DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70303#0079
ACCOUNT OF JOHN OF KENT. S3
John of Kent, Gwent, or Went, though a scholar and
a Franciscan, following their most celebrated schools at
Oxford, was originally bred at Chepstow, in Monmouth-
shire ; and being once employed by a farmer, and wanting
to cm to Grosmont Fair, it is related that he confined a
number of crows in an old barn without a roof, to keep
them from the corn ; and sure enough, says the Tradition,
when Jack came back, they were all there; for though
they made a terrible clatter, they would not fly away till
Jack came himself and broke the spell that confined them.
Kentchurch House, the neighbouring seat of the Scudamore
family, by whom some accounts say, Jack was hired as a
servant, became afterwards the scene of his more marvel-
lous exploits.—But after he came to maturity, as he Built
the bridge over the river Monnow, leading to Kentchurch^
and which is still called John of Kent’s Bridge, it is .said
to have been done in one night, by the help of familiar
spirits.
At Kentchurch House, a cellar was shewn so late as
1301, as the stable where John kept horses, on which he
traversed the air with the speed of Lapland Witches , and
his portrait on wood, painted in oil, is-likewise preserved
there.
An old tomb-stone in the church-yard of Grosmont,
close to the East wall of the chancel, is said to cover his
body ; and the legend reports, that he was buried there to
evade the compact which he made with Satan, which was,
that if he was buried either within or 'without the church,
he should become his property.,
The family of the Kentchurches, who have been lately
applied to for the true character of this reputed sorcerer,
could afford no specific or positive information. Accord-
ing to general tradition, he was a learned Monk, educated
at one of the Universities, and remarkable for'his acquire-
ments, which made the vulgar, hi an ignorant age, sup-
pose
John of Kent, Gwent, or Went, though a scholar and
a Franciscan, following their most celebrated schools at
Oxford, was originally bred at Chepstow, in Monmouth-
shire ; and being once employed by a farmer, and wanting
to cm to Grosmont Fair, it is related that he confined a
number of crows in an old barn without a roof, to keep
them from the corn ; and sure enough, says the Tradition,
when Jack came back, they were all there; for though
they made a terrible clatter, they would not fly away till
Jack came himself and broke the spell that confined them.
Kentchurch House, the neighbouring seat of the Scudamore
family, by whom some accounts say, Jack was hired as a
servant, became afterwards the scene of his more marvel-
lous exploits.—But after he came to maturity, as he Built
the bridge over the river Monnow, leading to Kentchurch^
and which is still called John of Kent’s Bridge, it is .said
to have been done in one night, by the help of familiar
spirits.
At Kentchurch House, a cellar was shewn so late as
1301, as the stable where John kept horses, on which he
traversed the air with the speed of Lapland Witches , and
his portrait on wood, painted in oil, is-likewise preserved
there.
An old tomb-stone in the church-yard of Grosmont,
close to the East wall of the chancel, is said to cover his
body ; and the legend reports, that he was buried there to
evade the compact which he made with Satan, which was,
that if he was buried either within or 'without the church,
he should become his property.,
The family of the Kentchurches, who have been lately
applied to for the true character of this reputed sorcerer,
could afford no specific or positive information. Accord-
ing to general tradition, he was a learned Monk, educated
at one of the Universities, and remarkable for'his acquire-
ments, which made the vulgar, hi an ignorant age, sup-
pose