The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-20

solemn for Prsistes, Posentases and
prine.s-Qusipt City Scenes
fcopyrisht lses. by Edgar L. wakemhn.l
WINCHESTER, England, Aug. s.-Per-
hans the best place, for time, TO muse
u,on the ancient city OF Winchester and
ia historic. surroundings IA the summit OF
81. Giles Hi, which. within the borough
bounds, rises high above the roofs OF the
CITY. almost within a stones throw OF the
east window OF it's mighty cathedral.
Roundabout this lovely Hampshire val
lev, threaded by the cleaning ltchen, be-
loved haunt Of Izaak Walton, is a won
drous wreath of story dim and legend old.
Over 10 the north is Slichester, an exhaust
less mine Of Roman remains, within whose
walls the Usurper Constantine was In
vested with the purple, and legend has II
that King Arthur there received his
crown. Near IL is Basing, site of one OF
the iordliest castles Of early England. A
little nearer Winchester still is Oldham,
birthplace of the famous old grammarian,
william Lilly.
To the northeast, at Andover, Anlaf the
Dane promised King Ethelred never to re-
commence hostilities against the English.
inst below this Is Danebury hill, with its
famous Roman encampment just west
Of you Is the sleepy hamlet OF King sam
bourn, where John OF Gaunt had his old
time palace. At the same distance 10 the
east, near Alresford are the great ITCH
borne estates And near by, 20 the south,
Is Romsey, with its quaintest old abbey
church 10 England and the New Forest
depths. where the arrow from Tyrreps bow
pierced the heart Of rufiian Rufus, Eng
lands second Norman king
II you were standing on this hill Of ST.
Giles on an autumn morning the hum OF
the city below would recall quaint old
scene Of 400 or 500 years ago, for the spot
was the site Of one Of the most wonderful
fairs in all the world of that antique time.
II was famous St. Giles fair. The whole
plateau Of the hill was covered by a second
town, shut in by high wooden palisade.
BY royal edict all trade was not only
stopped in Winchester itself, but in all
other towns within a radius Of seven
leagues.
At this quaint forerunner ofinternation-
al exhibitions there was u 'Piepowder
court" having rule over the dusty shanks,
peddlers and mouDtebanks, the pieds
poudretlI, and TO this court Of quick in
vitation and rapid disposal came all fair
folk deiinquents. At the end Of the long
and dusty day the marshal rode forth from
the court pavilion and issued proclama-
ton that all business must cease and stalls
be closed So the citizens withdrew. leav-
ing the palisaded hill town silent and
lightless, save for the twinkling here and
there of wick in lamp or mortar, the only
fire allowable within the precincts of the
mart from shutdown TO sunrise This most
famous of England's old time fairs was
continued until a quarter Of a century ago.
Then, as Dean Kitchin writes, "As the
city grew stronger and the fair weaker il
slid down ST. Giles hill and entered the
town. wherei its noisy ghost still holds revel
once year"
All this was very long ago, but the wise
old annalists count this antiquity as moth
ing. One can 60 with them, if not in all
faith still with pleasant curiosity, long
way back Of this once famous English
fair They will tell you that Winchester
is perhaps the oldest city in Britain They
point toSt. Cathsrine's hill, over there just
at the southern edge of the city, still plaiAy
the fortified camp of Vespasiah,
who conquered the place from Belge,
whence its Roman name, Venta Belgarum.
Far, far beyond these they have seen
with clear historic eyes. They will tell
you In all seriousness that Winchester was
founded 500 years before the Christian era.
That would be 1879 years before the found
Ing of Rome, or n matter of z, 7S4 years ago!
A king of ancient Britain, Sudor Rous
Hudibrass, Is said 10 have been the royal
founder; and it was his son, Blsdud, who
built and enriched with the indistinguish-
able fires of Minerva the fine old Somer-
setshire city Of Bath
Some things about royal Winchester's
antiquity and history are easy enough TO
know with exactitude, and they mellow
the thought perspective Of the rare old
town charmingly, invest every gray old
stone Of the place with wonderful associa-
tive interest and give TO every tone of the
huge old cathedral bells the thrilling voice
OF a richly stored past.
Julius Caesar visited the city B. c. "a.
and the Emperor Vespasian few years
later occupied it and built walls, vestiges
OF which remain. For the next 500 years
Winchester was celebrated for its mag
nificent embroideries for the imperial
court, examples of which remain. Egbert,
the first king OF all England, was crowned
here, and established sort Of empire with
subkings under him, out of which came
the English monarehisl and nobility sys-
TENS of today.
The first English guild of merchants
was established here In $50. The wise laws
of Alfred were made here, the first great
survey OF the kingdom was completed
here, and in the scriptorium of the very
cathedral you will now find in Winchester,
In 500 was done that wonderful specimen
OF Winchester illumination known as the
"Golden Book of Edgar" The first stand
ard measures ever possessed by England
were ordered and made here under edict
OF King Edgar, and you will find these
identical measures in the Winchester mu-
seum ut the Guildhall
Over here in that turreted structure
which frowns over the western gate of
High street, or rather in the great hall of
Its Oldest portion, lived William the Con-
queror and all the Angevin kings.
Henry of Scotland and Matilda were
married here. Ceur de Lion was royalty
received here after his sore captivity
Henry III was born in the castle, and all
the Edwards held court here. Henry V
received the French ambassadors here and
IN Winchester Henry vi planned Eton
college after Wykeham's school, which
still one of the most interesting Of British
colleges, stands here today just as it then
stood against the southern edge Of the vel
vety cathedral close. Here Mary received
Philip and their unfortunate nuptials were
concluded, while the great structure now