Page:Men of Kent and Kentishmen.djvu/84

  would have to stand single-handed against a combination of the great Continental Powers. At the Crown Inn at Rochester, before meeting her in public at Blackheath to conduct her to Greenwich, Henry obtained a private inspection of Anne of Cleves, and bestowed upon her the well-known epithet, (still remembered, less as a stigma on the queen than an indication of the coarseness of his own nature); at many places in the County the King stopped in his progresses. At Charing, which subsequently was resigned to him, he visited Cranmer, and at Hardres Court (now a farm house) his hunting knife was long shown, as a memento of his stay there two days, on his return to France.

HENRY OF SANDWICH,

BISHOP,

Is placed by Fuller amongst the celebrities of Kent, the title of "Sandwich" being taken to indicate his birthplace. He was, when Archdeacon of Oxford, consecrated Bishop of London in 1263. He took part with the seditious barons against Henry III., for which he was deservedly (the same author remarks) excommunicated by Othobon, the Pope's Legate. Going to Rome it cost him well nigh an apprenticeship of patience, dancing attendance almost seven years before he could gain his absolution; which obtained, he returned home, and, dying September 16th, 1273, was buried in his own church of St. Paul's. It is clear from this that Fuller did not form a high opinion of this prelate, nor of another Kentishman,