(i.e., the five ports), five havens on the south-eastern coast of England, opposite France, and thus called by way of eminence, on account of their importance as safeguards against invasion. These comprise Hast- ings, Romney, Hythe, Dover, and Sandwich; to which were afterwards added the two ancient towns of Winchelsea and Rye. These places were anciently deemed of so much importance in the defence of the kingdom against invasion, that they received royal grants of particular privileges, on condition of providing during war a certain number of ships at their own expense. They are governed by a warden with the title of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, and each had the privilege formerly of returning to parliament two members under the title of Barons of the Cinque Ports; but since 1831 this privilege has been confined to Hastings, Dover, and Sandwich. We are told by Camden that William the Conqueror appointed the first warden of the Cinque Ports; but their charters are traced to the time of Edward the Confessor. The salary of the Lord Warden is £2,000 a-year. (See Chitty's Commercial Law, vol. ii. p. 12.)