The antiquities of Canterbury. Or a survey of that ancient citie, with the suburbs, and cathedrall Containing principally matters of antiquity in them all. Collected chiefly from old manuscripts, lieger-bookes, and other like records, for the most part, never as yet printed. With an appendix here annexed: wherein (for better satisfaction to the learned) the manuscripts, and records of chiefest consequence, are faithfully exhibited. All (for the honour of that ancient metropolis, and his good affection to antiquities) sought out and published by the industry, and goodwill of William Somner.

In the Church records I meet with Inferior and Superior chorus; and one Thomas Ingram of Canterbury, by his will * 1.1 in the office gives cuilibet Monacho de Superiori choro ecclesiae Christi Cant. xij^d. & cuilibet Monacho de inferiori choro ejusdem ecclesiae viij^d. Now as we see there are two rowes of stalls (an upper and a lower) on either side the Quire: so I conceive the seniors and superiors of the Monks used to sit in the up∣per, as the juniors or inferiors in the lower row; and that thence sprang the name of the superior and inferior chorus.

Above these stalls on the South side of the Quire stands the Archbishops wooden seat or chaire, sometime richly guilt and otherwise well set forth, but now nothing speci∣ous through age and late neglect. It is a close seat made after the old fashion of such stalls, called thence Faldisto∣ria u 1.2.

A little higher up, on the other side of the Quire, be∣tween

Chichlies, and Bourgchiers tombs was provision made heretofore for the storing and treasuring up of Saints re∣liques. This Repository was shewed to Erasmus, who spends these words upon it. Ad latus Septentrionale (saith he) refe∣runtur arcana, dictu mirum, quantum ossium illine prolatum est, calvaria, menta, dentes, manus, digiti, integra brachia, quibus omnibus adoratis fiximus oscula: nec erat futurus finis, nisi qui mihi tum comes erat ejus peregrinationis parùm commodus, in∣ter pellasset ostentandi sludium &c x 1.3. Hence Erasmus then be∣held, as we may now, the Altars table and ornaments; in∣deed (thanks to the piety of the times) very rich and beco∣ming such dayes of blessed peace as our Church (by Gods mercy) now enjoyes, but not comparable surely to those that Erasmus saw, or else he much hyperboliseth, where he saith: Diceres Midam & Croesum fuisse mendicos, si spectares vim auri atque argenti y 1.4. This Altar was and still is called the high Altar, more properly so, heretofore, then now, be∣cause it was the chief one in the whole Church, Christs Al∣tar, and to distinguish it from the Saints Altars, whereof the Church had many, 25. in number, one in the middest of the crosier between the nave and the Quire, a second in the * 1.5 Martyrdome, a third in the Lady-chapell, a fourth in S^t Michaels chapell, two in either wing of the Quire viz. in each semicircle there one, one in the Vestry, one in S^t An∣selmes Chapell on the other side of the Quire, three neare unto the high Altar it self, whereof one was S^t Dunstans, a second S^t Elpheges, a third (and that standing behinde the high Altar) S^t Blases, two at least in Beckets Chapell, where∣of one in the little side Chapell against Hen. 4. monument, and the other beyond the shrine, in the place called Beckets-crown, besides seven other in the undercroft, and two in the body of the Church which I had almost forgotten, whereof one was belonging to Arundels, and the other to Brenchlyes chantery there. One more there was, and that in the now Deanes-chapell.

But leaving these things and the Quire too, let us now * 1.6 ascend. Post Altare summum rursus velut in novum templum

ascenditur, saith Erasmus. To this I proceed, the upper part of the Church (I mean) from the grate between the Ar∣chiepiscopall throne or marble chaire, by the Mosaick or Musaick-work z 1.7, upwards, called (from the standing of his Shrine there) Beckets Chapell: which, with the vertex of the work, called Beckets crown (intended by Erasmus, where he saith a 1.8, Illic in sacello quodam ostenditur tota facies op∣timi viri inaurata multisque gemmis insignita &c.) the either side-Iles, (except the Chapell on the North-side, and the undercroft of it) I hold to be somewhat lesse ancient then the Quire and it undercroft: The ocular and peeked or pointed form of the arch, the round marble pillars or co∣lumnes both above and below (to passe by other disagree∣ments easily observable) showing a manifest discrepancy and difference of one from the other. For truth is, about the place where the Quire ends and that Chapell begins (observe but the works above and underneath, and you will easily perceive it) the Church once ended, and ex∣tended no further, the pillars and work coming on and clo∣sing there.

The certain age of this part neither can I finde, but from great probability do conceive it to be that new work (whereof Edmerus speaks) begun and furthered by this Pa∣tron) Archbishop Anselme, but continued and consumma∣ted by Enulph the Prior with the help of his Monks in Hen. 1. time. A work that (as I told you erewhile) was so envi∣ed of some about the King, and on the other side so much applauded and extolled by William the Monk of Malmes∣bury, who for the windowes, pavement, and other orna∣ments of it preferres it to any other in the whole kingdome. Nihil tale (saith he) possit in Anglia videri &c. as before. Properties wherein it yet justly deserves the comparison.

Some haply may here ask me why Beckets crown, if it be * 1.9 a piece so ancient, is so imperfect on the top? For answer unto them, I say, that time was when that piece was to the minde of the first founders complete, being built not alto∣gether so high at first as now it is. The Monks (saith tra∣dition)

at the the time of the Dissolution were in hand (in honour of Becket) to have advanc'd the building to a high∣er pitch, but their fall prevented that's rise. So that where∣as before it had a handsome complete battlement, it is now a great blemish to the Church, and an eye-sore to specta∣tors, by the ragged and imperfect ruines of it. This is that Corona Sancti Thomae, in beautifying whereof the Church Records tell me and I have before told you 115 lib. 12^s. was expended in Hen. the Priors time.

Now retreating let us take a view of the Vestry. A place * 1.10 of the Greeks called Diaconion and Diaconicon; but of the Latines Sacrarium, Secretarium, and Vestiarium. This Ve∣stry stands (like as Vestries generally do) on the North∣side of the Quire. Post haec ducimur in Sacrarium (the words which Erasmus b 1.11 spends upon it:) Deus bone, quae illic pompa vestium holosericarum, quae vis candelabrorum aureorum! Ibi∣dem vidimus pedum Divi Thomae. Videbatur arundo lamina argentea obvestita, minimum erat ponderis, nihil operis, nec al∣tius quam us que ad cingulum &c.

The keeper or curator of this place was usually called Sa∣crista: * 1.12 we English it the Sacristein or Sexten, and was one of the but three at first, afterwards foure Obedientiarii or officers (for so the word signifies, as Obedientia c 1.13 doth an office) of the Church; to one or other of which all the under Officers and Ministers within the precinct, some few of the Priors retinue excepted, did relate & appertain, viz. the Cellerar, the Sacrist, the Chamberlaine and the Trea∣surer. Within and under the Sextens office were these d 1.14.

• 1 Custos de Wexhouse (being, I take it, the small dark vault or grot under the steps leading up to Beckets Chapell.)
• 2. Primus serviens ecclesiae ad pulsandum.
• 3. Vigil ecclesiae.
• 4. Plumbarius Sacristae.
• 5. Duo clerici Altaris beatae Mariae.
• 6. Duo clerici tumbae & Martyrii.
• 7. Quatuor servientes ecclesiae ad pulsandum.
• 8. Vitriarius & garcio ejus.
• 9. Ostiarius Chori.
• ...

• 10. Serviens feretri.
• 11. Aurifrig. & lotrix ecclesiae.

For which last (the rest being of easie understanding) I conceive it was one that wrought the Church Vestments or hangings and the like in gold: but referre you to Sir H. Spelmans Glossary, and Martinius Lexicon upon the word Aurifrigium, for fuller satisfaction. Here, as season∣able, let me remember unto you, that Gervasius Dorober∣nensis, the Monke of this place, for his good authority, so often cited of our late Historians, was in his time, dignified with this Office, of the Sacrist here, a part whereof it was to deliver the Crosier to the new made Archbishop, which Ceremony this man very solemnely performed to Archbishop Hubert e 1.15.

There is a Roome next wall to this, having had a doore leading into it from hence, wherein partly, and part∣ly in the lost over this Vestry, the Church Records are kept. The Threasury we call it, but it was knowne to former times by the name either of Armarium or Armariolum f 1.16: and properly, since it was the Church Arcenall, yeelding them weapons or muniments wherewith to secure unto the Monkes their possessions and priviledges, whence also the Curator thereof was called Armarius.

Now a word or two of the Deanes-Chapell, and my sur∣vey * 1.17 of the Fabricks upper part is at an end. This Chapell, with the closet to it newer then the Chapell, fell to the then Deanes share upon the division of houses & buildings made anone after the change of the foundation by Hen. 8. By what name it was formerly called, is a thing uncertaine, or wherefore built. That Division calls it onely the Chapell next the Dorter. But observing the pictures of Pope Alex. 3. and Lewis 7. of France drawne on the Chapell-walls, the one opposite to the other, towards the East-end: observing also Beckets picture (as I take it, conjecturing by the new white glasse put in place of his coate of armes in the upper South-window, as the like was done generally throughout the Church where either this or his name was found:) and

then considering what a Patron, Pope Alex. 3. was to Becket, what a friend K. Lewis 7. was to him in his exile, and lastly what a benefactor, for his sake to the Monkes after his death, and that the Records of the Church have a Charter of Ed. 2. of xx^l. worth of land to be purchased for the su∣stentation of seven Chaplains that should dayly celebrate in the Chapell of S^• Thomas the martyr neare the Priory∣gate for the soules of himselfe, his Ancestors &c. Consi∣dering lastly, that the Priors ancient Gate, or the Gate of the Priory was and is, neare this Chapell, being the same which leadeth from the Green-Court into that which we now call the darke Entry, and so to the doore there now stopped up, the Timber-frame whereof is yet hanging on the things, and anciently lead into the Priors Cellar, as that other hard by it into his Chamber. All these things (I say) observed and considered, I am assured that this was S^t Thomas Chapell, otherwise Anno 16. Ed. 2. called Capella beatae Mariae & beati Thomae martyris juxta portam Prioratus; our Lady pictured in many of the Windowes sharing (it seemes) with him in the dedication.

Over this Chapell is the Church-library, not the same to the repaire whereof Archbishop Hubert gave the Church of * 1.18 Halstow, this being built (as erewhile I told you) by Arch∣bishop Chichley, and borrowed from the Chapell, or super∣added to it; the juniority of the worke, and the passage to it plainely intimate so much. It was by the founder and others once well stored with Bookes, but in mans memory shamefully robbed and spoiled of them all, an act much pre∣judiciall and very injurious both to posterity, and the Com∣mon-wealth of letters. The piety of the present Church∣men hath begun to replenish it, and may it have (what it well deserves) many benefactors, to the perfecting of the faire beginning; with which wish I leave both it and the Chapell.

And now I shall desire you would take notice of the Windowes, especially in the Churches upper part, which * 1.19 both for the glasse and Iron-worke thereof are well worthy

your observation. This part of the Church was highly commended of Malmesbury g 1.20 in his time, amongst other things, for this ornament. Nihil tale possit in Anglia videri, &c. saith he. And, I thinke his words hold true still. And I beleeve as much may be said of the Iron-worke about them, apparently various in every Window. Besides, these Windowes affoord and offer to our view certaine verses containing a paralell of the old and new Testament. They are many and therefore to avoyde too great an interruption here, you may finde them in my Appendix Scriptura 3.

Let me now leade you to the Undercroft. A place fit, * 1.21 and haply (as one cause) fitted to keepe in memory the subterraneous Temples of the Primitives, in the times of persecution. The West part, whereof being spatious and lightsome, for many yeares hath beene the Strangers-Church. A congregation for the most part of distressed * 1.22 exiles, growne so great and yet daily multiplying, that the place in short time is likly to prove a hive too little to con∣taine such a swarme. So great an alteration is there since the time the first of the tribe came hither, the number of them then consisting of but eighteene families or there∣abouts, which with the termes or Articles granted them at their humble suite by the then Maior and Communalty of the City, upon their first admittance, will appeare unto you, if you peruse what here followes h 1.23.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1486.
• u 1.2

  Glossar. D. H. Spelman. in hac voce.
• x 1.3

  Peregrin. Re∣lig. ergô.
• y 1.4

  Erasm. ubi supra.
• * 1.5

  Altars.
• * 1.6

  Beckets-chapell
• z 1.7

  Vide sit dict. vide Pancirol. par. prior tit. 23. & Martin. Lexic. Philolo∣gic. verb. Musi∣vus.
• a 1.8

  Peregrin. Relig. ergô.
• * 1.9

  Beckets-crown.
• * 1.10

  Vestry.
• b 1.11

  Peregrin. Re∣lig. ergo.
• * 1.12

  Sacrist.
• c 1.13

  Cowell. In∣terpreter in hac voce.
• d 1.14

  Liber Eccles. Cant.
• e 1.15

  Harpsfield. Eccles. Hist. sae∣cul. 12. pag. 342. Threasury.
• f 1.16

  Repertorium Munimentor. ecclesiae Cant.
• * 1.17

  Deanes-Cha∣pell.
• * 1.18

  Library.
• * 1.19

  Windowes.
• g 1.20

  De gest. Pon∣tifi. lib. 1. pag. 234. Edit. Francofurt.
• * 1.21

  Vndercroft.
• * 1.22

  French-Church.
• h 1.23

  Lib. camerae Civilatis Cant.