Chartham News: Or a Brief Relation of Some Strange Bones There Lately Digged up, in Some Grounds of Mr John Somner's in Canterbury

III. Chartham News: Or a Brief Relation of some Strange Bones there lately digged up, in some Grounds of Mr John Somner's in Canterbury. To the Reader. Kind Reader, The Author of this short Discourse, even whilst he was upon it, and had scarce read it over himself, was seized upon, first by sickness, then death, the common Fate of all men. If therefore there be any thing amiss, or imperfect in it, it would be great unkindness to impute it to him, who by such unavoidable necessity was prevented the benefit of a review; and no less unkindness perchance, though more tolerable, to blame him, who, as out of a due respect to the Author; so, out of a desire to gratifie them, (not a few probably) who may desire to satisfie their Curiosities, or improve their Knowledge, in such things hath published it. Farewel. Altho it may, and perhaps must be granted, that Miracles (strictly understood) are long since ceased: yet in the latitude of the notion, comprehending all things uncouth and strange, (miranda, as well as miracula; wonders, as well as miracles) they are not so: but do, more or lefs, somewhere or other, daily exert, and shew themselves. Dies Diem docet. New days make new discoveries; especially to such as are in any measure curious. (shall I say) or ingenious and inquisitive; as few enough amongst us here in England are, unless acted and animated by some profit or advantage to themselves by the discovery; how considerable and remarkable soever it may be otherwise. 'Tis true, New Lights are now adays much cried up: but as in matters (mostly) of Religion; so (if you mark it) by whom? But such, as not so much for Conscience, as for lucre-sake, broach and intrude them upon a credulous giddy sort of people, whose applause they first catch, and then their purses. But leaving these spiritual Mountebanks, and their counterfeit ware, New Lights only in pretence; I shall here acquaint you with a piece of New Light indeed, but of another kind, presented and held forth upon no account or aim at all of profit or advantage to the publisher; (but if he mistakes not) of good use and profit (in point of knowledge) unto others, (learned Antiquaries and Naturalists, as I suppose) of more skill, insight and judgment, (if they please to employ them on this occasion,) in things so rare and extraordinary, than he can, doth, or would be thought to pretend unto. Well, to the matter of fact then. Mr John Somner, in the month of September, 1668, sinking a Well at a new House of his in Chartam, a Village about 3 miles from Canterbury, towards Ashford, on a shelving ground, or bankside, within 12 rods of the River running from thence to Canterbury, and so to Sandwich Haven; and digging for that purpose about seventeen foot deep, through gravelly and chalky ground, and two foot into the Springs; there met with, took and turned up a parcel of strange and monstrous Bones, some whole, some broken, together with four Teeth, perfect and sound, but in a manner petrified, and turned into Stone; weighing (each Tooth) something above half a pound, and almost as big (some of them) as a mans fist. Cheek-Teeth, or Grinders, as to the form, they are all, not much unlike, but for the bigness, the Grinders of a Man. And whereas I said, almost as big, some of them, as a mans fist: it brings to my remembrance what I have read in Ludovicus Vives, of such a Tooth, but a little bigger; (dens molaris pugno major;) he saith: that is, a Cheek-Tooth, bigger than a fist) which was shewed to him for one of St Christopher's Teeth, and was kept in a Church that bare his name: which whether he believed or not I know not: but contradict it he doth not I am sure; neither he, nor his learned companion, whom he doth name there. Just such another Tooth of the bigness, he saith, of an ordinary fish, was seen by Acosta, (a very creditable Author) in the Indies, digged out of the ground, in one of their houses there, with many other Bones; which put together represented a Man, of a formidable, or as he speaketh, deformed bigness; or, greatness: as he judged of it. And so must we have judged of these Teeth, and of the Body to which they belonged; had not other Bones been found with them, which could not be Mans Bones. Some that have seen them, by the Teeth, and some other circumstances, are of opinion, that they are the Bones of an Hippopotamus, or Equus Fluvialis; that is, a River-horse; for a Sea-horse, as commonly understood and exhibited, is a fictitious thing. Yet Pliny makes Hippopotamum (mari, terre, anni communem) to belong to Sea, Land and Rivers. But what are the differences and properties of each kind, I leave to others to enquire. The Earth or Mould about them, and in which they all lay, being like a Sea-earth, or Fulling-earth, not a stone in it, unless you dig three foot deeper, and then it rises a perfect gravel. So have you the story, an account, if you please, of what was found, where, when, and upon what occasion. For more publick satisfaction, and to facilitate the discovery; at least, to help such who are minded to employ their skill in guessing and judging of the Creature, whose remains these are, what it was for kind; we have by and with the help of an able Limner, adventured on a Scheme, or Figure, of several of the Teeth and Bones, with their respective dimensions, of breadth, length, and thickness. No man, we conceive, not willing to be censured of rashness, will be very forward to divine, much less to define or determine, what the Creature was; and doubtless dubious enough it is, whether of the twain, the Sea or the the Land may more rightly lay claim unto it. But leaving all others to the freedom of their own judgments and conjectures; if he may have the same liberty from them for his, who as he knows the place, with the Country about it, hath taken a large time of consideration of all particulars and circumstances fit to be duly and deliberately weighed and observed in the case; he would adventure to conjecture it to be some Marine, or Sea-bred Creature, to which the Land can of right lay no claim. But admitting that (supposing it, I mean, a Sea-bred Creature) how then (will some say) should it possibly come there? Piscis in arido? and at such a depth under ground too? I answer, first, with as little wonder as a Land creature should, which who with reason can imagine to have ever had at first so deep a burial? Next I say, the Mould, Soil or Earth, wherein it lay, was altogether miry, like to that cenium (coarse, some call it) on many parts of the Sea coast, both in England and abroad. But how possibly (will it be said) a Sea creature, when found at so remote a distance from the Sea? For solution (if it may be) of this, and the like incidental doubts, and removing all rubs out of the way of this conjecture; our future discourse and further progress in this argument, shall branch itself out into these four following Queries. 1. Whether the situation and condition, face and figure of the place may possibly admit of the Seas once insinuating itself thither? 2. Whether (that possibility being granted, or evinced) the Sea did ever actually insinuate itself so far as to this place, and when? 3. How in probability, and when this Valley or Level, being once Sea land, should come to be so quite deserted and forsaken of the Sea, as it is at this day; the Sea not approaching by so many, a dozen miles, or more. 4. By what means, the Sea once having its play there, this Creature comes to lodge, and be found so deep in the ground, and under such a shelving bank. 1. As for the first (the places capacity and aptitude for the Seas influx, or insinuation) such as know the situation, withal cannot but know, and must agree it to be so. As for strangers, and such as are unacquainted with the place, for perfecting information in what either the common maps, or a particular scheme and draught of the Level, herewith intended, may chance to be defective in; they may please to know, that the place (the locus loci) we are upon, is a part of that wide, fair and fruitful Level, or Valley, extending itself not less than twenty miles in length, between a continued series and range of Hills, Downs, or high grounds, lying at a pretty distance each from other all the way; beginning at the East Kentish shore, and stretching itself, Westward, by Sandwich, Fordwich, Canterbury, Chartham, Chilham, Godmersham, Wy, Ashford, sometime in a direct, sometime in a winding course, as far at length, as to that famous spacious Level of Romney-marsh, and is washed and watered all along, at least from about Ashford, by a sweet and pleasant River running through the midst of it, as far as to Sandwich, and thereby the Creek, or Haven, emptying itself into the Sea: nothing at all of obstruction, by the interposition of Hills, or high grounds, hindring, or controlling the Seas free play and passage for so many miles together. The place then, with the parts, the tract above and below it, from the condition, or constitution of it, is plainly not unapt or uncapable of the Seas insinuation and influence. If any shall object, Canterbury's being in the way, as an obstruction or bar; they are easily enough answered. For although that City seemeth, and indeed is, at this day, for the most part somewhat elevated above the pitch of the rest of the Valley or Level we are upon; yet not so much as to defend itself many times from floods, and overflowings in the lower, and most depressed parts of it, even by the Springs it stands upon, to her great damage and annoyance: towards the helping whereof, by the care and and providence of former ages, it is very certain, and by digging Wells, Vaults, Cellars and the like, daily experimented, that the most part of the City, not excepting the very heart and center of it, is made and raised ground; the tokens of foundations upon foundations, to a very considerable depth, daily appearing, and the ground (as at Amsterdam, Venice and elsewhere) for supporting superstructures, in several places often stuck and stuff'd with Piles of Wood, or long Poles and Stakes, forced into the ground, as Wells and Cellar-diggers have inform'd me. Nay, and as if where about now the Bull-stake Marketplace is kept, the River had sometime had its course or current, Pits and otherlike Tanners Utensils, have, not many years since, been met withal in digging for Cellars thereabouts. To this let me add, that my very next neighbour in Castle-street, within these thirty years sinking a Cellar, did a good depth (five or six foot deep) light upon, and was put to some stop and stand in his work, by a strong and well couched arched piece of Roman Tile or Brick, which he was fain to take, or break asunder, and remove, before he could proceed. Hereof I was an eye-witness, and (for curiosity sake) took one of the Bricks or Tiles to myself, which with some otherlike Roman remains (some found in that which is my own Garden) I keep by me to this day. However then, Canterbury may now seem to stand in the Estuary's way; yet time was when in probability it did not; when I mean the place, the soil which now the City occupies, as the rest of the whole Valley both above and below it, was of too low a pitch, to be an obstacle to it. 2. As to the second enquiry, (whether probably the Sea did ever actually insinuate itself so far as to this place, and when) the answer is nothing so easie: Record of it we have none. The best and eldest account we have now of the Condition, Scite and Constitution of these our Eastern Parts and Tract, we owe to Julius Caesar, and the Romans mans after him: from whom (alas) we have not the least spark of light to such a discovery: rather indeed the contrary; both the Sea-coast, and In-land parts, by his, and their relation; bearing in a manner one and the same face and figure then as now. However, that the Level we are upon, was sometime an Estuary, or Arm of the Sea; several Criteria, or tokens, are not wanting. For example; besides what may be argued and infer'd from this parcel of strange Teeth and Bones now under consideration; much (as I conceive) there is of probability for it, resulting from our Rivers name of Stoure, more anciently, not seldom both called and written Æstur, Esture, &c. which I doubt not to proceed and come from the Latin Æstuarium, and in process of time to have been corrupted and contracted into Sture and Stoure; giving name in part to Stourmouth, a place (a Parish) about six miles Eastward from Canterbury; so called from the Rivers disemboguing there into the Sea, or Salt-water, flowing up thither. as also giving name to that Mannor of the Archbishop's, at this day, and for some ages past called Westgate-Court, at Canterbury; but more anciently, as in the Conquerors time (witness Domesday-book) called, the Mannor of Esture and Esturelate, from its situation by the Sture or Stoure. From which occasion doubtless, the late Lord Finch's Seat in —— about five or six miles nearer to the Spring head, at this day vulgarly miscalled East-Steward; is of old sometime called Esture, sometime Esture. From Saxon Monuments and Records I could easily trace the name up to a very high date, by many examples. But to leave that, and proceed to other Criteria; as by the Teeth and Bones now under consideration, we have an instance on that side of the Valley for the probability of the Seas quondam occupation of it; so I shall give you here another no less remarkable from the other, or opposite side of it. By credible relation and assurance then you may know, that a place called Westbere, an obscure Village about about three miles from Canterbury, Eastward, lying under the brow of the hill stretching out by Upstreete, as far as to the West end of Sarr-wall, by which you make your entrance into Thanet; upon the like occasion to that here at Chatham, (the digging, or sinking of a Well) at a very great depth, store of Oysters and otherlike shells, together with an Iron Anchor, firm and unimpaired, were found and turned up in our time. The like I have been told of an Anchor in our days digged up at Broomedowne, on the same side of the Level somewhat above Canterbury, Westward. And although I can at present instance only in these few on either side the Valley; yet happily upon enquiry other might be found for confirming our conjecture. And I shall desire and hope, that every ingenuous person will so far oblige and encourage me, as upon this overture to help me in this research and scrutiny, by imparting to me, what either of his own knowledge, or credible relation from others, may conduce towards so noble a discovery. 3. Mean time let us entertain ourselves with our third Query, and see if happily somewhat may not thence result adminicular and suppletory to what may be defective and wanting in the former. Our third Query now is, how in probability, and when this Valley or Level, being once Sea-land, should come to be so quite deserted, and forsaken of the Sea, as it is at this day, the Sea not approaching it by so many, a dozen miles, or more? In answer whereof, I must needs say and grant, that in case this Level were once Sea, an Estuary I mean, or Arm of it; so very long it was ago, as we may not reasonably think; that Canterbury (whether as a City, or never so mean a Pagus, or Village) was then in rerum natura, or a place inhabited; which happily it may have been, if not as long as Julius Cesar's days, yet undoubtedly not long after. For an account we have of it (as of some other places in Kent) in the Romans time, both from Ptolemy the Geographer, Anto- Antoninus Itinerary and elsewhere. Now (as was hinted e'rewhile) elder Records either of Kent, or of Britain that we may confide in as Authentick; we have none that I know of before the Romans time: no written credible evidences to help us in this scrutiny. We must therefore either sit us down, and rest contented to throw off all further enquiry, or else cast about for information as we can. Such as are for this latter will tell you, that the world (all know) is very aged, many thousand years old, and that many and manifold are the alterations, changes and mutations, which time hath made in several parts and quarters of the world, to the notice and discovery whereof no written Record, or unwritten Tradition at this day, can reach or direct us: Tradition itself (longer liv'd many times than any written evidence) failing us for age. Of such a nature they conceive may this of the Histuary be, so very ancient, as time hath quite worn out the memory of it; withdrawn all light from us, that might conduct us in the scrutiny, and let us as men in the dark, without either vola or vestigium to stumble out our way, and rome and ramble at uncertainties. Such a one happily shall he be thought, that adventuring to conjecture at the reason and occasion of the Seas recess here, with an absolute valediction to the place of its wonted resort, shall pitch upon the Seas breaking, bursting and cleaving asunder that Isthmus, or neck of Land, between Gaul and Britain, rendring the latter of the same Continent with the former, such things ('tis certain) have hapned elsewhere. Thus (faith Seneca) hath the Sea rent Spain from the Continent of Africk. Thus (as he adds) by Deucalion's flood, was Sicily cut from Italy. More instances of this kind may be found in Mr Cambden's Cantium, and elsewhere. And although there be no certain evidence of such an accident here from ancient either Historians or Geographers; yet is the thing so strongly and rationally argued, by him especially, as by Verstegan also, Twine and others before him; and the con- jecture back'd with such plenty and probable Criteria, by the former; that what others may think I know not; but were i of the Jury, I should more than incline to concur with them, who find for the Isthmus. Especially, when to the plenty of Arguments mustered up by Mr Cambden, I shall have contributed this one, by him and the rest omitted, which is, that by a received constant Tradition, Romney- Marsh, that large and spacious Level, containing (faith Mr Cambden) 14 miles in length, and 8 in breadth, was some- time Sea-land, lying wholly under Salt-water, and is there- fore of some not improperly called, the Seas gift; which having when time was forsaken it, and withdrawn his wont- ed influence from it; the place thereupon become and con- tinues firm Land. And if I may guess at the time and occasion of both that, and our Canterbury Levels re- covery and riddance from Sea, I shall (for my part with submission to better judgments) be apt to pitch upon that of the Seas breaking through, and in time working and washing away that Isthmus between Us and France. And then whereas beforetime Romney Le- vel (which had and hath its Stoures too, or Æstuaria as well as ours) and this other not improbably (no highLands as we see, interposing for impeding their conjunction) were but one and the same Level, and lay under the Seas and Salt waters tyranny; now both the one and the other (the Sea having so much play and elbow room, than formerly by cleaving asunder the Isthmus) were rescued from it, and of an Æstuary, became such a rich and noble Valley or Le- vel, as is second to none (I take it) in England. I am resolved to keep home, and conceive myself no further concerned than in our own Level. But if from hence any other shall take an hint to consider of the Ne- therlands or Low Countries, and enquire whether those in whole, or in part, may have not arisen out of, and con- jecturally assigned for our Kentish Lowlands; I shall not at all wonder at it, thinking it (for my part) a task not unworthy a learned, judicious, sober undertaker: and were I as much concerned, and as well instructed there as here, I should not know how to purge myself of negligence, if I did not undertake it with the first. 4. To come at length to the fourth and last of our Queries, by what means the Sea once having its play there (at Chartham) this Creature comes to lie and be found so deep in the ground, and under such a shelving bank? My answer is, that supposing this with the rest of the Level or Valley once occupied by the Sea or Salt-water, that being a Creature which by fluxes and refluxes always is in motion, and thereby in time beating upon, and working itself into the bank, or rising ground there, might at length so far undermine, eat into, and loosen it, as to fetch down so much Mould or Earth upon, or over the place, as to lodge the Creature at so great a depth. Or else perhaps, the continual agitation of the Water, might in time force, drive up, and cast over it, that great quantity of Ouse, Earth and other matter under which it lay. By the way, it is observed that the nature of the Soil here and there, is such, so loose, supple, rotten and sandy, that merely of itself, it is apt to sink and fall in; as was lately experienced by a Saw-pit, digg'd hard by, which after a little time by the Earth's giving way on each side of it, fell in, and fill'd up itself. Thus have you (gentle Readers) our Chartham News, or discoveries with the circumstances, and the use my little skill will serve me to make of them, in point either of History or Geography. Arcana they are, but whether tanti; whether I mean, grateful, or useful to the Publick, is left to the judicious Antiquaries, Naturalists, &c. who are desired to take the matter where the Historian hath left it. It hath been the Finders care and good will, as to preserve, so to expose and communicate what he hath found: and if at length to this of the parts, and by them a full discovery of the whole, by the skill and dexterity terity of the learned in the School, and secrets of Nature, may be added, for the benefit of the Commonwealth of Learning; both the Finder and Relater will think their time and pains very well both bestowed and recompensed. The exact Figure (part of what the Author intended, if he had lived) of two of the Teeth, is here engraved Fig: 9. IV. Part of a Letter, giving an Account of a person who can neither Read nor Write, yet will reckon Summs to great exactness. Communicated by Mr Locke. Rotterdam, March 25. 1701. Yesterday I had here a young Lad of 17 years old, that can neither read nor write, that out of his head will reckon any the most difficult summs you can give him, even to the utmost fractions. I gave him an average to make of a Ship run ashore, to save Ship and Goods were worth 13679,14. the charges on the salvage was 2931,16. I askt him how much that was per Cent. he told me, after a little talking to himself, that it was 21 gild. 9 st. and a small fraction, and so it is. I askt him what 4943,3, 2848,4, 2244,7, 2194,7, 544,19, 351,18, and 52,16 must pay respectively, he told me exactly to so many Stivers and 1/100. I askt how he came by that knowledge, he said by selling Sea Snails (Alykreucken) and Muscles, for which he received nothing but doits, and so he brought his Father home so many doits, but could never tell how much money they amounted to, till he askt his Father how many doits made a gilder, and being 160, then