SANDWICH, (Kent) 10 m. E. from Canterbury, 62 cm. 70 mm. from London, is one or the cinque-ports bet. Ramsgate and the S.
Foreland, at the bottom of its bay, near the mouth of the Stour, It was formerly one of the chief ports of England, and
walled round. It has still a wall on the N. and W. sides, and a rampart and ditch on the others. It has suffered much by
wars with the Danes, &c. whose K. Canute here slit the noses and cut off the hands of those Englishmen who were given as
hostages to his father Swain. In 1217 it was burnt by the French K. and again plundered and burnt by the French in 1457.
It had two mons. and other religious foundations; and the T. itself was given, in the Saxons time, to Christchurch in
Canterbury. It was first incorporated by the name of barons, and in the R. of Edw. III. by the stile of major, jurats, and
commonalty. The mayor is chosen in the guildhall, on the M. after St. Andrew's-day. Here are three Chs. three hosps. a
custom-house, a quay, and a fr. sc. built out of the ruins of the Carmelite mon. by Sir Roger Manwood, who was Ld. chief
baron, where is an endowment for sending off two scholars every year to Lincoln Coll. Oxford. This was reckoned one of the
cinque-ports even in the R. of Will. the Conq. The members bel. to it are Fordwich, Deal, Walmar, Ramsgate, Reculver,
Stonar, and Sar; and Brightlingsey, 8 m. from Colchester in Essex, is under the jurisdiction of its mayor. It has given
title of Earl to a branch of the family of Montague, ever since the 19th of James I. The harbour has for many years been
so choaked up with sands, and by a ship of great burthen of pope Paul IV. sunk in the Channel, that here is not depth of
water enough for vessels of a considerable size. The wool-staple was removed hither from Queenborough, in the R. of Rich.
II. and some Walloons and Dutchmen, who fled hither in the R. of Q. Eliz. from persecution, set up the mf. of cloth; but
the chief trade of the T. now is in shipping and malting. The London Mts. are supplied from hence with the largest and
sweetest carrots, and the feedsmen with most of their feeds, the soil being very good for all sorts of garden-stuff. Here
are 2 ch. scs. for 25 boys, and as many girls. The Mts. are W. and S. the Fair Nov. 23 and two days after, besides those
on Afril 1 and Octob. 1 for cattle. The mayor carries a black knotted staff; whereas the mayors of the other Cinque-Ports
generally have white staves. Before the gates are 2 Roman tumuli; and on the S. side by the shore are 6 large broad Celtic
tumuli, at equal distances. From hence to Hithe the French coast is visible all the way.