HISTORY OF HARTING. 55 



who would, in all probability, be occupying the original 

 seat or manor-house* at East Harting. It would 

 further seem conclusive that Ford Lord Grey, baptised 

 1655, was born at East Harting. It is possible, how- 

 ever, that " East Harting " designates Up Park. 



At all events, then, we cannot be far wrong in con- 

 cluding that, at the time of Edmond Ford's purchase 

 of the Harting estates, there was no very considerable 

 residence at Up Park. This makes the high price 

 given for the lands still more remarkable. 



Nor was the Church of Harting in a very flourishing 

 condition in Queen Mary's reign. July 27, 1554, 

 immediately after the removal of the Protestant rector, 

 Lawrence Nowell,f Edmund Ford appointed Dr. John 

 Seton to the Rectory at Harting. This Dr. Seton 

 figures considerably in Foxe's " Book of Martyrs." At 

 Oxford he disputed with Latimer in 1554 and with 

 Bradford in 1555. " Here Mr. Doctor waxed hot, and 

 called Bradford arrogant, proud, vainglorious, and 

 spake like a prelate." And in the last year of the 

 Marian persecution, 1558, the "dreaming and doltish 

 Doctor " willed the people not to pray for Benbridge. at 

 Winchester unless he would recant ; and was answered 

 from the stake : " Away, Babylonian, away ! " After- 

 wards Dr. Seton drew up Articles of Recantation, 

 which Benbridge, released from the flames, signed on 

 a man's back. The Sheriff was sent to the Fleet for 

 the reprieve which he had given, and Benbridge was 

 burnt again. J Here Seton acted for Gardiner. 



Immediately on his entrance to the benefice of 

 Harting, Dr. John Seton executed a lease of the tithes 

 of Harting, for the period of his incumbency, in favour 

 of Edmond Ford, under a bond of 40. This interest- 

 ing document, with the seal of John Seton affixed, is 



* Perhaps at Tye, or Tye-Oak, where servants were kept, 

 1585. 



f Bishop John Scory's Register, Chichester, p. 953. 

 * See Foxe and Froude. 



