HISTORY OF HARTING. 215 



husbandman," was buried in 1584. "Kenshutt" is 

 entered for "Kinsholt" about the same date, and had 

 thus the same popular sound as in 1877. At that 

 time too nicknames in Harting were as common as 

 now. Thus we have "Thomas Aylinge, alias Wysedom 

 (Wisdom), 1585," while another, probably a man in 

 debt, is called "Owyn" (Owing) Silver, or Sylvester. 

 The old spelling of Brighton, by the way, is remark- 

 able. " Henrie, the son of John Hankocke (Hancock), 

 of Brighthemson, buried at Harting Church, July 2, 

 1589." 



The following curiosity is an example of the varied 

 correspondence of a country Parson : 



[Nov. 3, 1872.] 



" 19, South Grove East, Mildmay Park, 

 " Islington, North London. 



" Rev d - Sir. 



" I enclose you twelve Postage Stamps, which 

 I trust will reimburse you for any trouble you take in 

 the Matter, the more especially as this Letter is written 

 for no Legal Purposes whatsoever, but for an almost 

 Insurmountable curiosity to know the Exact date of 

 Death of a Man who appears from some conversation 

 amongst kinsfolk to have been both a Gentleman and 

 a Great Lover of the More Natural Sciences, but by 

 his Poorer Neighbours a Wizard or Sorcerer. 



" I understand there is a Monument in West Harting 

 Chancel to this ' Timothy Luff, of Kent House, Hart- 

 ing ; ' and from Circumstances told me in Ordinary 

 Discourse I cannot but imagine this Man possessed 

 what was then seemingly unknown to Ignorant folk 

 the Mesmeric Power. Certain 'tis he could cast 

 Nativities and horoscopes. Now from Many Cir- 

 cumstances I am led to believe this Man lived about 

 1748 or thereabout, and should feel truly obliged if 

 you would give me the Inscription on that Man's 

 Tomb, for I cannot help believing him to be a disciple 



