Portsmouth
Portsmouth (16th century)otherwise: Portesmouth
Shown on an old map by Waghenaer 1583
Shown on an old map by Saxton 1575
- settlement, town - Southamtoniae
The place is described in text Leland 1535-43
The towne of Portesmuth is murid from the est tour a forowgh lenght with a mudde waulle armid with tymbre, wher on be great peaces both of yren and brasen ordinauns, and this peace of the waulle having a diche without it rennith so far flat south south est, and is the place most apte to defende the town ther open on the haven.
Then rennith a diche almost flat est for a space: and withyn it is a waulle of mudde lyke to the other: and so thens goith round aboute the toun to the circuite of a myle.
There is a gate of tymbre at the north est ende of the town: and by it is cast up an hille of erth dichid; wherin be gunnes to defende entre into the toun by land.
There is much vacant ground within the toun waulle.
There is one fair streate in the toun from west to north est.
There is but one paroche chirch in the town.
There is chapelle in a vacant ground [in the southe weste syde of the town towards the waulle and shore].
There is also in the west south west part of the toun a fair hospitale sumtyme erectid by Petrus de Rupibus Bisshop of Winchester, wheryn were a late xij. poore men, and yet vj. be yn it.
I lernid in the toun that the 2. towers in the haven mouth were begon in King Edward the 4. tyme, and sette forewarde yn building by Richard the 3. Kyng Henry the vij. endyd them at the procuration of Fox Bisshop of Winchester.
King Henry the vij. at his firste warres into Fraunce erectid in the south part of the towne 3. great bruing houses with the implementes to serve his shippes at such tyme as they shaul go to the se in tyme of warre.
One Carpenter a riche man made of late tyme in the mydle of the high streate of the town a town house.
The toun of Portesmouth is bare and litle occupied in time pece.
King Henry the vij. of late tyme sette in Portesmuth capitaines, and certen soldiours in garnison.
The town of Portesmuth standith in a corner of an Isle bering the name of Portesmuth.
Minns says:- Now known as Portsea Island.
