Cinque Ports - Established by Edward the Confessor as an attempt to control the security of England and the Channel, the original Cinque Ports were the towns of Sandwich, Dover, New Romney, Hastings and Hythe. They were granted, in return for providing ships and sailors at the crown's need, the right to keep all legal fees from court cases. Rye and Winchelsea were added to the confederation as 'antient towns' in the 13th century, and at it's peak it consisted of some 42 towns, both costal and inland, in league.