Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 4.djvu/30

 NOTES AND QUERIES. rii s. iv. JULY s, 1911.

within the levels, and that it will be attended with advantage to the country, by draining parts of the levels which are now subject to floods.

"2. It is the opinion of this meeting that it be recommended to the several proprietors of lands within the levels to put the persons author- ized by the Government into the immediate pos- session of the lands necessary for the purpose of the proposed canal and road, and to leave the amount of the compensation to be paid to the several owners and occupiers to be afterwards settled by a jury, to be summoned within six months from this day."

Sir John Honywood was the chairman ; and Mr. Pitt, Sir D. Dundas, Major-General Moore, and Col. Brown of the Quarter- master-General's Department were present.

A further report in The Kentish Gazette of 30 October refers to the meeting on the 24th, when Mr. Pitt explained in the clearest manner the object of the meeting, stated how this great work would affect the lands in the Marsh, and cited Mr. Coleman, Expenditor of the Marsh, a person whose age and experience entitled his information to respect. The resolution being passed, the meeting adjourned, and Mr. Pitt re- turned to Walmer Castle.

li. J. FYNMOEE.

Sandgate.

BATTLE ON THE WEY :

CARPENTER, CRESSINGHAM, AND

ROWE FAMILIES.

I HAVE temporarily in my possession two documents, which were found recently among the papers, &c., belonging to Francis Coryndon Carpenter Rowe, who died 1898, aged 38, son of the late Sir William Rowe of Trebursye, Launceston.

The older of the documents is endorsed " Carpenter Arms." Parts of it e.g., the description of the arms and the proper names are in red ink. It is a little worn and mutilated. Probably some one or two lines have been cut from the foot.

The other is apparently a later version, in which there are evident inaccuracies, e.g., Christa for Crista, and DCCLXXIV. appears for MCCLXXIV. This later docu- ment is endorsed :

" A Copy of a Writing on Parchment in the Possession of Coryndon Howe of Launceston in Cornwall, Surgeon, who married Ann, the Daughter of Wm. Carpenter, late of the same place, D.D., deced."

As the text and the signatures are apparently written by one hand, it is probably a copy of a copy.

If we supply one word " and " torn away, between " Cashell " and " Richard," near the end, and the Latin quotation, from the second version, the older document reads as follows :

" Scutum Gentilitium Paludamentum et Crista Cognominis Carpender or Carpenter thus blazoned Partie per pale indented Or and Azure An Eagle Counterchang'd of the first and second An Helmet befitting the Degree, A Wreath of the Colours &c. This Name had its Original Ah Ofncio non Artis sed Ingenii (as Fordon relates it) about the year MCCLXXIV from the cunning Contrivance of Hugh Cressingham of Abbington in Berkshire Who cutt a Bridge upon the Wey so dextrously that It was not perceived by any, He having a Pin, whereunto he clandestinely fastened in a Cradle, Expecting the Blast of a Horn, which was a Sign that half the Army was over the Bridge, which he performed so coura- geously that those upon the Bridge were drown'd, <fc their Army divided, so that one Party might see the other routed, and not be able to assist them : The River being betwixt them : Which in all Probability might have fallen out otherwise, the Enemy being thrice their Number. By W T hich means the English gained the Victory over the Welsh, and the said Hugh surnamed Carpenter, and had for his Crest (as Forden saith) Manum dextram armatam Clavum ligneum tenentem, and he further adds Filius ejus Johannes Carpenter eadem Insignia in Scuto sed Cristam alteram portavit. Many of the Vulgar have taken the Arms of the Company of Carpenters for their own Arms, and so lie under a Mistake. This Hugh married Anna Barton and had Issue John Carpenter a Companion of Piers Gaveston in the Reign of King Edward II. and accompanied him to Ireland, but did not return with him, But remained there and married a Daughter of Donald Fitzgerald and had Issue Thomas, George, Richard and EdAvard Carpenter Who came all over to England in the Beginning- of the Reign of King Edward III. and Richard accompanied him through all his Wars with France ; Thomas married Anna Cecil and lived in Essex. George was Abbott of Kilkenny in Ireland and afterwards came to be Archbishop of Cashell and Richard was a Commander under Henry IV. Si quid novisti Rectius istis Candidus Imperti si non His utere mecum."

At the end of No. 2, from which I have supplied the missing word " and " as well as the Latin quotation, appears

A True Copy, examined by) nc; fH and verified on the oath of/ btep ^pettigue.

Sworn at Launceston, in Cornwall) the 20 th day of August 1808. Before/

W m Rowe. Justice.

I am far from sure about the name " Spettigue."

I shall be grateful if any correspondent will give me information concerning the incident in Wales, when Hugh Cressingham cut the bridge over the Wey, or anything connected with the family history given above. ROBERT PIERPOINT.