two others, of which Hastings was one, in the charter.
From this period, it would appear, that Hastings obtained its priority and ascendancy over the rest ; and it is conjectured, by some historians, that it owed this distinction and pre-eminence to the special favor of William , probably as being the town nearest to the place where he landed, and as giving name to his battle there, and the victory which placed him and his successors on the English throne. At this time, indeed, it seems to have been of note, as affirmed by Lord Coke, in his Institutes, as well as from tradition, having then been fortified with a castle, which, as well as the barony, was given to John de-Britannia, by the Conqueror.
The records, charters, and proceedings of the Cinque Ports are kept at New Romney, in a book called the Black Book, access to which is somewhat difficult. From this, Jeake drew his materials for his very elaborate and valuable History of the Cinque Ports, written in the early part of the last century , a very scarce tract at this time, and rarely, indeed, now to be met with.[1]
The meaning of their appellation is sufficiently indicated by the word cinque, as the number of ports or harbours comprised in their charter. These are Hastings, Sandwich, Dover, New Romney, and Hythe, to which have been subsequently annexed the two ancient towns of Winchelsea and Rye, now incorporated with them, with the enjoyment of the same privileges and immunities.
Little is now known of Hastings as to its earliest origin, and as little nearly of the old Saxon town which existed subsequently ; the latter having been for ages buried in the deep, with scarcely a remaining trace or vestige of its existence. Jeake, in speaking of the first enfranchisement of Hastings, says, " Whether this or the old town of Hastings be that which was first enfranchised and incorporated with the other ports, I leave as yet uncertain ." And the Rev. Mr. Clarke, in his extracts from, and observations -
- ↑ To the kindness of Edward Milward, Esq. of Hastings, I am indebted for having seen it, and for the favour of extracting from it those sources of information it seems exclusively to supply on this subject.
