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HANTSHIRE

NExt to Wilshire is that country which sometimes the Saxons called [Hanteschyr], and is now commonly named Hantshire: of which, one part that beareth farther within the land, belonged, no doubt, to the Belgae, the other which lieth upon the sea appertained, without question, to the Regni, and ancient people of Britaine. On the West it hath Dorsetshire and Wilshire, on the South the Ocean to bound it: on the East it joineth to Sussex and Surrie, and on the North it bordereth upon Berkshire. A small province it is, fruitfull in corne, furnished in some places with pleasant woods thicke and well growen; rich in plenteous pasture, and for all commodities of sea most wealthy and happie. It is thought that it was with the first brought under subjection to the Romans. For, our Histories report, that Vespasian subdued it, and very probable reasons there are inducing us to beleeve the same. For, Dio witnesseth, that Plautius and Vespasian, when they were sent by the Emperor Claudius against the Britaines, did give the attempt upon this Iland, with an armie divided into three parts, least if they should have ventured to land in place only they might have beene driven backe from the shore. Suetonius also writeth, that in this expedition Vespasian fought thirtie battailes with the enemie, and subdued the Isle of Wight which lieth against this country and two other right puissant nations with it. For which his victories, as also for passing over the Ocean so safely. Valerius Flaccus speaketh unto Vespasian himselfe, as one more fortunate than Iulius Caesar, in this maner.

Tug~ O Pelagi cui major apertit

Fama, Caledonius postquam tua Carbasa vexit

Oceanus, Phrygios prius indignatus Iulos.

And thou for Seas discovry whose fame did more appeare,

Since that thy ships with sailes spred in Northren Ocean were,

Which skorn'd before, of Phrygian line the Iulij to beare.

And of the very same Vespasian, Apollonius Collatius Novariensis, the Poet verified thus:

Ille quidam nuper faelice Marte Britannos Fuderat.

He verily of late by happie fight

Had won the field, and Britains put to flight.

But how this war Titus delivered Vespasian his father, when he was very streightly besieged by the Britans: and how at the same time likewsie, an adder grasped him about, and yet never hurt him, (which hee tooke as a lucky foretoken of his Empire) you may learn out of Dio and Forcatulus. I, for my part, (to come to my purpose) beginning at the West side of this province which make my perambulation along the sea coast and the rivers that runne into the Ocean, and after that survey the more in-land parts therof.

Hard by the Westerne bounds the river Aven carrieth a still streame and no sooner runneth into this shire, but it meeteth with the Fourd of Cerdicus, in old time Cerdicks-ford, afterward Cerdeford, and now by contraction of the word, Chardford, so named of Cerdic that Warlicke English-Saxon. For, heere the said Cerdic in a set battaile soe daunted the Britains, that not onely he enlarged the bounds of his Empire, but also delivered an easie warre unto his posterity: having before time in the yeere of our Salvation 508, after great conflicts in this tract, vanquished the most mighty King of the Britains, Natanleod, called also Nazaleod by others, with many of his people. Of whose name likewise, a small region reaching unto this place was