*ROCHESTER, (Kent) on the Medway, 7 m. 1-half N. of Maidston, 23 cm. 29 mm. from London, appears to have been one of the
Roman stations from the bricks in the walls, as well as Roman coins that have been found here. It has one p.-Ch. only,
besides the cathedral; though it once had another. This little city, which was made a Bp's. see by K. Ethelbert, anno 604,
has met with many misfortunes. In 676 it was sacked by Eldred, K. of Mercia; in 839 and in 885 besieged by the Danes, but
rescued by K. Alfred. About 100 years after, it was besieged by K. Ethelred, and forced to pay 100 l. Anno 999 it was
taken and plundered by the Danes. Anno 1088 it was besieged and taken by William Rufus. In K. John's time, it was taken
from the Barons, after three months siege; and the very next year, viz. 1256, its castle, founded by William the Conq. was
stormed and taken by several of the Barons under the French K's. son. In the R. of Hen. III. it was besieged by Simon
Montford, who burnt its then wooden bridge and tower, and spoiled the Ch. and priory; but then marched off. This city has
also been several times destroyed by fire, viz. in 1130, on June 3 in 1137, and in 1177; after which it is said to have
continued desolate till 1225, when it was repaired, ditched, and walled round. In the Saxon heptarchy here were 3 mints, 2
for the K. and 1 for the Bp. In 1281 its old wooden-bridge was carried off by the ice, in a sudden thaw after a frost,
which had made the Medway passable on foot. Another was built in the R, of Rich. II. but pulled down again, on the rumour
of an invasion from France. It was afterwards restored; but so often subject to expensive repairs, by reason of the rapid
course of the r. under it, as well as the great breadth and depth of it, that in the R. of Edw. III. it was resolved to
build a new bridge of stone; and the same was begun, and in a manner compleated, at the expence of Sir John Cobham and Sir
Rob. Knolles, Edw. III's generals, out of the spoils they had taken in France. It has 21 arches, is one of the finest, if
not the best, in England; and the strongest, except those of London, Westminster, and Newcastle upon Tine. Its castle was
one of the manors of the crown, till K. Ja. I. granted it, ruinated as it was, and now is, with all the services annexed
to it, to Sir Anth. Welden of Swanscomb, and his descendants. There is much land held of it, whose tenure is perfect
castle-guard. For on the day fixed for the quit-rents, there is a banner hung out upon or near the ruins of the castle.
And if the rents be not paid that day, they are doubled every tide of the Medway. The Mts. here are W. and F. and the
Fairs by grant of Hen. I. May 19 and Nov. 30, besides another on Oct. 30. It is governed by a mayor, recorder, 12 ald. l2
C.C. a T.-clerk, 3 serjeants at mace, and a water-bailiff. To its cathedral bel. a dean and 6 prebendaries. It has given
title of E. to several families, but last to that of Hide, descended from the E. of Clarendon; and the present Ld. is
stiled E. of Clarendon and Rochester. For the maintenance of its bridge, certain lands are tyed down by Pt. to which it
has sent members from the first. The town-house, built in the year 1687, for the courts, assizes, and sessions, and the
ch. sc. are 2. of the best publick buildings here. The Mt.-house and clock were given by Sir Cloudsley Shovel in 1706. A
mathematical-school was founded here by Sir Jos. Williamson, one of our plenipotentiaries at Ryswic; and an almsh. by Mr.
Richard Watts, for lodging 6 poor travellers every night, and allowing them 4 d. in the morning, when they depart; but he
excepted persons contagiously diseased, rogues and proctors; the latter in particular, because one, whom he had employed
to make his will, had made himself heir to his estate, by a fraud he discovered in it, on his recovery. In the summer here
are always 6 or 8 lodgers, who are admitted by tickets from the mayor. The Roman Watling-Street runs through this T. from
Shooters-Hill to Dover. The mayor and citizens hold what is called an admiralty-court, once a year, for regulating the
oyster-fishery in the creeks and branches of the Medway, that are within their jurisdiction; and for prosecuting the
cable-hangers, as they are called, who dredge or fish for oysters, without being free, by having served 7 years
apprenticeship to a fisherman, who is free of the fishery. Every licensed dredger pays 6 s. and 8 d. a year, to the
support of the courts; and the fishery is now in a flourishing way. Part of the castle is kept in repair, and is used as a
magazine, where a party of soldiers do constant duty. The bridge was newly repaired in 1744, and palisadoed with new iron
rails.