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riage was solemnized betweene King Henrie the sixth, and Margaret
of Anjou; and now the principall seat of the Lord Writheosleies
Earle of South-hamton. From [t]hence forthwith, the shore with
curving crookes draweth itselfe in, and the Island named Portesey
maketh a great creeke, within the more inward nooke or corner
whereof sometimes flourished Port-peris; (where, by report
Vespasian landed) An haven towne which our auncestours by a new
name called Port-chester, not of Porto the Saxon, but of the port
or haven. For, Ptolomee tearmeth it [ ], that is THE GREAT HAVEN,
for the widenesse of it, like as that Portus Magnus also in
Africk, as Plinie witnesseth. And verily there remaineth yet a
great Castell which hath a faire and spatious prospect into the
haven underneath. But when as the Ocean by with-drawing it selfe,
tooke away, by little and little the commodity of the haven, the
inhabitatnts flitted from thence into the Island Portsey
adjoining, which taketh in circuit much about foureteene miles,
beeing at every full sea floated round about with salt waters,
out of which they boile salt, and by a bridge that hath a
fortresse adjoining unto it, is united to the Continent. This
Island Athelflede King Eadgars wife had given to the New
monasterie of Winchester. And in it at the very gullet, or mouth
where the sea entreth in, our fore-fathers built a towne and
thereupon named it Portsmouth, that is, the mouth of the haven. A
place alwaies in time of warre well frequented, otherwise little
resort there is to it: as beeing more favourable and better
effected to Mars and Neptune, than to Mercurie, that is to warre
rather than to Traffique. A Church it hath of the old building,
and an Hospitall (Gods house they call it) founded by Peter de
Rupibus, Bishop of Winchester. Fortified it is with a wall made
of timber and the same well covered over with thicke bankes of
earth: fenced with a platforme also or mount of earth in times
past on the North-east, nere to the gate: and two block-houses at
the entry of the haven made of new heawen stone: Which being by
King Edward the fourth begunne, King Henrie the seaventh as the
Inhabitants report did finish, and strengthened the towne with a
garrison. But in our rememberance, Queene ELIZABETH at her great
cost and charges so armed it (as one would say) with new
fortifications, as that now there is nothing wanting, that a man
would require in a most strong and fenced place. And of the
garrison-soldiors some keepe watch and ward both night and day at
the gates: others upon the towre of the church, who by the
ringing or sound of a bell give warning how many horse or foote
are comming, and by putting forth a banner shewe from what
quarter they come. From hence as the shoare fetcheth a compasse
and windeth from Portes-bridge, wee had the sight of Havant a
little mercate towne, and hard by it, of Warblington, a goodly
faire house belonging some-times to the Earles of Salisbury, but
now to the family of the Cottons Knights. Before which, there lie
two Islands, the one greater named Haling, the other lesse,
called Thorney, of thornes there growing: and both of them have
their severall parish church. In many places along this shore, of
the sea waters flowing up thither, is made salt of a palish or
greene collour: the which by a certaine artificious devise, they
boile untill it bee exceeding white. And of this sea or Bay-salt,
and not of ours made out of salt srpings, is Saint Ambrose to bee
understood, when hee writeth thus; Consider wee those things
which are usuall with many very grace-full: namely, how water is
turned into salt, of such hardnesse and solidity, that
often-times it is hewed with axes. This in the salts of Britaine
is no wonder, as which carrying a shewe of strong marble, doe
shine and glitter againe with the whitenesse of the same mettall,
like unto snow, and bee holesome to the bodie &c.
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Farther within the land, the MEANUARI dwelt, whose country
togither with the Isle of Wight Edilwalch King of the South
Saxons received in token of Adoption from Wlpher King of
Mercians, godfather unto him at the Font, when hee was baptised.
The habitations of these Meanuari, scarse changing the name, at
this day is divided into three hundereds; to wit, Means-borow,
East-mean, and Weastmean: and amongst them there mounteth up a
high Hill, invironed in the top with a large
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