FOUNDING OF YARMOUTH. 55 



to the western parts, where he founded the kingdom 

 of the West Saxons." 



The Saxons afterwards called the town built here 

 Garmud, or Jiermud, the Saxon d being pronounced 

 like our th. 



The great value and importance of the herring 

 fishery off this coast, with the convenience of a con- 

 siderable sandbank, where the nets could be dried 

 and repaired, connected as it is by three rivers with 

 the interior, drew together in early times fishermen, 

 not only from British ports, but also from France, 

 Holland, Denmark, Flanders, and Zealand. Thus, 

 upon a barren sandbank for about forty days in the 

 year, were clustered painted tents and booths, in 

 which lodged buyers and sellers during what was 

 called the " herring fair." 



Jeake's " Charter of the Cinque Ports," cited by 

 Swinden, says : " Hither resort the fishermen of the 

 ports, and other sea towns, every year in the fishing 

 season for herrings ; which by a wonderful and rare 

 providence, having their constant course once a year 

 round this island, about the autumnal equinox begin 

 to keep their quarters on these coasts. . . . And 

 now by pregnant probabilities, it is in my opinion 

 very clear, that from the landing of Cerdick, in Anno 

 495, now 1124 years past, this sand by defluxion 

 of tides, did by little and little lift its head above the 

 waters, and so in short time after sundry fishermen, 

 as well of this kingdom, viz., of the FIVE PORTS 

 (being then the principal fishermen of England), as 

 also of France, Flanders, and the Low Countries, 



