ROCHESTER BRIDGE 115 



had by some means discovered this hidden door. He 

 extinguished the guardian Hand, all but the thumb ; 

 and, proceeding to snuff this out also, he uttered an 

 incautious exclamation of triumph. The fingers 

 instantly burst into flame again, and the man was 

 dashed senseless to the ground ; nor was he ever again 

 so fortunate as to recover the spot. 



xxni 



Rochester has had many Royal and distinguished 

 visitors, and many of them \va,ve left traces of their 

 sojourn in more or less quaint, instructive, and 

 amusing accounts. When Edward the First came 

 here in 1300, he gave seven shillings to the Priory 

 for the shrine of Saint William, and twelve shillings 

 compensation to one Richard Lamberd whose horse, 

 hired for the King's service, was blown over Rochester 

 Bridge into the Medway and drowned. On his return 

 from Canterbury, nine days later, the King flung his 

 shillings about in quite a reckless manner ; giving 

 seven shillings each for the shrines of Saints Ithamar 

 and Paulinus ; while bang Avent tAventy-one other 

 shillings at Chatham, offered to the image of the 

 Blessed Mary by the King, the Queen, and the Prince 

 of Wales. 



The Bridge at Rochester, over which that unfortunate 

 horse was blown, was at this time a crazy structure of 

 wood, and so dangerous that most folks preferred 

 crossing the Medway by boat. One unfortunate 

 minstrel Avas bloAA'n into the Avater just as he reached 

 the middle, and he AA'cnt floating doAA'n the stream 

 harping the praises of Our Lady upon his harp, and 

 calling out for her help at the same time in English, as 

 the chronicler remarks — and this Avas his English : — 



Help usvyf, help usvyf, 

 Oiyer me — I forga mi lyf. 



