Sussex Archaeological Collections Relating to the History and Antiquities of the County Volume 26 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875 Excerpt: ...Wo was elected Abbot of Battel; had the may here remark that Dnngeness is royal assent 25th May, 1311; and re-still a great honey-producing district, signed office in 1318. John de Wat-Bees were kept at the Lighthouse for lyngton, his predecessor, who took his very many years, and were most proname from the parish so called, within ductive. the Liberty of Battel, held the Abbacy from 1307 to 1311. Ingemarsh is a clerical error for Dengomarsh, and occurs several times in the Roll. Dengemarsh, Bo often mentioned, lies in Romney Marsh, a mile and a-half south by east of Lydd. It is bounded on the south by the English Channel, and Dungeness lighthouse lies within its precincts. In Lower's Translation of the "Chronicon de Bello," are recited several curious customs; one of which is that " if the fish called Crcuspeis should be cast ashore there.... two parts of it, with the tongue, belong to the Abbot, as they had previously belonged to the King." Craspeis would appear to be a "grampus," or something "very like a whale"--crassus piscis. The custom of wrecca maris also prevailed here, and a cruel custom it was. By it the Lord of a district might seize any vessel wrecked within certain limits, with all the cargo. King Henry I., abhorring the custom, issued an edict, that if only one man should escape alive from the ship he should have what remained both of the vessel and its contents. This law, however, was disobeyed after the King's death, and the chiefs of the kingdom resumed the ancient custom. In one case the freemen of Dengemarsh made forcible seizure of a wreck, and a suit at law resulted. The Abbot of Battel, Walter do Lucy, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, were the parties interested, each claiming the right for him...