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HISTORICAL NOTES : DESCENT OF MANOR, &c. 



By J. MBRRICK HEAD, Esq. 



S a member of this club I have been asked to make 

 a few remarks upon the objects of interest visited 

 by them to-day in this immediate neighbourhood ; 

 but first allow me to express on behalf of Portland 

 the great honour you have done us by your visit 

 to this Island, so full of historical and antiquarian 

 associations. 



Before proceeding to remark upon Rufus Castle and the Old 

 Church, I may mention that the earliest historical records point to 

 Portland as having been a place of great importance. 

 Hoveden, vol. I., page 31, states : 



" Adelwlf igitur primo anno regni sui cum ipse adversus 

 " predictos hostes in una parte regni sui persisteret undique 

 " confluente paganorum multitudine misit Alfhard 

 " consulem cum parte exercitus ad debellandum Dacos qui 

 "cum triginta tribus navibus apud Hamtonan appulerant 

 " ubi magna strage hostium patrata clarissime triumphavit. 

 " Misit etiam rex Adelwlf Edelhelm consulem nt pugnaret 

 " contra alium exercitum apud Port cum exercitu Westsexiae. 

 " Cumque dui comflexissent, occiso predicto consule, Daci 

 "Victores exteterunt." 



