The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-09-20
IS AN INTERESTING RUIN
/ VISIT ny A TRAVELER TO THE
PEVENSEP CASTLE.


Fart of II is of Roman Construction and Is
One of the Lions of the Southern Part of
England-Crowds Visit the Ancient Abbey
at Battle.
Eastbourne, Sussex, Aug, 49, 1895.
10 the Editor of tho JOURNAL AND CouRIER:
There is no authentic history of Bri-
tain previous to the first invasion by
Julius Caesar in B, C. IS. Caesars
first visit to the shores of Britain was
simply a reconnaissance.
In the year 81 B, c. that great Ro-
man general, having in the previous
winter made great naval preparations,
such as building ships and boats, and
preparing rigging and ships outfit in
Spain, which country was far in ad-
vance of Gaul in civilization and
abounded In metals and Spanish grass
with which to make cordage of the
strongest quality; Julius Caesar, as 1
have mentioned above, sailed away
from "Portus titus" (Boulogne) at p.
M, and in a short time or about twelve
hours later landed his. forces on the
seacoast of Britain. 1t is thought by
many scholars that his first and second
landing took place at the little bay of
Pevensey, seven miles west of Hastings
and close by Eastbourne. After a stay
of two months the Romans quilted Bri-
tain and returned to Gaul.
In the year 4S A. D. the Emperor
Claudius undertook to subjugate Bri-
tain, and the Roman general Agricola
overran the whole country in tMe years
rs to SIS and reduced it TO the form of a
Roman province There the Romans
remained managing and damaging this
fine colony until the Emperor Honorius
recalled the legions in the year 412.
Some thirty years later, deprived Of
their Roman protectors and unable to
resist the attacks of the Picts, they
summoned the Saxons ITO their aid
Then commenced the Anglo-Saxon pc
Rod which lasted from 445 to 1866.
The history of England during the
Anglo-Saxon period reads like an inter-
esting novel. On a certain day in the
year 1866 the rude Saxons who dwelt
along the beach at Andereida (East-
bourne, could have distinctly seen by
glancing seward a singular f1otilla of
Norman boats or little ships bearing to
the shores of Britain an armed host OF
distinguished knights and many brave
warriors; they drifted slowly by East
bourne and shortly landed at what is
now known as the Bay of Pevensey,
just where Caesar eleven hundred and
twenty-one years previously had dis
embarked the Roman 1legions.
The Saxons under their King Harold
vainly resisted and fled in retreat to the
old town of Battle, seven miles from
the sea, and there was fought the great
battle of Hastings, or as it is more ac-
curately named, the battle of Senlac.
The Saxons We're intrenched behind a
stockade at this point and here was
fought the battle of which poets have
sung and which historians have magni-
fed into tremendous AFFAIR. Tt was a
decisive struggle and big with fate, but
per Sc it was nothing very unusual.
Harold fell, and on the spot where his
life blood ebbed away "a high altar was
erected by William, and about it was
built the grand Battle Abbey" a, ia
NOUS abbey it was, too and is such to
this very day.
/ often imagine as I walk on the sea-
shore that can see the fleet which
came with William from Normandy
and gave greatness and power to Eng
land
The little fleet could easily have been
destroyed by a few Of our old-fashioned
guns, but, considering the period of the
worlds history at that time the prep
arations for the conquest of Britain
were gigantic Of course, and history re-
1ates how literally they We're carried
out
The Saxons at Eastbourne without
doubt saw the Norman fiotilla pass by
and could almost have heard the rattle
Of the mailed armor of the knights an6
their followers as they leaped ashore
when the short keels grated harsh1y
upon the pebbly beach at Pevensey
Bay; doubtless many from Eastbourne
ran hurriedly over and beheld the iron
clad foreigners DISSEMINATING from
their high sterned ships and witnessed
the retreat of the English, and were
present at the complete discontinue Of
the Saxon army. William, STYLED the
"Conqueror,'' established himself as
King of England and introduced The
French language and customs some
years later Normandy was added to the
possessions of the English crown and &
grand future doomed brilliantly fol-
England.
A fine coach runs from Eastbourne Il
Battle and crowds constantly resor
thither to visit the ancient abbey, ont
of the grandest historic landmarks il
England; the scarlet clad guard sound:
his horn merrily, the driver cracks hi:
long whip smartly and the four horse!
start off at a rapid trot, and away W.
fly over the moors and across the greer
meadows in fine style; the ro9ds ar,
superb and we speed rapidly alons
while the guard frequently sounds hi
clarion notes; now we climb some loft!
headland and catch a magnificent viev
of the south coast of England and tn
oraaf vida Gao havond. avery foot n