Antient Towns
The five ports are supported by the two so-called "Antient Towns" of Rye and Winchelsea whose councils traditionally maintained defence contingents for the realm of England.
Read more about this topic: Cinque Ports
Famous quotes containing the words antient and/or towns:
“Though Justice against Fate complain,
And plead the antient Rights in vain:
But those do hold or break
As Men are strong or weak.”
—Andrew Marvell (1621–1678)
“Let those talk of poverty and hard times who will in the towns and cities; cannot the emigrant who can pay his fare to New York or Boston pay five dollars more to get here ... and be as rich as he pleases, where land virtually costs nothing, and houses only the labor of building, and he may begin life as Adam did? If he will still remember the distinction of poor and rich, let him bespeak him a narrower house forthwith.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)