English Antiquaries and that reason of Mr. Camden rendred for his conjecture is very plausible and satisfactory the often digging and turning up there of Roman Coins which of my certain knowledge is to this day very true and usual who have been owner of many as I am still of some pieces of old Roman coin had from hence The Roman tile or brick here also found some in buildings others by the clift-side where the sea hath wash'd and eaten away the earth as it daily doth to the manifest endangering of the Church by it's violent encroachments give like evidence of the place's Roman Antiquity whereof some are remaining in and about that little stone cottage without the Church-yard of some holden to be the remains of an old Chappel or Oratory and others not far off If this give not satisfaction let me here add that observation of the learned Antiquary Mr. Burton It is to be observed saith he that all places ending in Chester fashioned in the Saxon times arise from the ruines of the old Roman castra and therefore the ancient stations about the wall the carkasses of many of which at this day appear are called Chesters by the country people Very good to bring this observation home Reculver was of old in the Saxon's time as sometimes from the Monastery there called Raculf-minster so likewise other while from that Roman castle or garrison there in former time no doubt Raculf-cester As for instance in a Charter or Grant of Eadmund a Kentish King in the year 784. running thus Ego Eadmundus Rex Cantiae do tibi Wihtrede honorabili Abbâ—ti tuaeque familiae degenti in loco qui dicitur Raculf-cester terram 12. aratrorum quae dicitur Sildunk cum universis ad eum ritè pertinentibus liberam ab omni seculari servitio omni regali tributo exceptis expeditione c. Nor is that parcel of evidence resulting from and couched in the present and forepast name of the place to be slighted especially that more ancient name of it in the Saxon times Raculâ— altered since into Raculfre and Reculvre and which it now bears Reculver none of which but do retain a grand smack and quantity of that Roman name Regulbium Whereabouts at Regulbium this Castrum stood where the place of this Roman garrison or station was is not at this day so clear and certain but as it is well observed that all the Roman Colonies Towns Stations or Forts generally were set upon hills so I suppose this might be placed on that ascent or rising ground whereon the Monastery afterward stood and the Church now stands erected within I mean that fair square plot of ground converted to the Church-yard and environing the Minster or Church enclosed and circumscribed with a wall of stone The Minster I say for of a Royal Palace to which after the Roman time this Fort or station is said to have received a conversion by King Ethelbert upon his withdrawing thither from Canterbury in favour of Augustine and his company it became e're long a Monastery or Abby of the Benedictine Order of whose founder with the time of the foundation thus in the English Saxon Annals Anno DCLXIX 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. This year 669 King Egbert gave to Bassa Priest Raculf whereon to build a Monastery From thenceforth the place became called Raculf-minster and was at first governed by an Abbot Brightwald the 8th Arch-bishop of Canterbury from being Abbot there as Venerable Bede hath told us was preferred to the Arch-bishoprick This Abby or Minster with its whole revenue was afterward anno 949. by King Eadred made and granted over to Christ-church as in my Antiquities and in the first part of the Monasticon p. 86. where the Grant or Deed it self is at large recited with the bounds and extent of the sight and circuit reaching over the water into Thanet and laying claim to four plough-yards there The Monastery nevertheless it seems continued but with an alteration in the Governour 's title from that of Abbot to Dean as will also appear by my Antiquities from a Charter not many years antedating the Norman Conquest by what time it seems it 's Monastick condition ceased being changed into that of a Mannor as it still is of the Arch-bishop's in which state and notion we meet with it thus described in Doomsday-Book Raculf est manerium Archiepiscopi in T. R. E. se defendebat pro. VIII sull est appretiatum XL. II. Lib. V. sol tres minutes minus I shall close concerning Reculver with that account given of the place by Leland in Mr. Philpott's Villare Cantianum The old buildings 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 column The basis is a great stone it is not wrought the second stone being round hath curiously wrought and painted the image 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 Cross. 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 Alepiccus 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 Parish-Church before the Abby was suppress'd and given to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury And yet to do the place right for antiquitie's sake I cannot leave Reculver until I have given some further account of the dignity of the Church there the Parson or Rector whereof when in being and when petit Ecclesiastical jurisdictions under foreign Commissaries as they called them was in fashion now 300. years ago and upwards had the same jurisdiction within his own Parish and Chappelries annexed as afterward and at this day the Commissary of Canterbury exerciseth there I have seen Commissions to this purpose to the Rector there for the time being both from the Arch-bishop sede plenâ and from the Prior and Covent sede vacante And it was indeed a common practice with it and such other exempt Churches as like it were Mother-Churches in the Diocess in those days When why
Walmercastle casting off the former name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 call'd it was Sandwich which it retaineth to this day having formerly given name to a family of Knights for several descents called de Sandwico or of Sandwich one of which Sir Simon of Sandwich was the Founder of St. Bartholomew's Hospital there But of that Roman Port hitherto Only let me here add the account given or taken of it in the Conquerours Survey call'd Doomsday-Book in these words Sanduic est Manerium Sanctae Trinitatis de vestitu Monachorum est Leth Hundredus in seipso reddit Regi servitium in mare sicut Dovera homines illius villae antequam Rex dedit eis suas consuetudines reddebant XV libras quando Episcopus recuperavit reddebat XL libras XL millia de alecibus in praeterito anno reddidit L libras alecia sicut prius Et in isto anno debet reddere LX X lib. alecia sicut prius In T. E. R. erant ibi CCC VII mansurae nunc autem LX XVI plus To gratifie the curiosity of such as may be studious either of the genius and temper of that age or of their mode and way of framing and phrasing their Grants and Conveyances I shall here from the original subjoyn that of Sandwich Town and Haven by the King Cnute to the Monks of Christ-church Canterbury as I find it there extant both in Saxon and Latine THE common opinion much countenanced and confirmed by our countrymen Twine Lambard and some others late writers only whilst all the elder sort are silent in the point is that this being before and Island of some call'd Lomea very fertile and abounding with pastures c. was by an hideous tempest of winds and rains and an unusual rage and inundation of the sea hapning in the reign of William Rufus in the year 1097. overwhelmed and hath been ever since a quick-sands Charybdis-like dangerous to Navigators This I say is the common opinion Notwithstanding which that it ever was other than what it is at present that at least it was till that inundation such a piece of firm and fertile ground as Twine in his description of it avoucheth or that ever it was Earl Goodwyn's patrimony and took name from him I dare confidently deny and that with warrant enough I trow from hence alone that in the Conquerour's Survey that famous and most authentick Record and Repertory of all lands whatsoever throughout the whole English Empire wherein amongst the rest and in the first place Kent with all the lands in it whether of the King the Arch-Bishop the Earl or whatsoever person high or low is amply and accurately described surveyed and recorded in this universal Terrier I say there is not any mention made or the least notice taken of such an Island And as not there so not elsewhere in any Author whether foreign or domestick of any antiquity that ever I could meet with doth it occur whereas both of Sheapy Thanet c. other Kentish Islands there is frequent mention both in Dooms-day-Book and in many of our English Historians as well elder as later to say nothing of several Charters both of Christ-church and St. Augustine's in Canterbury where they are very obvious And as for that argument much insisted on by the most drawn from the name of Goodwyn-sands it may as I conceive receive this answer that probably it is not the true genuine ancient and original name but rather a corruption of the right name contracted and caused by that grand corruption as well of names as things time Yet what the true and right original name was I cannot possibly say nor am scarce willing to conjecture least I seem to some too bold But when I consider the condition nature and quality of the place in hand the soil or rather the sand which is both lentum tenax soft and pliant and yet tenacious and retentive withall I am almost perswaded it might take the name from the British Gwydn so signifying which in tract of time much the easier and rather corrupted into Goodwyn because of a Kentish Earl of that name a little before the Norman-Conquest A conjecture in my judgment much favoured by the name given it by Twine from what authority it appears not Lomea which though not in sound yet in sense seems in some sort to answer the British Gwydn as coming probably of the Saxon lam whence our modern English lome as that I conceive of the Latine limus slime mudd c. and that as some derive it of the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. terra madida locus humidus These sands happily being so called for distinction's sake from those many other thereabouts as the Brakes the Fower-foots the White-ditch c. as consisting of a more soft fluid porous spongious and yet withal tenacious matter than the neighbouring sands and consequently of a more voracious and ingurgitating property than the rest which were more hard solid rugged and rocky But in regard of that altum silentium the pretermission of it in utter silence by ancient Authors and the no other than a very late notice taken and mention made of it by any writer it will hardly pass with judicious men for a thing of such antiquity as to owe its name to the Britains Indeed were it a thing of that great antiquity a place I mean of that strange and stupendous nature for such a standing so very remarkable it is as we cannot easily believe it should have quite escaped the many elder writers both at home and abroad or not indeed be reckoned amongst the wonders of our Britain And therefore with several men of judgement it is look'd on as a piece of later emergency than Earl Goodwyn much more than the British age What in this case to reply I scarcely know that it is a most notable and wonderful thing as to the nature and quality of it I cannot but acknowledge and yet that it hath escaped the pens of all ancient writers both foreign and domestick I neither can deny Upon a melius inquirendum therefore resuming and reviewing the matter I cannot but refer to consideration as their conjecture who are for the late emergency of it so withal what is said in favour of it Instead then of the over-whelming this place formerly supposed an Island and a part of Earl Goodwyn's possessions by that inundation of the sea in or about William the second or Henry the first 's time whereunto the loss of it is of some as we have seen ascribed more probable it seems to others that on the contrary this inundation being so violent and great as to drown a great part of Flanders and the Low-Countries was and gave the occasion of the place's first emergency by laying and leaving that which formerly was always
wett and under water for the most part dry and above water Or if happily that one inundation did it not alone yet might it give such a good essay to it and lay so fair a begining of it as was afterward perfected and compleated by following irruptions of that kind especially that upon the parts of Zealand which consisting of old of fifteen Islands eight of them have been quite swallowed by the sea and utterly lost Whence that of a late Geographer of our own concerning both inundations The Country Belgium lyeth exceeding low upon the seas insomuch that it is much subject to inundations In the time of Henry the second it should be the first Flanders was so overflown that many thousands of people whose dwellings the sea had devoured came into England to begg new seats and were by the King first placed in Yorshire and then removed to Pembrokeshire Since that it hath in Zealand swallowed eight of the Islands and in them 300 Towns and Villages many of whose Churches and strong buildings are at a dead low water to be seen and as Ovid has it of Helice and Buris Cities of Achaia Invenies sub aquis adhuc ostendere nautae Inclinata solent cum moenibus oppida versis The water hides them and the shipmen show The ruin'd walls and steeples as they row To the same purpose the Belgick Geographer thus Zelandia multis insulis distinguitur tametsi enim superiori seculo Oceanus magnam huic regioni cladem intulit aliquot insulas perruptis aggeribus penitus hausit alias mirum in modum arrosit c. And what saith Guicciardine speaking of Flanders Usque ad annum salutis 1340 c. Vntil the year 1340. saith he as often as any bargain was made for the sale of any lands along the maritime tract provision was expresly made that if within ten years space next ensuing the land should be drowned then the bargain to be void and of none effect That this the emergency of what we call the Goodwyn was the product and consequence of those inundations that at least a probable conjecture may hence be grounded of its emergency by this means they thus make out This shelf the Goodwyn although it were a kind of shallow lying between the English and the Flemish coast yet until so much of the water sound a vent and out-let into the neighbouring parts of Flanders and the Low-countries was allways so far under water as it never lay dry but had such a high sea runing over it as it no way endangered the Navigator the sea or channel being as safely passable and navigable there as elsewhere But so much of the water betwixt us and them having forsaken its wonted and ordinary current and confines and gained so much more elbow-room and evacuation into those drowned parts on the other side the sea usually losing in one place what it gains in another this shelf the Goodwyn from thenceforth for want of that store of water which formerly overlayd it became what it is a kind of arida a sand-plott deserted of that water's surface in which it was formerly immersed This for ought I perceive is probable enough and hath nothing that I can see to oppose or controul it but the name the Goodwyn which indeed cannot consist with so late an emergency whether by the Goodwyn we understand the Earl sometime so called or the British word or Epithet for soil or ground of that tenacious sort and temper Not knowing therefore what further to reply I shall leave it in medio not daring to determine either way as being a research of so much difficulty as I foresee when all is done must be left to conjecture which may prove as various as the Readers Now to Dubris another of the Kentish Roman Ports and of them so called but whether from the British Dyffrin signifying a vale or valley whence that famous vale or valley of Cluyd in Denbigh-shire is called Dyffrin Cluyd as one would say the inclosed vale or valley for so it is being on all quarters but the North environed with hills or mountains or from their Dufr or Dur or Dyfr betokening water running water or a river whence Dowerdwy is of Girald Cambrensis in his Itinerary of Wales in Latine rendred Fluvius Devae i.e. the river of Dee is somewhat disputable Both derivations are enough probable the former in regard of the place's situation in a valley between two very high hills or rocks nor is the latter less probable in respect of the water the fresh or river running through it and presently emptying it self into the sea and by the way serving to scour the haven and keep it open So that leaving the Reader to his liberty of choice I shall have done with the name when I shall have told him that after the Romans it was of their immediate successors the Saxons called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of after times Dovor and Dover Some have called it by what is the proper name of Canterbury Dorobernia others Dorvernia but very erroneously both and upon that mistake what tumult or hurly-burly hapned in the year 1051. or as some have it 1052. at Dover by the means of Eustave Earl of Bolen and his men likely to have ended in a sore and bloody civil war the King taking part with his brother in law and Earl Goodâ—yn siding with the Doverians as his Clients and Vassals the scene I say of that commotion is of some laid at Canterbury whereas it is hence clear enough that Dover was the place inasmucn as Marianus and Hoveden who as Malmsbury speaks of a Castle there which Knighton calls Castellum Dovoriense make express mention of a Castle on the cliff or by the cliffside which must needs be Dover-castle Canterbury being an inland-town and standing both City and Castle in a level or valley But for more certainty the Saxon relation of the matter in which language I take it the story was originally penned as I find it in a small Saxon MS sometime belonging to Mr. Lambard and procured for me by my late deceased friend Thomas Godfrey of Hodiford Esq lays the scene at Dover 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1052 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. The same year 1052 Eustatius came on shore at Dover c. So that what of that tumult is recorded in our Chronicles as hapning at Dorobernia belongs to Dover not Canterbury What also is spoken by Pictaviensis of Alfred's landing place or place of arrival under the same name relates thither and is to be understood not of Canterbury but Dover But to keep us to the Port a Roman Port it was and continued afterwards a Port through the Saxon Danish and Norman ages unto this present But as after the Roman times Bolen decayed and grew into some disuse on
the French coast so Rutupium or Sandwich in tract of time did the like on the British that being supplanted and put by of Witsand this of Dover as of most advantage to the passenger by reason of the greater shortness of the cut between Yet late was it e're Witsand came into request no mention in story being found of it in the notion of a Port until between 5. or 600. years ago But from about that time indeed it became much frequented and no notice scarce taken of any other thereabouts Whence that of Lewis the French King who in the year 1180. coming in pilgrimage to visit Thomas of Canterbury besought that Saint by way of humble intercession that no passenger might miscarry by shipwrack between Witsand and Dover Yet neither was this Port Witsand very long lived for not many years after Calice-Port coming into request Witsand gives it place which it retains to this day And indeed it is matter of more wonder that it held up so long than that it decayed no sooner in regard of the danger of the passage between through the greater narrowness and straitness of the British Channel or Frith at that place rendring it apter to a more impetuous motion than where as somewhat further off on either hand more sea room may be had Here without all doubt it was that Iulius Caesar in that famous expedition of his for the Conquest of Britain first intended and attempted to arrive a matter evident enough by the description of the place in his Commentary terming it locum ad egrediendum nequaquam idoneum a place very unfit for landing which he further thus describes Loci haec erat natura atque ita montibus angustis mare continebatur ut ex locis superioribus in litus telum adjici posset From whence without any violence we may conclude that the sea in those days more inâ—inuated it self into the valley here than afterwards and at this day being somewhat excluded and fell further off by the ingulfed beach it did and doth flowing up even as high if not higher into the land as where the Town it self is now seated whereof also the Anchors and planks or boards of ships there as Mr. Camden hath it sometimes digged up are indications sufficient of themselves to evince this truth And more have I not to say of this Port neither only to represent what description thereof is recorded in Doomsday-book in these very syllabes Dovere tempore Regis Edwardi reddebat c. Hereunto let me add a Topographical account hereof given by Guliel Pictavensis who as he was the Conquerour's Chaplain and one that attended him in the expedition and shared with others of his train in the division of the land hath written his Life and Acts. His words are these Situm est id castellum Dovera in rupe mari contigud From this description it appears that what fortification the place had in those days to the sea-ward at least was not so much from art as nature indeed rather mixt the rock or clift'stop with tools and instruments of iron being cut into such notches and indentures as it both resembled and served in the stead of walls with battlements which it seems afterwards decaying as the clift there consisting more of chalk-stone is apt to crumble away drop down and fall such walls as now the Town hath to the sea-ward were erected for supply to those natural Bulwarks which that edax rerum all devouring time had so consumed PASSING from hence reserving the Castle to my future discourse of the Roman-Forts I come in order to the third and last of their Kentish Ports Lemanis as called of Antoninus of the Notitia Lemannis in the Peutingerian Tables Lemavius Concerning the situation hereof various are the conjectures of our English Chorographers some placing it at Hyth others at West-Hyth a third sort at or under Lim-Hill to none of all which the distance between it and Durovernum i.e. Canterbury in the Itinerary to omit other arguments will very well suit being sixteen miles which is more by two than that between Durovernum and Dubris which is full out as great as this But as there is not much heed to be given to the distances there being as some have observed often mistaken so am I apt to suspect a mistake here of XVI I mean for XXI the second of those numeral letters in the Itinerary by an easy mistake of an V for an X being miswritten which supposed the Port as to the distance is easily found and that ineeed is Romney or as we now call it New-Romney distanced much about so many Italian miles 21 from Durovernum or Canterbury and so called happily to answer and suit with the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Latin novus portus as some have termed it although I rather deem that Epithet given it more of late to distinguish it from the other Romney called Old Romney which distinction I find used near 500 years ago But be that as it will Romney either the Old or the New seems to be the Port of the Romans so termed and that either from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Port according to that of Leland Refert hoc nomen originem Graecam quòd pleno diffluens alveo portum efficiat est enim Portus litus sinus maris Graecis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or else from their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 palus a moore or fennish place as the soil hereabouts for many miles far and wide is none other which Ethelwerd's Limneus portus and the old and yet continued writings of the Parish and Deanries name of Lime or Limpne seems more to favour Romney I say as I conceive was that Roman Port Lemanis which although at present and for some hundred of years lying dry and unbestead of any channel of fresh water to serve it yet had of old a fair and commodious river running along by it and unlading or emptying it self into the sea in those days nothing so remotely from the Town as by the sands and beach in process of time cast up and inbeaten by the Sea and for want of the fresh to repel and keep it back stopping up the Harbour since and now it is This River rising and issuing or breaking forth about what for the right name Ritheramfield we call now Rotherfield a place in Sussex and so passing under Rother-bridge corruptly termed Roberts-bridge is from thence called the Rother but afterwards running and keeping on it's course to Appledore and from thence to Romney called as we said Lemanis and serving the Haven there becomes from thence termed Limena as the mouth thereof where it falls into the sea Limenemouth And thus may those be reconciled that are at odds about this River's right name some calling the whole River Rother others Limene which former name occurreth not to me in any ancient
record whereas the latter doth and that as high up as whereabout it first riseth It was afterward from the Port so called to and along by which it had it's course and current named Romney as shall be shewed anon Mean time for better method's sake I shall endeavour to assert three things First that there was such a river one I mean of that name of Limene and Romney Secondly that this river had it's mouth at or by Romney-Town Thirdly about what time and by what occasion it ceased running hither and forsook it's wonted channel Now as to the first express mention is found made of it by that name of Limene in a Charter or Grant of Ethelbert the son of the Kentish King Withred about the year 721. whereby he grants to Mildred the then Abbess of Minster in Thanet terram unius aratri circa flumen Limenae i.e. a plough-land lying by or about the river Limene It next occurs to me in a Charter of King Eadbright dated in the year 741. granting to the Church of Canterbury capturam piscium quae habetur in hostio fluminis cujus nomen est Limeueia c. i.e. the taking or catching of fish to be had in the mouth of the river which is named Limene c. In a Charter or Grant of Egbert the West-Saxon King and first English Saxon Monarch and Athulf or Ethelwulf his son to one Goding in the year 820. it thus again occurs Duo ar atra in loco qui dicitur Anglicis Werehornas in paludosis locis empta est pro M solidis nummorum Et haec sunt territoria On 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Ex Orientali parte porrigit Austrum versus ultra Limenae fluvium usque ad Australium Saxonum limitem i.e. Two plough-lands in a place in English called Werehorns amongst the fenns and cost M. shillings or 50l of money and these are the boundaries on the East-part it extendeth South-ward over the river Limen unto the South-Saxon limits In a Deed or Grant of one Warhard or Warnard a Priest to the Monks of Canterbury dated Anno 830. thus again we meet with it unum jugum qued jacet in australi parte Limene ab incolis nominatur Lambeham pertinet autem ad Burnham c. i.e. One yoke of land lying on the South-side of Limene and of the inhabitants is called Lambeham but belongeth to Burnham c. To pass over the mention of it in our English Saxon Annals Anno 893. not long after it was Anno sc. 895 that the same river that part of it at or near Romney Town in a Grant of Plegmund the Arch-bishop of Canterbury under the name of Romney occurs thus Terram quae vocatur Wefingmersc juxta flumen quod vocatur Rumeneia c. i. e. The land called Wefingmersh beside the river called Romney In an old Deed sans date of Thomas and Iames sons of Kennet of Blakeburn and others it comes into mention thus Totum nostrum imbrocum de Blakeburn sive praedictus brocus sit major sive minor cujus broci longitudo ex australi parte incipit ad pontem de Oxenal ducit super aquam de Limenal usque ad piscarium de Blakeburn de eadem piscaria incipit longitudo ex parte Aquilonis ducit per wallam de Piggbroke i. e. All our im-brook of Blakeburn whether the said brook be greater or less the length whereof on the South-part begins at Oxney-bridge and leadeth over the water of Limene unto the fishing place of Blakeburn and from thence begins the length of it on the north-part and leads by the wall of Piggbrook c. So much and enough of the first Passing from which to the second research or Proposition that the river or water so called Limene and Romney or as more of late Rother ran to Romney and there by its mouth or out-let called as in that old Charter of King Eadbriht Limen mouth emptying it self into the sea gave beginning and occasion to the Port or Haven there For this if Mr. Camden's testimony chiefly grounded I suppose on the inhabitants tradition of his time be not full satisfaction who saith that in the reign of Edward the first the sea raging with violence of winds overflowed this tract and made pitiful waste of people of cattel and of houses in every place as having quite drowned Promhill a pretty Town well frequented and made the Rother forsake his own channel which here beforetime emptied himself into the sea and stopped his mouth opening a new and nearer may to pass into the sea by Rhie so as by little and little he forsook this Town c. If this I say be not sufficient let me add that as New-Romney is to this day a Port and one of those five which lying on the East and South sea-coast of England are called the Cinque-Ports so doubtless hath it been from the first It was sometime saith Mr. Lambard a good sure and commodious Haven where many vessels used to lye at road For Henry the Archdeacon of Huntingdon maketh report that at such time as Goodwyn Earl of Kent and his sons were exiled the Realm they armed vessels to the sea and sought by disturbing the quiet of the people to compel the King to their revocation And therefore among sundry other harms that they did on the coast of this shire they entred the Haven at Romney and led away all such ships as they found in the Harbour there In the Conquerour's expedition for the Conquest of England some of his company by mistake it seems landed or were put a shore at Romney and were rudely and barbarously treated by the inhabitants hereof and of the revenge upon them taken by the Conquerour after his victory and settling his affairs at Hasting his Chaplain Pictaviensis and after him Ordericus Vitalis gives us this account Humatis autem suis dispositâque custodiâ Hastingas cum strenuo Praefecto Romanarium saith the former for Romaneium as it is in the latter accedens quam placuit paenam exegit pro clade suorum quos illuc errore appulsos fera gens adorta praelio cum utriusque partis maximo detrimento fuderat This I take it is the Port in Dooms-day-book called Lamport and the hundred wherein it lay the hundred of Lamport In Lamport hundred so that book Robertus de Romenel tenet de Archiepisc. Lamport pro 1 solino dimid se defendit Ad hoc manerium pertinent 21 Burgenses qui sunt in Romenel de quibus habet Archiep. 3 forisfacturas latrocinia pacem fractam foristellum Rex vero habet omne servitium ab eis ipsi habent omnes consuetudines alias forisfacturas pro servitio maris ◠sunt in manu Regis Thus in the account of the lands and possessions of the Arch-Bishops Knights afterward in that of the Bishop of Bayon thus In Lamport
2 This grant is not extant either in Saxon or Latin in Somner's original MS. Goodwyn sands 1 Comment de rebus Albionicis p. 27. 2 Perambulation p. 105. 3 Lambard adds or the beginning of Henry the first Never an Island 1 Comment de reâ—us Albionicis p. 27. 4 As Lambard lays down for an undoubted truth and without more adoe derives thence the name of the place And Twine Lomea verò quae aliquando fuit Godwini Comitis ditio ejus nominis hodie arenae vel syrtes dicuntur Antiquit. Albion p. 24. 1 Commonly call'd Dooms-day-Book a specimen whereof the eminent Dr. Galâ— has given us in his first Volume of Historians p. 759. as also a differtation upon it p. 795. 1 Twine Lambard and others Original of the name of Goodwyn-sands 2 De Lomea verò vel ut nunc est Godwinianis syrtibus Twine Comment de rebus Albion c. p. 27. 1 The Saxon lam signifies limus dirt clay Why it cannot be of a British original 1 Earl Goodwyn dy'd in the year of our Lord 1053. Chron. Sax. Cause of Goodwyn-sands Inundations in the time of King Henry 1. 1 Heylin Cosmogr p. 231. 1 Lambard says about Carlisle 2 Laët descriptio Belgii p. 124. 1 Comment de rebus memorabilibus in Europa in Belgio maximè These inundations the cause of Goodwyn-sands Dubris It 's derivation 1 Dover says Lambard call'd diversly in Latine Doris Durus Doveria and Dubris in Saxon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all seem to be drawn from the British word dufir water or dufirrha high or steep the situation being upon a high rock ove the water which serveth to either 1 As also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Doomsday-Book calls it Dovere Huntingdon Donere and Doure Sim. Dunelm Dovere Hovd Dowere 3 Speed Holiâ—sheed and Milton out of a mistake either of the Saxon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or else led into it by those who translated it out of the Saxon place tho scene of this action at Canterbury Dover falsly call'd Dorobernia 4 What makes it yet more clear are the circumstances of that expedition deliver'd by the Saxon Chronicle ad As. 104â— It tells us that after he had deliver'd his message to the King he came East-ward to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. Canterbury where he with his men dining afterwards 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i.e. went forwards to Dover When Dover came to be a haven 1 Non multo post deinde intersticio temporis Doroberniam venit Aluredus transvectus ex portu Iccio c. Gesta Guil. Ducis in initio Witsand when first a Port. 1 I believe the first mention of it is Auno 1095. where as was before observ'd William Rufus is said to have taken shipping there Chron. Sax. Dover the place where Caesar intended to laâ—d 1 Comment Lib. iv c. 5. 1 Mr. Camden says of Dover Oppidum quod inter cautes considet ubi portus ipse olim fuit cum mate se insinuaret ut ex anchoris navium tabulis colligitur 2 There is no more extant in the original MS of Mr. Somner but I suppose it is the same account that Dr. Gale Hist. Vol. 1. p. 759. has given us of Dover out of Dooms-day-book to whom I refer the Reader 1 The original quotes Pictaviensis no further but because what follows is very material to this account of Dover take the whole together Situm est id castellum Dovera in rupe mari contigua quae naturaliter acvta undique ad hoc ferramentis incisa in speciem mari directissima altitudine quâ—ntum sagittae joctus permetiri potest consurgit quo in latere â—ndamarina alluitur Lemanis it's names and situation 1 In Antoniâ—us some read Limenis as well as Lemanis says Burton in his Comment upon the Itinerary p. 193. 2 I think Lime or Limne is the place generally pitch'd upon by our English writers grounding no doubt principally upon the agreement in sound between the old and the new name What they say of Hithe and West-hithe is that the former began to flourish upon the stopping up of the latter and the first rise of West-hithe was the decay of Limne or Lime which they suppose to have been the ancient Haven So Leland who is followed by Camden and Lambard 3 If Hythe were of greater antiquity than is generally suppos'd it might probably be the ancient Roman Port for the present name being deriv'd from the Saxon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 portus would exactly answer the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from whence Lemanis is suppos'd to be deduc'd New-Romney the Lemanis of the ancients 1 Camden and Burton are of opinion that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is no part of the ancient name but foisted in by the Librarians Quod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cum apud Graecos significativum sit Librarii ut viderentur desectum supplere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scripserunt Latinique interpretes novum portum ineptè converterunt c. So Camden and much to the same purpose Burton in his Itinerary p. 193. 1 Ever since the time of Edw 1. when by the violent rage of the sea the Rother chang'd his course and so the harbour was stop'd up See Somâ—er hereafter in his third Proposition 1 It risetâ— says Lelend and after him Lambard at Argas bill in Sussex near to Waterdown-forest and falleth to Rotherfield c. Limene-river 2 An 5. Edw. 1. says Somner in an extent of the Lord Arch-Bishop's manor of Terning in Sussex under the title of Borgade maghefeud Martinus le Webb-tenet quarâ—â—◠〈◊〉 unius radae apud la Limene debet quad ad 〈◊〉 Mick I Proposition That a river there was call'd Limene and Romney 1 I think the right name is Wihtred He is always call'd so in our Saxon Annals and most of our English Historians 2 In the ancient Church-record as set down by Mr. Somner in his Antiquities of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I find it thus Eadbriht Reâ—edit Ecclesiae Christi in Darobernia â—â—pturam piscium in Lamhethe alia quaedam Ecclesiae de Liminge tempore Cuthberhti Archiepiscopi 1 In an original Charter he is written Werhardus 1 Where the Danish army is said to have come on Limene 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Canterbury copy reads it Limenan 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CCL 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. in Limeni ostium cum CCL navibus 2 Proposition That Limene and Romney river ran out at Romney 1 Verùm regnante Edw. 1. cum Oceanus ventorum violentia exasperatus hunc tractum operuisset lateque hominum pecorum adificiordmque stragem dedisser Promhil viculo frequenti possundato etiam Rother qui hic prius se in Oceanum exeâ—eravit alveo emâ—vit ostiumque obstruxit novo in more â—ditu compendio per Rhiam aperto Camd. Britain 1 About the year 1287. 2 Mr. Lambard speaks all this of Old Romney and
expresly tells the reader in the beginning as touching the latter New-Romney I mind not to speak having not hitherto found either in record or history any thing pertaining thereunto 3 This account of Goodwyâ— is very distinctly deliver'd in the Saxon Annâ—ls from whence Hoâ—y of Huntingdon transcrib'd 1 A full account whereof see in the Saxon-Annals ad An. 1052. 2 Gesta Guil. Ducis p. 204. 3 Hist. Eccl. Lib. 3. An. 1066. Romney in dooms-day-book call'd Lamport 1 al. Offetane says Somner in the margin of the original MS. 2 Otherwise written faristel as also forstall for stallatio The meaning and definition of it is given us by the history publish'd under the name of Brompton amongst the X Scriptores p. 957. Forstal est coactio vel obsistentia in regia strata facta T is of a Saxon original from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ante or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 contra and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 status an intercepting such things as were design'd for the market before they came to publick sale with an intent to gain by them And such a person as we learn from a law of Edw. 1. was look'd upon as patria publicus inimicus â— pauperum depressor Vide Spelman Glossar in voce 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 What Mr. Lambard quotes out of Dooms-day-book concerning Romney is this Iâ— was of the possession of one Robert Rumney and 〈◊〉 of Odo then Bishop of Baleux Earl of Kent and brother to K. William the Conquerour iâ— the which time the same Robert had thirteen Burgesses who for their service at the sea were acquitted of all actions and customs of charge except felony breach of the peace and forestalling Which account differs from Dooms-day-book 1 In the name of the possessor which is in Dooms-day Romeâ—el 2 The number of Burgesses in Dooms-day 21. 3 The actions and customs of charge besides these three is reckon'd in Dooms-day Forisfactura some heinous crimes for which a man forfeited his estate liberty life c. Some will have it deriv'd from foris and so extend it to nothing but the loss of liberty or estate which as Spelman observes by such a crime sibi extraâ—eum facit But Somner in his Glossary derives it from the Saxon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and facio which is in effect confirm'd by the Learned Dr. Hickes when he lays down this rule in his Saxon-Grammar p. 85. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 dat composito significationem quae simplicis significationem pessundat in malum sensum vertit o that forisfacere is nothing but malè pravè facere Vide Spelmanni Somneri Glossar in hanc vocem The river Limene turn'd from Romney another way The river Limene had a wide mouth 1 Otherwise called in our English Histories Ieaâ—bryht Ianberht Eanbriht Ianbyrht Lanberht Lanbyrht He was made Arch-bishop in 763 and dy'd in 790. 2 From the Saxon rulh aratrum a plough 1 This Lapis appositus in ultimo terrae is at this day call'd Stone-end in the south part of Kent 2 See an account of this in the Saxon Chronicle An. 893. 3 The Saxon Annals tell us it was longa ab Oriente ad Occidentem centum viginâ—i milliaria ad minimum triginta milliaria lata Romney the place of Limene-mouth from Eadâ—rojt's Charter 1 I think 't is generally call'd Pinenden it was held An. 1072. 1 The cause whereof see in Lambard's Perambulation p. 209. 2 i. e. Episcopi vicus à pic vicus sinus castellum 3 Summa est mensura contineus 8 modios Londonienses says Spelman 'T is primarily deriv'd from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 onus jumenâ—i sarcinarii thence sauma and summa signifie a horse load of any thing and summarius saumarius or somarius denote the carriage-horse or what we now call him a Sumpter-horse Vide Spelmanni Glossarium Somneri Glossar ac Vossium in voce Saginarius â— Proposition When and how Romneyâ—river ceased and came to be diverted and whither 1 Of Grants in Gavelkind see Somner's Treatise upon that subject publish'd 1660. p. 38. 1 Matthew Paris thus describes it In crastino verò beati Martini per octavas ipsius vento validissimo associato tumultu quasi tonitruo inundaverurt fluctus maris metas solitas transeuntes ita quod in confinio ipsius maris in marisco ut pote apud Wisebiche locis consimilibus naviculae pecora nec non hominum maxima periit multitudo The like account Matthew Westminster gives of the great devastations caused by the overflowings of the sea and rivers this year 1 See Mr. Camder's own words as quoted in the notes p. 44. per. 1 Perambulation of Kent p. 209. 1 The Grant is transcrib'd no farther in Mr. Somner's original MS. The various names of the inhabitants of the Marshes 1 I think our Historians are generally mistaken in this and such like passages For translating from the Saxon which they did not well understand and finding there on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. presently concluded that these were certainly the names of the Countries whereas no doubt they are the inhabitants of such places Which as it holds in all so especially in such as end in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 since the Saxon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies incolae habitatores c. But when the Saxons mention the name of any Country they express it generally by the genitive case plural of the possessive and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Merciorum terra 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Northymbrorum terra 1 Pag 50. 2 'T is certainly a mistake of the press for Merscware 3 As 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Saxon signifies palus 4 Vid. supra p. 43. The Etymon of Romney 5 Quis quaeso hodie credat magnam partem illius prati seu planiciei nobis nunc Rumnesis marshii id est Romani maris nomine dictae fuisse quondam altum pelagus mare velivolum Twini Comment de rebus Albion p. 31. 1 Amongst whom is Mr. Lambard Perambulat p. 208. First mention of Appledore 1 Ethelwerd likewise calls it Apoldore Florence of Worcester Apultrea and King Aethelred's Charter to the Church of Canterbury publish'd by Spelman Concil T. 1. p. 505. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pag. 62. Derivation of Appledore 1 Appledore corruptly from the Saxon Apulâ—neo in Latin maelus that is an Appletree says Lambard Perambulat p. 205. 'T is probable Florence of Worcester was of the same opinion because he writes it Apultrâ—a 2 The general way of naming places in the Saxon times was prefixing the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apud to the name of some thing remarkable in the place But the succeeding Monks who translated their records or else those who publish'd their translations have bred some confusion in them by joyning the two words and very often for