The description, and hystorie, of the, See and Diocesse of Rochester.

THE learned in Astronomie, be of the opinion, that if Iupiter, Mercurie, or any other Planet, approche within certain degrées of the Sunne, and be burned (as they terme it) vnder his beames, That then it hath in maner no influence at all, But yealdeth wholy to the Sunne that ouershineth it: And some men beholding the nearenesse of these two Bishoprickes, Cā∣terbury and Rochester, and comparing the bright glory, pompe, and primacie of the one, with the contrarie alto∣gether in the other, haue fansied Rochester so ouersha∣dowed and obscured, that they recken it no Sée or Bi∣shoprick of it self, But only a place of a méere Suffragan, and Chaplain to Canterbury. But he that shall either aduisedly weigh the firste institution of them bothe, or •ut indifferently consider the estate of eyther, shall easi∣•• finde, that Rochester hath not only a lawfull, and ca∣•onicall Cathedrall Sée of it selfe, But the same also •ore honestly won and obteined, then euer Canterbury •d: For, as touching Rochester, Augustine (whome •e Monkes may not deny to be the English Apostle) or∣•ined Iustus Bishop there, Ethelbert (the lawfull king •f Kent) both assenting thereto by his presence, and con∣firming it by his liberall beneficence.* But, howe Can∣terbury came to haue an Archebishops Chayre, if you thinke that it hath not in that title already so sufficient∣ly appeared, as that it therfore néedeth not now eftsones to be rehearsed, then reade (I pray you) Garuas. Tilberi∣ens. and he (in his booke De otijs Imperialibus) wil tel you, Page  267 in Sanguine sanctorum, Dorobernensis ecclesia primatiam obtinuit. The Church of Canterbury obteined the Pri∣macie, by the sheading of the bloud of Saints. Rochester moreouer, hath had also a continuall succession of Bi∣shops, euen from the beginning, whiche haue gouerned in a distinct Diocesse, containing foure Deanries, and therefore wanteth nothing (that I knowe) to make it a compleat and absolute Bishopricke. In déede, the yere∣ly value is but small, the slendernesse whereof (ioyned with some ceremoniall duties to the Archebishop) hap∣pely haue béene the cause of abasing the estimation of it. [ 604] But for all that, let vs not sticke with auncient Beda, and others, to saye, that the Bishops Sée at Rochester was at the first instituted by Augustine, That a Cathe∣drall Churche was builded there, by King Ethelbert, to the name of S. Andrewe, and that he endowed it with certaine lande for liuelyhood, which he called Priestfield, in token (as I thinke) that Priestes should be susteined therewithall. This Bishopricke may be sayd to be se∣uered from Canterbury Diocesse (for the most parte) by the water of Medway, and it consisteth (as I sayde) of foure distincte Deanries, namely, Rochester, Malling, Dartford, and Shorham: Howbeit, with this latter, the Bishop medleth not, the same being a peculiar (as they terme it) to the Archebishop of Canterbury, who holdeth his prerogatiue wheresoeuer his lands do lye, as in this Deanrie he hath not only had of olde time certain man∣sion houses, with Parkes and Demeanes, but diuers o∣ther large territories, rentes, and reuenues also. In it therefore are these Churches following.

• Shorham, with the Chapell of Otford.
• Eynesford, with the Vicarage there.*
• Dernth, and the Vicarage there.
• Fermingham, and the Vicarage.
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• Bexley, and the Vicarage.
• Eareth, alias Eard.
• Northfleete, and the Vicarage.
• Mepham, and the Vicarage.
• Clyue.
• Grean, with the Vicarage.
• Farleigh, with the Vicarage.
• Huntington, alias, Hunton.
• Peckam, with the Vicarage.
• Wrotham, with the Chapell and Vicarage.
• Eightam.
• Seuenocke, with the Vicarage.
• Penshurst.
• Chydingstone.
• Heuer.
• Gillingham, with the Vicarage.
• Brasted.
• Sundriche.
• Cheuening,
• Orpington, with the Chapell and Vicarage.
• Hese.
• Kestan.
• Halstede.
• Woodland.
• Eastmalling, with the Vicarage.
• Ifeild.

*As touching the Bishops of this Sée, Iustus, (one of the same, that Pope Gregorie sent hither from Rome) was the firste, that sate in the chaire, who was afterwarde translated to Canterbury, and of whome they reporte this for a singular myracle: That when his body (many yeares after the interrement) was to be remoued, it yealded a most pleasaunt sauour, in the senses of all that Page  269 were present: Whiche thing, howe meruailous it was, when they had (after the common manner then vsed) be∣fore his buriall, enbaulmed his body with moste preci∣ous, delectable, and odoriferous spices, I dare make any man Iudge, if he be not more then a pore blinde Papist, giuen ouer to beléeue al manner (be they neuer so grosse, and beastly) illusions.

In the whole race of the Bishops succéeding Iustus in this Sée, thrée amongst others, be read of, moste nota∣ble, Paulinus Gundulphus, and Gilbertus: of which the first after his death was there honoured for a Saint:

The second, was in his life the best benefactor that euer their Churche found: The third was so hatefull & iniu∣rious to the Monkes, y^t they neither estéemed him while he was on liue, nor wailed him at all, after that he was dead. But of all these, we shall haue place to speake more largely, when we shall come to the Churche and Monasterie: In the meane time therfore, it shalbe fitte to shewe, with what cowrage this churche vpheld her rightes and priuileges, not only agaynst the Monkes of Canterbury (which laboured much to bringe it vnder) but also against the Sée of the Archbishops it self, which was (for the most parte) the chiefe patrone & promose• [ 227] •f it. In the reigne of Kyng Henry the third,* and after the deathe of Benedicte. (the Bishop of Rochester) the Monks made choise of one Henrie Sanford (that greate Clearke, which afterward preached at Sedingburne) whearof when y^e Monks of Christes Church had gotten vnderstandinge, they resisted the election, challenginge that the pastorall staffe or crosyer of Rochester ought of verie right to be brought to their house, after the decease of the Bishop, and that the election ought to be made in their Chapiter. The Monkes of Rochester maintei∣ned their owne choise and so (the matter waxing warme Page  270 betwéen them (it was at the length referred to the de∣termination of the Archebishope: he againe posted it o∣uer to certaine delegates, who hearing the parties, and weighing the proofes, gaue sentence with the monks of Rochester, and yet loste (as they thought) good loue and amitie among them: But (as the Poet saith) Male sar∣ta gratia, nequicquam coit, & rescinditur, Fauour, that is, euill peeced, will not ioyne close, but falleth a sunder againe. And therefore this their opinion fayled them, & that their cure was but patched: for soone after the sore brake out of newe, and the Canterbury Monkes reuiued their displeasure with suche a heate, that Hu∣bert of Borrow (the chief Iustice of the Realme) was driuen to come into the Chapter house to coole it, and to woorke a second reconciliation betwéene them. Nei∣ther yet for all that (as it may séeme) was that flame clene extinguished. For not long after, the Monkes [ 1238] of Christes Church, séeing that they themselues could not preuaile, intituled their Archebishop Edmund with whom also the Rochester Monks waged law at Rome before the holy Father, (as touching the election of one Richard Wendene, or Wendeouer, whom they would haue had to Bishop) by the space of thrée whole yeares together,* and at the length, eyther thorow the equitie of their cause, or the weight of their purse, ouerthrewe him vpon Saint Cuthberts day, in ioye whereof, they returned home withall hast, and enacted in their Chap∣ter house, that from thencefoorth for euer, Saint Cuth∣bertes feast (as a Tropheum of their victorie) should be holden double, bothe in their Churche and Kitchin.

And not thus only, but otherwise also, hath the Sée at Rochester, well holden her owne: for during the whole successiō of thréescore and thrée Bishops, which in right lyne, haue followed Iustus, she hathe continually main∣teined Page  271 her Chaire at this one place, whereas in moste partes of the Realme besides, the Sées of the Bishops haue suffred sundrie translations,* by reason that in the Conquerours time, order was taken, that suche Bi∣shops, as before had their Churches in Coūtrie townes and Villages, should foorthwith remoue, & from thence foorth remaine in walled Townes and Cities: whiche ordinance could not by any meanes touche Rochester, that was a walled Citie long time before King Willi∣ams gouernment. But now, to the end y^e I may pursue the order that I haue prescribed, I will set foorth a Ca∣talogue of the Bishops of Rochester by name, referring recitall of their actes and doings, to their peculiar and proper places, as I haue in Canterbury before.

• Iustus.*
• Romanus.
• Paulinus.
• Ithamarus.
• Damianus.
• Putta.
• Cuichelmus.
• Gibmandus.
• Tobias.
• Aldulphus.
• Duime, or Duno:
• Eardulphus.
• Diora.
• Permundus, alias, Wermundus.
• Beornmodus. After him, these be inserted in a Ca∣talogue that is before the Chronicle of Rochester. Tathnodus, Batenodus, Guthwulfus, Swithulfus, Bu∣iricus, Chuelmundus, and Kyneferdus.
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• Burhricus.
• Alstanus.
• Godwinus.
• Godwinus, the second
• Siwardus. Before, and at the tyme of the Conquest.
• Arnostus,
• 1077. Gundulphus.
• 1108. Radulphus.
• 1114. Aernulphus.
• Ioannes. After whome, in the former Catalogue, one other Ioannes followeth.
• Ascelimus, or Anselimus: and hitherto they were all Monkes.
• Guelterus.
• Gualeramus.
• Gilebertus Glanuille.
• Benedictus.
• Henricus
• Richardus Wendene, or Wendeouer.
• 1250, Laurentius de Sancto Martino.
• Gualterus de Merton: Chancellour of England.
• Ioannes de Bradfield.
• Thomas de Inglethorp.
• 1291 Thomas de Wuldham.
• Hamo de Heth.
• Ioannes de Sepey.
• Wilmus Witlesey.
• Thomas Trelege.
• Thomas Brynton, or Braton.
• Richardus Barnet, elected, and not consecrated.
• Willelmus de Botelesham.
• Ioannes de Botelesham. elected only.
• Ghelyndon. elected only.
• Richardus Young: he made the windowes at Frends∣bury,Page  273 and there it is to be seene in picture.
• 1418. Ioannes Kempe.
• Ioannes Langdon.
• Thomas Broune.
• Willielmus Wellis.
• Ioannes Lowe.
• Richardus Peckam. Elected only.
• Thomas Rotheram.
• Ioannes Alcocke.
• Ioannes Russel.
• Eadmundus Audeley.
• Thomas Sauage.
• Richardus Fitz Iames.
• 1504. Ioannes Fisher.
• Ioannes Hylsey.
• 1539. Nicholaus Hethe.
• 1544. Henricus Holbeache.
• 1547. Nicholaus Rydley.
• 1549. Ioannes Ponet.
• 1550. Ioannes Skorey.
• Mauritius Griffin.
• 1559. Eadmundus Allen. Elected only.
• 1559. Eadmundus Gest.
• 1571. Eadmundus Freake.

And thus much shortly being said, touching the Sée, & Bishops of Rochester in generalitie, it followeth, that I enter into the particular description of the Diocesse, wherein I meane to follow the order that I haue takē in Canterbury before: Namely to begin at the North∣east corner, and from thence (first descending along the bankes of Medwey, and then passing by the Frontiers of Sussex and Surrey, and lastly returning by the Tha∣mise shore to the same point) to enuiron the whole Bi∣shoprick: whiche done, I will peruse what it conteineth in the inner partes also, and then betake me to rest.