of the number of 329 16 peucata Leucata 341 7 burgHEr burHEs 342 10 the word which the which worde 344 17 reiected eiected 358 27 caelcE aelcE 361 23 other uche other suche 362 15 Hi ƿHrto Hi þErto  18 ƿE Hit þE Hit 366 25 three estales three estates 370 1 vaginacae vagniacae  3 ƿyrHam ƿyrtHam 391 32 in feodo in feoda 392 10 in feodo in feoda 396  in the mar that call call that 399 11 shall entree shall enter  12 condtion condition  33 exemplfied exemplified 400 29 and in case not and not in case  30 is iustified is iustised 406 25 seiset seisei 407 24 may waine her may waiue her Saxones ANGLIAE HEPTARCHIA ¶ The exposition of this Map of the English Heptarchie or seauen Kingdomes TO the ende that it may be vnderstoode what is ment by the tearmes of Eastsaxons Westsaxons Mercia Northumberland and such other of which there is common mention in the Treatise folowing I haue thought good to prefixe a chard of the seauen sundry Kingdomes into the whiche this Realme was sometime diuided But yet for the better and more plaine explication of the matter it shall bee good first to know that all these Nations following haue had to doe within this our Countrie The Brittons the Romanes the Scottes and Pictes the Saxons the Danes and the Normanes The Bryttons after the Samothees and Albionees whiche be of no great fame in our history were the most auncient Inhabitantes of this land and possessed it in peace vntil Iulius Caesar the Romane Emperour inuaded them for so muche may a man gather of Horace his wordes where he sayeth Intactus aut Brytannus Sacra vt descenderet catenatus via c. These therefore weare by Iulius Caesar subdued to the Romane Empyre and their country made a tributarie Prouince in whiche case it continued many yeares togeather vntyll at the length they being greiuously vexed with the Pictes and Scottes their neighbours on the North and being vtterly voide of all hope of aide to bee had from the Romanes their patrons who also at the same time weare sore afflicted with the inuasion of the Hunnes and Vandales like barbarous nations they weare enforced to séeke for further helpe And therefore sent into Germanie from whence they receaued hyred Souldiours of the Nations called Saxons Iutes and Angles vnder the conduicte of Hengist and Horsa two naturall brethren and both verie valiant Captaines These Sctos as them selues do write weare a people of Scythia that came first into Spaine then into Ireland and from thence to the North part of Britaine our Iland where they yet inhabit They were called Scots or Scyttes of Scyttan which is to shoote The Pictes also came from the same place after them and occupied the parts where VVestmorland and Galoway now be And they were called Pictes either for that they vsed to paynte their bodies to the ende to séeme the more terrible or els of the word◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth a Champion by reason of their great courage and hardinesse The Saxons Iutes Angles weare the Germains that came ouer as we haue saide in aide of the Britons of which the first sorte inhabited Saxonie the seconde were of Gotland and therfore called Gutes or Gottes The thirde weare of Angria or Anglia a country adioyning to Saxonie of which the Duke of Saxonie is Lorde till this day and beareth the name therof in his stile or title of honour and of these last we all be called Angli English men These Germaines for a season serued against the Scots and Picts But afterwarde entised by the pleasure of this countrey and the fraude of the enemies they ioyned handes with them and all at once set vpon the Britons that brought them in and so driuing them into Fraunce Wales and Cornwall possessed their dwelling places and diuided the countrye amongst themselues Howbeit they also wāted not their plague For after that they had long warred one vpon another for the enlarging of their particular kingdomes and had at the last so beaten the one the other that the whole was by the Westsaxons reduced into one entier Monarchie sodainly the Danes a people of Norway Denmarke came vpon them and after much mischiefe done in the ende tooke the crowne quite and cleane from them But they were expulsed after thirtie yeares trouble and the Englishe and Saxon Nation restoared to the royall dignitie which yet they enioyed not many yeares after For straight vpon the death of Edward the Confessor William of Normandy whose people at the first came from Norway also and were therfore called Normans demaunded the Crowne and wan it of Harold in the Fielde whose posteritie holdeth it tyll this day Thus muche of the Nations that haue had interest in this Realme Now to our purpose that is to the diuision of the same into the sundrye kingdomes vnder the Saxons And although by reason of the continuall contention that was amongst them for enlarging their bounds there can no certaine limits of their kingdomes be appointed yet wee wil go as neare the trouth as wee can and folow the best approued authours that haue written thereof The first Kingdome therefore was called the Kingdome of the Westsaxons bicause it was in the West parte of the Realme and it comprehended the whole Shires of Southampton Berk Wilton Dorset and Somerset besides some partes of Surrey Gloucester and Deuonshyre As for the residue of Deuonshyre and whole Cornwall the Britons reteyned it whose language is not there as yet forgotten The seconde was the Southsaxon Kingdome so termed bicause it lay South and conteined whole Sussex and the remaine of Surrey The thirde was the Kentish Kingdome and had for the most part the same boundes that the Shyre of Kent yet hath although at some tyme and by the prowes of some King it was extended muche further The Kingdome of Estsex or of the Estsaxons was the fourth which was named of the situation also and included the whole Shires of Estsex and Midlesex with some portion of Hartfordshyre The fifte was of the East Angles or East Englishmen consisting of the I le of Elye and the Shyres of Norfolke Suffolke and Cambridge The Kingdome of Mercia or Mearclande had the sixt place which was so called of the Saxon woords Mearc signifiyng a bounde limit or marke as wee yet speake and that bicause it lay in the midst of this our Iland as vpon the whiche al the residue of the Kingdomes did bounde and weare bordered In this Kingdome weare wholy these Shyres Lincolne Northampton Rutlande Huntingdon Bedford Buckingham Oxford Chester Derby Notingham Stafforde And partly Hereford Hartford Warwick Shropshire and Gloucestershire Northumberlande so called because it laye North from the Riuer Humber was the seauenth Kingdome and it enuironned Yorkshire Durham Northumberlande Cumberlande and Westmerlande wholy and so muche of Lancashire besides as was not in Mercia This
Kingdome was for a season diuided into twayne that is to say Deira and Bernicia but for as muche as neyther that diuision endured long nor the actes of their Kings were greatly famous I wyll not staye vpon them But to the end it may appeare by what lawes and customes these Kingdomes weare guided for of them also wee must make mention in this historie I will procéede to set foorth the rest of the vse of this chard of the English Heptarchie As eche Countrie therefore hath his propre lawes customes and manners of lyfe so no man ought to doubt but that these peoples being aggregated of so many sundrye Nations had their seuerall rules orders and institutes Howbeit amongst the rest those be moste famous whiche our auncient writers call the Dane law West-Saxon law and Merchen law The first of whiche was brought in by the Danes The second was vsed amongst the west Saxons and the last was exercised in the kingdome of Mercia and yet not so exercised amongst them selues alone but that they spred ouer some partes of the rest of the lande also being eyther embraced for their equitie aboue the rest or cōmaunded by suche the Kings as preuailed aboue others To the Westsaxons law therfore al suche were subiect as inhabited the Kingdomes of Kent Sussex or Westsex The Eastsaxons Estangles and they of the kingdome of Northūberland al whiche were muche mingled with the Danes lyued vnder the Danes lawe They of Mercia had their owne law but not throwout for after some mens opinions the East and Northeparts of it liued after the law of the Danes also Al these lawes King William the Conquerour collected togeather and after a discréet view had by aduice of his counsel allowed some altered others and quite abrogated a great many in place of whiche he established the lawes of Normandie his owne countrey ¶ The description and hystorie of the Shyre of Kent HAuing thus before hand exhibited in generalitie the names scituation and compasse of the Realme the number of the sondrye Nations inhabiting within the same the seuerall lawes languages rites and maners of the peoples the conuersion of the countrie to christianitie the diuisions and lymites of the Kingdomes the beginnings and alterations of Bishoprickes and such other things incident to the whole Order now requireth that I shew in perticular the boundes of eche Shyre and Countie the seuerall Regiments Bishops Sées Lasts Hundrethes Fraunchises Liberties Cities Markets Borroughs Castles Religious houses and Scooles The Portes Hauens Riuers Waters and Bridges And finally the Hilles and dales Parkes and forests whatsoeuer the singularities within euery of the same And bicause not only the Romanes and Saxons that weare conquerours of this Realme but also the Disciples of the Apostle Philip and the messengers of Pope Gregory that were conuerters of the people arriued firste in Kent and for that the same by commoditie of the Riuer of Thamise the chief key of this Iland first openeth it selfe and to the end also that such guests strangers as shal vouchesafe to visite this our Britaine may at their first entry fynde such courtesie and intertainment as frō hencefoorth they ceasse either with Horace to cal vs Hospitibus feros or with others Feroces in Aduenas I wyll be their Zenagogus or guide and first shew them our countrie of Kent the inhabitantes whereof Caesar himselfe in his Commentaries confesseth to be of al others the most full of humanitie and gentlenesse Kent therefore lying in the Southeast Region of this Realme hath on the North the Riuer of Thamise on the East the Sea on the South the Sea and Sussex and on the West Sussex and Survey It extendeth in length from VVicombe in the frontiers of Surrey to Dele at the Sea side fyfty miles And reacheth in bredth from Sandhirst neare Robertsbridge in the edge of Sussex to the Northeast pointe of the I le of Greane almost thirty miles so hath in circuit 150. miles or therabout It is called by Caesar and other auncient writers Cancium and Cancia in latine which name as I make coniecture was framed out of Cainc a woorde that in the language of the Britaines whom Caesar at his arriuall founde inhabiting there signifyeth bowghes or woods and was imposed by reason that this Countrie both at that time and also longe after was in manner wholy ouergrowne with woode as it shall hereafter in fyt place more plainly appeare The Aire in Kent by reason that the Countrye is on sundry partes bordered wyth water is somewhat thicke for which cause as also for that it is scituate nearest to the Sunne risinge and furthest from the Northe pole of any part of the realme it is temperate not so colde by a great deale as Northumberlande and yet in maner as warme as Cornwall The Soile is for the most parte bountifull consisting indifferently of arable pasture meadow and woodland howbeit of these wood occupieth the greatest portion euen till this day except it bee towardes the East which coast is more champaigne then the residue It hathe Corne and Graine common with other Shyres of the Realme as Wheat Rye Barly Oats in good plenty saue onely that in the Wealdish or woody places where of late daies they vsed muche Pomage or Cider for want of Barley now that lacke is more cōmōly supplyed with Oates Neither wanteth Kent such sorts of pulce as the rest of the Realme yeeldeth namely beanes peason tares whiche some reteining the sound of the latine woord Vicia call vetches and which Polydor supposed not to be founde in Ingland The pasture and meadowe is not onely sufficient in proportion to the quantitie of the country it selfe for bréeding but is comparable in fertilitie also to any other that is neare it in so muche that it gayneth by féeding In fertile and fruitfull woodes and trées this country is most floryshing also whether you respecte the maste of oke Béeche Chesten for cattail or the fruit of aples Peares Cherries Ploumes for men for besides great store of oke and béeche it hathe whole woodes that beare Chestnutt a mast if I may so call it and not rather a fruite whereof euen delicate persons disdaine not to féede not commonly séene in other countries But as for Ortchards of Aples and Gardeins of Cheries and those of the most delicious and exquisite kindes that can be no part of the Realme that I know hath them either in such quantitie and number or with such arte and industrie set and planted So that the Kentish man most truely of al other may say with him in Virgil Sunt nobis mitia poma Castaneae molles c. Touching domesticall cattel as horses mares oxen kine and shéepe Kent differeth not muche from others onely this it challengeth as singular that it bringeth forth the largest of stature in eche kinde of them The like wherof also Polydore in his historie
ƿaes Haile Hlaford cynyng wessail Lord King that is to say be merie Lord King wyth which her daliance the King was so delighted that he not onely vouchesafed to pledge her but desired also to perfourm it in the right manner of her owne countrey And therefore he answered as he was taught vnto her againe drinc Haeile drinke merely Which when she had done himselfe tooke the cuppe and pledged her so hartely that from thenceforth he could neuer be in rest vntil he had obtained her to wife litle weighing eyther howe déeply he had endaungered his conscience in matching him selfe with a heathen wooman or how greatly he had hazarded his Crowne by ioyning handes with so mightie a forein Nation At the time of this mariage Hengist labouring by all meanes to bring in his owne Countrie men begged of the King the territories of Kent Essex Midlesex and Suffolke then knowen by other names pretending in woord that he would in consideration thereof kéep out Aurel. Ambrose a competitor of the crowne whose arriual King Vortiger much feared But meaning in déede to make thereby a key to let into the Realme multitudes of Germanes for furtherance of his ambitious desire and purpose which thing in processe of time he brought to passe not onely creating himselfe and his posteritie Kings of a large quarter but also thereby shewing the way and entrie howe others of his nation might follow and doe the like And thus Kent being once againe as I saide reduced into a Kingdome continued in that estate by the space of thrée hundreth thrée score and eight yeares or thereabouts in the handes of fiftéene successours as the moste credible authours do reporte Some others adde Edbert and Alric and so make seuentéene in all whose names doe followe 1. Hengist the first Germane 2. Oesc 3. Occa. 4. Hermenric or Ermenric 5. Ethelbert the first christened 6. Eadbald 7. Erconbert the first that commaunded the obseruation of Lent in this shire 8. Egbert 9. Lothar 10. Eadric After his death Nidred and Wibbard vsurped by the space of seuen yeares and therfore are not registred in the Catalogue of the lawfull Kings 11. Wightred he built Sainct Martines at Douer 12. Edbert added by some 13. Ethelbert 14. Alric added also by some 15. Eadbert Pren or Edelbert Pren. 16. Cuthred 17. Baldred Now although it might here séeme conuenient before I passed any further to disclose suche memorable things as haue chaunced during the reignes of al these forenamed Kings yet for asmuche as my purpose specially is to write a Topographie or description of places and no Chronographie or storie of times although I must now and then vse bothe since the one can not fully be perfourmed without enterlacing the other and for that also I shal haue iust occasion hereafter in the particulars of this Shyre to disclose many of the same I will at this present and that by way of digression only make report of one or two occurrents that happened vnder Ethelbert Eadric two Kings of this countrey This Ethelbert besides that he mightely enlarged the boundes of his owne Kingdome extending the same euen to the riuer of Humber was also the first King amongst the Saxons inhabiting this land that promoted the kingdome of Christ as to whome it pleased almighty God to break the bread of his holy woord and gospel through the ministerie and preaching of Augustine the Moncke that was sent from Rome by Pope Gregorie surnamed the great amongst the Saxons I saide least any man should thinke that eyther the faith of Christe was not heare at all or not so purely preached before the comming of that Augustine For it is past all doubt by the stoaries of all Countries and by the testimonie of Beda him selfe being a Saxon that the Britons embraced the religion of Christ within this Iland many hundreth yeares before Gregories time whether in purer sorte then he sent it hither or no let them iudge that knowe that he was called worthely Pater Caeremoniarum and that may yet sée in Beda and others what trūpery crept into the church of God in his time and by his permission Eadric the other King succéeded in Kent after Lotharius who because he rather reigned by luste then ruled by lawe incurred the hatred of his people and was inuaded by Ceadwalla King of Westsex and Mull his brother whiche entring the countrie and finding no resistance herryed it from the one end to the other not thus contented Ceadwalla in reuenge of his brother Muls death whome the countrie people had cruelly slaine in a house that he had taken for his succour entred this countrie the second time and sleying the people spoiled it without all pitie And yet not satisfied with all this he suffered the quarrell to discend to Ina his successour who ceased not to vnquiet the people of this Shyre till they agréed to pay him 30000. Markes in golde for his desired amendes These be the matters that I had to note in the reignes of these two Kings as for the rest I passe them ouer to their fit titles as things rather perteining to some peculiar places then incident to the body of the whole Shire and will now prosecute the residue In the time of this Baldred that standeth last in the table of the Kings Kent was vnited by King Egbert who last of all chaunged the name of the people and called them Englishmen vnto the Westsaxon Kingdome which in the ende became Ladie and maistres of al the rest of the kingdomes also and it was from thenceforth wholy gouerned after the Westsaxon law as in the Mappe of the tripartite lawes of this Realme hathe appeared vntil suche time as King Alfred first diuided the whole Realme into particular Shires vpon this occasion following The Danes bothe in his time and before had flocked by sea to the coastes of this land in great numbers some times wasting and spoiling with sword and fire wheresoeuer they might arriue and sometymes taking with them greate booties to their Ships without doing any further harme which thing continuing for many yeares togeather caused the husbandmen to abandon their tillage and gaue occasion and hardinesse to euill disposed persons to fall to the like pillage and robberie The whiche the better to cloke their mischief withall feigned them selues to bee Danishe Pirates and would some time come on land in one part and some time in an other driuing great spoyles as the Danes had done to theire shippes before theim The good king Alfred therefore that had merueilously traueiled in repulsing the barbarous Danes espying this outrage and thinking it no lesse the parte of a politique Prince to roote out the noisome subiect then to hold out the forein enemie by aduice of his counsail and by the example of Moses which followed the counsaile of Ietro his father in law diuided the whole Realme into certein parts or Sections being two and thirtie in number as
King for many pointes of great enormitie and especially for the treason whiche he had imagined with certaine Earles and Noble men to the end that they should displace the King from the seate of his Kingdome and place his sonne Edward in his throne and cast the Father into perpetuall prison and when he could not deny the things obiected against him being stroken with an incredible feare and falling downe prostrate vpon the earth at the Kings feete that he might deserue to obtaine his fauour with weeping and wayling he submitted himselfe wholly to the Kings pleasure thus was that proude most hateful man to God brought lowe and humbled the whiche defiled throughout all England with the breath of his mouthe like an harlot the state of the Priesthode and Clergie and exercised intollerable tyrannie ouer the people and he whiche before writing vnto the King refused in his letters for pride to call him his Lord nowe being humbled both acknowledgethe and calleth him his Lord and King being made obedient and to serue him with great deuotion but yet against his will. Againe when as in the same yeare he was cited to appeare at Rome vpon complaint that he had wastfully spoyled the goods of his Churche and came to the Court to sue for licence to passe ouer the Seas the King as soone as he came to his presence and had moued his suite caused the presence chamber dore to be set wide open willed the standers by to giue eare and spake a loude to the Bishop in this manner as the same author reporteth Licentiam transfretandi quam a nobis postulare venisti libenter tibi concedimus reuertendi autem licentiam nullam damus memores doli ac proditionis quas in Parlemento Lincolniae cum Baronibus nostris in Regiam machinatus es Maiestatem cuius rei litera signo tuo sigillata testis est testimonium perhibet contra te euidenter Sed propter amorē beati Thomae Martyris Ecclesiae cui praees reuerentiam vindictam hucusque distulimus reseruantes eam Papae qui nostras iniurias vlciscetur vtpote speramus A protectione vero nostra te prorsus excludimus omnem gratiam negantes miserecordiam quia re vera semper immisericors fuisti Cumque Wintoniensis Episcopus pro eo intercederet Archiepiscopum Dominum suum esse diceret Rex affirmauit se omnium Praelatorum regni Regem Dominum esse principalem Wee willingly graunt you licence to passe ouer the Seas according as you are come to desire but to retourne again we giue you no licence at al being mindfull of the deceit and treason whiche you did practise with our Barons against our Kingly Maiestie in the Parleament at Lincolne of the whiche thing your letter signed with your owne seale is a witnes and euidētly giueth testimonie against you Howbeit for the loue of Saint Thomas the Martyr and for the reuerence of the Church ouer the which you are set we haue hither to differred the reuēge reseruing it to the Pope which as we hope wil make reuenge of our iniuries But we vtterly exclude you frō our protectiō denying you all grace mercy because in dede you haue alwais ben an vnmerciful mā And whē as the Bishop of Winchester made intercession for him said that the Archbishop was his Lord the King affirmed that he himself was the King and cheif Lord of al the Prelats of the Realm This I haue exemplified the more at large bothe to the end that you may sée how great a traitour to his Prince howe vnmercifull a tyrant to the Common people and howe foule a blemishe to the Ecclesiasticall order this Bishop was quite contrary to that which M. Polydore affirmeth of him and also that you may vnderstand what authoritie King Edward the first in plaine termes chalenged ouer his Cleargie not such as Anselme offered King William Rufus when he tooke Canterbury of his gifte saying Summo pontifici debeo obedientiam tibi consilium I owe my obedience to the highe Bishop and my counsel to you But suche as a true subiect oweth to his Liege King and lawful souereigne and suche as differeth no more from that which we at this day attribute to our Prince then Principalis Dominus and supremus Gubernator do varie in sunder And yet beholde the madnes of the time after the deathe of this Bishop the common people forsoothe resorted to his tumbe and would néedes haue made a Sainct of him had not the Sepulchre béen defaced and their follie staied by publique ordinance Chilham Castle in Saxon Cyleham that is the colde dwelling IN the allotment of Landes for the defence of Douer Castle whereof we haue before spoken Chilham fell to Fulbert of Douer who in consideration thereof vndertooke to finde at his owne charge fiftéene able Souldiours whereof thrée should warde in the Castle euery moneth by the space of 20. wéeks in the yeare I suspect that it came afterwardes to the possession of the Archebishop For I remember that I once read that King Iohn came thither to treate with Stephan Langton the Archebishop for reconciliation to be had betweene them Wye the word in Brittish signifieth an Egge WHat time king William the Conquerour endowed his Abbay of Battel in Sussex he gaue thervnto amongst other his Manour of Wye conteining at that time seuen hydes or ploughe landes and being before that time of the Demeasnes of the Crowne The Chronicles of Battell Abbay affirme that there were sometimes two and twentie Hundrethes subiect to the iurisdiction of this Towne whiche if it be true then as farre as I can reache by coniecture the territorie of Wye was the very same in compasse that nowe the Last of Screy or Sherwinhope describeth that is to say the fift part of this whole Shyre consisting of two and twentie Hundrethes in number The same King graunted to his Monks of Battel wrek of the Sea falling vpon Dengemarishe a portion of Wye and willed further by his Chart of donation that if any fish called a Craspeis that is Crasse pisse a great or royall fishe as whales or suche other which by the Lawe of Prerogatiue perteined to the King himselfe should happen to be taken there that the Monkes should haue it wholly And if it fortuned to arriue in any other mans land lying betwene Horsmede and Withburn that yet the Monkes should enioy the whole tongue and two third partes of the rest of the body Nowe in the Reigne of King Henrie his Sonne it fortuned that a shippe laden with the Kings owne goods was wrecked within the precinct of this libertie which his Officers would haue taken and saued to his vse but Geffray then Abbat of Battell withstoode them that so stoutly that the matter by complaint came to the Kings owne hearing who to make knowen how muche he valued his fathers graunt yéelded the matter wholy into the Abbats owne courtesie The same Storie
distrust the infallible Scriptures of God concerning the creation and propagation of mankynde and to trust the wretched vanitie of opinion that the Gentiles had and namely the Atheniens who the better to aduance their antiquitie were wont to vaunt That they only forsooth of al the Grecians were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say Satiui indigenae terrae parentis The very natural seeds stocks ymps springing out of their good mother the same earth where they dwelt and not brought from elswhere We reade likewise in the same book of Moses that the Iles of the Gentiles were diuided into their Kingdoms and nations by suche as descended of the children of Iapheth wherevpon as the Italians in their histories deriue themselues from Gomer the first sonne of Iapheth the Spaniardes from Tubal his fifte Sonne and the Germanes from Thuysco whom as they say Moses calleth Ascenas the eldest sonne of Gomer Euen so the late learned and yet best trauayled in the histories of our countrey reiecting the fonde dreames of doting Monkes and fabling Frears do collect out of Herodotus Berosus and others the most graue and auncient authors that one Samothes the sixth sonne of Iapheth whome Caesar in his commentaries calleth Dis and Moses nameth Mesech did about 250. yeares after the generall inundation of the world take vpon him the first dominion of these countreis in Europe which are now known by the names of Fraunce and Britaine and the inhabitantes thereof of long time called Celtae or rather 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for theyr speciall skill in ryding Of this mans name say they the first inhabiters of England weare called Samothaei by the space of 300. yeares or more About which time Albion Mareoticus the sonne of Neptune or rather Nepthuim as Moses writeth it and descended of the race of Cham inuaded the Ile conquered the inhabitantes mixed them with his owne people and called them all after his owne name Albionees and the countrey it selfe Albion Sixe hundreth and eight yeares or theraboutes after this also Brutus Iuhus as all our common historiens haue it entered this Iland with 324. ships laden with the remaines of Troye and he likewise both subdued all the former peoples that he found heere to his owne obedience and also altered their name after his owne calling So that from thenceforth they were named Britaines the termes of Samothees and Albionees being quite and cleane abolished Now out of these things thus alledged I might as mee thinketh draw probable coniecture that Kent which we haue in hand was the first inhabited part of all this our Iland For if it be true that maister Bale in his Centuries confesseth namely that Samothes began his dominion ouer this Realme almost 150. yeres after suche tyme as he first arriued in that part of Fraunce which is called Celtique and had planted his people there what can be more likely then that he came out of Fraunce first into Kent séeing that parte of all others was moste neare vnto him and only of all the Iland might be discerned out of the countrie where he was And the selfe same reason Caesar vseth to proue that the borderers on the South Sea side of this land were Aduenae and brought out of Fraunce although he was perswaded that the dwellers within the midle partes of the Countrie were Indigenae as we haue already touched But I will procéede in the hystorie Howsoeuer that bee therefore Caesar himselfe witnesseth that at the time of his arriuall in this Iland the people were by one common name called Britaines And that Kent was then diuided into foure petite Kingdomes which were gouerned by Carnillus Taximagul Cingetorix and Segonax who hauing seuerally subiect to their Dominions certain Cities with the territories adioyning vnto them after the manner of the Dukedomes or Estates of Italie at this day extended their boundes as it may be gathered ouer the whole countries of Kent Sussex and Surrey at the least This kind of Regalitie Kent retained not many yeares after bicause the Britain Kings succéeding Caesars conquest yéelding tribute to the Romanes reduced not only these partes but in manner the whole Realme also into one entier Monarchie .. So that in course of time and vnder the reigne of King Vortiger Kent was ruled by a Lieutenant or Viceroy called Guorongus as William of Malmesbury witnesseth But it was not long before these Britaines were so weakned partly by intestine dissentiō amongst themselues and partly by incursions of their neighbours the Scots Picts that the periode of this their estate also drawing on Vortiger their King was compelled to inuite for ayde the Saxons Iutes and Angles thrée sortes of the Germane nation who in steade of dooing that which they came for and of deliuering the Britaines from their former oppression ioyned with their enemies Thessala fide as the adage is brought vpon them a more gréeuous calamity and conquest subduing the people suppressing relligion and departing in manner the whole land amongest them selues So that now Kent recouered the title of a seueral Kingdome againe although not al one and the verie same in limittes with the former foure yet nothing inferiour in power estimation or compasse Of whiche this newly reuiued regiment Hengist the chief leader of the Germanes became the first author and patrone For he finding him selfe placed by King Vortiger for his owne habitation at Thanet in this Shire and séeing a great part of his power bestowed in Garrison against the Scottes vnder Ohtha his Brother and Ebusa his Sonne in the North Countrey and perceyuing moreouer that he was arryued out of a moste barren Countrie into this plentifull Iland with the commodities wherof he was inestimablie delighted he abandoned al care of returne to his natiue soyle and determined to make here a seate for him selfe and his posteritie For helpes wherunto although he had on th one side his owne prowesse the manhode of his warlike nation their nomber and necessitie and on the other side the effeminate cowardise and voluptuousnes of King Vortiger the weakenes of the Britains themselues and the aduauntage of the Scottes and Pictes their auncient enemies so that he might with plaine force haue brought his purpose to passe yet he chose rather to atchieue his desire by faire meanes and colour of amitie a way though not so hastie as the former yet more spéedie then that or any other Espying therfore that king Vortiger was muche delighted in womens companie and knowing wel that Sine Cerere Libero friget Venus he had him to a solemn Banket and after that he had according to the manner of Germanie yet continuing well plied him with pots he let slippe before him a faire gentlewoman his owne daughter called Roxena or Rowen which being instructed before handhow to behaue her self most amiablie presented him with a goblet of wine saying in her owne language
of this gallant brought to shame and confusion his Pecockes feathers pulled his black féete bewraied his fraude vnfoulded his might abated and him selfe in the ende suffered to sayle ouer with sorowe and ignominie Besides this Pryorie of S. Martines which was valued at a hundreth fourscore and eight poundes by yeare there was lately in Douer also an Hospitall rated at fiftie nyne poundes An other house of the same sorte called Domus Dei or Maison Dieu reputed worth one hundreth and twentie pounds And long since a house of Templers as they call it the which together with al other of the same kind throughout the Realme was suppressed in the reigne of King Edwarde the seconde The foundation of any of these I haue not hitherto founde out and therefore can not deliuer therof any certaintie at all Onely as touching this Temple I dare affirme that it was erected after the time of Conquest for as muche as I am sure that the order it selfe was inuented after that Godfrey of Bolein had wonne Ierusalem whiche was after the cōming in of the Conquerour To these also may be added for neighbourhoode sake if you will the Monasterie of S. Radegundes on the hyll two myles off valued at fourescore and eightéene pounds by yeare And here hauing perused the Towne Castle and religious buildings I woulde make an ende of Douer saue that Mathewe Parise putteth me in mynde of one thing not vnworthy rehearsall that was done in this Temple I meane the sealing of that submission whiche King Iohn made to Pandulphe the Popes Legate wherin he yealded his Realme tributarie and him selfe an obedienciarie and vassall to the Bishop of Rome And bycause this was almost the last acte of the whole Tragedie and can not well be vnderstoode without some recourse to the former parts and beginning and for that some men of late time haue taken great holde of this matter to aduaunce the Popes authoritie withall I will shortly after my manner recount the thing as it was done and leaue the iudgement to the indifferent Reader After the death of Hubert the Archebishop of Canterbury the Monkes of Christes Church agréed among them selues to chose for their Bishop Reginald the Subpryor of their house King Iohn hauing no notice of this election wherein no doubt he receiued greate wrong since they ought to haue of him their Conge deslier recommended vnto them Iohn Graye the Bishop of Norwiche a man that for his wisedome and learning he fauoured muche Some part of the Monkes taking soudaine offence at Reginalde for that he had disclosed a secrete out of their house and being glad to satisfie the Kings desire elected this Graye for their Bishop also Hereof grewe a great suite at Rome betwéen the more part of the Monkes on the one side and the Suffraganes of Canterbury and the lesse number of the Monkes on the other side The Pope vpon the hearing of the cause at the first ratifieth the election of Iohn Graye Howbeit afterwarde he refuseth bothe the electes and preferreth Stephan Langton whom the Monkes bycause the matter was not before litigious enough elected also Nowe King Iohn hearing that not only the election of Graye contrarie to the Popes owne former determination was made frustrate but that there was also thruste into his place a man familiarly entertained by the Frenche King his great enemie disliked much of the choice forbad Stephan the elect to enter the Realme The Pope againe who as Mathewe Parise writeth sought chiefly in this his choice Virum strenuum a stoute man that is in plaine speache a man that could exact of the Clergie kéep in awe the Laitie and encounter the King and Nobilitie séeing his champion thus reiected beginneth to startle for anger first therefore he moueth the King by minacing letters to admitte Stephan not so preuailing he enterditeth him his whole Realme And finally bothe prouoketh al Potentates to make open warre vpon him and also promiseth to the King of Fraunce full and frée remission of all his sinnes and the kingdome of England it self to inuade him this done he solliciteth to rebellion the Bishops nobilitie and cōmōs of the Realme loosing thē by the plenitude of his Apos to like power from al duetie of allegiaunce toward their Prince By this meanes diuine seruice ceassed the King of Fraunce armed the Bishops conspired the nobilitie made defection and the common people wauered vncertaine to what part to incline To be short King Iohn was so pressed with suspition feare of domesticall forreigne enemies on al sides that notwithstāding he was of great and noble courage and séemed to haue forces sufficient for resistance also if he might haue trusted his souldiers yet he was in the end compelled to set his seale to a Chartre of submissiō wherby he acknowleged himselfe to holde the Crowne of England of the Popes Mitre promised to pay yerely for the same and for Ireland 1000. Markes to the holy father his successours for euer this Chartre because it was afterward with great insultation and triumph closed in Golde was then commonly called Aurea Bulla the Bull of Golde Thus omitting the residue of this storie no lesse tragical and troublesome then that which I haue alreadie recited I report me to all indifferent men what cause Paulus Iouius or any other popishe parasite hathe by colour of this Bull to claime for the Pope superioritie Dominion ouer the King of this Realme since Iohn without the assent of the estates I meane his nobilitie and commons could not in such a gifte either binde his successours or charge the kingdome And for plaine declaration that his submission proceaded not with their consent I read in a treatise of one Simon de Boraston a Frier Preacher in the time of King Edward the third the which he wrote concerning the Kings right to the Crowne of Ireland that in the reigne of Henrie the third whiche next of all succeaded King Iohn there were sent from the King the nobilitie and the commons of England these Noble men Hughe Bigod Iohn Fitz Geffray William Cantlowe Phillip Basset and a Lawier named William Powicke to the generall Counsel then assembled at Lions in Fraunce of purpose and with commission to require that the saide Bull sealed by King Iohn might be cancelled for as muche as it passed not by the assent of the Counsel of the Realme and the same Authour writeth that the Pope for that tyme did put them of by colour of more waightie affaires whiche the Counsel had then in hand I know that it may wel be thought néedlesse to labour further in confuting a litle so weightles for it is true that Aristotle saith Stultum est absurdas opiniones accuratius refellere It is but a follie to labour ouer curiously in refelling of absurdities And therefore I will here conclude the treatise of Douer and procéede particularly to the rest of the places that lye on
to Rotherfield thence to Hichingham and so to Roberts bridge corruptly so termed for Rothersbridge frō whence it descendeth to Bodyam Castell to Newendene Oxney and Apultree and soone after openeth into the Sea. The place is not notable for any other thing then that it harboured the first Carmelite Fryars that euer were in this Realme For about the midst of the reigne of King Henrie the thirde that order came ouer the Sea arriued in this lande and made their neste at Newendene whiche was before a wooddy and solitarie place and therefore in common opinion so much the more fit for Religious persons to inhabite They of that profession were called Carmelites of a hill in Syria named Carmelus where at the first a sort of men that liued solitarily were drawne into companies by one Ioan the Patriarche of Ierusalem in the dayes of King Henrie the firste And after that comming into Europe were by Honorius Quartus the Pope appointed to a rule and order by the name of the Brothers of Mary whiche title liked them selues so well that they procured the Pope Vrbane the sixte thrée yeares pardon for all suche as would so call them But certaine merry felowes seing their vanitie and knowing how litle they were of kin to Mary the blessed Virgine called them the brothers of Mary Aegiptiaca the harlot whereat the Pope was so offended that he plainly pronounced them Heretikes for their labour I read that in the reigne of King Richard the seconde one William Starnefeld was Pryor of this house and that he committed to writing the originall and beginning of the same But hitherto though to no great losse it hath not chaunced me to sée it The Weald so named of 〈◊〉 on worde peald which signifieth A woodie countrie The Britons called it Andred of which worde the Saxons called it AnSreSesleag in Latine Saltus Andred the chase of Andred This latter name was imposed for the exceeding greatnesse of it for Anrhsed in Brittish is as much as great or wonderfull NOwe then we are come to the Weald of Kent which after the common opinion of men of our time is conteined within very streight and narrowe limits notwithstanding that in times paste it was reputed of suche excéeding bignesse that it was thought to extende into Sussex Surrey and Hamshyre and of suche notable fame withall that it left the name to that part of the Realme thorough which it passed for it is manifest by the auncient Saxon Chronicles by Asserus Meneuensis Henrie of Huntingdon and almost all others of latter time that beginning at Winchelsey in Sussex it reached in length a hundreth and twentie myles towarde the West and stretched thirtie myles in breadth towarde the Northe And it is in mine opinion moste likely that in respecte of this wood that large portion of this Islande whiche in Caesars time contained foure seuerall Kings was called of the Bryttish word Caine Cancia in Latine and now cōmonly Kent Of which deriuation one other infallible monumēt remaineth euen til this day in Staffordshyre where they yet call their great woodie Forrest by the name of Kanc also On the edge of this wood in Sussex there stoode somtime a Citie called after the same Andredes Chester whiche Ella the founder of the Southsaxon kingdome after that he had landed with his thrée sonnes and chased the Brytons into the wood raced and made equall with the grounde And in this wood Sigbert a King of Westsex was done to death by this occasion following About the yeare after the Incarnation of Christe seuen hundreth fiftie fiue this Sigbert succéeded Cuthred his cousine in the kingdom of the Westsaxons and was so puffed vp with the pride of his dominion mightely enlarged by the prosperous successes of his predecessour that he gouerned without feare of God or care of man making lust his lawe and mischiefe his minister Wherevpon one Cumbra an Earle and Counselour at the lamentable suite of the Commons moued him to consideration But Sigbert disdaining to be directed commaunded him most dispitefully to be slayne Hereat the Nobilitie and Commons were so muche offended that assembling for the purpose they with one assent depriued him of his crowne and dignitie and he fearing worse fled into the wood where after a season a poore Hogheard sometime seruaunt to Cumbra founde him in a place which the Saxon Hystories cal Prifetsflode and knowing him to be the same that had slaine his Master slue him also without all manner of mercy The Hystorie of this Hoghearde presenteth to my minde an opinion that some men mainteine touching this Weald whiche is that it was a great while together in manner nothing else but a Desert and waste Wildernesse not planted with Townes or peopled with men as the outsides of the shyre were but stoared and stuffed with heardes of Deare and droues of Hogs onely whiche conceit though happely it may séeme to many but a Paradoxe yet in mine own fantasie it wanteth not the féete of sounde reason to stande vpon For besides that a man shall reade in the Hystories of Canterbury and Rochester sundry donations in whiche there is mention onely of Pannage for Hogges in Andred and of none other thing I thinke verely that it cannot be shewed out of auncient Chronicles that there is remayning in Weald of Kent or Sussex any one monument of great antiquitie And truly this thing I my selfe haue obserued in the auncient rentalles and surviewes of the possessions of Christes Church in Canterbury that in the rehearsall of the olde rentes and seruices due by the Tenaunts dwelling without the Weald the entrie is commonly after this forme De redditu vij s̄.vj d. De viginti ouis j.d. De gallinis benerth xvj.d. Summa viij s̄.xj.d quieti redditus But when they come to the Tenauntes inhabiting within the Wealdy countrey then the stile and Intituling is first Redditus de Walda Then after that followeth De tenementis Ioāis at Stile in loose iij. s̄.iiij.d Without shewing for what auncient seruice for what manner of custome or for what speciall cause the same Rent grew due and payable as in the first stile or entrie is expressed Wherevpon I gather that although the propertie of the Weald was at the firste belonging to certaine knowen owners as wel as the rest of the countrey yet was it not then alotted into Tenancies nor Manured like vnto the residue But that euen as men were contented to inhabite it and by péecemeale to rid it of the wood and to breake it vp with the ploughe So this latter rent differing from the former bothe in quantitie and qualitie as being greater than the other and yealded rather as recompence for fearme then as a quiterent for any seruice did long after by litle and litle take his beginning And hereout also springeth the diuersitie of opinions touching the true limits of this Weald Some men affirming it to beginne at one place and some at another
the first yeares of King Henrie the seconds Reigne the Clergie of the Realme had committed aboue a hundreth seuerall murthers vpon his subiectes as it was infourmed him for remedie of whiche outrage the King by assent of his Nobilitie and Bishops of whiche number Thomas Becket himself was one tooke order at Claredowne that if any Clerke from thencefoorth committed felonie or treason he should first be degraded and afterward deliuered to the Lay power there to receaue as to his offence belonged Not long after it chaunced one Philip Broic a Chanon of Bedford to be apprehended for murther and to be brought before the temporal iustice where he not only shewed no remorse of the wicked fact but also in hope of Ecclesiasticall exemption gaue very euill language to the Iudge the Iudge complained therof to the King the Chanon belike made meanes to the Archebishop For the King no sooner endeuoured to put his Lawe in execution but the Archebishop bothe forgetfull of hâ—s duetie to God and his Prince and vnmindefull of his owne oth set him selfe against it affirming plainly that he neither could ne would suffer it Hereupon the Prince waxed wrothe and by litle and litle his indignation so kindeled by matter that the obstinacie of the Bishop daily ministred that in the end it was to hote for Becket to abide it Then speedeth he himself to Rome and poureth into the Holy Fathers bosome complaint of moste grieuous oppression extended against the Clergie The Popes Holynesse sory to discourage so good a Souldiour as the Bishop was and withal lothe to loose so mightie a friend as King Henrie was by letters and Legates praieth commaundethe persuadethe and threatneth reconciliation and attonement whiche after great a doe by the meanes of the Frenche King and other his instruments was in a sort brought to passe Then Thomas Becket retourneth with the Kings fauour into the Realme from whence he had six yeares before departed without licence and therefore without or rather against Lawe and immediately séeketh to reuenge himself vpon suche the Bishops as had in his absence assisted the king Whiche when the King being then in Normandie vnderstoode it chaunced him in greate griefe of minde to caste out some woordes that gaue occasion and hardines to Reginald Bere William Tracy Hughe Moruill Richard Bryton foure of his Gentlemen to addresse themselues for his reuenge These foure therefore passed the Seas came to Canterbury found out the Bishop followed him into his Churchâ— and vpon the Staires of the same did him very cruelty and dispitefully to deathe This shortly is the chiefe substance and circumstance of all this Tragedie drawne out of our owne Countriemen and Thomas his fauourers howsoeuer otherwise Erasmus led by some sinister information hathe reported it as shall hereafter appeare in Otford Wherein as I can not on the one side allowe this murther executed not by any publique Minister of Iustice but by a priuate and iniurious arme So on the other side I report me to al indifferent Godly Readers whether suche a lyfe deserued not suche a death and whether these Popishe Parasites that haue painted foorth his prayses make not themselues thereby parteners of all his pride and wilfull rebellion I might here rest long vpon diuerse other thinges concerning the King and this Archebishop namely how that he suffered the King to holde his stirup twise in one day in Normandie but in Prato Proditorum as Mathewe Parise very pretely writeth it Howe the King came with bare and bléeding féete to Canterbury to purge himselfe of the murther Howe he bared his body to the Monkes of this house and receaued of euery Religious Person there foure or fiue stripes in whiche selfe yeare by the way their whole churche was consumed with fire and some other matters besides which make manifestly for the proofe of great presumption in the Clergie and of vile abiection of the Princes of those dayes But bicause that I am fearefull that I growe to long I will leaue Saint Thomas him selfe and after a fewe woordes more of this Churche step ouer to Saint Augustines After Thomas this Church found thrée especiall mainteiners of the building William Courtney which by his Testament bequeathed one thousand Markes towards the amendment of the bodie of the Church the walles and the Cloister Thomas Arundel which erected one of the Bell Towers gaue fiue Belles and Christened them after the Popish manner And Henrie Chicheley who both repaired the librarie with books and building and did great cost vpon one of the Bell Towers also Nowe to Saint Augustines Augustine hauing thus established a Sée for him selfe and his successours obteined further of King Ethelbert for the better furtherance of the seruice that he had in hand a Churche that then stoode betwéene the walles of the Citie and S. Martines wherein the King himselfe vsed before to make his prayers and offer sacrifice to his Idoles This Church he purged from Prophane abuse name as they say and dedicated it to the seruice of God and to the honour of Saint Pancrace Neither ceassed he thus but shortly after intreated the same King to build a Monasterie in the soyle adioyning whiche he also appointed to the honour of Saint Peter and Saint Paule and placed Monkes therein This Monasterie in memorie of his benefite lost the first name and was euer after called Saint Augustines Nowe whereas the true meaning bothe of the King and Augustine was that this Church for so much as bothe then and long after it was not their manner to burie their dead within the walles of any Citie a thing forbidden of olde by the law of the twelue tables should be from thencefoorth a common Sepulchre to all their successours as well in the Kingdome as in the Archebishopricke yet suche was the fauour of the Bishops folowing Augustine towards their own church that in the processe of time Saint Augustines was defrauded of the Sepultures bothe of the one the other For in Brightwaldes dayes the buriall of the Kings was taken from it and Cuthbert the Archebishop in his life begged of King Eadbert that for the aduauncement of Sainct Iohns a newe Churche that he had erected for that purpose and for the execution of iudgements by the Ordale and whiche was afterwarde fired with the flame of Christes Churche wherevnto it was neare adioyning the Bishops also might from thencefoorth be buryed there And for the more suretie to attaine that his desire he tooke order in his life by othe of all his Couent that they shoulde suffer his corps to lye thrée dayes in the grounde after his death before any Bell shoulde be rong or other open solemnitie vsed that might notifie his departure to the Monkes of S. Augustines Onely Ieanbright the fourtéenth Bishop whom other copies cal Lambright was conueyed to the grounde at Sainct Augustines by this occasion After the death of Bregwine the Archebishop this Ieanbright then being Abbat of
head shoulders others vsed the staues of their crosses behauing themselues like pretie men others made pykes of their banner poles And others flying in to their aduersaries wrested their weapons out of their hands amōgst the rest one sauing his charitie laide lode vpon a married Priest absoluing him as mine author saith A culpa but not A paena Another draue one of the Brethren into a déepe diche a third as big as any Bul of Basan espied at the lēgth the postern or back doore of the Orchyard wherat he ran so vehemently with his head shoulders that he bare it cleane downe before him and so both escaped him selfe and made the way for the rest of his fellowes who also with all possible haste conueyed them selues out of the iurisdiction of the Hospital and then shaking their ears fel a fresh to their Orgia I should haue said to their former Orisons After this storme thus blowen or rather born ouer I do not meruail if the Mōkes as the reporter saith neuer sought to carrie thir procession through Stroud Hospital for auoiding of the winde for indéed it could not lightly blow more boisterously out of ani quarter And thus out of this tragical hystorie arose the bywoord of Frendsbury Clubs a terme not yet forgotten The land of Frendsbury was long since giuen by Offa the King of Midle England to Eardulph then Bishop of Rochester vnder the name of Eslingham cum appendicijs although at this day this other beareth countenance as the more woorthie of the twaine The benefice of Frendsbury togeather with that of Dartford was at the suite of Bishop Laurence and by graunt of the Pope conuerted to an appropriation one amongst many of those monstruous byrthes of couetousnes begotten by the man of Rome in the dark night of superstition and yet suffered to liue in this day light of the Gospell to the great hinderance of learning the empouerishment of the ministerie and the infamie of our profession Rochester is called in Latine Dorobreuum Durobreuum Dorubernia and Durobriuis in Brittishe Dourbryf that is to say a swift streame in Saxon Hrofesceastre that is Rofi ciuitas Rofes citie in some olde Chartres Rofi breui SOme men desirous belike to aduaunce the estimation of this Citie haue left vs a farre fetched antiquitie concerning one péece of the same affirming that Iulius Caesar caused the Castle at Rochester as also that other at Canterbury and the Towre at London to be builded of common charge But I hauing not hitherto read any such thing eyther in Caesars own Commentaries or in any other credible Hystorie dare not avow any other beginning of this citie or castle then that which I find in Beda least if I shuld aduenture as they do I might receiue as they haue I meane The iust note of more reading industrie thē of reason or iudgement And although I must wil fréely acknowledge that it was a Citie before that it had to name Rocester for so a man maye well gather of Beda his wordes yet seing that by the iniurie of the ages betwéen the monuments of the first beginning of this place and of innumerable suche other be not come to our handes I had rather in suche cases vse honest silence then rashe speache and doe preferre plaine vnskill and ignorance before vaine lying and presumptuous arrogance For truely the credite of our Englishe Hystorie is no one waye somuche empayred as by the blinde boldnesse of some which taking vpon them to commit it to wryting and wanting either throughe their owne slothfulnesse or the iniquitie of the time true vnderstanding of the originall of many things haue not sticked without any modestie or discretion to obtrude newe fantasies and folies of their owne forgerie for assured truthes and vndoubted antiquitie As for examples of this kinde although there be at hand many in number and the same most fond and ridiculous in matter yet bicause it should be both odious for the authors tedious to the readers and grieuous for my selfe to enter into them I will not make enumeration of any But staying my selfe vpon this general note I will procead with the treatise of the place that I haue taken in hand the which maye aptly as me thinketh be broken into foure seuerall portions The Citie it selfe The Castle the Religious buildings and the Bridge The Citie of Rochester tooke the name as Beda writeth of one Rof or rather Hrof as the Saxon boke hath it which was sometyme the Lorde and owner of the place This name Leland supposeth to haue continuaunce in Kent till this our time meaning as I suspect Rolf a familie well inough knowne What so euer the estate of this Citie was before the comming in of the Saxons it séemeth that after their arriuall the mayntenaunce thereof depended chiefly vpon the residence of the Bishop and the religious persons And therefore no meruaile is it if the glory of the place were not at any time very great Since on the one side the abilitie of the Bishops and the Chanons inclined to aduaunce it was but meane and on the other side the calamitie of fyre and sworde bent to destroye it was in maner continuall For I read that at suche time as the whole Realme was sundred into particular kingdomes and eche parte warred for superioritie and inlarginge of boundes with the other Eldred then King of Mercia inuaded Lothar the king of this Countrie and findinge him vnable to resiste spoyled the whole Shyre and layd this Citie waste The Danes also whiche in the dayes of king Alfred came out of Fraunce sailed vp the ryuer of Medwey to Rochester and beseiging the towne fortified ouer against it in suche forte that it was greatly distressed and like to haue ben yelded but that the king Paeonia manu came spéedely to the reskewe and not onlye raysed the siege and deliuered his subiectes but obtayned also an honourable bootie of horses and captiues that they besiegers had left behind them The fame people hauing miserably vexed the whole Realme in the dayes of King Ethelred came at the laste to this Citie where they founde the inhabitaunts ready in armes to resiste them but they assayled them with suche furie that they compelled them to saue them selues by flight and to leaue the place a pray to their enemies The whiche was somewhat the lesse worthy vnto them bycause King Ethelred him selfe not long before vpon a displeasure conceiued against the Bishop had besieged the Citie and woulde by no meanes depart thence before he had an hundreth pounds in ready money payd him And these harmes Rochester receiued before the time of king William the Conqueror in whose reigne it was valued in the booke of Domesday at .100 s̄ by the yere after whose dayes besides sundry particular damages done to the citie during the sieges layd to the castle as shall appeare anon it was muche defaced by a great fire that hapned in the
the one happened amongst the Saxons them selues contending for glory and supreame souereigntie The other betwéen the Danes Saxons striuing for lands liues and libertie In the first Offa the King of Mercia hauing already ioyned to his dominion the moste part of Westsex and Northumberland and séeking to haue added Kent also preuailed againste the inhabitants of this countrey not without great slaughter of his owne subiects and after the victorie he transferred as it were in triumphe the Archebishops Chaire into his owne kingdome as you heard in the beginning In the other fight King Edmund surnamed for his great strength Ironside obtained against King Canutus the Dane a most honourable victorie and pursue â–ª him flying toward Shepey vntil he came to Ailesford committing vpon the Danes suche slaughter and bloudie hauocke that if Edric the traytour had not by fraâ—dulent counsel withholden him as we haue before declared he had that day made an ende of their whole armie These be the written antiquities that I finde of Otford whiche happely some men will estéeme lesse then the vnwritten vanities of Thomas Becket sometime owner of the place And therfore least any should complaine of wrong you shall heare what they be also It was long since fancied and is yet of two many beléeued that while Thomas Becket lay at the olde house at Otford whiche of long time belonged to the Archebishops and whereof the hall and chapell onely do now remaine and sawe that it wanted a fit spring to water it that he strake his staffe into the drye grounde in a place thereof nowe called Sainct Thomas Well and that immediately water appeared the whiche running plentifully serueth the offices of the newe house till this present day They say also that as he walked on a time in the olde Parke busie at his prayers That he was muche hindered in deuotion by the sweete note and melodie of a Nightingale that sang in a bushe besides him and that therefore in the might of his holynesse he inioyned that from thencefoorth no byrde of that kynde shoulde be so bolde as to sing there aboutes Some men report likewise that for as muche as a Smithe then dwelling in the towne had cloyed his horse He enacted by like authoritie that after that time no Smithe shoulde thriue within the Parishe Inumerable suche toyes false Priestes haue deuised and fonde people alas haue beléeued of this iolly Martyr and Pope holy man which for the vnworthynesse of the things them selues and for want of time wherewith I am streightned I neyther will nor can nowe presently recount but muste pursue the residue that pertayneth to this place For besides this Thomas there was holden in great veneration at Otford another Saint called Bartilmew the Apostle as I trowe for his feast daye was kept solemne bothe with a fayre good fare there This man serued the person as Purueyour of his poultrie was frequented by the parishioners neighbors about for a most rare singular propertie that he professed For the maner was that if any woman coÌ„ceiued with child desired to 〈…〉 foorthe a male she should offer to Saint Bartholmewe a Cocke chicken and if her wishe were to be deliuered of a female she should then present him with a Hen. This Saint was as good as Manci pera whereof the common Adage grewe and he differed not muche from the Priestes of olde Rome called Luperci For a litle of the water of the one and the dooing of a certaine Ceremonie by the other was at pleasure as able as Saint Bartholmew to make barreine women become fruitefull Assuredly through the fraude of this foxe the Countrie people as wise as capons were many yeares together robbed of their Hennes and Cockes til at the length it chaunced King HeÌ„rie the eight after exchange made with the Archebishop for this Manor of Otford to haue conferrence with some of the Towne about the enlarging of his Parke there Amongst the whiche one called Maister Robert Multon a man whome for the honest memorie of his godly zeale and vertuous life I sticke not to name detesting the abuse and espying the Prince inclined to heare vnfolded vnto him the whole packe of the idolatrie and preuailed so farre in fauour that shortly after the King commaunded Saint Bartholmewe to be taken downe and deliuered him Thus haue you heard the contention of the Saxons the ouerthrowe of the Danes the fraude of Popishe Priestes the follie of simple folkes and the fal of deceitfull idolatrie Now a fewe woordes for example of the prodigalitie of a proud Prelate and then to the residue William Warham the Archebishop minding to leaue to posteritie som glorious monumeÌ„t of his worldly wealthe and mis begotten treasure determined to haue raised a gorgious Palaice for himselfe and his successours in the Citie of Canterbury but vpon occasion of a difference that arose betwene him and the citizens for the limits of his soyle there he chaunged his former purpose and in displeasure towards them bestowed at Otford thirtie three thousand pounds vpon the house that is now to be séene notwithstanding that him self and Cardinall Morton his immediate predecessour had not long before liberally builded at Knolle a house litle more than two myles from it For that house also so called of the situation whiche is vpon the knap or Knoll of a hill had Cardinall Morton in his time purchased of the Lorde Saye and appropriated to the Sée of the Archebishopricke But nowe before I can depart from Otford I am to begge licence for a word or two more as well for the satisfaction of myne owne promise heretofore made as also for the direction of my Reader which otherwise by the countenaunce of a certeine famous and learned writer might be quight and cleane carried from me Des Erasmus taking occasion in the Preface to Frauncis the Frenche King prefixed before his Paraphrase vpon S. Markes Gospell to discourse vpoÌ„ the great troubles warres that were in his time betwene the Princes of Christendome declareth that it were a laudable labour for some maÌ„ of the Clergie eueÌ„ with the hazard of his life to become the instrument of their reconciliation And amongst other examples of times passed he bringeth in Thomas Becket who as he speaketh spared not to exercise the Euangelicall libertie meaning excommunication belike vpon the King him selfe and that for a very small matter wherein although he profited litle in his life saith he yet by his death he purchased both gaine and glorie to him self and the whole Clergie Which sayd he addeth in effect as followeth They contended saith he not for reconciling Princes one to another but the controuersie was only for a certaine withdrawing house called Otforde a place more méete for a religious mans meditation then for a Princes pleasure with the whiche sayth Erasmus I my selfe coulde not haue bene greatly in loue till such time as Willam Warham the Archbishop bestowed so
toward Sennocke Holmes Dale that is to say the Dale betweene the wooddie hilles THere are as yet to be séene at Reigate in Surrey the ruines of an auncient Castle somtime belonging to the Earles of Surrey whiche Alfrede of Beuerley calleth Holme and whiche the Countrie people do yet terme the Castle of Holmesdale This tooke the name of the Dale wherin it standeth whiche is large in quantitie extending it selfe a great length into Surrey and Kent also and was as I coniecture at the first called Holmesdale by reason that it is for the moste part Conuallis a plaine valley running betwéene two hilles that be replenished with stoare of woode for so muche the very woord Holmesdale it selfe importeth In this Dale a part of whiche we nowe crosse in our way to Sennocke the people of Kent being encouraged by the prosperous successe of Edward their King the Sonne of Alfrede and commonly surnamed Edward the Elder assembled thēselues and gaue to the Danes that had many yeares before afflicted them a moste sharpe and fierce encountre in the which after long fight they preuailed and the Danes were ouerthrowne and vanquished This victorie the like euent in an other battaile giuen to the Danes at Oxford which stādeth in this same valley also begate as I gesse the cōmon by word vsed amongst the inhabitants of this vale euen till this present day in whiche they vaunt after this manner The vale of Holmesdale Neuer wonne nor neuer shal Sennocke or as some call it Seauen oke of a number of trees as it is coniectured ABoute the latter end of the reigne of King Edward the third there was foūd lying in the stréetes at Sennocke poore childe whose Parents were vnknowne and he for the same cause named after the place where he was taken vp William Sennocke This Orphan was by the helpe of some charitable persons brought vp and nourtured in such wise that being made an Apprentice to a Grocer in London he arose by degrées in course of time to be Maior and chiefe Magistrate of that Citie At whiche time calling to his minde the goodnes of Almightie God and the fauour of the Townesmen extended towardes him he determined to make an euerlasting monument of his thankfull minde for the same And therefore of his owne charge builded bothe an Hospitall for reliefe of the poore and a Frée Schoole for the education of youthe within this Towne endowing the one and the other with competent yearely liuing as the dayes then suffered towards their sustentation maintenance But since his time the Schoole was much amended by the liberalitie of one Iohn Potkyn whiche liued vnder the reigne of King Henrie the eight now lately also in the reigne of our souereigne Ladie through the honest trauaile of diuers the inhabitants there not only the yearely stipend is much increased and the former litigious possessions quietly established but the corporation also chaunged into the name of two Wardeins and foure assistants of the frée Schoole of Quéene Elizabeth in Sennocke The present estate of the Towne it selfe is good and it séemeth to haue béene for these many yeares together in no worse plight And yet finde I not in all hystorie any memorable thing concerning it saue onely that in the time of King Henrie the sixt Iack Cade and his mischeuous meiny discomfited there Syr Humfrey Stafford and his Brother two Noble Gentlemen whome the King had sent to encounter them Eltham ANthonie Becke that Bishop of Durham whiche in the reignes of King Henrie the third of King Edward his Sonne builded Aucland Castle in the Bishopricke of Durham Somerton Castle in Lincolneshyre and Durham place at London was by the report of Iohn Leland either the very Author or the first beautifier of this the Princes house here at Eltham also It is noted of that man that he was in all his life and Port so gay glorious that the Nobility of the Realme disdained him greatly therefore But they did not consider belike that he was in possession Bishop of Durham which had Iura Regalia the Prerogatiues of a petie Kingdome and that he was by election Patriarche of Ierusalem whiche is néere Cousin to a Popedome in whiche respectes he might well inoughe be allowed to haue Domus splendidas luxu Regali his houses not only as gay as the Noble mens but also as gorgeous as the Kinges To say the trueth this was not to builde vp the spirituall house with liuely stones resting on the chiefe corner to Heauen and to Godward but with Mammon and Material stuffe to erect warrelyke Castles for the nourishment of contention and stately Palaces for the maintenaunce of worldly pride and pleasure towardes Hell and the Deuill Howbeit this was the whole studie of Bishops in the Popishe Kingdome and therefore letting that passe let vs sée what became of this piece of his building King Henrie the third saith Mat. Parise toward the latter end of his reigne kept a Royall Christmas as the manner then was at Eltham being accompanied with his Quéene and Nobilitie and this belike was the first warming of the house as I may call it after that the Bishop had finished his worke For I doe not hereby gather that hitherto the King had any property in it forasmuch as the Princes in those days vsed commonly both to soiourne for their pleasures and to passe their set solemnities also in Abbaies and Bishops houses But yet I beléeue verely that soone after the deathe of that Bishop the house came to the possession of the Crowne for proofe wherof I pray you heare and marke what followeth The wyfe of King Edward the second bare vnto him a Sonne at this house who was therof surnamed Iohn of Eltham What time King Iohn of Fraunce whiche had béen prisoner in England came ouer to visite King Edward the third who had moste honourably intreated him the King and his Quéene lay at Eltham to entertaine him King Henrie the fourth also kept his last Christmas at Eltham And King Henrie his Sonne and successour lay there at a Christmas likewise when he was faine to depart soudainly for feare of some that had conspired to murder him Furthermore Iohn Rosse writeth plainely that King Edward the fourthe to his greate cost repaired his house at Eltham at whiche time also as I suppose he inclosed Horne parke one of the thrée that be here and enlarged the other twaine And it is not yet fully out of memorie that king Henrie the seauenth set vp the faire front ouer the mote there since whose reigne this house by reason of the néerenesse to Greenewiche whiche also was muche amended by him and is through the benefite of the Riuer a seate of more commoditie hath not béen so greatly estéemed the rather also for that the pleasures of the emparked grounds here may be in manner as well enioyed the Courte lying at Greenewiche as if it were at this house it selfe These be
49. 303 Boroughes in Kent Page 52. Brittishe Hystorie Page 59 Flamines turned into Bishops Page 62 Barons and Citizens Page 94. 101. Bull of Golde Page 134. 218. Thomas Becket Tharchbishop looke Thomas c. Bilsington Page 154 Beacons Page 160 Boxeley Page 181. Baramdowne Page 217 Barons warre Page 219. 298 Buriall of the dead Page 244 Bishop of Saint Martines Page 250 Bartilmew Badelsmere Page 262 Bishops of Rochester named Page 271 Benerth Page 169 Blackheath Page 340 Blacksmithes rebellion Page 340 Saint Bartilmew and his offring Page 375. Anthonie Becke an edifying Bishop Page 384 C Iulius Caesar Page 1 Customes of Kent Page 22. 388 Cities in Kent Page 50. 91 Castles in Kent Page 52 Crosse of the Archebishop Page 67 Cursed bread Page 87 Cinque Portes Page 93 CoÌ„stableship of Douer castle Page 102 Contentions betweene religious persons Page 67. 128 237. 251. 269. 290. 301. Courtopstreete Page 148 Carmelite Fryars Page 166. 324 Contempt of Good Counsell worthily punished Page 168 Cranmer the Archebishop Page 186 Lord Cromwell Page 186 Charteham Page 220 Chilham Page 227 Canterbury Page 231 Thomas Colpeper Page 262 Feast of Saint Cuthbert Page 270 Crueltie against Strangers Page 7 278 284. Conquest of England Page 283 Chetham Page 286 Crayford and Cray Riuer Page 345 Cliffe at Hoo. Page 352 D Domesday booke Page 93 Danes and their whole Hystorie Page 107. 162. 322. 337. Dele Page 117 Douer 119 the Castle Page 121 Doncastre Page 195 Drinking and Carowsing Page 280 Depeford Page 335 Dartford DareÌ„t riuer Page 346. 349 E Ethelbert the king Page 18 Eadric the king Page 19 King Edward the confessor Page 89 Eastrie Page 114 Saint Eanswyde Page 136 King Edward the first claimeth supremacie ouer the Clergie Page 226. Saint Edith and her offering Page 372 Elizabeth our Queene Page 58. 275. Eslingham Page 292 Edmond Ironside Page 323 Erasmus Roterodam Page 255 377 Edric the Earle an infamous traitor Page 323 An Earle Butler to the Archebishop Page 331. Earithe Page 343 Eltham Page 384 F Fifteene and tenthe of Kent Page 25 Fraunchises Page 48 Forestes and Parkes in Kent Page 48 Faires in Kent Page 51 Flamines turned into Bishops Page 62 Folkstone Page 136 Farley Page 172 Fermes why so called Page 172 Feuersham Page 202 Frendsbury Page 290 Fernham Page 322 G Gentlemen of Kent by name Page 54 Geffray of Mounmouth Page 59 Goodwine Sandes Page 84 Godwyne the Earle Page 84. 86. 120 Genlade and Gladmouthe Page 205 Gillingham Page 274 Gauelkinde Page 22. 388. Grenewiche Page 336 Grauesend Page 349 Gentlemen and gentrie of olde time Page 363 H Heptarchie of England Page 1. 3 Hundrethes how they began Page 21 Hilles of name in Kent Page 49 Houses of honor in Kent Page 53. 211 Hospitals in Kent Page 53 King Henrie the eight Page 117. 200 Hubert of Borough Page 162 Hyde hauen Page 141. Hauens why they decay Page 141. Hydeland Page 1â—2 Holy Maide of Kent Page 149 Harlot whereof so called Page 178 Highe waies Page 213 Hakington Page 251 Harbaldowne Page 254 Harold the king Page 284 Horsmundene Page 288 Horstede Page 289 Halling Page 317 Hengist and Horsa two Capitaines Page 15. 289. 345 Saint Hildeferthe Page 354 Husbandrie Page 368 King Henrie the second Page 239. 377 Holmesdale Page 382 I Iutes Page 2 Inglishmen Page 2 Ingland first inhabited Page 12 Inglishmen first named Page 20 Indigenae what they be Page 12 Ippedfleete Page 82 Ightam Page 197 Inglishe speeche corrupted Page 205 decayed Page 209 King Iohn of Ingland Page 133 203. 217 Iacke Cade Page 340. 384 Iacke Strawe Page 340. 348 K SeueÌ„ Kingdomes in InglaÌ„d Page 1. 3 Kent how situated 7. why so named 7. 167. Her gentrie 10. 5. Her Yeomanrie 10. 65. Fertilitie 8. 9. Artificers 11. First inhabited part of al Ingland 14 hath many Kings 14. 317. One King. 15. 345. her kings names 17. she kepeth her olde Customes 22. particularly set down 25. hath three steps Page 158. Knightes fees Page 48 Kemsley downe Page 190 Kentish tailes Page 315 Kemsing Page 372 Knolle Page 377 Knightes seruice Page 9 368. 389 L Lawes of Ingland Page 5 Lathes howe they began Page 21. 212. London spoiled of the Archebishopricke Page 63 Lymne and Lymene Page 145 Lymen a Riuer Page 146. 165 Lyming Page 216 Leedes Page 260 Ladie of Chetham Page 286 Liuerie of seisine Page 317 Lord Dane and Lourdan Page 111 Lowy of Tunbridge Page 329. Lesnes Page 342 M Marriage Page 16. 299. 405 Markets in Kent Page 50 Minster Abbay Page 80. Saint Myldred Page 81 Myracles Page 81. 116. 136. 152. 268. 336. Saint Martines night Page 210 Saint Martines Page 128 Maidston Page 174 Medway a Riuer Page 176 Mylton Page 190 Minster Page 198 Monkes contend forceably against the king Page 203 Mottindene Page 230 Maude the Empresse Page 260 Malling Page 325 Mepham Page 355 Merchandize Page 368 N Nor â—ans Page 3 Neshe Page 160 Newendene Page 165 Names of townes fetched from Riuers adioyning Page 174 205 Norwood Page 258 Naming of men Page 258 Nauie See Ships Names of Townes in Eng. Page 325 O Order of this description Page 62. 77 161. 207. 215. 273 353. 386. Odo the Earle of Kent Page 123. 178. 297. Order of Templers Page 132 Orpington Page 345 Otford Page 374 P Pictes Page 2 Parkes see Forestes Polydore Virgill Page 60. 222. 316. 355 Portes see Cinque Portes Pope 133. 217. 220 abolished Page 157 Passage ouer the Sea. Page 143 Piccendene Hothe Page 178 Purgatorie Page 192 Parleament without the Clergie Page 221. Priestes wiues see Marriage Priestes vnlearned Page 352 Papisme and Paganisme agree in many points of religioÌ„ Page 373 Portreue whereof it commeth Page 349. Partition of lands .409 of goods Page 408. Q Quinborow Page 200 R Riuers in Kent Page 49. Religious houses in Kent Page 53. and their values Page 230 Rome whereof named Page 81 Reliques Page 82. 105. 216. 247. 255 Richeborowe Page 90 Rutupi Page 90 Rother a Riuer Page 146. 165 Rumney 156. and the Marsh Page 158 Roode of grace Page 182 Saint Rumwald Page 186. 188. Reculuer Page 207 Robert Wynchelsey the Archebishop Page 222 Religous houses valued Page 230 Sir Roger Laybourne Page 263 Bishops of Rochester named Page 271 Roode of Gillingham Page 286 Rochester Page 293 354 Rochester bridge Page 303 Sir Robert Knolles Page 313 Rauensborne a riuer Page 335 Reue whereof it cometh Page 350 Reigate Castle Page 382 S Scots Page 2 Saxons Page 2. 79 Samothees Page 12 Shyres how they began Page 20. 337 Swanscombe Page 23. 354 Schooles in Kent Page 54. 233. 383 Stonor Page 83 Sandwiche Page 91. 105 Ships Page 97. 112. 274. 335 Sandowne Page 118 Stephan Langton Tharchebishop .. Page 133. 197 Saintes in the Papacie Page 137 Saltwood Page 139 Shypwey Page 144 Seawatche Page 160 Stone Page 164 Sittingbourne Page 191 Shepey Page 198 Sheepe of England Page 198 Stouremouthe Page 208 Saint Stephans Page 251 King Stephan Page 260 See of Canterbury looke in Archebishopricke See of Rochester Page 266 Shorham Deantie Page 267 Sees of Bishops translated from villages Page 271 Crueltie against Straungers Page 7 278. 284. Seruingmen Page 282 Strowde Page 290. 315 Sealing and signing Page 318 Socage tenure Page 9. 391 Sherif whereof it commeth Page 350 Sennocke Page 383 T Tithings howe they began Page 21 Tanet Page 78 Order of the Templers Page 132 Thomas Becket Tharchebishop Page 143 239 248. 255. 374. 377 Triall of right Page 178. 343 Tong Gastle Page 195 Tenham Page 197 Decay of Townes Page 236 Townes named see names Tunbridge Page 327 Theeues how suppressed Page 21 Torneament Page 347 Testament or last will. Page 356 W Wasseling cuppe Page 1â— Wryters of Kent by name Page 58 Winchelsey Page 94. 96 Lord Wardeins of the Portes by name Page 102 Walmere Page 118 William LongchaÌ„p the Bishop of Ely. Page 129 William Courtney Tharchebishop Page 139 Westenbangar Page 140 William Warham the Archebishop Page 151 Weald of Kent Page 167 Woole of England Page 198 Wantsume a riuer Page 97. 207 Wingham Page 211 Wapentakes Page 212 Wrotham Page 370 Wyngham Page 380 Watches at the Sea Page 160 Watling streete Page 213 Wye Page 228 Wrecke at the Sea. Page 228 Saint William of Rochester Page 301 Vniuersitie at Canterbury Page 233 Whoredome punished Page 180 Vagaboundes Page 21 Wager of Lawe Page 344 Y Yarmouthe Page 95 Yeoman whereof so called Page 10 Yeomanrie of Kent Page 10 Yenlade see Genlade Jmprinted at London for Rafe Newbery dwelling in Fleetestreate a litle aboue the Conduite Anno Domini 1576.