bove the valley of the Itchen, mainly on
the left bank. Tradition ascribes its foundation to Tudor Rous
Hudibras, and dates it 99 years before the first building of Rome!
Earthworks and relics testify that the Itchen Valley was originally
occupied by Celts, and it is certain from its position at the centre
of six Roman roads, and from the relics found there, that the Caer
Gwent (White City of the Celts--_Ghwin_--white[12]) under the name of
Venta Belgarum, was an important Romano-British country town. Legends
accumulate here around the persons of Arthur and his knights. After
the conquest of Hampshire by Gervisus, the place became the capital
of Wessex, then of England, when the Kings of Wessex consolidated the
kingdom. Alfred and Canute resided here, amongst other English
sovereigns; and here were laid to rest Alfred's remains, until--at
the close of the eighteenth century--the coffin that contained them
was sold by a mercenary municipality for the sake of the lead in
which they were enclosed! Egbert, Edmund the Elder, and Canute were
also buried here. Edward the Confessor was crowned in the Minster in
1043. Being near the New Forest, and only 12 miles from Southampton,
Winchester was much frequented by the Norman Kings. William I wore
the crown there at Easter, even as at Westminster at Whitsuntide, and
at Gloucester at Christmas.

[Footnote 12: The two words _gwent_ and _ghwin_ probably look to each
other in a common meaning. _Gwent_, that which is extended, as a
plain; _ghwin_, that which presents a uniform lightish tint, such as
a plain or a lake, as contrasted with dark patches or morass.]

WROXETER.--(Towards the Welsh border the _c._ or _ch._ of _chester_
becomes an _x_, and the tendency to elision is very strong.) The
equivalent is Uriconium, properly Viroconium. The original Celtic
name survives in _Wroxeter_ and _Wrekin_, it being derived from
Celtic _rhos_--a moor. Wroxeter is situated on the Severn, 5 miles E.
of Shrewsbury.

It was a large Romano-British town, originally the chief town of the
Cornovii. At first (perhaps about 45-55 A.D.) it constituted a Roman
legionary fortress, held by Legio XIV (Gemina) against the Welsh hill
tribes. However, its garrison was soon removed, and it became a
flourishing town with stately Town Hall, Baths and other
appurtenances of a thoroughly Roman and civilised city. It was larger
and probably richer than Silchester. The lines of its walls can still
be traced