Edward Greensted's journey

EDWARD GREENSTED'S JOURNEY JACK CRONK This copy of Edward Greensted's Ballad was written on the unused pages of the 'Wateringbury Place Farm Accounts' book for the years 1804-1807. When the book ceased to be used for daily transactions by Benjamin Stone, after 22 years C (Caroline ?) Stone, a daughter, started using the blank pages as a 'CRAP BOOK'. (The word is clearly written. Is this use of the medieval word for 'siftings'?) First she wrote a 2½ page eulogy to the late Mrs Frances Greensted, described as the daughter of Edward, who died unmarried in August 1829. (ls the Mrs title a survival of the seventeenth-eighteenth century way of describing an unmarried lady?). Then follow many pages of contemporary riddles , jokes, herbal recipes, use of leeches, and statistics of all sorts . The writers, in several different hands, must have had access to a lot of Greensted's work, the copyist always acknowledging this, with extracts from his 'History of Wateringbury to the year 1781', 'The Hailstorm of 1763', and 28 pages on 'Nettlested Place'. Comparing the writings of Hasted and Greensted, I feel the two must have met, or exchanged letters . Coming to the Ballad, I have taken the liberty of putting one or two couplets in correct geographical sequence; the whole return journey can be traced on our modern O.S. maps. (Landranger 188 and 189), bearing in mind that the 'Star Inn' has moved from Linton crossroads to 300 m. north towards Maidstone. I have yet to discover why Edward undertook to do such a journey on foot in the very wet and windy winter of 1772 - 'to find friend Powel's settlement'. MR EDWARD GREENSTED'S TWO DAYS JOURNEY FROM WATERINGBURY TO BETHERSDEN Nov 28th & 29th 1772 Saturday I well remember The Eighth and 1\ventieth of November I start for Bethersden intent 123 J.CRONK To find friend Powel's settlement. With a lantern, Candle, moving by five Set out as hard as I could drive. Unlucky was at first no doubt I fell down and put my candle out. Lighted up again at Teston And road pursued with might and main Till light, again, was forced to yeild to wind in Mr Charlton's field. Got a light again at Farley Green And soon by me Cocks Heath was seen. To Linton the road still rough Here got a pint & an ounce of snuff. Hear blustering wind and driving rain Bothered and drove me o'er the plain T hro' thick, thro' thin, now wrong now right Half up the Ley - I lost my light. But dawning light now seven o'clock I found myself at Boughton Cock. Left here my Lantern, got some rum Not having drank since came from home Refresh'd set forward with good heart Walked briskly till I came to Chart Called on Ned Brook acquaintance old Who gave me a dram to keep out the cold And raised a fire to keep me warm My poor old coat being quite wet through. Then asked me in a friendly way Break fast with them - at tea to stay May every blessing Ned attend And wet thro' ne'er want a friend, To dry his coat, ask him to eat and could him with a dram treat here sit I now both dry and warm which happened not till after even the clock had struck, and gone eleven, Roused now at my unlooked for stay Took leaf, for Sutton took my way Here stopt - enquired the rediest road To Bethersden, my friends abode - I was told the Country down below was all with water in a flow, by Headcom, Smarden couldn't go And if my journey I'd fulfil Keep round I must upon the hill. Lengthened my journey this the case Oblidged I was to mend my pace Straight to East Sutton took my way 124 EDWARD GREENSTED'S JOURNEY To Ulcombe next - here made some stay Just drank a pint with Neigh bour Pain, and took me to my road again. Here Boughton Malherbe took my way Passed here the Church where the Wottons lay Once here a name of great reknown T ho' now forgot, a name scarcely known Down hill - up hill I hence went on Till nearly came to Egerton. (T he Waltons are interred in this Church, Egerton, one of whom Sir Nicks. - was Lord Mayor of London Ano1414 & 1431, another Sir Nicks : - was privy Councellor to K Hen 8, Edwd the 6th - Queen Mary & Queen Elizh:, and was 9 times public Embassador to foreign courts ... T he Road inquir' d still - the meanwhile - Till Crablin Barrs would have Stile, indeed a fact with him disputed But obstinate he' d not be refuted Lucky from him I understood At last, the Road lay thro' a wood. To Egerton came next the Street, Here took a dram, but nothing to eat - To Pluckley next the road I took Pass I many a dirty Road and Brook Call'd for a pint being well mired For Bethersden the road inquired - Sundown. Road I had to find, Besides advers'd [advised] to have a guide - I soon consented this, some cost - Unwilling I was not to be lost - In quicksand ditches or mire slough T hen lets get out if I know how, A guide for me was so procured One to this country long inured Brisk on his staff, did soon arrive Three weeks advanced he's eighty five Deaf as a post, so though he neither Fear'd Marl pit, slough, ditch, wind nor weather Agreed with him for sixteen pence Safe to conduct me there from hence One shilling dry, a Groat in beer W hen safe we both arrived there Set out we passed o'er hedges and fields Mire bogs which this blest country yeilds Dark blustring - could not see my hands Uncertain whether sea or land 125 J.CRONK Civil my Guide still as we passed Expressed his fear - he walked too fast Oblidg' d I bid him still go on - By eighty five would not be outdone Nor Ditch, for Dark we could not see over Fell at first & then got over - Oft courted by the attracting clay Our shoes to leave another day. Kept on we. Ruffet crost Till in the dark my friend I lost, I mist him as he pass'd his muse one so famed to read through use Now fors'd to hallow out a maine Ere I my guide I found againe Once more now met, made fresh assay Till both lost in a miry way Though I must here not only lose E'en one, but also both my shoes But resolute by mear main strength we Freed our legs - got out at length made most of time & travelJ' d hard. Till safe we got in the Churchyard. But interrupt'd in our chat I fell o'er the graves and lost my hat Blown somewhere by the gust of wind Search'd but in vain no hat could find Oblidg'd to leave it with the dead And at the George arriv'd bare head. Here got a light & with some pain, Went back and found my hat again, Wet, dirty set me by the fire - Shoes, stockings, coat all in a mire My stomach loudly called for meat Steaks got for supper I hardly eat Some beer got after, and some wine Went off to bed, the clock struck nine. But should have told you that my guide In vain for home this evening tried Set out - lost in the dark his way Came back again & with me slept Laid warm, we soundly slept all night Rose in the morn' g as soon as light My stockings wet they made me shiver As those who with an ague (do) quiver Had yet a mile and half to go To Powels at a green below, To shew the road I begg' d my friend Would further his assistance lend 126 EDWARD GREENSTED'S JOURNEY Willing he was to go, but thought And feared the he'd most forgot The fifty years or more agow. he went each morn that way to mow Nor travel'd since he had that road Removed hence distant his abode. Unlucky we mistook the stile and wandered wrong for half a mile But found at last Friend Powels home who wonder'd star'd to see us come Housekeeper, him at breakfast found Ask' d us to tea and sit us down beg him to excuse my stay for business done I must away Up to the George there breakfast took towards home then my journey make Sunday bells now begin to chime The Church I viewed, but my short time I saw here to tombs of most repute from Lovelaces & down to Chute Decent tho' Gothick still most neat The Temple seen & Pew'd complete From the Churchyard hence view'd Palace The Mansion Bethersden and Lovelace. Lovelace here erst of noble fame Who to the Mansion lent their name Extinct that name, next with repute A Hales succeeded, then a Chute Famous alliance. Tho now forgot Unless by Tombs to mem'ry brought Learn giddy mortals hence to know nothing substantial here below. But learning now the musing strain For home I now set out again O'er meads thro woods each Cosway I tread Towards the town of Smarden led. The cosway smooth of slated stone Tenacious found here many one form'd of the Perriwinkles kind [Bethersden marble!] Compact in masses formerly joined but how they came connected so To naturalists I leave to show. The nodding mansion next I past and tow'ring Seat surround with Tolls here of oaks seen rise on high While the late Vestas round lie May the right owner of this place Proceed to wipe off such disgrace - 127 J.CRONK My friend now eased us of some toil Cut a cross the fields sav' d near a mile. Smarden the town saw it nigh The Church to the left we pass'd by Where Justice Drainer once of fame Of Justice Nine Hales got the name who in the bloody Mary days Informer turned, fortune to raise Hear (here) through nine Hales with many a nod Respt' d and adored his past wrought God To Protestants denounced still was who Reverence none his God would show But in the end it came to pass he lost his God and proved an ass But leaving him long dead and gone Our road we still kept briskly on Call' d drank a mug of beer at the Kings Head Still kept the road to Headcom led. Hence soon a Baptis meeting past The preacher at it loud and fast of noise possessed a noble stock and loudly ball'd o'er all his flock To hear his Doctrine could not stay Oblig'd to keep still on our way Nor nothing of notice 'tmore did meet Until we came to Headcorn Street Saw here the Church where once of old The Monks seiz'd, satanic we're told When holy water be to shund Feign'd from the sprinkling mop to run Here Monk a Saint, there Monk a devil Passed on the vulgar of those days From pious cheat their gain to raise Monks for their gain know how to do it If not the friend - still some shall rue it My friend & I being now to part I treated him with beer a quart Who civil to me still was seen Went with me to FivePlum-tree green Direct me the ready way - That to the town of Sutton lay The nearest road by Sutton then He told me was by Mottenden - But I somehow by a mistake To Farthing Green my way did make. Thro thick, thro thin the Horse track round I got from hence to Sutton Town - Here stopt awhile I made a stand - 128 EDWARD GREENSTED'S JOURNEY One footing more, I found on dry land, The Church bells had just rung - The Evening Service to begin - Here got I some beer, bread & Cheese And now refreshed my way I took To see my honest Friend Ned Brook Who gave me kindly in relief Some good Plumb pudding & boiled beef Diet before I ne'er had found - In all my dirty tedious round Insisted, made me to agree - To stay and drink a dish of tea - The evening with darkness spread And I so far home to my bed - My friend a lantern lent and light Cross to Cocks Heath - he'd set me right And to my friends I now in brief Gave thanks & to him took my leave For Ambro Green now set off straight From whence to the fields I mist the gate Met here some beaus, who thought fit Me, to direct into a pit - not them to mind as under brained My road I found, Cocks Heath attained Where at the Cock I staid an hour - To save me from a bothering shower The shower o'er I lighted up - Intended yet at Home to sup Walked on with all convenient haste Till the Star some distance past When yet the wind still at its height Once more again blew out my light Went to the Star to light again Here comp'ny I found in a merry vain Near half seas over - harty fellows From Maidstone some both blues & yellows Talked politicks of town and Nation - But disagreed in conversation I sat to drink my pint and heard 'em But sometimes they so high I fear' d 'em One asked the meaning of a Blue Which he himself no other knew Dropt this discourse - The next in vogue Friend Wilks - blue, swore he was a rogue Maintained the contrary by Yellows Who Wilks declared an honest fellow That bravely for his country stood Rights, Liberties, & all thats good 129 J.CRONK Words high - ill language neither spared Fell both together by the ears The women squall'd alls in uprore They fought and roll about the floor To fight the Champions little stood And best of all - was shed no blood They struck indeed like other folks But staggering- still they miss their strokes Till by the interposing friend The fight was put unto an end And as friend Hudibras doth say both lived to fight another day My pint now out, and reckoning paid Left Blues and Yellows - homewards made Cocks Heath now crossed, the road there led Thro Farleigh Street - here all abed Toward Teston next I took my rout Once more my candle here went out Through Teston come without a light And home I got about twelve at night Wet - dirty was enough in reason Nor journey good for the winter season The country wild & weather rough Gave me of Bethersden enough And let what will hence be my station I wish no such like perambulation. 130