AMBRESBURY, (Wiltshire) near the r. Avon, 65 cm. 80 m. from London, had its name from the valiant Ambrosius Aurelianus,who, in the declension of the Roman Empire, assum'd the Gt. of Britain, and with the assistance of the valiant Arthur repell'd all foreign invaders; but was at length kill'd in a battle on Salisbury-Plain, and buried under Stonehenge. Here was a mon. founded by Ambrosius, for 300 monks, who were to pray for the souls of 271 noble Britons, that were massacred here by the treachery of Hengist, the Saxon. Here was also a stately nunnery, built and endowed by K. Edgar's wife, to attone for the murder of her son-in-law K. Edward. Q. Eleanor, wife to K. Hen. III. who had renounced all regal pomp, spent the latter part of her days in this nunnery. And on Assumption-day, Anno 1285, Mary, the daughter of K. Edw. I was veil'd here, together with 13 noblemens daughters. This T. has several good inns, and a Fair on May 6. but not much frequented, though it is a great thoroughfare to Warminster, Froome, Wells, etc. and remarkable for a little fish, taken in the r. called a loach, which travellers and sportsmen who resort hither much for the sake of hunting on the neighbouring Downs, put into a glass of sack, and swallow alive. A ch. s. was erected and endowed here, in 1715, for 15 boys, and as many girls. The D. of Queensbury has a noble seat here, and near it is dug the best kind of Clay for tobacco- pipes. Mt. on F.