P. ERRATA. iv. 1. 2. for since read so since v. 1. 19. for Sir Roger Twisden read Sir Edward Dering 14. 1. 27. (note) for devotaries read votaries 34. 1. 21. (note) for inconnected read unconnected 48. 1. 32. for have carucates read have five carucates 50. 1. 1. 10. for is read are 1. 21. dele of 82. 1. 12. after established church, add and for such of its own members as were not satisfied with infant sprinkling 89. 1. 1. for if read of 90. 1. 15. for John Streatfield read of John Streatfield 2. (note) for there read three 103. 1. last, for Carly read Carey 145. 1. 150. 1. 151. 1. 161. 1. 8. for encompass read compose 5. for Stephen read Thomas 6. for occupy read occupies 184. 1. 10. for encompass read compose 180. 1. 1. 21. for ornamented read ornamental 191. 1. 13. for lod read old 1. 14. for reference read in reference 209. 1. 2. dele which 217. 1. 13. for John Simson, Esq. one of the representatives in the late and present parliaments for the town of Maidstone and a ban ker in London, read John Simpson, Esq. late high sheriff of this county 237. 1. 27. for Sussex read Norfolk 243. 1. 19. for Henry II. read Henry (II). 256. 1. 8. for monument for read monument of 268. 1. 6. and 7. read who is put in by the quarter sessions as a parenthesis. 269. 1. 12. for on embassies read on other embassies 272. 1. 28. for capellarius read capellanus Introduction. BOUNDARY.-The boundary of the WEALD OF KENT, as deduced from the best authorities, may be thus described: Beginning at Aldington on the margin of Romney-marsh eastward, it extends along the top of the Rag-stone hill above the churches of Kingsnorth, Great Chart, Pluckley, Sutton, Linton, Hunton, Yalding, and across the Medway by Teston and Wateringbury, leaving the former to the right: from thence by Herts-hill, River-hill and Ide-hill, to Well-street on the borders of Surry, and then following the boundary lines of Surry and Sussex on the west and south, embraces the Isle of Oxney, and extends along the margin of Romney-marsh; forming its northern confine. Though this is now the commonly received opinion as to the limits of that part of the WEALD within the county of Kent, there are still some who maintain a contrary opinion, nor will it appear strange that a difference should prevail considering the imperfect data on which any opinion can be founded. The mention made of it by the earliest writers is by no means satisfactory, their assertions evidently resting not on public and authentic records, or well grounded research, but on oral tradition and vulgar report alone. The anglo-saxon chronicler Asserius,* and after him Henry of * Asserius Menevensis, (that is, Asser of St. David's) Bishop of Shirburn, in the reign of Alfred the great. He was born in Pembrokeshire in South Wales; and educated in the monastery of St. David's by the Archbishop Asserius, to whom according to Leland he was related. In this monastery Huntingdon and others, assert that the WEALD extended one hundred and twenty miles towards the west, and thirty miles in breadth towards the north, reckoning from Winchelsea in Sussex; and that it embraced a portion of the several counties of Kent, Surry, Sussex and Hants; but admitting this statement to be strictly correct, still the exact line of demarcation is left uncertain and indefinite. Whatever authority we may be inclined to attach to the testimony of Asserius in matters of which he might be capable of determining, we must do violence to common sense, to admit without consideration his testimony in this particular: that he was one of the best informed men of his time may be presumed from the notice taken of him by Alfred, yet he might, and we have good grounds for supposing he was, incapable of deciding with precision the exact limits of this part of the royal demesne; andthe reason for this conclusion is simple and obvious. Not withstanding the he became a Monk, and by his assiduous application soon acquired universal fame as a person of profound learning and great abilities. Alfred the munificent patron of genius, about the year 880, sent for him to court. The King was then at Dean in Wiltshire. He was so charmed with Asser that he made him his preceptor and companion. As a reward for his services he appoined him abbot of two or three different monasteries; and at last promoted him to the episcopal see of Shirburn where he died and was buried in the year 910. He was, says Pits, a man of a happy genius, wonderful modesty, extensive learning, and great integrity of life. He is said to have been principally instrumental in persuading the King to restore the university of Oxford to its pristine dignity and lustre. He wrote De Vita et rebus gestis Alfredi, &c. Lond. 1574, published by Archbishop Parker in the old Saxon character, at the end of Walsinghami Hist.' Francf. 1602 fol. and at Oxford in 1722, 8vo. Many other works are ascribed to him by Gale, Bale and Pits; but all, (says the Editor of the Ency. Brit.) doubtful. * Henry of Huntingdon, canon of Lincoln, and afterwards Archdeacon of Huntingdon. His works are 1. A History of England brought down to the year 1154. 2. A continuation of that of Bede. 3. Chronological tables of the Kings of England. 4. A small treatise on the contempt of the World. 5. Several books of Epigrams and love verses, and 6. A poem on Herbs the whole of which are written in latin |