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.

Henricus de Eastry. 24.

Hen. de Eastry succeeded Tho. Ringemer, and continued * 1.1 Prior 37 yeares. A fair time, in which I finde Record of ma∣ny worthy acts done both in and about the Church and Mo∣nastery, and also in their Demesnes abroad, which therefore I may justly intitle to this Prior: whereof I may not forget the repair of the Quire and Chapter-house which cost 839 lib. 7^s8^d. and the Novum clocarium longum versus North in the yeare 1317. a Steeple sometime standing on the North∣side of the Church sithence either with age decayed, or by some alterations or new buildings defaced. He built also a new Grange at Berton, where in his time to wit anno 1302. * 1.2 I finde the Church had a Goal or Prison. For (as the Story * 1.3 goes) one of Christ-Church Berton that yeare killing an∣other there, and being by the Churches Officers imprison∣ed in the Gaol there: the Bailiffs of the City go to Berton, and by strong hand take the prisoner thence, and commit him to the Town Gaol: but after treaty and sight of the Church Charters of Infangthes &c. they restore him; who at the next assises at Maidstone was tried, convicted, con∣demned, and hanged at the Church-gallowes at Holling∣borne.

To return to our Prior. I finde b 1.4 that in his time the Church was plentifully furnished with Vines, as at Colton, Berton, S. Martins, Chertham, Brooke and Hollingbourne, all Mannors of the same. They had to all or most of their Mannors a domestick Chapell, to each of them almost, a * 1.5 new one of his making, and a Bertary. The totall of the charge of his 37 yeares works is recorded to be 2184 lib. 18s. 8^d. In his time a suit or at least a complaint or presentment was brought by the City against him and the Chapter, for building fourescore shops toward Burgate, and for stopping up the way between Queningate, and Northgate. But in the one, the latter, they defended themselves by the Charter

of Hen. (whereof before:) And for the other, by the Jury it was found that although they had made shops opening to Burgate, yet upon their own soile, and without prejudice to the City, because the Church did not demand nor had any stallage for them. In the list of the Churches family in this Priors time, a Notary makes one of the company. The Pri∣or * 1.6 (I take it) for the time being alwayes had one, and used him (among other imployments) chiefly as his Amanuen∣sis or Scribe for the dispatch of such busines as was brought before him by delegation from the See of Rome. For thus I finde him petitioning the Pope for his authoritie to create Notaries, as it is in a Lieger of the Church.

Significat sanctitati vestrae Prior ecclesiae Christi Cant. quòd per sedem Apostolicam frequenter committuntur eidem Priori Causae & negotia audienda & discutienda, ac etiam Delegatorum sententiae exequendae: propter quae necessari∣um est sibi usus & officium Tabellion' & quia in Civitate & Dioc. Cant. rarissimè haberi potest copia tabellionum: supplicat sanctitati vestrae Prior praedictus quòd placeat vo∣bis gratiosè concedere sibi potestatem faciendi duos Tabel∣liones.

But the present Prior Henry, in the yeare 1306. makes it his suit to an Imperiall Count Palatine, who by a priviledge annexed to his dignity, hath power to make notaries, to authorise him by letters of deputation to create three. Whereunto he condiscended: whose letters or licence to∣gether with the Instrument or faculty of a Notariship by vertue thereof granted I purpose in my Appendix to tender * 1.7 to their perusall who would know the course of that age in this point of creating Notaries. They even as little differ in tenor as in time, with those of M^r. Seldens setting out in his Titles of Honor. par. 2. c. 1. §. 44. But (by the way) this way of creating Notaries is so long since disused and left, and that originally for this reason viz. Eo quòd Regnum An∣gliae ab omni subjectione imperiali sit liberrimum, as it is in Ed. 2. constitution or writ made for the future discarding that course of creating Notaries, and directed and sent to

the Archbishop of Cant. and the Maior of London, whereof you may reade more at large in the same Author, both in the quoted place, and also Part. 1. c. 2. §. 5. And indeed Notaries were scarce and rare in this Kingdome long before Ed. 2. time, as you may finde by those 2 Legatine Consti∣tutions of Otho: Cap. Quanto. and Cap. Quoniam tabellio∣num. in the preface to each. And for that cause, and for supply of that defect, it was thought requisite, for the cre∣dit of publick Instruments to invent and have recourse to authentick seales. Whence those two Legatine Constitutions; * 1.8 the one commanding them to be frequently used, the other forbidding them to be at all misused. Ever since which time the publick instruments of Bishops and other Ordinaries have been justified, by such authentick seales: and such of them as going out under the Bishops seale (for, as one saith the certificate of any Ordinary under a Bi∣shop b 1.9 is of no credit nor will be received in the Kings Courts) use hath bin made of at the common law; for their seales sake, have been of faith and reputed authentick. How true then their affirmation is which say that Eccle∣siasticall Courts are no Courts of Record comes fitly * 1.10 here in place to be inquired. Bishops I know for cer∣tain (saith one) certifying Bastardy, Bigamy, Excommuni∣cation, the Vacancy or Plenarty of a Church, a marriage, a Divorce, a spirituall intrusion, or whether a man be professed in any religion, with other such like are credited without further inquiry or controlment. Besides a Testament shewed under the seale of the Ordinary is not traversable. Thus D^r Cowell in his Interpreter, in verb. Record. Where he cites many authorities for proof hereof out of common law and lawyers books: whither I referre you, and return to our Prior. Who in the yeare 1285. entered into composition with the then Abbat of S. Austins touching a certain kay * 1.11 and house built by him or the preceding Prior at Fordwich, to the great distast of the Abbat, whereof more hereafter in my Appendix, where I will give you the full relation of it from Thorne. viz. pag. 275.

In his time, namely anno 1296. the Priory was a while in great distresse and worthily, for denying the King a subsidy, by example of the Archbishop (Robert Winchelsey) who made like deniall of payment thereof: Vnde (saith my Author c 1.12) omnia temporalia ejus confiscata sunt, & quod hor∣rendum est quicquid habebant Monachi ibidem infra portas suae ecclesiae, seisita sunt, ita quòd non haberent ad quod manus appo∣nerent, pro vitae necessariis nisi quod vicini eorum Religiosi, & alii mittebant eis intuitu charitatis, & hoc tam diu duravit, do∣nec Prior & Capitulum necessitate compulsi redemptionem fece∣runt &c.

I will conclude my discourse of this Prior with what I finde written by Archbishop Parker of him and his stout and faithfull discharge of his duty in maintenance of such rights, and putting into practice such power of Jurisdiction as in the vacancy of the See (by Walter Reynods death) de∣volved and appertained unto him and the Chapter. Erat eo tempore (saith he d 1.13). Prior Cantuariensis quidam Henricus, vir ut existimari convenit, minus rerum usu, quàm jure ipso pru∣dens, juriumque Cantuarien. Ecclesiae vacante sede quòd ab ante∣cessoribus suis neglecta videbantur, explorator sedulus atque sa∣gax, tum in gerendis ecclesiae rebus assiduus atque solers. Hic paucis mensibus omnem illam intermediam Iurisdictionem ante intermissam plenè exercuit atque renovavit. De Clericis ad ec∣clesiastica benesicia praesentatis & patronorum Iure diligenter in∣quisivit, electiones confirmavit, intestatorum bona administran∣da commisit, provocantium appellationes recepit, testamenta actis insinuavit, ab executoribus & administratoribus rationes exegit, inter quos maximè Episcoporum defunctorum testamentorum ex∣ecutores, aut bonorum administratores interpellavit. Ita ut Io∣hannis Peckam (ut in ejus vita diximus) testamentum exequen∣tes ad rationes reddendas coegit. Ad haec visitavit, procuratio∣nes percepit, Synodum celebravit, Clerum ex mandato Regio ad Parliamentum citavit, contumaces & in suam jurisdictionem committentes poenis coercuit, beneficia vacantium sedium contu∣lit, ad haec capas choreales, annulos & sigilla à singulis Cant. provinciae Suffraganeis Cant. eccl. vendicavit, omniaque ad

Archiepiscopalem Iurisdictionem per singulas species tam exqui∣sitè exercuit, ut nihil fuerit praetermissum praeter Episcoporum consecrationem, quam cum sua authoritate per agere non poterat, Episcopo Londinensi mandavit & injunxit, ut is suffraganeis Cantuariae in Christi ecclesia die quodam statuto congregatis Me∣neuensem & Bangorens' Episcopos tunc electos & sua authorita∣te confirmatos consecraret. Quibus sic consecratis in testimoni∣um & fidem consecrationis literas conventus sigillo sigillatus de∣dit &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Anno Dom. 1285.
• * 1.2

  Berton.
• * 1.3

  Liber eccles. Cant.
• b 1.4

  ••b. eccles. Cantuar.
• * 1.5

  Vines.
• * 1.6

  Notarie.
• * 1.7

  Vide pro Scri∣ptura † 16. in Appendice.
• * 1.8

  Authentick Seales.
• b 1.9

  Finch. Of law lib. 4 pag. 138.
• * 1.10

  Co••s of Re∣cord.
• * 1.11

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Kay at ••dwich.
• c 1.12

  Reyner, in Append. ad A∣postolat. Be••e∣dict. pag. 62.
• d 1.13

  Antiq. Britan. pag. 217.