page 261

the North-east, there flourished in old time another of that name: which may seeme to be Antonine his CLAVSENTVM, by the distance of it, as well on the one side from Ringwood, as from Venta on the other. And as Trisanton in the British language signifieth the Bay of Anton, so Clausentum in the same tongue, is as much as the Haven of Entum. For, I have heard, that Claudh among the Britans, is that which the Graecians call [ ], that is, a forced Haven made by digging and casting up the earth. Now, that this place was called Hanton and Henton, no man needs to doubt, seeing in that booke wherin King William the first made a survey of all England, this whole shire is expressely named Hantscyre and in some places Hentscyre, and the very towne it self for the South situation of it, South-hanton. What maner of towne that Clausentum was, it is hard to say: but seated it was in that place, where the field is which now they call S. Maries; and reached eveun to the Haven: and may seeme also to have taken up the other banke or strand of the river: For, a little above at Bittern over against it, Francis Mills a right homest gentleman there dwelling, showed unto to me the rubbish, old broken wals, and trenches of an antient castle, which carried halfe a mile in compasse, & at every tide is compassed for three parts of it with water a great breadth. The Romane Emperors ancient coines now and then there digged up, doe so evidently prove the antiquitie thereof, that if it were not the Castle of old Clausentum, you would judge it to be one of those forts or fences which the romans planted upon the South coast of the Ocean, to represse, as Gildas writeth, the piracies and depredations of the Saxons. When all became wasted, by the Danish warres, old Hanton also was left as a pray in the yeere of our Lord 980. to be sacked and rifled by them: and King William the Conqueror in his time had in it but fourescore men and no more in his demaine. But above 200. yeeres since when Edward the Third King of England and Philip Valois bustled for the very Kingdom of France, it was fired the French and burnt to the ground. Out of the ashes whereof, presently sprung the towne which now is to be seene, but situatae in a more commodious place betweene two rivers: for number of houses and those faire built much renowned, for rich inhabitants and concurse of merchants wealthy: fenced round about with a double ditch, strong wals, and turrets standing thicke betweene: and for defence of the Haven a strong Castle it hath of square stone, upon a Mount cast up to a great height, built by King Richard the Second. And afterward King Henrie the Sixt granted to the Maior, Balliues and Burgesses that it should be a Countie by it selfe, with other liberties. Memorable is that of the most puissant Canutus King of England and of Denmarke, by which he in this place repressed a flatterer who bare the King in hand that all things in the Realme were at his wil & command. He commanded (faith Henrie of Huntingdon) that his chaire should be set on the shore, when the sea began to flow. And then in the presence of many, said he to the sea as it flowed. Thou art part of my Dominion, and the ground on which I sit is mine, neither was there ever any that durst disobey my commandement and went away free and unpunished. Wherefore, I charge thee, that come not upon my land, neither that thou wet the clothes or body of thy Lord.

But the sea according to his usuall course flowing still without any reverence of his person wet his feet. Then he ritiring backe said. Let all the inhabitants of the world know, that vaine and frivolous is the power of Kings, and that none is worthy then me of King, but hee, to whose command the heaven earth and sea by bond of an everlasting law are subject and obedient, and never after that time set hee the crowne upon his head, &c.

Of those two rivers, betweene which this South-anton standeth, that in the West now called Test, and in times past Anton, (as I suppose) springeth out of the forrest of Chat goeth first to Andover, which in the Saxon language is [Andeasaran], that is, The Passage or Ferry over And: where in the yeere of our Salvation 893, Aetheldred King of England, when the Danes harried and spoiled his Kingdome on every side, to the end that hee might at length refresh and cherish his weakened and wearied countries with sure and quiet peace, inserted into his owne familie by way of adoption Aulaf the Dane: which notwithstanding soone after tooke small or none effect: