RUMNEY-MARSH, (Kent) is a tract in the S. E. part of the Co. 20 m. long and 8 broad, including the adjacent marshes of Walland and Gulford; and contains in that com. bet. 40,000 and 50,000 acres of firm fruitful and, the richest pasture in England, which fatten vast flocks of sheep and herds of black cattle, sent hither from other parts, and sold in the Mts. of London. The sheep are reckoned rather larger than those of Leicestershire and Lincolnshire; and their bullocks the largest in England, especially those they call stalled oxen, from being kept all the latter season within the farmer's yards, or sheds, where they are fed for the winter season. This marsh is the place, from whence the owlers have for so many ages exported our wool to France. It is supposed to have been once covered with the sea; and is very unwholsome, being, as Lambard says in his perambulation of Kent, byeme malus, aestate moleflus, nunquam bonus. No wonder, therefore, that it is not so well peopled as other tracts, and that the Pts. of old time used to allure men hither, by exempting them from the payment of the subsidies levied in other places. It has 2 Ts. and 19 ps. which were incorporated in the R. of Edw. IV. by the name of a bailiff, 24 jurats, and the commonalty of Rumney-Marsh. They have a court every 3 weeks, to hold courts for all causes and actions; and a power to chuse 4 justices yearly among themselves (besides their bailiff) who are vested with the same authority; and have the return of all the K's. writs, the benefit of all fines and forfeitures, privileges of leet, law-day and tourn, exemption from toll and tax, scot and lot; and, in short, many other privileges and exemptions, which no other place has in England. Nor has the K. any waste here, or title to wrecks, they being all appropriated to the several manors next to the sea. In this marsh great trees are often found, lying at length under ground, as black as ebony; but fit for use, when dried in the sun.