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The duke s?eing himselfe to be driuen to such an exigent & narrow
pinch, consulted a while with them that came with him, prudentlie
considering, that if he should take anie repulse or displeasure at the
hands of this people, which be the key of England, all that he had
done before should be disanulled and made of none effect, and all his
hope and safetie should stand in danger and ieopardie: not so
willinglie as wiselie he granted the people of Kent their request. Now
when the couenant was established, and pledges giuen on both sides:
the Kentishmen being ioyfull, conducted the Normans (who also were
glad) vnto Rochester, and y?elded vp to the duke the earledome of
Kent, and the noble castell of Douer. [Sidenote: The ancient liberties
and lawes of England remaine in Kent onlie.] Thus the ancient
liberties of England, and the lawes and customes of the countrie,
which before the comming of duke William out of Normandie, were
equallie kept throughout all England, doo (through this industrie and
earnest trauell of the archbishop Stigand and Egelsin abbat of S.
Augustines) remaine inuiolablie obserued vntill this daie within that
countie of Kent. [Sidenote: _Wil. Thorne._] ΒΆ Thus far Thomas Spot,
and after him William Thorne writeth the same.
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