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Dieu there, which Sir John Thompson, the last Master, returned as a Parsonage of 61. per annum, and held it till 1542.

"From my memoirs of this town, it appears, King Henry the Eighth was frequently here about that time, supervising the works of this harbour (in which he took great delight); having put them under the direction of the above-mentioned Sir John Thompson, who appears to have been a gentleman of such ingenuity, that said King removed him from being Parson of St. James's in Dover, to be Master of the Maison Dieu, a place then worth 120l. per annum. — That King Henry was an humourist, I think History, as well as our Records, give sufficient proof; for, anno 1537, that King's footman was paid two shillings for a forfeit because the bells were not rung against the King's coming.

"In the year 1538, it appears that King Henry the Eighth was at Dover; that they rung the bells of St. Mary's church when his Majesty came in and went out; that they sealed up the church doors at the King's departure; that at this time the pews of St. Martin's church were pulled down and put up at this church at the expence of the parishioners, and it does not appear they paid any thing for them. Thus, it is presumed, St. Mary's and St. Peter's churches in Dover were then given to the Mayor and Jurats by that King (for whom, 1541, was expended upon those that did ring, at the King's Grace coming into town, threepence); for the latter, in which elections of Mayors and Members were made, falling to decay about the year 1581, a decree of Common Council was made, to remove them from St. Peter's to St. Mary's church, in which they have (to the great dishonour of God) been carried on ever since, though we have a spacious Town-hall, equally as fit for the purpose, and the church of St. Peter's was sold by the Corporation about that time, and the proceeds carried to the Chamberlain's account.

"From the year 1537, the Parishioners of St. Mary's have chosen their own Ministers, as that church seems then given them by King Henry, and thereby exempt. Mr. Olam, the Mayor of Dover that year, gave his commandment for the new paving that church; and from that time also, the Mayor, and such of the Jurats as are of that parish, have been named at all vestries as the head managers and principal inhabitants; and on any poor person applying to those Justices of the Peace, at their sittings in the Court-hall, weekly or otherwise, complaining of sickness, want, and distress, requiring immediate relief, it hath been customary, time immemorial, to grant them a gathering, in the following form,to save them flinging themselves on the parish, viz. 'At a Court holden the.. day of....... 17... resolved, that

a collection be made in the parish church of St. Mary in Dover, on Sunday the .... instant, both forenoon and afternoon, for the relief of A. B. who has been sick a long time, and reduced to great necessity thereby.

'By order of the Mayor and Jurats.'

"From the violence of the late election, and the Churchwardens' opposition

opposition to the Mayor and Jurats (who were in the interest of Government) they last Sunday took it into their heads to forbid Mr. Edwards, our Minister, from reading the order of the Mayor and Jurats for the relief of one James Robinson, as customary; and substituted an order of their own, which Mr. Edwards also refused reading.

"As I have said before, it has been the custom time immemorial, and no doubt from the time of the Reformation, that collections have been so made by order of the Mayor and Jurats, for the relief of such poor persons as they found to be proper objects of charity. I shall be extremely obliged to you in signifying whether two insolent churchwardens can be justified in ordering Mr. Edwards to desist from reading the Mayor and Jurats' order for the said collection; and whether, if read, they can refuse to collect, or prevent the overseers of the poor from doing it, in the church or whether, on the Mayor and Jurats complaining thereof to the Archbishop, &c. any order might be obtained, to oblige the churchwardens, in future, to comply with the antient rules and orders observed in the church of St. Mary's in Dover. "Believe me to be, on all occasions, dear Sir,

"Your most obedient humble servant JAS. HAMMOND."

TO JAMES HAMMOND, Esq. at Dover.

<< SIR, Doctors Commons, Jan. 23, 1771. "I am favoured with yours of the 19th instant. I have long since been informed of the large MS Collections you have made towards an History of Dover; and do not doubt but the assistance your friend hath obtained for you from the Archives of the Monks of St. Omer will greatly perfect that learned work.

"The Church of St. Mary at Dover, being exempt from the Archdeacon of Canterbury, is therefore under my jurisdiction as Commissary of that Diocese. I am extremely sorry that any dispute has arisen between the Churchwardens and the Minister thereof; but am obliged to acquaint you, that it would be highly improper for me to give any advice or opinion in a matter which may possibly come before ine hereafter in a judicial capacity. "I remain, Sir, &c. &c.

"DEAR SIR,

To Dr. DUCarel.

A. C. DUCAREL."

Dover, June 26, 1772.

"It gave me much concern that I was deprived of the pleasure of a conference with you, when I was last in town, by a chain of unforeseen accidents, more especially as I had much to say in a little time.

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By the copies of letters on the other side, you will please see what I have been doing, and wish to do; and shall be exceedingly obliged to you for your assistance in a trial to come at a copy of Mr. Hannington's deed of gift of St. Mary's church to the townsmen of Dover (which I apprehend was granted about the year 1550), being formerly part of the possessions of the Master and

Brethren

Brethren of the Maison Dieu in Dover. As the matter is pretty clearly explained on the other side, I shall conclude with wishing you health and happiness, being in greatest truth, dear Sir,

"Your most obedient humble servant, JAS. HAMMOND.

"Extract of a Letter from Mr. Hammond to the Rev. Mr. Beauvoir, at Canterbury, dated May 12, 1772.

"I have this winter, from a number of antient MSS, worked very hard in compiling an History of Dover, &c. under the following heads, viz.

Dover.

Town, country, and coast for ten miles round.
Churches, Monasteries, and Hospitals.

Castle.

Harbour.

Antiquities as a Cinque Port.

Among the MSS. I have a curious piece relative to the Maison Dieu in this town, whereby the state of it at the Dissolution is as well known as if I could speak with the Master and Brethren of that Hospital.

"It appears, the Master and Brethren quitted possession anno 1542; that then King Henry the Eighth's officer, by virtue of letters patent (as Surveyor of the Victualling), came into their house, and remained there until he died, which was not till after the year 1600.

"This officer's name was William Hannington, esq. who took possession of all the lands, tenements, churches, chapels, and appurtenances, belonging to the said Hospital, and kept them until leased off by the Crown. He says, in his examination, he had possession of St. Mary's church in Dover some years, and kept a preacher there at his expence; but, on the application of the townsmen, who desired to put in their own Minister, he granted their request by deed, but no such writing now here in being. I apprehend the said deed may be in the Library at Canterbury, and is dated about 1550, because that year Mr. Hannington was Mayor of Dover, and, I apprehend, a man of note, being married to a daughter of Mr. Monyng, Lieutenant of Dover Castle, and was about twenty-two years of age when appointed to his said office of Surveyor of the Victualling, which he had continued in 58 years when he was examined in 1600, and was then 80 years old.

"As Mr. Hannington must have died soon after 1600, and scarcely without a will proved at Canterbury, I wonder whether he took any notice therein of his gift of the Church or Chapel of St. Mary the Virgin in Dover to the Mayor and Jurats in behalf of the townsmen, or relied on his former grant thereof in about 1550, which, I presume, is in the Court of Canterbury also (as I have said before), and as you have some acquaintance with the proper Officers of the said Court, I should be glad to be informed thereof (at leisure)."

"Extract

"Extract of Dr. Burrell's Letter to Mr. Hammond.

"Berkeley-square, June 23, 1772. "I have enquired in the Surveyor General's office for Mr. Hannington's grant of St. Mary's church to the townsmen, but no such deed is deposited there, nor is recorded in the Office Registers. I think you may probably obtain some account of it in the Lambeth MSS. or those deposited in the Augmentation office, in both which Dr. Ducarel can give you information. The former are under his immediate care and superintendance. I did not quite understand your idea of Mr. Hannington's will being proved at Canterbury. If you mean in the Prerogative Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury at Doctors Commons, in order to find it you must name the year, and, if possible, the month wherein he died; in which case I will enquire, and, if it is there, inspect it,-but should think it will be very difficult to find, without the time of his death being more precisely ascertained than by your letter. W. BURRELL."

JOHN IVES*, Esq. to Dr. DUCarel.

"WORTHY SIR,

Great Yarmouth, Dec. 15, 1773.

Having for some time employed my leisure hours in drawing up a few remarks upon Burgh Castle in this neighbourhood (the ancient Garianonum) I propose to print them in a quarto pamphlet in the form of a letter, which I hope you will give me leave to address to you.

"Inclosed is a view and an ichnography of this venerable castrum, which I shall be much obliged to you to let your engraver reduce to a quarto size, and execute them properly. You will find some trumpery Latin verses at the bottom of the plan, which I would have left out, as well as the memorandum of finding two Coins, &c.

"I believe my cabinet will afford a Plate of Antiquities found at Burgh, but this I must defer till I have an opportunity of searching minutely. I shall print at Norwich, where we have tolerable good workmen, but no rolling press; 500 will be my number, and the same quantity of both plates must be rolled off at London.

"I shall esteem it a favour if you will honour me with your thoughts upon this affair as soon as you receive this parcel, which a neighbour of mine, in whom I can confide, brings you. The engraver, I hope, will take care to keep the drawings clean, and return them safe. I suppose they will not amount to more than five pounds engraving. I remain, dear Sir,

"Your faithful and obliged servant,

J. Ives."

* Of whom see "Literary Anecdotes,” vol. III. p. 200.

"WORTHY

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