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termed Natanleod, as we read in the Annals of the English Saxons:
which I sought very curiously for, but hitherto could not find so
much as any small sign or sample of that name: neither can I
guesse who that Natanleod shoald be. But mmost certaine it is,
that Aurelius Ambrose, at the very same time skirmished
otherwhiles with the Saxons in this tract with alternative
fortune: and yet those Chronicles of the English Saxons no where
made mention of him; as who, (a thing that I have observed) being
over much affectionate to themselves, repoerted only their owne
fortuunate battailes, and victories but never made words of their
foiles & overthrowes. From thence the said river runneth on by
Regnewood or Ringwood, called in the Domesday booke of England
Rincewood. Which, that it was the same REGNUM, the chiefe towne
of the Regni whereof Antoninus maketh mention, the accompt of the
distance from other places, the remaines of the name and the very
signification thereof doe plainly prove. For, Ring-wed by that
Saxon addition seemeth to signify the Wood of the Regni. A towne
in ancient time of great fame, as maybe gathered by the Hundred
adjoining, which is named thereof: but now it is a well
frequented mercate towne and no better: Aven being departed from
hence, entertaineth the river Stoure coming down out of
Dorsetshire, where betweene the meeting of these two streames,
there standeth a prety towne of trade and well peopled. At this
day of a Church there dedictaed unto Christ, named Christ-church:
but in old time Twinamburne, because it is situate betweene the
two rivers, right in the same sense that Interamna in Italie hath
his name. It was fortified in times past with a Castle, and
beautified with an ancient Church of Prebendaries, which being
built in the Saxons time and after repaired by Rau'ph Flammard
Bishop of Durrham (who was Deane) in the reigne of William Rufus,
and by Richard de Riparijs Earle of Devonshire (whom King Henrie
the first enfeoffed in this place) endowed also with great rents
and revenewes, continued in very great name untill the daies of
King Henrie the Eighth, and that fatall and finall houre of the
Monasteries of England, Under this towne Stoure and Aven joining
together doe emptie themselves into the sea at one mouth, which
Ptolomee called the mouth of the River Alaun; and rightly too:
For I cannot resolve with my selfe to thinke, that the river
properly was named Aven, considering this is a common name, and
the Britans by that terme, called all rivers. But I would take
it, that some time it was called Alaun, because there remain yet
some reliques (as it were) of that name in the villages upon it,
to wit, in Allington, Allingham, &c.
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Along the east banke of this river in this Shire, King William of
Normandie pulled downe all the townes, villages, houses, and
Churches far and neere, cast out the poore inhabitants, and when
he had so done brought all within thirty miles compasse or
thereabout into a forrest and harbour for wild beasts, which the
English men in those daies termed Ytene, and we now call New
forrest. Of which Act of his, Gwalter Maps who lived immediately
after, wrote thus. 'The Conqueror tooke away land both from God
and men, to dedicate the same unto wild beasts and Dogs-game: in
which space he threw downe six and thirty Mother-churches, and
drave all the people thereto belonging quite away.'
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And this did he, either that the Normans might have safer and
more secure arrivall into England, (For it lieth over against
Normandie) in case after that all his wars thought ended any new
dangerous tempest should arise in this Iland against him: or for
the pleasure which he tooke in hunting: or else to scrape and
rape money to himselfe by what meanes soever he could: For, being
better affected and more favorable to beasts than to men, he
imposed very heavy fines and penalties, yea and other more
grievous punishments, upon those that should medle with his game.
but Gods just judgement not long after followed this so
unreasonable and cruell act of the King. For, Richard his second
sonne, and William Rufus King of England, another sonne of his,
perished both in this Forrest: William by chance shot through
with an arrow by Walter Tirell; the other blasted with a
pestilent aire. Henrie likewise his grand child by Robert his
eldest sonne, whiles hee hotely persued his game in this Chase
was hanged amongst the bowghes and so died: that we may
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