A perambulation of Kent conteining the description, hystorie, and customes of that shyre. Collected and written (for the most part) in the yeare. 1570. by William Lambard of Lincolnes Inne Gent. and nowe increased by the addition of some things which the authour him selfe hath obserued since that time.

Title

A perambulation of Kent conteining the description, hystorie, and customes of that shyre. Collected and written (for the most part) in the yeare. 1570. by William Lambard of Lincolnes Inne Gent. and nowe increased by the addition of some things which the authour him selfe hath obserued since that time.

Author

Lambarde, William, 1536-1601.

Publication

Imprinted at London :: [by H. Middleton] for Ralphe Nevvberie, dwelling in Fleetestreete a litle aboue the Conduit,

Anno. 1576.

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"A perambulation of Kent conteining the description, hystorie, and customes of that shyre. Collected and written (for the most part) in the yeare. 1570. by William Lambard of Lincolnes Inne Gent. and nowe increased by the addition of some things which the authour him selfe hath obserued since that time." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A72509.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 2, 2024. content_copy

Contents

• title page
• ¶ To his Countriemen, the Gen∣tlemen of the Countie of Kent.
• ¶ GVLIELMVS FLETE∣wodus Vrbis Londinen∣sis Recordator, ad candi∣dum Lectorem.
• The Saxon Characters, and their values.
  • The pointes.
• SVndry faultes (gentle Reader) haue we vnwillingly cōmitted, in this Booke, im∣printed in the absence of the Authour. Of these, some do blemish only the beautie of our owne workmanship: others do offend against the lawes of Orthographie: Some doe shrewdly peruert the sense of the writer, and will stay thee: others doe vtterly euert his meaning, and will muche trouble thee. Suche therefore as be most daun∣gerous, we haue here set before thine eye, beseeching thee to amende them with thine owne pen, before thou enter into the Booke: The whiche labour (we doubt not) but thou wilt the more willingly vndertake in this one copie, when thou shalt haue rightly weighed, what a worke it woulde be for vs, to perfourme it in sixe hundreth bookes.
• map
• ¶ The exposition of this Map of the English Heptarchie, or seauen Kingdomes.
• ¶ The description and hystorie, of the Shyre of Kent.
  • The Lathe of S. Augustines.
  • The Lathe of Shepvvay.
  • The Lathe of Scray, or Shervvinhope.
  • The Balywike of Kay, in the Hundred of Mylton.
  • The Balywike of Shepey, in the Hundred of Mylton.
  • The Balywike of West, in the Hundred of Mylton.
  • The Balywike of Kay, in the Hundred of Mylton.
  • The Balywike of Borden, in the Hundred of Mylton.
  • The Lathe of Aylesforde.
  • The Lathe of Sutton at Hone.
  • ¶ The names of suche of the Nobilitie, and Gentrie, as the Heralds recorded, in their visitation. 1574. To the whiche I haue added suche as I called to mynde, and haue set a starre before ech of them, that they may be knowne from the rest.
  • The names of the Kentish writers, drawne (for the most part) out of the Centuries of Maister Iohn Bale.
• ¶ A short counsell, as touching the Bryttishe hystorie.
• The Byshops See, and Diocesse, of Canterbury.
• Tanet, called in Brytish, Inis Rhuo∣chym, of the Shore Rutupi: it is named of some writers, in Latine (or rather Greeke) Thana∣tos, in Saxon, tenet, in stead of ƿaenet.
• The Goodwine, or Good∣vvine Sandes.
• Richeborowe in Latine, Ʋrbs Ru∣tupina: in Saxon (ReptacHester) the name being forged (as I coniecture) either of the Bryttishe woord (Rwyd) whiche signifieth a net, in token that it stoode by fishing: or of (Rwydd) whiche signifieth speede, bycause from thence (as some thinke) is the moste shorte and speedy cutte ouer the Seas.
• The Cinque Portes.
• Sandwiche is called in Latine, Sabu∣louicum, or Portus Rutupinus, in Saxon Sondƿic, that is to say, the Sandie Towne, because the coast ther∣about aboundeth withe Sande.
• Eastrye.
• Dele. Dela in Latine, after Leland: I coniecture that it tooke the name of the Saxon woord þille, whiche is a (plaine flooer) or leuel, by rea∣son that it lyeth flat and leuel to the Sea.
• Douer, called in Latine, Dorus, Du∣rus, Doueria, Dubris, and Dorubernia: In Saxon Sofra. All whiche names be deriued either of the Brit∣tishe word (Dufir) whiche signifieth water, or of the word (Dufirha) whiche betokeneth highe, or steepe: for the si∣tuation of the place, (beeing a highe rocke, han∣ging ouer the water) might iustly giue occasion to name it after either.
• Folkstone in Saxon, folcestane, Id est, Populi Lapis, or else, flostane, whiche signi∣fieth a rocke, or a flawe of stone.
• Saltwood.
• Hyde, is written in Saxon Hyþe, that is, the Hauen: and called of Leland in Latine, Portus Hithinus, in some Recordes, Hethe.
• Shipwey, or Shipweyham, in the Re∣cordes: commonly, Shipwey Crosse.
• Courtopstrete, commonly: but truly Court at Strete.
• Bylsington.
• Rumney, called in Saxon, Rumen ea; that is to say, The large watrie place, or Marishe: It is written in the Records corruptly, Rume∣nal, and Ro∣mual.
• Neshe, called in Saxon (Nesse) vvhiche signifieth a Nebbe, or nose of the land, extended into the Sea.
• Apledore, in Saxon Apul∣tre, in Latine, Malus, that is, an Apletree.
• Stone, in the Ile of Oxney, cal∣led in Saxon (Stana) that is, a stone, or as the Northren men yet speake, A Steane.
• Newendene, in Saxon, Niƿeldene, that is, The lowe or deepe valley: Leland calleth it Nouiodu∣num, whiche worde is framed out of the Saxon Niƿan∣dune, & soundeth as much as the Newe Hill.
• The Weald, so named of on worde peald, which signifieth A woodie countrie. The Britons called it Andred, of which worde the Sax∣ons called it AnSreSesleag, in Latine, Saltus An∣dred the chase of Andred. This latter name was imposed for the exceeding great∣nesse of it: for Anrhsed in Brit∣tish, is as much as great, or wonderfull.
• Farley, in Saxon, farrlega, and may be interpreted, the place of the Boares, or Bulles.
• Maidstone, contractly for Med∣weys Towne: in Saxon MeSƿegestun, that is, the Towne vpon Medway: it is taken to be that whiche in Antoninus, is called Duropronis. One auncient Saxon boke, which I haue seene writeth it thus, Maegþanstane, whiche is as muche to say, as the mightie, or strong stone: a name (belike) giuen for the Quarrey of hard stone there.
• Piccendene Hothe, commonly, but aunciently written Pinenden, of Pi∣nian, to punishe: and so it soun∣deth the place of Ex∣ecution, or punish∣ment.
• Boxley, may take the name eyther of the Saxon word (boxeleage) for the store of Box∣trees that peraduenture sometime grewe there, or of (bucesleag) whiche is as muche to say, as a place lying in Vmbelico, in the midst, or Nauell of the Shyre, as in deede this Box∣ley dothe.
• Mylton, in Saxon Midetun, so called of the situation, for it lyeth in the midst betweene two places, the termination of whose names be in tun also, that is to say, Newen∣tun, and Marstun.
• Sedingbourne, in Saxon Saetungbur∣na; that is, the Hamlet along the Bourne, or small Riuer. One interpreteth it, as if it were, Seething∣bourne, Riuus Feruiens, aut Bulliens, but howe likely let others see.
• Tong Castle, or rather Thong Castle, in Saxon þƿangceastse, in Brittish Caerkerry, of (Thwang, and Karry) both whiche woords, signifie a Thong of leather.
• Tenham, in Saxon TynHam; that is to say, a Towne (or Hamlet) often houses, as Eightam, had the name of EaHtHam, a Hamlet (or Towne) of eight dwellings.
• Shepey, in Latine, Insula ouium, & Oninia, in Saxon, Sceapige, the Ile of Sheepe.
• Quinborowe, called in Latine, Regius Burgus, in Saxon, CyningburH, That is to say, The Kings Castle.
• Feuersham, in Saxon fafresHam;
• Genlade, and Gladmouthe.
• Reculuers, in Saxon Raculf Myn∣ster; deriued (as I gesse) of the Brittish woord, Racor, that signifieth forward, for so it stan∣deth, toward the Sea.
• Stouremouthe, in Latine, Ostium Sturae, that is to say, the mouth of the Riuer Stoure.
• VVingham.
• Watling streete in Saxon, ƿeatling∣astrete, of one Weatle, whome the prin∣ted booke of Mat. West. calleth vn∣truly Wading.
• Lyminge.
• Baramdowne, in the Saxon, BarHamdune; That is to say, the hill where the Bores do abide.
• Charteham.
• Chilham Castle, in Saxon Cyleham, that is, the colde dwelling.
• Wye, the word in Brittish signifieth, an Egge.
• Motindene, of Mod and dene' that is, the proude valley, a name imposed (as I thinke) for the fertilitie.
• Canterbury, is called in Saxon Cātparabyrig, that is to say, The citie (or court) of the men of Kent: whiche also agreeth with the Brittishe worde Caer Kent, signifying the Citie of Kent. It is termed in Latine diuersly, of some Doruernum, and Daruernum, of others, Du∣rouernum: of some Dorobernia, and of some Doro∣brinia, All whiche names, Leland coniectureth to proceede, eyther of the Riuer called Stowr (as we haue shewed) or else of the Brittishe worde Dour, whiche signifieth water, bycause the countrey thereaboutes, is plentuously stored therwith. One other late writer, taketh it to be called Daruernum, as if it were, Dour ar guerne, that is, the water neare the Fenne or Marish.
• Hakington.
• Harbaldowne, by Can∣terbury.
• Norwood, that is to say, the North wood.
• Leedes, in Latine of some Lodanum, of others Ledanum Castrum.
• The description, and hystorie, of the, See and Diocesse of Rochester.
• Gillingham.
• Chetham.
• Frendsbury, in some Saxon co∣pies freondesbyrig, that is, the Friendes Court: in others, frinondesbyrig.
• Rochester is called in Latine, Do∣robreuum, Durobreuum, Dorubernia, and Durobri∣uis, in Brittishe, Dourbryf, that is to say, a swift streame: in Saxon, Hrofesce∣astre; that is, Rofi ciui∣tas, Rofes citie, in some olde Chartres, Rofi breui.
• Stroude, aunciently called Strodes, of the Saxon worde (Strogd) which signifieth Scattered, bicause it was a Hamlet of a few houses, that lay scattered from the Citie.
• ¶ Halling, in Saxon Haling, that is to say, the holsome lowe place, or Meadowe.
• ¶ Ailesforde, or Eilesforde, called in some Saxon copies, Egelesford, that is the Foorde, of passage ouer the Riuer Egle, or Eyle: In others Angelesford, which is, the passage of the Angles, or Englishe men. It is falsly tearmed of some, Alencester, Allepord, Aelstrea, by deprauation of the writers of the sun∣drie copies (as I sus∣pect) and not o∣therwise.
• Mallinge, in Saxon, Mealing of Mealuing, that is, the Lowe place flourishing with meale, or Corne, for so it is eue∣ry where accōp∣ted.
• Tunbridge, called of Mat. Par. Thebrugge, corruptly for tonebrycge, that is, the Bridge ouer Tone: but if it be truly written tunbrycge, thē it signifieth, the towne of Bridges, as in deed it hath many.
• Asherst, in Saxon, Acsehyrst, that is, the Wood consisting of Ashes.
• ¶ Depeforde, in Latine Vadum profundum, and in auncient Euidences West Greenewiche.
• ¶ Greenewiche, in Latine, Viridis finus: in Saxon, grenapic; that is to say, the Greene Towne. In auncient euidences, Eastgreenewiche, for diffe∣rence sake from Dep∣forde, which in olde Instruments is cal∣led westgreene∣wiche.
• ¶ Blackheathe.
• Lesnes, mistaken, as I thinke for Lesƿes (Leswes) whiche signifi∣ethe, Pastures.
• Earethe, in some olde euidences, Eard, deriued (as I gesse) of Aerre Hyðe, that is the olde Hauen.
• Crayforde, in Saxon Creccanford, that is, the Ford, or passage ouer the water Crecca, now called Cray.
• Dartforde, in Saxon, Derentford; in latine, Derenti vadūtit signifieth, the ford, or passage ouer the Riuer Derent.
• ¶ Grauesende, in Saxon, Gerefesend: in Latine, Limes Praetorius.
• ¶ Cliffe at Hoo, written commonly in auncient Bookes, Cloueshoo, for CliofesHoo, which is as much to say, as Clifs hoo, or Cliffe at Hoo.
• Swanscombe, called in Saxon, Spegenscomb, that is, the camp of Sweyn, the Dane, that encamped at Grene∣hithe hard by.
• ¶ Mepham, aunciently written MeapaHam.
• Wrotham, in Latine Vaginacae: It is in the Domesday booke corruptly written (Brotcham) for I suppose, that ƿyrHam, is the very right name, giuen for the great plentie of woorts or good hearbs that growe there.
• Kemsing.
• Otforde, in Saxon, Ottanford.
• Holmes Dale, that is to say, the Dale betweene the wooddie hilles.
• Sennocke, or (as some call it) Seauen oke, of a number of trees, as it is coniectured.
• Eltham.
• The Customes of Kent.
• Kent.
• The names of such persons, as pro∣cured their possessions to be altered from the na∣ture of Gauelkinde, by acte of Parleament made .31. H. 8. Cap. 3.
• conclusion
• A Table, conteining the principall places, and matters, handeled in this Booke.
• colophon