Miscellanea

Miscellanea

Under the above title we propose, in future, to reserve a small portion of our Volume as a depository for short contributions and annotations,—for the occasional Queries of correspondents, and such additional information or amendments of our published papers as they may be enabled to furnish.

Suggestions on any points of local antiquarian interest, archaeological "waifes and estrayes" in any department of the science, will always be acceptable, and will be duly recorded in this department of our 'Archaeologia,' which shall be, as it were, a "Spicilegium," a gathering up of fragments; at the same time it shall be a vehicle for proclaiming our "desiderata" to all who may be able and willing to supply them.

We commence by notices of the errors and pretermissions of our first Volume.

Corrections and Additions to Vol. I.

Vol. I., p. 41.—For "Mersham," read "Merstham."

Vol. I., p. 63, n. 2.—For "Anselm," read "Anselme."

Vol. I., p. 100, l. 24.—For "Bateman's," read "Bateman."

Vol. I., p. 105.—For "Gothurst," read "Gotherst."

Vol. I., p. 105.—For "Gyllyngham," read "Gillingham."

Vol. I., p. 105.—For "Whyte," read "White."

Vol. I., p. 114.—For "Cryoll," read "Criol."

Vol. I., p. 128, n. 1.—For "Ospringe," read "Ospring."

Vol. I., p. 138, n. 2.—For "Hothfield," read "Hothfield."

Vol. I., p. 146, n. 1.—For "Chalke," read "Chalk."

Vol. I., p. 156.—For "Mynting," read "Minting."

Vol. I., p. 157, n. 1.—For "Berested," read "Bearsted."

Note on PP. 52-54, Vol. I. 'Archaeologia Cantiana.'

Since the publication of our first Volume, we have ascertained beyond a doubt, that the document given by Dering to Cotton was not a copy of the "Articles," but the Great Charter itself.

We have in our possession Sir Roger Twysden's own interleaved copy of Cowell's Interpreter, copiously annotated with his autograph MS. "adversaria."

Among them, sub titulo "Magna Charta," he writes:-" ye King finding himself almost alone, forsaken by his nobility, condescended to a meeting at Runnymede, (we call it Renymed,) nigh Staines, in Middlesex, the 15th of June, 1215, where he granted to them Magna Charta, one copy of which I myself have seen, under his Seal, in the hands of Sir Edward Dering, who gave it Sir Robert Cotton."

This, at once, identifies the copy of the Great Charter, with the Great Seal attached, in the Cotton Collection, as that which was presented by Sir Edward Dering to Sir Robert Cotton. It is the copy, damaged by the fire, which is exhibited, framed and glazed, in the MSS. Room in the British Museum.

But how are we to account for Dr. Smith's assertion, by which we were led astray in the observations (now proved to be erroneous) pp. 52-54 of our first Volume? He either spoke from mistaken recollections, or he must have seen and handled some other copy, (abstracted from the collection before the fire) which he erroneously supposed to have been Dering's copy, or Dering must have given him a copy of the Articles as well as one of the Charter itself. Be this as it may, it is due to the cause of Truth, to acknowledge the error into which Dr. Smith beguiled us, and to announce the important discovery which we have made among the valuable remains of the learned Sir Roger Twysden.-L. B. L.

Miscellanea

Note to P. 45, Vol. I. 'Archaeologia Cantiana.'

After our first Volume had issued from the press, it was cursorily intimated to us that the beautiful Anglo-Saxon relics collected by W. Gibbs, Esq., at Faversham, were excavated from a field called the "King's Field," in that parish.

This seemed to us too important a fact to be passed over unnoticed; because, if we could ascertain that they were so found, and that the field in question had borne the designation of the "King's Field" from early times, we might infer from the richness of the ornaments, and the burial of the war-horse, that Mr. Gibbs's relics are those of a royal sepulture. We therefore placed ourselves in communication with that gentleman, and were much gratified at receiving the following reply:

"The field where they were dug up has been from time immemorial, known by the name of the 'King's Field;' an antiquarian friend of mine, who has been for some years engaged on a history of Faversham, can trace the name for upwards of eight hundred years past. I may add, that a portion of the relics were found in making the railroad through the field in question, and the others in digging out the earth for brickmaking."

We feel that we are only carrying out faithfully the objects of our Volume in recording this important communication among its pages.-L. B. L.

Miscellanea

Notes for the History of Cobham Church and College

I.

(License from the Prior and Convent of St. Saviour's, Bermondsey, to the Master and Brethren of Cobham College, to erect a range of buildings, the entire width of the churchyard, viz. thirty-seven feet, on the south part of the said churchyard, and extending the whole length of the church and chancel, on condition that they leave a sufficient width for processions on the south side of the church. Dated 24 June, 44 Ed. III., 1370.)

[From the Surrenden Collection.]

Universis presentes literas inspecturis. Nos Petrus Prior Sancti Salvatoris de Bermundeseye et ejusdem loci Conventus, Ordinis Cluniacensis, Wyntonie dioceseos, ecclesiam parochialem de Cobeham, Roffensis dioceseos, obtinentes in proprios usus, salutem in Domino sempiternam.

Noverit universitas vestra, quod dilecti nobis in Christo, Magister et Confratres Collegii sive Cantarie de Cobeham, dicte Roffensis dioceseos, Vicariam ipsius ecclesie de Cobeham, sibi et Collegio suo predicto, de consensu nostro expresso, alias in ea parte prestito, rite et legitime obtinentes appropriatam, nuper nobis supplicarunt, quod, cum ipsi Magister et Confratres, quedam edificia sive domus cultui divino, utilia quamplurimum et necessaria, in solo cimiterii dicte ecclesie, ex parte australi ejusdem, per totam latitudinem dicti cimiterii, que triginta et septem pedes hominis, juxta mensuram per nos habitam, non excedit, et per totam longitudinem dicta ecclesie et cancelli ejusdem extendere se debencia, affectent, ut asserunt, suis propriis sumptibus construere et edificare, quatinus dictis constructioni et edificacioni nostram preberemus auctoritatem et consensum.

Nos igitur, considerantes dictorum Magistri et Confratrum propositum in ea parte pium et laudabile, opusque predictum ecclesie prefate utile existere et necessarium, nec in aliquo nobis aut parochianis dicte ecclesie hoc fore nocivum aut prejudiciale, ut prefati Magister et Confratres dicta domus et edificia in solo ipsius cimiterii, ex parte australi ecclesie, predicte latitudinis dictorum triginta et septem pedum, edificare et reedificare, presertim quatinus longitudo dictorum ecclesie et cancelli se extendit, et cum edificata vel reedificata fuerint, reparare tociens quociens opus fuerit in futurum, liberumque ingressum in eadem et egressum ab eisdem, et eorum usum continuum habere valeant in perpetuum, absque nostra aut successorum nostrorum molestacione, calumpnia, contradiccione, seu soli predicti vendicacione quibuscunque, de Fratrum nostrorum unanimi consensu et assensu habito, primitus inter nos super hoc tractatu diligenti ac informacione pleniori, ceterisque omnibus de Jure requisitis in ea parte concurrentibus, dum tamen via processionalis, ex parte australi ecclesie predicte consueta, in perpetuo in futurum pateat, et salva sit parochianis ecclesie predicte et eorum successoribus, saltim matutinarum missarum et vesperarum temporibus, et per edificia predicta, dictis temporibus, non impediatur via antedicta, pro nobis et successoribus nostris, quatinus in nobis est, ipsis Magistro et Confratribus et eorum successoribus, licenciam concedimus et plenam potestatem.

In cujus rei testimonium, sigillum nostrum commune fecimus hiis apponi.

Datum apud Bermundeseye, in domo nostra capitulari, in festo Sancti Johannis Baptiste, anno Domini millesimo trecentesimo septuagesimo.

[Seal gone.]

[In dorso.] "De edificando in parte australi Cimiterii de Cobeham, per licenciam Capituli de Bermondesey."

L.B.L.

II.

(Extracts from the Will of Elenn, widow of Thomas Jemes, of Cobham, relative to the disposal of sixteen marks. Probate 30 January, 14 Hen. VI., 1435-6.)

[From the original Will in the Surrenden Collection.]

Summo altari de Cobham, xv d.

Lumini Sancte Marie Magdalene ecclesie predicte, viii d.

Lumini Sancte Crucis, viii d.

Luminibus in capella Beate Marie Virginis, xii d.

Lumini Sancti Nicholai, vi d.

Altari ejusdem Sancti, suum optimum lectistitium.

Facture stallorum ecclesie predicte, vi s. viii d.

Et vult predicta Elena ut ipsi predicti feoffatores et executores Michael et Robertus dent, seu dari faciant, pelvim et lavacrum nova fonti ecclesie predicte, ad usum levantum pueros de sacro fonte.

Et insuper vult predicta Elena ut ipsi predicti Michael et Robertus solvant, seu solvi faciant, viii s. ii d. pro centum missis celebraturis, pro anima sua et animabus omnium benefactorum suorum; v s. vi d. pro xxx ta missis celebraturis de tricentinali beati Gregorii.

Et preterea vult ut ipsi predicti Michael et Robertus per annum idoneum habeant capellanum divina celebrantem in ecclesia predicta, pro anima sua, et animabus omnium benefactorum suorum.

Residuum vero pecunie predicte, debitis que debet prius solutis, expendatur in reparacione ecclesie predicte, et elemosinarum largacione, et viarum publicarum emendacione, prestita in omnibus supradictis cautione sufficienti.

WILLELMUS PEPIR, Capellanus Ecclesie predicte.

Proved at Malling, before the official of Rochester, 30th January, 1435.

[Indorsed.] "Codicillum Elene de Cobeham."

L.B.L.

VOL. II.

Miscellanea

Notes of Vineyards

In the Surrenden Collection there is a Roll of Accounts of the Abbey of St. Augustine's, Canterbury, the date of which, judging by the handwriting, is early in Edw. III. There are the following entries with respect to Vineyards:

Expense in Vineyards

Iidem computant de stipendio vineatoris de Northone, per annum

Et solut fodientibus in eisdem per totum annum

Et in scalet emptis pro eisdem, cum cariagio

Et in vanges, howes, et aliis utensilibus pro eisdem

Et in stipendio et vadiis vineatoris de Ormsir, per annum

Et solut fodientibus in eisdem, cum xv carectatis de scalet emptis pro eisdem

Summa, xli-vs-viijd.

Miscellanea

Collectanea for a History of the Family of Cobham; With Much of the City of Rochester

I.

[No date: it appears to be about A.D. 1200-1220]

(Bartholomew and Matthew, cutlers, sons of Wulfwin, smith, of Strode, confirm to Henry de Cobbeham, son of Sarlo de Cobbeham, and his heirs, a rent of thirty-eight pence per annum, of which Amfrid Tincturarius used to pay fourteen pence per annum, out of three acres of the land of Itherdene; Adam Pelliparius twelve pence per annum, out of .... acres of the land of Itherdene; Seffader Sefare atter Strehende ten pence per annum, out of land at Sorere P; and Godwin, son of Osbern de Culinge, two pence per annum, out of a messuage in Strode, near the shop. To be held of the said granters, by said Henry de Cobbeham and his heirs, by two pence per annum. For this grant, the said Henry has paid twenty-four shillings for the purchase.)

[N.B. The property is in Strood, as shown by the indorsement "Strodes."]

Sciant presentes et futuri, quod ego Bartholomeus, et ego Matthew, fabri, cultellarii, filii Wulfwini, fabri, de Strode, dedimus et concessimus, et presenti carta nostra confirmavimus, Henrico de Cobbeham, filio Serlonis de Cobbeham .... et heredibus suis, triginta et octo denarios redditus nostri, cum omnibus utilitatibus inde surgentibus omnibus casibus; unde Amfridus Tincturarius nobis annuatim reddere solebat xiv denarios. Scilicet, in die Incarnationis .... Pentecostes, apud Strode, de tribus acris terre Itherdene; et Adam Pelliparius xii denarios ad predictas acris terre Itherdene; et Seffader Sefare atter Strehende x denarios ad predictum terminum terre et dimidia apud Sorere; et Godwinus filius Osberni de Culinge ii denarios, ad predictum terminum: quodam mesagio in Strode, quod jacet juxta fabricam.

Tenendos et habendos jure hereditario in perpetuum, de nobis et heredibus nostris, reddendo inde annuatim, nobis et heredibus nostris, scilicet ad predictum terminum, apud Strode duos denarios, pro omnibus servitiis et consuetudinibus et demandis temporalibus.

Et ego Bartholomeus, et ego Matthew, et heredes nostri, guarantizabimus totum predictum redditum, cum omnibus utilitatibus inde surgentibus in omnibus casibus, predicto Henrico et heredibus suis, contra omnes homines et omnes feminas, per predictum servicium.

Pro hac autem confirmatione nostra, ad stabilitatem ejus perpetuam, appositis sigillis nostris munita, dedit nobis predictus Henricus vigintiquatuor solidos sterlingorum in gersumam.

His testibus: Johanne filio Roce, Willelmo .... , Radulpho Coteman, Duket de Strode, Prekelinger, Waltero, Nauta, Johanne de Hacke, Jacobo de Porta, Hugone de Dudintone, Thoma de Dene, Malgerio clerico, Roberto clerico, Johanne de Chilingeham, et multis aliis.

Serlo de Cobbeham

Henry de Cobbeham

L.B.L.

II.

[No date: it appears to be about A.D. 1220-1230]

(Helte, son of Gudred Creac, of Rochester, quitclaims to Henry de Cobbeham, all the right and inheritance which the said Helte has in the hundred of Rochester, or within and without the walls of Rochester, viz. a tenement which Wimarc, his sister, held of him within the walls; another which Gilbert, son of William Unwin, held of him in the same city, by two shillings per annum; another which William Textor held of him, without the city, in Crauelane, by two shillings per annum; and eight pence rent, which John and William, sons of Alexander, paid him from a house on the city walls; and all the land which Alexander Ginnur held of him without the walls, called the lands of Chapmanegilde, by twelve pence; and all the land which Roger de Bardingelege held of him without the walls, called the land of Chapmanegilde, to the said Henry de Cobbeham and his heirs forever.)

Sciant presentes et futuri, quod Helte filius Gudredi Creac de Rofa, dimisi et concessi et quietum clamavi, et hac mea presenti carta confirmavi, Henrico de Cobbeham omne meum jus et hereditatem meam quam habui in hundredo de Rofa, et habui vel habere potui, vel aliquo modo mihi contingere poterit, infra muros civitatis Roffe et extra, sine omni retenemento. Scilicet, illud mesuagium quod Wimarca soror mea tenuit de me infra muros civitatis, cum toto jure quod in illo habui; et aliud mesuagium quod Gilbertus filius Willelmi Unwine tenuit de me in eadem civitate, per servicium duorum solidorum per annum; et aliud mesuagium quod Willelmus Textor tenuit de me extra civitatem, in Crauelane, per servicium duorum solidorum per annum; et octo denariatos de reditu, quos Johannes et Willelmus filii Alexandri mihi reddebant per annum de quadam domo que est super murum civitatis; et totam terram quam Alexander Ginnur tenuit de me extra murum civitatis per servicium duodecim denariorum, que vocatur terra de Chapmanegilde; et totam terram quam Rogerus de Bardingelege tenuit de me extra murum civitatis, que vocatur terra de Chapmanegilde.

Habendum et tenendum, sibi et heredibus suis, in feodo .... in perpetuum, solutum et quietum, pro me et pro heredibus meis; ita quod ego, nee heredes mei, de cetero, de predicto jure et hereditate aliquid poterunt vendicare.

Predictus vero Henricus, et heredes sui, defendent totam hereditatem predictam, et totum jus predictum, versus dominos feodorum, de omnibus que pertinent ad illud.

Ego, vero, Helte, et heredes mei, warantizabimus predicto Henrico et heredibus suis, totum jus et hereditatem predictam, contra omnes homines et feminas.

Pro hac dimissione et concessione, et quietaclamacione et presentis carte mee confirmatione, sepe dictus Henricus dedit ..... marcas.

His testibus: Roberto de Sancto Claro, Simone de Berherse, ....... Waltero filio Ricardi de Cobbeham, ....... Roberto ......., Willelmo Patin ....... Waltero Hod ....... Elyas Mercatore.

III.

[No date: it appears to be about A.D. 1230-1240]

(Alan Schipwerchte, for sixteen shillings, sells to Henry de Cobbeham a rent-charge of two shillings and sixpence, without Chealdegate, in Rochester, of which Alexander Midnioth is to pay twenty pence per annum, and Helyas Sutor ten pence per annum, to the said Henry de Cobbeham.)

[N.B.-This was tied up with No. II.]

Sciant presentes et futuri, quod ego Alanus Schipwerchte, vendidi Henrico de Cobbeham duos solidatos et dimidium redditus, extra Chealdegate, pro sexdecim solidis sterlingorum, de quo redditu Alexander Midnioth reddet predicto Henrico de Cobbeham, vel heredibus suis, viginti denarios per annum, et Helyas Sutor decem denarios similiter per annum, et heredes eorum.

Habendos et tenendos, sibi et heredibus suis, de me et de heredibus meis, libere, jure, et in pace; ita quod nee ego predictus Alanus, nee aliquis heredum meorum, versus predictum Henricum de Cobbeham, vel heredes suos, de prefata venditione nichil juris calumpniare poterimus. Et ego predictus Alanus, et heredes mei, predicto Henrico, vel heredibus suis, prefatam venditionem warantizare debemus contra omnes homines et omnes feminas.

His testibus: Johanne filio Rocii, Willelmo Potin, Petro de Thalamo, Durante Wisdom, Humfrido Vinitore, Geldewino Macecario, Alexandro Coco, Adam Mercatore, Yvone Portario, Magistro Euerardo, Henrico Portario, Helie Grangier, et multis aliis.

L.B.L.

Miscellanea

Notes of Wills

The following is a summary of the Will of Henry Stidolf, of Tudoly, ancestor, in the female line, of the Faneb of Mereworth, Earls of Westmoreland, who inherited from him their large estates in Tudely and Brenchley, which are still possessed by his direct lineal representative the Viscountess Falmouth. The Will is registered in the official Registry of the Bishop, at Rochester, and is to the following purport:

Henry Stidolf, of Tudely

24 September, 1474, leaves to the High Altars of Capel Brenchley and Tudely various small sums.

To Richard Knight, two cows; to John Michell, a heifer; to John Penyale, a heifer. Marion, my wife, and Thomas A Stone, Junior, to be Executors; Walter Robert, Esq., of Cranbrook, to be Supervisor; Marion, my wife, to be Residuary Legatee. Witnesses, - William, Vicar of Tudely; Walter Robert, Esq.; Thomas A Stone, etc.

Then as to his real estate:

Sir John Culpeper, Knight; Richard Culpeper, of Oxenhoath, Esq.; John Sampson, Gent.; John Dod, Richard Latter, and Thomas A Stone, my Feoffees, to deliver to Marion, my wife, a messuage, etc., called Peers Smythes, late George Burrys's, in Tudely and Brenchley; also five pieces of land called Pococks, and another called Rowpole, in Brenchley, for life. Also, to sell a tenement in Eadmanstre, which I lately bought of William atte Crooche and John Cosynes, to pay debts. To deliver all my lands and tenements, etc., to Thomas, my son, in fee simple, when he is twenty-four years old. My wife Marion to receive the profits meanwhile, keeping my son Thomas to school, etc., etc. My son Thomas, when he is sixteen years old, to receive certain profits of the land, at the discretion of Walter Roberts, Esq. and Thomas A Stone. If my son Thomas marry before he be twenty-four, to have such profits of the estate as the said Walter Roberts and Thomas A Stone may, in their discretion, assign, provided he marry with their consent; otherwise, the said profits, till he be twenty-four, to be expended in masses.

If the said Thomas die under twenty-four, then to Marion, Margery, and Agnes, my daughters, with benefit of survivorship, to be under the same guidance and conditions, as to marrying, as Thomas my son. If William Cardwell pay 40s within two years of my death, he is to have a piece of land called Keyserscrofte, in fee simple. If my daughters Marion, Margery, and Agnes, die without issue, then my manor of Badselde, its rents and appurtenancies, to be delivered to Thomas Stidolf, son of George Stidolf, in fee simple: and all the lands and tenements purchased by Thomas Stidolf, my father, and Henry Stidolf, to be sold for masses, repairs of roads, etc.

Witnesses, - Walter Robert, Esq.; Sir William, Vicar of Tudely; John Godyns; Thomas A Stone; Richard A Stone; Thomas Herman; Richard Wylnge, etc., etc.

Pedigree Resulting from this Will:

• Harry Stidolf.
• Thomas Stidolf, dead 1474.
• Henry Stidolf, of Tudely, 1474.
• Marion.
• Thomas Stidolf, under 16, 1474.
• Marion, 1474.
• Margery, 1474.
• George Stidolf.
• Thomas Stidolf, devisee in remainder, 1474.
• Agnes, 1474.

With the possibility that any of these may have been by a different mother. L.B.L.

Miscellanea

Notices of Kent Worthies - Caxton

In his Preface to the 'Ristoryes of Troye' Caxton says: "I was born and learned mine English in Kent in the Weald." How he would have pronounced his own name, we may gather from a comparison with the mode in which others were pronounced in that district, and this we learn from the form in which they present themselves in old manuscripts, at a time when the scribe wrote by ear, and had no settled law of spelling to guide him.

In manuscripts of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, we find Hadlow invariably written Haudloo or Haulo; Franoklyn is written Frauncklyn; Alchin, Auchin; Malling, Mauling; Wanting, Waunting; Addington, Audinton. These names are all selected from the Weald, or the neighbourhood of Hadlow. Were it necessary, we could yet add a large number more. We have however cited sufficient to prove that in the Weald, and specially in that part in which Hadlow is situated, the "a" was pronounced broad. It is also well known that at the above period "x" was pronounced something very like "ss". Thus Vaux is frequently written Vauss; Fyneux, Fyness; and we have Exhurst as often as Esshurst, for one and the same place, just as the English rendering of Bruxelles is to this day Brussels. Admitting therefore the pronunciation of "a" and "x" to be as we have stated (and there is hardly any doubt that it was so), Caxton, in speaking of himself, would have called himself CaussTon. But we have a most decided exemplification of this in reference to Caxton in Cambridgeshire. In Rot. Origin. 41 Edw. III., rot. 42, there is the following entry:-"Cantebr. Johes Freville dat viginti marcas, etc." In English thus:-"Cambridgeshire, John Freville gives twenty marks for license to enfeoff John de Carleton and John de Selve in the manor of CAUSTON." In the 'Inquisitiones post mortem,' 4 Ric. II., No. 23, in a record of the same estate, we find Elena, the widow of Sir John Frevill, having, as her dower, the third part of the manor of CAXTON in Cambridgeshire. It must therefore have been pronounced CAUSSTON, or it never could have appeared in that form in the 'Originalia.' In the fourteenth century, then, CAXTON and CAUSSTON were one and the same name.

Fuller says that, "William Caxton was born in that town (i.e. Caxton). Caxton, as we have seen, tells us himself that he was born in the Weald of Kent. We must look, therefore, for CAXTON, alias CAUSSTON, in the Weald, for his birthplace. Now, in the parish of Hadlow (alias Haulo) in the Weald is the manor or ville of CAUSSTON. Late in the fourteenth century it was possessed by a family of the same name, "DE CAUSTON," one of whom we conclude to have been our illustrious Typographer.

It may be well to add that the manor of CAUSSTON was held of the honour of Clare, the lords of which, in the fifteenth century, were that ducal and royal house by whom William Caxton was warmly patronized. Their forest of South Frith, close to Causton, descended, through one of the coheiresses of Gilbert de Clare, Lord of Tunbridge, to Richard, Duke of York (father of the Duchess of Burgundy and Edward IV.), whose widow possessed it at her death.

We think, from the above premises, we can with safety assert that CAUSSTON in Hadlow may take to itself the honour of having been the birthplace of William Caxton, and our Society may congratulate itself on having been the first to decide this interesting fact, which has been hitherto a subject of hopeless inquiry.-L. B. L.

Ancient Letters of Men of Kent

For the following letter, and the interpretation of many passages in it, we are indebted to the kind attention of W. B. Sanders, Esq., of the General Record Office. The writer of the letter seems to have been Gregory de Rokesle, who in the thirteenth century was owner of large estates in the county of Kent. In 7 Edw. I. he was Mayor of London, and in the same year was appointed one of the keepers of the Mint. ¹ [See Originalia, 7 Edw. I., rot. 1; Pat. Commun., 7 Edw. I., rot. 6; Trin. Commun., 7 Edw. I., rot. 6.]

By the return of the Jurors in the Inquisition upon his death,

According to Madox (History of the Exchequer, Edw., III, p. 198), there were several mints in England, viz. at Winchester, Canterbury, Lincoln, Lynn, Norwich, etc. etc. etc., which, with their officers, were under the supervision and direction of the Chief Justiciar, or the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer.

Assays were made at the Exchequer of the money minted at the respective mints. King Edward I. (anno 9 or 10), by his writ, commanded the Barons to take with them Gregory de Rokesle, and straightway, before they retired from the Exchequer, to open the boxes of the assay of London and Canterbury, and to make the assay in such manner as the King's Council were wont to do. [Trin. Commun., 9 & 10 Edw. I., rot. 5 a.]

it appears that he died 18th July, 19 Edw. I., A.D. 1291, and Roger de Rislepe, son of his sister Agnes, was his heir.¹

It will be seen, that a tame stag having devoured despatches entrusted to Rokesle, he writes as follows to his friend Jakes:

"A son cher ami especial Jakes le seu Gregre de Rokesle. Saluz, e ceo qil peut de honeur e damiste.² Pur ceo qe jo ws³ disei nad geres de tens qe jo ws chargereye de akunes bosoignes fere e ke ws deveryez pur moi travailer, jo ws pri especialmente ke ws voilez resseivere les lettres'ke jo envei a mon Seignur e le vostre, e bailez⁴ les la ou il voud. E estreceo pursure les peticions ke sunt continuees en memes celes lettres, cest a dire dever mon Seignur le Eveske ij peires de lettres, cest a saver, une a Visconte de Nicole,⁵ pur carier ces vins e son pesson de la Seint Botulf gekes a Cestre, e une autre lettre mon Seignur le Eveske a celuy qi ressevra ces vins e son pesson⁶ a Cestre. E dautrepart, v paire des lettres le Rei, une a Visconte de Nicole, la secunde a Senescal e la Bailif de Seint Botulf, la terce au Meyre e a Bailif de Lenne, la qarte a Sire Hamon Hautein, e la qinte a Conestable de la Tour de Londres; Richard de Waldegrave, kil seit a socie par lettres patentes a Sire Hamon Hautein a deliverance de la Gayole de Newgate. Oest priere ws fay jo mout⁷ especialmente pour une meschance ke me est avenue, ke par le ov Jon de Maydestane avoit porte de la Court tens⁸ lettres come jo vois⁹ ore demandand¹⁰ e mis sur un escheker¹ en ma chambre, vint le Cerf ke Jo tene en mon hostel, si lea devora issi ke ren ne demorre de cyre ne de parchemyn.

Pur amor de moi pursue ben ceste chose ke jo sei vostre a touz jours."

L.B.L.

1. There is much confusion and error in Hasted's different accounts of the family of Rokesly. In his history of the manor of Foot's Cray he names Roger de Rokesle as the son of Gregory, while, in the descent of the manor of North Cray, he represents Sir Richard de Rokesle as the son of Gregory; whereas, according to the Inquisition, Gregory died without issue, his nephew Roger de Rislepe being his heir. This Roger, in all probability, was afterwards styled Roger de Rokesle, from the place of his residence and his heirship. In a Subsidy Roll for the hundred of Rokesly, 30 Edw. I., in the General Record Office, the chattels of Roger de Rokesly, in Foot's Cray, are valued at £25. 4s. This, doubtless, is the same individual, and mistaken by Hasted for the son of Gregory.
2. amitié.
3. vous.
4. deliver them.
5. Nicole, the old name for Lincoln.
6. poisson.
7. much, very.
8. for 'telles.'
9. for 'vais.' Literally, "I go now asking."
10. The interpretation of the entire paragraph will be: "John of Maidstone has brought from the Court such letters as [or letters similar to those] I am now asking for."
11. checker, chessboard or chequered pattern.

Miscellanea

Church Bells

Any information or extracts from churchwardens' or parish accounts, relating to the inscriptions, arms, medallions, stops, weights or dimensions of Church Bells, or the original costs, or any faculty for recasting, with the expenses; or the frames, stocks, wheels, rules for ringers, or payments to them, or the expenses in any way relating to the bells of the county of Kent, will be most thankfully received by J. R. Daniel Tyssen, Esq., of Rock Gardens, Brighton, who is collecting materials for the History of Kentish Bells.

'Escheker.' "The Exchequer took its name from the chequered cloth which was wont to be laid upon the table there" (Madox, p. 110). In the Dialogue of the Exchequer, printed in Madox, we read as follows:

"Discipulus.-Quid est Scaccarium?

Magister.-Scaccarium tabula est quadrangula, quae longitudinis quasi decem pedum, latitudinis quinque, ad modum mensae circumsedentibus apposita, undique habet limbum altitudinis quasi quatuor digitorum, ne quid appositum excidat. Superponitur autem Scaccario Superiori pannus in Termino Paschae emptus, non quilibet, sed niger virgis distinctus, distantibus a se virgis, vel pedis vel palmae extentrae spatio. In spatiis autem calculi sunt juxta ordines suos de quibus alias dicetur. Licet autem tabula talis Scaccarium dicatur, transmittatur tamen hoc nomen ut ipsa quoque Curia qua consedente Scaccario est Scaccarium dicatur; adeo ut si quandoque per sententiam aliquid de communi consilio fuerit constitutum, dicatur factum ad Scaccarium illius vel illius anni. Quod autem hodie dicitur ad Scaccarium, olim dicebatur ad Taleas.

D.-Quae est ratio hujus nominis?

M.-Nulla mihi vereor ad praesens occurrit, quam quod Scaccarii lusus similem habet formam.

D.-Nunquid antiquorum prudentia pro sola forma sic nominavit, cum et simili ratione Tabularium appellari?

M.-Merito te scrupulosum dixi. Et est alia, sed occultior. Sicut enim in Scaccario lusus quidam ordines sunt pugnatorum, et certis legibus vel limitibus procedunt vel subsistunt, praesidentibus aliis et aliis praecedentibus. Sic in hoc quidam praesident, quidam assident ex officio. Et non est cuiquam liberum leges constitutas excedere; quod erit ex consequentibus manifestum. Item, sicut in lusus, pugna committitur inter Reges; sic in hoc inter duos principaliter conflictus est et pugna committitur, Thesaurarium scilicet, et Vicecomitem qui assidet ad compotum; residentibus aliis tanquam judicibus ut videant et judicent."

Whether the 'Escheker' of our text was an actual chessboard, or a "pannus niger virgis distinctus," a chequered cloth, such as that used in the Exchequer, we must leave our readers to determine. Madox conjectures the author of the Dialogue to have been Richard Fitz Nigel, Bishop of London temp. Ric. I.

Desiderata

We close this department of our Volume by submitting the following list of subjects, on which information is much desiderated:

• Early notice of the discovery or supposed existence of Primooeval Relics
• Genealogies of Kent Families
• Ancient Heraldry of Kent Families
• Ancient Seals of Kent Families and Officials
• The Archbishops of Canterbury
• The Bishops of Rochester
• The Cathedrals of Canterbury and Rochester
• The Deans and Chapters of Canterbury and Rochester
• Ancient Charters relating to the County, whether from public records or private archives
• The Cinque Ports
• The Ancient Castles of the County
• The Ancient Mansions and Manor-Houses of the County
• The Churches of the County
• Architecture, Ecclesiastical and Civil
• Ancient Bridges, Roads, etc.
• Ancient Customs in the County
• Ancient Proverbs in the County
• Dialects and Provincialisms of the County
• The History of Gavelkind and its peculiarities
• Lists of Manors and Lands exempted from the custom of Gavelkind
• Monumental Inscriptions
• Indices to, and Notes from Parochial Registers
• Parochial Annals

On these subjects, and any others calculated to illustrate the Topography and early History of the County, we ask the hearty co-operation of all our Members.

We also invite their assistance in supplying annotations and corrections of the papers which we may from time to time publish.-L. B. L.