berga; Lilintuna," Linton; "Bearmlingetes," West Barming or Barnjet; "Beantesteda," Bensted in Hunton; "Craie, Scriburna," Shipbourne; "Helle, Sanctus Leonardus, Sancta Maria de castello," that is, in the castle of Rochester.
Perhaps a collation with the original record would show, that some of the above names have been incorrectly reported, as the perfect accuracy of Hearne is questioned. See the "History of England under the Anglo-Saxon Kings," by Lappenberg translated by Benj. Thorpe, London, 1845, xxv. The preceding and subsequent Notes will render unnecessary farther observations upon the places mentioned.
There seems to be sufficient evidence of the existence of a castle at Rochester under the Saxon dynasty. In a list "De datoribus beneficiorum" (scil. ecclesiæ Roffensi) "ante adventum Normannorum," the first entry is "Ethelbertus rex" (who died in the beginning of the seventh century) "dedit terram, ubi castrum Rofense est—King Ethelbert gave the land, where Rochester castle stands." (Reg. Roff. 116.) This quotation by itself certainly proves nothing, and the (Text Roff.) reports the gift differently. But A.D. 765 Egbert, King of Kent, disposed of some land within the walls of the castle of Rochester. "Ego Ecbertus rex Cantiæ, &c.—trado terram intra castelli mœnia supra nominati, i.e., Hrofiscestri, unum viculum cum duobus jugeribus adjacentem plateæ, quæ terminus a meridie hujus terræ &c.—Actum anno Dominicæ incarnationis DCCLXV." (Reg. Roff. 16, and Cod. Dipl. I, 137, 138.) Again we find the castle, "castellum Hrobi," named by Etheluulf, King of the West Saxons and of Kent, A.D. 855. (Text. Roff. 102.) Also in a charter of Offa, King of Mercia, A.D. 788, granting Trottescliff, "Trottesclib," to the church of Rochester there is the expression, "episcopium castelli quod nominatur Hrofescester—the bishoprick of the castle called Rochester;" though possibly the term here may signify only that Rochester was a fortified city. (Cod. Dipl. I. 183.) That Rochester was fortified in Saxon times appears likewise from another charter of K. Offa, dated A.D. 789, which speaks of the "septentrionalem murum præfatæ civitatis," nempe "Hrofi,—the northern wall of the aforesaid city, namely Rochester." (Cod. Dipl. com. I, 186.) (Compare Poste's Observations quoted below.)[1] But though Norman William might
- ↑ I am aware, that the forgery of some professed Saxon documents casts suspicion upon such authorities. If those quoted are all fictitious, the argument built upon them falls to the ground; but if one or two only are genuine, they will suffice for my purpose, namely, to
