Old Hampshire Mapped
Cox's Hampshire
Transcription (34)Winchester
Belgae
Venta Belgarum
Caer Gwent
Winton
Venta Simenorum
Romans
weaving
dogs
Winchester, the Metropolis of the British Belgae, called by Ptolemy and Antoninus, Venta Belgarum, by the Welsh or Modern Britains, Caer Gwent, and by the old Saxons, Wintancester, by the Latin Writers, Wintonia, and by us Winchester. Some Writers affirm, that this Place was not the Venta Belgarum, but Bristol; and that this was the Venta Simenorum, but this is a great Mistake, not only because there was indeed no such People in this Island, as the Simeni, but because the Towns which Antoninus places near this Venta, are no where else to be found in the Nation.
The Original of the Name Venta, is by some derived from Ventus, Wind; Vinum, Wine; and Wina, a Bishop; but such Men do but trifle: Leland has given us the true Derivation, from Guin or Guen, White, as if it signified the white City; and so it may seem to imitate the Latins, who have their Alba Longa and Alba Regia, and the Greeks their Leuca and Leucas taken from the Situation, upon a Soil of Chalk or whitish Clay. It was built 900 Years before Christ's Nativity.
There is no doubt but this City was famous in the Roman Times, for 'tis probable that the Roman Emperors had their Imperial Weaving Shops here, this City being the Chief of all the British Ventae, and lying nearest Italy. In the Notitia there is mention made of a Procurator or Governour of the Cynegium Ventense or Bentense in Britain, which Jacobus Cujacius, most eminent Civilian reads Gynaecium, and interprets it the Royal Weavery in his Paratitles to the Codes. Pancirollus is of the same Opinion, and says, That the Gynaecia were appointed for Weaving the Cloaths of the Emperor and Army, and for making Sails, Linen Shrouds, and other Necessaries for the Furniture of their Mansions or Quarters.
But Wolfgangus Lazius thinks, That the Procurator her took Care of the Emperor's Dogs, for indeed the Dogs of this Island were of great use among the Ancients. The Gauls used them as Soldiers, and the Romans bought them up for their Sports in the Amphitheatre and Pleasure in hunting; for Strabo says, They were [ ], which Nemesian renders, venatibus aptos, good hunters; and Claudian, Taurorum fracturos colla, Bull dogs; and Oppian, Agasaeos, Gaze hounds, Lurchers, Dogs for all Sports. This conjecture seems more probable than the former, because the Downs hereabouts are very convenient for Huntiing; insomuch that King Charles II began an Hunting Seat, and divers Noblemen have House here for the Benefit of that Recreation.
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