Kent and the Great Civil War. By H. F. Abell.
(Kentish Express Office, Ashford.)—Mr. Abell, who has studied to good purpose the county history of Kent, brings out effectively the peculiar attitude assumed by the county. It was foremost in demanding reform in the days when James and Charles were seeking to aggrandise the Royal power ; it underwent a loyal reaction when the tyranny of the Parliament, and afterwards of the Army, took the place of the Throne. There was much to complain of in the early days,— the abuse of plurality, for instance, in the clergy. The Canons of Canterbury, seven in number, held twenty benefices between them. The gross value at present stands at above £10,000. What it was then it is not easy to say. The income of Meric Casaubon, who held Old Romney, Monkton, Minster, and Birchington, is put down at £640. These benefices show now a total of £1,521, a sum considerably less in purchasing power than the £640 of 1636. Most of these benefices were in the gift of the Archbishop, who (Abbott, not Laud) was responsible for the abuse. There were no critical struggles in Kent ; neither Cromwell nor Charles-set foot in the county ; but there was plenty of fighting. Mr. Abell has made a good book out of the plentiful material at his disposal. The reader in general, and "Men of Kent" and " Kentish Men " in particular, will find much to interest them.
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