Aspects of Kentish Local History

they would have a motto for the entertainment and speculation of them that pass by, I would recommend to him De paupertate tacentes plus poscente ferent.
As we passed over Bexley Heath, about three miles from this hill, we had a pretty long prospect, which opened to the right  [sic] and terminated in a sea mark. I think the fellow whom we met there and enquired of about it called it Peachey, or somesuch name; and we saw the same mark again, as I take it, a few miles before we entered into Rochester, and in our return I found that it was likewise to be seen from the west end of Blackheath.
   We came into Dartford to the sign of the "Bull" about twelve. On the right, as we entered the town, there is a pretty snug hospital consisting of two sides of a square, to the east and north, built by one Horseman of Horseman's Place in 1572. After dinner we went to see the Church, accompanied by our landlord, who, I doubt not, is with great justice esteemed as one of the chief wits of the place, and he gave us a specimen of it, as we went along, by asking one of his neighbours, who had pulled down the front of his house, with a very facetious air, How long it had been since he kept open house? In this Church there have been some monuments of antiquity, but most of the brasses with the inscriptions are now torn off the stones; though there are some few still remaining; but not having time to transcribe them

at present I hope to do it some other opportunity, D.V. There has been lately a good deal of money laid out upon the inside of this Church, so that it looks very neat and handsome; and the inhabitants seem to be a good sort of people, and are desirous of establishing by subscription an afternoon Lecturer; and there is one Mr. Jones lately come into the town for that purpose and keeps the school there; but upon some dispute with the Vicar, Mr. Chambers (who will not as yet be persuaded to lend his pulpit for this use), they cannot get this lecture fixed. This Mr. Chambers is a Welshman, as is Jones likewise, and was nominated to this vicarage by  Francis Lord Bishop of Rochester, [Atterbury1713-23] whose right it is to present to it, though  this choice of his was contrary to the desire of the inhabitants, who had humbly requested him for Mr. Price, a Westminster scholar, and a worthy son of the former incumbent here, and who had for some time assisted his aged father, [Thos. Price 1689-1718] but his Lordship did not think it convenient to let them have him for their Vicar, nor Mr. Chambers to have him for the Lecturer, which they endeavoured at when he failed of getting the cure.
[p.76] In the afternoon we came hence directly for Rochester, and upon the heath as we came out of the town the men of Tunbridge