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284
HISTORY OF THE ROSICRUCIANS.
1
Robert Fludd was born at Milgate House, in the parish
of Bersted, Kent, during the year 1574. By his mother's
side he was descended from the ancient family of Andros
of Taunton in Somerset. His father, Thomas Fludd, was a
representative of a Shropshire stock, and successively
occupied several high positions. He was victualler of
Bewick, and then of JSTewhaven in France ; afterwards he
was made Receiver of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey, and being
appointed treasurer of the army
sent under Lord
Willoughby to Henry IV. of France, "he behaved so honour-
ably that he was knighted, and on his return to England
was made treasurer of all her Majesty's forces in the Low
Countries." :
This
was in the reign of Queen Elizabeth ; he
was constantly a justice of the peace where he resided, and
was also treasurer of the Cinque ports.
" He bore for his
arms vert, a chevron between three wolves' heads erased,
argent, which coat, with his quarterings, was confirmed to
him by Robert Cook, Clar., Nov. 10, 1572." 3
I have succeeded in compiling from various sources the
following scanty genealogy of the Fludd family :
1 " The seat of Milgat was formerly esteemed a manor. It was
anciently possessed by the family of Coloigne, one of whom, Robert
de Coloigne, died feifed of it in the 35th year of Edward III. In process
of time his descendants came to be called Coluney, one of whom,
Thomas Coluney, as appears by an old survey of Bersted, possessed
it in the 14th year of Edward IV. In the beginning of the reign
of Henry VII. it was become the property of the family of Stone-
house, whose ancient seat was at Hazelwood, Boughton Malherbe
(Philpot, p. 68). Robert Stonehouse was of Bersted, Esquire, at
the latter end of Henry VIII. His son George, at the beginning of
Queen Elizabeth's reign, alienated this seat to Thomas Fludd,
Esquire, afterwards knighted, and who considerably improved and
augmented it. " One corner of this edifice is still said to remain built
in the manor-house erected on its site when the old house fell into
ruins. Hasted, "History of Kent," vol. ii., pp. 486, 487.
- Hasted's "History of Kent," vol. ii., p. 486.
;:
" Visitation of County of Kent, ir>74 and 1619."