Page:Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.djvu/445

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SUSSEX.
373

Horsham slate. The northern abacus of the chancel arch, which is round has some double square-billet moulding, and a small human figure is rudely carved on the under side. The north and south doors, the last walled up, are rather narrow, and had horizontal lintels below round arches. In exterior of both north and south walls of chancel is an arcade; the northern, though mutilated, is clearly Norm., the arches being very acutely pointed. The bad condition of the other does not admit of a description. In the walls are stones, which have been previously used; also tiles, which may be Roman (see p. 208), but they have at least equally the appearance of old paving tiles.

83. Edburton.—At Fulking in this parish the remains of a piscina indicate, that formerly a chapel was attached to the residence. The house was accidentally burnt, about A.D. 1830 perhaps, when occupied only by labourers. The piscina is at the east end of the building as now standing, and is wrought in chalk.

93. Ferring.—Till the preceding sheets were passing through the press the fact, clearly proved by collation, was overlooked, that the two quotations, namely, from Monast. vi, 1163, in p. 227, and from Cod. Dipl. v, 53, in p. 228, refer to the very same document, notwithstanding the apparent difference of date. In the former work the year seems to have been given as it is actually written in the charter DCCXI, whereas in the latter Mr. Kemble has represented it thus, DCCX(C)I, suggesting the omission of a numeral by the transcriber. That such omission has been committed is evident from the deed itself, which declares it had received the consent and permission of King Offa, consequently it could not have been executed A.D. 711, since Offa ascended the throne, according to the Saxon Chronicle, A.D. 755 or 756, and died A.D. 794. (Gibs. 59, 65). There are a few other unimportant discrepancies between the two above-mentioned copies of this grant, which runs thus, the various readings of Cod. Dipl. being placed in brackets, and marked K.——"Ego Aldwlfus dux Suthsaxonum aliquantulum (aliquantulam, K.) silvæ partem juris mei Wethuni episcopo largiri atque distribuere curabam, cum concessu et licentia Offæi regis Anglorum, in loco qui dicitur Gealtborgsteal (Cealtborgsteal, K.) ad ecclesiam S. Andreæ quæ sita est in terra quæ vocatur Ferring. Quæ silva certis finibus terminatur in occidentali plaga, juxta superiorem viam quæ currit ab australi parte usque ad septentrionem (terminatur; in occidentali plaga, juxta superiorem viam quæ currit ab australi parte usque ad septentrionem, K.) et in altera parte circuitu campestria" (campestri ?). "Qui hanc parvam donationis munificentiam augere et ampliare voluerit, augeat Dominus partem ejus in libro vitæ. Si vero, quod absit, aliquis tyrannica fretus potestate, temerarie tenere aut minuere voluerit, sciat se in tremendo examinis judicio horribiliter incidere in manus Dei viventis. Et hæc acta sunt in monte qui vocatur Biohthandoune, anno incarnationia Domini nostri Jesu Christi MCCX(C)I ..........Ego Ealdwlf, qui donavi, signum S. crucis expressi Ego Ealdwlf consentio et subscribe ."

"I Aldwlf, duke of the South Saxons, undertook to grant and assign to bishop Wethun, with the consent and permission of Offa, king of the English, a small piece of woodland, belonging to me, in the place which is named Cealtborgsteal, for the church of St. Andrew, which stands in the estate called Ferring. Which wood is bounded by certain limits; on the western border, next the highway which runs from the southern part to the north; and on the other side plains (extend) around. Whoever will increase and enlarge this small bounty of donation, the Lord increase his share in the book of life. But if, which God forbid, any one, relying on tyrannical power, will rashly retain or diminish (it), let him know that in the awful judgment of (the day of) trial he (will) fall fearfully into the hands of the living God. And these were done in the mount called Biohthandoune, in the year of the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ 791 ......