Six Poor Travellers at Rochester

Richard Watts, recorder of Rochester, left his house, Satis House, by his will of 22 August 1579 to be sold to keep up almshouses in the High Street. They were to hold six good mattresses or flock beds to lodge poor travellers or wayfaring men, being no common rogues nor proctors, for one night only unless sickness kept them. Each traveller was to have fourpence on coming in and to warm himself at the fire, and the poor folk living there were to keep the place sweet and treat the travellers courteously. Chambers gives two stories for the ban on proctors, one that a proctor had once tried to cheat Watts of his estates, and says that by his day a traveller knocked in vain, though the fourpence could still be had from the mayor.