On the proverbial expression Kentish Long-Tails, Fuller has the following remarks. "Let me premise, that those are much mistaken who first found this Proverb on a Miracle of Austin the Monk . . . I say they are much mistaken, for the Scene of this Lying Wonder was not laid in any Part of Kent, but pretended many miles off, nigh Cerne in Dorsetshire. To come closer to the sense of this Proverb, I conceive it first of outlandish extraction, and cast by foreigners as a note of disgrace on all the English, though it chanceth to stick only on the Kentish at this Day. For when there happened in Palestine a difference betwixt Robert brother of Saint Lewis King of France and our William Longspee Earl of Salisbury, hear how the Frenchman insulted over our nation: O timidorum caudatorum formidolositas! Quam beatrus, quam mundus praesens foret exercitus, si a caudis purgaretur et caudatis. "O the cowardliness of these fearful Long-tails! How happy, how clean would this our army be, were it but purged from tails and Long-tails". Matthew Paris. Anno Dom. 1250. pag. 790.

That the English were nicked by this speech appears by the reply of the Earl of Salisbury following still the metaphor; The son of my father shall press thither to day, whither you shall not dare to approach his horse tail: Some, will have the English so called from wearing a pouch or poke, (a bag to carry their baggage in) behind their backs, whilst probably the Proud Monsieurs had their Lacqueys for that purpose. In proof whereof they produce ancient pictures of the English Drapery and Armory, wherein such conveyances do appear. If so, it was neither sin nor shame for the common sort of people to carry their own necessaries, and it matters not much whether the pocket be made on either side, or wholly behind. If any demand how this nick-name (cut off from the rest of England) continues still entailed on Kent? The best conjecture is, because that county lieth nearest to France, and the French are beheld as the first founders of this aspersion. But if any will have the Kentish so called from drawing and dragging boughs of trees behind them, which afterwards they advanced above their heads and so partly cozened partly threatened King William the Conqueror to continue their ancient customs, I say, if any will impute it to this original, I will not oppose." Worthies (Kent, p. 63), ed. 1662. The preceding passage of Fuller, somewhat abridged, is copied by Ray into his Proverbs, p. 245. ed. 1768. For fanciful stories concerning the origin of Kentish long tails, see also Cornucopiae, Pasquils Night-cap, 1612, (attributed to S. Rowlands), p. 42. sqq.; and the commencement of Robin Good-fellow, His mad Pranks and Merry Jests, 1628, (a tract which originally appeared at an earlier date).