Villare cantianum, or, Kent surveyed and illustrated being an exact description of all the parishes, burroughs, villages and other respective mannors included in the county of Kent : and the original and intermedial possessors of them ...
Philipot, John, 1589?-1645., Philipot, Thomas, d. 1682.
Page  377

The Description of the ISLANDS.

ELmeley is an Island not farre removed from Feversham, but yet is situated in the Hundred of Milton, it was in elder Times parcel of the Demeasn of Peyforer. Fulk de Peyforer held it at his Death, which was in the fifth year of Edward the first, from whom it was transported by Descent to his Son Fulk de Peyforer, who like∣wise was in possession of it at his Decease, which was in the ninth year of Edward the second: but before the latter end of Edward the third, this Name and Family was shrunk into a Daughter and Heir called Julian, who by matching with Thomas St. Leger, annexed that Interess that Family had in this Island to his Inheritance, and from him the like Vicissitude carried it off to Hen. Aucher, who had espoused Joan his Coheir; but before the latter end of Hen. the fifth his right in Elmeley was by Sale transplanted into Cromer of London, who likewise before had purchased some proportion of Estate which the Heirs of *Hastings had in this Island by a right deduced from Mayney; for Sir VValter de Mayney Knight of the Garter, died the forty ninth year of Edward the third, and left onely a Sole Daughter and Heir called Anno, who by matching with John Hastings Earl of Pembroke, brought Tunstall and much other Land here in Elme∣ley and elsewhere, to be the patrimony of that Family: But to proceed: Elmeley being thus entirely made the Demeasn of Cromer, continued linked, to this Family many Descents, until Sir James Cromer the last of this Name almost in our memory died and left three Daughters and Coheirs surviving (for Martha the fourth died unmarried) to share his Estate. Frances was matched to Sir Mathew Carew, Elizabeth married Sir John Steed, and Christian espoused Sir John Hales; and so these three dividing Elmeley▪ the Descendants which claimed from Carew and Steed, have very lately by Sale conveyed theirs, and so by Consequence the Sole Interest of this Island unto Sir Edward Hales of Tunstal.

Graine Island lies in the Hundred of Hoo, and had still the same Owners with the Mannor of Malmains in Stoke not farre distant. Nicholas Malmains held it at his Death which was in the twenty third year of Edward the third, and from him did the Title stream in this Family until the beginning of Henry the fourth, and then it went away by Sale to Iden of Ripley Court in Westwell, and in this Family did the Possession dwell, untill the beginning of Henry the eighth, and then it was alienated to John Parks Gentleman, and he not long after dying without Issue Male, Elizabeth his Sole In∣heritrix, who was wedded to John Roper of Bedmaneore in Lingsted Esquire united it to his Patrimony, and from him is it now descended to his Successor Christopher Roper the instant Baron of Tenham.

Hartie lies in the Hundred of Feversham, and did anciently acknowledge the Do∣minion of the Abbot and Covent of Feversham, until John, Abbot of that place in the tenth year of Henry the eighth obtained a Licence from the Crown to alienate it to Thomas Colepeper Esquire; but here its abode was of no long Moment; for about the latter end of Henry the eighth it was transmitted by Sale to Sir Thomas Cheyney, whose Son the Lord Henry Cheyney about the middle of Q. Elizabeth passed it away to Samuel Thornhill Esquire great Grand-father to Mr. ....... Thornhill, the instant Owner of it.

Oxney Island is an Hundred within it self. The first place of eminence which offers it self to a Survey, is Witresham, which anciently belonged to the Monks of Christ∣church, and was given to that Cloister, in the year 132, by Edsin Bishop of St. Martins without Cant. but upon the Suppression of that Covent in the reign of Hen. the eighth, this Mannor with all its appendant was Immunities granted to Hen. Crispe Esq; whose Son Nicholas Crispe, held it the sixth of Q. Eliz. and after him James Hales Esquire: and he in the thirteenth of that Princess alienated it to Freak, in which Family it re∣mained Page  377untill the Beginning of King James; and then it was conveyed by Sir Thomas Freak, to Sir Thomas Bishop, and he in the sixteenth year of the abovesaid Prince, gave it in marriage with his Daughter Mrs. Jane Bishop, to Edward Alford Esquire; and she in right of that original Settlement does now hold this Mannor.

Palstre is another Mannor in Witresham, which represents to us the memory of John de Palstre, who was anciently Lord of the Fee: but before the end of Edward the third, this Family was vanished; and then the Charles's, a Family of generous rank at Addington were setled in the possession, and Richard Charles held it, in the fifth year of Richard the second, and so did Nicholas Charles, who dyed possest of it in the ele∣venth year of that Prince, Rot. Esc. Num. 16. And from this Family by Alice one of the Coheirs, it devolved to William Snath, and he concluding in a Daughter and Heir, she by matching with Watton, brought it to be united to the patrimony of this Family. And here it made its Re dence untill the reign of Heury the sixth; and then it was passed away to Robert Rudston Esquire, who being embarked in the reign of Queen Mary, in the Design of Sir Thomas Wiatt, although he did not forfeit his Life, yet he did that of his Estate, which by the special Indulgence of that Princesse, was granted back to him, in the second year of her reign, in which this was involved, which remained with this Family untill allmost our Time; and then it was passed a∣way to Sir Edward Henden, one of the Barons of the Exchequer, who dying not long since without Issue, gave it to his Nephew Sir John Henden, Father to Edw. Henden Esq; the instant Lord of the Fee.

Owlye is another Mannor in Witresham, which anciently was written Ovely, as having owners of that Sirname, who stayed not here untill the Beginning of Richard the second, but were extinguished, and left the possession to Ao Odiarne, a Family ancient∣ly of good Note. After whom I cannot (because the private Evidences are embezel'd) discover what Families were successively planted in the possession. Only I find it about the latter end of Henry the eighth, in the possession of Mayney of Biddenden, in whom the Interest continued, untill some few years since it was alienated by Sir John Mayney of Linton Knight and Baronet, to Peter Ricaut Esquire, who hath lately alie∣nated his right in it to Mr. Menell of London.

Ebeney was given to the Monks of Christchurch in Canterbury, by K. Athulfus, at the particular entreaty and instigation of Ceolnoth the Arch-bishop, in the year 832, to the Reparation of their Cloister and Cathedral. The words registred in the Latine Record are these, Anno Domini 832, Rex Athulfus instinctu Ceolnothi Archiepiscopi dedit Ebeneyam ad opus Monachorum, Libere sicut Adisham. But when the Im∣pieties of the Monks, who had cloistered up Religion it self in a Lazy Cell, grew so clamorous, that they called for Vengeance upon their Seminaties, that Storm arose in the reign of Henry the eighth, which by the Dissolution of their Covents, expiated their Irregularities; this Mannor was surrendered to the Crown, and the abovesaid Prince, in the thirty second year of his Government, granted it to Sir Walter Henley Serjeant at Law, who dying without Issue-male, his three Daughters, namely Eliza∣beth married to William Waller Esquire, Hellen first wedded to Thomas Colepeper of Bedge∣bury Esquire; secondly to Sir George Somerset; and thirdly to Thomas Vane of Burston Esquire; and Anne matched to Richard Covert of Slaugham, as his Coheirs entered upon his Inheritance, and then this place upon the Division of his estate, increased the Demeasn of Richard Covert Esquire, from whom by the Devolution of a descendant right, the title is now lodged in his Successor Mr...... Covert.

VVoodrove in Ebeney, acknowledged in elder Ages a Family for proprietaries, known by the Name of Mocking, who had a revenue likewise about Milton, Stockbury, Hartlip and Shepey, of no despicable Bulk. John Mocking Son of VVilliam Mocking flourished under the Scepter of Edward the first, Edward the second, and held this Mannor at his Decease, which was in the eleventh year of Edward the third, Rot. Esc. Num. 75. And in this Family did the possession fix, untill the reign of Henry the fourth, and then it began to ebbe away from this Name, and flow by the conveyance of Sale into Guldford: and in a very old Schedule which enumerates the Mannors, which related to John Guldford, who lived under the Government of Henry the fourth and Henry the fifth, this is registred in the Catalogue; and from him did it come down to Sir Edward Guldford, whose Daughter and Heir Joan, brought it to be the Page  379patrimony of John Dudley Duke of Northumberland, and he gave this Mannor with no small demeasn at Halden, in Dower with Mary his Daughter, matched to Sir Hen. Sidney Lord Deputy of Ireland, and Knight of the Garter, a person of that Value and Eminence, that he that would discover him represented in his best Features and proportion must view him in his Worthy and Signal undertakings in Ireland, where he will find him better pourtraid, than he can be by any faint or drowsie Attributes, that drop from my humble and unequal pen; and from him did this Mannor in right of this Alliance, descend to his Grandchild the right honorable Robert Earl of Lei∣cester, who not many years since passed it away to Sir Edward Hendon, one of the Barons of the Exchequer, who upon his Decease gave it to his Nephew Sir John Hondon of Biddenden, and he not long since alienated it to Mr. John Austin of Tenter∣den; from whom it is lately devolved by Death, to be now the possession of his second Brother Mr. Rob. Austin of Hall-place in Bexley.

Brocket is another Mannor in Ebeney which had possessors as appears by ancient Deeds of that Name, who likewise were written in Evidences Brocket; but whether the Brockets of Brocket-hall in the County of Hartford, were descended from these, or these from them, I cannot discover: But the greatest honor which this obscure Mannor hath acquired, is, that ever since the reign of Henry the fourth, untill the thirtieth year of Henry the eighth, it acknowledged the noble Family of Guldford; and then it changed its proprietaries: for that year it was by John Guldford Esquire, conveyed to Sir John Hales Baton of the Exchequer, from whom it is now come down to own the proprietary of his Descendant, Sir Edward Hales of Tunstall Baronet.

The Island of Shepey, comes next to be treated of: It called by Ptolomie Toliatis, in Latin Insula Ovium, in Saxon Sceapige, all agreeing in their Verdict, that it was so named from its plenty of Sheep. It is environed with the mixed Waters of the Thames, and Medway on the West, the Swale or Genlade on the South, and the Main Ocean beats on the East and North; more celebrated for the fertility of the Soil, then Salurbity of Air which is grosse and thick, causing Aguish Infirmities, that keep long Residence, they get possession,

Quinborough, or rather originally Kingsborough, as Konisbergh in Prussia, is now cor∣ruptly called Quensborough, acknowledged King Edward the third for the Founder, who (having wedded Philippa Daughter of William Earl of Henault and Holland, and his oc∣casions often calling him to passe into her Fathers Dominion, whose Aid and Assistance he required in the great enterprise, for the Recovery of his undoubted right to the Diadem of France) heerected this strong and stately Fottresse for defence of the mouth of the Thames, and his own secure Accomodation. And because the Situation of this place was unhealthy, he (to allure Inhabitants) in the year 1366, enobled the Town with a Charter of Incorporation, wherein he indulges by Grant ample priviledges and Immunities unto it, as namely to hold two Mercates weekly, one on the Munday and the other on the Thursday; and two Fairs yearly, one at the Feast of St. James, the other on the twenty fourth of March, and to make Choice of Burgesses to send to Parlia∣ment. The principal Architect and Surveyout of the work, was William Wickham, after Bishop of Winchester, who had been formerly employed in that kind, at the re∣edifying Windsor-castle, when his good patron John de Vuedal, was Constable there. This man used to inscribe on the edifices thus erected, this Inscription, This made VVickham, whereby some conceived, he arrogated to himself the Cost and payment of the Structure, and informed the King thereof: but his ingenious exposition satisfied that Prince, when he shewed him that by his Inspection and Insight into those matters, he had obtained both his Ecclesiastical and secular promotions, being made Bishop of Winchester, first Keeper of the privy Seal, and then of the King's Conscience, his last Gradation or Ascent being to be Lord Chancellor of England. When King Edward had perfected this Castle, he instituted a Chief Governour, who was for the future, to carry the Title of Constable, like as at Dover-castle, and elsewhere. The Catalogue of those who succeeded in that Command, I have set down. The care and cost of King Henry the eighth, in the year 1536 to repair this place, when he erected Fortresses for Defence of the Sea Coast, drew this Eulogie from the Pen of Leland,Page  380

Castrum Regius editum recepit
Burgus, Fulmina dira, & Insulanos
Tutos servat, ab omni, vel omni.

Constables of Quinborough Castle.

JOhn Foxly a valiant Souldier and faithful Servant to King Edward the third, was the first Constable of Quinborough Castle, which Office he received the thirty sixth of Edward the third.

50. Edw. 3.John of Gaunt
8. Rich. 2. Robert de Vere.
16. Rich. 2. Arnold Savage of Bobbing Court.
20. Rich. 2. William Scroop
1. Hen. 4. Sir Hugh Waterton
4. Hen. 4. Sir Jo. Cornwallis, Lord Fan∣hope, Knight of the Garter.
10. Hen. 4.Thomas Arundel Arch-bishop of Canterbury.
1. Hen. 5.Gilbert Ʋmfreville
28. Hen. 6.Humfrey Stafford Duke of Buckingham.
1. Edw. 4.John Northwood Esquire.
... Edw. 4.George Duke of Clarence.
1. Rich. 3.Thomas Wentworth
2. Rich. 3.Christopher Collins
1. Hen. 7.William Cheyney
2. Hen. 8. Sir Francis Cheyney
3. Hen. 8. Sir Tho. Cheyney of Shurland Knight of the Garter.
1. Reginae Elizab. Sir Robert Constable
 Sir Edward Hobbie
Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, Baron of Shurland, and Knight of the Garter.

Minster is the next place of Account in this Island, and is contracted from the Latin Word Monasterium, from whence this Town hath its Appellation, and may chal∣lenge the third place amongst our English Nunneries. For Sexburga Daughter to Ercombert King of Kent (to whom and the Virgin Mary, the Church of this Parish is devoted and dedicated) in the year 664, erected a Religious House at this place, and liberally endowed it, for the Sustentation of vayled Virgins. The second was founded by Eanswith Daughter of Eadbald King of Kent, at Folkston. And the first had its Institution at Liminge, likewise in this County, by Eadburga, and erected to the Honor of the Virgin Mary and St. Mildred. But the Antiquity of this Cell, and the Sanctity attributed to it by elder times, could not so skreen or rescue it from the Heat of War, but it was thrice sacked and dismantled by the barbarous irruptions of the Danes, within lesse then an Age, which by usual Account is said to be thirty year. The first mis∣fortune happened to it in the year 832, when thirty five Sail of them rived here and rifled it. The second and third time, was in the year 851 and then again in the year 855, by the Armies of them who wintered their Ships within this Island. Besides these depredations the complices of Earl Godwin, and his Sons, in the Time of their proscription and exile, which was in the year 1052, landed in this Island, and mi∣serably harrassed it, by filling all places with Ruine and Devastation. Indeed Reli∣gion when it glitters with a splendid and full revenue, is like the Pictures of the an∣cient Saints, apparelled in rich Garments, which some have been enticed to rob, not out of ill Will to their Sanctity, but love to their Shrines, and Beauty of their Cloaths; Persecution and the Robes of Humility were the Attire of the primitive Church, and when she is dressed up in gaudy Fortunes, it is no more then she merits: Yet sometimes it occasions the Devil, to cheat her of her Holinesse; and impious men by an unjust and injurious Sacriledge, to cheat her of her riches. But I have digressed: I now return into the Track of my Discourse, and must inform my Reader, that although the Glory of this Cloister, was so bowed down and broken with these misfortunes, that it appeared almost sunk in its own Calamities: yet by the piety of subsequent Ages, it was buoyed up again: but more especially by the indulgent Charity of King Henry the fourth, who in the first year of his reign confirmed their old priviledges, and to those added by patent many new. And in this Condition it Page  381continued untill the general Dissolution or Deluge, and then it was by Henry the eighth, in the twenty ninth year of his reign granted to Sir Thomas Cheyney: and his Son Henry Lord Cheyney, having in the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth, exchanged it for other Lands with that Princesse; she regranted it to Sir Edward Hobby, who had matched with her Kinswoman Margaret, Daughter of Henry Lord Hunsdon, and his Son Sir Edward Hobby, about the middle of King James passed it away to Mr. Hen. Richards, and he upon his Decease bequeathed it to Gabriel Livesey Esquire; and he, almost in our Remembrance, conveyed it to Sir John Heyward, who setled it upon his two Feoffees in Trust, Sir Francis Buller of Cornwall, and Serjeant Clerk of Roche∣ster, for such Charitable Uses, as they should think proportionate to that Convey∣ance,

The Mannor of Northwood, is situated in this Parish, which was the Inheritance of Jordanus de Scapeia, for so he is written in old datelesse Deeds, and he had Issue Stephen de Northwood, who was the first whom I find in Record, to have assumed this Appellation, and he was Father to Sir Roger de Northwood, who lies buryed in Minster Church, with an Inscription affixed to his Monument, which seems by its more mo∣dern Character, to have been corrupted; It is this: Hic jacet Rogerus Northwood, Miles, sepultus ante Conquestum. Indeed his Figure is fairly insculped in Brasse, with that of his Lady Bona lying by him, who was Sister and Heir of William de Wauton. The vulgar upon a credulous errour every where affirm, that all those who are thus buryed, were enterr'd after the Conquest; when it is certain that many were entom∣bed in this posture, many years before the Conquerour, that had obliged themselves by Vow, to defend the Crosse and Sepulcher of our Saviour, against the Fury and Assaults of Infidels. Sure I am, the Tomb next to this appears to be far more ancient, and of so venerable a Form, that its like doth not occurre in any other place; there is not any Letter of Inscription left, only the Coat is a sure Testimony, that it was one of the Ancestors of the Family of Northwood. But to proceed: John Norwood one of this House, as the private Records of the Family testifie, feasted H. the fifth, at the Red Lion in Sedingbourne, and the Wine amounted upon the wole account but to 9. s. and 9. d. Wine being then rated but at a penny the pint. W. Northwood another of this Name, and Family, did signal Service at the Battel of Agincourt, and afterwards at the Battel of Vernoile, which was managed by John Duke of Bedford, Regent of France. He was Kinsman of John Northwood, who was the last of this Name at this place; for he a∣bout the latter end of Edward the fourth, alienated it to VVilliam VVarner Esquire; whose Son and Heir VVilliam VVarner, about the Beginning of Henry the eighth, de∣mised it to Sir Thomas Cheyney, and his Son Sir Henry Lord Cheyney, having exchanged it for other Lands with Queen Elizabeth, it remained with the Crown, untill King James in the second year of his reign, granted it to the right honorable Philip Herbert Earl of Montgomery, and afterwards Earl of Pembroke.

Newhall is another little Mannor in Minster, which Fulke Peyforer dyed seised of, in the ninth year of Edward the second; and from him it devolved by descent to be the pa∣trimony of his great Grandchild Fulk Peyforer, and his Sole Heir Julian carried it a∣way to Thomas St. Leger of Ottringden, whose two Female Coheirs being matched to Aucher and Ewias, shared his Inheritance, and about the reign of Henry the fifth, passed it away by Sale to Cromer, whose Successor VVilliam Cromer, having about the latter end of Henry the eighth, by some misdemeanor, forfeited it to the Crown, it was granted to one Stephen Graine, in which Family it remained untill the Begin∣ning of Queen Elizabeth, and then it was alienated to Small; from which Name, the same Vicissitude not many years since carried it off to Luck; who transmitted his Right in it to Mr. Henry Newton, who hath lately demised it to Mr. Josias Gering of London.

Rishingdon is the last place of Account, which is circumscribed within the Limits of Minster. It was in the twenty third year of Edward the first, wrapped up in the patrimony of Savage: for at that time John de Savage obtained a Charter of Free∣warrren, to several of his Mannors in Kont, in the Number of which this is registered for one; but in the reign of Edward the third, the possession was departed from this Family, being purchased by Philippa Wife and Queen to Edward the third, and setled upon the Hospital of St. Katharines neere the Tower, in whose demeasn it hath layn Page  382involved ever since. In the fourteenth year of the reign of Richard the second, John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster, the King's Uncle, was Lessee to that Hospital, as ap∣pears Rot. Esc. Num. 113. Which I mention to discover to the Reader, that even in those Times, Persons of the greatest eminence did not disdain to be Tenants for an Estate to an Hospital.

East-Church is the next place which comes to be considered: Which though ob∣scure in it self, yet is made eminent by Shurland, which is a Limb of this Parish, and anciently did own a noble Family which bore that Sirname; the last of which was Sir Robert de Shurland, who was one of those Kentish Bannerets, which were made by King Edward the first, at the Siege of Carlaverock, in the twenty eighth year of his reign, and to whom the former Prince, as a farther Symbol or Testimony of his Merit, granted a Charter of Free-warren in the twenty ninth year of his reign, to his Mannor of Shurland: not long after which he deceased, and lies entombed under an Arch in the Southwall, with his pourtraicture insculped in a Marble, in Minster Church, whose Tomb is become the Scene of much Falshood and popular errour; the vulgar having digged out of his Vault, many wild Legends and Roman∣ces, as namely that he buryed a Priest alive, that he swam on his horse two miles thorough the Sea, to the King, who was then neer this Island on Shipboard, to pur∣chase his pardon; and having obtained it, swam back to the Shore: where being arrived, he cut off the head of his said Horse, because it was affirmed, he had acted this by Magick: and that riding on hunting a twelvemoneth after, his horse stumbled and threw him on the Scull of his former Horse, which blow so bruised him, that from that Contusion he contracted an inward impostumation, of which he dyed; and in memory of which, an Horse Head is placed at his Feet; which fictitious Story, is rent into the disunion of so many absurd circumstances, that I shall represent to the Reader, the Founda∣tion on which this fabulous Natrative was formerly established, which is no more but this. Sir Robert de Shurland above-mentioned, being Lord Warden of the Cinque∣ports, and a man of eminent Authority under Edward the first, obtained Grant of pri∣viledge by Charter, to have wrack of Sea upon his Lands confining on the Sea Shore, neere Shurland: now the extent of this Royaltie is evermore esteemed to reach as far into the Water, upon a low ebb, as a man can ride in, and touch any thing with the point of his Launce, and so you have the explication of this marvel; and the cou∣ching either of whole Creatures, or part of them, at the Feet of worthy personages, is most frequent both now and in elder Times, that these inanimate Representations might be the Symbols or Hieroglyphicks, to intimate to posterity those Virtues which were resident in them when alive. But to proceed: the abovementioned Sir Robert de Shurland, having improved his Reputation with many noble and worthy Actions, left That only to perpetuate his Name to posterity, having no Issue-male to continue it: for he left only one Daughter and Heir, matched to W. de Cheyney of Patricksbourn Cheyney, who was son and heir to Sir Alexander de Cheyney, who is in the Inventory or List of those Knights Bannerets, who were ennobled with that Dignity, by E. the first, at the Siege of Carlaverock, in the twenty eighth year of his reign, and in Right of this Match, dyed possest of it, in the eighth year of E. the third, Rot. Esc. Num. 58. And from him did it come down to his great Grandchild, Sir John Cheyney who was Knight of the Garter, and frequently Knight of this Shire, in sundry Parliaments, under the Government of Henry the fourth, in the first year of whose reign, as our Chronicles inform us, he was sent Embassador to several forreign Princes, to represent to them the Reasons or Motives which induced him to assume the English Diadem, and in the first and second year of that Prince, he was chosen Speaker of Parliament. Sir William Cheyney another of this Family of Shurland, was first a Judge, and secondly Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench, in the reign of Henry the fifth: but the greatest Honour this Mannor atchieved, was when it came to be possest by Sir Thomas Cheyney who was Knight of the Garter, Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports, Constable of Quinborough Castle, and one of the Privy Councel to Henry the eighth, and he had Issue Sir Henry Cheyney, created Henry Lord Cheyney of Tuddington by Queen Eliza∣beth, who having exchanged this Mannor of Shurland with that Princesse, it remai∣ned with the patrimony of the Crown, untill the second year of King James; and then it was by royal Concession from that Prince, made the Inheritance of Philip Earl Page  383of Montgomery, and after of Pembroke, upon whose late decease it is now come to con∣fesse the Signory of his second Son Mr. James Herbert.

Kingsborough is another Mannor in this Parish, whose Name tacitly intimates to us, that it was involved formerly in the Revenue of the Crown, and was the place which the Inhabitants frequented, not only for the holding of a Court, for the choice and election of the Constables of the Island: but likewise here assembled to nomi∣nate and appoint those Wardens or Bailiffs, that were to take Cognisance or Charge of the passage called King ferry; which divides the Island, and the main Land of me County; this Mannor after it had for many Generations layn folded up in the royal Demeasne, was by Queen Elizabeth, granted to Mr. Henry Cary; who about the Be∣ginning of K. James, passed it away to Swaleman, whose Descendant is still entituled to the propriety of it.

Leisdon next offers it selfe up to our view, which was parcel of that estate which acknowledged the noble and ancient Family of Grey or Rotherfield in Sussex for its an∣cient Owners, The first which made this Family eminent was John de Grey, who was frequently summoned to sit in Parliament as Baron, in the reign of Edward the third, and dyed possest of this Mannor in the thirty third year of that Prince, Rot. Esc. Num. 38. And so did Robert Grey his Successor, in the second year of Henry the fourth. After his Exit, I do not find it long constant to the Signory of this Name: for about the Beginning of Henry the sixth it was alienated to Lovell; and by virtue of this pur∣chase, Sir William Lovell held it at his Death, which was in the twenty third year of Henry the sixth. After this Family had abandoned the possession, the Cheyneys of Shurland were by purchase planted in the Inheritance, and remained setled in the Fee-simple of it, untill Sir Henry Lord Cheyney, exchanged it with Queen Eli∣zabeth.

Nuts called so vulgarly, but in the ancient Court-rolls named Notts, as being the Inheritance of a Family called Nott, is a little Mannor in Leisdon, which after it had for many descents acknowledged no other proprietaries, but this Family, about the Beginning of Edward the fourth, was rent from them by purchase, and transplanted into Bartholomew, a Family which were Owners anciently of much Land about Ling∣sted, Throuley, and other places in that Track, and continued Masters of this Lordship, untill the reign of Henry the eighth; and then it was conveyed to Sir Thomas Cheyney; whose Son Sir Henry Cheyney about the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth, passed it away to Sampson, a Family which had been possessors of Sampson-court, not far distant many hundred years; and were descended from William Sampson, who was frequently sum∣moned to sit in Parliament as Baron in the reign of Edward the first. From Sampson it was again in our Fathers Memory carried off to Oborne, in the Descendants of which Family the right is still fixed.

Werdon is the last place of Account in this Island; It was in times of an elder In∣scription involved in the Inheritance of Savage of Bobbing, and in the twenty third year of Edward the first, Sir John de Savage obtained a Charter of Free-warren to his Mannor of Werdon: But before the middle of Edward the third, this Family had surrendered their Interest here to Fremingham; for John de Fremingham dyed seised of it, in the twenty third year of Edward the third: but whether it devolved with other Land by the Heir general of Fremingham to Isley or not, is incertain, because those privtae evidences which relate to this Mannor, extend no higher then the reign of Edward the fourth; and then I find the propriety of it in Norton, in which Family after the pos∣session had resided untill our times, it was conveyed to Edmund Tooke of Dartford Esq; Barrister at Law, now proprietary of it.

Thanet lies, if not all, yet most part of it, circumscribed within the Hundred of Ringleslow: It is styled in Greek by ancient Authors 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Latine Thanetum, and in the Saxon it is curtailed into Thanet, which an old Manuscript which I have seen, de∣duces from two Saxon Words Thane and Yete, which in that Language then implyed as much as the Lords-Entrance: but for my particular, I believe that the Saxons, when upon the Donation of it to them by Vortiger, they first entered into this Island, fin∣ding that Thanetum was a Latine Name imposed upon it by the Romans, who had but newly then deserted the Protection of this Island, new-softned the Name by contra∣cting Page  384it, and then quilted it into the Alphabet of their own Language, and called it Thanett; and that this is probable, I shall evince from circumstances, Punio in La∣tine signifies to punish, from whence the Saxons styled that place by Maidstone, where they punished Malefactors Pinandun Hoath: So Castrum was a Name used by the Ro∣mans to signifie or expresse any Castle or Fortresse, which the Saxons upon their ad∣mission into this Island, finding it to be imposed upon all places of strength and im∣portance, adopted it into their Dialect, and from the word Castrum extracted the word Ceaster. I could instance in many other particulars, but that I should both weary my Reader, and clog this Discourse with Superfluities: I shall therefore from the untwi∣sting the Name, descend to the Description of the Island.

Serre, now vulgarly called Sarre, is the first place of Note which offers it self up to a view: It was anciently a Parish, untill peradventure the unhealthinesse of the Soile; for it now confines upon Marishes (where formerly glided that Gullet of Sea-water, now wholly stifled with Sand) which made Thanett an Island, as may plainly appear by an ancient Mapp, printed by the original, and now extant in the Book called Monasti∣cum Anglicanum) or else from the insalubrity of the Air, which being polluted with those black and foggie vapours which ascend from a loose and soggie earth, very fre∣quently leave a venomous Tincture upon the Blood and Spirits of those Inhabitants, who are subject to the impression of such pernicious exhalations, forced those who dwelt in Serre, to abandon so sickly a Habitation; and so the Parish by degrees, began to languish away into that Solitude, we see it is shrunk into at present. The Church was dedicated to St. Giles, but at present lies entombed in such forgotten Ruines, that scarce the least Remains are visible. The Mannor it self was one of the ancient Seats of the noble Family of Crioll. Bertram de Crioll augments the Register of those Kentish Gentlemen, who were with Richard the first at the Siege of Acon in Palestine. Bartho∣lomew de Crioll another of this Name and Family, was Lieutenant of Dover-castle under the abovesaid Prince. Simon de Crioll was with Edward the first, at his prosperous Siege of Carlaverock, and for his generous Assistance there, received the Order of Knight∣hood, and from him it came down to Sir William Crioll, Father to Sir John Crioll who held it in the Beginning of Henry the sixth, as appears Pat. 9. Hen. 6. Par. prim. Memb. 19. And from him was it transmitted to his Son Sir Thomas Keriell, Knight of the Garter, a Man of that worth and eminence, in that time he lived in, that I might seem something to obscure his Glory, if I should not represent to the Reader, some of those honorable Atchievements, which he performed in France, the Relation of which I have omitted in my Description of Stockbury and Walmer. In the ninth year of Henry the sixth, he being Governour of Gourney in Normandy, issuedout of that place, and harassed not only that Province, but fought with the Earl of Bretaigne, who was sent to oppose his Eruptions, and after a sharp Combat gave him a remark∣able discomfiture, killing about six hundred, and captivating two hundred Soldiers. In the fifteenth of Henry the sixth, he seised upon the Duke of Burgundie's Carriages and Cannons leaving Cretoy (a Fortresse then in possession of the English, and not long before distressed by the abovesaid Duke) furnished with victual for six hundred men, for the space of a twelvemonth. And lastly in the twenty seventh year of Henry the sixth, he was sent over into France, with a supply of 1500 men to recruit the English Army, where he did as much with so small a quantity of men, as could be expected from humane Courage, and having reduced some pieces of strength, he encountered the Earl of Clermont at a place called Formigney, where being overlaid with Multitude, after he had given most signal Testimony of his valour, and discharged all those duties which might have secured and preserved the Honor of the English Nation, and the Glory of the day, by which he declared himself to be not only a prudent Man, but an expert Commander, he was defeated: But to proceed, after the Family of Crioll went out from the possession of this place, which was before the latter end of Henry the sixth, John White Esquire, became Lord of the Fee, and held it at his Death, which was in the ninth year of Edward the fourth: but after his Decease it was not long re∣sident in this Name: for in the reign of Henry the seventh, and Henry the eighth, I find it the Inheritance of Bere, and was fixed in this Family, untill the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth; and then it was passed away by Sale to Rush, ancestor to Sir Fran∣cis Rush, who not many years since concluding in two Daughters and Coheirs, one of Page  385them by matching with Sir George Wentworth of Wentworth Woodhouse in York-shire, third Brother to Sir Thomas Wentworth, late Earl of Stafford, hath made it his instant patrimony.

Downebarton is the next place which occurs, and challenges our Survey. There was a Family Sirnamed Exeter, that had large possessions at or neer this place, and were planted in the Tenure of them many Centuries of years: In the fourth year of Henry the sixth, Margaret Widow of John Exeter, held Lands at Downebarton in Right of Dower, as appears by an Inquisition taken after her death, which commences from that time. But the principal Honor this place anciently recieved, was, that it was a Mannor which fell under the Signory of the Arch-bishops of Canterbury, as is mani∣fest by an Inquisition taken in the twenty first of Richard the second, Rot. Esc. Num. 7. Which represents to posterity what Lands and Mannors Thomas Arch-bishop of Canterbury held at that time; nor did it depart from the revenue of this Sea, until the 29. year of Henry the eighth; and then being exchanged with the Crown by Tho. Cran∣mer Arch-bishop of Canterbury, it was granted away to Henry Crispe Esquire; in which Family it was fixed untill those times which were circumscribed within the Verge of our Fathers Remembrance, and then it was conveyed to Paramour, from which Name not many years since, the vicissitude of purchase carried it away, and hath now made it part of the demeasn of Daniel Harvey of Combe-nevill, in Kingston upon Thames Esquire.

Quekes in Birchington was the ancient Seat of an ancient Family which bore that Sir∣name, and after it had for many descents acknowledged it self to have related to that Name, it devolved by paternal descent to John Quekes, who about the Beginning of H. the seventh, expired in a Daughter and Heir who was matched to....Crispe, extra∣cted from the Crispes of Oxfordshire, who had flourished there many Generations before, (as appears by an old pedigree now in the hands of Sir Nicholas Crispe of London) under the Notion of Gentlemen of the best Rank; nor did this Family wither by being thus transplanted, and inoculated upon a forraign Stem, but rather did gather new Sap and Verdure, which made it so exceedingly sprout forth, that Henry Crispe Esquire, who was Sheriff of Kent in the thirty eighth of Henry the eighth, and was afterwards honoured with Knighthood, did shoot up to that power, and grew so tall in Title, that he was in the dialect of those Times called Regulus Insulae, or the Governour of the Isle of Thannet; and from this worthy person, is Henry Crispe Esquire, Heir to Sir Henry Crispe not long since deceased, and now proprietary of Quekes, originally de∣scended.

West-gate in Birchington was wrapped up in that vast demeasn which was entituled to the possession of the noble and powerful Family of Leybourn of Leybourn-castle. Will. de Leybourn Son of Roger de Leybourn, held it at his Death, which was in the third year of Ed. the second, Rot. Esc. Num. 56. And left it to Roger de Leybourn, from whom with the rest of his diffused patrimony in this County, it came to his only Daughter and Heir Juliana de Leybourn, first matched to Iohn de Hastings, Brother or Kinsman to Laurence de Hastings Earl of Pembroke, and then to William de Clinton Earl of Hunting∣don, but survived them both, and dying without Issue in the forty third year of Edward the third, she made God her Heir to this Mannor, and gave it to the Abby of St. Au∣gustins, and in the patrimony of that Cloister did the Title of this Mannor lie locked up, untill the general Dissolution in the reign of Henry the eighth, unloosened it, and then linked it again by a new Augmentation to the demeasn of the Crown; and then the abovesaid Prince, in the thirty fifth year of his reign, granted it to Sir Tho. Moile, who not long after passed it away to Bere, a Family of good account in this Island, as being descended from Richard de Bere, who was one of the Recognitores magnae Assisae for Kent, in the second year of King John, as appears by the Pipe-roll of that time; and from this Name about the latter end of Q. Elizabeth, did it by purchase come over to Denne of Denne-hill in Kingston, whose Successor Mr. Thomas Denne of Denne-hill, Reader formerly of the Middle-Temple, and Recorder of Canterbury, dying lately without Issue-male, his four Daughters (Thomazin married to Sir Nicholas Crispe, Bridget matched to Sir Iohn Darrell of Calehill, Dorothy wedded to Mr. Roger Lucan, and Mary espoused to Vincent Denne Esquire) became his Coheirs, and and this upon the division of his Estate, augmented the patrimony of Sir Nicholas Crispe.

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Dandelion in the Parish of St. Johns, was the Seat of a Family in elder times called Dent de lyon, as appears by divers ancient Deeds, some without dare, some as high as Edward the first: but about the Government of Henry the fourth, the Name was mel∣ted down, and made more soft and easie, and transplanted into Dandelion, as appears by several Deeds of one John Dandelion, which commence from that Kings reign, and the reign of Henry the fifth, and he had Issue John Dandelion, who about the Begin∣ning of Edward the fourth, determined in a Daughter and Heir, matched to Petit of Shalmesford neer Chartham, and lies buryed under a fair Marble in St. Johns, with a plate of Brasse (if the Barbarity of these times, have not ravished it away) affixed to it, designing the time of his death, and by a Right fortified and made firme, from this Alliance, does this ancient Seat now acknowledge the Signory of Mr. Henry Petit.

Nash-court in the Parish abovesaid, was anciently the possession of the Garwintons, of whom I have spoken at Bekesbourn, where was their capital Mansion, and went a∣long with the Interest of this Family, untill William Garwinton the last of this Name dying without Issue, in the eleventh year of Henry the fourth, bequeathed this and much other Land to Richard Haut, who had married Joan his nearest Kinswoman and Heir general of the Family; and he left it to his Son Richard Haut, who left only one Daughter called Margery, who was his Heir, and she by marching with William Isaack made it parcel of his Inheritance; and in memory of this Alliance, the Windows of this Mansion, are in several Pannels of Glasse adorned with the Arms of Haut and Isaack, and near them are placed the Armes of William Warham Arch-bishop of Canterbury, empaled with those of his Sea; for of him, and his Predecessors did this Mansion hold. After Isaack was gone out, which was about the latter end of Henry the eighth, the Lincolnes by purchase became Lords of the Fee, and held it untill the midst of the reign of Queen Elizabeth; and then it was passed away for some Courtesies obtained by the Heir of this Family, to Sir Roger Manwood Chief Baron of the Exchequer; and his Son Sir Peter Manwood alienated it in our Fathers Memory to Cleybrook, from whom it descended to his Son Mr. William Cleybrook, who upon his decease left it to his Widow Mrs. Sarah Cleybrooks remarried to Mr. George Somner slain at Wye-bridge, in the year 1648, and now lastly to Mr. James Newman, and after her decease the Re∣version to his Kinsman Mr. Alexander Northwood and his Heirs.

Dene and Hengrove are two Mannots circumscribed likewise within the precincts of St. Johns, and were involved in the spreading Demeasn of the powerful Family of Leybourn, as appears by a solemn Inquisition taken after the decease of William de Ley∣bourn, who dyed possest of them in the third year of Edward the second; and from whom they came to his Grandchild, Juliana Sole Heir of Roger de Leybourn, who ha∣ving no Issue, in the forty third year of Edward the third, either by John de Hastings, or William de Clinton Earl of Huntingdon, constiuted the Abby of St. Augustins, her heir to both these places (a more certain Inheritor then any loose Unthrift in the devout estimate of those Times) with this Clause annexed, that the Brotherhood of that Covent, should pray for the Souls of John de Hastings, Laurence de Hastings Earl of Pem∣broke, John de Hastings his Son, and lastly for that of William de Clinton Earl of Huntingdon; Which grant of hers was confirmed (as appears by Thorne the Chronicler of St. Augustins lately printed) by Edward the third, in the year 1363, and it is probable that those two Chappels, which the fabulous Tradition of the Island is, were erected at the two abovesaid places, by two Virgins, were built by the beforementioned Juliana, for two Chauntry Priests, to celebrate Masse for the Souls of her two deceased Husbands. But to proceed, upon the Suppression of the Abby of St. Augustins, by Henry the eighth, these two Mannors being united to the demeasn of the Crown, the Fee-simple was lodged in the Royal patrimony, untill King James in the Beginning of his reign, granted them to Mr. William Salter, who demised them to Mr. Manasser Norwood, whose Grandchild Mr. Alexander Norwood, for ought I know, is yet the proprietary of them.

Salmeston is the last place of account in St. Johns, and did belong, as appears by a Quo Warranto, cited at large in the late printed Chronicle of Thorne, to the Abby of St. Augustins, in the year 1362, and remained treasured up in the Demeasn of that Co∣vent, untill its final Suppression in the reign of Henry the eighth, and then being rent Page  387away from the Church, it was by a new settlement enstated again upon the Church, being granted by the abovesaid Prince, in the twenty ninth of his Rule, unto Thomas Arch-bishop of Canterbury, and is at present held in Lease for Life, by the Lady Mary St. Leger, Widow of Sir Warham St. Leger, who had it in Exchange when he passed away the Mannors of Bersted and Leeds Castle, to Sir Thomas Colepeper of Hollingbourne.

Fleet is a place of Account which is situated partly in the Parish of St. Johns, and partly in St. Peters, and was the Inheritance, in Ages of a very high Extraction, of a Family who were written in Latine-Records de Fleta, and were planted here, as ap∣pears by their datelesse Deeds, about the reign either of King John, or Henry the third. And when in times of a more modern Inscription, they began to seal with Coats of Armes, appendant to private Muniments and Evidences; I find the parer∣nal Coat of this Family, to have been Checqueè ....... upon a Canton a Lion Rampant ....... which still lies registred in all old Ordinaries and Alphabets of Arms, and other ancient Rolls and Records of the Kentish Gentry: but as all Families have their Ebbings and Vicissitudes, so had this. For in our Fathers Memory, one of this Fami∣ly expired in a Daughter and Heir, who was matched to Philipott; and in our Memory another of this Name concluded in two Females, married to Smith and Pomflet, and so the ancient patrimony of Fleet, being thus crumbled into parcels, is now divided be∣tween these three Families.

Dane-court is another Seat of good Antiquity, and is placed likewise in Sr. Peters; It afforded both Seat and Sirname to a Family called Dane, who bore for their Coat Armour Gules four Flower de Lis, Or. But the Custome of Gavelkind having split this Family into two branches, and consequently rent the estate into two parcels, one of these branches withered away, before the end of Henry the fourth, and went out in a Daughter and Heir called Margaret married to John Exeter, and she by paternal right held some Lands here at Dane-court, at her decease, which was in the fourth year of Henry the sixth. But the other branch of this Family flourished something longer; for about the latter end of Henry the sixth, John Dane the last of this Family at this place, determined in a sole Daughter and Heir, who was matched to Denne of Den-hill, who had in her right Dane-court: but possest not long his new Acquists, for about the latter end of Edward the fourth, I find it the Norwoods; from whom in the Chanel of successive Interest the Title flowed down to Mr. Alexander Northwood, who hath lately alienated all his Concernment in it to Mr...... Smith.

Ellington is an ancient Seat in the Parish of St. Lawrence, which was the Residence many Ages since, of a Family called Ellington, some of which lay buried under very ancient Gravestones, in this Church of St. Lawrence, with Inscriptions too upon them, as Mr. Sprackling not long since deceased informed me: but the Injuries of time and barbarous Hands, have now so violated those Remembrances, that even the memory of this Family, were it not for private Evidences which still preserve Life in it, would have found a Tomb in Oblivion, as well as their Ashes: But to proceed: After this Family had been fixed here for many Descents, about the latter end of Edward the fourth, it vanished away from this place, being succeeded in the possession by Thatcher, a Family of an high Antiquity, as to the Name, both here in Thanett, and at Canter∣bury. For in the Crown-Office, I discover, as the Record is cited by Mr. Somner in his Survey of that City, Pag. 77. that a dysastrous Accident brought an untimely Fate to one of this Name; for Simon the Son of Adam de Colynham, and Henry the Son of Henry Thetcher, in the seventeenth year of K. Edward, Son of Edward the King that is (Edward the second, Son of Edward the first) were sitting in a place beneath the Ground, at Monks∣dane neer Canterbury, and were preparing of Lime-stones, quos per infortunium Terra supercidit, it a quòd corpora eorum conquassabantur, unde moriebantur incontinenter, says the Latine-roll: That is, the earth sunk in upon them, and crushed them into the disor∣ders of an early Sepulcher. But to return: After this Seat had rested in this Name, untill the Beginning of Queen Elizabeth; it was passed away to Spracklin and remains part of the Demeasn of Mr. ..... Spracklin, Fellow of Peterhouse in Cambridge at this instant.

Manston is another ancient Seat in St. Laurence, which was the Inheritance of Manston for many Generations. Richard de Manston, as I find by the Bundles of in∣certain Page  388years, kept in the Pipe-Office, was one of the Recognitoros magnae Assisae in the Time of King John: from whence we may conjecture, that even in those times of so high an Ascent, this Family was under no narrow or contemptible Character or Re∣pute. In latter times, that is, in the fourteenth year of Henry the sixth, I find William Manston was Sheriff of Kent, and held his Shrievalty at this place: and he had Issue Nicholas Manston, who matched with Eleanor, only Daughter of Edmund Haut Esq; and had Issue Julian his Sole Heir, who was matched to Thomas St. Nicholas of Thorn in the Parish of Minster in Thanett, which Seat accrued to his Grandfather, by the Heir of Sir John Goshall. This Thomas St. Nicholas, dyed in the year 1474, and by his last Will recorded in the Prerogative at Canterbury, he disposes his Body to be buryed before the Image of St. Nicholas, in the Chancel of Thorn at Minster, and Roger St. Nicholas was his Son and Heir, who determined in a Daughter and Heir called Eliza∣beth, matched to John Dynley of Worcestershire. Whose Successor about the latter end of Queen Elizabeth, conveyed his Right in Manston, Powcies, (which likewise was annexed to the revenue of St. Nicholas by the Heir of Goshall) and Thorne in Minster, to Sir John Roper afterwards created Baron of Tenham, by King James, whose great Grandchild the Lord Christopher Roper, does still enjoy Manston and Thorne, but Powcies is lately passed away by Sale to Edward Monins of Waldershare Baronet.

Ʋpper-court is a third place in St. Laurence, which may exact our Notice, because it augmented the demeasn for many Generations, of the illustrious Family of Crioll, of whom I have spoken before in Sarre, and remained parcel of their Inheritance, until the latter end of Henry the sixth; and then it was passed away by Sir Thomas Crioll, to John White Esquire, and he dyed possest of it in the ninth year of Edward the fourth: but before the latter end of Henry the seventh, the possession of this place had deserted this Name, and was cast by Sale into the Revenue of Bere, and was constant to their Signory, untill almost the times which bordered upon our Fathers Remembrance, and then it was by Sale conveyed to Johnson, in which Family it is at this instant resident.

Nether-court is the last Seat in St. Laurence, which calls for our remembrance; It was in Times of an elder Inscription wrapt up in the Inheritance of the ancient and knightly Family of Goshall of Goshall in Ash, and continued in their possession untill the reign of Henry the fourth, and then this Family going out in a Daughter and Heir, she by espousing St. Nicholas, made it come to acknowledge the Signory of that Family, and was permanent in their Name, untill the latter end of Henry the seventh, and then a Vicissitude proportionate to the former, made it parcel of the Demeasn of John Dynley of the County of Worcester Esquire, who matched with Elizabeth, Sole Heir to Roger St. Nicholas, and remained united to their Interest untill the Beginning of the reign of Q. Eliz. and then the right this Family held in it, was by Sale transplanted into Maycott; from whom not long after the same Devolution brought it to Lucas, where after some small aboad, the Title discarded that Name, and came by purchase to own John Anthony for proprietary; and he in our Fathers Memory passed it away to Mr.... Johnson, in whose descendants the Jurisdiction and possession of this Mansion remains still concentered.

Minster is an eminent Mannor which anciently belonged to the Abby of St. Au∣gustins, being fenced in, and invested with several Franchises, and signal Immunities; and when King Canutus translated the Body of St. Mildred to Canterbury, and deposi∣ted it in a peculiar Shrine in the Chappel of St. Augustin's Abby, a Draught of which is represented to the Readers View, in Mr. Somners Survey of Canterbury; this Mannor with all those Appendages (which like so many Limbs, made up the Body of that demeasn, which supported the Cloister of St. Mildred, as namely the Mannors, of St. Johns and St. Peters, and St. Laurence) was translated by that Prince likewise, and linked by his Confirmation, to the Abby of St. Augustins. But how both Minster and those other Mannors abovesaid, came originally to be the ecclesiastical patrimony, shall be now my task to discover.

Egbert or Egbright the third Christian King of Kent, after Ethelbert had by a tacit Consent or Connivance, permitted one Thunner, to paddle in the Blood of his two Kinsmen; or, as William of Malmesbury will have it, his Brothers called Ethelbert and Etheldred, persons of a pregnant (hope who like two early Stars, as soon as they began Page  389to glitter and shine, fell suddenly into Umbrage, and were hid and eclipsed, with their own Ruines;) he to assoil his hands from those stains, this murder might seem to have bespattered them with, and to make some Recompence or Expiation for so barbarous and clandestine an Assassination, made an Herodian-oath, that he would give Domneva, Mother of these slaughtered Innocents, whatsoever she would demand of him; and she, biassed and warped by the Advice of the Monkish Counsellors of those times asked of him as much Ground to endow an Abby with, as a tame Deer, which she had nourished, could Run over at a Breath: to which the King had immediately con∣sented had not one Timor opposed this design, saying, It was too great a Boon for her to ask, or for him to grant, upon which the earth opened, (says Thorne the fabulous Chronicler of St. Augustins) and swallowed him up, and became both his Grave and Executioner: and the place where he sunk in, was (as the abovesaid Author asserts) untill the reign of Richard the second, which was the time he lived in, called Timors-leap Well. The King amazed with this stupendious Accident, assented to her Demand, and the Deer being let loose ran forty eight Ploughlands over, before it de∣sisted.

And thus Domneva, by the Aid and Concurrence of the King, erected within the precincts of Minster, a Monastery for veiled Nuns, over which she constituted Mil∣dred the first Abbesse, who was Daughter to Wolfchere King of Mercia: and she ga∣thered to her Assistance an Assembly of seventy Virgins, who being defirous to re∣nounce the World, were here vailed for Nuns, by Theodorus then Arch-bishop of Canterbury. And it seems this Mildred was a Virgin of that austere, regular, and in∣culpable Life, in the Vogue and verdict of those cloudy times, that her name is re∣gistred in the Calender of English Saints, and had that Title attributed to her, both whilst her Body lay at Minster, and after its translation to St. Austins. He that will survey the Bed-roll of her Miracles recorded at large (one of which was, that when the Danes in the reign of King Etheldred, harrassed this Island, and put this Cloister at Minster into a heap of flame and ruines, her Body remained entire, amidst the Embraces and Scorchings of that devouring and ravenous Element) let him read Thorne lately printed, and the Book called Nova Legenda Angliae; and when he hath done, he will find that wise-men will laugh, not in Applause, but in Contempt of such religious Romances. But I return to Minster, which, as I said before, being transplanted into the patrimony of St. Augustins by Canutus Hugh, the Abbot of that Cloister, to rescue this Town from that decay which menaced it, upon the removal of the Body of St. Mildred; in the year 1116, obtained from Henry the first, a Char∣ter to hold a Market weekly at his Mannor of Minster, which by disuse and intermission, shrunk into neglect and oblivion: But the greatest blow which was given to it, was the final suppression of the abovesaid Abby; and then it was rent from that Covent, and came to own the Signory of the Crown, and was lodged in its revenue, untill the ninth year of King James, and then it was with the appendant Mannors of St. Johns, St. Peters, and St. Laurence, granted to Sir Philip Cary, and John Williams Esquire, whose Sons and Heirs Sir John Williams, and John Cary Esquire, do now divide the Inhetitance of it.

Sheriffs-court in this Parish (but more anciently styled in old Records Sheriffs-hope) was the possession of Reginald de Cornhill, who had the Custody of this County so long, that it was almost hereditary to him; so that he lost his own Name, and assu∣med that of le Sheriff; from whence this place borrowed the Appellation of Sheriffs∣hope: but this could not so fence-in the title or chain the possession to this Family, but that about the Beginning E. the third, it came to confesse the Corbies for proprietaries; and Robert de Corbie held it at his death, which was in the thirty ninth of Edward the third, Rot. Esc. Num 9. and had Issue Robert Corbie, in whom the Male-line was wound up, so that Joan his Daughter and Heir, by matching with Sir Nicholas Wotton, twice Lord Maior of London, annexed it to the demeasn of that Family, and from him did the title by an unintercepted Current of Descent, glide down to Thomas Lord Wotton, who setled it in marriage upon his eldest Daughter Katharine Wotton wedded to the Lord Henry Stanhop; and she, not many years since, conveyed it by Sale to Mr. Hen. Paramour, lately deceased, Brother to Mr. Thomas Paramour now Lord of the Fee.

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Monkton is a Mannor, that almost from the first Infancy of Christianity in this Island, was wrapped up in that demeasn, which was under the Signory of the Monks of Christ-church in Canterbury, and, as the Book of Christ-church informs me, was given to that Church by Ediva or Edgiva mother of Edmund, and Eadred or Edred, both Kings, in the year 961. And if you will see how it was rated in the Conquerours time, the Pages of Dooms-day Book will inform you. Monkton (says that Register) est Manerium Monachorum sanctae Trinitatis (that is Christ-church,) & est de Cibo eorum, & in tempore Edwardi Regis, se defendebat pro XX sulling is, & nunc se defendebat pro X & VIII, & est appretiatum XL lb. This upon the surrender of the patrimony of Christ-church by the Monks of that Cloister, into the hands of Henry the eighth, in the twenty ninth year of his reign, was by him not long after, enstated on his new erected Dean and Chapi∣ter of Christchurch, and continued untill these Times, annexed to their Reve∣nue.

Monkton had Liberty to keep a Market weekly, which was obtained by Grant from Henry the sixth, in the seventeenth year of his Rule, by John Salisbury then Prior of Christ-church.

Stonar is the last place to be taken Notice of in this Island, and although it be a Parish now without Inhabitants, and a member of the Cinque-ports belonging to Sandwich, and hath not enough left of its former Buildings, to direct you to its ori∣ginal Situation; yet was it formerly a Haven-Town, and had a Fair held there yearly five Days together, before the Feast of the Translation of St. Austin which was gran∣ted to this place in the year 1104. In the reign of William Rufus, about the year 1090, there arose a Suit in Law, between the Londoners, and the Abbot of St. Augustins, (to whom this Mannor was given, with the residue of that revenue, which belonged to the Nunnery at Minster by King Canutus, upon the translation of the Body of St. Mildred to that Cloister) as touching the right of the Haven of Stonar, wherein by the favourable Aid of the Prince, the Citizens (as Spot Chronicler to that Abby re∣ports) had the overthrow. But the utter ruine and subversion of the Town, happened in the year 1385, about the ninth of Richard the second, at what time the French with 18 Sail of Gallies, designing to infest the Maritine parts of Kent, landed and layed this Town of Stonar in Ashes, which ever since hath found a Sepulcher in its own Rubbish. And accuses the bad Government of Sir Simon de Burley, the then Lord Warden of the Cinque-ports, and Constable of Dover-Castle as cheif Author thereof. For when his demands were utterly refused and denyed, and not suffered to have the inestimable Or∣naments and Riches of St. Thomas Beckets shrine, and the Jewels of St. Augustins re∣moved to Dover-Castle, upon pretence of safe-keeping them there, then he grew slack and remisse in securing the Sea-Coast, and Isle of Thanett, so that when the Abbot of St. Augustins had raised a considerable Strength of his Tenants about Northburn, and, bending towards the Island, endeavoured to have passed over at Sandwich; Sir Simon de Burley would not permit him, so that he was constrained by a long and redious March all Night, to go about by Fordwich and Sturrey into the Island, and made such vigorous resistance, that the Enemies fled to their Gallies, without doing any farther prejudice to the Islanders. Then Sir Simon procures the King to send out his Mandate under the great Seal of England, requiring all that had Lands, or belonged to Sandwich, to be Commorant there, and to find competent Arms, according to the Quality of their Estates and Faculties, upon pain of Imprisonment, and Forfeiture of all they had to loose. And sends in the Kings Name to the Abbot to remove with his Forces from Thanet, to the Guard of Sandwich, as a place of more Importance: But the Abbot (saith Thorne that continued the Chronicle of Spot) neither astonished with the power of the Enemy, nor seduced with the Inticements, or terrified with the Menaces of the Traytor Burley, remained in the Island to defend his own and his Tenants posses∣sions. After this, there is nothing observable at this place, untill the Suppression of the Abby of St. Austins, and the Resignation of its Revenue, into the hands of Henry the eighth, when this Mannor with the rest of their demeasn, having improved the patrimony of the Crown, it was in the fourth and fifth of Philip and Mary, granted to Nicholas Crispe Esquire, from whom it is now descended to Mr. Nicholas Crispe his Successor, the instant Lord of the Fee.

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There was in elder times a Guard assigned for the security of the passage between Sand∣wich and Stonar; for I find that Ed. the second granted VVill. Turke for Life in the seventh year of his reign, the passage between Stonar and Sandwich, and the Perquisites and Emoluments emergent from it; which Grant, was in the eighteenth year of that Prince, renewed by Patent, and invested for Life, with all its adherences, in Ralph St. Laurence of the Isle of Thanet. And then again in the thirteenth year of Edward the third, I find that that Prince grants John Giboun, Marmario suo, those are the words in the Latine Record: but what they import in English, I confesse I am ignorant of the profits of the passage betwen Sandwich and Stonar, for the defence and protection of it.

I shall wind up this Discourse, with informing the Reader, that the cheifest Scenes both of War and Peace, have been laid in or neer this Island. Rutupis or Richborough on the opposite Shore, was an eminent Fortresse of the Romans, and the first presidiary Station that Antiquity represents them to have erected within Britain. When Hengist arrived with his Saxons, to support the harrassed and afflicted Britons, against the eruptions of the Picts, he first landed in this Island, and when his Forces were broken by Vortimer at the Battle of Alresford, he made Thanet his Retreat and Shelter; When Austin the Monk arrived here in England with the light of Truth, to dispel the mists of Paganisme and Infidelity, and disseminate the Christian Religion amongst the Saxons, he found his first Reception in this Island. How often the Danes made Thanet a Winter Station for their Navies, when they made their barbarous Impressions on the Maritime Coasts of this Nation, I think our Chronicles do sufficiently inform us. And lastly, when Lewis the Dolphin was called in by the mutinous English Barons, to assert their Quarrel with additional Supplies against King John, he laid the first Scene of that War in this Island, which he afterwards scattered on the Face of this unhappy Nation.