Edward Greensted's journey to Bethersden (1772)
Post date: Jan 28, 2012 6:0:36 PM
This ballad about his journey to Bethersden in November 1772 by Wateringbury historian Edward Greensted was originally edited by Jack Cronk and published in Archaeologia Cantiana, volume 111, 1993. It is reproduced here by kind permission of Kent Archaelogical Society.
Saturday I well remember
The Eighth and Twentieth of November
I start for Bethersden intent
To find friend Powel's settlement.
With a lantern, Candle, moving by five
Set out as hard as I could drive.
Unlucky was at first no doubt
I fell down and put my candle out.
Lighted up again at Teston
And road pursued with might and main
Till light, again, was forced to yield
to wind in Mr Charlton's field.
Got a light again at Farley Green
And soon by me Cocks Heath was seen.
To Linton the road still rough
Here got a pint & an ounce of snuff.
Hear blustering wind and driving rain
Bothered and drove me o'er the plain
Thro' thick, thro' thin, now wrong now right
Half up the Ley -I lost my light.
But dawning light now seven o'clock
I found myself at Boughton Cock.
Left here my Lantern, got some rum
Not having drank since came from home
Refresh'd set forward with good heart
Walked briskly till I came to Chart
Called on Ned Brook acquaintance old
Who gave me a dram to keep out the cold
And raised a fire to keep me warm
My poor old coat being quite wet through.
Then asked me in a friendly way
Break fast with them - at tea to stay
May every blessing Ned attend
And wet thro' ne'er want a friend,
To dry his coat, ask him to eat
and could him with a dram treat
here sit I now both dry and warm
which happened not till after even
the clock had struck, and gone eleven,
Roused now at my unlocked for stay
Took leaf, for Sutton took my way
Here stopt - enquired the rediest road
To Bethersden, my friends abode -
I was told the Country down below
was all with water in a flow,
by Headcorn, Smarden couldn't go
And if my journey I'd fulfil
Keep round I must upon the hill.
Lengthened my journey this the case
Obliged I was to mend my pace
Straight to East Sutton took my way
To Ulcombe next - here made some stay
Just drank a pint with Neighbour Pain,
and took me to my road again.
Here Boughton Malherbe took my way
Passed here the Church where the Wottons lay
Once here a name of great reknown
Tho' now forgot, a name scarcely known
Down hill - up hill I hence went on
Till nearly came to Egerton.
The Road inquir'd still - the meanwhile -
Till Crablin Barrs would have Stile,
indeed a fact with him disputed
But obstinate he'd not be refuted
Lucky from him I understood
At last, the Road lay thro' a wood.
To Egerton came next the Street,
Here took a dram, but nothing to eat -
To Pluckley next the road I took
Pass I many a dirty Road and Brook
Call'd for a pint being well mired
For Bethersden the road inquired -
Sundown. Road I had to find,
Besides advers'd [advised] to have a guide -
I soon consented this, some cost -
Unwilling I was not to be lost -
In quicksand ditches or mire slough
Then lets get out if I know how,
A guide for me was so procured
One to this country long inured
Brisk on his staff, did soon arrive
Three weeks advanced he's eighty five
Deaf as a post, so though he neither
Fear'd Marl pit, slough, ditch, wind nor weather
Agreed with him for sixteen pence
Safe to conduct me there from hence
One shilling dry, a Groat in beer
When safe we both arrived there
Set out we passed o'er hedges and fields
Mire bogs which this blest country yields
Dark blustring - could not see my hands
Uncertain whether sea or land
Civil my Guide still as we passed
Expressed his fear - he walked too fast
Oblig'd I bid him still go on -
By eighty five would not be outdone
Nor Ditch, for Dark we could not see over
Fell at first & then got over -
Oft courted by the attracting clay
Our shoes to leave another day.
Kept on we. Ruffet crost
Till in the dark my friend I lost,
I mist him as he pass'd his muse
one so famed to read through use
Now fors'd to hallow out a maine
Ere I my guide I found againe
Once more now met, made fresh assay
Till both lost in a miry way
Though I must here not only lose
E'en one, but also both my shoes
But resolute by mear main strength
we Freed our legs - got out at length
made most of time & travell'd hard.
Till safe we got in the Churchyard.
But interrupt'd in our chat
I fell o'er the graves and lost my hat
Blown somewhere by the gust of wind
Search'd but in vain no hat could find
Oblidg'd to leave it with the dead
And at the George arriv'd bare head.
Here got a light & with some pain,
Went back and found my hat again,
Wet, dirty set me by the fire -
Shoes, stockings, coat all in a mire
My stomach loudly called for meat
Steaks got for supper I hardly eat
Some beer got after, and some wine
Went off to bed, the clock struck nine.
But should have told you that my guide
In vain for home this evening tried
Set out - lost in the dark his way
Came back again & with me slept
Laid warm, we soundly slept all night
Rose in the morn'g as soon as light
My stockings wet they made me shiver
As those who with an ague (do) quiver
Had yet a mile and half to go
To Powels at a green below,
To shew the road I begg'd my friend
Would further his assistance lend
Willing he was to go, but thought
And feared the he'd most forgot
The fifty years or more agow
he went each morn that way to mow
Nor travel'd since he had that road
Removed hence distant his abode.
Unlucky we mistook the stile
and wandered wrong for half a mile
But found at last Friend Powels home
who wonder'd star'd to see us come
Housekeeper, him at breakfast found
Ask'd us to tea and sit us down
beg him to excuse my stay
for business done I must away
Up to the George there breakfast took
towards home then my journey make
Sunday bells now begin to chime
The Church I viewed, but my short time
I saw here to tombs of most repute
from Lovelaces & down to Chute
Decent tho' Gothick still most neat
The Temple seen & Pew'd complete
From the Churchyard hence view'd Palace
The Mansion Bethersden and Lovelace.
Lovelace here erst of noble fame
Who to the Mansion lent their name
Extinct that name, next with repute
A Hales succeeded, then a Chute
Famous alliance. Tho now forgot
Unless by Tombs to mem'ry brought
Learn giddy mortals hence to know
nothing substantial here below.
But learning now the musing strain
For home I now set out again
O'er meads thro woods each Cosway I tread
Towards the town of Smarden led.
The cosway smooth of slated stone
Tenacious found here many one
form'd of the Perriwinkles kind [Bethersden marble!]
Compact in masses formerly joined
but how they came connected so
To naturalists I leave to show.
The nodding mansion next I past
and tow'ring Seat surround with Tolls
here of oaks seen rise on high
While the late Vestas round lie
May the right owner of this place
Proceed to wipe off such disgrace -
My friend now eased us of some toil
Cut a cross the fields sav'd near a mile.
Smarden the town saw it nigh
The Church to the left we pass'd by
Where Justice Drainer once of fame
Of Justice Nine Hales got the name
who in the bloody Mary days
Informer turned, fortune to raise
Here through nine Hales with many a nod
Respt'd and adored his past wrought God
To Protestants denounced still was
who Reverence none his God would show
But in the end it came to pass
he lost his God and proved an ass
But leaving him long dead and gone
Our road we still kept briskly on
Call'd drank a mug of beer at the Kings Head
Still kept the road to Headcorn led.
Hence soon a Baptis meeting past
The preacher at it loud and fast
of noise possessed a noble stock
and loudly ball'd o'er all his flock
To hear his Doctrine could not stay
Oblig'd to keep still on our way
Nor nothing of notice 'tmore did meet
Until we came to Headcorn Street
Saw here the Church where once of old
The Monks seiz'd, satanic we're told
When holy water be to shund
Feign'd from the sprinkling mop to run
Here Monk a Saint, there Monk a devil
Passed on the vulgar of those days
From pious cheat their gain to raise
Monks for their gain know how to do it
If not the friend - still some shall rue it
My friend & I being now to part
I treated him with beer a quart
Who civil to me still was seen
Went with me to FivePlum-tree green
Direct me the ready way -
That to the town of Sutton lay
The nearest road by Sutton then
He told me was by Mottenden -
But I somehow by a mistake
To Farthing Green my way did make.
Thro thick, thro thin the Horse track round
I got from hence to Sutton Town -
Here stopt awhile I made a stand -
One footing more, I found on dry land,
The Church bells had just rung -
The Evening Service to begin -
Here got I some beer, bread & Cheese
And now refreshed my way I took
To see my honest Friend Ned Brook
Who gave me kindly in relief
Some good Plumb pudding & boiled beef
Diet before I ne'er had found -
In all my dirty tedious round
Insisted, made me to agree -
To stay and drink a dish of tea -
The evening with darkness spread
And I so far home to my bed -
My friend a lantern lent and light
Cross to Cocks Heath - he'd set me right
And to my friends I now in brief
Gave thanks & to him took my leave
For Ambro Green now set off straight
From whence to the fields I mist the gate
Met here some beaus, who thought fit
Me, to direct into a pit -
not them to mind as under brained
My road I found, Cocks Heath attained
Where at the Cock I staid an hour -
To save me from a bothering shower
The shower o'er I lighted up -
Intended yet at Home to sup
Walked on with all convenient haste
Till the Star some distance past
When yet the wind still at its height
Once more again blew out my light
Went to the Star to light again
Here comp'ny I found in a merry vain
Near half seas over - harty fellows
From Maidstone some both blues & yellows
Talked politicks of town and Nation -
But disagreed in conversation
I sat to drink my pint and heard 'em
But sometimes they so high I fear'd 'em
One asked the meaning of a Blue
Which he himself no other knew
Dropt this discourse - The next in vogue
Friend Wilks - blue, swore he was a rogue
Maintained the contrary by Yellows
Who Wilks declared an honest fellow
That bravely for his country stood
Rights, Liberties, & all thats good
Words high - ill language neither spared
Fell both together by the ears
The women squall'd alls in uprore
They fought and roll about the floor
To fight the Champions little stood
And best of all - was shed no blood
They struck indeed like other folks
But staggering - still they miss their strokes
Till by the interposing friend
The fight was put unto an end
And as friend Hudibras doth say
both lived to fight another day
My pint now out, and reckoning paid
Left Blues and Yellows - homewards made
Cocks Heath now crossed, the road there led
Thro Farleigh Street - here all abed
Toward Teston next I took my rout
Once more my candle here went out
Through Teston come without a light
And home I got about twelve at night
Wet - dirty was enough in reason
Nor journey good for the winter season
The country wild & weather rough
Gave me of Bethersden enough
And let what will hence be my station
I wish no such like perambulation.