Mildred. It is a large building of the thirteenth, fourteenth and
fifteenth centuries, the tower, its latest feature, being also its
noblest. Indeed the tower of Tenterden church, if we may believe the
local legend, is certainly the most important in Kent. For it is said,
and, rightly understood, there may after all be something in it, to
have been the cause of the Goodwin Sands. Fuller asserts "when the
vicinage in Kent met to consult about the inundation of the Goodwin
Sands (date not given) and what might be the cause thereof, an old man
imputed it to the building of Tenterden steeple in this county; for
these sands, said he, were firm sands before that steeple was built,
which ever since were overflown with sea-water. Hereupon all heartily
laughed at his unlogical reason, making that effect in Nature which

was only the consequent on time; not flowing from, but following after
the building of that steeple."

According to Latimer, however, it was Sir Thomas More who drew this
answer from the ancient, and if this be so, it certainly fixes the
date. "Maister More," says Latimer, "was once sent in commission into
Kent to help to trie out (if it might be) what was the cause of Goodwin
Sands and the shelfs that stopped up Sandwich haven. Thither cometh
Maister More and calleth the countye afore him, such as were thought to
be men of experience, and men that could of likelihode best certify him
of that matter, concerning the stopping of Sandwich haven. Among others
came in before him an olde man with a white head, and one that was
thought to be little lesse than an hundereth yeares olde. When
Maister More saw this aged man he thought it expedient to heare him say
his minde in this matter, for being so olde a man it was likely that he
knew most of any man in that presence and company. So Maister More
called this olde aged man unto him and sayd, 'Father,' sayd he, 'tell
me if ye can what is the cause of this great arising of the sande and
shelves here about this haven the which sop it up that no shippes can
aride here? Ye are the oldest man that I can espie in all this
companye, so that, if any man can tell any cause of it, ye of all
likelihode can say most in it, or at least wise more than any other man
here assembled.' 'Yea forsooth, good maister,' quod this olde man, 'for
I am well nigh an hundred yeares olde and no man here in this company
anything neare unto mine age.' 'Well, then,' quod Maister More, 'how
say you in t