ROC 



windows are large and pointed; each being divided into 

 three lights, with crockets above. St. Margaret's church 

 is only remarkable for its fine fituation, on a lofty eminence, 

 to the fouthward of the High-ftreet. The town-hall Hands 

 on the north fide of the fame ftreet, and was ere&ed about 

 the year 1687. In the lower divifion of this ftrufture is the 

 city prifon ; and in the higher, the hall, a large and lofty room, 

 containing full-length portraits of king William and queen 

 Anne, and of feveral perfons of diftindion, connected with 

 the city. The bridge over the Medway, here, was con- 

 ftru&ed in the reign of Richard II. by fir Robert Knolles, 

 and John, third baron de Cobham, who not only defrayed 

 the expence of its ereftion, but alfo left a confiderable 

 eftate for its repair. For height and Itrength, this ftru&ure 

 is allowed to be fuperior to any in England, with the ex- 

 ception of the bridges in the metropolis. It meafures 560 

 in length, but is only 14 feet broad between the parapets. 

 Its arches are eleven in number, but of thefe, three have 

 been rebuilt in modern times. 



The charitable inftitutions in this city are, St. Catharine's 

 hofpital, a grammar-fchool, an alms-houfe for the relief of 

 poor travellers, and a free-fchool. The hofpital was 

 founded and endowed in 1 3 16, by Simond Potyn, who re- 

 prefented this city in feven parliaments, for the maintenance 

 of twelve poor people, who have an allowance of coal, 

 candle, and money, annually. 



The grammar-fchool was founded by king Henry VIII., 

 for twenty fcholars, to be called " King's lcholars," with 

 an upper and under mafter ; together with four exhibitions 

 to the univerfities. The alms-houfe, which Hands on the 

 north fide of the High-ftreet, was built in the reign of 

 queen Elizabeth, the proprietor of Satis, before-mentioned, 

 who left eftates for its fupport. The founder of the free- 

 fchool was fir Jofeph Williamfon, knt., who died in 1701, 

 and bequeathed 5000/. to be expended in the ereftion of a 

 fuitable building, and in the purchafe of lands and tenements 

 to maintain two mailers, and defray the incidental expences 

 of the eflablifhment. The Hiltory and Antiquities of Ro- 

 chelter and its Environs, &c. 8vo. Rochefter, 1772. The 

 Hiftory and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent, 

 by Edward Halted, F. R. S. and S. A., Canterbury, 4 vols. 

 folio, 1778, reprinted, &c. in 8vo. 1797. Hiftory of Kent, 

 by John Harris, D.D. F. R. S. folio, Lond. 17 19. Regif- 

 trum Roffenfe, and Cuftumale Roffenfe, by John Thorpe, 

 D. D. A New Topographical, Hiftorical, and Commercial 

 Survey of Kent, by Charles Seymour, 8vo. 1776. A Topo- 

 graphic Survey of the County of Kent, by Richard Kilburn, 

 4to. Lond. 1759. Beauties of England, &c. by E. W. 

 Brayley, vol. viii. 



Rochester, a townfhip of America, in the county oi 

 Windfor and ftate of Vermont ; containing 91 1 inhabitants. 

 — Alfo, a townfhip of Plymouth county, MafTachufetts, 

 52 miles S. of Bofton ; containing 2954 inhabitants. — Alio, 

 a townfhip in Strafford county, New Hamplhire, on the 

 W. fide of the N. branch of Pifcataqua river; 22 miles 

 N.W. of Portfmouth ; incorporated in 1722, and contain- 

 ing 21 18 inhabitants. One term of the court of common 

 pleas is held annually in this town. — Alfo, a townfhip 

 in Ulfter county, New York, extending W. to Dela- 

 ware river ; about 12 miles W. of Efopus. — Alfo, a town- 

 fhip of Upper Canada, on lake St. Clair, between Tilbury 

 and Maidttone. 



ROCHET, or Rocket, a lawn garment, worn by 

 bifhops and abbots, refembling a furplice, except in this, 

 that the fleeves are gathered at the wrifts ; whereas the fur- 

 plice is quite open. This was one of the facerdotal veft- 

 ments ; and in that refpedt differed from a furplice in that 

 it had no fleeves. 



ROC 



Menage derives the word from the Latin rochettus, a di- 

 minutive of rocchus ; ufed in writers of the lower Latin for 

 tunica, and formed originally from the German rok. Tin 

 regular canons of St. Auguftine alfo wear rochets under 

 their copes. 



Rochets alfo denote the mantles worn on days of cere- 

 mony, by the peers fitting 111 the Englifh parliament. 



Thole of vilcounts have two bands, or borders, and a 

 half ; thofe of earls, three ; thofe ot marquifes, three and 

 a half; and thofe ot dukes, four. 



Rochet, the name given to a hih, otherwife called cua.- 

 lus, and red-gurr.ard. See Gurnard. 



ROCHETTA, in the Glafs Trade, another name for 

 polverine. 



RocheTta, in Geography, a town of France, in the 

 department of the Maritime Alps; 16 miles N.E. of 

 Nice. 



ROCHETTE, La, a town of France, in the depart- 

 ment of Mont Blanc, and chief place of a canton, in the 

 diitrict of Chambery, on the Galon ; 10 miles S. E. of 

 Chambery. The place contains 855, and the canton 9092 

 inhabitants, on a territory of 8j kiliometres, in 18 com- 

 munes Alfo, a town of France, in the department of the 



Foreils ; 4 miles S.S.E. of Dierich. 



ROCHFORD, a market-town, in a hundred of the 

 name, and county of Eflex, England, is feated on 

 the bank of a fmall rivulet, called the Broomhill, at the 

 diltance of 16 miles S.E. of Chelmsford, and 39 miles E. 

 of London. The petty ieffions for Rochford divifion of 

 Eflex are held here. The privilege of holding markets was 

 granted to this town by king Henry III., and confirmed 

 by Edward I. The market-houfe is a mean ltruclure of 

 timber. The market-day is Thurfday, weekly ; and there 

 are annual fairs on Eafter Tuefday, and the Wednefday 

 next after the 29th of September. None of the buildings 

 in the town are worthy of notice. The pariih church, 

 which Hands about half a mile to the weftward, is a plain 

 edifice, with a lofty brick tower at the weft end. Near it 

 ftands Rochford-hall, the manor-houfe. It is a large and 

 llately building, for fome time iuccelfively the feat and 

 refidence of the Rochfords, the Botelers, earls of Ormond 

 and Wiltfhire, fir Thomas Bullen, and Richard, lord Riche. 

 This town gives the title of an earl to the family of Naffau. 

 The parifh contains, according to the population returns of 

 181 1, 190 houfes, and 1 214 inhabitants. 



The manor of this town was held by Suene at the time 

 of the Domefday furvey ; and now is veiled in the Long 

 family of Wanllead park. A Angular cuftom, called the 

 Lawlefs-court, appertains to this manor ; and is faid 

 to have originated in a confpiracy againft the lord of 

 the manor ; but detecting it, he ordained as a punifh- 

 ment, that the tenants fhould ever afterwards aflemble, at 

 a certain hour of the night, on the fame fpot where the 

 confpirators met, and do homage for their lands. The 

 place is called King's-hill, where they were to affemble at 

 midnight on the firfl Wednefday after Michaelmas day, and 

 tranfact all their bufinefs in whifpers, and record the minutes 

 with coal, inftead of pen and ink. This ridiculous cuftom 

 was, till lately, continued. About four miles S. W. is Had- 

 leigh Caftle, confifting of fome bold ruins ; and near it is 

 Southend, a noted watering-place. See Southend. 



Raleigh, in this vicinity, though now an inconiiderable 

 village, was formerly a market-town, and the head of the 

 barony of Suene, a powerful Anglo-Saxon Dane, who is 

 reported to have built a caftle here, of which fome im- 

 portant earth-works rt ill remain. Thefe confill of a mount, 

 of an oval fhape at the bafe, which is environed by a 

 double ditch and rampart, and is further fecured by addi- 

 9 tional 



