Richard Worge (for he never called himself Alchome)
is understood to have early shewn an inclination for the



III.) contained in the Book of Battell Abbey, the Abbot of Robertsbridg^e
finds two men of arms for Lands in Werthe^ &c. ; and Symonde de Werthe
finds one man of arms (or bowman) for Land in Werthe, This Land lies
in the Parishes of Brightling and Barwash, and is at the present day
called Great and Little Worge Farms. The late William Hayley guesses
it to be the first cultivated Land in the neighbourhood, and, therefore,
called Werth, that is, the Farm. The same gentleman says it is a Manor,
and that Dugdale calls it the Lordship of Werthe. The Lands are again
mentioned in a very old Deed of Feo£fment by Robert Basoke de Sedeles-
combe to the Abbot and Convent of Battel, of certain Rents out of Lands
held by Joselin, son of Thomas de Haremere, and are here called Wercke,
In an Indenture of Settlement of the Poyninges Land to the use of
Alianore Lady Poyninges, 3. Edward lY., is recited Deeds of Feo£fment
of Lands in Sussex, &c., to John Werk^ Clerk and others. Among the
witnesses to an old Deed in the Cartulary of St. Nicholas, Exeter, part of
the possessions of Battel Abbey, is the name of Roger de la Wurthe; on
the Escheat Rolls, Sir Jo^ Wowrth^ Knight, 4. Edward lY.; and William
Worth was Mayor of Winchelsea in 1428. The name has again been
varied in Sussex to Woghere, Wowere^ amd Woghe^ (Burgesses in Parlia-
ment for East Grinstead), Worger^ Werger^ Werge, and Worgg ; in London
Werge, Weargy and Worge; and in Wales and the West of England
Verge, Verghey Verche, Verge, Werge, and Wirge, Of the derivation of
this name, says Mr. 