they come of Englishmen where as they and the Englishmen coumpte the other Scots but rude and barbarous These nations as I say vntill that Honorius came to the Empyre whiche was aboute the yere of the Lorde foure hundred and twentie molested the North parte of Britayne with incursions and robberies at whiche time hauyng called a power out of Ireland to helpe them as Gyldas and Bede doo auouch vnder conducte of Reuda established them selues a kyngdome in the West parte of Albania But the Readshanks possessed the East region whereas first they made warre agaynst the Romans and the Britaynes and afterwarde with the Englishmen and Danes sometime they were confederate sometime they warred diuersly vntill aboute the yere of our Lorde eight hundred and fortie all the Readshankes were destroyde by Kennethus kinge of Scottes in somuch that their name and kyngedome ceased to be any longer in Britayne Whose country the Scottes added vnto theyr owne whiche to this day is renowmed in Britayne This much I had to say of the Scots and Readshankes according to the verity of the hystory Howbeit I know well how Boethius a most vayne reporter of Fables impudently affirmeth that they reigned in Britayne three hundred yeres before Christe was borne And he feineth that there were so many kinges so many warres by them most valiently waged agaynst the Romans so many holsome lawes and statutes in Britayne by them instituted as neither Lucian in his Fabulous narrations neither the author of the booke of Amadis of Gaule nor wittie ARIOSTVS in his Orlando Furioso haue euer commended vnto vs in Fables But to the intente that I may set foorth the most beastly man in his colours that the sleight and subtelty wherwith he endeuoureth to bleare all mens eyes may be displayed I will briefly touche certayne of his most vayne trifles suche as all men of wit and vnderstandynge may easely perceaue to be starke lies And here I let pas Aegiptian fables and of the stocke and race of Scottish kynges in Britayne before Caesars coÌ„myng Where he affyrmeth that Caesar was vanquished by the Scots and fled out of Britayne Who afterwarde sent Ambassadours vnto the Scots and Readshankes to request their freindship and that at last he conducted his Roman armie in to the Forest Caledonia Also that Augustus sent his messengers vnto Metellus kynge of Scots to entreate him for peace Moreouer he maketh Cataracus a Britaine and sonne to kynge Cynobellinus as Dion a most famous author reporteth Kynge of Scotland He sticketh not to auouche that the Brigantes Siluri and Ordouici were Scots He sheweth how dangerous the expedition was of Claudius the Emperour and describeth greate warres betweene him and Canus the kynge of the Orchades He writeth that Voadicia the most renowmed queene of Iceni whose valient deedes agaynst the Romans Tacitus and also Dion haue made knowne to the world Veusius Earle of Brigantes Cartimandua the Queene were all Scots And finally there is no one thinge wherein the Romans or Britaynes behaued them selues couragiously or wysely in Britayne which this monstre doth not ascribe vnto his fayned Scots and whiche at that time were vnknowen to the worlde And he hath not only transcribed the minde but also whole sentences and orations of Tacitus into his booke alwaies changynge the names of nations and cities like a malicious falsefier with out al shame or honestie He sayth Caesar Tacitus wrote these thinges of the Readshankes and those of the Scots that these nations made suche and so many Warres when as in deede the names of Scots or Readshankes are not at all to be founde in these most noble writers And truly it is not like that Caesar beyng avery wise gentleman when he had throughly learned the state maners of the Britaynes and Irishmen would with silence haue ouerpassed the names of the Scots and Readshankes specially hauynge sent Embassadours vnto their kynges Neither is it probable that Tacitus a famous man and very expert in the state of Britayne and other countries when he describeth the expeditions of Agricola his father in lawe in to Britayne and as it were depeynteth foorth the Sheyres Peoples Portes and Riuers of that region by their proper names maketh mentioÌ„ of a certeine Erle of Ireland taken by Agricola knew not also the names of Scots and Readshankes with whom Boethius â—ayneth he waged that warre when as in euery place he seemeth to cal the inhabitants of Albion Britaynes And it had stoode much more with Agricolas honour beyng a worthy man whom Tacitus also by his workes endeuoreth to make more noble to haue subdued vnknowen nations and suche as â—ead on mans â—leash such as it shal be prooued that the Scots were long time after rather then the Britaynes which were sufficieÌ„tly knowne to the Romans Also Dion a man which had byn Consul and familiar with Seuerus the Emperour and vnto him dearly beloued whilst he declareth his expedition into Britayne at large not once speaketh of the Scots or Readshankes bâ—yng very well knowne to all men that he conueyed all his force and power into Albania or Scotland For quoth Dion the Meati Caledonij two diuerse kindes of Britaines reuolted from the Romans and Seuerus callyng together his souldiers coÌ„maunded them to innaâ—e theyr countrie and kill all that euer they met and thus he charged them in these woordes Let none escape your hands away nor cruell blouddy broyle No tender impe though in her wombe the dame ther with do toyle Let him not scape a woful death When Seuerus came into Caledonia he fought neuer a battell neither saw he any power of his enemies in a redinesse and so passyng throughout all his enemies land hauyng not lost in fight but by water and hunger fiftie thousand men returned vnto his fellowes If the Scots had bin in Britayne at that time the reporter herof being a freend neither after him Herodian who in sufficient longe discourse hath set foorth that viage woulde haue defrauded an Emperour so ambitious and thirsty of honour as Seuerê° was of his due praise Wherefore it is as euident as noone dayes that at this time whiche was about two hundred and two yeres after the incarnation of our Lorde the Scots had no seat in Britayne Ouer and besides al this neither Eutropius neither Spartianus neither Capitolinus neither Lampridius neither Vopiscus nor Aurelius victor who haue all written the expeditions and warres of the Roman Emperours in Britayne haue in any plate made mention of the Scottish or Readshank name Although therefore I suppose that these arguments are sufficient to improoue and condemne the â—eere trifles of Boethius notwithstandynge I will lightly touche twoo of his Hystories which by the author are setfoorth at large enough with woordes a foote and an halfe longe But I pray you When ye be let to looke your laughter freends you would refraine In the seconde booke of his fables he writeth how that Ptolomaeus Philadelphus kynge
nothyng troubled with hunger nor cold neither wearied with martial affayres neither fallynge into desperation by aduersitie but soone redie to rise vp after a fall and prest by and by agayne to assay the peril of war as in battayle easie so in continuance of warre harde to be ouercome Wherby Claudianus seemeth to speeke of the nature of the same nation saying If that their harts you let a whyle To rest so many slaughters they deuoyd of sence doo seeme To take and of smale price the losse of so much bloud to deeme Thus much he and more whiche shortly god willyng shal be set forth Now let vs come to the description of the lande This lande after the British destruction was deuided into six RegioÌ„s as I read of late in a very auncient booke written of the lawes of the Britaynes For sayth that booke after that the Saxons had vanquished the Britaynes obtayned the Scepter of the Realme and the crowne of London all the people of Wales assembled together at the mouthe of the Riuer Deuey to choose a kynge And yno i Doethant Gwyr Gwynedh à Gwyr Powys à Gwyr Deheubarth à Reynnwc ac Esylluc à Morganuc That is to say and thither came men of Gwynedh and men of Powys and men of Deheubarth and of Reynnucia and of Syllucia and Morgania they chose Maylgun whom others call Maclocunius of Gwynedh to be their kynge This was aboute the yere of our Lorde â—60 Howbeit afterward in the lamentable conflict agaynst Ethelfredus kynge of Northumberland are recited the kings of Dynetia whiche falsly they call Demetia of Guenta of Powysia and of Northwales And in another place â—ention is made of the kinges of Stra 〈…〉 Cluyde So that hereby it is easely 〈…〉 ered that this country was subiect 〈…〉 iuers petikinges or Erles vnto 〈…〉 e of Roderike the great who ob 〈…〉 the Monarchie of al VVales the yere of our Lorde 843. deuidyng it into three partes whiche he left in possession of his three sonnes For vnto Meruinius as Gyraldus termeth him to whom I consent his eldest sonne he gaue Gwynedh to Anaraudus whome some make the eldest Powys to Cadelhus the youngest Deheubarth And that I may vse the woords of Gyldas Southwales was alotted to Cadelhus with the blessyng and goodwil of all the people which they call Deheubarth which is as much to say as the right side Which although in quantity it be farre the biggest notwithstandyng by reason of noble men which in the welsh tongue are called Vchelwyr that is to say high men wherwith it aboundeth whiche were wont to rebell agaynst their Lordes to defie them in armur it séemed to be the worser This diuision whilst their posteritie conteÌ„ded among themselues in Ciuill warre and ech of them alone with the Englishmen in externall at last destroyed the kyngedome of wales The cheefest of these kyngdomes whiche the inhabitantes call Gwynedh Englishmen Northwales the Latine writers corruptly Venodotia had in auncient time these limites On the Weast and North sides it hath VergiuiuÌ„ or the Irish Oceane at the Southwest and by South the Riuer Deuye Wherby it is cut of from Southwales On the South and East sides it is seuered from Powys and England with high Hilles and somtime with waters vnto the force of the Riuer Dee The same also was parted into foure Regions which conteined fiftéene Cantredi which signifieth an hundred villages The principallest of these Regions was the I le of Anglysey of whom wee haue spoken in another place in the same was a kynges Palace the seate of Northwales in Aberfraw whereof the kinges of Gwynedh haue the name of the kinges of Aberfraw For in the lawes of Howel Dha that is to say good Howel of walles both kynge and lawier which I haue seen written both in the British and Latin tongues it was decreed that like as the kynge of Aberfraw ought to pay threescore and thrée poundes for tribute vnto the kynge of London So likewise the kinges of Dinesur an Matrafall were seuerally bounde to pay so much Whereby it appeareth that this kinge was the cheefest prince of al wales About Anglysey be diuers litle Ilands as Ynis Adar that is to say the I le of Byrdes sometime but now it is called Ynis Moylrhoniaid to witte the I le of Whales in English Ysterisd Also Ynis Lygod that is the I le of Myse and the I le Seirial in english Preêstholme The seconde Region of Gwynedh called Arfon as who should say aboue Anglysey the best fortified parte of all VVales For it centeyneth the highest Mountaynes and Rockes of all Britayne which wee terme Yriri the Englishmen Snowdowne because they carie Snow For height and plentie of cattayle scarce inferiour to the Alpes It hath in it many Riuers and standing Waters Beyonde whose farthest promontory called Lhynus lieth an I le whiche Ptolomaeus termeth Lymnos our countrymen Eulhi the EnglishmeÌ„ Bardesey that is to say the I le of the Bardi In Arfon oueragaynst Anglysey stoode an auncient Citie called of the Romans SegontiuÌ„ of the Britaynes Caërsegont of a Riuer whiche passeth therby But now out of the ruynes therof there is a new Towne and a Castle founded by Edward the first of that name kyng of England called Caër Arfon that is to say a Towne vpon Anglysey And not farre from thence oueragaynst Anglysey lieth the Byshops See of Banchor And vpon Conway water which there ebbeth and sloweth standeth Conway of our countrie men called Aberconwy a walled towne builded by the same kynge Then followeth Meridnia with vs Merionydh and Gyraldus calleth it the land of the sonnes of Conauius The same as he sayeth is the most roughest and sharpest of al VVales hauynge in it moste highest Mountaynes The people vse longe Speares wherwith they be of greate force as the Southwales men with their Bowes so that an Harnies cannot beare it of So much he The Sea coast there by occasion of great Herryng takyng is much frequented by people of diuers countries In the same standeth the Towne Harlechia by the Sea side And within the lande is the great lake Tegid through which the riuer Dee whiche wee call Douerduwy that is to say the water of Dee floweth Where it is worthe the notyng that there is in that Ponde a peculiar kinde of Fish which is neuer founde in the runnynge water neither the Salmons wherof the Riuer is full doo euer entre into the Lake In this country and in Arfon are seene greate multitude of Deare and Goates vpon the high Hilles And these two countries of all Wales cam last into the power of the EnglishmeÌ„ Neither did the people of this country euer frequent domestical incursioÌ„s but before our time alwaies séemed to obey lawes rightfully The farthest last part of Gwynedh is called of our couÌ„trimen Berfedhwlad that is to say the inward and midland region and is seuered from
lyke LL but the better learned wryte with LH I am not ignorant that the Spayniardes haue in vse LL and so haue the Germanes LH As in the proper names of Lhudouicus Lhotharius the Emperour in Panuinius is euident But neither of thease expresseth ours howbeit I take it rather that the Mexicani whiche inhabite the newfounde worlde do vse that Letter whiche the Spayniardes expresse by LL but bycause I was neuer amongste them I doubt whether it be so or not for ours is sharpe in the hissinge For this letter L is pronounced with a stronge aspiration puttyng the tongue hard to the téeth beyng halfe open holdyng the lippes immouable the right pronounciation wherof is not easely learned but by muche excercise V hath alwayes the force of a vowell and hath almost the sownde whiche the Frenche V hath or the Hebrew Kibutz For V we vse single F the consonant Besides the fiue vowelles which the Latines vse we haue other twayne wherin we follow the Greekes Firste duble VV and soundeth not much vnlike the Latine V or to speake more playnly as the simple heretofore were wont in Latine falsly and barbarously to pronounce O. The last of the Letters and vowels is Y which we must examyne hard to be pronounced somwhat like Ypsylon as the learned of th'uniuersitie of Drford do pronounce it L. X. Z. are nothyng néedfull to the writynge of our wordes For K we vse C as we said before we haue also many DipthoÌ„gs in which both vowels yea if there be three as it chaunceth often keepe their full sounde or some parte therof ¶ Hauynge thus muche forefasted of the nombre and nature of the Letters let vs drawe neare to the proprietie of the tongue where we must note that lyke as the Greekes and Latines in thendes of their wordes haue variations and cases so this tongue contrarywise hath the same changynge in the beginning of the wordes Wherby it coÌ„meth to passe that euen the best learned through ignorance of the language haue byn verye muche abused in the names of Prouinces countreyes and other thinges let vs therfore briefely runne ouer this proprietye Euery Britysh worde whose first radicale is P T or C hath in wryting or discourse of talke to auoyde euell sownde three variations so that radicale P is somtime turned into B into PH and into MH T into D into TH and into NH C into G CH and into NGH. as appeareth in these examples An Head is called Pén in our tongue out of the head o bén or his head i bén with an head á phén or her head i phén my head fymhén Heare you see a strange mutation of this letter wheÌ„ it is called in one place Pén in another Bén in the thirde Phén and last of all Mhén Likewise Fier in British is called Tán out of fier ó dan with fier a than my fier fynhán In like maner C is changed for loue is called in our tongue Cariad out of loue ó gariad with loue á Chariad my loue Fynghariad Also B with D and G radicals haue their peculiar variations as for example sake Bara which signifieth Bread out of bread ó Fara where F. hath the force of V consonant my Breade fymara And like as B. is changed into F and M so is D into DH and N as Duw with vs the name of God which is so likewise pronounced by the Frenchmen though it be not written with the same letters out of God ó Dhuw my God Fynuw G. in the first place vanisheth away in the second place it is turned into NG as Gwr which signifieth a man out of a man ó Wr my man Fyngwr Besides these LM KH haue one onely variation as Lhyfyr a Booke out of a Booke o Lyfyr Mon the Isle of Angleysey out of Angleysey ó Fonn Rhufayn Rome out of Rome ó Rhufayn The other be neuer radicales as D F T H L K. or els they be not changed as PH CH N and S. THis Foundation beynge layde which hath troubled manie learned men let vs now come to the Geographical Description of the Ilande And first of all let vs briefly lay foorth what diuers men haue diuersly written of the name therof Aristotle a graue Author in his Booke De Mundo Of the worlde whiche he wrote to Alexander affirmeth that there be two verye great Ilandes in th`oceane beyonde Hercules Pillers liyng aboue the Celtae whiche he calleth Brittanicas namely Albion and Ièrnai which name of Albion both ours and also the Romane Histories do acknowledge as very auncient and deriued from Albion the Sonne of Neptunè there regnynge aboute the yeare of the worldes creation 2220. whereof God willing wee wil speake more at large in another place But wheras some say that it is so named by reason of the white cliffes it is plaine ridiculous And I wonder that men otherwise circumspect enough could be blinded in such light as to haue darkened all the names of places and men with latin Etimologies or deriuations seyng it is well knowne that the Latines at that time possessed but the least parte of Italy And that the Apuli and the Calabri spake the Greeke tongue and the Tusci the Ethrusâ—an tongue and almost the residue of Italy was possessed by the French men â–ª wherby neither the Latin name nor their tongue was knowne to the borderers Into whiche errour Robertus Coenalis a French man very well learned with diuers other hath fallen while he endeuoreth to set foorthe the names of countries and cities of both Britaynes the Iland and the continent in expositions and deriuations from the Latin Wheras th`author forgetting himself saieth in an other place the first of all the Romanes Iulius Caesar behelde that parte of Fraunce and this our Britayne and that the same places were so termed by the auncient inhabitants before euer they heard of the Romane name Wherby I as one not sworne to mantaine the opinion of any man but following Reason the faithfull guide and leader of the wife do constantly avouche that the deriuations and deductions of the â–ª antique names of Britayne the parts therof are not to be sought out of the Greekes and Latines but forth of the most auncient Britysh tongue For how shamfully the Latines haue corrupted the names of the Kynges and places of the lande while they studie for the finesse of their tongue it is manifest to al those which being furnished with any skill of the tongues come to reade the Romane histories For so very falsly they haue called Hermannus Arminius Ernestus Ariouistus Dictrichus The odoricus and the inuincible kynge of Britayne Meurigus they haue called Aâ—uiragus and now of late yeres Polydorus hath termed Rhesus the sonne of Thomas Rychard Since therfore it is euident that wée must not trust vnto the Romane names let vs come to our owne naturall tongue by meanes wherof wee shal bring the true name of Britayne to lighte whiche
to accomplish the better wee must something say before Caesar which first of all the Romanes hath celebrated the name of this Iland in the Latine tongue called it Britannia Whom almost all other Latine writers imitating haue not changed the same name Notwithstandynge onely Syr Thomas Eliote a Knight whose learninge is not to be contemned hath stande vp of late amongst vs who contendeth not without good reason and probabilitie that it was called in olde time Prytannia whiche he proueth by a very auncient Copie that he had in his handes But where he saieth that it was termed so in Greke for the plentie and abundance therof surely I which doo quite reiect suche deriuations do not allow it yet yeldyng rather to the name of Prytannia then Britannia the authoritie of which auncient fragment I wil endeuour to confirme with weightie reasons But because in so doing I shall appeare to bryng forth certaine paradoxes and opinions not heard of before the better to satisfi◠both my countreimen the Britaynes in Wales and others I will lay foorth my purpose before all mens eyes not cleauyng so precisely to mine owne opinions but that if any man can bryng me more better and more certayne I will quickly yelde vnto them In the meane while alwayes reseruinge the iudgement of the learned you shall haue mine opinion When I chaunced of late yeres to come to the sight of Polydorus Virgilius the Italian and Hector Boethius the Scot their British histories wherof the first maynfully sought not onely to obscure the glory of the British name but also to defame the Britaynes them selues with sclandrous lies The other while he goeth about to rayse his Scots out of darknesse and obscuritie what euer he findeth that the Romanes or Britaynes haue doone worthy cōmendation in this Ilande all that he attributeth vnto his Scottes like a foolish writer Wherfore beyng prouoked by these iniuries that I might the better guard my sweet country from suche inconueniences vnto my smale power I began to peruse all suche auncient hystories both Greeke and Latine as euer had wroten of Britayne or the Britaynes causing not onely all such sentences but eche woord also to be copied foorth to the intent that thereout as of a thicke and plentifull wood I might gather sufficiēt timbre to frame a British hystorie And not only continued in readyng straunge writers but also the most antique fragments of our Poetes which at this day retaining therin as in all other thinges els the olde name are called Bardi together with hystories written in the British tongue which of late so farre as I suppose were by me first translated into English And not onely conferred the deeds but also the names of Kynges and places in both tongues where I haue noted that Britannia was first called Prydain amongst vs as appeareth in the most auncient bookes of pedegrees Wherin the Welshmen are too too curious hauing amongst them cōtinually certaine regesters of pedegrees and discentes which some call Hierhauts which perpetually doo recorde in writynge and memory the names of parentes with their children contriuinge them into Tribes as thei wer deuided in olde time They thinke as well of them selues as either the Frenchmen the Turkes or Latines deriuing their originall from the Troians In these bookes as I saye it is many times founde that this Iland was called Prydain as Paun post Prydain that is to say the cheefist Post or Piller of Britayne A certeyne writer also whiche wrote many hundreth yeares agoe amongste the olde valiant Britaynes sheweth the same besides that the Poetes and those whiche they call Bardi at this day doo frequent commonly that woorde as Post Prydáin olh Pryd à nerth that is to say the piller of all Britayne the beutie and strength Moreouer it is vsually founde in all our bookes Ynys Prydain that is to say the Iland of Britayne and Phrainc à Phrydain that is Fraunce and Britayne Wherby those that vnderstande the tongue may easely gather that our Britaynes called this Iland Prydain in their language which the Latines for the hardnesse and euill sounde therof haue reiected and haue called the countrey Britannia and the people Britanni for the more gentle and pleasant soundes sake Whiche I wil prooue by these stronge arguments followyng Euery Britysh woorde as wee haue sayde before whose first radicale is P hath three variations in construction namely into B PH and MH The name of Britayne amongst vs sometime beginneth with B sometime with PH and sometime with MH Wherefore the first radicale therof must needes be P. And another infallible argumēt thereis that B is not the first radicale of that name Theris no British woord whose first radicale letter is B that abideth any change into P or PH. But the name of Britayne amonge the Britaynes as the proprietie of the tongue requireth sometimes beginneth with P sometime with PH as I haue shewed before wherfore the name of Britayne hath not B for his first radicale letter Neither is it necessarie that we◠should seeke the deriuation of this name from the Greekes since wee may finde the reason of it in our owne tongue wherin almost all names of men and places are of them selues significant Pryd amongst vs signifieth comlinesse or beutie Cain signifieth white So that by the ioyning of these two wordes together taking away C in composition for the better soundes sake is made Prydain that is to say a white or excellent bewtie or comlinesse As who shoulde say the first borderers therto called it a fayre and fertile lande But seynge this is but a bare coniecture I am not against it but that euery man holde his owne opinion Neither am I ignorant that some very well learned men and expert in the British tongue doo write the Ilandes name with B. which I thinke they doo rather followynge therein the Latines then iudginge the same to be the true name knowyng the proofes which I haue before alledged to b◠so vndoubtedly certaine that themselues cannot deny thē Perhaps here wil stande foorth som enemie to the British name sayinge that by these arguments I do disproue both the commyng of Brutus into this Ilande and Polydorus himselfe with his Britysh hystorie But god forbyd I should be so impious in such wyse to dispise the maiestie of Antiquitie Nay rather when opportunitie shal be offered I purpose to confirme by bringinge foorth many weighty reasons and authorities whiche I haue readie in stoare for a British Hystorie both his cumming and also to establish the credite of the British hystorie Nothinge regardinge the folly of those who bycause they finde not the name of it in the Romane hystories boldely denie that there is any suche in the worlde at all seynge vnto those that shall reade Halicarnasseus and Liuius so much disagreyng and also considerynge the obscuritie of the Latine name at that time when Brutus passed out of Italy into Greece it shall easely
the Romans Antoninus also mentioneth PontiuÌ„ which appeareth now to be called Reading Thantique name of Spinae which signifieth Thornes continueth to this day in the one side of Neubery which is as much to say as New courte From whence a good way of vpon the riuer Cunetio standeth a famous Citie called Cunetio by the Romanes but now Marlborow Betweene these and the Sea lye the Simeni whose Metropolitane or cheif Citie is Venta which in fore times was a Citie of greate renowne and of the Britaynes called Caërwynt of the Englishmen VVynchester And at the Sea there is the great port called now Portesmouth at whose mouth there standeth a Citie called of olde Caërperis but now Portchester Also Tris Antonis an haueÌ„ now South hampton retaynyng the olde name Ouer against these lieth the I le of VVyght celebrated by the auncient Romane wryters and first subdued by Vespasian The same is in length xx miles and. x. in bredth in forme like to an egge in some places seuen miles distant from the mayne shoare and in others but twayne It hath very rough and craggie Cliffes it is very plentifull of Corne. The cheifest and only market towne of all the Iland is Newport There is also a Castle called Caërbro that is to say the tract for Nettes expressynge the Britysh antiquitie The VVestsaxons when they had driuen away the Britaynes added the same to their dominion vntill Cadwalla a Britayn hauing slaine Aruald recouered it to him self Englishmen call it the VVyght Britaynes terme it Gwydh whiche in our tongue signifieth perspicuous or easy to be seene as Gwydhgruc that is to say a perspicuous heape Gwydhfa a perspicuous place by which terme the most highest Mountayne of all Britayne in Carnaruanshyre is called The inhabitants of this Iland are wont to glory that their country is destitute of three greate discommodities that are founde in other countries to wit Foxes beggynge Fryers and Lawiers They are vnder the precincte and dioces of Southampton By the same Sea shoare alonge follow the Seueriani called now the inhabitantes of VVylshyre whose cheef citie is Caërseuerus called also Caër Câ—radoc and now by Englishmen Sarysbury Twixt these is S. Ambrose hyll celebrated by reason of the slaughter of the Nobilitie of Britayne there committed Also Shaftes bury knowne of olde to the Britaynes by the name of Caërbaladin and Caërsepton At the Westside of thâ—se lie the Durotriges called of vs Durugueir of the Englishmen Dorsetshyre men From whence more westerly are the Damnonij wée cal them at this day Dyfynnaint whiche signifieth deepe narow valleys not of the Danes as some affyrme These are called in English DeuonshyremeÌ„ and they lye betweene two Seas the Seuern and the British Oceane Their principall Citie is Isca called also AVGVSTA before time Caërwisk of the water passynge bie but now of the Englishmen Excestre Howbeit I know well enough that some affyrme that before it was called by the olde Britaynes Penuchelgoëd Last of all cometh Cornauia of the inhabitantes and our countrymen called Cernico of Englishmen Cornwal Here it is to be noted that the Saxons did thrâ—st the Reliques of the auncient Britaynes into those streightes Who because they vsed the Britysh tongue whiche the Saxons vnderstoode not they termed them Cornwalas that is to say WelshmeÌ„ of Cornauia or Cornwall as they called also our countrymen Welsh Britaynes after the German guyse This is the true Etimologie or cause of the name and farewel to them whiche pleasinge them selues in the inuention of the name doo call it Cornu Galliae to saye an horne of Fraunce wherein Polydorus as in other thynges also vttereth his ignorance As for mine opinion very auncient bookes doo confirme it written in the saxon tongue and the name also wherby those whiche inhabite the countrie do vsually cal it They speake the British language al their wordes almost are founde like vnto ours but that they differ sumdeale in construction of speache The promontorie of Cornauia now Cornwall is famous amongst our countrymen coÌ„monly called Penrhyngwaed that is to say the promontory of bloud whiche I suppose to be called of Ptolomaeus Antiuestaeum Beyonde the Damnonij or Deuonshire men nigh the course of Seuern lieth sometime the region of Murotriges wee call it Guladyr haf Englishmen Somersetshyre where are many notable auncient places séene as the Mounts of Caërmalet otherwise called Camalet There standeth also Iscalis now Ilcester and the Isle of Auolonia whose Citie is Venta now Brystow but in antique time the Britaynes called it Caër oder yn Nant Badon that is to say the Citie Odera in the vally of Badon Another towne of the Belgae with Ptolomaeus Aquae Calidae that is of hot water with Antoninus Aquae Solis of water of the Sunne the Britaines cal it Caërbadon the Englishmen Bathe and is very renowmed for holsom Bathes of hot waters Of whiche thynge I am a most certayne witnesse For when as by the stroke of an horse whiche I had caught at Myllayne in Italy I was greuously pained with the Sciatica continually the space of one whole yeare and hauing assayde the helpe of many excellently learned Phisitions was nothynge the better I vsed these Bathes but only sixe dayes and was restored to my former health Between these and the Thames head were the Dobuni now Claudiani whose cheefe towne in old time was called CoriniuÌ„ of the Britaynes Caër Cory the English men now terme it Cycestre And Claudia commonly called Glocester a famous Citie standyng vpon Seuern the head of all the shyre I suppose not to haue bin knowne to the Romanes but was afterward as Gyldas reporteth builded by Glouy a Britayne who after that the Romanes were driuen thence reygned there and not so named by Claudius Caesar as hereafter shal be shewen In the same shyre also standeth Malmesbury called before time Caërbladhon These shyres doo make the thyrde Kyngedome of Saxons in Britayne whiche they call VVestsaxons whose kynge was Egbert who hauinge subdued all the other first of the Germans obtayned the Monarchie of Lhoëgr Thus hauynge described the countries that lie on the Southside of the Thames let vs now come to the other in ordre And first ouer agaynst Kent on the other side of the Thames lie the Trinouantes whose prince was Mandubratius or as other write Androgorius our countrymen cal him Audâ—wy the same sent for Caesar intâ— Britayne and when he was come asisted him with his power and followed him into Italy and Thessalie Theyr chief Citie was builded by Brutus and was called Troynewith that is to say New Troy howbeit there be some whiche call it Trenouantum bycause Tre signifieth in British a Towne But afterwarde it was called of Belus whiche dwelt there Dinas Beli that is to say Belinus Palace or Courte Last of all of Lud brother to Caswallane whiche wonderfully adorned it with beutifull
Germans because they had bigge bodies with sharpe and horrible eyes Thus much â—e Since therfore he hath left their originall vnknowne and our Chronacles doo testifie how that the Britaynes had alwayes greate familiaritie with the Northerne Germans it is like enough that the Britysh Cymbri passed ouer into Denmark whereby it was termed Cymbrica and so ioynyng with the Almaynes made warre vpon the Romans and first vanquished Papirius with his armie in Illyrica Afterward ouercame Aurelius Scaurus with his Legions in Fraunce him self being slayne by kinge Belus whiche name is also familiar amongst the welshmen at this day Besides that Manlius and Caepio were discomfited nigh Rhodanus when there were 12000. of the Romans slayne In the ende at Athesis in Italy they were ouerthrowen and almost al slain And those whiche remayned after the battayle escaped into Germany and were deuided into two partes Wherof th one returnyng into Britayne gaue name to the countrie Cymbria the other departyng out of Germany rested nigh to the Sea Balteum afterward were called of the Germans Aestiones whose tongue as Tacitus writeth is like the Britysh And to confirme all this I read of late in a most auncient fragmeÌ„t of the Britysh tongue how that longe since there departed a very great army of Britaynes into Denmarck Whiche after many valiant Warres stoutly made in moste partes of the worlde neuer returned agayne But wheras diuerse do affirme that these were the indwellers of the Danish Chersonesus hereby it appeareth false that the Danes longe before that time possessed that lande as their Hystories do declare Neither is there any Danish or Suetish writer that euer made mention of the Cymbri Othersome affirme that they descended of the inhabitantes of Cymerius Bosphorus But neither the nations name neither their maners neither their kings names doo agree Which if you respect ours are all one For Clodic Lhes Bel Lhud Thudfach Berich by whiche the kynges of the Cymbri were called be very common names amongst the Britaynes Their neglectyng of golde and siluer the shape of their bodies theyr sheildes armour swordes yea made of brasse wherof I saw twayne whiche of late were founde in hollow rockes in Northwales their reuereÌ„ce towards women and preistes their custome to sacrifice men vnto Mercury declareth that they were British Cymbri Neither will I deny that which many doo write that the Sicambri and afterward the Franci were of theyr broode vnlesse that their owne Historicians affirmed that they were so called three hundred yeres before of one Cambra daughter to Belinus whiche was kynge of Britayne and maried to Antenor theyr kynge Wherfore I conclude that the Cymbri either departed foorth of Britayne about that time or els were the remnantes of the greate army whiche was gatherd in Britayne and Fraunce and setled with Brennus in the Marches of Greece at the same time For it is vndoubtedly knowen that Brennus was a perfect Britayne and brother to kynge Belinus and sonne to Dunwallus which not only our Chronacles doo testifie but also the countries name where the ambitious man fought with Belinus his brother and was called of him Brennich Diuers riuers also amongst vs called by that name and also a most auncient castle standyng vppon the toppe of an exceedyng high hill in Gwania called Dinas Bran that is to say Brennus Courte or Palace are a very good argument hereof Besides this there remayne most auncient Rimes in the prayse of Cornwenna theyr Mother because that when Brennus came foorthe of Fraunce with ayde agaynst his brother with her naked breast and pappes she reconciled them together which one hath thus interpreted O out Ahlas what meaneth this doo you my bowels harme What wicked cause doth mooue two brothers powers to be so warme Cannot all Britayne you contayne since it is very sure That both you twayne within this wombe of mine did once endure May not your mothers teares nor torne heares from purpose pluck Nor naked dolefull breastes in tender age which both did suck Who then ioyninge theyr armies â—anne ouer all Fraunce and Italy vanquished the Romans and tooke the citie and departed out of Italy as Polybius reporteth And Belinus returned into Britayne but Brennus with 15000 â–ª thousand footemen 61200. thousand â—orsemen as Pausanias writeth set vpoÌ„ the Greekes And hauyng subdued the Macedonians Thessalians Thracians the Poeonians all the other people of the Greekes he ouerthrew at Thermopilae in a most horrible blouddie battayle In fine when as he was aboute to sack the Temple of Apollo of Delphos his army was wholy almost miraculously slayne by the fal of a mightie great cliffe a wonderfull Rayne from Heauen Wherwith Brennus beynge strooke with sorowe a most coragious gentleman as he was slew him-selfe And I wot wel how Polydorus complaineth of the supputation of yeres wheÌ„ as in déed the time agréeth very wel with the British history But where as he maketh two Brennus that is altogether beside credit since no writer before him euer yelded the same to memory And as concerning the true supputation of the age of the world diuers authors haue diuersly written Besides these reasons by theyr owne tongue whiche is the best proofe that may be wee will easely conuince that they were Britaynes and that Brennus souldiers spake the Britysh tongue wee will likewyse soone declare Pausanias in his tenth booke writeth thus Brennus had with him forth 20400. thousande horsemen whiche were all fightynge men for the truer numbre of them in deede were aboue threescore thousand and two hundred For there followed euery horseman two seruants on horsebacke These when their maysters were fightynge stoode alwayes in the rearewarde and assisted them that if by chance they wer vnhorsed thei shuld seâ— them on theirs and if the man were slayne the seruant should succede in his place but if they were both killed by force of fight then was the third at hand readie to supplie for them that were dead If the first and cheif had receaued a wounde one of these other conueyed him out of the battayle the third fulfilled the roomâ—h of him that was hurt And this practise of fightynge on horsebacke they terme in their country language Trimarchisia for they call an horse Marcha Thus far Pausanias What can be spoken more playnly Our Britaynes at this day cal Tres in the masculine gendre Tri and in the feminine Tair that is Three And an horse they call march Wherby Tri-march vnto them signifieth three Horses Hereby therfore all must needes confesse either that the Frenchmen spake the Britysh tongue whiche almost all Hystories doo deny or that these were naturall Britaynes And afterwarde he saieth that the Frenchmen call a Shield Tyren in their country speache whiche woorde wee doo likewise vse at this present calling a shield Taria Moreouer Atheneus writeth that the Reliques of the Frenchmen vnder Bathanasius their captayne tooke vp their dwelling about Ister and after that
well knowne by Roman monumentes called TREGELLI that is to wit the Towne of Hasels These seauen Shyres Credigion DWETIA called also Demetia and Penbrokes hyre Caer marthyn Morganicâ— now Glamorgan Gwenta called also Mon mouth Brechenoc and Radenor are by Englyshmen ascribed vnto Southwales Thus much when I had written of the true antique and now accustomed names of the Regions and cities of Britayne I determined here to haue ended least by this my vnpolished and barbarous writyng I should become tedious to the impatient Reader But when I called to my remembrance how Polydorus Virgilius whose workes be in all mens handes doth in all places nippe gyrde at the Britaynes endeuorynge in woordes to extenuate the glory of the British name and to obscure them with a perpetuall blot in his history often termynge them a cowardly and false generation I thought it worth the trauell to brynge foorth a few authorities out of the bookes of famous writers and approued Hystoriâ—graphers Wherby the indifferent Reader may easely iudge what credite is to be giuen to the said Polydorê° And that such as are of the learnedst writers of the state of Britayne either he read them not or els that is more like beyng incensed with enuie and hate of the British name passed them ouer with silence Caesar him selfe who first all the Romans made mention of Britayne how be it no man is accompted an vpright Iudge in his owne cause confesseth that at the first encountre the Britaynes fought valiantly agaynst the Romans and that they troubled them very much and afterward that the Legion whiche was sent for prouision of Corne and Uitayle was so pressed by their enemies that they coulde scarse endure it And that at his commyng for feare as he sayeth they retyred And that I may vse his owne woordes Caesar supposinge it to be an vnfit time to prouoke the enemie and to giue him battell kept him selfe in his owne place and after short time brought backe his Legions into their Tentes This retreat some termed a flight whiche may also be proued bycause that shortly after when it was paste midnight he tooke shyppyng priuely and departed out of Britayne Neither was this the power of all Britayne but a band of Kentyshmen sodenly gathered as appeareth in his hystory After this in his first booke he sheweth that the British wagonners fought stoutly vpon the way and in another place that they entred forcibly into his Campe. And that the Roman Cohortes or bandes being â—feard when Laberius the Tribune was slaine salfly returned backe agayne Which what other can it signifie then that they escaped by flight He confesseth also how Casiuelanus by the fallyng from him of Mandrubatius and certein his Cities was especially mooued not by battell wearied to sende Embassadours vnto him to intreate of Peace All these thynges spightfully Polydorus dissembleth Also Diodorus Siculus who wrote in the time of Augustus sayeth It is reported that the inhabitantes of Britayne are Aborigines that is to say first borne in the Countrie leadynge their liues after the maner of men in olde times In fight they vse Chariots such as is sayde the auncient worthies of Greece vsed in the battell of Troye In behauiour they are simple and vpright farre distant from the craft and wilinesse of men of our age Their fare is nothyng excessiue nor costly far from the deintie delicates of ritchmen Thus much he Tacitus also a worthy writer doth wonderfully commende the puissant deedes of Cataracus agaynst the people of Rome and confesseth that after the takyng of him they were oftentimes â—oyled and discomfited by one only citie of the Siluri And as for Venusius whom he writeth to haue ben fierce and hatefull agaynst the Romans he reporteth that he vanquished not only the Romans but such Britaynes also as ayded them His woordes be these The kyngdome to Venusius and vnto vs remayned Warre And after it followeth that he cannot denie but when queene Boadicia whom Dion termeth Bundwica was deseruedly exasperated she caused lx and ten thousande Romans to be slayne Whose courage more then manlike and noble deedes worthy to be extolled with prayse vnto Heauen and equiualent to the actes of renowmed Emperours and Captaynes Tacitus also Dion meÌ„ of great name haue celebrated in fayre and large discourse And in the life of Agricola In wishyng for dangers there is like boldnesse in Britaynes and Frenchemen And when they come vnto the pynche in refusinge of them like dasterdnes Howbeit the Britaynes resemblynge more hardinesse as beynge suche whome longe rest and peace had not yet made soft or effeminate For wee haue hearde also that the Frenchmen haue flowrished in warres But shortly after cowardise crepte in through Idlenesse whereby they loste both manhoode and libertie whiche likewise befell to the vanquished Britaynes the residew whereof remayne yet such as the Frenchemen were They are stronge on foote certeyne of them doo fight in Chariottes the driuers wherof are coumpted the worthier Whose clientes and seruantes do fight and defende them Infore time they were prepared for kyngs but now through fauour and faction euery prince hath gotten them Neyther were there any thynge more profitable for our vse agaynst strange and valiant nations sauinge that they doo not generally sauegard and defend all It is seldome that twoo or three Cities do ioyne to withstande their coÌ„mon daunger so that whylst they fight seuerally they are ouercome vniuersally Also in another place The Britaynes do muster pay tribute and fulfil other commaundments of the Empyre without stay or grutchynge so that there be no iniurie offered which they can hardly abyde And now they be subdued to obey but not yet to be slaues And a litle afterward But now they beginne to enstruct the children of Princes in liberal sciences sayeth Agricola And to preferre the wittes of the Britaynes in studie before the Frenchmens That they whiche of late detested the Roman tongue doo now desier to be eloquent therein Afterward the maiestie of our attyre and our Gowne was commonly worne by litle and litle they came to the imitation of our vices and superfluities as to haue Galleries Bathes and to vse our nysenesse in feastyng Whiche amongst the vnskilfull was termed humanitie when as in deede it is part of seruilitie Dion Cassius a man that had bin Consul among other thynges hath left this in writyng vnto posteritie of Caesars expedition into Britayne The Britaynes durst not set openly vpon the Romans bycause they kepte diligent watche and warde but they tooke certeyne whiche were sent as it were vnto their freendes and confederates Region to prouide victayle whom they slew all exceptyng a few which Caesar commyng with speede rescued Then began they to assault the Campe wherin they preuayled not but were repulsed not without slaughter on their side Howbeit they neuer tooke peace before that they had byn many times put to the worst Caesar contrary to that he
had purposed ended the warre requiryng yet moe pleadges of whom notwithstandyng he receaued but few So Caesar returned in to the continent such thynges as were vnquiet durynge his absence he appeased gayning nothyng to him selfe nor to the Citie of Rome out of Britayne but only the glorie of the expedition taken in hande Which both he himselfe did very much set foorth in woordes and the Romans extolled wonderfully at Rome In so muche that in consideration of these deedes so happely atcheeued they decreed a supplication or thankes gyuyng of twentie dayes And in another place The Britaynes callyng foorth their fellowes and communicatynge the effect of their entent vnto Suella who amongst all the Petiroyes or Erles of that Ilande was of greatest power they marched vnto the Roman shyppes where they rode at anker With whom the Romans meetynge at the first encounter were troubled with the Wagons but anon making a lane amongst them and auoyding the Wagons they cast their Dartes agaynst the enemie which cam runnyng in sidelonge vpon them and so restored the battell After this battell bothe partes stoode still in the same place and in another conflict when the barbarous people had ouercome the Roman footemen yet being discomfited by the horsemen retyred backe to the Riuer Thames Moreouer Herodian in the life of Seuerus writeth thus of the Britaynes For diuers places of Britayne sayeth he by common wasshyng in of the Oceane doo become Marish In these Marishes therefore the Earbarous people doo swymme and wade vp to the belly not regardyng the mierynge and durteynge of their naked bodies For they know not the vse of garments but they arme their bellies their neckes supposing that to be an ornament a token of ritches like as other barbarous people doo Golde They paynte also their bodies with diuers pictures and shapes of al manners of beastes liuyng thynges Wherfore they weare on nothinge least thereby they should hide the payntyng of their body It is a very warlike Nation and greedie of slaughter contented only with a narow Sheild and a Speare and a Sworde hangyng downe by their naked side They are altogether ignorant of the vse of the breastplate and headpeece taking them to be a let vnto them in passing ouer the Fennes and Marishes Besides these Eutropius of the French warre writeth thus Caesar passeth ouer into Britayne hauynge thereto prepared lxxx shippes partly for burthen and partly to fight and maketh warre vpon the Britaynes Where beyng first wearied with a sharpe battayle and afterward fallyng into a cruell tempest returned into Fraunce and so foorth And afterward Agayne at the beginnynge of the sprynge he sayled into Britayne where at the first encounter of the Horsemen he was vanquished and there was Labienus the Tribune slayne and at the seconde battayle with greate perill of his owne men he ouercame the Britaynes and constrayned them to flie Suetonius Tranquillus affirmeth that Vespasianus ouercame in battell two mightie and valiant nations of Britayne and that he faught thirtie times with the enemy which is a token of no cowardly but of a most stoute and warlike nation Eutropius also in the. ix booke of his hystory writeth thus When notwithstandyng Warre was in vayne made agaynst Carausius the Britayne a man very expert in martial assayres in the ende peace was concluded And Sextus Ruffus recityng the Roman Legions amonge the Legions of the mayster of the footemen reckneth vp Britannicians and British and amonge the Legions Comitalensis the seconde British Legion And again among the Legions of the mayster of the horsemen the French Britons and agayne Britons And afterward with the worthy approued erle of Spayne the inuincible yonger Britons And in an other place he numbreth the yonger British carriars with the Earle of Britayne But what shall it be needfull to tuâ—n ouer the woorkes of so many learned men that the glory of Britayne may appeare When as so many puissant kynges so many inuincible captaynes so many noble Roman Emperours spronge forth of the British bloud haue made manifest vnto the world by their noble actes wel worthy immortality what maner men this Iland bringeth foorth For what shall I speake of Brennus the tamer of the Romans and Grekes and almost of all the nations in the worlde What of Caswallan to whom as Lucane reporteth Iulius Caesar did turne his fearfull backe What of Cataracus who molested the people of Rome with warre the space of ix yeres What of Bunduica that valiant manlike dame Who to beginne with all and for hanâ—â—ll sake slew lxx thousand Romans Of whom such feare inuaded Rome and Italy as Virunnius writeth as neuer the like before neither at commynge of Brennus nor of Hannibal What of Aruiragus the inuincible kynge of Britayne Who in despite of the Romans whiche were Lordes of all the worlde preserued his libertie What of those noble Captaynes which faught thirtie times with Vespasian Who also with sorow and angwise of minde killed Seuerus the moste valiant Emperour bycause he coulde not ouercome them What as I say shal I speake of these when as Britayne hath yelded foorth communicated to the rest of the world Constantinus Magnus not only a most valiant and fortunate Captaine but that more is a perfect goodman and the first Emperour of the Christians instructed by Helene his Mother a Britayne also How much Fraunce and Italy for their deliuerie from Tyrannes are indebted vnto Britayne for this man which was brought foorth out of the midst of the bowels therof all men do well know only Polydorus excepted and William Petit the Monke his scholemayster of late brought to light vnworthy euer to haue seene light by the slaunderers detraâ—tours of the British glory And for as much as a certeine FreÌ„chman of late daies and also an auncient Greeke author of the name of Maior affirme that he was borne at DyrachiuÌ„ called now Durazo I meane to brynge foorthe the most auncient wordes of the Panegyricus whiche was pronounced before Constantinus himselfe O sayth he most fortunate and now aboue all landes most blessed Britayne whiche diddest first beholde Constantinus the Emperour Nature hath worthely endued thee with all benefites of ayer and soyle in whom is neither ouermuch colde of Wynter nor heate of Summer Where there is also suche plentie of Corne that it suffiseth for the vse of Ceres and Liber that is to say for Bread and Drinke Where are also Wooddes without wilde and cruell beastes the Earth without hurtfull Serpentes Contrarywise of tame Cattell an innumerable multitude stroutyng with Milke and laden with Flieses with all other thynges necessarie and commodious for our life verie longe dayes and no nightes without some light whylst that vttermoste playnes of the Sea shoare rayseth no shadowe and the shew and aspect of the Starres of Heauen deo exceede the boundes of night that the Sunne which to vs seemeth to goe downe appeareth there but to
passe by Good lorde what a thyng is this that alwayes from some furthermost ende of the worlde there come downe new powers from God to be worshipped of all the earth Thus farre he What of Bonosus out of the captaynes of the boundes of Rheticus a more couragious then fortunate Emperour What of Carausius Augustus who the space of seuen yeres together ware his princely Robes contrary to the will of Iouius and Herculius What of Allectus Caesar for subdueynge whom Mamertinus seemeth to prefer Maximianus before Caesar Iulius whose woordes I will not sticke to alledge And truly sayth he so foorth After him sprange the Emperour Maximus a Britayne and nephew to Helene a man both stoute and vertuous and worthy of Augustus but that in his youth leadyng an army agaynst Gratianus whom he vanquished he had sacked his countrie Who by Helene his wife daughter to Euda lefte his sonne Victor Emperour And as Paulus Diaconus writeth Bitayne also acknowledgeth Marcus and Gratianus the Emperours Moreouer Constantinus with his Sonne Constans when Gratianus their countriman was slayne were created Emperours in Britayne in name like to the aboue sayde but not in happinesse agaynste whom Gerontius theyr Captayne of whose death there are extant very auncient British Rhymes made another Maximus then the first was Augustus And after all these Ambrosius Aurelius is by Panuinius accompted the last Emperour of the British bloud Besides these xij Emperous Britayne hath also brought foorth to the worlde the moste puissant and inuincible kynge Arthur whose euerlastynge renowme and moste noble deedes our freende Mayster Leland hath set foorthe and made more apparant by infinite testimonies and moste weightie argumentes agaynst the gnarrynge and doggysh mouthe and hatred more then euer was Vatinians of Polydorus Vrbine and of the gresie Monke Rhicuallensis more conuersant in the Kitchin then in the hystories of olde writers And not only our countrymen but also Spayniardes Italians Frenchmen and the Sueones beyonde the Sea Baltheum as Gothus reporteth out of their Hystories doo celebrate and aduance vnto this day in theyr bookes the worthy actes of this puissant kyng Caduanne also who from prince of Gwynedh became Kynge of the Britaynes and his sonne Cadwalla whom BEDE calleth a Tyranne because he persecuted the Saxons with cruell Warre whilâ—st the BRITISH Empyre was in decayinge were valient Kynges And after the Brityshe destruction there rose vp noble gentelmen in VVales not to be debarred of theyr due prayse as Rodericke the greate and his Nephue by his Sonne Howell surnamed GOOD both famous as wel in warre as peace Also Gryffith the Sonne of Lhewelin the Sonne of SESYLâ—IVS â–ª who most stoutly defended VVales his natiue country And after him Owayn prince of Gwynedh who moste hardely withstoode at COL Henry the seconde the most mightiest kynge of all that euer reygned in England thrise entrynge into Wales with greate armies whose sonne also he slow in Anglysey and the greater part of his armie as Gyraldus reporteth And his nephew likewise borne of his sonne Lewellyn the great whose innumerable triumphes that I may vse the woordes of Parisiensis the Englishman doo require speciall treatises And not these only but also the Cornishmen beynge the remnantes of the olde Britaynes as they are the stoutest of all the British nations so are they coumpted to this day the most valiant in warlike affayres Neither yet the Britons which dwell nigh Fraunce a nation of the same broode doo any whit degenerate from their forefathers When as they â–ª did not only many huÌ„dred yeres prosperously defend amoÌ„gst the thickest of stoute sturdie nations those seates whiche they had purchased with their manhood and prowes but also haue vanquished the Gothes and Frenchmen in great battels and stoutly withstoode the most mightie prince Charles the Mayne put to flight the armie of his sonne Lewes the Emperour whiche was sent agaynst them vnder conduct of Murmanus ouercame Charles Caluus then Emperour and kynge of Fraunce in open fight twise vanquishynge his armie Numenius beynge kynge the Emperour priuely flyinge thence leauynge there his Pauilions and Tentes and all other his kinglike prouision as Regino writeth But Herispous sonne to Numenius compelled the same Charles to make shamful and dishonorable truce with him Whom Salomon also sonne to Herispous a valiant and warlike gentleman enforced to retyre backe when he was coÌ„mynge agaynst him with a mightie armie But when Salomon was deade the Britons through desier to reigne and contention who should next be kynge fell vnto Ciuile warres amonge them selues as Sigisbertus sayth and so they were constreyned to leaue of the destruction and ouer runnynge of Fraunce which they had determined What shall I speake of the noble deedes of Vrfandus an inuincible captayne agaynst Hastynge the Norman and Pastquitanus the Briton Of Iudicaël also and Alane who manfully draue the Normans out of their coastes which pitifully wasted and spoyled all Fraunce What shall I neede to touche such Warres as they made longe after vpon the kynges of Fraunce beyng therein ayded by thâ—impregnable power of the Englishmen since it is well knowne to all men that it was alwayes a most potent nation And that I may at length stop Polydorus mouth together with his Gyldas thus much I say that if he sticke in any poynte vnto him he was no Hystoriographer but a Preist and a Preacher Whose custome is very sharpely to inueigh agaynst the faultes of their hearers Wherfore if wee seeke authorities out of Sermons as Polydorus Vrbine hath done What Parish what Towne what nation or kyngedome may escape infamie What hath Bernhard written of the Romans Thus surely terming them impious vnfaith full seditious dishonest traytrous great speakers but litle doers These thynges are by Deuines spoken in the Pulpit according vnto their manner that the like faultes might be amended and the life reformed not that the Romans or Britaynes were such in deede Neither is there any man vnlesse he be a shameles Sycophant that lieth in wait for al occasions to dispraise and accuse which will go aboute by wrestynge of sentences foorth of the sermons of preachers sclaundrously to tax infamously to note any whole couent shire citie or people Wherfore let such idle ill disposed sclaunderers leaue of and suffer the true renowme of Britayne appeare to the worlde neither iudge me good Reader of two sharpe a tongue Seyng so god helpe me neither enuie of any forreine name neither thyrst of vayn glory neither hatred of any natioÌ„ but alonly the loue of my country which is euill spoken of vndeseruedly and desier to set forth the truth haue prouoked me to write thus much And touchyng this rude and disordred litle treatise truly I woulde not haue suffred it to haue come to light had I not well hoped that all learned men would accept this my endeuour in good parte and also take occasion by this