Isle of Sheppey, Kent, South-East England, British Isles [Map]

Isle of Sheppey, Kent is in Kent.

See: Cheney Spitts, Isle of Sheppey, Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey, Queenborough, Isle of Sheppey [Map], Sheerness Isle of Sheppey [Map], Swale, Isle of Sheppey.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 835. Text 832AD. In this year, heathen men ravaged Sheppey [Map].

Manuscript A. 832. Her hęþne men oferhergeadon Sceapige.

Assers Life of Alfred 851. 851. 3. The Danes at Wicganbeorg and Sheppey.⁹ In the year of our Lord's incarnation 851, which was the third of King Alfred's life, Ceorl, Ealdorman of Devon, fought with the men of Devon against the heathen at a place called Wicganbeorg¹⁰, and the Christians gained the victory. In that same year the heathen first wintered in the island called Sheppey [Map], which means 'Sheep-island,' situated in the river Thames between Essex and Kent, though nearer to Kent than to Essex, and containing a fair monastery.¹¹

Note 9. From the Chronicle.

Note 10. Possibly Wigborough, in the parish of South Petherton in Somersetshire (Stevenson).

Note 11. Minster in Sheppey, founded by St. Sexburh in the seventh century; it disappeared during the Danish ravages (Stevenson).

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 854. This year the heathen men³⁴ for the first time remained over winter in the Isle of Shepey [Map]. The same year King Ethelwulf registered a TENTH of his land over all his kingdom for the honour of God and for his own everlasting salvation. The same year also he went to Rome with great pomp, and was resident there a twelvemonth. Then he returned homeward; and Charles, king of the Franks (age 30), gave him his daughter, whose name was Judith (age 10), to be his queen. After this he came to his people, and they were fain to receive him; but about two years after his residence among the Franks he died; and his body lies at Winchester. He reigned eighteen years and a half. And Ethelwulf was the son of Egbert, Egbert of Ealhmund, Ealhmund of Eafa, Eafa of Eoppa, Eoppa of Ingild; Ingild was the brother of Ina, king of the West-Saxons, who held that kingdom thirty-seven winters, and afterwards went to St. Peter, where he died. And they were the sons of Cenred, Cenred of Ceolwald, Ceolwald of Cutha, Cutha of Cuthwin, Cuthwin of Ceawlin, Ceawlin of Cynric, Cynric of Creoda, Creoda of Cerdic, Cerdic of Elesa, Elesa of Esla, Esla of Gewis, Gewis of Wig, Wig of Freawine, Freawine of Frithugar, Frithugar of Brond, Brond of Balday, Balday of Woden, Woden of Frithuwald, Frithuwald of Freawine, Freawine of Frithuwualf, Frithuwulf of Finn, Finn of Godwulf, Godwulf of Great, Great of Taetwa, Taetwa of Beaw, Beaw of Sceldwa, Sceldwa of Heremod, Heremod of Itermon, Itermon of Hathra, Hathra of Hwala, Hwala of Bedwig, Bedwig of Sceaf; that is, the son of Noah, who was born in Noah's ark: Laznech, Methusalem, Enoh, Jared, Malalahel, Cainion, Enos, Seth, Adam the first man, and our Father, that is, Christ. Amen. Then two sons of Ethelwulf succeeded to the kingdom; Ethelbald to Wessex, and Ethelbert to Kent, Essex, Surrey, and Sussex. Ethelbald reigned five years. Alfred (age 5), his third son, Ethelwulf had sent to Rome; and when the pope heard say that he was dead, he consecrated Alfred king, and held him under spiritual hands, as his father Ethelwulf had desired, and for which purpose he had sent him thither.

Note 34. i.e. the Danes; or, as they are sometimes called, Northmen, which is a general term including all those numerous tribes that issued at different times from the north of Europe, whether Danes, Norwegians, Sweons, Jutes, or Goths, etc.; who were all in a state of paganism at this time.

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Assers Life of Alfred 855. 855. 10. The Heathen winter in Sheppey.²⁶ In the year of our Lord's incarnation 855, which was the seventh of the aforesaid king's life, a great army of the heathen spent the whole winter in the aforesaid island of Sheppey [Map].

Note 26. From the Chronicle.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. After 23rd June 1016. The enemy fled before him with their horses into the Isle of Shepey [Map]; and the king slew as many of them as he could overtake. Earldorman Eadric "Streona aka Acquisitive" Mercia then went to meet the king at Aylesford, Kent [Map]; than which no measure could be more ill-advised. The enemy, meanwhile, returned into Essex, and advanced into Mercia, destroying all that he overtook.

Godwins Restored

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1052. Then proceeded they to the Nore, and so toward London; but some of the ships landed on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent [Map], and did much harm there; whence they steered to Milton Regis, Kent [Map], and burned it all, and then proceeded toward London after the earls. When they came to London, there lay the king (age 49) and all his earls to meet them, with fifty ships. The earls⁷³ then sent to the king, praying that they might be each possessed of those things which had been unjustly taken from them. But the king resisted some while; so long that the people who were with the earl (age 51) were very much stirred against the king and against his people, so that the earl himself with difficulty appeased them. When King Edward understood that, then sent he upward after more aid; but they came very late. And Godwin stationed himself continually before London with his fleet, till he came to Southwark, Surrey [Map]; where he abode some time, until the flood⁷⁴ came up. On this occasion he also contrived with the burgesses that they should do almost all that he would. When he had arranged his whole expedition, then came the flood; and they soon weighed anchor, and steered through the bridge by the south side. The land-force meanwhile came above, and arranged themselves by the Strand [Map]; and they formed an angle with the ships against the north side, as if they wished to surround the king's ships. The king had also a great land-force on his side, to add to his shipmen: but they were most of them loth to fight with their own kinsmen-for there was little else of any great importance but Englishmen on either side; and they were also unwilling that this land should be the more exposed to outlandish people, because they destroyed each other. Then it was determined that wise men should be sent between them, who should settle peace on either side. Godwin went up, and Harold (age 30) his son, and their navy, as many as they then thought proper. Then advanced Bishop Stigand with God's assistance, and the wise men both within the town and without; who determined that hostages should be given on either side.

Note 73. i.e. Godwin and his son Harold.

Note 74. i.e. the tide of the river.

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Henry Machyn's Diary. January 1559. The (blank) day of January was bered in the ylle of Shepay [Map] my lord warden of the v porttes, and master tresorer to the quen('s) howsse, and knyght of the garter, with standard and a grett baner of armes, and v baner-rolles of armes, and iiij baners of emages, and a iii haroldes of armes, and a herse of v prynsepelles of wax, v dosen of penselles and a x dosen of skochyons of armes, and iiij whyt branchys and a dosen of torchys, and 1. pore men had gownes, and a c. and a d' [a half] in blake gownes and cottes.

Note. P. 184. Funeral of sir Thomas Cheney, K.G. Sir Thomas Cheney had been henchman to king Henry VII. He was honoured with the garter, made treasurer of the household to three successive sovereigns, and died warden of the cinque ports, Dec. 8, 1558. His liberality was great, his hospitality unbounded. He kept thirty horses in his stables, and two hundred and five servants in livery, for all of whom he more or less provided at his death. "Well," says Holinshed, "was that nobleman's son that happened to be preferred into his service." See his eulogy in Holinshed, vol. ii. p. 1171, and see Wiffen's Memoirs of the House of Russell, i. 396. "Sir Thomas Cheney knight, lord warden of the v. portes, knight of the garter and tresorer of the quenes howshold, dysceased at the Tower of London on thursday the xvth of December in A° . j°. Elizabeth, 1558, and after conveyed to his howsse called Sherland in the isle of Shepey, and there buryed on tewsday the 3. of January next foloinge." (MS. Harl. 897, f. 17b.) His epitaph is in Weever's Funerall Monuments, p. 284, and in Dugdale's Baronage, ii. 290. His second wife and widow Anne, daughter and heir of [sir John] Broughton, died at Toddington, co. Bedf. May 18, 1562, and was buried in the parish church there on the 27th. (Ibid.)

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 7th April 1660. This day, about nine o'clock in the morning, the wind grew high, and we being among the sands lay at anchor; I began to be dizzy and squeamish. Before dinner my Lord sent for me down to eat some oysters, the best my Lord said that ever he ate in his life, though I have ate as good at Bardsey. After dinner, and all the afternoon I walked upon the deck to keep myself from being sick, and at last about five o'clock, went to bed and got a caudle made me, and sleep upon it very well. This day Mr. Sheply went to Sheppy [Map].

The River Swale, Kent separates the Isle of Sheppey, Kent [Map] from the mainland.

Cheney Spitts, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, South-East England, British Isles

Samuel Pepys' Diary. 6th April 1660. This morning came my brother-in-law Balty (age 20) to see me, and to desire to be here with me as Reformado, ["a broken or disbanded officer".] which did much trouble me. But after dinner (my Lord using him very civilly, at table) I spoke to my Lord, and he presented me a letter to Captain Stokes for him that he should be there. All the day with him walking and talking, we under sail as far as the Spitts. In the afternoon, W. Howe and I to our viallins, the first time since we came on board. This afternoon I made even with my Lord to this day, and did give him all the money remaining in my hands. In the evening, it being fine moonshine, I staid late walking upon the quarter-deck with Mr. Cuttance, learning of some sea terms; and so down to supper and to bed, having an hour before put Balty into Burr's cabin, he being out of the ship.

Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, South-East England, British Isles

Church of All Saints, Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, South-East England, British Isles

Queenborough, Isle of Sheppey [Map]

Sheerness Isle of Sheppey [Map]

Swale, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, South-East England, British Isles

Minster on Sheppey Abbey, Swale, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, South-East England, British Isles [Map]

Minster on Sheppey Abbey is also in Abbeys in England, Minsters in England.

Seaxburh Wuffingas Queen Consort Kent founded Minster on Sheppey Abbey [Map].

Swale Minster, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, South-East England, British Isles [Map]

Swale Minster, Isle of Sheppey is also in Minsters in England.

St Katherine's Chapel, Swale Minster, Isle of Sheppey, Kent, South-East England, British Isles

On 3rd January 1559 Thomas Cheney was buried at St Katherine's Chapel, Swale Minster.