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some which affirme this to be Venta Simenorum, & doe grace Bristow, with the name of Venta Belgarum. But that there were never any Simeni at all in this Iland, I will prove when I come to the Iceni. In the meane season, though they should seeke all the townes that Antoninus placeth on every side in the way to or from VENTA, BELGARUM, as narrowly as Emmots paths, yet shall they find nothing for their purpose to make good this their assertion.

The Etymologie of this name Venta, some fetch from Ventus, that is, Wind, others from Vinum, that is, Wine, and some againe from Wina a bishop: who all of them be farre wide, and should doe well to pray for better judgement. Yet like I rather the opinion of Leland: who hath derived it from the British word Guin or Guen, that is, White, so that Caer Guin should signifie as much, as the White Citie. And why not? seeing the old Latines named these their Cities, Alba longa, and Alba regia, of whitenesse: yea and the Grecians alos had their Luca, Lucas, and other nations also many places taking name of whitenesse. For, this Venta, like as the other two of the same name, to wit, VENTA SILURUM, and VENTA ICENORUM, are seated all three in a soile that standeth upon chalke and a whitish clay.

A Citie it was no doubt flourishing even in the Romans times, as in which the Emperours of Rome seeme to have had their sacred house of weaving and enbroidering peculiar to their owwn persons, and uses: seeing among all the VENTAS in Britaine, it was both the chiefe and also neerest unto Italie. For, in the booke of Notitia, mantion is made of the Procurator [Master or Governour] Cyneij VENTENSIS or BENTENSIS, in Britaine: where the onely flower of Lawyers, James Cuiacius readeth Cynegii and in his Paratitles upon the Code interpreteth it, Sacrum textrinum, that is, The sacred workhouse or shop of embroidering and weaving. And right if his minde is Guidus Pancirolus, who writeth that those Gynaecia were instituted for the weaving of the Princes and souldiers garments of Ship-sailes, of linnen sheets, or coverings and such like cloths, necessarie for the furniture of mansions. But Wolfgangus Lazius was of opinion, that the Procurator aforesaid, had the charge heere of the Emperors dogs. And to say truth, of all the dogs in Europe, ours beare the name; in so much, as Strabo witnesseth, our dogges serve as souldiers, and the ancient Galles made especiall use of them even in their wars. And of all others, they were in most request both for those baitings in the Amphitheaters and also in all other publicke huntings among the Romanes. For, as the same Strabo writeth, they were [ ], that is, of a generous kind and framed naturally for hunting. Whereupon Nemesianus wrote thus:

... divisa Britannia mittit

Veloces, nostrique orbis venatibus aptos.

... Though Britaine from this world of ours doth ly secluded farre,

Swift hounds it sends which for our game most fitly framed are.

Gratius also, of their price and excellencie, saith thus:

Quod freta si Morinum dubio refluentia ponto

Veneris, atque ipsos libeat penetrare Britannos,

O quanta est merces, & quantum impendia supra?

If that to Calice-streights you goe,

Where tides uncertaine ebbe and flow.

And list to venture further more,

Crossing the seas to British shore:

What meede would come to quite your paines:

What overdeale beside, of gaines.

Yea and that very dog with us, which of the old name Agaesus, we calla yet at this day a Gasehound those ancient Greekes both knew and also had in great price. And this will Oppian in his firsts booke of his Cynegeticks tell you, in these Greek verses.

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