Flowers of History. 1067. King William (age 39), exulting in his victory, gave praise to God. The same year also, the king built an abbey, which, in reference to the battle that had been fought there, he called Battle [Map], in order that glory, and praise, and thanks, might be offered up in it to God for ever for the victory which he had given him, and also that offices for the souls of the dead who were slain there might be perfonned by the monks who were established in it, with the offering of salutary victims; and he endowed and enriched the church with estates and priyileges, and committed it to the patronage and protection of the kings who should reign in England after him.

Letters of Horace Walpole. 05 Aug 1752. Now you are fully master of Hurst Monceaux, I shall carry you on to Battel-By the way, we bring you a thousand sketches, that you may show us what we have seen. Battel Abbey [Map] stands at the end of the town, exactly as Warwick Castle does of Warwick; but the house of Webster have taken due care that it should not resemble it in any thing else. A vast building, which they call the old refectory, but which I believe was the original church, is now barn, coach-house, etc. The situation is noble, above the level of abbeys: what does remain of gateways and towers is beautiful, particularly the flat side of a cloister, which is now the front of the mansion-house. Miss of the family has clothed a fragment of a portico with cockle-shells! The grounds, and what has been a park, lie in a vile condition. In the church is the tomb of Sir Anthony Browne, master of the horse for life to Harry VIII: from whose descendants the estate was purchased. The head of John Hanimond, the last abbot, is still perfect in one of the windows. Mr. Chute says, "What charming things we should have done if Battel Abbey had been to be sold at Mrs. Chenevix's, as Strawberry was!" Good night!

On 10 Oct 1827 Catherine Bisshopp Countess Liverpool (deceased) was buried Buxted.

The Times. 27 Jan 1916. The death of Lady Ulrica Thynne (deceased) took place on Wednesday at 30, Grosvenor-gardens. She was the second daughter of the 12th Duke of Somerset and was born in 1833. She married, in 1858, Lord Henry Frederick Thynne, second son of the third Marquess of Bath, who was Treasurer of the Household to Queen Victoria and for over 25 years M.P. for South Wilts. There were four sons and two daughters of the marriage. The funeral will be at Findon, near Worthing, on Monday, at 1 o'clock.

Evelyn's Diary. 03 Jun 1652. I received a letter from Colonel Morley (age 36) to the Magistrates and Searchers at Rye [Map], to assist my wife (age 17) at her landing, and show her all civility.

Evelyn's Diary. 04 Jun 1652. I set out to meet her now on her journey from Paris, after she had obtained leave to come out of that city, which had now been besieged some time by the Prince of Condé's army in the time of the rebellion, and after she had been now near twelve years from her own country, that is, since five years of age, at which time she went over. I went to Rye [Map] to meet her, where was an embargo on occasion of the late conflict with the Holland fleet, the two nations being now in war, and which made sailing very unsafe.

After 15 May 1660 Henry Mildmay (age 67) was captured by Heneage Finch 3rd Earl Winchilsea (age 32) at Rye [Map].

Pepy's Diary. 27 Jul 1661. From thence to Westminster Hall [Map], where it was expected that the Parliament was to have been adjourned for two or three months, but something hinders it for a day or two. In the lobby I spoke with Mr. George Montagu (age 38), and advised about a ship to carry my Lord Hinchingbroke and the rest of the young gentlemen to France, and they have resolved of going in a hired vessell from Rye [Map], and not in a man of war. He told me in discourse that my Lord Chancellor (age 52) is much envied, and that many great men, such as the Duke of Buckingham (age 33) and my Lord of Bristoll (age 48), do endeavour to undermine him, and that he believes it will not be done; for that the King (though he loves him not in the way of a companion, as he do these young gallants that can answer him in his pleasures), yet cannot be without him, for his policy and service.

Pepy's Diary. 27 Aug 1661. This morning to the Wardrobe, and there took leave of my Lord Hinchingbroke and his brother, and saw them go out by coach toward Rye [Map] in their way to France, whom God bless. Then I was called up to my Lady's bedside, where we talked an hour about Mr. Edward Montagu's disposing of the £5000 for my Lord's departure for Portugal, and our fears that he will not do it to my Lord's honour, and less to his profit, which I am to enquire a little after. Hence to the office, and there sat till noon, and then my wife and I by coach to my cozen, Thos. Pepys, the Executor, to dinner, where some ladies and my father and mother, where very merry, but methinks he makes but poor dinners for such guests, though there was a poor venison pasty.

Sele Priory [Map] was a Benedictine Order priory founded before 1126.

The River Medway rises near Turners Hill [Map] from where it flows through Wood Weir Reservoir [Map], past Forest Row [Map], between Hartwell [Map] and Hartfield [Map], after which it is joined by the River Grom, past Ashurst, Kent [Map], Hedge Barton, Kent [Map], Penshurst, Kent [Map], under Ensfield Bridge, Kent [Map], through Tonbridge, Kent [Map], past East Peckham, Surrey [Map], Nettlestead, Kent [Map], under Teston Bridge, Kent [Map], under Kettle Bridge, Kent [Map] and East Farleigh Bridge, Kent [Map], through Maidstone, Kent [Map].

After Maidstone the river flows past Aylesford, Kent [Map], Burnham Causewayed Enclosure [Map] and Wouldham, Kent [Map] to Rochester, Kent [Map].

Chronicle of Gregory 1403-1419. 1405. Ande that yere Syr Thomas (age 16) the kyngys sone was Amerelle of the See, and he wente unto Flaundrys and brent bothe in Cachante and in Flaundrys, ande londyd at Scluse [Map] and gaffe there to a stronge sawte. Alle so he toke carrekys of Jene and brought them unto Wynchylse [Map], and they were brent thorowe mysse governaunce and moche of the goode ther ynne.

Evelyn's Diary. 04 Jun 1652. On Whit Sunday, I went to the church (which is a very fair one), and heard one of the canters, who dismissed the assembly rudely, and without any blessing. Here I stayed till the 10th with no small impatience, when I walked over to survey the ruins of Winchelsea [Map], that ancient cinq-port, which by the remains and ruins of ancient streets and public structures, discovers it to have been formerly a considerable and large city. There are to be seen vast caves and vaults, walls and towers, ruins of monasteries and of a sumptuous church, in which are some handsome monuments, especially of the Templars, buried just in the manner of those in the Temple at London. This place being now all in rubbish, and a few despicable hovels and cottages only standing, hath yet a Mayor. The sea, which formerly rendered it a rich and commodious port, has now forsaken it.

Pepy's Diary. 21 Oct 1666. This afternoon walking with Sir H. Cholmly (age 34) long in the gallery, he told me, among many other things, how Harry Killigrew (age 29) is banished the Court lately, for saying that my Baroness Castlemayne (age 25) was a little lecherous girle when she was young.... This she complained to the King (age 36) of, and he sent to the Duke of York (age 33), whose servant he is, to turn him away. The Duke of York (age 33) hath done it, but takes it ill of my Lady that he was not complained to first. She attended him to excute it, but ill blood is made by it. He told me how Mr. Williamson (age 33) stood in a little place to have come into the House of Commons, and they would not choose him; they said, "No courtier". And which is worse, Bab May (age 38) went down in great state to Winchelsea [Map] with the Duke of York's (age 33) letters, not doubting to be chosen; and there the people chose a private gentleman in spite of him, and cried out they would have no Court pimp to be their burgesse; which are things that bode very ill. This afternoon I went to see and sat a good while with Mrs. Martin, and there was her sister Doll, with whom, contrary to all expectation, I did what I would, and might have done anything else.

The River Medway rises near Turners Hill [Map] from where it flows through Wood Weir Reservoir [Map], past Forest Row [Map], between Hartwell [Map] and Hartfield [Map], after which it is joined by the River Grom, past Ashurst, Kent [Map], Hedge Barton, Kent [Map], Penshurst, Kent [Map], under Ensfield Bridge, Kent [Map], through Tonbridge, Kent [Map], past East Peckham, Surrey [Map], Nettlestead, Kent [Map], under Teston Bridge, Kent [Map], under Kettle Bridge, Kent [Map] and East Farleigh Bridge, Kent [Map], through Maidstone, Kent [Map].

After Maidstone the river flows past Aylesford, Kent [Map], Burnham Causewayed Enclosure [Map] and Wouldham, Kent [Map] to Rochester, Kent [Map].