meeting, but were beset by Captain Tettersol, Constable of the place, and his Gang: finding the door shut that they could not enter, they surrounded the house, that none of the Meeters might come out, thus they kept them prisoners till they sent to Lewes to Sir Thomas Nut, for a warrant to break open the door; when the warrant came, entrance was given, they find no Minister, nor were the people when they came in, about any Religious Exercise. They pretended that they heard the sound of a voice, which they please to say is preaching; these men going to Sir Thomas Nut, and making some deposition upon oath, a warrant is issued out to bring the Meeters before him and some other Justices. When they came the business was to pump something by way of confession out of them, in which if they would be ingenious, a promise is made that they should set their own fines, but these keeping their own counsel, the Justices not being able to convict them by the parties confession, are forced to do it, by that notorious evidence before specified. They fine William Beard, master of the house, where the Meeting was, twenty pound; Tettersol breaks open locks to come at Mault, being gotten to the heap, filleth without all measure sixty of five bushel sacks, which he had sold to one of his gang, for 12s. per quarter. One that went out of the house where the Meeting was, just as the disturbers were coming to it, is notwithstanding convicted. At Chiltington, three miles from Lewes, one Nicholas Martin, was upon slight evidence convicted by Sir Thomas Nut, for having a Meeting at his house, and fined twenty pound, for which they drane his land, and took from him six cows, two young bullocks and a horse, being all the stock he had; they were returned to him again on his entering an appeal, but being strangely cast at the Sessions, he was by the Court fined sixty pound, which was at last remitted to twenty-three pound, for non-payment whereof, he was committed to the Jaylors hands. Nor could he be released though one Salisbury, Vicar of the place, though his grand persecutor being convinced he had dealt injuriously with him, offered to give bond to pay the whole fine, within a quarter of a year. Many more things of the like nature might be related, but should these lines of mine swell as big at the malice of others, what is intended for a brief Narrative, would amount to a vast volumn.

Post-script.

It cannot but be a matter of grief to all sober persons, to see a company of honest, peaceable and industrious people thus made a sacrifice to the great malice of some, and greedy covetousness of others. How full frought with malice that Gentleman is, who is their grand persecutor, the whole current of his proceedings against them sufficiently declares.

For the informers they are a company of men (if one may call them men) not worth our describing, persons who like the unjust Steward cannot dig, and to beg they are ashamed, and therefore fit to live like the drone, upon the substance that the industrious bee hath gathered. If we speak of their behaviour, they are very sons of Belial, and since they can at once have such countenance, and maintenance, they are commenced graduats in wickedness. It is wonderful to think how Sir Thomas Nut debaseth himself in associating with such base fellows, whom a man would disdain to sit with the dogs of his flock. He hath taken one as a servant into his house, meerly for his being serviceable in this kind.

Another takes his diet there when he pleaseth, making Sir Thomas his house his home, but that he lodgeth elsewhere; the manner of whose inauguration into his Office was as followeth, being journeyman to a Glover, a poor Man, and conceived by some to be rather a burden than a benefit to him, they get his Master to turn him off: the next Saturday night he gives out threatnings of no very handsome Nature, saying it would never be well, till the Fanaticks here were served as those had been in London, and that he for his part could fire such and such houses, naming the house of those who made his master's house too hot for him, and further said that he would be revenged upon them, saying moreover that since he was out of his other employment he would now turn Informer. This latter he made good the next day being very industrious in endeavouring to discover Meetings. Notwithstanding all this, Sir Thomas saith he will keep him there, though at his own charge, in spite of them all. A neighbour to the house where this fellow lodgeth having, since his coming thither, lost several things, makes complaint thereof to Sir Thomas, telling him he knew this fellow had saved no money, and could not live, being out of employment; (for though he have his meat with Sir Thomas, he buys store of drink elsewhere.)

In vain is the complaint made, it is supposed (belike) that the more rogue he is, the better Informer he will make.

Thus Sir Thomas (having two Informers in his house, himself, being ready to convict, and his brother to buy the distrayned goods) may drive on a trade by himself.

It is a strange favour Sir Thomas showed to Goring, another Informer. This rude fellow picking a quarrel with a poor woman as she was selling of milk, falls upon her in the open street, sheds her

milk, and catching her by the throat, was ready to have strangled her, but that some neighbours came into her rescue. She goes to a Justice of the Peace, and deposits upon oath that she went in fear of

her life.

The Justice immediately issues out a warrant for Goring, who choseth to go before his good friend Sir Thomas, he, instead of taking bonds for his peaceable behaviour, sends to the Headborough to give in the warrant, which he not daring to do, Sir Thomas sends to Holney, the Constable, who is reported to take the warrant from his Headborough and gives it Sir Thomas, and now the poor woman (it being alledged that she had called the other informing rogue) had been sent to the House of Correction, had not a Gentlewoman interceded for her. It may be Sir Thomas thought being shut up there, she would be as safe as if the other had been bound. I cannot but take leave here to insert a brief relation of some further sufferings which, like a black cloud, seemeth to hang over the heads of many of those peaceable people before mentioned-their adversaryes not thinking that sufficient which they have done, resolve to proceed against them in another way.

John Holne, apothecary, and Thomas Harrison, grocer, Constables of the Burrough of Lewes, take to an account of six score and 12 persons within their libertyes, whom they present at the Assize held at Horsham, Thursday, the 14th July last, for not going to Church, among all which there is not one of these many presented, who tarry at home out of meer prophaneness nor so much as One Papist. Sir Thomas Nut having got a list of the names gave in to the Judge before the other presented.

The Constables having met with some good liquor by the way, came in somewhat the merrier, but much the later. Getting to a tobacconist's shop, Holney falls out with a Gentleman, for being such a pittiful son of the Church; the Gentleman returning some unpleasing answer, first Holney, and afterward Harrison, draw their swords.

Thus a son is like to be lost while they quarrel for their mother, the abused Gentleman being unarmed, chuseth rather to try that by the Gown, which the other would have decided by the sword, intending to prefer a bill against them.

The next morning these Constables give in their presentments, having dispatched their work, and done others work to (as they suppose) as they came, so they returned, drunk. Holney falls so desperately from his horse, that with the fall the blood gushed out of his mouth and ears: his companion is fain to send for a Physitian and Chyrurgion, being gotten in better plight fair and softly they got home on Monday night. The Lord grant that (his hand being not only lift up, but let down upon them) they may see and be ashamed for their envy at his people. One would think of all men that these might forbear to trouble their Neighbours in this unhandsome manner. One of them, viz. Harrison, being more active in the late times, then all those he now persecutes, put them together, having served against his Majesty both by Sea and Land; besides these are greater Nonconformists to all Laws of sobriety and humanity, then those whom they thus persecute are to the Laws Ecclesiastick. It was thought by some that the unsuccessfulness of their Journey would make them ashamed to show their faces, but no such matter. One of them at Lewes, without all shame (a little before his being made Constable) shewed more than his face, for in one of his moods, he appeared in the day time, stark naked în view of all the street. It was but the 14th of May last, being a Market day, that Holney, the other Constable, was drunk about noon and steering his course homeward the back way,. he fell a considerable way down a steep bank to the indangering of his neck. Being holpen by 2 men in his way homeward, he meeting with a woman (as far from Nonconformity as himself) called. her fanatick whore, commanding those with him to knock her on the head in the KINO'S Name,. and falling upon her himself handled her so sorely, that she spit blood; besides many outward bruises which he gave her. Yet these are the men that must persecute these poor innocent persons for not coming up to his Majesties Laws in some smaller punctilios whilst they themselves are highly disobedient to the Laws both of G and the KING, and shew it in the face of the Country, at such a time, when they are in the heat of their persecution against the other. When they came home, Harrison returning his horse to the owner, had him flung into his hands again, it being the wrong horse, and whielt makes his mistake the more inexcuseable, this had a long flick tayl, whereas the other had not. The next day he sends a messenger to make inquiry about it, he could not tell the messenger at what place he had been besides Horsham, sending him to Holney he could tell no more than the other.

Harrison that while he was at the Assizes, drew his sword upon one that is an Officer belonging to the Excise, and saying that he was sworn to kill the Excisemen, made a pass at him, which the other seasonably put by, but will not put up the affront, but hath returned him into the Crown Court, and is not yet prevailed with to compound it. This Harrison hath lately had some short sickness upon him; which he dreaded would prove a greater fit; being not well in his Shop, July the 30th being Marketday, he passionately said (in hearing of one from whom I had it) That he had disobliged others, and done all this to please them, and now was but slighted for his pains; for if Sir T. N. came by, he would hardly speak to him, or so much as look upon him.

How much more of this nature might be said, but I shall proceed no further on a subject so unpleasing, being sorry their inhuman carriage gives occasion to say so much. For their persons, I rather pity, than envy them; and for their actions, they shall be the subject of my grief, not joy. The worst I wish them is, that whilst space is given them they may repent, least their Lord come in a day they look not for him, and in an hour they are not aware, and (finding them smiting their fellow-servants, and eating and drinking with the drunken) he cut them asunder, and give them their portion with Hypocrites, where is weeping, and wayling, and gnashing af teeth.

The Lord hasten these days of affliction to a period, by which, for the most part, only a few persons, (except for their wickedness) every way inconsiderable, are gratified, but will else most assuredly end, in the wounding of Religion of many industrious and innocent, persons and family, and the great dishonour and detriment of the KINGDOM itself.

FINIS.

TRANSLATION

Of the Confirmation Charter, of Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, to the Monks and Monastery of St. Pancras, Lewes, granted in the year, 1398.*

Be it known to the present and future (times), that we, Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, Marshall of England, Lord of Mowbray, Segrave of Gower, and of Lewes, have seen, inspected, handled, and by law caused to be brought before us, a Charter to be renewed to the memory of the Lord William de Warren the second, formerly Earl of Surrey, (the son and heir of the Lord William the first, formerly Earl of Surrey and Gundred his wife, the founders of our House of Lewes, and the Donors of the foundation of our same House of Lewes,) and the confirmer and ratifier of all the Gifts, Things, Lands and Possessions within contained, howsoever given, contributed, and granted, to our House of St. Pancras of Lewes, to our Prior of Lewes, and to the Monks there for ever serving Almighty God, and the blessed Mary, and the blessed Apostles, Peter and Paul, and St. Pancras, and All Saints, of the form and tenor, next herein-after contained, word for word:

Be it known, to all the present and future (times), that I, William de Warren, Earl of Surrey, when first I came into England, after the death of my father, Earl William, being invited by the Lord Lanzo, the Prior, and the whole fraternity, I entered into the Chapter-House of the Monastery of St. Pancras, which my father and my mother, Gundred, had founded under the Castle of Lewes; being willing by God's grace to supply and maintain the devotion which my said father and mother had towards the said Monastery, and the holy order of Cluniacs, whom they had there placed, for the love of God, and for the safety of their souls, and of mine, and of all my ancestors, and heirs, and of all the faithful in Christ deceased, I have gladly approved, granted, given, and confirmed to the said Monastery of St. Pancras, and the Monks there serving God, for ever, all the Donations, Grants, and Confirmations, which my said father made and gave to them whilst living, my mother willing, and me, and my brother, Reginald, consenting, in Lands and Churches, and Tythes, in Waters, Woods, Ways, Paths, Meadows, and Pastures, in Men, and in all places, and in all things, with all the Liberties and free Customs and Dignities, which my father gave them, and which he had, or ought to have had in those things, if he had held the same in his own hands, and which I have, in whose tenure soever the same be, or in my demesne, in like manner throughout as my father ordained in his life-time, and as his Charter witnesseth :-Viz. The Mansion called Falmere, and all whatsoever my father had there in demesne, with a hide of land, which Eustace held in Burgemere, and with two hides which belonged to Plumpton; also the Mansion called Carleton, which Queen Matilda, gave to my mother Gundred ;

This Charter contains recitals, of almost all that was given to Lewes Priory, by the first and second Earls of Warren, and by their several great Freeholders holding under them.

and in Swamburgh five hides and a half, and the Island next the Monastery, and the Mill upon the Pond, and with a house there called Lewins, in the Suburbs; in the Township the land which was Norman's; also a Yard-land, which is called Redrewelle, and another Yard-land called Stanford; in Witteden two hides of land, with four Villains and one Meadow; also all the Tythes of my lands in Surrey and Norfolk, which Richard the Priest holds, and will hold during his life as my father ordained; and all Tythes which my Men gave them in my father's time, and which shall be given in my time or after me. Moreover, I have granted and confirmed to them Walton, within the marshes of Lewes, with half the Soc of Walpol, of Kenewic and of Brunswey, and the third part of Avemere, with the Fisheries of Well, and with all their Appurtenances whatsoever, which my mother held of my father between the two waters of [an omission here, but supplied thus out of his father's Charter, Lime and Wellstream] saving to myself and my heirs, only two days entertainment every year, for all the services of the men of the marshes, in all things like as my father hath ordained, and his Charter hath confirmed. But the mansion called Hecham, although it was given to them by my father, after the death of my mother, in the absence of me and my brother Reginald, yet, because my father on his death-bed commanded, that I should give them one of my best Manors after his death, for his, and my mother's, and my own soul, I have granted and confirmed to them the aforesaid Manor, with the Land of Pagan, the bailiff, and whatsoever William de Cayley held there of me, with all the Freemen whose Rent the said Pagan used to receive there; and this I did chiefly by the counsel of my Barons and others my Freeholders, because my father at his death, had demised to the said Monks, all his moveables upon all his lands; and for this my Grant and Confirmation, the Monks re-mised to me all the aforesaid demise, because my whole Estate might not be unstocked.

Moreover, I granted and confirmed to them, the Church of Clayton with the Tythes, and a hide of land thereto belonging, and the Tythes of all things at Middilton, and at Alyngton, and the Tythe of Katerham, and of Fekeham, and the Tythe of Nordhesia, and of Rademeld and of Mechinges of all things, and the Tythe of Pycomb, and of Sneteholt, and of Sand, and of Kukefeld, and the Church of Rottyngdean, and the Church of St. Olaf, at Sudwerc, and the Church of Roniges, with a Yardland, and the Tythe of all things of the demesnes of the Hall, and the Tythe of Scurotot, and of Crec, all which my father gave them before his death; Also I Granted and Confirmed to them, all those things which my father granted them, of the gift of his Barons and others his Freeholders, and whatsoever shall be given to them of my Fee in my time, with my knowledge and consent, that is to say;-The Church of Yford, which Hugh Fitz-Golde gave them, and in Swamburgh two hides which Tusard gave them, and one hide which Brictelin gave, and one hide which Ormar gave, when they were made Monks; and two Fields next St. Pancras, and one Orchard in the Vineyard, which Warin, the Sheriff gave, and all his Tythe of Kingstone, and twenty-pence rent of land at Bynham, which Ralph Fitz-Warin gave them; and the Tythe of Hugh Fitz-Golde in Iforde and Kingeston, and the Tythe of the land which he had in Rottingdean, and two Inns next Lewes Mill, and next to them a Meadow and the Mill, and four acres which Peter, the Sheriff, gave at Meechinges, and the Tythe which William de Herpetinges gave of all he had at Herpetinges and at Herst; and a Yard-land and Pasture for 100 sheep, which William Fitz-William and his mother gave, for the soul of his father; and the Tythe of Horecomb, which Norman the Hunter gave, and a mansion in the Burgh of Lewes, and at Horecomb, the Tythe of two hides which Joslin the Constable gave, and all the Tythe, which Neill gave at Horlaneswic by my father's grant; and certain land with pastures for one hundred sheep, which Ralph the son of Neill, and his wife, gave after their deaths by my Grant; and his Tythe in Hangleton, and one hide of land which the said Neill gave in Wodeton; and the Tythe of one hide and a half which Godard gave in Horlaneswic, and the land and pasture for one hundred sheep; and the Tythe of Baldesden, which Hugh Fitz-Hugh gave, and one hide of land, which William de Petroponte gave in Rottyngdean; and half a hide in Bristelmestun which Wiard gave, and the Tythe of his demesne there, and the Tythe of his demesne at Ratteden; a hide of land at Aldryngton, which Ralph de Kainet gave, and all his Tythes in Hangleton, which the said Ralph gave, that is to say, after the land shall return to my lands. I confirmed of the gift of Richard, the Archdeacon, a hide of land at Blachington, and at Kingisford one hide, and at Mulescumb one hide, and in Witteden four hides, and in Pyncheham one Yard-land, (which Wolnod held,) and in Sternewic twenty-pence rent of lands; all which I granted and confirmed. And two hides at Paccheleswy, which Hugh, son of Hugh Fitz-Golde, gave; and the Tythe of the gift of Reginald Fitz-Renier, at Pynkeden; and the Tythe of Sadlescumb, of the gift of Hugh Fitz-Ralph; and the Tythe of corn at Wyldecomb, of the gift of Walter; and at Perching, the Tythe of William the son of Techelin, and William the son of Alfinen; and at Folking, the Tythe of Godfrey de Bellomont; and at Pavethorn, the Tythe of Levenod; and at Twineham, a Yard-land which Gilbert Fitz-Goze gave; and the Tythe of the Hall, which Scotland gave; and the Tythe of Alberic; and the Tythe of Alfred, the Earl's foster-father; and the Tythe of Slacham, of the gift of Hugh Fitz-Golde; at Herst,

the Tythe which Occulus Ferreus (Anglice Iron Eyes) gave; and two parts of the Tythe of Plumpton, and the whole Tythe of Standen; and a hide of land at Falemere; all which, Frideswid, the daughter of Hugh Fitz-Renier, gave them for her father's soul. At the other Standen, my father gave them all his Tythe; and at Alyngton the Tythe of one hide, which Basilia, the mother of Ralph Fitz-Hugh gave; and one hide of land in Alyngton, of the gift of Ralph de Kainet. Also, I granted and confirmed the Church of Kanefeld, with a Yard-land, and all the Tythe of the demesne of the Hall and of Hay; and the Tythe of Estan; and at Gelham, the Tythe of Godwin's land; and the Tythe of Middilton of the gift of William Fitz-Renier; and a Yard-land, which Gladio Joculator [also wrote Jaculator, Anglice the Sword-player] held of the gift of Rainald de Warren. Also, I granted the third part of Hichbourne (also wrote Lichbourne) in all things; and half the Mill, and all the Church; all which was the inheritance of Ragenild, the wife of Roger Talin, and all which the said Ragenild and Roger gave to the Monks; and at Kaxton ten shillings and eight-pence of the Socmen, which Hugh de Grennisevill gave, and the Church of Sireford, and the church of Toftes, and the lands and the tythes thereto belonging, of the gift of Hugh Fitz-Hugh*.

All these, and if any others are given them of my fee, of whose gift soever they are, or shall hereafter be given, I freely granted and confirmed. And as I was desirous, and ought, as it seemed to me, on my part, to increase my father's alms and mine, for the safety of his, and my mother's, and my own soul, and the souls of all my ancestors, and my heirs, I appointed, and gave to God and St. Pancras, and the Monks thereof, for ever, the Land of Southenowre, with the two Ponds, and the Mills, and the Chalkpit, without the town, with the land and meadow which thereto belongs, and two acres of Meadow in Nivissa, and the Weres next the road; and one Meadow next to Padpole; and in Crandon (Croydon?) the land which Hugelin held, and the land which Wulwin Fitz-Golle held; and a small piece of ground with the houses thereon, in the Burg of Lewes, and the land which the Burgesses of Lewes held in Crandon, and a hide and a half of land which Ailwin of Winchester held in Kyngeston, and in Witteden, half a hide, which I had before given them in exchange for the house of David, of London, and one Yard-land there, for the Soul of my Mother, and two hides of land for part of my father's money. Also I gave them the wood of Caveregg, between Bevehorn bridge (now called Bevern bridge) and Godswisell bridge, and sixteen pence rent of Lands which Wulsi, held in Chaggele, and at Borgemere two hides of land, which Goze my foster father held, and the houses thereof in Lewes. Moreover I gave them the tythe of all my rents of the Burgh of Lewes, and the land in London which Herebrand held. Also I gave them all the Churches in the Burg of Lewes which Richard the Prieste as yet holds, in like manner as my father gave them all the tythes which they hold after his death, so I will, that they shall have all their said Churches after his death, that is to say-The Churches of Saint John, Saint Peter, and Saint Andrew, and Saint Mary, and Saint Martin, and the Churches of Saint Nicholas and the Holy Trinity, which Brictelin the Priest now holds; and the Churches of Saint Peter and Saint Mary, of Westout; and the Church of Kyngeston, with an acre of land where the Church stands; and the Church of Rademeld, and of Meechinge; and the Church of Pycheham, with the tythe and land thereto belonging; and the Church of Kukefeld and of Herdingleg, and the Church of Dycheninge, with one hide of land, and the garden with the houses and land which are between the two highways, with the wood thereto adjoining, and two hides there for my brother Rainald, at his petition. And I gave them the Church of Saint Peter of Tetford, and four shillings rent of land in the fields of Tetford, which adjoin to Saint Helens, an the Church of Saint Helen, with the land thereto belonging. Also I gave them Santon, with its appurtenances, and six shillings rent of land at Wilton, and the Church of Wilton, with land and tythe thereto belonging; and the Church of Feltewell and all the tythe and three shillings rent of land which Gilbert held, and two shillings rent of land which Sculla held; and in Dudelinton ten shillings rent of land which Richard held; and in Kateston, the land of Ulf, the brother of Oord; and the Church of Gymyngham, and the tythe of the same town, and forty shillings of the Socmen there; and at Gatton, eight shillings rent of land, and the tythe of Roger de Pavely; and at Acre, the Mill, which pays thirty shillings.

I also gave them the land of Belvidere, with the men and mill, and wood thereto belonging. In Yorkshire, also I gave them the Church of Conyngeburgh, with other Churches, Tythes and Lands, and all their appurtenances; and the Church of Wakefield, with its appurtenances; and all the aforesaid Churches with their appurtenances, as they were of the free gift of my father or of me, so I gave them to hold freely to the said Monks for ever; so that whatsoever may happen to the lands in which these Churches are founded, or to whose demesne soever the same shall in any manner come, the said Churches shall always remain free to the said Monks, nor shall any other falsely challenge the same by any law, so

Here ends the Grants of the first William de Warren, and his Frecholders to Lewes Priory; the residue is a recital of all that was given to it by the second William de Warren, and his Freeholders; making together a noble foundation, which was not a little enlarged, by the subsequent Earls.