Rochester Castle, Kent is in Rochester, Kent [Map], Castles in Kent.
Chronicon ex Chronicis by Florence and John of Worcester. 1127. The custody of Rochester castle granted to the archbishops of Canterbury. The king, also, by the advice of his barons, granted to the church of Canterbury, and to William the archbishop, and to all his successors, the custody and constableship of the castle of Rochester [Map], to hold for ever; with liberty to make in the same castle a fort or tower, as they pleased, and have and guard it for ever; and that the garrison stationed in the castle should have free ingress and egress on their own occasions, and should be security to the archbishop for it.
Before 1235 William Saye [aged 25] and Sybil Marshal [aged 25] were married at Rochester Castle, Kent [Map].
In 1247 Nicholas Moels [aged 52] was appointed Constable of Rochester Castle.
On 12th February 1271 William Saye [aged 62] died at Rochester Castle, Kent [Map].
In 1304 Henry Cobham 1st Baron Cobham [aged 44] was appointed Constable of Rochester Castle.
Anonimalle Chronicle. And at that same time, the commons of Kent came to Maidstone and beheaded one of the best men of the town and tore down various houses and tenements belonging to those who refused to rise up with them, as had been done in Essex. And on the following Friday [7th June 1381], they came to Rochester [Map] and there met with a great number of the commons from Essex. Because of the man from Gravesend, they laid siege to Rochester Castle in order to recover their companion, whom the aforesaid Sir Simon had imprisoned. They launched a fierce assault on the castle, and the constable defended it vigorously for half a day. But in the end, fearing such a vast crowd of people from Essex and Kent who had gathered without reason, he surrendered the castle to them. The commons entered and freed their companion and all the other prisoners from the prison. Those from Gravesend returned with their companion with great celebration, without doing more, while those from Maidstone continued their journey with the other commons through the surrounding countryside.
Et mesme le temps le comunes de Kent viendrent a Maydenstoun et couperount le test de une de les meliours hommes de la ville et abaterount a terre diverses places et tenementz des gentz queux ne vodroient lever ovesqe eux come firent en Exesse; et le venderdy prochien apres, viendrent a Rouchestre et illeoges encontrerount graunde noumbre des comunes de Exesse et par cause del homme de Grayvesende mistrent ensege al chastelle de Rouchestre pur avoir lour compaignoun del Gravesende, le quel sire Symond avauntdit avoit enprisone; et donerount fort assaute al chastelle, et les conestable se defendist vigurousement une dymy iour, mes au. darrein pur doute qil avoit de tiel multitude des gentz saunz resoun de Exesse et de Kent delivera le chastelle as eux et les comunes entrerent et pristrent lour compaignoun et toutz prisoners hors de prisone; et ceux de Gravesende repairerount od lour compaignoun od graunde leestee saunz pluis fair, et les autres de Maydenstoun pristrent lour viage ovesge les autres comunes par le pais enviroun.
On 3rd February 1388 the Merciless Parliament commenced. It ended on 4th June 1388. Its primary function was to prosecute members of the Court of King Richard II of England [aged 21]. The term "Merciless" is contemporary having been coined by the chronicler Henry Knighton.
Michael de la Pole 1st Earl Suffolk [aged 58] was sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered in his absence. He had escaped to France.
Archbishop Alexander Neville [aged 47] was found guilty of treason and it was determined to imprison him for life in Rochester Castle, Kent [Map]. He fled to Louvain [Map] where he became a parish priest for the remainder of his life.
On 19th February 1388 Robert Tresilian was hanged naked and his throat cut. See Chronicle of Adam of Usk.
On 25th March 1388 Nicholas Brembre was hanged. He was buried at Christ Church, Greyfriars [Map].
On 5th May 1388 Simon Burley [aged 48] was executed despite the protestations of his friend Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 46]. See Chronicle of Adam of Usk.
On 12th May 1388 John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp [aged 69] was beheaded at Tower Hill [Map]. He was buried at Worcester Cathedral [Map]. Baron Beauchamp of Kidderminster forfeit.
Robert de Vere 1st Duke Ireland [aged 26] was attainted.
On 18th May 1509 John Marney 2nd Baron Marney [aged 25] was appointed Keeper of Rochester Castle.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 26th January 1554. The xxvj day of January began wachyng at evere gatt in arness, for tydyngs cam the sam tym to the quen and her consell that ser Thomas Wyatt [aged 33], ser George Harper, ser Hare Ysseley [aged 54], master Cobam, and master Rudston [aged 39], and master Knevetts [aged 37], and dyvers odur gentyllmen and commons, wher up, and tha say because the prynche of Spayne [aged 26] commyng in to have owre quen [aged 37], for they kepe Rochaster castell [Map] and the bryge and odur plases.
Note. P. 52. Sir Thomas Wyatt. A copious narrative of Wyatt's rebellion, together with the letters written by the duke of Norfolk, lord Cobham, and others, to the Privy Council, on the occasion, (from the originals in the State Paper Office,) will be found in Cruden's History of Gravesend, 1842, 8vo. pp. 172 et seq.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 2nd October 1665. Thence to Rochester, Kent [Map], walked to the Crowne, and while dinner was getting ready, I did there walk to visit the old Castle [Map] ruines, which hath been a noble place, and there going up I did upon the stairs overtake three pretty mayds or women and took them up with me, and I did 'baiser sur mouches et toucher leur mains1' and necks to my great pleasure: but, Lord! to see what a dreadfull thing it is to look down the precipices, for it did fright me mightily, and hinder me of much pleasure which I would have made to myself in the company of these three, if it had not been for that. The place hath been very noble and great and strong in former ages.
Note 1. baiser sur mouches et toucher leur mains. Kiss their beauty spots and touched their hands.
Samuel Pepys' Diary. 30th June 1667. Thence to the Castle [Map], and viewed it with Creed, and had good satisfaction from him that showed it us touching the history of it. Then into the fields, a fine walk, and there saw Sir Francis Clerke's house, which is a pretty seat, and then back to our inne and bespoke supper, and so back to the fields and into the Cherry garden, where we had them fresh gathered, and here met with a young, plain, silly shopkeeper, and his wife, a pretty young woman, the man's name Hawkins, and I did kiss her, and we talked (and the woman of the house is a very talking bawdy jade), and eat cherries together, and then to walk in the fields till it was late, and did kiss her, and I believe had I had a fit time and place I might have done what I would with her. Walked back and left them at their house near our inne, and then to our inne, where, I hear, my Lord Bruncker [aged 47] hath sent for me to speak with me before I go: so I took his coach, which stands there with two horses, and to him and to his bedside, where he was in bed, and hath a watchman with a halbert at his door; and to him, and did talk a little, and find him a very weak man for this business that he is upon; and do pity the King's service, that is no better handled, and his folly to call away Pett before we could have found a better man to have staid in his stead; so took leave of him, and with Creed back again, it being now about 10 at night, and to our inne to supper, and then to bed, being both sleepy, but could get no sheets to our bed, only linen to our mouths, and so to sleep, merrily talking of Hawkins and his wife, and troubled that Creed did see so much of my dalliance, though very little.
Around 1825. Frederick Nash [aged 43]. "Rochester Cathedral [Map] and Castle [Map].
John Cobham was appointed Constable of Rochester Castle.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy
The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.
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William Saye was appointed Governor of Rochester Castle.