that can be advanced in favour of the paradoxical tradition that "Tenterden Steeple was the cause of the Goodwin Sands." Besides the chantries already referred to, there was one in Tenterden Church called Peter Marshall's Chantry, which I don't remember to have been noticed by any of our topographers. Here certain houses and land in Tenterden and Woodchurch, including the Woolsack (I suppose the present Woolpack), were given for the use and support of a chaplain in the church, for celebrating Divine service, as well as for teaching in the Grammar School. The south chancel of the church was appropriated to the use of the school, during the last century. A fraternity also existed here, called "Our Lady's Brotherhood." There were also three obit rents; and a light rent, for two tapers before the high altar.
   During the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries an industrious, if not a wealthy, population became the inhabitants of this district. Noble oaks were felled, charcoal burnt and exported, while the application of marl, with an increase of light and air from the clearing

of woods, led to a gradual improvement in the cultivation of the soil, but the roads remained as bad as ever. Like the rest of the county, Tenterden had now its acknowledged owners either of denes, or lesser manors which had been formed out of them. As, however, the timber was still often claimed by the sovereign or the religious houses, it operated prejudicially to the occupiers, who, like the inhabitants of the New Forest, took advantage of their secluded position, regardless of the law of "meum and tuum." This was carried to such an extent, that Archbishop Winchelsea, in the reign of Edward II, obtained a special commission to ascertain what timber had been wrongfully cut down, and carried away by the tenants, in no less than fifteen places, in his denes held of the manor of Aldington, which included Herendene in Tenterden, where seventy-eight oaks and beeches had been carried off. His grace's right was established, and verdicts given in his favour.
   A similar claim was set up, about the same time, by the Prior of Christ Church, Canterbury, in respect of the denes