MURSTON 161 



of a sprinor across the road. Through it splashed the 

 mounted pilgrims, while the weary-footed palmers 

 crossed by stepping-stones, or cooled their feet in the 

 water. Many halted to cross themselves, to kneel and 

 pray before the figure of Our Lady which filled the 

 niche still remaining in the buttress of the Chilton 

 Chapel, and was called thence " Saint Mary of the 

 Butterasse." This little shrine was defaced in 1540, 

 and now the running stream is enclosed in pipes that 

 discharge the water into Milton Creek. 



The village of 3Iurston, which at one time skirted 

 the road at some distance from Sittingbourne, and 

 was in receipt of the town's leavings, is now quite 

 undistinguishable by a stranger from the town itself, 

 so greatly has the population grown of late years. 

 It is quite uninteresting, save for the memory of the 

 affray by which the rector, the Reverend Richard 

 Tray, was ejected from his living in 1641. A stone 

 let into the Rectory wall preserves the record of the 

 affair : — 



Si Natvra negat facit Indignntio Versvm. 



The Barue which stood where this now 

 Stands was bvrnt down by the Rebel's hands 



in December 1659 

 This Barne which stands where tother stood 

 By Eichard Tray is now made good, 

 in July 1662 

 All things yov bvrn, 

 Or overtvrn, 

 Bvt bvild vp novsht : pray tell 

 Is this the Fire of Zeale or Hell ? 

 Yet yov doe all 

 By the Spirits call 

 As yov pretend : bvt pray 

 What Spirit is't ? A bad one I dare saj-. 



XXIX 



Five miles and a half down the road from Sittingbourne, 

 the pilgrims who had prayed so de^'outly at the shrine 

 of Our Lady of the Buttress (and it is to be hoped had 

 not forgotten the claims of Swanstree Hermitage) 

 came to Ospringc, where they usually found a profuse 



