earth for its stony treasures, the traces of Roman buildings would of course vanish, and render the site of the ancient town impossible to be identified. As far as we know, all traces of Roman occupation must have been removed anterior to the time of Leland and Camden, and much more of course before the date of Newton the historian of the place, and the later antiquaries. We have record evidence, the best perhaps that can be adduced, that the quarries at this spot were in full activity in the fifth year of Henry V. (1418). In that year the following entry occurs in Rymer's ' Foedera,' as quoted by Brayley in his' Delineations of Kent,' p. 1278, being an order from the Crown for stone cannon-balls, addressed to John Louth and John Bennet, masons at Maidstone:—" Septem millia lapidum pro gunnis de diversis sortibus, unii cum sufficienti stuffura lapidum pro eisdem, tarn infra quarreras de Madeston hithe, quam alibi." That is, " Seven thousand stones for cannon of different knds, and a sufficient supply of stones for them in the quarries at Maidstone Hythe, as well as elsewhere." Hythe Street, in Maidstone, was the ancient name of that part of the town, on the east bank of the river, which is now called "Water-side." To this the said quarries would be contiguous, and hence all this large tract of excavations, to which the removal of ancient foundations and remains is attributable, appears to have received its name.
   8. There being thus no foundations or other remains to which we might refer, our research must be continued from collateral indications. Proceeding then by this path, it may be observed that we have a considerable tract of land in this very angle and portion of Maidstone parish, designated in ancient deeds as " Perryfield." This is mentioned in the Crown Leases in the Augmentation Office (see Hasted's ' History of Kent,' vol. ii. p. 160, and compare also the 'Ministers' Accounts' for