Whereas William Goldock 1 tenant to certayne marshlandes in Reynham in Kent amongst others had agreed before his tyme to seale his lease of the same landes and to put in sufficient security to performe the covenantes viz: obi: 500 li. The rent 200 li. per annum, which is behynd 100 li. from Michelmas last, and from our Lady day etc. Whoe since being vpon his conscience admitted to occupy the land, hath continued his possession aboue two yeares and taking advantage of the Ladye Sackviles2 incapacity to seale a lease or take her course at law agaynst him being vnder coverte Baron etc. will neither pay his rent nor performe covenantes but suffers the marsh walls to be in decay or at least not sufficiently mayntayned to prevent the drowning of the marshes if it should please god to send a dangerous 48floud, which if it should happen, it would be 300 li. damage at the least to the Lady Sackvile besides 300 li. which about 3. yeares since she hath disbursed vpon making vp the breaches of the said walls wherevpon since Christmas by my Ladyes appoyntment a distres was taken for non payment of his rent, and a reëntry made vpon him according to the tenor of the draught of the lease he being in the meane tyme a trespasser or tenant at will at the best, but since he hath broken open the barnes dores which were locked by my Ladyes appoyntment and holdes the farme by torte and force wherevpon the Lady desires the assistance of the honorable Courte of Wardes or to be advised some lawfull course for her remedy herein.

Comittee Sir George Riuers knight3   Richard Amhirst4 sergeant att Law  Edward Lyndsey Esq.5

Henry Sackvyle6

Aunswered. To move for order for the rent, and for possession.

1.

“Vpon readinge the affidavit of Robert Hyet Esq. this daie recorded It is ordered that an Iniunction shalbe heereby forthwith awarded against William Gouldock of Rainham in the Countie of Kent yeoman one of the tenantes and occupiers of the lands of Henry Sackvile esq. a lunatick for his presente payment of the some of three score and eight poundes vnto the said Robert Hyett to the vse of the Comittee of the said lunaticke And this order shalbe a sufficient warrant to the Clarke of this Courte in that behalfe.” C. W. 543. 3.

2.

If the name be correct, and not an error in drafting for Henry Sackville, the reference must be to Lady Margaret Sackville, who married John Tufton, Earl of Thanet, April 21, 1629; or to Lady Isabella Sackville, who married James Compton, Earl of Northampton, July 5, 1647. They were the daughters and heirs of Richard Sackville (1589–1624), third Earl of Dorset. There are monuments to the third Earl and to the Countess of Thanet in Rainham church. Violet Sackville-West, Knole and the Sackvilles (London, 1923).

3.

“Sir George Rivers of Chafford in the County of Kent knight.” C. W. 566. (unpaged), January 30, 1628. He was named one of the executors of Robert Sackville, second Earl of Dorset, in 1609, who bequeathed to him £100.

4.

Richard Amherst of Amherst, co. Sussex, of an old county family; General Jeffrey Amherst, (1717–97) was a descendant of his younger brother. He was admitted to Gray's Inn in 1585, called to the bar in 1593, acted as high steward of the manors of the first Earl of Dorset, and was made a Serjeant in 1623. The Pension Book of Gray's Inn, 1569–1669, R. J. Fletcher, Ed. (London, 1901); Collins, Peerage of England, Brydges, Ed., II. 144.

5.

Edward Lyndsey of Bucksted in co. Sussex. Named among the “loving servants” of the first Earl of Dorset, in his will. Robert, second Earl of Dorset, was succeeded by his son Richard (1589–1624), a byword for extravagance, who dissipated much of the vast fortune accumulated by the good husbandry of his predecessors, and left the family estates deeply burdened with debt. To Rivers, Amherst, and Lindsey, his sureties, he conveyed and assured “divers Mannors and Lands of sufficient Value to pay the Debts.” A grant of protection was issued to them by Charles I, June 29, 1626, in which it is expressly stated that “Edward now Earle of Dorsett,” brother and successor to Richard, gave his consent to this arrangement. Rymer, Foedera, XVIII. 722–724. In the names of the Ladies Margaret and Isabella, coheiresses and wards of the king, their committee, the Dowager Countess, brought suit against Rivers and his associates, whose troubles between the impatient creditors on the one hand and the little heiresses and their stubborn guardian on the other may readily be conceived. C. W. 541. 528, 548; 542. 1160, 1163, 1197, 1269, 1339, 1359, 1386, 1437, 1471; 543. 27, 41, 79; 566. (unpaged), January 30, 1628; 567. 6, 112, 202. This last is an affidavit of Lindsey that he has 183 witnesses still to be examined!

6.

Henry Sackville, second son of Thomas, first Earl of Dorset. See the injunction against Goldock awarded in his behalf, page 47, supra. He appears again, C. W. 543. 286, 473, October 23, 1628, when Emmanuel Downing is named as his attorney and Nicholas Pye as defendant; and 543. 494, where, after hearing “mr. serieant Amhurst of Counsell with the Comittees of Henry Sackvill esq. a Lunatick,” the court awards an injunction against “Christofer Bateman of Mynster in the Isle of Shepey in the Countie of Kent late a tenante at will of a Messuage and Landes of the Lunatiques in Minster aforesaid,” directing him to pay forthwith the rent due at Michaelmas last and not to cut any bushes or trees or commit any manner of waste.

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