*HASTINGS, (Sussex) 54 cm. 62 mm. from London, is the chief of the cinque-ports, and, with its members, was obliged, by the rules constituting all the cinque-ports, to find 21 ships, within 40 days after the K's summons, with 21 able men in each ship, well furnished and well armed for the King's service, who were to stay a fortnight in the said service, at their own charge; but if their attendance was required longer, they were to be defrayed at the K's. The master of each ship, and the constable, are to have 6 d. a day, and every one of the rest 3 d. This T. is supposed to have taken name from Hastings, the famous Danish pirate, who used to build fortresses where he went ashore for his prey, to cover his men, and secure his retreat. In K. Athelstan's R. here was a mint. It was here that William the Conqueror mustered his army, after he had burnt the ships which brought it over. This T. had charters from Edward the Confessor, Will. I. and II. Hen. II. Richard I. Henry III. Edw. I. and Cha. II. exempting it from toll, and impowering it to hold courts of judicature on life and death. It is incorporated by the stile of mayor, jurats, and commonalty. It has handsome houses, and custom-house officers; but frequent storms have rendered it an indifferent harbour, though a vast sum of money has been laid out at times to make it a good one. It has sent members to Pt, ever since Edw. III. London is supplied from hence with abundance of fish that are taken on the coast. The T. lies bet. a high cliff towards the sea, and as high a hill on the landside, having 2 streets, and in each a p. Ch. and it gives name to the Earls of Huntingdon, as well as title of Baron. About the year 1377, this T. was burnt by the French, and after it was rebuilt, it was divided into the 2 ps. Here are 2 ch. scs. erected for the teaching of 2 or 300 children. There was a castle on the hill, which overlooked the T. but 'tis now in ruins. The Mts. here are on W. and S. and Fairs on Tu. and W. in Whitsun-week, and Nov. 23 and 24. Near this T. that famous battle was fought, in 1263, wherein K. Hen. III. and his son Prince Edward were taken prisoners by Simon de Montfort Earl of Leicester. Here was formerly a priory.