310 



"Andover and its Neighbourhood" 



at the inn now called the " Angel Inn." That this is an ancient 

 hostel we have clear proof. It is now held of Winchester College 

 under a lease, and Winchester has held lands here since the sup- 

 pression of the alien priories. In that part of the house inhabited 

 by Mr. Reynolds we have some stone shields of arms of very early 

 date. In one of Mr. Reynold's rooms, too, was found a wooden 

 panel containing the arms of Wick ham. The cellars shew masonry 

 of old and massive character. Tradition points out to you the room 

 in this house where King John slept. 



In 1329 Edmund of Woodstock, Earl of Kent, and his wife, 

 were seized of the towns of Andover and Basingstoke. In or about 

 the year 1299 Queen Margaret, second wife to Edward I., had 

 amongst her endowments, the manor and town of Andover. 



When King Henry V. hastened down to meet the French fleet 

 at Southampton, amongst others we find Andover required to send 

 men-at-arms to assist the King. 



We have an allusion to Andover in the narrative of the visit of 

 the Spanish nobleman — the Duke of Najera — to England in 1543-4. 

 The duke left London on Tuesday for Hownslow, thence to Hartford 

 Bridge on Wednesday, and on Thursday he was at Basingstoke, " a 

 place," he says, " of eight hundred houses/'' On Friday, at Andover, 

 ( ' a place of five hundred houses." Taking five persons as an average 

 per house, Andover would, in 1544, have had two thousand five 

 hundred inhabitants. 



James I. visited Andover, as we learn from a letter written by 

 him to Matthews, Archbishop of York, which ends, " Given at 

 Andover," &c. 



We had some connexion with the Civil W r ar in the time of 

 Charles I. Clarendon tells us that just before the second Battle of 

 Newbury " W T aller lay at Andover with three thousand horse and 

 dragoons. Prince Maurice, with his troops, began his march on 

 Andover, and was within four miles from the town before Waller 

 had any notice of their motions ; when he drew out his whole body 

 towards them, as if he meant to fight; but upon view of their 

 strength, and the good order they were in, he changed his mind, 

 and drew back into the town; leaving a strong party of horse and 



