Monumental Brasses in Kent

( ^ ) MONUMENTAL BRASSES IN KENT. BY RALPH GRIFEIN, F.S.A. ST. JAMES (OLD CBTJECH), DOVER. IN this church Haines notes one brass as in S.C. It is still in the church, but has been taken up from the floor, and the slab is now mural against the south wall of an annexe to the church which is called a vestry hall. The brass itself originally consisted of effigies of a man and woman, an inscription under them, on a plate 6 inches by 19 inches (now lost), and a plate above the heads of larger size (8£ inches by 18£ inches), oh which are two verses, each of four Latin lines, the first elegiacs bearing the initials I. G., the second hexameters with the initials W. E . These verses make it clear that the person commemorated was in holy orders and named Vincent Huffam. They run thus:— IN CHRISTO VINCENS MORTEM VINCENTIVS HVFEAM MVTATO MORIENS NOMINE, VICTOR ABIT DOCTI LOQVVS VIVENS CHRISTI, VERBIQ3 MINISTER, ET PIVS ET DIGNVS, MORTVVS ASTRA COIIT I G QVI SEMEL IN TERRIS VIXIT VINCENTIVS HviTAM MORTWS -EST, DVRO ET JACET HIC SVB MARMORE TEOTVS DOCTEINA, VITA, EIDE, MVNDO SP1ENDIDVS OLIM IN OiEItfS EJ5MX CVM CHRISTO VIVIT IN JBYVM WE. The male effigy is in the usual doublet and knee breeches, with the gown with short hanging sleeves temp. James I. 2S MONUMENTAL BRASSES IN RENT. Bound the neck, falling in front like a stole, is the scarf as worn at this date by the clergy and graduates. A small ruff is round the neck. The hair is short, and a beard and moustache are worn. The little boy standing in front is blessed by his father's left hand, while the right hand is extended in the attitude of prayer, as the wife's left hand is, a pleasing indication of united prayer by the father and mother for blessing on their children. The boy is in a gown with a large collar turned back. The lady wears a curious cap, apparently of net work with side lappets. She wears a ruff, a peaked bodice, and a gown with close sleeves and turned back cuffs. She has a skirt and plain petticoat. In front stands her daughter, the mother's right hand resting on the daughter's French hood. The child is more elaborately dressed than her mother with a large " s t a r " ruff and a gown not like her mother's, open in front, but gathered and bunched up below the waist. Haines assigns to the brass the date circa 1600. Haines' assignment of date can now be confirmed, for Mr. T. S. Frampton, F.S.A., one of our Vice-Presidents, has been good enough, with his usual kindness, to furnish information which enables the account now given to be written. The name Hougham (pronounced Huffam and often so spelt) is well known in Kent. A full account of the family of that name, which resided at Ash, and of its connections is to be found in Planche's Corner of Kent. Stephen Hougham of Weddington in Ash next Sandwich (who died about Dec. 1555) married Bennet Brooke of Brooke House in that parish (she was buried 9 June 1560). Their second son was Eichard, who settled at Eastry and married, 27 Nov. 1558, according to the Ash Eegister (Planche, p. 398), Jane Ford (called Joan Foad at p. 394). The second son of this latter marriage was Vincent Hougham, baptized at Ash 26 July 1566, and married there, 1 Jan. 1590-91, to Elizabeth Pynnock. Vincent's first child Magdalen was baptized there 3 Oct. 1591. When he took orders does not appear, but he was appointed, on the presentation of the Dean and Chapter y> ( ftRI! Fl : VINCJLN riiSh'vFMv.s4 fc WVTATO UOI' . NhS'OMIVE VICTOR \»1T PpCTI IjDQVVS VilVENJ ClIRbTI.VF.MlIO^MINIiTtR, ETP1VSE1 DIGNVS -iOKivv- ^TRACOLIJ • ,. I C 1 (^Vi SEMtl IN rERMSmn VINCE!NTlVSHyFFM« ! DVR0E1 I.V-CrttK 5\BMARMOREtEC^KS «)CTR}NA,VITA,Ei.pE,MVNDO M'l.F:J i i ioi - 'Li I M . "I CHPIbTO VTVIT IN fn>V*Jig*>«w^A«^i^-tjy^.;^ Jwus nmmoa r-7^7 § /VKF^IInliVHl wvo i WJUJW m Pireuo - - * f r r • " • - » - ' • — " - ^ • • • • ^ - " - r ~ - ~ > . * - v v N - - ^ ^ . - ^ - N ^ ^ ^ . ^ - = . ' ^ i ^ j V > f ^ — K ' _ ~ - — • J s X — ^ s s f t ^ s y PETER BE LACY, RECTOR, 1376. NORTHFLEET, KENT. (Prom a Drawing by Thomas Eisher, E.S, A.) I WILLIAM LYE, EECTOB, 1391. NOKTHFLEET, KEKT. (Inscription and Shields lost.) NORTHELEET. 45 especially with John Piel, citizen and alderman. Immediately after Peter's death his brother and heir Nicholas, who was also in orders (Clericus), by a deed now in the British Museum (Harl. Ch. 52, H. 51), given at Nustede on Monday next after the feast of St. Nicholas the bishop, 49 Edward III. , transferred to this John Piel an estate which Peter had bought of Thos. Coleshurst, rector of Nustede. This gives the impression that Peter was only concerned in these transactions as a feoffee to uses. The will of Peter de Lacy is at Lambeth (Reg. Sudbury, fol. 83b), and is very short. I t was made at London on St. Michael's day 1375, and was proved on the fifth kalends of November in that year in the church of St. Katherine within the churchyard of Holy Trinity, London, by Dns. Nicholas Lacy, rector of Bradwell, dioc. Norwich, and Eobt. Waudon, clerk, two of the executors named in it. The other two, viz., Dns. Wm. de Fulborne, rector of the church of Fulbourne, and John Wysshell, clerk, did not prove. The will simply directs burial in the chancel at Northflete, and the expenditure of 100 shillings at the burying, and leaves the residue to the executors. But Wm. de Fulborne, though he did not prove, seems to have acted, for in 1376 under date 22 June is an entry on the patent rolls that he and Eobt. Waudon, ex'ors of the will of" Peter de Lacy, prebendary of Swerdes, staying in England, had letters nominating Eobt. Crull and John Gryffyn, clerk, as their attorneys in Ireland. Eobt. de Crull appears to have succeeded to the prebend, for he is described as king's clerk and prebendary of Swerdes in the same rolls, under date 24- June 1376, when he has licence to ship from any port in Ireland all the fruits of his prebend and bring them to England or Wales to make a profit of them. In conclusion two points may be mentioned. There is in the Eecord Office what is probably the only piece of writing in the hand of the Black Prince. In it is the name of Peter de Lacy. Secondly, one of his last acts seems to have been to give a messuage in St. Elphege, Canterbury, to John Styward and Nicholas de Lodynton, chaplains in the chantry 4 6 MONUMENTAL BRASSES IN KENT. new founded by Edward, Prince of Aquitaine and Wales, and their successors, evidenced by an inquest ad quod damnum in 1372. II. On the other side of the chancel at Northfleet is another paving-stone in which has been inserted (1) the half effigy in Eucharistic vestments, all that remains of the brass of William Lye, rector of Northfleet, who died in 1391, and also (2) the mutilated effigy of William Eikhill, eldest son of Sir William Eikhill, in armour (legs gone). Alongside is the effigy of his wife Katherine (see No. VI., post). All three effigies are head to the east. As to the first of these there is a reproduction of the half effigy and of the slab in Custumale. The inscription ran, according to Reg. Roff., p. 751, $%it jutt Bonumts astflfeftrnts %ijot tjtutmBam xtttov Be fHovfyfLttt (fiti abiit ix Bte JFamtaru amto Domtm mil* lestnto Mta IXXXXB prtmo. Thorpe has probably expanded the contractions, as he usually does. At the date of the Custumale the inscription was gone, as were the shields, which had borne a lion rampant (p. 136), no doubt Or, a lion rampant gules, for Legh of Cheshire. Plate xxix shews the indent of the inscription and of the lost shields, which were close up to the lower border of the inscription, with their tops touching it, one being at each end as if they formed brackets to support it. The half effigy, as it now is (shewn in the illustration), has been slightly restored, as an old rubbing shews that small portions had been broken off from the top of the head and from the amice. It does not need description, as there is no important variation from the vestments shewn in No. I. The arrangement, however, of the vestments at the wrist is peculiar, and not very clear. No apparel is shewn on the albe, a somewhat remarkable feature. It will be observed from the reproduction that shading, which has such a bad effect on later brasses, is here introduced boldly and judiciously. NORTHELEET. 47 William Lye, according to Mr. Fielding, was rector of Adisham 1386—90 and of Northfleet from 1389. It is stated (Archceologia Cantiana, Vol. XIV., p. 163) that he was rector of Haseley in the diocese of Lincoln, and exchanged that rectory for Adisham with Dr. John Prophet (brass at Eingwood, Hants), chaplain to Archbishop Courtenay. William Lye also held a canonry and prebendal stall at Wingham. He came to Northfleet also by exchange with Eeginald de Cobham (brass at Cobham), who had held Northfleet since 1378-9 (or 1375, according to Mr. Fielding). William Lye made his will (P.C.C., 3, Bous) on the 9th Jan. 1391, and begins by stating that he only makes it " by licence of my master the Abp. of Canterbury," so that he was probably closely connected with Archbishop Courtenay and his chaplain Dr. Prophet. William Lye commends his soul to his patron St. Botolph (the church of Northfleet is dedicated to St. Botolph), and directs his burial in the chancel of Northfleet " coram stallo Rectoris ejusdem." He goes on to provide for use in celebrating divine service of one chest bound with iron, and he leaves to the church vestments, a thurible of silver " eum swagis deauratis," and a new chalice of silver, well gilt. The will goes on, "Item lego unum pannum sericum bonum ad tegendum corpus d'ci Will'i et remanebit penes Eccl'iam." The testator also leaves the church two surplices and a missal. All this he says he leaves to induce the churchwardens to keep his anniversary solemnly and with ringing of the bells. He makes further provision for his funeral expenses, and then leaves his better horse to the Archdeacon of Canterbury, Magr. de Mottroun (Adam Mottrum). He also leaves a large mazer with cover silver gilt for use in the refectory of the priory of Canterbury. He leaves Magister John Prophete a silver covered cup, and he leaves the same to his executors Godfrey Maston, rector of " Wythlesh'm " (P Wittersham), and Walter, rector of Staplehurst. It may be that the magnificent chest still in Northfleet church is the one bequeathed by Master Lye. La 1383 Wm. Lye, clerk, has a conveyance to himself and 48 MONUMENTAL BRASSES IN KENT. his heirs of the reversion of the manor of Sellynges, for which he gave 200 marcs (Feet of Fines, Eichard II., No. 457). This seems to have been the manor of Sellinge by Monk's Horton, as it is stated to be held for life by Wm. Bonevill, "chivaler," of the inheritance of Cecily de Turbervill the transferor. Though there is a warranty against the heirs of Cecily this is possibly only a conveyance to uses. I I I . This is reproduced from Add. MS. 82,369, fol. 46. Fisher found it in the north chapel, and it was on a slab 5 feet by 2 feet, while the top line of the shield of arms was 4£ inches long. Reg. Roff., p. 752, notes it as in the north isle, though at the end, at p. 756 (where appear some inscriptions apparently not then in the church, but copied from Weever), appears this : Hie jacei Alicia quondam uxor Willelmi Wangdeford que obiit die Lune prox' post diem dominicam in ramis pialmarum 1421. See Custumale, p. 136. The arms are copied by Philipot, and he assigns them to William Wandeford, esq., who deceased anno 1420, and Alice his wife. The arms do not appear to be recorded in any of the printed books of reference usually consulted, and an enlarged illustration of them is here given, prepared from Fisher's original "dab. " He carefully notes that the field and mullets are white, being no doubt in lead. The other colours, as well as the kind of bird which is delineated, must await further investigation; they cannot at present be determined. They may be wagtails, for which a local name in the north is " wang." These arms are carved on a boss of the roof of the cloisters at Canterbury. See Archaeologia, vol. Ixvi., plate xli., and p. 480. The matter is of interest from the Kentish point of view, because this, so far as at present noted, is the only memorial remaining of a member of a family which flourished in the fifteenth century, but of which little definite is known. In the foundation charter of the perpetual chantry erected by Sir John de Cobham, one of the founders of the new 1 • ; •• 4 1 : '! f • - ' ' ' ! &£ 1 ] • • i ' L-_ i • IMM ALICE WANGDEFOBD, 1421. NORTHFLEET, KENT. (JVOIV lost. From a Drawing by Thomas Fisher, F.S.A.) ARMS OF WANGDEFOBD, FHOM THE BRASS TO AXICE WANGDEFOBD, 1421. NOETHFLEET, KENT. (Pull size, from an old rubbing.) NORTHFLEET. 49 bridge at Eochester circa 1393, the chaplains are directed to pray for the benefactors of the bridge, as well those living as those dead, and amongst the names of those living specially mentioned appear William Wangford and Eleanor his wife, and in the list of estates vested in the wardens and commonalty of Eochester Bridge, temp. Henry VIII., appears " His place at London in Cornhil] at the Shafte was given and mortyzed by William Wainford to the value of 12 marcs above all reprises." He appears to have had a country seat at Northfleet at the manor of Derndale. Hasted, copying Philipot, says it had come before the latter end of the reign of Edward HI. into the possession of William Wangdeford or Wainford, whose son William Wangdeford was serjeantat- law and a benefactor of Eochester Bridge. The latter is said to have sold it in 1436, but this is a little difficult to assent to, as by the will of Wm. Wangeforde of Northfleet, made 20 Jan. 1458 and proved 30 April 1459 (P.C.C., 16 Stokton, fol. 125"), the testator after directing his burial in Northfleet church leaves his manor of Derendale to John Clifton, who was evidently a minor, as he is to be governed by the executors till he is of full age and discretion. Thomas Wombwell was one of the executors. The will does not state that the testator was learned in the law, but it may be inferred because he makes a specific bequest of his law books to Eichard Burke, and this fact is confirmed by certain documents now in the Eecord Office (Early Chancery Proceedings, Bundle 28, No. 430), which shew that John Heel, master of the Hospital of St. Thomas of Acres, and Gregory Byrkes sue Thomas Wombwell, their co-executor under the will of William Wangford, serjeant-at-law, for lands in Gravesend devised by the will to establish a priest to singin St. Botolph's, Northfleet. At a later date (Bundle 69, No. 62) Margaret, daughter of William Wangford, late citizen and draper of London, sues John Eous as a feoffee to uses for a messuage in Waterdale, Northfleet. In 1390 Wm. Wangford, citizen and clothier of London, appears as a feoffee, it would seem, of John Brikbelle, VOL, xxxii, E 50 MONUMENTAL BRASSES IN KENT. citizen and clothier of London, in a fine (Feet of Fines, 13 Eichard II., No. 680) of land in Northfleet. In 1448 the Pope grants a licence to have a portable altar to Wm. Wangford, lord of the place of Serondald, diocese Canterbury. In 1484 Thomas Wombwell, by his will, directed prayers to be said for Margaret Clifton and John Clifton. IV. This is reproduced from Add. MS. 32,369, fol. 46. Each of the upper shields was 4 | inches across at top. Fisher found it in the chancel and so did Waller in 1837. The inscription was gone in Fisher's time, but Reg. Roff., p . 7513 preserves it. It ran : " Hie jacet Willelmus Hesill quondam unus baronum de scaceario domini regis qui obiit ix° die Aprilis anno domini millesimo cccc0 xxv° et Agnes uxor ejus Quorum," etc. Custumale (p. 136) notes the plate with the inscription as lost. The arms are noted by Philipot, but he does not explain the impaled coat, which does not correspond to the recorded arms of the Kentish branch of the house of Appleton. It is no doubt intended for Argent, a bear sable, crowned or, the coat assigned by Papworth to the family of'Apleton in co. Lancaster. The shields above bear Hesill, Argent, a chevron sable between three trefoils slipped vert. Some particulars of the Appleton s of Kent are given by Major Heales, F.S.A., in Archaologia Cantiana, Vol. XVIII., p. 328. They no doubt originally came from Lancashire. The lady, mentioned on the brass was Agnes, daughter of John Appleton, and after the death of her husband, the Baron of the Exchequer of Henry the Sixth, she married again Eobert Molyngton, a brother of Sir Thos. Molyngton, Baron of Wemme, and she was buried at Dartford at her death in 1454. A brass was laid down to her at Dartford, the effigy of which still remains, shewing her in her widow's dress. The inscription has gone, but its purport is preserved. The William Hesill commemorated is first heard of as u WILLIAM HESSIL, 1425, AND WIFE AGNES. NORTHFLEET, KENT. (Now lost. From a Drawing by Thomas Fisher, F.S.A.) s-'s g MS MAEGABET BABON, 1429. NORTHFLEET, KENT. Now lost. From a Drawing by Thomas Fisher, F.S.A.) NORTHELEET. 51 auditor of the Exchequer, of which he became a baron in 1421. Foss, vol. iv., p. 326, says he retired in 1424, probably from ill-health, as he died soon afterwards. There was a family of the name of Hesill at Beverley in Yorkshire at the end of the fourteenth century, and the baron may have come from thence. There are constant entries on the patent rolls shewing that Wm. Hesill was in important commissions in Kent and elsewhere, and in 1421 is an entry of his appointment as Baron of the Exchequer. In 1388 is an entry on the patent rolls that Wm. Hesill and others are to keep safe Elizabeth the daughter and heir of William son of William son of Thomas Playce until the Court determines whether her marriage belongs to the king or to Thomasia de Fumy vale, and Margaret her daughter. In 1396 there is on the patent rolls evidence of a grant for 200 marcs to Wm. Hesill, one of the auditors of the Exchequer, and his wife Agnes and his heirs, of rents in Dartford and elsewhere in Kent, forfeited by Nicholas Brembre, knight. Part of these rents were held for life as thirds by Margaret, late wife of Thos. de Graunson, knight, the inheritance only being in the said Nicholas. In 1412 there is a fine (Feet of Fines, Henry IV., No. 608) about lands and a rent of a half quarter of wheat in Northfleet, Southfleet and Horton [Kirby], by which the property, being that of Margaret the wife of Wm. Baroun, citizen and dyer of London, is transferred by them to Wm. Hesill, Eiehard Appelton, and Gilbert Anlaby, clerk, and the heirs of Wm. Hesill for 100 marcs. V. This is reproduced from Add. MS. 32,369, fol. 48. It was in the chancel on a slab 5 feet by 2 feet 9 inches, and the inscription was on a brass plate 26£ inches by 4^ inches. Reg. Rqff., p. 751, notes it as in the chancel, and Waller notes the slab as in the chancel, but the inscription as loose in the clerk's house. E 2 52 MONUMENTAL BRASSES IN KENT. The inscription is for Margaret the wife of William Baron, citizen and dyer of London. She died in 1429. The inscription is also for her son Master Nicholas, whose will is probably the one at Somerset House (P.C.C., 5, Luffenham), proved on the 1st June 1425, though it was made in July 1424. In it he is described as " clericus," and he desires to be buried in the chancel of the church of St. Botolph, Northfleet, before the image of the Blessed Mary. He leaves the vicar a gown (jupa) doubled with " bokeram." He also mentions the parish clerk Wm. Cosyn, and leaves his residue to his father Wm. Baron, dyer, whom he makes executor. He makes no mention of any clerical preferment. A Nicholas Baron was at Harbledown in 1422 and at Cuxton- from 1422 to 1425, but whether it is the same Nicholas cannot be decided on present materials, though it seems somewhat probable. The family of Baron was long resident in the neighbourhood of Dartford. The name of Eobert Baron appears on the patent rolls in various important commissions in that neighbourhood from 1360 onwards. Thus in 1361 he is appointed with Simon de Kegworth and John Beer to take in the county of Kent carpenters, masons, and other workmen for the king's works at Dartford Priory. In 1378 a pension is given to William Baron, groom of the poultry in the late king's household. In 1389 is a grant for life to Eobert Baron, homer of London, whom the king has retained to serve him with horns and other things pertaining to his mystery, of the king's livery of clothing every year in the great wardrobe as other homers of his condition have been wont to receive, and he has a writ in aid for taking servants and horns. In 1417 there is a pardon to John Lovekyn of Cirencester, tanner, for not appearing to answer William Baron, citizen and dyer of London, of a debt of 45 shillings, and in 1420 another to one Eye of Gloucestershire, but the debt is £6 18s. In 1428 a William Baron is appointed controller of the petty custom in the Port of London. He is to write his rolls with his own hand, to abide at his post, do nothing by "NORTHELEET. 53 deputy, and have the custody of one part of the seal called " coket." This William Baron is much employed and has many grants down to 1461, and in 1445 he appears as teller of the Exchequer. In 1437 he gets a grant of the manor of Whitchurch, Oxon. It is of course quite impossible to say that these entries all relate to the same person. In 1449, when Eichard, Duke of York, and his wife Cecily are settling their property in feoffees, these feoffees include William Cantlowe and William Baron. The property includes some in Kent, viz., f manor of Kyngesdowne and the manor of Erith (Feet of Fines, Div. Counties, Nos. 343,344). In the Ancient Deeds preserved in the Eecord Office are three, dated 1362 to 1368, by which Eobert Baron'of Dartford acquires property in Dartford, which Joan, daughter of Eobert Boleyne or Boloyne of Clyff, had inherited after the death of her mother Maud. In the Early Chancery Proceedings (Bundle 16, No. 421) is a proceeding by Katherine late the wife of Eobert Baron, and Gerard Eede and Agnes his wife, the ladies being daughters of Eobert Myrfyn, esq., late of Southwark, to establish their title to the manor of Wynvale in Northfleet and land at Newington in Surrey against Wm. Falam, Eoger Byrkes, and George Myrfyn, and in a later proceeding (Bundle 19, No. 461) Eobert, son of Eobert Merfyn, sues Eoger Byrkkes and Eobert Baron, mercer of London, as feoffees for the manor of Wyndwall. The Eecord Office index suggests this is Wombwell, but there is difficulty in accepting this ascription. In 1356 Eobert Baroun of Dartford and his wife Alice are found selling her property in Earde (Crayford) for £20 to Simon de Kegworth, his wife. Avice, and the heirs of Simon (Feet of Fines, No. 1119). In 1402 Eichard Baroun and his wife Alice sell half of one messuage and of 3£ acres of land in Northfleet which was her property. . The inference is that she had a sister who owned the other half (Feet of Fines, No. 105). Eeference may further be made to the fine noted in the last paragraph of the note on No. IV., supra. 54 MONUMENTAL BRASSES IN KENT. VI. This is reproduced from Add. MS. 32,369, fol. 37. The scale can be gathered from the shields, which are 4 | inches across at top. Reg. Roff. notes it (p. 753) as on a stone in the north-east corner of the north isle, and at p. 756 copies from Weever (p. 332) the inscription, which he has thus: Hie sub pede ante altare jacent Willelmus Rihhill ar. filius Willelmi Rikhill militis primogenitus et Katherina uxor ejus que obiit 27 Aug. 1433 qui quidem Willelmus obiit . . . . die . . . . 1400 quorum, from which it would seem that the wife died first, and the date of the husband's death was never filled in. Philipot notes the arms. The brass as laid down had " schedules " from the mouths of the effigies to a (?) Trinity above. These were gone in. Fisher's time, and he only found the effigies, a small portion of the inscription, and two shields above. The male figure was in the full-plate armour of the period, which may be compared with John Cosington at Aylesford and Valentine Baret at Preston. The lady is in a houppelaude or long gown with surplice sleeves, with a dog with bells sitting on the folds at her feet. She has a deep collar and a necklace, and is very like the ladies at Aylesford and Preston. The remains of the brass now in the church, viz., the male effigy (legs lost) and the female effigy, are fixed as stated above in the same paving stone as No. II. These portions are shewn in Belcher's Kentish Brasses, vol. L, p. 89. Two shields from this brass, now in private possession, were shewn at the Exhibition of British Heraldic Art, held at the Burlington Fine Arts Club in 1916. They are reproduced at p. 60. The person commemorated belongs to a family which, appearing in Kent about the end of the fourteenth century, is constantly met with in the County records for some hundred years, and then almost entirely disappears. It may be useful to collect all that is known about it. The name of the family occurs spelt in many ways, but as the way of spelling the name once on the brass is as short as any it will be adopted throughout. The family may have NORTHELESiT. 55 eome originally from Ireland, as suggested by Weever. The earliest member of the family to appear in Kent is William Eikhill, a serjeant-at-law 1384 and a Judge of the Common Pleas 1389. He was afterwards knighted, and is said to have bought the manor of Eidley, which is traced by Hasted through the Wattons to Augustine Waleys who died seized in 1354. But from other sources it seems clear, as will be shewn below (p. 58), that the Judge had no property at Eidley, which in 1382 was transferred to Sir John de Cobham and Eichard Vaughan and the heirs of Sir John, quit of the life interest of Isabel wife of John Wareson (Feet of Fines, 5 Eichard II., No. 227). That the Judge held the manors of Ifield and Esliugham in Frindsbury is certain. There is an amusing story of his being taken at the dead of night from his house at Esliugham and carried to Calais to examine the king's uncle Thomas of Woodstock, the Duke of Gloucester. See further the Dictionary of National. Biography, s.v., and also s.v. Thomas of Woodstock; see also Archceologia Cantiana, Vol. XXVIIL, p. 229. As to Ifield manor, that seems to have been recovered in 1391 by Nich. de Weston and his wife Joan, she makingtitle to it as heir-general of Ealph de Hever, who was living temp. Edw. I. See the De Banco Roll, Mich., 14 Eich. II., m. 139. The Judge probably bought the property from the successful claimants, though there is nothing at present found which establishes this. The Judge's will, made at Eslyngham the day of St. German the Bp. 1407, and proved on the 27th June in that year, is at Lambeth (Eeg. Arundel, i., 243). The provisions of it and those of the will of his widow Eose as to burial in Eochester Cathedral are quoted by Sir Wm. Hope in his article on the cathedral (Archceologia Cantiana, Vol. XXIIL, p. 295). The will does not mention his eldest son William, whose brass is at Northfleet. This is open to two interpretations. The Judge had been married before, as appears from the pedigree in Archceologia Cantiana, Vol. XXVIII., P. 228, to Joan Etchingham, and it may be that the eldest 56 MONUMENTAL BRASSES IN KENT. son was by her. On the other hand the second wife Eose mentions William as her son in her will in 1418, and he is her feoffee and principal executor, so the explanation may be that the eldest son had already been provided for by a settlement on his marriage. The Judge was executor of Sir "William Walworth, and had a legacy under his will. To John Kyngesfold was appar ntly due the Judge's possession of an estate in Surrey, and mindful of his obligations to these two persons he directs that for their souls and for the souls of Thos. Median, his wife Maud and their son John, large sums should be distributed. He also directs his feoffees Wm. Serene and Wm. Chercbesey to sell all his tenements in Eochester, half the proceeds to go to the guardians of Eochester Bridge, they finding a priest "to celebrate for my soul" in the chapel at the end of the bridge, In passing it may be observed that the Judge's good state was already prayed for there (Reg. Roff., p. 555). He further leaves legacies to the Prioress of Eusper in Sussex and to each house of brethren in Kent, in the City of London, and the county of Essex. There is no disposition of landed property except that mentioned above, but the Judge mentions his manors of Eslingham, Ifield, Ditton Camoys (Cambs), and Mokynden Hall, and he speaks of John Botild, chaplain, " rector of my chapel of Eslingham," and Eobt. Fulborne, vicar of Frindsbury. The widow Eose is principal executor with Wm. Cheyne, son of Wm. Cheyne, some time recorder of the city of London; John Hoke, clerk; and John Martyn of Dartford, possibly the John Martyn who was afterwards a judge of the C.P., and is buried at Graveney. The Judge in his will mentions the manor of Mokynden Hall. This is no doubt Mokelton or Mugden Hall in Ulting and Hatfield Peverel, Essex. In an inquest ad quod damnum in 1389 (13 Eichard II.) it is stated that he then held this manor, so could be allowed to join in a transfer of land in Barking to the abbey there. This manor after the Judge's death went with Eslingham. Another manor mentioned as NORTHELEET. 5^7 his by the Judge in his will is Ditton Camoys. This was in Wood Ditton in Cambridgeshire. In 1393 there is an entry on the patent rolls of a licence for £10 paid by Wm. of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester, and John de Pekbrugge, for them to grant this manor held in chief to John de Cobham, knight, Wm. Eickhill, Wm. Brenchley, Wm. Makenade, Wm. Skrene, and the heirs of Wm. Eickhill. The manor had previously been the property of John de Pulteneye, who in 1347 settled it, as well as the manor of Ospringe, Kent, and the manor of Shenley, Herts, on himself for life, with various remainders over (Feet of Fines, Div. Counties, No. 413). In 1363 there was a resettlement on Nicholas de Lovayne, knight, and his wife Margaret (Ibid., No. 628). After the Judge's death the manor passed to his third son Nicholas, as will be mentioned below (p. 68). The widow Eose, who survived, paid a contribution to the subsidy in 1413 on an estate of £30 per annum in the hundred of Shamel, so she cannot have had any interest in property at Eidley, Ifield, or Northfleet. She survived till 1419, making her will on 28 April 1418, which was proved on 27 Aug. 1419 and is at Lambeth. She makes it with the licence and by the wish of Wm. Eikhill " my son," Eich. Gill, and Hen. Boydon of Kent, to whom, by a writingbearing prior date, she had given all her " mobilia." She leaves bequests to the hospitals of Whitchurch and of St. Bartholomew in the co. of Kent. The three persons above mentioned are her executors. She mentions her sons William, John, Thomas, and Nicholas, and gives a bequest to her grandchild Elizabeth (daughter of her daughter Maud) at marriage. From the two wills a good deal of family history can be ascertained, and it may be well to take the sons in order first. 1. The eldest, William, is the one here commemorated. He was a godson of Sir Wm. Walworth. He was Knight of the Shire in 1420. Mr. Cave Browne (Archceologia Cantiana, Vol. XXL, p. 221) says he was of Estlingham in Frindsbury and Sheriff in 1424. Both statements are probably erroneous. 58 MONUMENTAL BRASSES IN RENT. This eldest son seems to have inherited Ifield. Hasted makes two manors of Ifield, one in the parish of that name and the other in Norcfifleet. They may have been different, but in the will of the Judge there is nothing to indicate this. I t shews, however, that he owned the manor of Ifield, so that Philipot's account, copied by Hasted, is wrong, whichever of the two it may have been, for the accounts differ. As to the manor of Eidley (Eidelegh) in 1382 (Feet of Fines, 5 Eichard II., No. 227) this was dealt with by a fine which quitclaimed the life interest of Isabel the wife of John Wareson to John de Cobham and Eichard Waghan and the heirs of John de Cobham. The Judge is silent about this manor in his will, and considerable doubt is thrown on the Philipot account adopted by Hasted by a fine in 1438 (Ibid., 16 Henry VI., No. 462), which transfers the manor from William Idele and his wife Eose to Wm. Eikhill, John Felippe, clerk, and John Whyte, and the heirs of Wm. Eikhill for 100 marcs. A warranty is given of title binding the heirs of Eose, which suggests that it was her property. Following this, in 1441, is a fine (Feet of Fines, 19 Hen. VI., No. 534) by which William Eykhull quitclaims to Sir Thos. Echingham, knight, Eichd. Cordon, clerk, Eichd. Bruyn, Wm. Garnet, and Eobt. Saveray, clerk, and the heirs of Eobt. Saveray, the manors of ShyngLidwell and Eydle, and the advowson of the church of the manor of Shynglidwell. There is a warranty from Wm. Eykhull and his heirs, and the price is £300. This is interesting, as it introduces a new manor, which is not mentioned by Hasted. It seems to be Shinglewell in Ifield. It adds another difficulty in the way of accepting Philipot's account of the descent of the manors, though no doubt the persons who thus became seized of these manors were merely feoffees to uses. That there was such a manor as Shinglewell seems to be confirmed by an entry in the collection at the Eecord Office of Early Chancery Proceedings (Bundle 16, No. 329), in which Wm. Eykhill sues John Eouse for a deed connected with this manor. John Prophete, in his will (1415), refers to the chapel at Shingildwell near Ifield. NORTHFLEET. 59 The knight of the shire of 1420, on pajdng a fee of xii grossi to the Pope of the date, had with his wife an indult in 1421 to have a portable altar, they being described as William RykiL nobleman, and Katherine his wife. He appears to have married an heiress, Katherine Coventry, whose arms, argent, a chevron sable between three columbines azure, stalked vert, were impaled on the brass. William Rikhill died soon after 1441, when his name disappears from the commissions of the peace.* He was a prominent man in the county during his life. His will has not been traced. It may be here observed that Thorpe, who deals with the Eikhill pedigree in Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica, No. VI., pt. 2, p. 40, increases the difficulty he was in from the then limited knowledge of the records by assuming that William Eikhill died in 1400, whereas the date was not filled up on the brass as he survived his wife. They left an only daughter and heiress Eose, who married John Lymsey and had a son whose monumental brass was once complete at Hackney (Haines' Introduction, p. 231, and vol. v. Transactions of the Monumental Brass Society, p. 66 ; see also Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, New Series, vol. ii., p. 309). There seems no doubt of the descent of Ifield to the Lymsey's, but they were involved in litigation about it, and there seems no doubt that Edward IV., when king, bought the manors of Ifield, Welles and Cossington. They seem to have continued in the crown up till 14 Henry VEIL, when John Parker and John Lymsey had a grant of them from the king, whose cofferer John Parker then was. He married Susan, daughter of the. painter Gerard Hornebolt. I t is not necessary here to pursue the descent of the manor further, but it is clear that Hasted's account cannot be trusted implicitly. The arms of Eikhill are still preserved in the windows of Nettlestead Church, where they are shewn as Gules, kvo bars gemelles between three annidets argent. These arms are * The date suggested for his death (1433) in Archceologia Cantiana, Vol. XXVIII., p. 211, is oertainly too early. 6b MONUMENTAL BRASSES l'N KENT. also on the font at Frindsbury. Two shields have a mullet between the bars for difference and the letters J. E., no doubt for John Eikhill. Another has a martlet in the same position for difference and the letters N. E., no doubt for Nicholas Eikhill. In a collection of arms of Kentish Gentry, temp. Henry VLT., printed in Archceologia Cantiana, Vol. XL, p. 394, No. 163 is "William Eekell g. 2 barres or, voyded s. betweene 3 owles ar." It may be that the owls were used to differentiate the houses, but it is more likely that the arms were correctly noted by drawing annulets, which were taken for a word beginning with the letter o and made owls. * *•* « '•» L J C 4w-;** RIKHILL AND COVENTRY. RIKHILL. 2. The second son John was Knight of the Shire in 1423 and Sheriff in 1424. He inherited Eslyngham as well as Mugden Hall in Essex. The descent of the Kentish manor as traced by Hasted (following Philipot) in his first volume (at p. 544) appears to be inaccurate, and being interesting may be dealt with in some detail. In 1325, on the death of Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, it is by inquisition found that this manor was held under him by Eeginald de Swafham and Walter Neel as of the honour of Talebot, pertaining to the manor of Swanscombe by service of three quarters of a knight's fee and by suit at the Court of Gravesend. In 1348 there is a fine (22 Edward III., No. 811) settling the manor and the advowson of the chapel of the manor as well as some 300 acres of land in the neighbourhood on i.ftkfttrmr^FiBismiB? WILLIAM RIKHILL AND WIFE KATHERINE, 1433. NORTHFLEET, KENT. (From a Drawing by Thomas Fisher, F.S.A.) FISHER'S SKETCH OF ORIGINAL SLAB OF RIKHILL BRASS. NORTHFLEET, KENT. NORTHFLEET. 61 Walter Neel, citizen of London, and his wife Alice for life. The settlor is one John Wythorn, chaplain, and he reserves a rent of £20 a year to himself. There are no less than five remainders over. Hasted commits himself to the statement that " Wm. de Halden died possessed of this manor in the 51st year of that reign" (Edward III.). For this he cites in his note " Rot. Esch. ejus an." He does not seem to have consulted the original inquisitions, but relied on a manuscript list which he had acquired. In this case it led him wrong. The inquisition on inspection turns out to be of 50 Edward III. , and is an enquiry what damage will ensue if certain lands are granted in mortmain by certain persons to the Charterhouse in London. The lands certainly include the manor of Eslingham, about which there is found that it is worth 10 marcs per annum ; that three quarters of it were held of the Bishop of Eochester by the service of two-thirds of a knight's fee; that the Bishop held of the Archbishop of Canterbury and he of the King; that the residue of the manor was held immediately of the Earl of March as of his manor of Swanscombe by service of a fourth part of a knight's fee; and that the Earl held of the King. It seems clear that the transfer to the Charterhouse in prospect in 1376 was never made, and that the applicants were apparently feoffees to uses. Their names are given in the inquisition, and number fourteen, Wm. de Haldenne being the first and Wm. de Walleworth the second. Others are Wm. de Home, Wm. Makenade, Thos. Chicche of Goodneston, and Thos. Garwinton of Welle (Ickham). It is observed above that Wm. de Walleworth was closely allied with Judge Rikhill. The situation is clearly shewn by an entry on the close rolls in 1380, where is entered the transfer in 1375 by Eobt. Neele, cousin and heir of Walter Neel, of the manor to some of the fourteen feoffees, and in 1380 the same Eobert quitclaims the same property to Wm. Eykhill and others and their heirs with warranty, the grantor stating that he had it by feoffment of Wm. Stowe and Thos. Swanton, feoffees under the previous deed, and in the same year 1380 there is a fine (3 Eichard II., No. 153) transferring this property, 62 MONUMENTAL BRASSES IN KENT. described exactly as in the fine of 1348 (but without the advowson), from Eobt. Neel and Alice his wife to Wm. Eykhill and Gilbert Melchebourn and the heirs of William in consideration of 200 marcs. The warranty is from the heirs of Alice, and in 1383 is another fine (6 Eichard II., No. 298) transferring the manor and nothing else to Will. Eykyll and Eose his wife and the heirs of William, quit from John Lovekyn and his wife Mabel and the heirs of Mabel in consideration of 200 marcs. In 1395 there is another fine (18 Eichard II., No. 897) transferring the property (including the advowson), described exactly as in the fine of 1348, to Wm. Eykhill, Wm. Skreyn, and Wm. Makenade and the heirs of Wm. Eykhill, in consideration of 200 marcs paid by them, and they get a quitclaim of the whole from Eoger Curteys of Dounton (? Dunton) and his wife Agnes and her heirs. The exact legal effect of these various transactions is rather hard to determine, but it may be suggested that the Judge, having regard to the settlement of 1348, was not quite certain of the validity of the transfer by Eobert Neel and proceeded to get in the outstanding interests from the remainder men under the fine, and so obtained a clear title to the manor, advowson, and the rest of the property, which is consistent with a fine of 1404 (5 Henry IV., Divers Counties, No. 77), which settles the manor and other property (the advowson is not named) as well as the manor of Patynden in Surrey in feoffees, who are Sir Wm. Brenchley (a well-known Kentish Judge), William Skrene, Wm. Makenade, and Wm. Cherteseye of the county of Essex. It is to be observed that Sir Wm. Eykhill in his will mentions the survivors as his feoffees. The manor of Patynden may be dealt with hereafter. In 1415 a pardon is entered on the patent rolls to John Eykhyll of Frindsbury for not appearing in an action, and in 1417 with Nicholas Eykhill and others for purchasing certain property without licence. He seems to have died before 1438, leaving an only daughter and heiress Joan, wife of Eichard Bruyn. She is mentioned in her grandfather's NORTHFLEET. 63 will, under which she gets 200 marcs to her marriage. Eichd. Bruyn was a prominent man and in the commission of the peace for the county. This second son John may be the John, son of Wm. Eikill, who in 1386 by the king's command proceeds to Spain in the suite of John of Gaunt, and has a protection. Again in 1399 John Eikhill alias Van Eikhill has protection when going in the king's suite to Ireland. In 1428 John Eikhill is sworn junior master of the Linenweavers' Company of London, and in 1433 is senior master. These facts come from the City Letter Books. He must have been dead before Easter Term 11 Henry VI. (1434), as there is an entry in the Tear Boole for that term (No. 26) relating to the pleadings in an action of debt by I. D. and Isabel his wife against C. and A., executors of the will of John Eykhill (son and heir of .the late Wm. Eykhill, chivaler, of Eslyngham) late of Eslyngham, esquire. No will has been found of John Rikhill. It is suggested by Mr. Ball (Archceologia Cantiana, Vol. XXVIIL, p. 212) that he married a Buckland, and he founds this suggestion on the shield of Eikhill impaling argent, an eagle displayed sable, in Nettlestead Church. But it may be observed that Bruyn also bore this coat and that the shield may have been reversed in replacing it in the window, and that in fact it was put there for Eichd. Bruyn and his wife Joan Eikhill. Litigation seems to have been plentiful about the manor of Eslyngham. In 1438 there appears on the De Banco Eolls an action by Stephen Andreu claiming it under the settlement by the fine in 22 Edward III. against Eichard Bruyn and his wife Joan, and in 1456, on the same rolls, is an action against them joined with Sir Thomas Kyriell, knt., and Thomas Hoo, esq., and others, by Thomas Dalton, clerk, claiming as heir of one John Fulham, who had been seized temp. Edward II. Joan Bruyn died in 1463, to judge by her will made in Latin at London 8 June 1462 and proved at Lambeth 18 Dec. 1463 (P.C.C., 3, Godyn). She describes herself therein as the wife of Eichard Bruyn of Eslyngham in the 6 4 MONUMENTAL BRASSES IN KENT. county of Kent, esquire, and states that the will is made with his licence. In it, while professing to dispose of all and singular her manors, lands, etc., in Kent and Essex, and in the city of London, she only in fact directs her feoffees to make an estate for life to Eichard Bruyn her husband in them all with one exception, and that exception is some property at Lamberteshill in the parish of St. Mary Magdalen " i n veteri piscaria" (Old Fish Street), London, which excepted property is to go to Wm. Gaynesford, esq., for life. He is also overseer of the will, the executors proving being Wm. Pellycan and John Peek, while the witnesses include Master Edward Story, S.T.P., rector of All Hallows the Great (London Wall), in which church the testatrix desires to be buried. Another witness is Thos. Swynford, " Gentilman," of Eccleshall, Staffordshire. The testatrix leaves legacies (1) for priests to celebrate at All Hallows the Great, Frindsbury and Eslingham ; (2) 6s. 8d. to repair Frindsbury church and 3s. 4>d. to the vicar there; (3) 3s. 4d. to the chapel of the blessed Mary in the monastery at Eochester, and the same sum to the vicar of St. Margaret's, Eochester; (4) 20s. to the chapel of St. Peter of Eslingham; (5) to Dom. Agnes Chestre, a nun at Mallyng, and to the image of the B.V.M. in that monastery. There are legacies to various persons, including Elizabeth the wife of Wm. Pellycan. Taking the will altogether it may be gathered that the testatrix had no children living at her death. 3. Thomas, the third son of the Judge, is mentioned in the wills of the Judge and of his widow Eose. He seems to have inherited the manor of Patynden and to have died before 1441, leaving a daughter Joan, who was his heiress. She seems to have married twice at least. The manor of Patynden is identified in the Victoria County History as Paddington Bray in Abinger, and according to the account there found, it was held by the Judge in succession to the John Kyngesfold, who is mentioned in the Judge's will (supra, p. 56). By a Surrey Fine of 1385 Kyngesfold appears to have acquired it of Thos. Elriche and his wife Alice. In 1441 it was sold by Henry Pevensey NORTHELEETV 65 and his wife Joan to Wm. Lee of Aston and John Bykerton, clerk. This fits in very well with a fine of 1467 (7 Edward IV., Divers Counties, No. 51), where the grantors are Eichard Ayssheby of Stratton upon Dunnesmore, co. Warwick, and his wife Joan. She is described as late the wife of Hen. Pevensey and as daughter and heir of Thos.. Eikhill, and as kinswoman and heir of Joan, late wife of Eichard Bruyn, the daughter and heir of John Eikhill, son of the Judge. The fine includes the manors of Mokilton Hall in Essex, and Eslyngham, as well as property in Kent described very much in the same way as in the fine of 1348, though the advowson is not mentioned. The whole is quitclaimed to John Worsop, citizen and clothier of London, who gives £500 for it and gets a warranty by the grantors and the heirs of Joan against George Abbot of Westminster and his successors.* The fine gives some interesting genealogical details, but at first sight is very difficult to fit in with the other facts, and especially with an inquisition in 1476 (16 Edward IV., No. 61) on the death of Thos. Eykels, who is found to have died 26 Jan. 16 Edward IV. (1475) seized of Eslingham manor and the advowson of the chapel of that manor and of the manor of " Mekeltonhall" in various parishes in Essex, including Ulting. Thomas, it is found, had married Joan, daughter of John Worshop, and John their son and heir was 4 years old and more. Luckily this last finding seems to give a clue to the fine of 1467, which conveyed the property to this same John Worshop, who may have settled it in feoffees to preserve it for his daughter's posterity. No one who has read the Paston Letters will be surprised at the litigation about the manor or the. various blots on the title thereto which turn up in the course of investigation. * It may be explained that this form of warranty was adopted to exolu.de any suggestion that there was any implied warranty of title. Conveyancers of the time of Henry VI- seem to have invented this form of warranty against the claim of an abbot who had no connection whatever with the property, in order that by inserting a valueless express warranty the possibility of any warranty being implied should be destroyed. VOL XXXII. F 6 6 MONUMENTAL BRASSES IN KENT. Following this inquest the next record that remains is in the De Banco Eoll for 1482 (Trim., 22 Edward IV., mem. 339), which gives particulars of a suit by one John Andrew, the descendant of Eoger Andrew and Isabel his wife, who were the fourth in the remainders over in the fine of 1348. The claim is for the manor of Eslyngham against John Eykkyll. The pedigree setting out the descenttothedefendant starts with the Judge and proceeds to his son Thomas, who had a daughter and heir Joan who had a son and heir Thomas, the father of the defendant. The action was brought when John the son of Thomas was still under age, as he appears by Thos. Acton as bis guardian, and indeed in 1482 (on the finding of the above inquisition) John would be 12. The defence of the guardian to the action divides the property into two parts, and alleges that the greater part was granted by Thos. Echyngham, esq., Nicholas Gaynesford and David Everard, who were seized of the manor of Eslyngham to Eichard Bruyn, esq., for life, remainder to Thos. Eykhill (the father of the ward) and his heirs. It is alleged that Thomas survived Eichard Bruyn and died seized. This makes a clear title in John (the ward) to the manor. The title of the other portion is much more involved. I t was apparently in feoffees, Wm. Cheyne, Alan Kynton and Wm. Ponder, and this part of the case involves the bit of pedigree making Joan the mother of a Thomas Eikhill and so grandmother of the defendant John. Now Joan, as has been shewn, married Henry Pevensey and afterwards Eichard Ayssheby, so either Thomas, the defendant's father, changed his name to Eikhill or was son of Joan by a husband— of whom nothing is known—of her own surname. It cannot be assumed that the pleading in the action would be wrong in so material a point, and indeed the whole record is so interesting as to be almost worth printing at length, though it is believed that the above extract contains all material facts. The action seems to have been compromised, for, by a fine of 1485 (Feet of Fmes, 1 Hen. VII.), John Andrew and his wife Agnes for 200 marcs transfer the manor, the advowson of the chapel of the manor, and upwards of NORTHELEET. • 67 200 acres of land in the neighbourhood to Thos. Graunt, elk.; Hen. Cantlowe and John Castell. Hen. Cantlowe was the minor's guardian, for in 1478 there is a document (Reg. Roff., p. 372) by which John, Bishop of Eochester, guardian in right of the Cathedral Church of St. Andrew, Eochester, of the body of John Eikhill, son and heir of Thos. Eikhill, late of Eslyngham, Kent, now dead, and of his lands, grants the ward and the lands to Thos. St. Leger, knt., Hen. Merlande, and Hen. Cantlowe. The wardship seems subsequently to have passed to Sir Jas. Crowmer of Tunstall, who married his daughter Margaret to the ward, as is stated in an inscription in brass still remaining in Tunstall church recording the death of this Margaret in 1496. She is described as Butfum UXOV 3fQf>'i8 3£t£*gte ijmBis manefti tit Sssljjttgl/ttt, so the conclusion is that their married life was short, and that the heir died before he came of age, which is consistent with an action by the heir's sister Elizabeth, who had married Eoger Tylden, against Sir James Crowmer, seeking an account of the profits of the manor of EsLingham received by the defendant during the minority of John, son of Thomas Eykkyls. The brass inscription at Tunstall was " in the quire" on a slab, at each corner of which was a shield of arms. Philipot records one of Eykhill impaling Crowmer (A chevron engrailed between three crows). The shields are all now gone, but in Eowe Mores' History of Tunstall it is recorded that they then all remained, but too much defaced to be made out completely. He says the top shield towards the right hand bore Crowmer impaling Argent, a squirrel gules for Squerry of Westerham, while the bottom towards the left bore three shields in pale, and he gives an illustration of it. In the centre is Crowmer (Argent, a chevron engrailed sable between three crows proper). The dexter is Eikhill and the sinister Ermine, on a chevron three leopards' faces. The engraving makes the faces on the chevron exactly like leopards' heads jessant de Us, and this is very probable, as Ermine, on a clievron gules three leopards' heads jessant de Us or were the arms of Cantelo of London, and the pedigree of Crowmer, given by Eowe Mores, shews a 2 68 MONUMENTAL BRASSES IN KENT. a connection between Crowmer and Cantelo of London. The shield then may be explicable in two w7ays. Either Margaret was widow of a Cantelo when she married Eikhill or the Cantelo shield came from her grandmother. 4. Nicholas, who was apparently the fourth son of the Judge, seems to have married Isabel, widow of John de Boys, and to have had with her the manor of Chadwell in Essex, to the church of which he presented in 1422. He accounts as sheriff for Essex from Michaelmas 1429. He may be the father of Geoffrey Eikkyll, who was sheriff of that county in 1434 and 1449, but Philip Malpas, citizen and draper, appears to have bought Chadwell, as he presented to the church in 1450. In old St. Paul's Cathedral, London, Dugdale records an inscription asking for prayers for the souls of John de Boys, esq., of county Essex, of Nich. Eikhill, esq., and of the lady Isabel " uxoris eorum." It seems then that she survived both, dying in 1443. It may be added that Nicholas Eykhill was a feoffee in an important resettlement of the Cobham estates in. 1428, evidenced by a fine of 6 Henry VI. (Diverse Counties, No. 76). Nicholas appears to have inherited his father's manor of Ditton Camoys in Cambridgeshire, for in 1428 it is recorded in the Feudal Aids for Cambridgeshire that Nicholas Eykhill holds one knight's fee in Cheveley which John de Pulteney formerly held. Now John de Pulteney, as is established above (p. 57), held the manor which is in Cheveley hundred, and as no one answers for the manor by name in the record of 1428, it seems to follow that the one knight's fee was the manor of Ditton Camoys. Having dealt with the Judge's sons it is now necessary to turn to the daughters. 5. Both the Judge and his widow in their wills mention a daughter Maud. The Judge mentions her daughter Margaret and the widow mentions Elizabeth, "the daughter of Maud my daughter." She had married one Eichard Gille, " draper " of London, before 1397, in which year there is entered on the patent rolls a grant to Eichard Gylle, who has stayed continuously in the king's service in the office NORTHFLEET. 69 of second chamberlain of the exchequer of the said office during good behaviour with the usual fees. This grant is made at the supplication of Wm. Eikhill, one of the justices of the Common Bench, whose daughter it is recited Eichard has married. In the City Letter Booh, under date 17 June 1418, it is noted that Nicholas Eykhill and Hen. Boydone delivered to the chamberlain John Hille one hundred marks which Eose Eikhill bequeathed to Elizabeth the daughter of Eich. Gille, draper. If Elizabeth died before marriage 50 marks was to go to the said Eichard and Maud his wife. But (from the same souree) under date 20 June 1420, Eichard Gille and Nic. Eykhill, the father and uncle of Elizabeth, came before Eichard Whityngton, the Mayor, and the Aldermen and obtained leave to have the hundred marks delivered out to them from the Chamber. It may be assumed that Margaret died before her grandmother Eose, and Elizabeth died between 1418 and 1420. 6. The Judge makes no mention of the names of his daughters other than Maud. He only speaks of my daughters and their husbands. Dame Eose's will is quite silent as to any other daughters than Mand. From other sources it is found that one was named Ann and married William Skrene. He was one of the Judge's feoffees, as appears from the will of the Judge. William Skrene was a serjeant-at-law (10 Henry IV.), and Ann's son Sir William had a manor in Chadwell, Essex, called Long House, and in consequence the family is fully dealt with by Morant, though his account in his first volume does not quite tally with that in the second which is correct according to a pedigree which can be constructed from the documents in the Eecord Office relating to some litigation about a manor of Onehouse in Suffolk (Early Chancery Proceedings, Bundle 55, Nos. 159 seq.), after the death in 1474 of Sir John Skrene, Ann's great-grandson. 7. In the same Chancery proceeding another of the Judge's daughters, Isabel, is mentioned. She is there called mother of Eichard Ayston, but the christian name of the Ayston she had married is not given, 70 MONUMENTAL BRASSES IN KENT. No other daughter of the Judge has at present been identified, but other persons of the same name who cannot at present be connected with the Judge have been noted. In the wiUs at Somerset House are those of Eichard Eykkyllys, 1493 (1, Vox), and Agnes his widow, 1502 (20, Blamyr). They were of the parish of St. Edmund, Lombard Street, in the city of London. Her first husband was Thomas Wellis, and her brother John Saunder, citizen and sherman of London, is mentioned by both. They do not seem to have had any children. The husband makes Eobt. Weston, mercer, one of his executors, and speaks of his land in Kent, which he directs to be sold, and also mentions his brother John Eykhill (whose widow Juliana had married again to one Gwynne) and John Eykhill's younger son Eichard. A Eichard Eykhill is found (Early Chancery Proceedings, Bundle 38, No. 31) suing for land in Cliffe, and in 1495 there is amongst the ancient deeds preserved at the Eecord Office a release by Eichard " Eykkyliss," kinsman and heir of Eichard Eykhill of London, viz., son of John, brother of the said Eichard, deceased, transferring all his rights to land in Cliffe and Higham to Eobert Weston and others. Observe that Eobert Weston is also executor of the will cited above from 1, Vox. In connection with the name Gwynne, above referred to, it may be mentioned that in a Surrey fine of 1493 Thomas Gwynne and his wife Juliana, late wife of John Eikhill the elder of Wandsworth, and Eichard Eikhill, son of John Eikhill, are parties. VII. This is reproduced from Add. MS. 32,369, fol. 46. Fisher notes it as in the north chancel, and the only remnant, the shield, measured 4 | inches along the top. Reg. Roff., p. 755, notes it as in the north isle, and states that another shield remained charged with a chevron between three swans. These are the arms, doubtless, of Swan of Southfleet, which, as quartered by Eoper, are Azure, a chevron or between three swans argent. On the brass there is on the chevron a mullet for difference. f : • * EEMAINS OF A BRASS TO A MAN IN ARMOUR AND WIFE, C. 1440. NORTHFLEET, KENT. (From a Drawing by Thomas Fisher, F.S.A.) I ^~^"N THOMAS BRAMPSTON, 1511, AND WIFE JOAN. NORTHFLEET, KENT. (Now lost. From a Drawing by Thoniiis Fisher, F.S.A.) NORTHFLEET. 71. Up to the present the arms on the Baron side of the shield, a chevron between two cross-crosslets fitchy in chief and a rose in base, have not been traced, so it is impossible to conjecture who was buried under this slab. The indents suggest a date circa 1440. VIII. and IX. Reg. Rqff., p. 751, notes, " on a brass plate in the space is this coat," viz., a saltier botony between four demy eaglets displayed, erased, and in the north isle (p. 753), on a brass plate the inscription, Wtit in tumfoa wjjtmscit mjnts 3&icarBt laatoj? aim et Jftavgeria \txox ejm quonBam custos jofalittm Domini wgts $ieuvici &exti outt't #ti ifttarti fflcccclxxxxi, and also $taj> fox tfje sotole of J&atoBe Batoa? Wftt&t cofjis %m rotter Botlj X%t %l)t toas fyt Sfotogijtn* of ©Stilltam IBaog ©n toijose sotole Jfesu fjaoe ntercj? K jirag JJOU all for djerite Say a pater ttost«r an» an &toe. &nmt. Custumale notes (p. 136) the inscription and others of that family lost. It may be surmised that the Latin inscription has been " extended" inaccurately, as it does not seem grammatically quite accurate. The shield no doubt belonged to this family. Bapworth gives (p. 632) Or, a cross botonny in saltire between four eagles displayed as the arms of Davis of Kent, and Philipot notes these arms as on the monument of Eichard Davy on a shield impaling on a bend three bougets. He tricks the eagles as whole birds. On the other hand the arms of Davy as quartered by Parker in the visitation of 1619 are given as, Or, a saltorelle patonce between four demi eagles couped, displayed sable. The impaled coat noted by Philipot may be Argent, on a bend azure three water bougets or, the arms of Joce. A family of this name was connected with Northfleet, and a place called "Joces" in Dartford occurs in the Early Chancery Proceedings (Bundle 70, No. 12, and 10, No. 273). Probably it was the place where lived a family 72 MONUMENTAL BRASSES IN KENT. called Joce, a member of which, Adam Joce, paid a tax of 5s. Id. in Dartford in 1302 (Archceologia Cantiana, Vol. IX., p. 298). In Palgrave's Antient Kalendars, etc., of the Exchequer, published in 1836 by the Commissioners of Public Eecords, there is an entry under the year 1457 that certain jewels formerly in the custody of Simon Eyre, alderman of London, were on the 15th December delivered under a writ of privy seal to Eichard Davy, clerk of the king's jewels, as appeared by the said Eichard's indenture in the hanaper (vol. ii., p. 233). The writ of privy seal given at Coventry, which is in English, is printed in full, ibid., vol. iii., p. 387. Further, in 1461 the rich crown, which had been taken from the Treasury for the coronation of Edward IV., was on the 12th August delivered up to Eichard Davy in a box, " de correo " (? of leather, Fr. cuir), which had three locks, the keys of which remained with the king. (Ibid., vol. iii., 1.) The will of Eichard Davy is at Somerset House (P.C.C., 41, Milles). It was made the 1st March 1490 and proved on the 26th March 1491. It is in Latin. The testator is described as " armiger." He is to be buried in the church of St. Botolph, Northfleet, in the chapel of the B. Mary before her image there. He leaves the friars preachers of London 20s., and the friars minors of London 13s. 4d. to celebrate for his soul and the soul of his wife. He leaves several small legacies to various persons, including the wife of Christopher Blyndres, late relict of Eichard Mawtyn. The residue goes to his son William Davy, and he is sole executor. In the Early Chancery Proceedings is one in which William Philip, citizen and goldsmith of London, seeks to stay an action of debt before the mayor of Canterbury, brought by William, son and executor of Eichard Davy of Northfleet. X. This is reproduced from Add. MS. 32,369, fol. 48. Fisher notes it as in the south chancel, and it was on a slab 7 ft. 2 inches by 3 ft. 2 inches. The width of the brass at the foot of the figure was 7| inches, and the height of the NORTHFLEET. 73 headless figure was 20 inches. Fisher suggests that it is identical with the one referred to by Reg. Roff., p. 752, as in the south isle—" on a gravestone are three brass plates; on two the effigies of a man and woman and on the third the following inscription : . . . . of QtyomM 3Bra'tO aitJJ Jtone ljj)S toyfe toyijelj Stomas Beeesyu the yere of our HorD JWXft @tt to*)OS SOUS IfljeStt Ijaoe mercy " Custumale (p. 136) notes this inscription as then lost. Waller found in the chapel in the south aisle a headless figure about temp. Henry VIII., and refers to Harl. MS. 6587. This, it may be explained, is the original collection of inscriptions in churches afterwards printed with additions in Reg. Roff. At fol. 97 the entries as to Northfleet begin. But part of the MS. refers to churches in Canterbury diocese, and has not been printed. The testament of Thomas Brampston (P.C.C., 2, Fettiplace) was made on the 28th May and proved the 9th July 1511. He directs his body to be buried in the church of Northfleet. He leaves 40s. to the high altar and £6 13s. 4d. to the churchwardens and parishioners "towards the reparations and other necessaries towards the same, church." He leaves legacies of 40s. each to Eichard Brampston, Henry Brampston and John Brampston, but he does not say what relationship they had to him. There is an extraordinary number of small pecuniary legacies, and the names must include nearly all the parishioners at the time in Northfleet. He mentions his daughter Elizabeth, who is to have 100 marcs to her marriage and promotion. His wife Joan has the residue, and is executrix with John Eooper, gent., as overseer. By the last will which follows, some tenements in the high street in Northfleet, bought of Woomewell, and all his houses in Stepneth in the shire of Middlesex are left to the wife for life (" she finding my daughter till she comes of the age of 18"), with remainder to John "my son" and Elizabeth " my daughter." The rest of his lands go to his son John, with remainder to his daughter. The son was young, as he is to be "founde to school." William Brampston is to have "the Chauntre which I purchased of . . . . Fright." In the collection of rubbings of brasses belonging to the 74 MONUMENTAL BRASSES IN KENT. Society of Antiquaries is one of an inscription on a brass plate 24§- inches by 3£ inches, which runs :— pr'j? for tije soules of JToij'n Bramstone $c &lgs bis togfe flje tobgclj § olm BeeesiB tije xiii Baie of ifebruarg tije yere of our lorD ml v* xxxnm ®n toljos Soules anD all ©rysten Soules S!)'u Ijaoe marey, 3J8S4L This inscription is not noticed in Reg. Roff. or in Custumale, or any other authority, as being in Northfleet church, and it was in private possession when the rubbing was made. But it was very probably under the seats, and was uncovered at the "restoration" and then removed. This probability is made almost certainty by the terms of the will of John Bramston, 1532 (P.C.C., 24, Thower), who desires to be buried in St. Andrew's chancel in Northfleet church. The will was made the 12 Feb. 1532 and proved 20 Feb. of that year. The John Bramstone of the inscription died the 13th Feb. 1533. The difference in the year is easily explained. There- are points in the will which tend, however, the other way. The testator makes his wife Mary his executor, and speaks of William Atwood, " son of my sister Margaret Atwood," and of her daughters, one of them being named Agnes. He also leaves his tenement at Market Hill to John Bramston for life, and then to Thomas Bramston, son of the said John Bramston. If the John Bramston of the inscription and the testator are one and the same, he must have had a first wife Alice, which of course is quite probable. It must not be concluded, however, that he was son of the Thomas Brampston who died in 1511. Some of the provisions of the will are printed in Archceologia Cantiana, Vol. XXIV., p. 145, and in Testamenta Cantiana. XL Weever notes an inscription for Eichard Hunt, late servant to my Lord of Canterbury Wm. Warham, and Joan his wife. Eichard died in 1518 and his wife in 1531. NORTHELEET. 75 This is copied (Reg. Roff., p . 756), but that record does not say it was on brass, but Custumale, at p. 136, implies that it was, and that it was then lost. Nothing is known of Eichard Hunt, but the lady must have had two memorials in the same church, for she was the relict of Thomas Brampston, as appears by her will (P.C.C., 13, Thower) made the 25th Aug. 1531 and proved the 27th Jan. 1531. She describes herself as a widow, and desires burial in the parish (? church omitted) of Northfleet, next to the grave of Thomas Brampston "my late husband." She leaves money for the repair of the road from Windfall cross to Windfall street, and various pecuniary legacies. Her son John Brampston gets the residue and is sole executor, while Wm. Wodd of Gravesend is supervisor. Eobert Baron is a witness. See Testamenta Cantiana, West Kent, p. 56. XII. See under No. X., at p. 74. XIII. Iii Fisher's time this was in the nave on a slab 3 feet by 3 feet. Waller, in 1837, still found it there, and took a " dab " of the brass plate, which was 17 inches by 7^ inches. I t bore, in Eoman letters, this inscription :— Hie JACET HENEICVS BEYCE YEOMAN QVI DVXIT IN VXOEEM MAEGEEIAM ELCHAEDI LAMING GENEEOSI EIMAM QVI BONA OBIIT SENECTVTE OVEIIB IPIELD IN COMITATV' KANTIJE DVODECIMO DIE OCTOB : A0 2ETATIS SVIE SEXAGESSIMO SEXTO ANNOQ' DOMINI 1638°. See Reg. Roff., p. 751.