on the site whereof stands a farm house*. 1 Cowling church, dedicated to St. James, has in the chancei a range of trefoil arches, in relief, a curious piscina, and other or naments. Returning to the Kent road, at Shorne, we come to GAD'S HILL, Supposed to be the spot on which Henry prince of Wales, son of king Henry IV. and his dissolute associates, robbed the Sandwich carriers, and the auditors who were carrying money to his father's exchequer†. *Kentish Traveller. The Mr. Warton called Gad's among seven † Phillipot has hinted a surmise that this felonious frolic might have been played on Shooter's Hill, but tradition countenances the former opinion. And Shakespeare, besides distinguishing one of the thieves by the name of Gad's Hill, having repeatedly fixed the scene of this transaction on this part of the road, makes it not unlikely that he thought himself warranted in so doing, by a passage he had discovered in some English chronicle, play, or ballad. Theobald had read an old play, called the Famous Victories of Henry V. in which the scene opens with Henry's robberies, and Gad's Hill is there named as one of the gang. also mentions his having seen an old ballad, by Faire, Hill; and he adds, that ip the Registers of the Stationers, ballettes, licenced to William Bedell and Richard Lante, one is entitled "The Robbery at Gad's Hill;" under the year 1588. The learned author concludes with observing, "I know not how far it might contribute to illustrate Shakespeare's Henry the Fourth: but the title is promising." It is the remark of an ingenious writer, that great events or actions stamp a veneration on the spot where they were performed, and impress the spectator with lively sentiments of pleasure many ages after. This observation seems to be, to a high degree, pertinent, when applied to the dramatic works of a deservedly-admired poet, who has only related and embellished incidents, perhaps of a doubtful authority, or, if strictly true, of but little importance. Not one of Shakespeare's plays is more read than his first part of king Henry IV. and, of the many travellers who have been diverted with perusing the dialogues between the prince and Falstaff, there are, perhaps, very few who will not experience a renewal of their mirth upon being informed, that they are riding near the sup posed scene of these fictitious conversations: and, if ever they were fortunate enough to see the Falstaff described by the poet represented by the late Mr. Quin, who was unrivalled in that character, the recollection of what excited laughter in the theatre will not fail of raising a smile on Gad's Hill. To persons of imaginations not over fanciful, the figure of The late Sir Francis Head built on the top of the hill, towards Rochester, a neat cottage, which he denominated GAD'S HILL CASA; and on its being licensed for a public house, he directed that the sign should have on one side, a portrait of Henry V.; and on the other, a representation of the fat knight and his associates as described by the poet, act. ii. sc. iv.; which, Striking the senses of the passers by, May, by a virtual influence, breed affections From this part of the road the traveller may catch a view of the summit of the mausoleum raised in Cobham Park, pursuant to the will of the late earl of Darnley. Cobham is a parish which gave a name and a title to a family, that, from the reign of king John to that of James I. a term of above four hundred years, were of eminence in this county; and several of them were entrusted with offices of the greatest consequence. John lord Cobham, the last of the surname of that family, built Cowling castle, and joined with Sir Robert of the humorous knight must present itself. They will be apt to think they hear him facetiously complaining of the cruel treatment of the stony-hearted villains, his companions, in removing his horse, and constraining a man of his bulk to rob on foot; to whom eight yards of uneven ground was threescore and ten miles. And, when they recollect Hal's request to Jack to lay his ear to the ground to listen whether he could distinguish the tread of travellers, they must, with pleasure, recal to mind the knight's droll but apposite question: "Have you any levers to lift me up again?" They will, in idea, be spectators of the thieves robbing the true men, and of the retaliation made upon the thieves by two of their own gang in forcibly taking from them their rich booty; and they will again enjoy the conceit of Falstaff, with his cups of limed sack, telling incomprehensible lies in order to cover his cowardice; his long rencounter with the two rogues in buckram suits growing up to eleven, all of whom he peppered and payed, till three misbegotten knaves in Kendal green ("for it was so dark, Hal, thou couldst not see thy hand") came at his back and let drive at him. Thus on the stage, in the closet, and upon the road, Falstaff's adventure at Gad's Hill is likely to be, ac cording to the prediction of the poet, 'not only an argument for a week, laughter for a month, but a good jest for ever. VOL. V. No. 109. A a Knolles Knolles in erecting a new stone bridge at Rochester. He likewise founded and endowed a college at Cobham in the year 1632, for a master and chaplains to pray for the souls of him, his ancestors, and successors. In the reign of Henry VIII, this college shared the fate of all other institutions of the like kind; but, by an act passed in the thirtyfirst year of that reign, the site of the college, &c. was retained in the Cobham family, and by William lord Cobham was bequeathed to Sir John Lawson, Thomas Fane, Esq. and William Lambard, (author of the Perambulation,) together with certain quantities of timber and bricks, and certain sums of money, in trust, that they should “ reedify and make there a new college for poor people to inhabit, continue, and be relieved in, and maintained there for ever." This new college was finished in 1598, and, by the trustees above-mentioned, subjected to such rules and orders as they judged conducive to the better regulation of this well-designed charity. The perpetuity of the trust was, by an act of the legislature in the reign of queen Elizabeth, vested in the wardens and commonalty of Rochester bridge, who are thereby stiled the presidents of the new college at Cobham, and by the attention that respectable body has shewn to this charity, the benevolent intention of the donor is to this day fully executed. Twenty poor persons, with their families, have a comfortable habitation, with a quarter of an acre of land to each, and a monthly stipend of six shillings and eight-pence. The presentation of this charity is as follows: the proprietor of Cobham Hall sends one, who is stiled warden of the college; the wardens of Rochester bridge, as presidents of the college, send one, who is sub-warden; the remaining eighteen are sent from the following neighbouring parishes: Cobham, three; Shorne, two; Cowling, one; Stroud, two; Hoo, three; Cliffe, one; Chalk, one; Gravesend, one; Higham, one; St. Mary's, one; Cuckstone, one; Halling, one. The old college appears, by the foundations and other remains, to have been quadrangular; and part of the east wall overgrown with ivy, and large large chimney-pieces of the kitchen and refectory are standing at the south-east angle. Between the north side of the new college and the south side of the church, there is also a part of the old north cloister, and the door-way from the church, though now stopped up, is still visible by the fair mouldings. In Cobham church are monuments to the memories of se veral of the noble personages who once inhabited this mansion, one so early as 1354; among which is that of John lord Cobham, the founder of the college here, with his effigy on a brass plate, holding a representation of the college in his hands. Likewise a beautiful altar-monument standing in the middle of the chancel, on which are the effigies of two persons at full length, and several children. kneeling; this was erected to the memory of George lord Cobham, who, in the reign of queen Elizabeth, was go vernor of Calais, and died in 1558. The grant of a weekly market, to be held in this parish on Monday, was ob tained by John lord Cobham in the forty-first of Edward III. but has long been discontinued. Cobham Hall (which with the outhouses, is said to have cost 60,000l. in building) was the seat and residence of these illustrious noblemen, as it now is of the earl of Darnley. It is a noble fabric, con sisting of a centre and two wings; the former is the work of Inigo Jones; the latter have been made uniform, new cased with bricks and sashed. In a large room are still to be seen the arms and portrait of queen Elizabeth, who was entertained in it by the then proprietor of the mansion. The road brings us to STROUD, one of the suburbs of ROCHESTER; at the entrance of this town stands the parish church, about one hundred feet in length, and fifty in breadth. In the south aisle, the pavement of the chapel erected in 1607, exhibits specimens of Mosaic work; the tower, with a small spire, contains six bells. Near the church, through the turnpike gate, is the site of Newark Hospital, founded by Gilbert de Glanville, bishop of Rochester. "One end of this institution was, that masses should be said for the souls of the founder, and other pious benefactors; A a 2 bencfactors; the residue of the profits of the estate was ap plied in relieving the sick, the impotent, and the necessitous, whether neighbours or travellers. This seems to have been the original design of hospitals, that travellers, especially pilgrims, might be refreshed and entertained; for these purposes, they were usually erected near public roads." About half a mile from Stroud, on the banks of the Medway, is a building called THE TEMPLE, on account of its having belonged to the Knights Templars; it is now a farm house. Little remains of the antient structure, except a spacious cellar vaulted with chalk and stone groins; the walls are of a considerable thickness. The jurisdiction of the corporation of Rochester extends over the north side of this street, including the church; the remainder is in the north division of the Lathe of Aylesford, and in the hundred of Shammell. Great part of the inhabitants of Stroud are supported by the fisheries; of which the oyster is most considerable. This is conducted by a company of free dredgers, established by prescription, but subject to the authority and government of the mayor and citizens of Rochester. In 1729 an act of parlia ment was obtained, for the better management of this fishery, and for confirming the jurisdiction of the said mayor and citizens, and free dredgers. The mayor holds a court of admiralty every year, to make such regulations as shall be necessary for the well-conducting this valuable branch of fishery. Seven years apprenticeship entitles a person to the freedom of this company. All persons catching oysters, not members of the fishery, are liable to a penalty. The company frequently buy brood or spat from other parts, which they lay in the river Medway, where they soon grow to maturity. Great quantities of these oysters supply the London markets, and are sent to various parts of the world. EMINENT CURATE. JOHN HARRIS, D.D. prebendary of Rochester, rector of St. Mildred, Bread Street, London, editor of the Hist, of Kent, Lexicon Technicum, and other works |