OF Netlby.1
WESTON BEACH.
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before the place of his retreat is known. At the end of that period, an angeldiscovers it to the King of France , at the moment when Bevis is dying. Suchis the outline of the legend of Bevis of Hampton, than which the writer of theromance assures us a better was never sung,—
“ Flaist-vous olr, bonne gent honnoree.
Bonne chanson de bien enluminfie?
Meillour de li ne puet estre chantfieI’ar jongleour, dite, ne devisee,
Comme ceste est qui <;i vous est contee.”
At a short distance from the town of Southampton is a large tumulus, orsepulchral mound, which is known by the name of 23cbtS’S _|t"lOlint. Someantiquaries, probably with little reason, have supposed it to be the remains ofan ancient Danish fort. There is another ddcbi’s’S dddottnil in the park ofArundel Castle, * which is said to be the hero’s grave. His sword, six feetlong, is still preserved at Arundel . Bevis’s Mount, near Southampton , is nowenclosed in the gardens of a gentleman’s seat.
In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, Southampton and its neigh-bourhood was a common landing-place for pirates and French marauders,who infested the southern coast of England. In 1337 a considerable part ofthe town was burnt by the French . We have no information as to the effectwhich these hostile incursions had upon the monks of Netley. In recent times,Netley Heath has been more than once the rendezvous of troops destined forthe invasion of France .
Independent of its historical recollections, the nctal)bourl)OOlJ of NetleyAbbey is interesting to the visitor for the beauty of its scenery. The walkfrom Southampton is extremely agreeable, lying chiefly along the beach,
Itchen Ferry, which we must first pass, is now crossed by means of a movingbridge, worked by a steam-engine. A pleasant winding lane leads to the