( 212 )
ROCHESTER BRIDGE IN A.D. 1561.*
:BY A, A. ARNOLD.
ALL our Kentish historians have given us, more or less fully, the
history o.f the bridge over the Medway at Rochester. Lambarde,
who was £or several years one of the governing body of the Wardens
and Assistants, first published the important documentst which
form the very charter of the Bridge and its constitution. These he
had obtained, one from the Cathedral at Rochester, and the other
from the Dean of Canterbury, Dr. Nicholas Wotton, who had
"exemplified" it from the archives of his church, some twenty
years before the Perambulation was given to the world. Hasted, who
was also £or many years one of the Bridge Assistants, has added to
our knowledge of the history of the Bridge, its founders, and its
possessions. Re also re1ates shortly the proceed-ings of the second
Commission granted by Queen Elizabeth in 1574, of which Sir Roger
Manwood, afterwards Chief Baron of the Exchequer, was the
working head. Dr. Harris, although not himself one of the·
Bridge Assistants, had access to their recorda through his friend
Mr. Sarjeant Barrell, Recorder of Rochester, who was one of the
governing body. He gives a full account of the proceedings of the
second Commission, taken in great part, and almost verbatim,
from the memorandum drawn up by Sir Roger Manwood himself
and preserved with the Bridge archives in their book of
Records.t The learned Dr. Thorpe served, from 1732 until his
death in 1750, on the Bridge Trust; he assiduously collected every
document and paper that came before him in any way relating to the
Bridge. Although he published :p.othing but the Statutes, with his
translations of them from the Norman-French, his collection§ was
* We are indebted to the courtesy of the Wardens of Rochester Bridge for
allowing their original documents to be exhibited at the Temporary Museum at
Rochester at our last Annual Meeting; and also for their 11ermitting the same to
be used for the purposes of this paper, and for another on Quarry House in this
volume.
t The memorandum from Canterbury, and the Anglo-Saxon MS. from the
Te:ctus Rqffensis, are set out in full by Lambarde. (See Perambulation of Kent,
pp. 383-391; edition of 1596.)
t The autograph copy made by Mr. Sarjeant Barrell, Recorder of Rochester,
from Sir Roger Man wood's MS., is now in the possession of Mr. Charles Bullard
of Rochester.
§ This collection is contained in four thick folio volumes now in the possession
of the Society of Antiquaries. The writer is g,reatly obliged to the
kindness of their Assistant Secretary, Mr. St. John Hope, for facilities given for
inspection of them,
ROCHESTER BRIDGE, OF WOOD. A.D.960TO 1387.
ROCHESTER BRIDGE.OF STONE. A.D.1387To 1856.
ROCHESTER BRIDGE, OF IRON,A.0 1856.
ROCHESTER BRIDGE IN A,D. 1561. 213
most extensive, and is described by his son in the Preface to the
Registrwm Rqffense. It contains, among other things, a first sketch
or opening of what was perhaps intended to be a full history of the
Bridge. Unfortunately it was not completed.
None of these writers, however, have, so far as is known, given
any account of the earlier Commission granted by Queen Elizabeth
in the third year of her reign ; neither has Philipot, or Kilburne,
nor has Mr. Denne in his (or, as it is generally ce,lled, Fisher's)
History of Rocheste1•. It is thought, therefore, that as some of the
original papers relating to it are still extant among the Bridge
Records, an account of the proceedings 0£ that Commission may not
be without interest.
It is necessary to premise, for the information of those who may not
ha]?pen to have their Lambarde or Hasted before them, that the first
Budge at Rochester was built of wood, occupying almost exactly the
site of the present iron Bridge. The date of its construction is not
known. Some writers have attributed it, or are disposed to attribute
it, to the middle or latter part of the tenth century ;* be that
as it may, the Saxon record as to the Bridge is contained in the
Textus Rqffensis, which is itself 0£ the early part of the twelfth
century. This Saxon record is of much earlier date than that
compilation ; and in it the liability of the several manors and places
liable to contribute to the various piers and adjoining parts of the
Bridge, is laid down as a matter then well ascertained and proved,
by long usage and prescription. This therefore carries the age
0£ the wooden Bridge back to a remote antiquity. It lasted, after
undergoing many vicissitudes from frost and flame, :from storm
and flood, until the latter end 0£ the fourteenth century, having
proved, indeed, a heavy burden to the owners of the contributory
lands, who long and loudly complained of the excessive taxation placed
upon them £or its support. To put an end to this state of things,
Sir Robert Knolles and Sir John de Cobham, about the year 188'7,
built a Bridge of stone about a hundred yards to the south of the
old wooden Bridge and higher up the stream. This they did in the
language 0£ their petition to the King, "Eiantz pitee et consideracion
de les importablez mischefs suis ditz," and they prayed the
King that he would grant them a Charter of Incorporation, and
transfer the liability of the contributory lands from the old wooden
Bridge, so to be done away with, to the new stone Bridge. They
asked this, in the very emphatic style of those days, "£or God's
sake, and as a work of charity." The King granted their petition
(15 Richard II.) with the assent of his Parliament. By a later
Statute (21 Richard II.) the Wardens were incorporated, and the
liability of the cohtributory lands was transferred to the new stone
* In the Seventh Volume of A'l'clusologia is a paper by Mr. Essex (" the
ingenious Mr. Essex") written in 1785, with a plan and elevation of this wooden
bridge. It is designed to accord exactly with the dimensions and description given
in Lambarde. Dr. Thorpe, it is stated, was inclined to believe that the Bridge
was built in the reign of Edgar the Peaceable, A.D. 958-975 (Mr. Thorpe's A.1itiguities,
p. 148).
214 ROCHESTER BRIDGE IN A..D. 1561.
Bridge. By Letters Patent (22 Richard II.), and another Statute
(9 Henry V.), further powers were given to the Wardens. They were
created a corporate body as the Wardens and Commonalty of the
new Bridge of Rochester, in the County of Kent. They were
empowered to hold lands, to use a common seal, and to have a,ll
the privileges of a corporation.
Many valuable lands and properties were then given to the
Wardens to be held by them in trust £or the support and reparation
of the new Bridge.
The two Wardens were, by these Statutes, to be appointed
yearly, and they were yearly to account, before two auditors to be
appointed by the owners of the contributory lands, who formed the
Commonalty of the Bridge Corporation, £or the revenues and rents
arising from the lands given to the support of the Bridge, which, in
contra-distinction to the contributory lands, were called the
"Estates proper."
The new stone Bridge stood well enough for a time ; and aprears,
for more than a century, to have, resisted the onslaught of the
rushing waters of the Medway, without need of repair. But
soon after that tbe season of adversity set in ; the rents no longer
sufficed for the neces1:1ary expenses of its maintenance. In 1489,
Archbishop Morton, the Cardinal, published a remission from purgatory
£or fifty days, for all manner of sins, to such as would give
anything towards the repair of the Bridge. The foundations of the
land arch, on the Rochester side, seem particularly to have been
defective, and to have been always a source of trouble. Worse
times were, however, to come. The Wardens were not elected
yearly, as they should have been ; the estates were mismanaged;
the revenues misapplied; it seemed to be no one's business to
interfere, and the Bridge got into a ruinous state. The old system
of taxing the contributorv lands had fallen into desuetude ; no
inquisition had been held· or contributions levied since the stone
Bridge was opened; and when some immediate help was required
for their temporary relief, and to aid their :funds, a Commission
was issued (21st May, 4th Philip and Mary, 15517) empowering
the Bridge Wardens to levy, for the term o:f four years, certain
tolls at the Bridge : at the rate of 4d. for every cart; ld. for
every horseman and his horse ; 2d. for a pack horse ; and also on
every boat passing under the Bridge, and being laden, at the rate of
2d. for between one and six: tons; 4d. between. six and twelve tons,
and so on. This Commission came to an end in the third year of
Queen Elizabeth, 1561.
Among the Privy Councillors of the former reign, of whom
QueenElizabeth retained some thirteen in her Privy Council, were Sir
Richard Sackville,* then Treasurer of the Exchequer, and M.P. £or
ll Sir Richard Sackville of Buckhurst in Sussex, the father of Thomas
Sackville the first Earl of Dorset. It was in this year (1561) that his son's
celebrated tragedy of 0-orboduc, which met with such universal acceptance, was
acted before the Queen by the gentlemen of the Inner Temple. He was in high
favour with her Majesty, to whom indeed he was nearly related. Philipot says
that the grant of Westenhanger, forfeited by the attainder of Dudley, Duke of
ROCH-ESTER BRIDGE IN A,D. 1561. 215
Kent; and Nicholas Wotton, LL.D.,* Dean 0£ Canterbury and
York. Sir Richard at this time held Westenhanger (then called
Ostenhanger) near Hythe, as his country seat. Both he and the
Dean must have been in the habit 0£ passing frequently through
Rochester, so that to both 0£ them the Bridge was a familiar object,
and its condition well known. It was probably therefore at their
instigation that the Queen in the third year of her reign issued her
Commission, under the great seal, to Sir Richard Sackville, Dean
Wotton, and eight others, to take the whole circumstances into
their consideration, and to devise and carry out a remedy.
It may be useful at this point to recall, so far as is lmown, the
names 0£ those who were then the officers 0£ the Bridge, and the
state 0£ the finances at their disposal.
The last recorded election of Wardens bad taken place in 1556.
Sir George Brooke, Lord Cobham, and Sir Thomas Moyle were
then elected, and remained in office until their deaths. This Lord
Cobham died at Cooling Castle, in 1559, and was buried at Cobham.
Sir Thomas Moyle was also dead. Their successors were Henry
Nevill, Lord Abergavenny, and William Brooke, Lord Cobham, but
when they were elected cannot be exactly ascertained.
The Receiver 0£ the Revenues of the Bridge was Mr. John
Wilkins of Stoke, near Rochester; he seems to have acted as a
steward to Lord Cobham, and continued to be intimately connected.
with the affairs of the Bridge until his death in 15'75 (in 15'74 he
is described as "an ancient officer 0£ the Bridge"). The paymaster
was Mr. Richard Watts (whose name is justly dear to Rochester).
There was one auditor only, Mr. Edmond Tynte.t Another official,
the surveyor, was Mr. Robert Deane ; and there were, besides, a
master carpenter, a master mason, and other subordinates.
The " Budget " o-1: the Bridge is shewn by the following· paper,
which was prepared for the Commissioners.
The ST.A.TE 0£ the REVENUES and CoLLEc'N of ToLLES belonginge
to the BRIDGE 0£ ROCHESTER,
The Revenue of the lands belonginge to the Bridge by the yere,
over and besides xiij11 x• vi e. - e .... f-'- i--f), ...... r ""'- '1--y, ---1 r"\,,
tt r-•·'-\J- . f--1 'l,.'\.v rf....,. l7 {2.ff 7- f,-t.
pzl'""': ...4,
]7 -'-"''"1f'-w-........ t- r-i--r 'v,,,,___-')+ rl--
}o ,fo r ·
"
H r- I; 'f
---- ,,,. 11--'-1' "\...-fn-, --7 , s
t- f"h•· (""°\... · --C-f f.'-- r JI'? f;.) vfrz""'.,, - r ., v},n"-- ·'111,.r '"'
., - "f...: '"1" I-pi, . .
/-S t-/ r F ?r--- l;,.., 8vef ti y/+f C revfr .A.or f,-J V. "r°f>-ri-
lf- · 4{ .Iv 7 · v$ 6 1 •
••
'J,J-z,.(' }< w,....., \:
V
I
RlDUC[O cop, OF LE fTER WRITTEN IN 1561 BY o• NIC WOTTON, DEAN OF CANTERBURY
AUTOGRAPH OF SfRJEANT WILLIAM LOVE.LACE A.D 1561
ROCHESTER :BRIDGE IN A.D. 1561. 219
Kempe and sr Thomas ffynche Executors to sr Thomas Moyle that they enform
us by themselves or other sufficiently authorysedd by them of all thyngs don
by the sayd late Lord Cobham or Sir Thomas Moyle or yn the tyme whyle they
were Wardens concerninge the sayd bridge.
He thinketh also that it were well don there were a pre'pt made to the Mayor
and Aldermen of Rochester to require them to be assistent unto us for t,he bettr
enformaoion of us how to come to the p'fitte knowledge of the state of the bridge
and of all matters thereto appertayninge who (it is thought) will be gladd being
comaundidd to give informacion of all that they know for that they thinke yn
dede that things have bean much abused.
And he thinketh that the seinge hearinge and pursuing of all suche matters
and surveyinge of the bridge with apoyntinge of officers to execute that shalbe
thought meete to be don there shalbe as much as canne be well donne at the firste
meetinge and that upon sighte of the wrytings and evidences we may the better
frame pr'pts for the Hundreds and p'shes to make contribucion for he thinketh
that it were not beste they should appear at Rochester and we not able to charge
them sufficiently at their oom'inge. This lo is hys advyse whereof I thoughte
meete to certefye you to be used as you shall think goode. And thus J esu
preserve you long yn helthe and prosperite. From Canterbury the last day of
July 1561.
(Addressed)
Yours to Com'aunde,
N. WOTTON.
To the Right Honourable sr Rychard Sakvile Knight
· one of the Queen Mattes moste honourable Counsell.
The Commissioners had apparently arranged among themselves,
that at their :first meeting, on the 18th .A.ugust, they would, after
opening the Commission, proceed to appoint officers, and see what
immediate repairs were necessary. Thy had evidently also considered
whether they could levy a rate in aid of the repairs from
the owners of the contributory lands, and so far as we can now see
they were then of opinion that they had no power to take that
course. Nor could they :find that any levy had been made on these
lands since the stone bridge had been built nearly two hundred
years before, and apparently they were never made aware that by
the Statutes of 21 Richard II. and 9th Henry V. the liability of the
owners of these lands to repair the wooden Bridge had by the foresight
of the founders of the stone Bridge been expressly extended
to that new work. Such was Mr. Lovelace's advice, and he had
_now found out a Statute of general application, the 22 Henry VIII.,
cap. 5, under which he thought it would be possible to tax the
whole county of Kent.* They did not, however, make their views
public at this time, but they must have written £or his opinion to
the Lord Treasurer, the Marquis of Winchester. The Commissioners
had, among others, summoned the Bishop of Rochester
(then Dr. Edmund Ghestt) to their :first meeting, and had no doubt
* By the levy known as the xvu,.
t Edmund Ghest, or Geste, born 1514, Fellow of King's College, Cambridge,
153'7-8; appointed to defend the Protestant faith at the Conference at West•
minster 1558; Archdeacon of Canterbury 1559 ; consecrated the first Protestant
Bishop of Rochester in the same year; and Almoner of Queen Elizabeth; the
principal compiler, by his biographer's aooount, of the Liturgy according to the
present use of the Established Ohurch. He was translated to Salisbury 15'71,
died there and was buried in that Oathedral 28th February 15'76-'7. (See Uje
and Oltaracte1• of Eamuiia 0-este, 8.T.P., by Henry Geast Dugdale. 184..0.)
220 ROCHESTER :BltIDGE IN A..D. 1561.
desired him to bring his book-was it the Textus, or the Custumale
?-with him, probably to shew what his contributory lands
and manors were, and what had been the ancient practice in taxing
them. The Bishop answers thus :
From EDMUND G-HEST, Bishop of Rochester, to Sir RICH.A.RD
SACKYILLE, 17 August 1561.
After most hartie commendations pleaseth your good honour to understande
yt accordinge to your request I wold gladly have mette you at Rochester upon
Monday next but that I am disposed to an ague thees iij or iiij•r dayes,
Therefor I trust your good hoar will take myn absence in good part, being caused
against my will. As for my booke I have sent you it and have put a paper
where your place is, that belongeth to your matter, desyringe you I have it
againe against Bartholmew tide bycause then I shall occupye it at my Courtes
beinge as you see y• booke of my evidence. As I did write to Mr Secretarie as
it appeareth in y• booke all is true and therefore I beseche you burden the
parties yt have my maners and not anie who have all y• pleasour by y•
l3ridge and all y• gayne yt belongeth to those lordeshippes of myn that be contrybutorie
to y• Bridge as knoweth y• lyvinge God who longe preserve you in
life and health to your encrease of vertue and honour. Fr• Bromeligh y• xviith of
August.
Yours to his poore powr
(Addressed) ' EDM. ROFFEN,
To y• Right Honble. and his lovenge frende
Sir Richard Sakevyle one of the Queues Ma,jtio•
honourable Counsell and Treasurer of the Exchequier,
The Commissioners then, on the 18th August, held their meeting
at Rochester; the record of the proceedings, written by Mr. Lovelace
('' Processus Pontis :Rqjfen."), states that they were all present;
that they first read the commission and "understode the poyntes "
thereof ; that then " they went ther selfs to view the estate of
the Brydge having wth them experte men as well straungers as
others."
They found the Bridge in "imminent danger," and in need 0£
immediate repair; they estimated that £2000 at least would be
required to repair it. They determined £or the reasons urged by
Mr. Lovelace to apply £or the XVt11
, and Sir Richard Sackville and
Dr. Wotton were to write at once to the Lord Treasurer accordingly
£or full powers. They decided that a Special Session of the Sheriff
and all the Justices of Kent should be held at Maidstone on the
£allowing Monday, the 25th Augnst, and they determined also to
write to Mr. Secretary Cecil to ask " that letters might be directed
from Her Majesty or her Privy Council to the Justices to be redy
to be delivered to them agenst the said xxv of August £or to move
the said Justices thab they should join with the said Commissioners
the more dyligently in the levyinge the same money."
They then proceeded to appoint officers. Mr. Richard Watts,*
* Richard Watts, of Satis House, on Boley Rill, Rochester, the founder of
the celebrated "House for Poor Travellers at Rochester." It was at Satis House
that Mr. Watts entertained Queen Elizabeth, Here also lived, at the end of
the last century, Mr. Longley, ltecorder of Rochester, who was for many years a
member of the Bridge Trust; it was this Mr. Longley whose "nice acquaintREDUCED
COPY 0 F LETTER WRITT
BIS
EN IN 1561 BY QR
HOP OF ROCHESTER
EDMOND GHEAST
ROCHESTER BRIDGE IN A..D, 1561. 221
the paymaster, had applied to be retained in his office ; here is his
letter.
From Mr. RICH.A.RD W .A.TTS of Rochester, Paymaster of the
Bridge, to Sir RICH.A.RD S.A.OKVILLE, 19th August 1561.
As hit maye stand wth the good plesure of your honor wth my umble sarvice
umbly desyrynge you that amonge all your offesars of the Bridge I may have
one and yff it might stand wth your good plesure I wold be co'tent to remayne
paymr (and as for the Blookehouse* the Surveyors hope to ende before Hallowtide)
and thus umblye I take my leave of your honor by besyohinge or Lord to prosper
you in longe life healthe and Joye. From bullye-hyll beside Rochester the xixth
of August 1561.
At the commodement of your honordevoting
myself-my lyfe
(Addressed) Rrc» W .A.TTS.
To the honorable Sir Rychard Sackfylde Knight.
(Endorsed) Mr vVatts, for Rochester Bridge-his sute to be po.ymaster.
The application, which is dated the 19th, was either too late 01•
for some other reason it was unsuccessful.
Mr. Lovelace's report goes on:-
" Also that day (i.e. the 18th) at Rochester aforesaid the same Commyss'"
made a choyce of good officers fo1• the ,vorke 11bout the same bridge w11 they
thought to be the metest men there about, and cl1ose Mr Rob1 Den,ne to be gen11
purveyor for Tymbre Stone and such other thinges, further Mr John Wylkyns
was that dn,y chosen genei-.ill reoeyvour of the tn,xe, further the Commyss'"
chose M• Collins and Mr Symkyns,t Prebendn,ryes of the Churche of Rochester,
to be Surveyors and Auditors touching the work of the sn,me bridge, also
M• Wattest wn,s chosen to be the ol!Lrke of the workes of the same bridge."
The Commissioners had also before them such evidences and
writings as they could find, and all the "£ermors" or lessees 0£ the
Bridge lands, who were warned that their leases had been imperfectly
granted, and that they were to expect an increase in the rents.
ance with the metre in the learned languages" surprised and even mortified
Dr. Johnson on his visiting Rochester in 1783; and here, under the shadow of
the Castle, was born his distinguished son, the late Archbishop of Canterbury,
the father of Mr. Longley, C.B., the present head of the Charity Commission.
The allusions to Mr. Watts in the subsequent correspondence would appen,r
to place him in a diso.dvantageous light. One would think, from some of the
passages, that he was keeping back the money of the Trust ; but, when the account
was actually taken, there is found to be a balance due to him. His bundle of
rnuohers, for the last of his ammunts in 1561, is still at the Bridge Chamber,
endorsed aud docketed methodioally.
* This refers to Upnor Castle, on the building of which Mr. Watts was
then engaged as Clerk of the Works, or in some such capacity (see post).
t The Rev. Martin Collyu, or Collins, first appears as one of the Prebendaries
of the Cathedral at the Visitation in 1554. The Rev. John Symkyns is
named in the original Foundation Charter granted by King Henry VIII. in
1542. This Mr. Prebendary Symkyns is the same gentleman who is mentioned
in the Antiqwities of Rocliestm• OatliedraZ (p. 109) as having secured a promise
in writing on the 16th July 1555, from the Chu.pter, of the next preferment
that should fall vacant "proximum ad nostrum oollegium spectans, qualeounque
et quantumounque fuerit, quam primum vacare oontigerit,"-a very unqualified
promise!
i This was Mr. John Watt\!s, nephew (P) of Richard.
222 ROCHESTER BRIDGE IN .A..D. 1561.
This increase the Commissioners thought ought to make tbe income
sufficient to keep up the repairs 0£ the Bridge.
The report further states that on the following day, the 19th
August, "in the morninge came the officers of London Bridge whose
good advyses for the better reparac'on 0£ the said Brydge they understode,
agreeing to the charge (of £2000) above said."
The Commissioners then adjoumed tbeir next meeting to the
following Monday at Maidstone.
They must have written at once to the Lord Treasurer, and also
to tbe Secretary of State. They asked the latter not only to forward
the letter 0£ Her Majesty to the Justices recommending the
affairs 0£ the Bridge to their favour, but also for a '' prest" or warrant
for raising £300 £or their immediate necessity. Her Majesty,
however, discountenanced this request, and the Commissioners and
their friends and brother Justices, at their meeting on the following
Monday at Maidstone, agreed to advance the money themselves ; as
there was not above £20 in hand, this was urgently required.
The Lord Treasurer had probably already considered the situation;
he answers immediately, commending their proposal to tax
the whole county by a XVtlt, His letter to Sir Richard refers to
other business they have in hand together, and the Treasurer hopes
to see him back soon. He promises to let them know what the
XVth will amount to. The portions of his letter which do not
relate to the Bridge are omitted.
From the Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth, the M.A.RQUIS
OF W IN0HESTER, * to Sir RICH.A.RD S.A.CKVILLE.
1 commend me hartely to you perceyving by your letter yo• gret travaile and
Mr Wutton About Rochester bridge where you finde gret dekay but no manne
you finde charged with the repaire by cause the bridge whas timber when every
manne whas charged And sins removed and converted to Stone a,t the charge
of the Cardinall [Arclibiskop Morton P] and of the cuntry by his meaues sins
wioh tyme the charge hath byn generall with the helpe of certen land laid to
the Bridge wich hath not byn well used And albeit you sitche [seek] to charge
the Bushop and the Cite with that part of the bridge within ther liberty, yet
ther poverty moved me to advice you to Spare them all that you may and make
the charge a generall charge by a xvth first for the wich you have wretin for the
queues letters to exort gentlemen and the cuntry to yt wherupon you have don
beste for so it shalbe moste esely don And Henry Fanshaw and I will send you
word before Munday to Maydston or wher you shalbe what the xvth will
amount to.
This with my harty commendacions to M' Wutton I bidd you hartely well
to fare written the xx of Augusli 1561.
Yo• loving ffrend
WINCHESTER,
(Addressed) To my loving ffrend Sir Rio. Sakvile Knyght tresorar of
th'exchequer.
The Marquis quickly follows up his last letter by another, with
the promised accounts of the XVth
• These are written in his own
* William Pawlett, Earl of Wiltshire, created Marquis of Winchester by
King Edward VI., was Lord High Treasurer under Queen Mary, and was
continued in that high office by Queen Elizabeth. He died 1571.
REDUCED COPY OF LETTER WRITTEN IN 1561 BY SIR WILLIAM CECIL,AFTERWARDS CREATED
BARON OF BURLEIGH
.ROCHESTER BRIDGE IN A,D, 1561. 223
hand, and have a pleasant hearty tone about them. To prevent any
delay he takes the trouble to send two letters now to Sir Richard ;
one probably to Maidstone; and the other· to llis official house in
London.
From the M.A.RQUIS OF WINCHESTER, Lord High Treasurer,
:to Sir RICH.A.RD S.A.CKVILLE, 21 August 1561.
I commend me hartely to you and here enclosed I have sent you fl'anshaw's
aunswere for the xvth in Kent whereof must be rebated for the V. Portes which
dothe appear in Mr Smythes office whereof you shall neade make no charge but
recon uppon mccu clere money, all things abated, and so you shall prove, w"
money wolbe a good begynning and therefore seke no farder for this tyme for the
expence of this well made shall bring you to more; and the meane tyme you
shall have spied better devyse. Thus fare you well. Wrytten the 21st of
August 1561.
To my loving frende gr Richard Saokvile
Knight Treasurer of the Exchequer.
Yo' lovinge fl'rende,
WINCHESTER.
Another letter of the same date from the M.A.RQUIS OF WINCHESTER
to Sir RICH.A.RD SACKVILLE.
I have wrytten you a l're what the xv111 ys in Kent w1! ys m1v0xlv11 xv• vj ob,d
whereof rebate for the Cynke Ports and for the Collection charges and fees
cco1xlv11 xv• vj ob,d and there remaineth the moo11 wh. money take and gyve
thankes and you may have yt, for yt ys a good begyninge and if that be well
spent it shalbe a good oooasion to move the ountrey to give yo' more, and the
meanewhile you shall finde devyse for better helpe. There is another l're left
at y' house of lyke effeote with ffanshaw's enclosed in the same. Thus fare you
well. Wrytten this 21st of August 1561.
(Addressed the same as the last.)
Yo' loving frende
WINCHESTER,
The answer 0£ the great Secretary is not, however, so cordial or
re-assuring, but it is extremely interesting and characteristic; one
may almost fancy the grave and sagacious nod or self-complacent
smile with which he concluded his postscript. His letter is
holograph.
From Sir W. 0ECILL, Secretary 0£ State, to Sir Rrcrr.A.RD S.A.OKVILLE,
sr
21st August 1561.
Aft' my very harty Oom'e'd. I was gladd to see such good dilligence as I
didd in your proceeding towards y• repayre of the Bridg of Rochester, and
thereof I have made lyke report to hir Ma•r but when I cam to req're onely a
prest of iij011 I saw hir Ma1Y as you ar wont to see draw backward and devise
argument agaynst it, alledgyng that it was a symple contrey that wold not
strayne them selves so farr as to procure iij011 to the help of so necessary and
pub. a work. I assure you also y0 tyme pr'veth very evill for to help hir
slowness, for yesterday cam gr wm Fitzwms out of Irland, and one of his erra'ts,
besyde help of some mor' me' was to have more money, Wherunpo. the Q. MatY
hath sent this morni'g Bernard Ha'pton to my L0 Tresoror, wf express request
and co'ma'd to send iijTI1 u into Irland, and therein to use all y• meanes yt he
224 ROCHESTER BRIDGE IN A..D. 1561.
can to serve the torne and suerly I mistrust what will come thereof, knowi'g
y• lack that is of money at Londo' and so I am forced to end my l're w'out comefort
wherof I am right sorry. fro. Hotfeld y• 21 of August 1561.
Your assured
to Com'a'd
W. CEOILL,
22 August-Y• Q. MatY is scantly* pleased that you wold p'mitt y• Com'issioners
to crave mon'y of hir, considering hir necessitie, but in y• end I have
satisfyed hir MatY very well.
(Addressed) To y• R. honourable sr Rich.
Sackvile, Knight of his Maty• p'vie Cou'sell.
(Endorsed) Mr Secretary, for Rochester Bridge, of Hir Maty deniall of 30011
for helpe.
The next original letter, taking them in order 0£ date, is one
from the Auditor, Mr. Tynte, who had been ill, and was staying in
Somersetshire. There evidently had been great laxity in the business
0£ the audits, which he endeavours to explain.
From Mr. EDMUND TYNTE, Sen., the Auditor 0£ Rochester Bridge,
to the OoM:MISSIONERS, 25 August 1561.
Right Honourable-My dutye humbly consydered yt may lyke your honours
to be advertised that the xixth of this instant month I receyved your honorable
letters by wych your pleasure is that I should presently repayre unto you w'
the boke of th'accompts of Rochester Brydge, I was at the reoeyt of your said
letters greaved in the splene and not yet well able to travayle, but have neverthelesse
sent the bearer my kynnesman wt the said boke to attend your honour
and the rest of the Commyssioners wt the same who shall make declaration of
them to your honour the best he may although not so p'fectly as I trust I
shalbe able to do my selfe at my commyng. Ther was no accompt taken of
Mr Wylkyns the receuyvior for the year ended at Mighelmas last past, neyther for
the revenues of the Bridge ne yet of the Toll and your honour may understand
the.cause thei·eof to be thus: About ten dayes after the feast of All Saynts last I
repayred to London and ther (according to my duty of service) demaunded of
Mr Wylkyns that he should entre into accompt for his doynge of the Bridge who
aunswered me that he could not then so do partly because he had not receyaved
a great part of the money and partly for that he had suche business of my Lord
Cobham his master, that he could not then attend the same and so (as he said)
my Lord wylled him to aunswere me. I then required him to -pay me my ffee
for that yere sythens I was oom to do my service, he aunswered me thereto that
he would not pay it onles I would delyver up the boke and I replyed I thought
that delyvery to be no suffycient discharge considering my Lord was but one
Warden, neyther was I thus satysfied but demaunded of my Lord him selfe
whether I shuld then any longer attend for the said accompte and his Lordship
aunswered me that his man had soche busyneR of his that he might not then
attend the same, and then this laoke of proceeding wt the (accompt P) was tho
{reson ?) also why I could not take the reckenynge of Mr Watts the paymaster for
I thought yt most mete that we shuld all three have conference at Rochester
where the doyings ar bash known. Nor yet is there any accompt thoroughly
taken of Mr Watts his doyinge more than a parte of his first receyte and
payments cast up in a boke for my late master Sr Thomas Moyle Knight
* This word" scantly," not" scantily," appears to have been much in vogue at
this time. Lambarde himself uses it, with good effect, in his translation of the
incident of Dido pledging 1Eneas in the bowl (.lEneiit, book i., 737) ,-the "Primaque
libato aummo tenus attigit ore."
" And in the liquor sweete of wine
Her lips she scantly dipt."
ROCHESTER BRIDGE IN A..D. 1561. 225
(whose sowle God p'don) wy1led me to medle no further therein until the
meetyng of my said Lord Cobham and of him wh metyng was not then afterwards
by reason of the death of my said late mr as lmoweth Almightie God who
preserve your honourable estate to his pleasure. At Backwell v myles westward
from Brystow the xxvLI• of August 1561.
Your honours humble servant
EDMOND TYNTE, Sen.
To the Honourable Sir Richard Sackville Knight
one of the Queene Matice most Honourable Privy Counsell.
The Commissioners then met the Sheriff* and the Justices of the
County at Maidstone (August 25th). The Commission and the
letters from Her Majesty were read, and Sir Richard Sackville then
addressed the Court in this spirited allocution :t
My Masters all-The cause of your callyng hether at thys tyme ys to declare
to you that the Quense Mayesty heryng of the gret decay that Rochester Bryge
ys in and how the same ys lekely very shortly to come unto utter ruyne yf the
same shuld not be speedyly forfend.
And therupon her Hyghenez remembryng the gret detryment losse and
chargez that for lake of the same bryge shuld growe not only to her Mayestez
subjects and to the foren Imbasseters and others and specyally to the Inhabytants
of thys Shere in the matter of ther passage and repassage but also in the
besyness of spedy transportyng of ordenaunce shot itrtyllyry and men for the
defence of thosse in thys shere inhabytyng behynde the same bryge yf nede for
the defendyng of the foren enemy shuld requyar when the force of the habytants
on that syde wold not serve to defend.
Besydes the dyshonor that no doubt wold be ascrybede to thys Realm for
the neglygent decayng of so notable a monument as the same bryge is that
besydes the bryge of London and Brystow none in the Realm to be compared
to yt so the same as yt ys one of the cheif ornaments and garnyshyngs of the
Shere so her Ryghnez leke a most carfull and gra.ycyus Mistress towards us for
the good repayryng of the same and preservyng therof in good estttte herafter
hauthe dyrected her Mayestez Comyssyon to Mr Deu-ne of Can terbery Mr Thomas
Wotton Mr Shereff and dyverse others to understand furste by whose defaute
the same Bryge is come to thys decay and who owghte by tenure prescrypcyon
or otherwyse to repayr the same And how the same may be best repayred And
what summe of mony wyll do the same and therof what ther ys in stoke of the
Rents of the Bryge or of the profetts of the Tolles gathered for the same.
Wherupon accordyng to our most bownden dewtosse whe the sayd Comyssyoners
have assembled our selffs at Rochester and not only inquerede of the
powynts I have shewed you but also vewed the same with owr owne ies and had
with us skylfull men and men of experyence in wu-terworks as well of the best
belongyng to London bryge as other Strayngers well exercyssed in the same
works and by them besydes the persevance of owr own ies whe fynde that unles
spedy remedy may be had for the repayryng of yt that the hole in short tyme
ys lekely to grow to utter ruyne wyche thenn xx thowsand marks wyll not
reedyfy the same again Wheras MM'li. whe lernne wyll repayre the same
beyng now taken in hande before wynter and the stoke of the rents and '1:olls
that ther hauthe byn therto gathered remaynesse not towards the same above
the summe of xx Ii.
Nor we cannot lernne that any other then the hole Inhabytants of thys hole
Shere ys charged with the repayer of this bryge of Stone these old wrytyn<>s
do appere that serten lands and towne shipps war contrybutory to the repayry;g
* John Tufton, Esq., of Hothfield.
t his speech is taken from a - report or _draft prserved among the
colle10ns of Dr. Thorpe (MS. cxcvm. of the Soc10ty Antiq., London, vol. i., pars 11., fo. 60).
VOL. XYII, Q
226 ROCHESTER BRIDGE IN A.,D, l561.
of a Bryge of W ode when the same stode wherein I dowte not but they wyll for
the avoydyng of farther sewte grant their lyberall contrybucyon.
A.nd of thesse thyngs accordynge to owr dewtesse lekeas whe by owr letters
gave advertyssement unto the Quense Mayesty so Her Hyghenez hauth sent
her Mayestez letters unto us the sayd Comyssyoners and all the J ustyces of the
Pece of tli.ys Shere for owr further procedyng therin as by the tener of the same
letters upon the openyng you shall perseve And before the openyng of them I
can no les then say thys myche unto you wyche ys that as the kepyng of yt
standyng and in good repayer shal be most and cheffiyest to the benefyt of the
same that yf no lawe tyede and bownde us to the repayryng of yt that for that
respecte whe wold offer the same to be done by us for owre owne benefyts and
every man indeavour hymself to arme hymself with good p .•.•.. for to amerse
suche as shall seme to be ignorant and forgetfull how to do good to them selfs
and chefly to take from thys Contrey that blot that ther ueglygence hauth
robbed ther awncesters and predecessors of that gret honour that this Shere
reseved by the gret charge and dylygence of so goodly an ornament as that
bryge was and yet ys unless they wyll fully dystroye the same in the denyyng
of ther small helpe wherto yet the late (State P) wyll agenst ther wylls
compel! them.
Mr. Lovelace's memorandum of the proceedings then relates
" that all the Justices of Peace in Kent were likewise there. To
which Justices the Queen's Commission was redd and her pryvat
letters* sent from her hignes." "The Commissioners made great
declarations" of what they had done, and what it was necessary for
them to do. Further, and as the result, " The Justices shewed
themselves very well contented therewith and granted their aid
therein."
They also, at this Session, appointed the Collectors of the XVt11
for the several Lathes, and they agreed among them1:,elvcs to advance
the £300, which the Queen had refused. This was to be paid at
Rochester on the following Monday.
They also resolved, as this tax would only bring in £1200, and
at least £2000 was required, that after the tax had been collected
" conferens shoud be had for a benevolence by the said
Commissioners wth those which be honorable and worshypfulle, and
those wh be of abilitie to make some contribuc'on."
The next letter is from the Dean to Sir Richard. He and Mr.
Lovelace are still at work, and they propose to " interview " the
Mayor and Corporation of Canterbury for some help from them ;
that city (being a county of itself) and the Cinque Ports also were
exempt from the tax of the XVth• The Cinque Ports are expressly
" saved " in the Act of Henry VIII.
Sir,
I have receyved your letter to M• Haywoode with the Auditor of
l?iochester Bridges letter theryn enclosedd, yf he have none other wrytinges than
you wright of we shall haue but little knowledge by him of those thinges which
we had nede to understande.
By thys I trust you have concludid what werke shall be done about the
Bridge before winter and this is the do,ye (as I remember) apoynted that the
ccc11 of leante money should be delyvered to Wilkins so therefore will be money
redye to execute yo• determinac'on.
* The records of the county of Kent have been searched-thanks to the
kindness of Mr. Rusell, the Clerk of the Peace-but they contain no reference
to this meeting ; indeed the earliest record existing is dated in 1575.
ROCHESTER BRIDGE IN A,D, 1561. 227
Mr Lovelace and I ar searching of the writings yn the Chest and have
(founde ?) a g◊-od n'ber of them and he taketh gret paylies thereyn. .And on
frydaye next, Godde willing, which is a day that a· great co'pany of the townsmenrie
heare· meete yn counsell together we intend to be with Mr Mayor of
Ca'terbury and his brethren to travayle the best we can with them, for their
answer to· the ayde requyred for the reparac'on of the· sayd bridge and as we
speede so shall you be advertysed of it. I send you herewith the said Auditor's
letter· agayne. This haste which the Queenes highness sheweth to make homeward
cawseth men to think that that the com'en bruit so much now spoken of
at London* may prove trew. And thus Jesu prese've you long yn health and
prospe'tie. From Canterbury the first of September 1561.
Yours at Commandem't
(Addressed) N. WOTTON,
To the Right Honourable Sir Richard Sackville Knt.
one of the Queenes Majesties most honourable Counsell.
On the same day (the 1st Reptember) on which the above lettet•
was written, the loan 0£ £300 was to be paid at Rochester to Mr.
Wilkins. He wrote to Sir Richard on the next day 0£ his poor
success. He had evidently come in £ram Stoke, and stayed at
Rochester to receive the money.
From Mr. JOHN WYLKYNS, the Provider or Receiver 0£ Rochester
Bridge, to Sir RICHARD SACKVILLE, 2nd Sept. 1561.
It may please yr honour according to yo' commandement that I have given
attendance at Rochester the Mondaye the firste Septembre for the receipt of
such money as by yor ordre was then appoynted to be paid. 1Vheare all the
said daye was paid me but of those p'sons as hereafter shall appeare 1. And this
p's'nt day there came no manne to pay any money :md I or my deputy
remayni'g here at the house of John Belsh'm .Alderman of the Cyttie of
Rochester ready to receyve of all the reste that have not yet paid whose names
hereafter allso appeare. Theare brake more of the second looke next the Towne
synce yor honour being gone xl pieces of tymbre, none left in the space of fyftie
feete but only the pillars. The Carpenter is in hand with the same and doth
trust to recover the same with" x dayes if the wether be fayre he hath wrought
there allready vij dayes. And thus the Lorde p'erve yor hour in helthes.
From Rochester the seconde of Septem bre at vi of the clocke in the afternoone.
Yor honour to commandment
JOHN WYLKYNS,
1. Tliese have paid.
Mr Doctor Wotton • • • . . . • • . . • . 1u
sr Thomas Fynch.. • . . . . . . . . . . . xll
Mr Thomas 1V otton , • . . • . • • . . x11
Mr Tuften •.....••.... ....• , . • c•
Mr Lovelace .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. o•
Mr Honywoode.. . . • . • . . . • • . . . . c•
Mr Sybbell .••.••• , ....... , . . c•
Mr Henley • . . . . . . • . . . • . . . . . c•
Mr vY atton . • • . . . . • • • • . • . • . . • c•
Mr Baker . . . . . . . . • • • . . • • . . . • • c•
Mr John Guldeford . . . . • . • . . . • • x1
M• S:1nds •• .. • . •. •• .. .• •• .• •. c'
Mr Lennard . . • . . . . . • . . . . . . . . • c•
Mr Boswell . • • . • . • . • . • . . . . . • . c•
Tliese liave not paid.
Mr Bere . . • . • . . . .. .. .. •. • . •. c•
Mr Iseley .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. o•
M' Cobham .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. c•
Mr Manwoode . . . . . . • • • . • • • . . . c•
Mr William Lovelace ••• , • • • . • • c•
Mr Scotte • . . • . . • • . . • . . . . . • • . • c•
Mr Smyth .. .. •. •• .• .. .. •••• xll
Mr vYynter ........ ...... ".. xll
Mr "William Damsell • . • • • . • . . • x11
Mr M:1rten "Bowes •..••.•. , • • • x11
Sir Percvvall Harte ....•••• , • • • xn
Sir Xtophr Alleyn •••. , , • . • • • • xn
* Probably .one of the many rumours of the Queen's intended marriage.
Q2
228 ROCHESTER :BRIDGE IN .A.,D, 1561.
Sr Thomas Cotton ,, • • • • • • • . •• x11 Mr George Vane , , •••••••• , , , , c•
sr Thomas Kempe . . .. .. .. .. .. xn M' Mayne.. .. • . .. .. • • .. .. .. .. x11
sr Henry Crippes .. .. .. .. .. .. x11 Mr Seyntleger .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. c• sr William Garrard .. • • • . • • • • • • xii Mr Tho• Willoughby •• • , • , , • • • c•
Mr Nicholas Cruppes .. .. .. .. .. c• Mr Haywood .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. c•
M• Sydley . . • . . . . . . • • • . • • • . • . • c• M• Turke •.••• , ••••••• , • , , , , , c•
Mr Walsingham . . • • • • • . • • • • . • c• Mr Lowe • • • • • . • • , • , • , , , , • , , c•
(Endorsed) Particular of a loane to Rochester Bridge.
The con-ference with the Mayor and Corporation 0£ Canterbury
took place, and in a letter signed by both the Dean and Mr. Lovelace,
they report the result to their chief. The city seems to have
been encountering a sea of troubles just then, and probably they
did not think it worth while to make light of' them. Were they
really red1.1.ced to this last necessity of selling their little plate, or
was it a me:re fa<;on rle parler l
From Dean WOTTON and Mr. W. LoVELAOE, two of the
Commissioners, to Sir RroIIA.RD SA.CKVILLE, 8th September 1561.
After our harty commendac'ons unto yr honor whereas wee were appoynted
by youe and the residewe of the Comyssioners to have conferens with the Mayor
and those of the Citie of Cante'burye for ther contribuc'on towards the reparac'ons
of Rochester Bridge wee have so don accordinglie and have used with them
in the Counsell house such p'suasions therein as wee have thought mete. And
after consultation togetheyr had amongest them the Mayor and two of the Aldermen
have byn with us and made us prevye of the estate of the citie concerning
the greate povertie of the most p'te of the com'ens of the same and of the smale
abylitie of the residew of the best in this citie to supplye the wekeness of the others
and have made declarac'on unto us of the great charge by the late renewinge of
the Chartres aud in the repayringe of the Tuwne-dycbes here decayed and by the
greate and longe lyke expense and cost by the sute which they have had w11 Sir
Thomas ffynche in matters touchinge the liberties and latelie in question in the
Exchequier by the meanes of which charge they have often taxed here the com'ens
for ther contribuc'ons and otherwise now they are to be at more charge touching
the liberties by the gen'll proclamac'on of the Q11 Warrant and have also
more tro'bles touchinge the liberties w11 one Mr. May whereby they shew the
abylitie of the com'ens to be the less here and ther wekenes to be the more.
And yet they p'tend to be willinge and gladd of the furtherans of this good aote
and verye willinglie do otfer towards the reparac'ons of the same bridge to be
collected (public?) xl markes and deseire for the considerac'on abovesaid that
the same may be taken·. in good p'te they p'tendinge (pretending) to be very
sor'ye that they are not able to do therein as ther good willes are-for the causes
abovesaid-they besyde verifyinge unto us that they are constreyned to make
8hifte in the sale of ther litle plate wh belongeth unto the Chamber to performe
the thyng abovesaid. And though wee do well knowe most of ther alleations
to be in dede verye trew yet we have p'telie stayed our order to be taken w I them
in this ther contribuc'o1,1 until wee shall understand further yor hono'" mynd.
This wee lave to trouble youe from Cante'bury this p's'nte viijth Septembre.
Yor to commande
N. WOTTON. WILLM LOVELACE.
(Addressed) To the Right Honourable Sir Richard Sackville Knight one of the
Queues MajW• most honourable Counsell.
(Endorsed) Mr Wotton-of Rochester Bridge-that the City of Cant. will gyve
but xl markes.
Mr. Wilkins then sends a further report on the 12th September ;
he is busy buying iron and other necessaries for the works of
ROCHESTER :BRIDGE IN A.D. 1561. 229
repair, then in full progress. He says the money found for the
advance still "commeth in very slowlye."
The next letter of the series is of the same date, and describes
the visit of the Dean to Romney Marsh, in the territory of the
Cinque Ports. He stays a night at Westenhanger, on the road,
and is entertained by Lady Sackville. Their conference with the
dwellers in Romney Marsh is described very fully. There is some
humour in the Dean's precaution of branding the cattle of these
astute graziers to secure their identification :
Syr, trustinge that you wold have espyed oute a tyme to make a starte to
Ostinghanger er this Somer were paste I thoughte to see you and my Ladye
there togyther but percyviug now but little hope of yor retorne thither at this
tyme my cosyn Wotton,* my cosyn Rudstone, Mr Lovelace and I went to see
my Ladye on Tuesday laste, where we dynid, suppid, and Lay there that night
having had pastyme of hawkinge yn the aftr noone and the next daye morninge
we saw a fayre corouse (course?) at a Bucke, and thankes be to Godde did no
hurte and that done we went to or meate agayne, which have the name.of a
breakfaste, but was yn
