Page:Notes on the churches in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.djvu/156

118 The writing of the MS. having partially become very indistinct, it is proportionally difficult to decipher, but through the kindness of Albert Way Esq. I am enabled to present the following copy of the entry concerning Nockholt. Eor the convenience of readers the words are released from the contractions of the original, and it will be observed, that in one instance the baptismal name of a person introduced is too much defaced to be ascertained. An English version will be appended, wherein occasionally, of necessity, the apparent meaning is given, rather than a close translation attempted. Though not precisely contemporary, this record is sufficiently near the date of the foundation of Ocolte chapel to be perused with interest.

"Temporibus Anglorum Regis Henricii tercii filii regis Johannis qui in Anglia regnabat LVI annis et diebus xx erat quidam Radulfus Scot manens in parochia de Chelesfeld iuxta altam stratam regiam inter Farnbergh et Halstede iacentem, ubi crux est uocata Scoctes (sic) Crouch. Qui quidem Radulfus de loco illo se transtulit apud Ocolte, terras et varias ibidem possessiones emendo, quandamque construendo ibi mansionem vocatam la Halle. Propter quod locus ille uocatur Scoctes (sic) Ocolte. Et quia præfatus Radulfus et cæteri inhabitantes dictum locum, pro diuinis audiendis officiis apud Chyuenyngam et alibi circumquaque se a parochiali ecclesia sua de Orpynton diuertebant; et quia ob loci distanciam a dicta parochiali ecclesia multa ibidem animarum contingebant pericula, ii et Radulfus Scot, et quidam Her . . cus(?) Goldsmyth, a deo, ut creditur, inspirati, in area viridi apud Ocolte, uocata Herelepe, ubi diebus festiuis cominunis accessus laicorum fiebat per inhabitantes dictum locum, quandam capellam in honore beate Katerine uirginis de suis construis (sic) bonis fecerunt. Primo lapide per dictum Radulfum in ipsius capelle posito fundamento. Et post construccionem dicte capelle ipse Radulfus Scot, de terris sibi acquisitis, de modica area iuxta cimiterium pro domibus capellani ibidem, ac etiam de quadam crofta sua ex opposite dicte capelle situata pro construccionem domorum ad colleccionem decimarum reponendo ibidem dotauit capellam eandem libere, et donavit in perpetuam elemosinam possidendum. Postmodo idem Radulfus Scot dictam capellam ixmo. die Maij anno Domini Mo. CCo. octogesimo primo tempore fratris Roberti Kilwardeby, tune Cantuarie archiepiscopi de eius licencia consecrari et dedicari in honore beate uirginis Katerine, non obstante