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Camden's Britannia newly translated into English, with large additions and improvements ; publish'd by Edmund Gibson ...

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Title
Camden's Britannia newly translated into English, with large additions and improvements ; publish'd by Edmund Gibson ...
Author
Camden, William, 1551-1623.
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London :: Printed by F. Collins, for A. Swalle ... and A. & J. Churchil ...,
1695.
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"Camden's Britannia newly translated into English, with large additions and improvements ; publish'd by Edmund Gibson ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/B18452.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 18, 2025.

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ADDITIONS to KENT.

THE History of this County having been already publish'd in three just Volumes, by Mr. Lambard, Mr. Philpot, and Mr. Kil∣bourne, beside what has been done by some others; one would think that little more could be said upon the subject. Mr. Camden too spent some of the latter part of his life in this County, which gave him an opportunity of informing himself more par∣ticularly concerning it's Antiquities. Yet some things there are which have escap'd the diligence both of him and the rest, and mistakes have happen'd here, as well as in other Counties.

[a] Our Author has observ'd that this County was given by Vortigern to Hengist, on account of his daughter. But the Saxon Chronicle (which says nothing of that Rowena) shews us that he rather got it by force of arms, having worsted Vortigern in two pitch'd battles, once at Aylesford; and again at Crayford, where he kill'd 4000 Britains, and put the rest to flight. And thus the Kingdom of Kent con∣tinu'd under a race of Kings descended from him, till Baldred, last King of Kent (in our Author's ac∣count) lost it to Egbert King of the West-Saxons. He was the last of that race, but Egbert's* 1.1 leaving his son Aethelstan that kingdom, shows that he was not the very last King of Kent.

[b] At the Norman-Conquest, our Author tells us these Inhabitants made a Composition for their ancient privileges. Which, however oppos'd by† 1.2 Mr. Somner and others, seems to have some remains in their present Constitution. For how else come they to retain their custom of Gavelkind, which once prevail'd all over Britain, as it does still in some parts of Wales? and why do the Heirs particularly in Kent, succeed to the Inheritance, tho' their Father suffer for felony or murder?

To come now to the Survey of the County it self, we will begin in the north part, and go along with Mr. Camden.

[c] The river Ravensbourn runs into the Thames near Greenwich; upon which there yet remains a large fortification, the area whereof is enclos'd with treble rampiers and ditches of a vast height and depth, near two miles in circuit, which must certainly be the work of many hands, but of whose, is uncertain.‖ 1.3 Some would have it to be the Camp which Caesar made when the Britains gave him the last battle, with their united forces, just before he past the Thames in pursuit of Cassivelaun. But I can scarce believe, either that Caesar had time to cast up such a work, or that he would not have men∣tioned a thing so considerable, in his Commenta∣ries.

Much rather should I think it (if at all by the Romans) to have been done some time after, when they had reduc'd the Nation into a Province, and made them stations at certain distances for the better quar∣tering their Armies; and that this is what remains of the old Noviomagus, which must be hereabout, be∣twixt London and Maidstone. I know it is a little too far distant from London, and so likewise from Maid∣stone, the old Vagniacae (the stations on each hand of it;) being about 12 miles from London in a straight line, and 20 at least from Maidstone; whereas in the Itinerary it is but 10, and 18. Yet it much better a∣grees with the situation of Noviomagus, than Wood∣cot in Surrey* 1.4, where our Author places it: for tho' that be indeed but 10 miles from London, as the Iri∣nerary sets it, yet it is at least 30 from Maidstone, which is so quite out of all distance, that for this (and o∣ther reasons) I rather place it here, there being no other footsteps hereabout of any such matter, that will answer it better.

Somewhat lower near this River lyes Bromley,* 1.5 re∣markable not only for the Bishop of Rochester's Pa∣lace, but for a College or Hospital of late there erected, temp. Car. 2. by the right Reverend Father in God Dr. John Warner late Lord Bishop of Rochester, for the maintenance of 20 poor Ministers widows, with the allowance of 20 l. per An. to each, and fifty to their Chaplain; which is the first of this kind ever erected in England; and was the Pattern whereby the right Reverend Fathers, George Lord Bishop of Winchester, and Seth Lord Bishop of Salisbury, both proceeded, who have since done the like at their respective Sees.

[d] Near the place where it falls into the Thames, lyes Depford,* 1.6 the Seat of the ancient Barons Mamignot or Mamigniot, whereof Walkelin the Son of Gislebert being Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, held Dover Castle (as our Author relates it) against King Stephen; whereas‖ 1.7 Mr. Lambard says, he deliver'd it to him; and for that reason, after the King's death, abandon'd the charge, and fled into Normandy; who dying without issue, by marriage of his Sister it came to the Sayes, from whom it receiv'd the name of Sayes-Court, which it still retains, tho' now it be enjoy'd by the ancient family of the Evelyns; the most in∣genious Gentleman John Evelyn Esq who has oblig'd the world with so many learned pieces, now residing upon it.

[e] Within sight of Depford stands the Honour of Greenwich,* 1.8 finish't by King Henry 8. and honour'd with the birth of Queen Mary as well as of Queen Elizabeth; King Edward 6. also died there; but that house is in a manner now quite demolish't, and ano∣ther begun in the place by King Charles 2. which stands imperfect. King Henry 7. bestowed much cost upon the Tower or Castle, and so did Hen. Howard Earl of Northampton, but this is also now quite ras'd, and a Royal Observatory set in the place by King Charles 2. furnish't with all sorts of Mathematical In∣struments fit for Astronomical Observations, such as Clocks, Telescopes, Quadrants, and a deep dry well for observation of the Stars in the day time; all which

Page 215-216

are most diligently and skilfully us'd by the learned Mr. Flamsted, the King's Mathematician. The same Earl of Northampton also built an Hospital here, en∣dowing it with lands for the maintenance of a Go∣vernour and 20 poor men: he built likewise two others in Shropshire and Norfolk, as appears by the Epitaph on his magnificent tomb in the south isle of the Church in Dover Castle, where he lies, not in∣terr'd, but in a marble coffin, that is supported above the marble table of his tomb, about 5 foot from the ground. The Epitaph is this.

Henricus Howardus, Henrici Comitis Surriae filius; Thomae, secundi Norfolciae Ducis, Nepos; & Thomae tertii Frater; Comes Northamptoniae; Baro Howard de Marnhill; privati Sigilli Custos; Castri Durover∣nensis Constabularius; quinque Portuum Custos, Can∣cellarius, & Constabularius; Jacobo magnae Britanniae Regi ab intimis Consiliis; Ordinis Periscelidis Eques au∣ratus, & Academiae Cantabrigiensis Cancellarius; inter Nobiles literatissimus; in spem resurgendi in Christo hic conditur.

Obiit 15o die Junii MDCXIV.

Inclytus hic Comes tria Hospitalia fundavit & latifun∣diis ditavit, unum Greenwici in Cantio, in quo xx ege∣ni & Praefectus; Alterum Cluni in Comitatu Salopiae, in quo xii egeni cum Praefecto; Tertium ad Castrum Ri∣sing in Com. Norfolciae, in quo 12 pauperculae cum Gu∣bernatrice, in perpetuum aluntur.

The latter part whereof runs thus in English.

This renowned Earl founded three Hospitals, and endow'd them with Lands; one at Greenwich in Kent, in which a Governour and 20 poor men; another at Clun in Shrop∣shire, in which a Governour and 12 poor men; a third at the Castle of Rising in Norfolk, in which a Governess with 12 poor women, are maintained for ever.

[f] Below Greenwich, our Author tells us, is great store of Cochlearia or Scurvygrass,* 1.9 which (as I am in∣form'd by Mr. Ray) is not Cochlearia rotundifolia sive Batavorum, which we call Garden-Scurvygrass, (tho' that also be found in many places on our coasts, and on some mountains in the midland;) but Cochlearia Britannica, or Sea-Scurvygrass; and so cannot be the Britannica of Pliny, tho' it may have the same virtues. What the true Britannica of Pliny and the Ancients is, Abraham Muntingius thinks he has found out. He makes it to be the great water-dock, Hydro∣lapathum maximum, Ger. Park.

[g] The next river the Thames receives out of Kent, is that call'd Darent, which passes by Sevenoke* 1.10 at some distance, remarkable only for a Lord Mayor of that name, who gratefully built an Hospital and School there; and for the defeat of Sir Humphry Staf∣ford (by Jack Cade and his followers) whom the King sent against them.

[h] Then it goes immediately to Otford,* 1.11 famous not only for the battel betwixt the Saxons and Danes, mention'd by our Author, but for another long be∣fore, betwixt the Saxons themselves; wherein Offa King of the Mercians so compleatly subdu'd Ealhmund King of Kent and his whole Country An. 773, that he endeavour'd to transferr (as it were in triumph) the Archiepiscopal Chair into his own dominions; which he effected so far, that he got Lichfield exempt∣ed from the jurisdiction of Canterbury, obtaining a Pall for it of Pope Adrian 1. An. 766. the Sees of Worcester, Chester, Sidnacester, Hereford, Helmham, and Dorchester, being also erected into a Province for it; in which state it continu'd from the year 766. to 797.* 1.12 in all 31 years. And in that time (as Matthew of Westminster tells us) there sate 3 Archbishops at Lichfield, viz. Ealdulphus, Humbertus, and lastly Hig∣bertus; in whose time the See of Canterbury was re∣stor'd to it's former dignity, by Kinulf or Kenwolf al∣so King of the Mercians.

[i] From Otford the river passes down to Der∣went* 1.13 otherwise Darent, giving it's name to the place; where Vortimer the son of Vortiger (who was depos'd, as Nennius tells us, not for marrying Hengist's, but his own daughter) set upon the Saxons, and kill'd many of them.

[k] Thence it goes to Dartford,* 1.14 infamous for the rebellion of Wat Tylar and Jack Straw, which began here. But now of late re-ennobled by giving title to the honorable Sir Edw. Villiers, who Mar. 20. 1690. was created Baron Villiers of Hoo in this County, and Viscount Villiers of Dartford.

[l] Then it runs into the Thames, on which lies Green-hithe, where, as Mr. Lambard tells us,* 1.15 Swane King of Denmark landed and encamp'd himself; but I rather think it was up higher in the Country, at the town call'd Swanscombe, there appearing no remains of any such fortification now at Green-hithe, nor any tradition of it; whereas Swanscombe* 1.16 seems to have taken it's name from some such matter.

[m] Below Graves-end, upon the bank of the Thames, stands Cliff at Hoo,* 1.17 on a high rock of chalk, where, according to the opinions of Sir Hen. Spelman, and Mr. Talbot Prebend of Norwich, both eminent An∣tiquaries, several Councils were held; the first call'd by Cuthbert Archbishop of Canterbury, at which was present Aethelbald King of Mercia An. 742; the se∣cond under Kenulph also King of Mercia An. 803; and the third under Ceolwulf his successor An. 822: upon which account Mr. Lambard, as well as our Author, doubts whether Cloveshoo were not in Mercia rather than in Kent, the Kings of Mercia being ei∣ther present at them, or the Councils call'd by their authority; neither of which would probably have been, either at a place so remote from them, or so incommodious for such a purpose. Nevertheless Mr. Lambard, upon the authority of Talbot, (yet re∣serving a power of revoking upon better informati∣on) agrees that Cliff at Hoo must be the place; and the rather, because he finds no such place as Cloveshoo within the precincts of Mercia, altho' there be divers places there that bear the name of Cliff as well as this.

But a later conjecture seems to come nearer the truth, placing it at Abbandun, now Abbington,* 1.18 in the Kingdom of Mercia, near the middle of the Nation; and therefore most convenient for such an Assembly. This place anciently, before the foundation of the Abbey there, was call'd Sheovesham, which might either by corruption of speech, or carelessness of the Scribes, be easily substituted instead of Clovesham or Cloveshoo, as any body, but moderately skill'd in these affairs, will quickly grant.

[n] From Cliff the Thames flows on, without the admission of any other river, till it empties it self into the main Ocean, where it meets with the Med∣way, which coming out of Surrey and Sussex, visits Tunbridge;* 1.19 southward from whence, at about 4 or 5 miles distance, lye the famous Chalybiat springs call'd Tunbridge-wells, so happily temper'd with mar∣tial salt, and so useful in carrying off many radicated distempers, and procuring impregnation; that they have been frequented of late to that degree, as to cause the building of a great number of houses all about near the place, together with a fair Chapel, wherein there are prayers read twice a day during the season; most whereof being situate in the parish of Tunbridge, the whole are stiled Tunbridge-wells, tho' the Wells themselves are in Spelhurst, the neigh∣bouring parish.

[o] Whence it passeth on to Maidstone,* 1.20 giving name to the town; Maidstone, as some think, being derived from, and only an abbreviation of, the an∣cient Saxon Medƿeageston, as that again from the ancienter British Caer Megwad, or Medwag, the third of the cities of Britain, as they stand numbred by* 1.21 Ninnius: wherein perhaps they may come as near the mark, or nearer (if similitude of sound be of any importance) as Archbishop Usher, who would have the Caer Meguaid or Megwad of Ninnius, rather to be Meivod in Montgomeryshire, which he would have too to be the Mediolanum of Antoninus, and not our Vagni∣acae, which doubtless was so nam'd from the River Vaga, and that so stil'd from it's extravagant strag∣gling and winding, as it does hereabout. Now that Maidstone possesses the true situation of the Vagniacae of Antonin, Mr. Camden proves from the best argu∣ment

Page 217-218

that a thing of this nature is capable of, viz from it's due distance from the Stations on each side it, i.e. 9 miles from Durobrovis, and 18 from Novio∣magus; but then he must not place Noviomagus at Woodcot, which is at least 30 miles distant; but ra∣ther, as I said before, at Hollowood hill.

Since the Romans time it hath also been esteem'd a considerable town in all ages, having had the favour of the Archbishops of Canterbury, who had a palace here, founded (as our Author and some others say) by Archbishop Ufford; who (if so) must certainly be very early in it,† 1.22 he not living after his Election much above 6 months, and never receiving either his Pall or Consecration; insomuch, that he is sel∣dom number'd amongst the Archbishops. Arch∣bishop Courtney was also a great friend to this town, who built the College here, where he ordered his Esquire John Boteler to bury him, in the Cemitery of this his collegiate Church, and not in the Church it self; where yet he has a tomb, and had an Epitaph too, which is set down in* 1.23 Weaver: but this I rather believe to have been his Cenotaph, than his real place of burial; it having been customary in old time for persons of eminent rank and quality, to have tombs erected in more places than one. For Mr. Somner tells us, that he found in a Lieger-book of Christ-Church, that K. Rich. 2. happening to be at Canter∣bury when he was to be bury'd, commanded his bo∣dy (notwithstanding his own order) to be there in∣ter'd,* 1.24 where he still lies at the feet of the Black Prince in a goodly tomb of Alabaster yet remaining.

Nor has it yet much fallen from it's ancient dig∣nity, it remaining to this day the Shire-town (as they call it,) where the Assizes for the County are usually kept. It is also a Burrough, sending 2 Bur∣gesses to Parliament. In short, it is a large, sweet, and populous town, and of later years render'd more remarkable, by giving the title of Viscount Maidstone to the honorable family of the Finches, Earls of Win∣chelsea, (Elizabeth, wife of Sir Moyle Finch, sole daugh∣ter and heir of Sir Thomas Heneage, being first ad∣vanc'd to the dignity of Viscountess Maidstone July 8. 21 Jac. 1. with remainder to the heirs males of her body;) and for a fight which happen'd here June 2. 1648. between Sir Thomas Fairfax General for the Parliament, and some Kentish Gentlemen, who had taken arms in defence of King Charles 1. and posted themselves in this town. Which they so well defend∣ed, tho' unequal in number (the streets being well man'd, and the houses well lin'd within,) that Ge∣neral Fairfax, with an army of near 10000 men, could not gain it from them till 12 a clock at night; it enduring no less than 3 assaults by storm with such obstinacy, that the veteran soldiers confess'd, what∣ever they got was by inches, and dearly bought, and that they had never met with the like desperate ser∣vice during all the war* 1.25.

At Maidstone (and not below it) a rivulet joyn∣eth Medway, which riseth, saith Lambard, at Bygon, others at Ewell, in a little wood less than a mile west of Lenham;* 1.26 which I cannot allow to be the Aqua-Lena mention'd by our Author; much rather should I think it to be the spring in the town call'd Street∣well, perhaps from the Strata of the Romans that led hither heretofore; which possibly too, might give name to the Station here, call'd Durolenum,* 1.27 it having the true distance in the Itinerary from Durobrovis or Rochester according to Aldus's copy, which is 16 miles; but not so from Durovernum or Canterbury; which in all the copies I have yet seen is but 12 from Durolevum, whereas it is distant from Lenham at least 16, and so suits not very well with our Author's as∣sertion: nor could I hear of any Roman Antiquities ever found hereabout to confirm his opinion. The distances then disagreeing so much, and no Anti∣quities appearing, 'tis plain there is little else left be∣side the similitude of names to support it. What then if we should pitch upon Bapchild, a place ly∣ing between Sittingbourn and Ospringe, the ancient name whereof is Baccanceld, afterwards contracted into Beck-child, and now corruptly call'd Bapchild. For as Dur denotes water, so Bec in the Saxon an∣swers that; or at least the termination celd, imply∣ing a pool, will in some measure suit the old name. But what is of more consequence in this matter, is its being in the Saxon-times a place of very great note; insomuch that Archbishop Brightwald, An. 700. held a Synod at it. Now 'tis a general remark made by Antiquaries, that the Saxons particularly fix'd upon those places where the Romans had left their Stations; from whence at present so many of our towns end in Chester. And even at this day, here are the ruins of two old Churches or Chapels, besides the Parish-Church. Moreover, if the Roman-road betwixt the Kentish cities was the same with the present, then Durolevum (which by the by is only read Durolenum to reconcile it to Lenham) must be somewhere about this Parish; because no other place in the pre∣sent road is of so agreeable a distance between the said Cities. Now there cannot be a shorter cut be∣tween Rochester and Canterbury, than that at present is, unless one should level hills or travel through bogs; and yet by this the distance between is about 25 miles, the same with the Itinerary, (Iter. 2. & 4.) as also where Durolevum comes between, 13 to it from Rochester, and 12 from it to Canterbury makes ex∣actly the same number. That there are no visible re∣mains of the old Road, may be very well attributed to this, that having been all along one of the most frequented Roads in England, and us'd probably ever since the Roman works were made, it is now levell'd with the adjacent earth, and only serves for a good bottom. The old Causey indeed between Canterbury and Lemanis does still in part remain, and is call'd Stone-street, being the common way into those quar∣ters. But then for these 1000 years, that has been pri∣vate and inconsiderable with respect to this other; and the soil too may make a difference. For that to Lemanis has a foundation all of natural rock and hard chalk, and the adjoyning fields afford sufficient quan∣tity of most lasting materials. Whereas from Roche∣ster to Canterbury, the soil is of it self soft and ten∣der, and the neighbouring parts yield no such supply of durable materials.

As to it's having been a constant road, it may be thus made probable. In Bede's time the distance be∣tween Rochester and Canterbury was* 1.28 24 miles, (and so some call it at this day 24, others 25.) so that it could not be alter'd then. In the 12th Century there was a Maison Dieu erected at Ospringe for the receiving Knights Templars coming into and going out of the Kingdom. And† 1.29 Chaucer going in Pilgrimage to St. Thomas, pass'd thro' Boughton to Canterbury; as they still do.

However, I can rather comply with our Author (and be content that Lenham should pass for Durole∣num) than with‖ 1.30 Mr. Somner or Mr. Burton, who place it at Newington near Sittingbourn; where 'tis true many Roman Antiquities have been found: yet be∣ing but 8 miles from Rochester, and 17 from Canter∣bury, 'tis altogether out of distance on both sides. But tho' no Antiquities appear at Lenham, there is a thing exceeding remarkable, mention'd on the Tomb of Robert Thompson Esq in the Church there, who was grandchild to that truly religious matron Mary Honywood wise of Robert Honywood of Cha∣ring Esq. She had at her decease, lawfully descended from her, 367 children; 16 of her own body, 114 grandchildren, 228 in the third generation, and 9 in the fourth: her renown liveth with her posterity; her body lyeth in this Church, and her monu∣ment may be seen in Marks hall in Essex, whe••e she died.

[p] The Medway having past Maidstone, cometh to Aylesford,* 1.31 where the Britains not only defeated the Saxons, as Mr. Camden tells us; but whither also King Edmund Ironside pursu'd the Danes, and slew many of them, and thence drove them into Shepey, where, had he not been stop'd by the treachery of Duke Eadric, he had finally destroy'd them. Here also Radulphus Frisburn, under the patronage of Richard Lord Grey of Codnor, with whom he return'd from the wars of the Holy Land, founded a house for Carmelites in Aylesford wood An. 1240, in imitation of those, whose lives he had observed in the wil∣derness of Palestine;† 1.32 where they throve so well,

Page 219-220

that quickly after in An. 1245. there was a general Chapter of the order held here, in which John Stock (so call'd from his living in a hollow tree) was cho∣sen General of the Order, though out of the world.

[q] Hence the Medway passing by Halling* 1.33 (where Mr. Lambard the first Historiographer of this County sometime liv'd in the Bishop's house) comes at length to Rochester,* 1.34 which is so certainly the Durobrovis of An∣tonin, that I need add no more than what our Au∣thor hath written already concerning it; only that it was sack't by the Danes in the days of King Ethel∣red, An. 839. and besieg'd by them again in An. 885. when they cast up works round it, but was reliev'd by King Alfred; and that all the lands of the Bi∣shoprick were laid waste by King Ethelred An. 986. Of late years it gave an additional title to the Lord Wilmot of Adderbury in Com. Oxon. who in considera∣tion of his great and many signal services done to the Crown at home and abroad, was created Earl of Ro∣chester by Letters Patents bearing date at Paris, Dec. 13. 1652. 4 Car. 2. who dying An. 1659. was succeeded in his Honour by his only son John, a per∣son of extraordinary wit and learning. He dying without issue July 26. 1680. the right honourable Lawrence Hyde, second son to Edward Earl of Claren∣don, Viscount Hyde of Kenelworth, and Baron of Wootton Basset, was created Earl of Rochester Nov. 29. 1682. 34 Car. 2.

[r] The river Medway having past Rochester-bridge (which is one of the finest, if not the best in England) glideth on to Chatham,* 1.35 famous for the sta∣tion of the Navy-Royal, which hath been so far ad∣vanc'd by the Kings, Charles and James 2. (beyond what it was in our Authors days) with the large ad∣ditions of new Docks and Storehouses, wherein are many conveniencies unknown till of late, and all these so well fenced with new Forts, such as those at Gillingham, Cockham-wood, the Swomp, &c. that per∣haps there may not be a more compleat Arsenal than this in the world. To which add the Royal Fort of Shireness* 1.36 in the Isle of Shepey, built at the mouth of this river by King Charles 2. which stands much more commodiously for the security of the River, than the Castle of Queenborough ever did, which was built there for that purpose by King Edward 3. but is now demolish't. Of this see more at the end of the County.

Which is all I have to say (more than our Author has done) concerning this fruitful Island, but that of late years the right honourable Lady, Elizabeth Lady Dacres, mother to Thomas Earl of Sussex, was enobled with the title of Countess of Shepey during life, Sept. 6. 1680. the 32 of Car. 2. since whose death, in consideration of many eminent services done the Crown by the honourable Henry Sidney Esq fourth son of Robert Earl of Leicester, the titles of Viscount Shepey and Baron of Milton, near Sitting∣bourn, were both conferr'd on him by his present Ma∣jesty King William. 3. Apr. 9. 1689. 1 Gul. & Mar. who hath also been since successively made Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Lord Lieutenant of Ire∣land, and Master of the Ordnance.

[s] Near this Town of Milton* 1.37 aliàs Middleton (now erected into a Barony) Hasting the Dane (as our Author tells us) built him a Castle to annoy the Town, the footsteps whereof yet remain at Kems∣ley-downs beyond the Church. This they now call (being overgrown with bushes) the Castle ruff, whi∣ther King Alfred coming against him, fortified him∣self on the other side the water; the ditches of which fortification, and some small matter of the stone∣work also, still remain by the name of Bavord-Castle,† 1.38 secus fontes Cantianos, near unto Sittingbourn.

[t] This Sittingbourn* 1.39 was once both a Mayor and Market town, now through disuse enjoying neither. But the Dane never did the town of Milton so much real mischief, as Godwin Earl of Kent, who being in rebellion against Edward the Confessor, in the year 1052. enter'd the King's Town of Middleton, and burnt it to the ground‖ 1.40, which in all probability stood in those days near the Church, near a mile from the Town that now is, and was upon the rebuilding remov'd to the head of the Creek, where it now stands.

[u] Eastward from hence lyes the Town of Fe∣versham,* 1.41 where King Stephen (saith our Author) founded an Abbey for the Monks of Clugny; which appears to be true by his Foundation-Charter printed in the* 1.42 Monasticon, taking his first Abbot and Monks out of the Abbey of Bermondsey of the same order: yet† 1.43 Mr. Somner, and‖ 1.44 Mr. Southouse, from the ab∣solutory Letters of Peter Abbot of Bermondsey, and of the Prior and Monks of S. Mary de Caritate; finding Clarembaldus the first Abbot of Feversham, and his Monks releas'd from all obedience and subjection to the Church of Clugny, and to the Abbot and Prior aforesaid* 1.45, are inclin'd to believe Mr. Camden mista∣ken, and that the Abbot and Monks of Feversham (pursuant to their absolution) presently took upon them the rule and habit of S. Bennet: notwithstand∣ing it is clear they were still esteem'd of the order of Clugny for several years after; as farther appears by the Confirmation-Charters of King Henry 2. King John, and Henry 3. all printed in the† 1.46 Monasticon; and by the Bulls of Pope Innocent 3. Gregory 10. and Boniface 9. all in a‖ 1.47 MS. book in Christ-Church Can∣terbury. So that I guess the mistake must rather lye on Mr. Somner's and Mr. Southouse's side than our Au∣thor's, the absolutory Letters in all probability tend∣ing only to their absolution from those particular Houses making any claim upon them, and not from the order it self: though it cannot be deny'd* 1.48 but that the Abbot and Monks of Reading were at first Cluni∣acs, and after became Benedictines, as perhaps these might do some years after their first foundation. And thus much for the Ecclesiastical state of this Town.

As for Secular matters, it has been lately honour'd by giving title to Sir George Sands of Lees Court in this County, Knight of the Bath, who in considera∣tion of his faithful services to King Charles 1. was by King Charles 2. advanced to the degree and dignity of a Baron of this Realm, by the title of Baron of Throwley, as also of Viscount Sands of Lees Court, and Earl of Feversham, by Letters Patents bearing date at Westminster April 8. 28 Car. 2. which he was only to enjoy for term of life; with remainder to Lewis Lord Duras Marquess of Blanquefort in France, and Baron of Holdenby in England, who marrying the Lady Mary, eldest daughter of the said George Earl of Feversham, who dyed Apr. 16. 1677. the said Lord Duras being naturalized by Act of Parliament An. 1665. succeeded his Father-in-law in all his titles, and is now Earl of Feversham† 1.49.

[w] From above Feversham the shore runneth on to Regulbium or Raculfcester, now Reculver,* 1.50 the first Roman Watch-tower that comes in our way. These Castles or Watch-towers being usually built upon the hghest ground near the place where 'twas thought convenient they should be set, we may conclude this stood in that square plot of rising ground, within which, after King Ethelbert's Palace, and after that the Monastery stood, and now the Minster or Church only stands, encompass'd with the foundations of a very thick wall; which for ought I know to the con∣trary, may be the remains of this ancient Roman Fort, it being of the same figure with the rest, that are still more perfect.

However that it was somewhere hereabout at least, the great number of Cisterns, Cellars, &c. daily dis∣cover'd by the fall of the cliff, amply testifie; toge∣ther with the great quantities of Roman brick or tile, Opus Musivum, Coins, fibulae, Gold-wire, Ear-rings, Bracelets, &c. daily found in the sands. Which yet all come from the landward upon fall of the cliffs, the terrene parts whereof being wash't away by the Sea, these metalline substances remain likewise be∣hind in the sands, whence they are constantly pick't out by the poor people of the place. And these they find here in such great quantities, that we must needs conclude it to have been a place heretofore of great extent, and very populous; and that it has one time or other underwent some great devastation ei∣ther by war, fire, or both. I think I may be confident of the latter, there being many patterns found of me∣tals run together, whereof the Reverend Dr. Batte∣ley, now Arch-Deacon of Canterbury (a curious and skilful Collector of such like Antiquities) has

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a cogent proof, viz. of a piece of Copper and Gold thus joyn'd in the melting, which he had from thence.

[x] Hence our Author keeping along the shore proceeds to the Isle of Thanet, sever'd heretofore from the main land of Kent by the River Stour, upon which stands Wye a little Market-town, where Car∣dinal Kemp (who was born in the Parish) built a fair large Collegiate Church, with a lofty Steeple in the middle, the Spire whereof was formerly fired by lightning, and burnt down to the Stone-work or Tower, which too of late for want of timely repair, fell down of it self, and beat down the greatest part of the Church; where it now lyes in its ruins.

Hence, the Stour passes on (by Olanige or Olantigh, i.e. an Eight or Island) to Chilham,* 1.51 where our Author thinks that Caesar had his first conflict with the Britains upon his second landing, and that here it was he left his Army encamp't, whilst he return'd and repair'd his Ships, sore shatter'd by a storm; and that hence it was call'd Chilham or Julham, i.e. Ju∣lius's mansion: but I cannot agree with him either in the one or the other, for Caesar says expresly, that the place of this conflict, was but twelve Roman miles from his place of landing; whereas Chilham (whether he landed at Deale or Peppernesse) is many more. But here I do believe it was, that in his march from his encampment, in pursuit of the Britains, he lost one of his Tribunes, Laberius Durus, whose monument it is that remains there on the River side by the name of Julaberie's grave.

[xx] Five miles below Chilham is Canterbury,* 1.52 at present a City of great trade, to which the Foreign∣ers in it seem to have contributed very much. They are partly Walloons, and partly French; the first (be∣ing driven out of Artois, and other Provinces of the Spanish Netherlands, in the Reign of Queen Eliza∣beth, for adhering to the Reformed Religion) came and settl'd here, and brought along with them the art of weaving silk, into this Kingdom. And this is now brought to that perfection, that the silks wove at Canterbury, equal, if not exceed any foreign silk whatsoever, great quantities being sent to London, where it is very much esteem'd by the Merchants. The settlement of the French is but of late date, on∣ly since the last persecution under Lewis 14. but they are numerous, and very industrious, maintaining their own poor, and living frugally. In the Publick Ser∣vice they joyn with the Wallooms, who have a large place allow'd them near the Cathedral; and these together make a very great Congregation.

[y] The Stour passing Canterbury (which our Au∣thor has describ'd at large) runs on towards Thanet, where Vortimer overthrew the Saxons, ad lapidem tituli, which is Stonar in this Island, as* 1.53 Archbishop Usher, our Author, and most others agree. But* 1.54 Mr. Som∣ner, and after him ‖ my Lord Bishop of Worcester, seem rather inclin'd from some resemblance of the name (and the reasons following) to place it at Folkstone or Lapis populi, the present Stonar not being supra ripam Gallici maris, as Ninnius describes his lapis tituli to be; nor standing high, but in a low place, apt to be over∣flow'd, and therefore unfit for erecting a conspicuous Monument, that was design'd to strike a terrour at a distance; both which are more agreeable to Folk∣stone: and lastly because Ninnius is not express, that Lapis tituli was in Thanet,* 1.55 as he was in three other battles before: whence they conclude (and perhaps rightly) that had it been in Thanet, he would have told us so, as he did in the rest, which being a que∣stion too intricate to be debated here, is wholly left to the decision of the Reader.

* 1.56[z] Nor is it so certain, that the battle of Wip∣pedsfleet, was in this Island (at Ebbesfleet) near the Sea∣shore; it looking as if the Saxons were almost driven out of the Nation again, whereas they had defeated the Britains in many battles just before, and driven them out of Kent; as is plain and evident from the* 1.57 Saxon Chronicle. But it was certainly here that the Saxons first landed, and after them St. Augustine, who brought Christianity to them. And here it was that Egbert, the eighth (and not the third King of Kent, as our Author has it) gave as much land to Domne∣va (in recompence of the wrong he had done her) as a Hind should run over at one Course, to build a Monastery on; which amounted to no less than 48 plough-lands, about a third part of the Island, as ap∣pears by the† 1.58 Mapp in the Monasticon, and the Course of the Hind delineated in it. In short, great has been the reputation of this Island in ancient times, which too has been increased in these, by its being advanced to the Honour of an Earldom; the title of Earl of Thanet being deservedly given to Sir Nicholas Tufton, Baron Tufton of Tufton in Com. Sussex, 4 Car. 1. who dying 30 June, An. 1632. was succeeded by his el∣dest surviving son John, who by his wife Margaret, eldest daughter and coheir of Richard Earl of Dorset, having six sons, Nicholas, John, Richard, Thomas, Sack∣vill, and George; and dying May 7. 1664.‖ 1.59 has been already succeeded by four of them; his fourth son Thomas, a person of great honour and vertue, being now Earl of Thanet.

[aa] Southward, stands the Rutupiae or Rutupium,* 1.60 which whether it was the same with the Portus Rutu∣pensis, Rutupiae statio, or the old Reptimouth, is a que∣stion.* 1.61 Mr. Somner 'tis plain would have them two places, contrary to the opinion of Leland, Lambard, and Camden: wherein, in the general, I can willing∣ly agree with him, but can by no means think, our Portus Rutupensis could ever be Sandwich, but rather Stonar, which he himself allows to have been an an∣cient Port. I acknowledge Sandwich lyes well nigh as near to the old Rutupium as Stonar does, and con∣sequently might as deservedly have assum'd the name of Portus Rutupensis, as Stonar could, had it had the same conveniencies in point of situation for such a purpose, as Stonar once had; which I dare vouch it, was the road where the ships lay that came ad urbem Rutupiae, as Ptolemy calls it, that was a little mile higher in the Country: just as Leith in Scotland is the Port to Edenbugh, and Topsham in England to Exeter. And this too was afterward the Lundenwic, or Port to which all such as traded either to London from forreign parts, or from London into forreign parts, had their chief resort.

[bb] And yet we must not deny but that Sand∣wich is an ancient Town, tho' daughter to these; it being mention'd († 1.62 says Somner) in one of the Chartu¦laries of the Church of Canterbury in the year 979. But the‖ 1.63 Saxon Chronicle tells us, that above a hun∣dred years before, Aethelstan King of Kent, and a certain Duke call'd Ealcher, overthrew the Danes in a Sea-fight at dondpic in Kent; from which time it grew greater and greater upon the decay of Richbo∣rough and Stonar, till the days of Edward the Con∣fessor; when at the first institution of the Cinque Ports which now are, it was thought fitter to be e∣steem'd one of the five, than Stonar then was. Since when it has still retain'd that title, being the second port in order, and has always been esteem'd a Town of trade and repute; which of late has been increas'd by affording an honourable title to that great Seaman Edward Mountague Esq who having got∣ten the sole Command of the English Fleet in the late Usurpation, with singular prudence so wrought upon the Seamen, that they peaceably deliver'd up the whole Fleet to King Charles 2. for which signal service he was, July 12. 12 Car. 2. advanc'd to the honours of Lord Mountague of S. Neots, Viscount Hinchingbrook, and Earl of Sandwich; who dying at Sea 28 May 1672. was succeeded in his honours by his eldest son Edward, who is now Earl of Sand∣wich.

[cc.] Next is Dover,* 1.64 where some part of the Pha∣rus or Lighthouse which stood on the hill over against the Castle, is yet remaining, now vulgarly call'd Bre∣denstone. Here the Lord Wardens of the Cinque Ports (since Shipway has been antiquated) have been of late sworn; and indeed most of the other business, relating to the Ports in general, is done here. Here are all the Courts kept, and from hence is the most frequent passage out of England into France, which has render'd it famous throughout the world; and the more, by having given of late the title of Earl to the right honourable Henry Lord Hunsdon Viscount Rochfort,† 1.65 who on the 8th of March 3 Car. 1. was

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advanced to the title of Earl of Dover. He dying about the year 1666. was succeeded by his son John: who dying the year following without issue male, this title lay extinguish'd, till it was revived again by King James in the person of the honourable Hen. Jermin Esq Nephew to the right honourable Henry Earl of St. Albans, who was created Baron of Dover May 13. 1685. 2 Jac. 2.

[dd] Southwestward from hence, on the same shore, lies the town of Hithe; and not far from it, a most noble antiquity, now call'd Stutfall Castle, which, no question, was the ancient Portus Lemanis, for very good reasons brought by our Author; though† 1.66 Mr. Somner alledges the contrary. He allows it in∣deed to have been a Roman Fort, but by no means the old Portus Lemanis, that lying, according to all the Copies of the Itinerary, 16 miles from Canterbury; whereas Stutfall is but 14, about the same distance (says he) that Dover is from it: wherefore he rather supposes that there was a mistake in the Librarians in setting a V for an X, and that the distance indeed should have been XXI, which sets it about Romney, the place he would have to be the true Portus Lemanis. But this conjecture puts it more out of distance than before, and 'tis a much easier mistake in the Librarians, to transpose a V and an I, which sets it in true di∣stance again, according to Mr. Somner himself, viz. at XIV and no more. Or, to admit of no mistake in the Librarians at all, if we set Lyme (as‖ 1.67 our Au∣thor says) at the same distance from Canterbury that Dover is, which is 15 miles, and the lower side of Stutfall Castle, where the port must be, near a mile below Lyme, as really it is; and allowing too, that the Roman miles are somewhat less than the English; we shall bring it again in true distance at XVI miles, without carrying it to Romney; which, in all proba∣bility, in those days lay under water, at least in Spring-tides: or if not so, the Marsh certainly did, 'twixt Stutfall and Romney, which they could never pass, nor did they ever attempt it; for we find the Roman way ends here, as 'twas necessary it should, since it could not well be carry'd on further, thro' a Marsh, or rather sea, 8 miles together; for so far 'tis hence to the town of Romney.

[ddd] West whereof, at about 8 miles more di∣stance, stands the town of Apledore, upon a rising ground, which in the time of the Saxons, An. 894. stood at the mouth of the river Limene, as their* 1.68 Chronicle tells us; whence 'tis plain, that Romney, or at least Walland-Marsh, was then all a sea; for we never put the mouth of a river but at it's entrance into the sea: now if the sea came so lately as An. 894. to the town of Apledore; in all probability 500 years before, in the Romans time, it might come as far as Newenden, where Mr. Selden and our Author have placed the City and Castle of Anderida, erected here by the Romans to repell the Saxon rovers; the sea here, in all ages, having retired by degrees. I know† 1.69 Mr. Somner rather inclines to believe, that either Hastings or Pemsey, on the coast of Sussex, must have been the old Anderida; founding his opinion upon what Gildas says concerning these Ports and Forts, viz. that they were placed in littore oceani ad meri∣diem: but I suppose this ought to be understood in a large sense, every thing being to be taken for sea whither such vessels could come as they had in those days; in which sense, no doubt, Newenden might be accounted a sea-town, and liable to such Pyrates as the Saxons were, as well as either Pemsey or Hastings.

Notes

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