Sennocke, or (as some call it) Seauen oke, of a number of trees, as it is coniectured.

ABoute the latter end of the reigne of King Edward the third,* there was foūd (lying in the stréetes at Sennocke) poore childe, whose Parents were vn∣knowne, and he (for the same cause) na∣med after the place where he was ta∣ken vp, William Sennocke. This Orphan, was by the helpe of some charitable persons, brought vp and nour∣tured, in such wise, that being made an Apprentice to a Grocer in London, he arose by degrées (in course of time) to be Maior, and chiefe Magistrate of that Citie.

At whiche time, calling to his minde, the goodnes of [ 1418] Almightie God, and the fauour of the Townesmen, ex∣tended towardes him, he determined to make an euer∣lasting monument of his thankfull minde for the same: And therefore, of his owne charge, builded bothe an Hospitall for reliefe of the poore, and a Frée Schoole for the education of youthe, within this Towne: endowing [ 1418] the one and the other, with competent yearely li∣uing (as the dayes then suffered) towards their susten∣tation, & maintenance: But since his time, the Schoole was much amended by the liberalitie of one Iohn Pot∣kyn, whiche liued vnder the reigne of King Henrie the eight: & now lately also, in the reigne of our souereigne [ 1542] Ladie, through the honest trauaile of diuers the inhabi∣tants there, not only the yearely stipend is much in∣creased, and the former litigious possessions quietly es∣tablished: but the corporation also chaunged into the name of two Wardeins, and foure assistants, of the frée Schoole of Quéene Elizabeth in Sennocke.

The present estate of the Towne it selfe is good, and it séemeth to haue béene (for these many yeares toge∣ther) in no worse plight:* And yet finde I not in all hystorie, any memorable thing concerning it, saue onely, that in the time of King Henrie the sixt, Iack Cade, and [ 1449] his mischeuous meiny, discomfited there Syr Hum∣frey Stafford, and his Brother, two Noble Gen∣tlemen, whome the King had sent to encounter them.