Chronicles (1 of 6): The Description of BritaineHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Description of Britaine
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- To 1485; Great Britain -- History -- Tudors, 1485-1603
Sussex; but now vpon some occasion or other (to me vnknowne) annexed
vnto Kent. From hence also growing into some greatnesse, it runneth to
[Sidenote: Becke.]
Rie, where it méeteth finallie with the Becke, which commeth from
Beckleie: so that the plot wherein Rie standeth, is in manner a by-land
or peninsula, as experience doth confirme. Leland and most men are of the
[Sidenote: Limenus.]
likeliest opinion, that this riuer should be called the Limen, which (as
Peter of Cornhull saith) doth issue out of Andredeswald, where the head
thereof is knowne to be. Certes, I am of the opinion, that it is called
the Rother vnto Appledoure, & from thence the Limen, bicause the Danes
are noted to enter into these parts by the Limen; and sailing on the
same to Appledoure, did there begin to fortifie, as I haue noted
alreadie. Howbeit, in our time it is knowne by none other name than the
Rother or Appledoure water, whereof let this suffice.
Being thus crossed ouer to the west side of Rie hauen, & in vewing the
issues that fall into the same, I meet first of all with a water that
groweth of two brookes, which come downe by one chanell into the east
side of the mouth of the said port. The first therfore that falleth into
it descendeth from Beckleie or thereabouts (as I take it) the next
runneth along by Pesemarsh, & soone after ioining with all, they hold on
as one, till they fall into the same at the westerlie side of Rie: the
third streame commeth from the north, and as it mounteth vp not farre
from Munfield, so it runneth betweene Sescambe and Wacklinton néere vnto
Bread, taking another rill withall that riseth (as I heare) not verie
far from Westfield. There is likewise a fourth that groweth of two heads
betweene Ielingham and Pet, and going by Winchelseie it méeteth with all
about Rie hauen, so that Winchelseie standeth inuironed on thrée parts
with water, and the streames of these two that I haue last rehearsed.
The water that falleth into the Ocean, a mile by southwest of Hastings,
[Sidenote: Aestus.]
or therabouts, is called Æstus or Asten: perhaps of Hasten or Hasting
the Dane, (who in time past was a plague to France and England) & rising
not far from Penhirst, it meeteth with the sea (as I heare) by east of
[Sidenote: Buluerhithe.]
Hollington. Buluerhith is but a creeke (as I remember) serued with no
backewater; and so I heare of Codding or Old hauen, wherefore I meane
not to touch them.
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