did John de Pultney hold it in the twentieth year of Edward the third as this Lady had held it before by the fourth part of a Knights Fee and of the Honour of Montchensie in like manner from whom it passed away to William Chichley a Kinsman of that eminent Prelates Henry Chichley Arch-Bishop of Canterbury And this man had Issue John Chichley who deceased without Issue Male and left onely Agnes his Heir matched with John Tatersal who flourished here in her right much of the Rule of Henry the sixth and some of that of Edward the fourth and then alienated the Interest of this place to Boughton in which Family the Interest of it remained til by sale it was divided from it and united to the patrimony of Heywood where it seems the Title was supported with no constant possession for shortly after almost in less then our Fathers Memory the right of it was by the former Fatality translated into Sir Nicholas Gilbourne Father to Henry Gilbourne Esquire to whom this Mannor gives up the right of its present possession It appears that the Commissions of Sewers which are now yearly issued for to make a diligent Inspection into those Banks and the Defects of them which protect and secure the adjacent Mershes from the encroachments and eruptions of the Thames was of authentick and ancient use for a Commission went out as is manifest by Pat. 17. Edwardi secundi for repairing a very great Breach the waters by an Inundation had made into the Mershes which lie extended between Wolwich and Greenewich Wrotham gives Name to the whole Hundred where it is seated and is registred in the List of those Mannors which formerly encreased the revenue and supported the Dignity of the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury and if you will see how it was rated in the Time of the Conquerour consult Dooms-day Book and that speaks thus Wrotham est Manerium Archiepiscopi T. E. R. defendebat se pro VIII Sullings est appretiatum 24 lb. and continued treasured in their patrimony until the twenty ninth year of Henry the eighth and then it was exchanged by Thomas Cranmer Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with the Crown and lay clasped up in the Kingly revenue until the sixth year of Edw. the sixth and then it was granted to Sir William Mason who partly passed it away by sale and partly gave it in Dower with his Daughter matched to Robert Bing Esquire whose Successor Mr. John Bing hath lately passed away his entire Interest in it to * Se more of this Family at Eigtham where I have rendered an Account how they alter'd the Name of Haestrecht to James William James of Eigtham Esq descended from an ancient Family called Haestrecht near Vtrecht to which Family Will. Camden Clarenceux King of Arms through mistake and inadvertency assigned Argent a Cheveron between three Mill Rinds Sables as the paternal Coat of this Family whereas had he made a serious Review he would have discovered that the Original Coat of Haestrecht was Argent two Barrs Crenellee Gules three Pheons in chief Sables which mistake that I may the better rectifie I have represented both in Sculpture to the view of the Reader Wrotham had a Market procured to it by Walter Reynolds Arch-Bishop of Canterbury in the eighth year of Edward the second Wingfield is a second Mannor in Wrotham which in Times very ancient acknowledged the propriety of Quintin a Family though not of signal yet of no cheap Account in this Tract and was by Gilbert Quintin and Joan his Wife in the thirty first year of Henry the eighth passed away by Fine to James Peckham from whom by a Clew of several Generations it was conducted down to James Peckham Gentleman who about the beginning of K. James conveyed it to Nicholas Miller of Horsnells Crouch Esq who deceasing without Issue bequeathed it to his Nephew Sir Nicholas Miller upon whose
late paying that Debt we all owe to Nature it is now Humf. Millers Esquire Yaldham or Aldham is another Seat of considerable Account in Wrotham especially since it celebrates the Memory of Thomas de Aldham who by a pious Assistance supported the Arms and Cause of Richard the first when he was engaged at the Siege of Acon and from him it descended to Sir Thomas de Aldham who determining in three Daughters and Coheirs Margery one of them by matching with Martin de Peckham descended from John de Peckham who likewise fills up the Catalogue of those Kentish Gentlemen who by their signal Courage made themselves considerable under Richard the first at the Siege of Acon did augment his Patrimony by the Union of hers at this place to it And from him hath an undisturbed Channel of many Descents flowing through sundry worthy persons of very remarkable Repute in their respective Generations brought it down to confess the Signory of Reginald Peckham Esquire Barsted is the last Mannor in Wrotham which accrued to James Peckham by matching wich the Sole Heir of Sir Thomas Moraunt and hath lain ever since wrapped up in the Demeasn of that Family so that at present it is part of the patrimony of Reginald Peckham of Yaldham Esquire Ford in this parish has been for some Centuries of years the possession of Clerk very frequently written in old Evidences le Clerk John Clerk Son of John Clerk was the second Baron of the Exchequer about the beginning of the reign of Henry the sixth from whom in a lineal succession Sir William Clerk did descend who when this Nation was engaged in the Flame of the late Civil Contention offered up his Life to the Commands of his late Majesty in that signal Confflict which was commenced between Sir William Waller and the Royal party at Cropreadie Bridge and which is more remarkable after he had received a mortal Wound as if he had had a greater Care of his Friend's Security then of his own poured out his last Breath in this Expression Look to Sir William Butler for I saw him fall After whose Decease the right of this Mansion being included in the jointure of his Lady Dowager she in Relation to that first settlement now holds the possession of it Pleckston was formerly a Borough appertaining to Wrotham but by an ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament bearing Date from the year of our Lord 1647 it was enacted there should be a Collection thoroughout this County towards the erecting a Parochial Church at this place and the establishing a Congregation proportionate to it which was effected accordingly so that now it hath the Repute of a Parish seperate and distinct from Wrotham and contains within its Limits the Mannor of Sore which was in times of a more ancient Complexion parcel of the patrimony of the Colepepers of Preston in Alresford for Walter Colepeper dyed possest of it in the first year of Edward the third from whom an uninterrupted flowing of Descent wafted the Title down to Sir Thomas Colepeper of Preston who passed it away to Nicholas Miller Esquire of Horsnells Crouch in Wrotham and he upon his decease disposed of his Right in it to his Nephew Sir Nicholas Miller of Oxenhoath upon whose late Decease it descended to his Son and Heir Humphrey Miller Esquire Wormsell is a small despicable Parish in the Hundred of Eyhorn and was ever esteemed an Appendage to the Mannor of Boughton Malherbe and had ever the same Proprietaries as namely Gatton Dene Corbie and lastly Wotton in which last Family it remained untill the latter end of Henry the eighth and then it was passed away to Dynley where it rested untill our Fathers Memory and then it was conveyed to Sydley so that it now owns the propriety of Sir Charles Sydley Baronet Wouldham lies in the Hundred of Larkefield and was given to Ernulf Bishop of Rochester by Ethelbert King of Kent in the year 762 who for this and other his Munificent Donations by which he so much enlarged and multiplyed the Revenue of the Sea at Rochester is represented to us at this day by the Records of that Church under the Character and Pourtraicture of pius Ethelbertus but the Steeple and much of the Fabrick of the Church owe their original to the Charity and Beneficence of Stephen Slegge who was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty seventh year of Henry the sixth and bequeathed by his Will in the thirty sixth year of that Prince's reign a 100. Marks to be disbursed and expended on the Church and Steeple of Wouldham Rings is a small Mannor that spreads it self partly into Wouldham and partly into the Parish of St. Margarets not far distant but was eminent formerly because it was the Demeasn in part of the noble Family of Cosington of Cosington in Alresford the other Moiety acknowledging the Signory of Carter Cosington sold his proportion to Whorne of Whornes-place in Cuckston and Carter alienated his to Laurence who not long after by a mutual Deed of Conveyance passed away their joynt Interest in it to Hadds of Meriam-court in VVicheling who was scarce setled in his new purchase but he by Sale transplanted his right in it into Thomas Roydon of Roydon-court in Peckham who was one of those who in the thirty first year of Henry the eighth altered by Act of Parliament their possessions from the Nature and Tenure of Gavelkind to that of Knights Service From Roydon this place as appears by the private Evidences of Mr. John Marsham by the former Alienation was carried into the Demeasn of Brockhull of Aldington Septuans in Thurnham where the possession was not long resident for Henry Brockhull conveyed it away to Nicholas Lewson of the County of Stafford whose Grandchild Sir Richard Lewson desiring to circumscribe his Revenue within the more close circumference of Staffordshire sold his Concernment here to John Marsham Esquire originally extracted out of Norfolk to whose Name those learned pieces which he hath made publick as namely his accurate Disquisitions upon Daniel and his elaborate Preface prefixed to the monastick Survey styled Monasticum Anglicanum shall stand in future Ages both Urn and Epitaph Starkeys is another place wholly involved within the Limits of VVouldham but formerly it was not known by this Name for in Times of elder Aspect I believe it could scarce entitle it self to any Mansion though it had the Repute of a Mannor and under that Notion is it mentioned to be held by Sir John Buckland in the twentieth year of Edward the third as appears by the Book called Feoda Militum kept in the Exchequer where it is styled the Mannor of Little-VVouldham After this Family was worn out the Newmans were the next who by purchase from them became possessors of the Fee but stayed not long in the Tenure of it for in a Descent or two after Henry Newman alienated the Inheritance to Humphrey Starkey one of the Barons of the Exchequer in
Prince made the Inheritance of Mr. John Buckler who about the beginning of Edward the sixth passed it away to Sir William Damsell emploid as Agent from that Prince to the Crown of France and he going out in four Daughters and Coheirs one of them by matching with Burston made it upon the disunion of the the Body of the Estate into parcels a Limb of his patrimony and remained so until our Fathers remembrance and then it was conveyed to Moil of Buckwell and was not many years since conveyed by Robert Moile Esquire alienated by Sale to Sir Thomas Finch afterwards Earl of Winchelsey Father to Heneage Finch Earl of Winchelsey now Proprietary of it Raymonds is the last place of Account in Wye which afforded a Seat and gave a Sirname to a Family so called and were eminent in this Parish many hundred years since as being Stewards to the Abby of Battle for Lands near this place and it is probable this place was the original Seminary or Fountain from whence the Raimonds of Essex Norfolk and other Counties in this Nation deduced their primitive Extraction But to advance in my discourse this Family of Raymond having long since abandoned the Signory of this place it hath been for sundry Descents the Inheritance of Beck and is still entituled to the propriety of one of this Name and Family Y. Y. Y. Y. YAlding in the Hundred of Twyford It was in old Saxon Orthography written Ealding from the Watry Situation of the Meadows It was made eminent by being parcel of the Inheritance of the Earls of Gloucester whose Sirname was de Clare under whose Signory it remained till Gilbert de Clare Earl of Gloucester and Hertford who deceased in the eighth year of Edward the second and left Margaret de Clare his sole Heir who was married to Hugh de Audley who became in right of his Wife Lord of the propriety of Yalding and Earl of Gloucester likewise but enjoyed neither no considerable space of Time for he died in the twenty first year of Edward the first and left no Issue Male so that Margaret Audley became his Heir who by matching with Rafe Earl of Stafford cast it into his patrimony and he at his Death which was in the forty sixth year of Edward the third in her right was found to be possest of it and in this Family did the Inheritance fix it self till the reign of Henry the eighth and then Edward Stafford Duke of Buckingham descended in a direct line from the abovesaid Rafe Stafford having by his own improvidence and miscarriage laid himself open to the Malitious Assaults of Cardinal Wolsey He by blowing of wild Conjectures into the Ears of King Henry the eighth blew up the fire of his rage into that height and fury that nothing could extinguish it but the Blood of this Peer poured out by an untimely Effusion upon the Scaffold upon whose infortunate Decease his Estate by Forfeiture and Escheat devolved to the Crown And K. Henry the eighth suddenly after granted Yalding to his Kinsman Hen. Somerset E. of Worcester whose Father Charles Somerset he in the seventh year of his Government by a new Creation had adorned with that Title from whom not long after it was by purchase incorporated into the Patrimony of Nevill Baron of Aburgavenny whose Successor is John Nevill both in the Barony and in the Inheritance of Yalding Woodfold is a place not to be declined without some Consideration because it was a place formerly of no contemptible repute for Anselmus de Quintin originally issued out from the ancient Family of Boupton in Wiltshire held it in the twentieth year of Edward the third by the fourth part of a Knights Feee as the Book of Aid testifies at the making the Black Prince Knight and here after the Possession divers years had resided it shrunk away from this Family and by purchase was carried into the Inheritance of Burton where likewise it was some Generations settled till the same Vicissitude made it as inconstant here as it had been to the former Family and by Sale transported the right of it to Vane a younger Branch of Vane Earl of Westmerland in whose Name and Posterity the Patrimonial Interest of it continues still wrapt up Lodingford is another mannor in Yalding which belonged to the priory of Bermondsey and upon the Suppression of that magnificent Cloister was annexed to the revenue of the Crown but made no long abode there for Henry the eighth granted it to Tho. VVood Esquire and he not long after alienated it by Sale to George Fane Esquire Ancestor to the right Honourable Mildmay Fane now Earl of VVestmerland the instant Lord of the Fee Yalding had the Grant of a Market to be observed there weekly procured to it by Hugh de Audley and a Fair to continue three Days yearly viz. the Vigil the Day of St. Peter and Paul and the subsequent to it as appears Pat. 12. Edw. secundi N. 57. The Description of the ISLANDS ELmeley is an Island not farre removed from Feversham but yet is situated in the Hundred of Milton it was in elder Times parcel of the Demeasn of Peyforer Fulk de Peyforer held it at his Death which was in the fifth year of Edward the first from whom it was transported by Descent to his Son Fulk de Peyforer who likewise was in possession of it at his Decease which was in the ninth year of Edward the second but before the latter end of Edward the third this Name and Family was shrunk into a Daughter and Heir called Julian who by matching with Thomas St. Leger annexed that Interess that Family had in this Island to his Inheritance and from him the like Vicissitude carried it off to Hen. Aucher who had espoused Joan his Coheir but before the latter end of Hen. the fifth his right in Elmeley was by Sale transplanted into Cromer of London who likewise before had purchased some proportion of Estate which the Heirs of * Sir Rob. Knolles Feoffee in Trust for Grey and Talbot passed away 1000 Acres in Elmeley to Sir Will. Cromer 7. Hen. 4. Hastings had in this Island by a right deduced from Mayney for Sir VValter de Mayney Knight of the Garter died the forty ninth year of Edward the third and left onely a Sole Daughter and Heir called Anno who by matching with John Hastings Earl of Pembroke brought Tunstall and much other Land here in Elmeley and elsewhere to be the patrimony of that Family But to proceed Elmeley being thus entirely made the Demeasn of Cromer continued linked to this Family many Descents until Sir James Cromer the last of this Name almost in our memory died and left three Daughters and Coheirs surviving for Martha the fourth died unmarried to share his Estate Frances was matched to Sir Mathew Carew Elizabeth married Sir John Steed and Christian espoused Sir John Hales and so these three dividing Elmeley the Descendants which claimed from Carew and Steed have
very lately by Sale conveyed theirs and so by Consequence the Sole Interest of this Island unto Sir Edward Hales of Tunstal Graine Island lies in the Hundred of Hoo and had still the same Owners with the Mannor of Malmains in Stoke not farre distant Nicholas Malmains held it at his Death which was in the twenty third year of Edward the third and from him did the Title stream in this Family until the beginning of Henry the fourth and then it went away by Sale to Iden of Ripley Court in Westwell and in this Family did the Possession dwell untill the beginning of Henry the eighth and then it was alienated to John Parks Gentleman and he not long after dying without Issue Male Elizabeth his Sole Inheritrix who was wedded to John Roper of Bedmaneore in Lingsted Esquire united it to his Patrimony and from him is it now descended to his Successor Christopher Roper the instant Baron of Tenham Hartie lies in the Hundred of Feversham and did anciently acknowledge the Dominion of the Abbot and Covent of Feversham until John Abbot of that place in the tenth year of Henry the eighth obtained a Licence from the Crown to alienate it to Thomas Colepeper Esquire but here its abode was of no long Moment for about the latter end of Henry the eighth it was transmitted by Sale to Sir Thomas Cheyney whose Son the Lord Henry Cheyney about the middle of Q. Elizabeth passed it away to Samuel Thornhill Esquire great Grand-father to Mr. ....... Thornhill the instant Owner of it Oxney Island is an Hundred within it self The first place of eminence which offers it self to a Survey is Witresham which anciently belonged to the Monks of Christ-church and was given to that Cloister in the year 132 by Edsin Bishop of St. Martins without Cant. but upon the Suppression of that Covent in the reign of Hen. the eighth this Mannor with all its appendant was Immunities granted to Hen. Crispe Esq whose Son Nicholas Crispe held it the sixth of Q. Eliz. and after him James Hales Esquire and he in the thirteenth of that Princess alienated it to Freak in which Family it remained untill the Beginning of King James and then it was conveyed by Sir Thomas Freak to Sir Thomas Bishop and he in the sixteenth year of the abovesaid Prince gave it in marriage with his Daughter Mrs. Jane Bishop to Edward Alford Esquire and she in right of that original Settlement does now hold this Mannor Palstre is another Mannor in Witresham which represents to us the memory of John de Palstre who was anciently Lord of the Fee but before the end of Edward the third this Family was vanished and then the Charles's a Family of generous rank at Addington were setled in the possession and Richard Charles held it in the fifth year of Richard the second and so did Nicholas Charles who dyed possest of it in the eleventh year of that Prince Rot. Esc Num. 16. And from this Family by Alice one of the Coheirs it devolved to William Snath and he concluding in a Daughter and Heir she by matching with Watton brought it to be united to the patrimony of this Family And here it made its Re dence untill the reign of Heury the sixth and then it was passed away to Robert Rudston Esquire who being embarked in the reign of Queen Mary in the Design of Sir Thomas Wiatt although he did not forfeit his Life yet he did that of his Estate which by the special Indulgence of that Princesse was granted back to him in the second year of her reign in which this was involved which remained with this Family untill allmost our Time and then it was passed away to Sir Edward Henden one of the Barons of the Exchequer who dying not long since without Issue gave it to his Nephew Sir John Henden Father to Edw. Henden Esq the instant Lord of the Fee Owlye is another Mannor in Witresham which anciently was written Ovely as having owners of that Sirname who stayed not here untill the Beginning of Richard the second but were extinguished and left the possession to Ao Odiarne a Family anciently of good Note After whom I cannot because the private Evidences are embezel'd discover what Families were successively planted in the possession Only I find it about the latter end of Henry the eighth in the possession of Mayney of Biddenden in whom the Interest continued untill some few years since it was alienated by Sir John Mayney of Linton Knight and Baronet to Peter Ricaut Esquire who hath lately alienated his right in it to Mr. Menell of London Ebeney was given to the Monks of Christchurch in Canterbury by K. Athulfus at the particular entreaty and instigation of Ceolnoth the Arch-bishop in the year 832 to the Reparation of their Cloister and Cathedral The words registred in the Latine Record are these Anno Domini 832 Rex Athulfus instinctu Ceolnothi Archiepiscopi dedit Ebeneyam ad opus Monachorum Libere sicut Adisham But when the Impieties of the Monks who had cloistered up Religion it self in a Lazy Cell grew so clamorous that they called for Vengeance upon their Seminaties that Storm arose in the reign of Henry the eighth which by the Dissolution of their Covents expiated their Irregularities this Mannor was surrendered to the Crown and the abovesaid Prince in the thirty second year of his Government granted it to Sir Walter Henley Serjeant at Law who dying without Issue-male his three Daughters namely Elizabeth married to William Waller Esquire Hellen first wedded to Thomas Colepeper of Bedgebury Esquire secondly to Sir George Somerset and thirdly to Thomas Vane of Burston Esquire and Anne matched to Richard Covert of Slaugham as his Coheirs entered upon his Inheritance and then this place upon the Division of his estate increased the Demeasn of Richard Covert Esquire from whom by the Devolution of a descendant right the title is now lodged in his Successor Mr ...... Covert VVoodrove in Ebeney acknowledged in elder Ages a Family for proprietaries known by the Name of Mocking who had a revenue likewise about Milton Stockbury Hartlip and Shepey of no despicable Bulk John Mocking Son of VVilliam Mocking flourished under the Scepter of Edward the first Edward the second and held this Mannor at his Decease which was in the eleventh year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 75. And in this Family did the possession fix untill the reign of Henry the fourth and then it began to ebbe away from this Name and flow by the conveyance of Sale into Guldford and in a very old Schedule which enumerates the Mannors which related to John Guldford who lived under the Government of Henry the fourth and Henry the fifth this is registred in the Catalogue and from him did it come down to Sir Edward Guldford whose Daughter and Heir Joan brought it to be the patrimony of John Dudley Duke of Northumberland and he gave this Mannor with no small
lies entombed under an Arch in the Southwall with his pourtraicture insculped in a Marble in Minster Church whose Tomb is become the Scene of much Falshood and popular errour the vulgar having digged out of his Vault many wild Legends and Romances as namely that he buryed a Priest alive that he swam on his horse two miles thorough the Sea to the King who was then neer this Island on Shipboard to purchase his pardon and having obtained it swam back to the Shore where being arrived he cut off the head of his said Horse because it was affirmed he had acted this by Magick and that riding on hunting a twelvemoneth after his horse stumbled and threw him on the Scull of his former Horse which blow so bruised him that from that Contusion he contracted an inward impostumation of which he dyed and in memory of which an Horse Head is placed at his Feet which fictitious Story is rent into the disunion of so many absurd circumstances that I shall represent to the Reader the Foundation on which this fabulous Natrative was formerly established which is no more but this Sir Robert de Shurland above-mentioned being Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports and a man of eminent Authority under Edward the first obtained Grant of priviledge by Charter to have wrack of Sea upon his Lands confining on the Sea Shore neere Shurland now the extent of this Royaltie is evermore esteemed to reach as far into the Water upon a low ebb as a man can ride in and touch any thing with the point of his Launce and so you have the explication of this marvel and the couching either of whole Creatures or part of them at the Feet of worthy personages is most frequent both now and in elder Times that these inanimate Representations might be the Symbols or Hieroglyphicks to intimate to posterity those Virtues which were resident in them when alive But to proceed the abovementioned Sir Robert de Shurland having improved his Reputation with many noble and worthy Actions left That only to perpetuate his Name to posterity having no Issue-male to continue it for he left only one Daughter and Heir matched to W. de Cheyney of Patricksbourn Cheyney who was son and heir to Sir Alexander de Cheyney who is in the Inventory or List of those Knights Bannerets who were ennobled with that Dignity by E. the first at the Siege of Carlaverock in the twenty eighth year of his reign and in Right of this Match dyed possest of it in the eighth year of E. the third Rot. Esc Num. 58. And from him did it come down to his great Grandchild Sir John Cheyney who was Knight of the Garter and frequently Knight of this Shire in sundry Parliaments under the Government of Henry the fourth in the first year of whose reign as our Chronicles inform us he was sent Embassador to several forreign Princes to represent to them the Reasons or Motives which induced him to assume the English Diadem and in the first and second year of that Prince he was chosen Speaker of Parliament Sir William Cheyney another of this Family of Shurland was first a Judge and secondly Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in the reign of Henry the fifth but the greatest Honour this Mannor atchieved was when it came to be possest by Sir Thomas Cheyney who was Knight of the Garter Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports Constable of Quinborough Castle and one of the Privy Councel to Henry the eighth and he had Issue Sir Henry Cheyney created Henry Lord Cheyney of Tuddington by Queen Elizabeth who having exchanged this Mannor of Shurland with that Princesse it remained with the patrimony of the Crown untill the second year of King James and then it was by royal Concession from that Prince made the Inheritance of Philip Earl of Montgomery and after of Pembroke upon whose late decease it is now come to confesse the Signory of his second Son Mr. James Herbert Kingsborough is another Mannor in this Parish whose Name tacitly intimates to us that it was involved formerly in the Revenue of the Crown and was the place which the Inhabitants frequented not only for the holding of a Court for the choice and election of the Constables of the Island but likewise here assembled to nominate and appoint those Wardens or Bailiffs that were to take Cognisance or Charge of the passage called King ferry which divides the Island and the main Land of me County this Mannor after it had for many Generations layn folded up in the royal Demeasne was by Queen Elizabeth granted to Mr. Henry Cary who about the Beginning of K. James passed it away to Swaleman whose Descendant is still entituled to the propriety of it Leisdon next offers it selfe up to our view which was parcel of that estate which acknowledged the noble and ancient Family of Grey or Rotherfield in Sussex for its ancient Owners The first which made this Family eminent was John de Grey who was frequently summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron in the reign of Edward the third and dyed possest of this Mannor in the thirty third year of that Prince Rot. Esc Num. 38. And so did Robert Grey his Successor in the second year of Henry the fourth After his Exit I do not find it long constant to the Signory of this Name for about the Beginning of Henry the sixth it was alienated to Lovell and by virtue of this purchase Sir William Lovell held it at his Death which was in the twenty third year of Henry the sixth After this Family had abandoned the possession the Cheyneys of Shurland were by purchase planted in the Inheritance and remained setled in the Fee-simple of it untill Sir Henry Lord Cheyney exchanged it with Queen Elizabeth Nuts called so vulgarly but in the ancient Court-rolls named Notts as being the Inheritance of a Family called Nott is a little Mannor in Leisdon which after it had for many descents acknowledged no other proprietaries but this Family about the Beginning of Edward the fourth was rent from them by purchase and transplanted into Bartholomew a Family which were Owners anciently of much Land about Lingsted Throuley and other places in that Track and continued Masters of this Lordship untill the reign of Henry the eighth and then it was conveyed to Sir Thomas Cheyney whose Son Sir Henry Cheyney about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth passed it away to Sampson a Family which had been possessors of Sampson-court not far distant many hundred years and were descended from William Sampson who was frequently summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron in the reign of Edward the first From Sampson it was again in our Fathers Memory carried off to Oâ—borne in the Descendants of which Family the right is still fixed Werdon is the last place of Account in this Island It was in times of an elder Inscription involved in the Inheritance of Savage of Bobbing and in the twenty third year of Edward
the first Sir John de Savage obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor of Werdon But before the middle of Edward the third this Family had surrendered their Interest here to Fremingham for John de Fremingham dyed seised of it in the twenty third year of Edward the third but whether it devolved with other Land by the Heir general of Fremingham to Isley or not is incertain because those privtae evidences which relate to this Mannor extend no higher then the reign of Edward the fourth and then I find the propriety of it in Norton in which Family after the possession had resided untill our times it was conveyed to Edmund Tooke of Dartford Esq Barrister at Law now proprietary of it Thanet lies if not all yet most part of it circumscribed within the Hundred of Ringleslow It is styled in Greek by ancient Authors 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Thanetum and in the Saxon it is curtailed into Thanet which an old Manuscript which I have seen deduces from two Saxon Words Thane and Yete which in that Language then implyed as much as the Lords-Entrance but for my particular I believe that the Saxons when upon the Donation of it to them by Vortiger they first entered into this Island finding that Thanetum was a Latine Name imposed upon it by the Romans who had but newly then deserted the Protection of this Island new-softned the Name by contracting it and then quilted it into the Alphabet of their own Language and called it Thanett and that this is probable I shall evince from circumstances Punio in Latine signifies to punish from whence the Saxons styled that place by Maidstone where they punished Malefactors Pinandun Hoath So Castrum was a Name used by the Romans to signifie or expresse any Castle or Fortresse which the Saxons upon their admission into this Island finding it to be imposed upon all places of strength and importance adopted it into their Dialect and from the word Castrum extracted the word Ceaster I could instance in many other particulars but that I should both weary my Reader and clog this Discourse with Superfluities I shall therefore from the untwisting the Name descend to the Description of the Island Serre now vulgarly called Sarre is the first place of Note which offers it self up to a view It was anciently a Parish untill peradventure the unhealthinesse of the Soile for it now confines upon Marishes where formerly glided that Gullet of Sea-water now wholly stifled with Sand which made Thanett an Island as may plainly appear by an ancient Mapp printed by the original and now extant in the Book called Monasticum Anglicanum or else from the insalubrity of the Air which being polluted with those black and foggie vapours which ascend from a loose and soggie earth very frequently leave a venomous Tincture upon the Blood and Spirits of those Inhabitants who are subject to the impression of such pernicious exhalations forced those who dwelt in Serre to abandon so sickly a Habitation and so the Parish by degrees began to languish away into that Solitude we see it is shrunk into at present The Church was dedicated to St. Giles but at present lies entombed in such forgotten Ruines that scarce the least Remains are visible The Mannor it self was one of the ancient Seats of the noble Family of Crioll Bertram de Crioll augments the Register of those Kentish Gentlemen who were with Richard the first at the Siege of Acon in Palestine Bartholomew de Crioll another of this Name and Family was Lieutenant of Dover-castle under the abovesaid Prince Simon de Crioll was with Edward the first at his prosperous Siege of Carlaverock and for his generous Assistance there received the Order of Knighthood and from him it came down to Sir William Crioll Father to Sir John Crioll who held it in the Beginning of Henry the sixth as appears Pat. 9. Hen. 6. Par. prim Memb. 19. And from him was it transmitted to his Son Sir Thomas Keriell Knight of the Garter a Man of that worth and eminence in that time he lived in that I might seem something to obscure his Glory if I should not represent to the Reader some of those honorable Atchievements which he performed in France the Relation of which I have omitted in my Description of Stockbury and Walmer In the ninth year of Henry the sixth he being Governour of Gourney in Normandy issuedout of that place and harassed not only that Province but fought with the Earl of Bretaigne who was sent to oppose his Eruptions and after a sharp Combat gave him a remarkable discomfiture killing about six hundred and captivating two hundred Soldiers In the fifteenth of Henry the sixth he seised upon the Duke of Burgundie's Carriages and Cannons leaving Cretoy a Fortresse then in possession of the English and not long before distressed by the abovesaid Duke furnished with victual for six hundred men for the space of a twelvemonth And lastly in the twenty seventh year of Henry the sixth he was sent over into France with a supply of 1500 men to recruit the English Army where he did as much with so small a quantity of men as could be expected from humane Courage and having reduced some pieces of strength he encountered the Earl of Clermont at a place called Formigney where being overlaid with Multitude after he had given most signal Testimony of his valour and discharged all those duties which might have secured and preserved the Honor of the English Nation and the Glory of the day by which he declared himself to be not only a prudent Man but an expert Commander he was defeated But to proceed after the Family of Crioll went out from the possession of this place which was before the latter end of Henry the sixth John White Esquire became Lord of the Fee and held it at his Death which was in the ninth year of Edward the fourth but after his Decease it was not long resident in this Name for in the reign of Henry the seventh and Henry the eighth I find it the Inheritance of Bere and was fixed in this Family untill the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth and then it was passed away by Sale to Rush ancestor to Sir Francis Rush who not many years since concluding in two Daughters and Coheirs one of them by matching with Sir George Wentworth of Wentworth Woodhouse in York-shire third Brother to Sir Thomas Wentworth late Earl of Stafford hath made it his instant patrimony Downebarton is the next place which occurs and challenges our Survey There was a Family Sirnamed Exeter that had large possessions at or neer this place and were planted in the Tenure of them many Centuries of years In the fourth year of Henry the sixth Margaret Widow of John Exeter held Lands at Downebarton in Right of Dower as appears by an Inquisition taken after her death which commences from that time But the principal Honor this place anciently recieved was that it was a
which menaced it upon the removal of the Body of St. Mildred in the year 1116 obtained from Henry the first a Charter to hold a Market weekly at his Mannor of Minster which by disuse and intermission shrunk into neglect and oblivion But the greatest blow which was given to it was the final suppression of the abovesaid Abby and then it was rent from that Covent and came to own the Signory of the Crown and was lodged in its revenue untill the ninth year of King James and then it was with the appendant Mannors of St. Johns St. Peters and St. Laurence granted to Sir Philip Cary and John Williams Esquire whose Sons and Heirs Sir John Williams and John Cary Esquire do now divide the Inhetitance of it Sheriffs-court in this Parish but more anciently styled in old Records Sheriffs-hope was the possession of Reginald de Cornhill who had the Custody of this County so long that it was almost hereditary to him so that he lost his own Name and assumed that of le Sheriff from whence this place borrowed the Appellation of Sheriffs-hope but this could not so fence-in the title or chain the possession to this Family but that about the Beginning E. the third it came to confesse the Corbies for proprietaries and Robert de Corbie held it at his death which was in the thirty ninth of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num 9. and had Issue Robert Corbie in whom the Male-line was wound up so that Joan his Daughter and Heir by matching with Sir Nicholas Wotton twice Lord Maior of London annexed it to the demeasn of that Family and from him did the title by an unintercepted Current of Descent glide down to Thomas Lord Wotton who setled it in marriage upon his eldest Daughter Katharine Wotton wedded to the Lord Henry Stanhop and she not many years since conveyed it by Sale to Mr. Hen. Paramour lately deceased Brother to Mr. Thomas Paramour now Lord of the Fee Monkton is a Mannor that almost from the first Infancy of Christianity in this Island was wrapped up in that demeasn which was under the Signory of the Monks of Christ-church in Canterbury and as the Book of Christ-church informs me was given to that Church by Ediva or Edgiva mother of Edmund and Eadred or Edred both Kings in the year 961. And if you will see how it was rated in the Conquerours time the Pages of Dooms-day Book will inform you Monkton says that Register est Manerium Monachorum sanctae Trinitatis that is Christ-church est de Cibo eorum in tempore Edwardi Regis se defendebat pro XX sulling is nunc se defendebat pro X VIII est appretiatum XL lb. This upon the surrender of the patrimony of Christ-church by the Monks of that Cloister into the hands of Henry the eighth in the twenty ninth year of his reign was by him not long after enstated on his new erected Dean and Chapiter of Christchurch and continued untill these Times annexed to their Revenue Monkton had Liberty to keep a Market weekly which was obtained by Grant from Henry the sixth in the seventeenth year of his Rule by John Salisbury then Prior of Christ-church Stonar is the last place to be taken Notice of in this Island and although it be a Parish now without Inhabitants and a member of the Cinque-ports belonging to Sandwich and hath not enough left of its former Buildings to direct you to its original Situation yet was it formerly a Haven-Town and had a Fair held there yearly five Days together before the Feast of the Translation of St. Austin which was granted to this place in the year 1104. In the reign of William Rufus about the year 1090 there arose a Suit in Law between the Londoners and the Abbot of St. Augustins to whom this Mannor was given with the residue of that revenue which belonged to the Nunnery at Minster by King Canutus upon the translation of the Body of St. Mildred to that Cloister as touching the right of the Haven of Stonar wherein by the favourable Aid of the Prince the Citizens as Spot Chronicler to that Abby reports had the overthrow But the utter ruine and subversion of the Town happened in the year 1385 about the ninth of Richard the second at what time the French with 18 Sail of Gallies designing to infest the Maritine parts of Kent landed and layed this Town of Stonar in Ashes which ever since hath found a Sepulcher in its own Rubbish And accuses the bad Government of Sir Simon de Burley the then Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports and Constable of Dover-Castle as cheif Author thereof For when his demands were utterly refused and denyed and not suffered to have the inestimable Ornaments and Riches of St. Thomas Beckets shrine and the Jewels of St. Augustins removed to Dover-Castle upon pretence of safe-keeping them there then he grew slack and remisse in securing the Sea-Coast and Isle of Thanett so that when the Abbot of St. Augustins had raised a considerable Strength of his Tenants about Northburn and bending towards the Island endeavoured to have passed over at Sandwich Sir Simon de Burley would not permit him so that he was constrained by a long and redious March all Night to go about by Fordwich and Sturrey into the Island and made such vigorous resistance that the Enemies fled to their Gallies without doing any farther prejudice to the Islanders Then Sir Simon procures the King to send out his Mandate under the great Seal of England requiring all that had Lands or belonged to Sandwich to be Commorant there and to find competent Arms according to the Quality of their Estates and Faculties upon pain of Imprisonment and Forfeiture of all they had to loose And sends in the Kings Name to the Abbot to remove with his Forces from Thanet to the Guard of Sandwich as a place of more Importance But the Abbot saith Thorne that continued the Chronicle of Spot neither astonished with the power of the Enemy nor seduced with the Inticements or terrified with the Menaces of the Traytor Burley remained in the Island to defend his own and his Tenants possessions After this there is nothing observable at this place untill the Suppression of the Abby of St. Austins and the Resignation of its Revenue into the hands of Henry the eighth when this Mannor with the rest of their demeasn having improved the patrimony of the Crown it was in the fourth and fifth of Philip and Mary granted to Nicholas Crispe Esquire from whom it is now descended to Mr. Nicholas Crispe his Successor the instant Lord of the Fee There was in elder times a Guard assigned for the security of the passage between Sandwich and Stonar for I find that Ed. the second granted VVill. Turke for Life in the seventh year of his reign the passage between Stonar and Sandwich and the Perquisites and Emoluments emergent from it which Grant was in the eighteenth
Ancestor to Will. James aliàs Hastretcht Esquire thrice Knight of the Shire within the Circle of five years who by Paternall Derivation is now Lord of this Mannor of Eightam Before I leave this Discourse of Eightam I must inform the Reader of two things First that Edward the second in the ninth year of his Reign granted Licence to Will. de Inge the Judge to hold a Market here Weekly on the Monday and a Fair yearly at Eightham by the space of three days viz. the Vigill the day of St. Peter and Paul and the day after Secondly that the Family of James now Possessors of Eightam were originally called Hastrecht as being Lords of a place of that Name neer Gouda and were branched out from the ancient Family of Arkell Ex Autographis penes Do. Will. James as likewise was that of Bouteslaw both which Families bear the same Coat without any visible Distinction with Haestrecht viz. Argent two Barrs Crenelle or Counterembattel'd Gules three Pheon or Broad Arrow Heads in Chief Sables Roger James Son of Jacob van Hastrecht came out of Cleve whither his Ancestor a yonger Son of the Lord of Hastrecht had been chased by one of the Lords of Holland because his Father who likewise was forced to Drunen neer Huesden by that Count had been an eager Partisan of his enemy the Bishop of Vtretcht into England about the beginning of Hen. the eighth and being called after the Belgick mode Roger Jacobs the English by a more soft and gentle pronunciation filed off the roughnesse of the Accent and by melting it into a more narrow Volume contracted it into James By marriage the Family of Haestrecht and Arkell above mentioned are allyed to the eminent House of Wassenaer issued out from the ancient Counts of Holland as likewise to the Family of Waermont neer Leyden who matched with the Heir of Hastrecht of Drunen where this Family had for many Descents been planted ever since their first expulsion thither by the Earl of Holland who was Colonel of a Regiment of Foot and Drosart of Breda when it was under the Government and Scepter of the King of Spain St. Cleres is the second place of Note in this Parish it was formerly called Aldham as being for many years the Patrimony of that Family the last of which was Sir Tho. de Aldham who resolved into three Female Coheirs ....... matched to Newborough of the County of Dorsett Margery matched to Martin de Pecham and Isolda wedded to John St. Clere. Upon the partition of his patrimony this place was about the beginning of Ed. the third annexed to the Inheritance of St. Clere and so it becamein procedure of Time styled Aldham St. Cleres but Custome and vulgar Use did not long after file off the first Appellation so that it hath for diverse Generations been styled singly St. Cleres Isolda St. Clere Widow of this John did in the twentieth year of Edward the third pay respective Aid for her Lands at Eightham at the making the Black Prince Knight And in this Family did the Stream of Possession carry down the Possession of this place till towards the latter end of Henry the seventh and then it was alienated from this Name and setled in Richard Empson the grand Projector who had wire-drawn by his close and dextrous Artifices the Treasure of the Kingdome into such subtile Threads as he had almost wound it all into the Kings Exchequer But he being convicted of Felony for his many Excesses in the first year of Henry the eighth this was confiscated to the Crown and there it was not many years after by that Prince granted to Sir Thomas Bullen Knight of the Garter and created Earl of Ormond and Wiltshire in the year 1529 whose infortunate Son George Viscount Rochford being blasted with the black Aspersion of Treason which was multiplyed and inforced to that Bulke that the weight of it sunk him upon a Bloody and untimely Scaffold and then this Mannor upon the Death of his Father which was in the thirtyeth year of Hen. the eighth was seised on by the Crown as being setled before on him and his Heirs male of whom this unhappy Lord was the last Some few years after it was by Royall Concession from the abovesaid Prince made the Patrimony of George Moulton Esquire of Moulton in Hadloe a Man of high Repute in those Times and much interessed in the Favour of Henry the eighth whose Grandchild Robert Moulton Esquire almost in Times within the pale of our Remembrance alienated his Right in it to Sir John Sydley Knight and Baronet who hath upon the old Foundation erected that magnificent Pile which for the Grandeur Elegance and Majestick Aspect it carryes to the publick View surrenders a Priority but to few Structures in this County The Moat is the third and last place which summons our Remembrance It was in elder Times the Inheritance of Ivo de Haut who flourished in the Reign of King John and Henry the third his Grandchild was Henry de Haut who held this Mannor at his Decease which was in the forty fourth of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 34. his Grandchild was Nicholas Haut who was Sheriff of Kent in the ninteenth year of Richard the second Afterwards I find that Richard Haut Grandchild to this Man was Sheriff of Kent the eighteenth year of Edward the fourth and again in the twenty second year of the abovesaid Prince he was second Brother to Sir William Haut of Hautsbourne who was Sheriff of Kent in the sixth yeer of Edward the fourth and great Uncle to Sir William Haut But this Richard Haut having with John Fogge John Guldford Esquire John Darell Esquire James Horne of Westwell William Clifford Reginald Pimpe John Pimpe and Edward Poynings of Marsham or Mersham embarked himself in the Designs of Henry Earl of Richmond John Darell Esq and John Pimpe Esquire had the Grant of thirteen Mannors lying in Worcester-shire made to them which accrued to the Crown upon the Attaint of Humphrey Stafford Esquire in the second year of Henry the seventh as appears Origin Anni 2. Hen. 7. Rot. 17. in the Treasurers side in the Exchequer and the emotion of Henry Duke of Buckingham he was attainted in the third year of Richard the third as appears Rot. Par. de Anno 3. R. 3. Memb. 6. And then the Moat by the Favour and Indulgence of that Prince was conferred on Sir Rob. Brakenbury Lieutenant of the Tower but he enjoyed it not long for Henry abovesaid having triumphed in a Successeful Encounter at Bosworth field over Richard the third and all his Partisans this was restored to Richard Haut above-said in which Family it remained untill the latter end of Henry the seventh and then by an old Court Roll I find it in the Possession of Sir Richard Clement Knight who was Sheriff of Kent in the twenty third year of Henry the eighth he dyed without any legitimate Issue and lies entombed
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
descended to John Bamme Sheriff of Kent in the second year of Richard the third And he gave it to his Daughter Katharine Bamme who passed it away by Grant to Kempe and Wiatt Sir Thomas Kempe sold his moiety to Sir Thomas Wiatt who having forfeited this to the Crown by his unhappy Defection in the second year of Q. Mary it lodged in the royal Revenue untill Queen Elizabeth in the twenty fourth year of her Rule granted it back again to the Lady Joan Wiatt and her Son George Wiatt Esq who in our Fathers memory alienated it to Hayward from which Name by the Heir Generall of this Family it is lately brought to acknowledge Mr. Will. De Lawn of London for its present Proprietary There was a Chappel belonging to Grench which upon the Inquisition returned into the Court of Augmentation but upon the Suppression in the Reign of Hen. the eighth was affirmed to have been erected by Sir John Philipott I confesse I have seen no other Record to evince any thing to the Contrary and therefore I acquiesce in that Testimony Vpbery is the last Mannor in Gillingham which was a Limb of that Demeasn which related to the Nunnery at Minster in Shepey and when the whirlwind of the common Dissolution in the Reign of Henry the eighth had shook this into the Revenue of the Crown that Prince in the thirty eighth year of his Reign passed it away by Grant as appears by the original Patent to Sir Thomas Cheyney whose Son Henry Lord Cheyney exchanged it with other Lands with Queen Elizabeth and shee as is manifest by the Patent now in the Custody of Brasen-nose Colledge granted it to Sir Edward Hobby who about the latter end of her Reign conveyed it to the Reverend Alexander Nowell Dean of Pauls and he dying without Issue in the year 1601 left it for ever to Brasennose Colledge in Oxford with this Proviso that one of his Alliance should hold it in Lease from that Society for ever paying to the Colledge an 100 Marks per Annum according to the Tenure of which Testamentary Restriction it is now enjoyed by Col. Tho. Blount of Wriklemersh Esquire Gillingham had a Market procured to it to be held weekly on the Thursday and a Fair to be observed yearly at the Feast of St. Crosse and seven days after by John Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the eleventh year of Edward the first as appears Cart. Num. 3. Lidsing is the last place of Account in this Parish it was in Ages of a higher Ascent the Inheritance of an ancient Family called Sharsted Simon de Sharsted possest it at his Death which was in the twenty fourth year of Edward the first Rot. Esc Num. 42. In Ages of a lower Computation I find Roger de Say to be possest of it and he about the fiftieth of E. the 3d. gives it to Rob. Belknap the Judge who about the tenth year of Richard the second was by Sentence from Parliament exiled into Ireland for too vehemently asserting the Prerogative of the Crown which in the Estimate of those Times was thought to have opened those sluces too much which would have let in the Inundations of an arbitrary Power upon the people's Liberties But this Mannor was again restored by that Prince who looked upon this person as his Martyr to him as its ancient Possessor in the twenty second year of his Reign and he by his Deed bearing Date the eighth of October in the second year of King Henry the fourth gives it to the Priory of St. Andrews in Rochester for one Monk who was a Priest to celebrate Masse for ever for the Soul of his Father John Belknap and for the Soul of his Mother Alice Wife of the said John and likewise for the Soul of himself and all his Successors in the Cathedrall of Rochester This upon the Dissolution of the former Priory was by Henry the eighth upon his Institution of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester granted to them for their support and Alimony and rested in their Revenue untill these Times There was another Chauntry founded at Twidall by John Beaufits which he makes provision for by his last Will the twenty second of November in the year of our Lord 1433 and orders it to be dedicated to John the Baptist and likewise that one Priest should there celebrate Masse for the Soul of Himself his Wife Alice his Father John his Mother Isabell and his Uncle William Beaufitz the Seats in the Chappel and other Remains declare it to have been formerly a neat and elegant Piece of Architecture Here was a signall Encounter as the Annals of St. Austins testifie between Edmund Ironside and Canutus the Dane wherein after a Sharp Debate the Dane was broken and discomfited At Gillingham likewise as Thomas Robburn a Monk of Winchester testifies was acted that bloody Tragedy by Earl Godwin who slew all those Normans who arrived with Edward unto the tenth man for which his Name as well as his Conscience stands bespatter'd and stain'd with an indelible Character of Ignominy and Cruelty to all Posterity Goodwenston in the Hundred of Feversham was the ancient Seat of Chich. The first of Eminence was Ernaldus Chich who was a man of principall Account in the Reign of Henry the second Richard the first and King John nor were they more eminent here then they were at Canterbury where they had large Possessions and unto them did the Aldermanry of Burgate appertain Thomas Chich of Goodwenston was a prime Benefactor to the Church of St. Mary Bredmin in Canterbury where his Name together with his Effigies are in an old Character set up in the West-window as his Coat is likewise in the Chancel insculped in Stone-work He was Bailiff of Canterbury an Office not contemptible in those Times in the year 1259 and again in the year 1271. Thomas Chich this mans Son was Sheriff of Kent in the forty fourth year of Edward the third and held his Shrievalty at Goodwenston Thomas Chich this Mans Son was Sheriff of Kent likewise in the fifteenth year of Richard the second and he was Grandfather to Valentine Chich who matched with Philippa Daughter and Heir of Sir Robert Chichley Brother to Henry Chichley Arch-bishop of Canterbury but dyed without Issue-male so that his three Sisters and Coheirs wedded to Kemp Judde and Martin shared his Inheritance and by a joint Consent about the Beginning of Henry the eighth passed away their Estate here and at Ewell in this parish to Pordage of Rodmersham and from this Name about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth it passed away to Fagg descended from the Faggs of Willesborough where I find by the Court Rolls of the Mannor of Brabourne that one Andrew Fagge held Lands there of that Mannor in the Reign of Edward the third But to go on the Faggs had not long been planted in their new atchieved Purchase at this place when Robert Fagge concluded in two Daughters and Coheirs Ann who was matched to Sir
Grand-child who died possest of it in the forty second year of King Henry the third and left it to his Son Peter Dering who likewise held this Mannor almost all the reign of Edward the first and from him did it descend to his Son and Heir Richard Dering who was Brother to Sir Robert Dering who was one of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem and this Richard about the eighth year of Edward the second passed it away to William Scot of Smeth from whom by an uninterrupted and unbroken Clew of many Generations was the Possession carried down to those Scots who were Proprietaries of it in that Age wherein our Grand-fathers flourished and then it was demised by Sale to Smith which Family it still confesses for Possessors Stansted in the Hundred of Wrotham represents to our Remembrance an Ancient Family called Grapinell who were once Owners of this place and flourished here under the Scepter of Henry the third and Edward the first but going out in Daughters and Co-heirs Margeria one of them by marching with William de Inge who was a Judge in the raign of Edward the second knit this Mannor to the Inheritance of this Family and he died seised of it in the fifteenth year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 42. and left it to his only Daughter and Heir in an old Pedigree called Isolda but more truely Joan for in the Inquisition taken after the Death of Eudo la Zouch to whom she was matched which was in the twentieth year of Edward the second Rot. Esc Num. 31. it is found that he held this Mannor in Right of his Wise Joan Sole Heir of William de Inge. And from this Eudo did Thomas la Zouch Baron of Haringworth descend who died possest of it in the sixth year of Henry the fourth Rot. Esc Num. 17. and so did his Son Henry Lord Zouch who was the last of this Name who was possest of this place at his Decease which was in the twenty sixth of Henry the sixth After the Zouches the Colepepers were by purchase from them entituled to the Possession and Richard Colepeper was found to hold it at his Death which was in the second year of Richard the third and from this Family about the beginning of Henry the seventh it passed away to Thomas Leigh whose Son John Leigh gave it to his natural Son Richard Leigh in the year 1575. and he not long after alienated it to Bing of Wrotham from which Family it is very lately carried away to William James of Ightam Esquire one of the Justices of the Peace of this County a Person who for his Affection to Learning and Antiquity cannot be mentioned without an Attribute Soranks in this Parish was the Seat of a Family which borrowed its Sirname from hence and had the Repute of a Mannor in the reign of Edward the third For Roger de Sorancks held this Mannor as is evident by the Book of Aide kept in the Exchecquer in the twentieth year of Edward the third by Knights Service of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury But after the reign of that Prince it was not very constant to the Interest of this Name for about the beginning of Richard the second I find it in the possession of Thomas Mortimer Lord of the Mannor of Mortimers in Cowling and he in the twentieth year of the abovesaid Monarch passed it away to William Skrene and when this Name was worn out at this place the Family of Wood was ingrafted in the possession and rested there until the latter end of Henry the seventh and then it was by Thomas Wood passed away to Robert Barefoot in which Family the Title was as transient for Thomas Barefoot this mans Son in the third and fourth of Philip and Mary alienated it to Henry Fanshaw who almost in our Fathers Remembrance conveyed the Fee-simple unto Launce Stansted had the Grant of a Fair obtained by William de Inge the Judge in the ninth year of Edward the second to be held yearly for the space of three Dayes at the Assumption of the Virgin Mary as appears Cart. 9. Edwardi secundi Num. 40. Stapleherst in the Hundred of Twyford was as appears by Ancient Deeds and Inquisitions as to some part of it folded up in the large Patrimony of Fremingham whose capital Residence was at Fremingham or Farningham where I have treated more largely of them but when the Male-line of this Family determined in John de Fremingham Joan his only Sister matched to John Isley Esquire Son of Isley was found to be his Heir in the second year of Henry the fourth and in her Right Roger Isley Son and Heir of this John entered upon it and from him the Land here by a successive Thread of Descent was wafted down to the Noble but infortunate Sir Henry Isley of whom more presently but another parcel of this Mannor did acknowledge the Signory of Pimpe of Nettlested and William Pimpe died possest of it in the year of our Lord 1375. as part of his Knights Fee called Pimps and in his Line did the Title flow constantly along until it devolved to Reginald Pimpe Esquire who about the twelfth year of Henry the seventh demised it by private Deed to John Isley Esquire from whom it came down to his Grand-child Sir Henry Isley who being entangled too fatally in the ruinous Design of Sir Thomas Wiat was in the second year of Queen Mary attainted and his Interest in this Mannor connscated to the Crown which was granted out of it again that present year to Sir John Baker Ancestor to Sir John Baker Baronet who is still entituled to the Propriety Isley had formerly in this place Boxley Abby was formerly concerned in some Demeasne likewise here at Stapleherst as appears by an Inquisition taken in the third year of Edward the third Rot. Esc Num. 134. which upon the suppression of that Abby it was with the Mannor at Boxley relating to that Convent by Henry the eighth granted to Sir Thoma Wiat who being attainted in the second year of Queen Mary it escheated to the Crown and then it was by that Princess the same year granted to her Atturney General Sir John Baker whose Successor Sir John Baker of Sisingherst now enjoyes it as couched in his Mannor of Stapleherst Newsted is a Mannor in this Parish which was annexed to the free Chappel erected at this place by Hamon de Crevequer and invested with ample Privileges which Donation of his and all the Franchises united to it was confirmed as appears by the first Book of Compositions kept in the Registers Office at Rochester in the forty first year of Edward the third But when the Statute in the first year of Edward the sixth had overturned all Chauntries this Mannor was swallowed up in the Revenue of the Crown and then the abovesaid Prince by his Royal Concession planted it in the Patrimony of Sir Edward Wotton Ancestor to Thomas Lord Wotton of Boughton Malherbe who setled it