Page:The Antiquities of Hastings and the Battlefield.pdf/61

was found at the bottom near 30 feet in depth, with the remains of a sluice, deep gates, and timbers of prodigious dimensions, relics of works constructed by the monks to protect their habitations, which were washed by the haven , from the ravages of the sea . There were still some relics of the Priory left when this discovery was made, but the stonework has since been used in the construction of the neighbouring barn and farm yard . A large portion of the Old St. Michael's Parish was placed under its jurisdiction . This appropriation of the land to ecclesiastical purposes may have arisen from the haven having become useless for purposes of navigation, and with the view of the monastic brotherhood undertaking the repair of the sea-wall : a course actually adopted in the case of the Castle 45 years afterwards, which was bestowed on the Canons of St. Mary, with the avowed object of their inclosing it against marauders and the sea. At any rate, in nine years from this date , Hastings whose commerce must have received a great check from the loss of Normandy, was only able to furnish six ships, and Winchelsea and Rye were added by John , under the style of 'Ancient Towns to the Cinque Ports, to enable Hastings to furnish her quota of 21 ships (which we must not omit to mention were at this time under the command of Vincent, of Hastings,) by themselves equipping 15 , when the Cinque Ports under their Warden , Hubert De Burgh , obliged Prince Louis of France to withdraw from his invasion of England , by a great naval victory.