my Honour is the same honour of the whole Church my Honour is the full vigor of my Brethren then therefore I am truly honoured when no body is denied the honour due to him For if your Holiness calls me Universal Bishop it denies it self to be at all what it confesses me to be only that is Universal but God forbid this Away with those words stir up Pride and wound charity and indeed your Holiness well knows that this Title was offered my Predecessor in the holy Counsel of Chalcedonia and afterwards by succeeding Fathers but none of them would ever accept of this Title that whilst carefully in this World they respected the honour of all the Clergy in general they might preserve their own entire with God Almighty Wherefore paying you due custome of Greeting I desire you would be pleased to be mindful of us in your Prayers that from the chains of my sins because of mine own merits I am not able through your intercession God would deliver me Observations upon this Epistle The Annexer of the Title has not done ingeniously in this Epistle for he saies that in the Councel of Chaleedon the Pope was stiled UNIVERSAL not making any mention how that Title was rejected by the Pope and all his Successors as Gregory shews but was also vehemently exploded and cast off by Gregory himself in this Epistle of which he has not taken the least notice in the Title Gregory To Menna of Tolouse To Serenus of Marseilles To Lupus of Cavation To Agilius of Meris To Simplicius of Paris To Melantius of Roan and To Licinius Fellow Bishops of the Frankes ALthough the care of the office ye have undertaken might sufficiently admonish your Brotherhood with your utmost endeavours to assist Religious persons and especially those that labour in the cure of Souls yet it will not be amiss if with this our Epistle we stir up your vigilancy For as the fire by the fanning of the wind is made greater so the affections of a good mind are embettered by commendation Because therefore the grace of our Redeemer cooperating so great a multitude of the English are converted to the Christian faith that our most Reverend and Common Brother and Fellow Bishop Augustine affirms that those that are with him are not sufficient for the execution of this work in divers Places We have provided that some Monks should be sent over to him with our beloved and common Sons Laurentius the Priest and Miletus the Abbot and therefore let your Brotherhood afford them that charity it ought and speedily help them with those succours that are necessary for as much as by your assistance all obstructions and causes of delaies will be removed So that they being relieved by your charity may rejoyce together with you and you by freely bestowing it may be found partakers with them in the work they are intended for Gregory the Great To Clotharius King of the Frankes AMongst the many troubles and cares you daily meet with in governing those Nations under you it is the highest honour and greatest advantage to appear in the Patronage of those that labour in the cause of God and because by many good Presidents you have shewn your self to be such that now we may presume better things of you we are the willinglier invited to desire those things of you which at last will return to your own benefit Some of those who went into England with our most Reverend Brother and Fellow-Bishop Augustine at their return have related with how great humanity and charity your Excellence entertained him in your own Court and with what succours you assisted him setting forward on his Journey But because those actions are most acceptable to God alwaies which recede not from good beginnings We salute You with a Fatherly affection desiring that the Monks the Bearers of these presents whom we have sent over to our foresaid Brother together with our beloved Sons Laurentius the Priest and Melitus the Abbot might be particularly respected by you and whatsoever it was you bestowed on those before for the plentiful increase of your Honour continue likewise to these that through your assistance they may without any delaies perform the Journey they have begun that God the Recompencer of all good works may be to you in prosperity a guardian and in adversity an helper Gregory To Brunichild Queen of the Frankes He returns Her thanks for assisting Augustine and exhorts her courteously to entertain the Monks that were sent unto him WE give thanks unto Almighty God who among the rest of the gifts of his grace bestowed on your Highness has so filled your breast with the love of Christian Religion that if you should know any thing tending to the benefit of Soula or the increase of your Faith you would never cease with a devout mind and pious endeavour to bring it to perfection With how great favour and courtesie your Highness assisted our most Reverend Brother and Fellow Bishop Augustine going for England Fame before hath not been silent and since the Monks that returned from him have more particularly related Your Christianity may be admired at by those that know but little of your favours but we that are experimentally acquainted with them have more reason to rejoyce than wonder because by charitably obliging others ye advantage your selves How great and what manner of Miracles our Redeemer has wrought in the Conversion of the aforesaid Nation is well known to your Highness for which reason ye ought exceedingly to rejoyce because your charity in this thing may claim to it self the greatest part by whose assistance next after God the word of Preaching became there manifest for he that furthers another's good consults his own And that the fruits of your reward may be the larger we desire that to the Monks Bearers of these presents whom with our beloved Sons Laurentius the Priest and Melitus the Abbot we have sent over to our foresaid most Reverend Brother and Fellow Bishop forasmuch as those that are with him are not sufficient for the work you would courteously grant the favour of your Patronage and vouchsafe to assist them in all things that the good beginnings of your Highness may still proceed unto better and that they meet with no delaies or difficulties in their Journey May you in as great a measure stir up God's mercy to be favourable to you and your posterity most Dear unto us as you for his love shall behave your selves with compassion in causes of this nature Gregory To Augustine Bishop of the English Of the Conversion of that Nation and that he should not glory in the power of Miracles which oftentimes wicked Men have performed GLory be to God on high and on earth peace good-will towards Men because a grain of corn falling dead upon the earth hath brought forth much fruit that it might not alone reign in heaven by whose Death we live by whose Infirmity we are
more I could name had I time besides many Usages and Customes in England which participate of both Languages alike To instance in the Compounds of Iavel a British word signifying a Tenure among the Welch we find Gavel-kind Sand-Gavel Gavel Oat Swine-Gavel and many others Why therefore may not Ludgate be Luds-Gate although it hath both Languages mixt in it Let us hear therefore Verstegan's ingenious Derivation Ludgate saith he is as much as to say Leodgate or the Peoples-Gate Leod signifying People Here Mr. Sheringham asks him but a reasonable question What did the People pass only through this Gate and the Bards and Druids through the other only And I may demand of him also upon what grounds he supposeth the Concourse of People to have been greater through this Gate than any other Indeed since the Suburbs have been built and increased above the greatness of the City and since his MAJESTY and the late Kings of England for many successions have been pleased to live in the Western parts of them the Trade by necessity hath been drawn into these quarters and so Ludgate hath been made the greatest Thorow-fare but before the Suburbs were built or before they were brought into Credit by his MAJESTIES Royal Person and Court or when the Kings of England lived in the City it self How came Ludgate to be the Gate of the People more than of the rest Neither is Lelands Opinion any thing more to be embraced who calleth it Fludgate from the little Rivolet running beneath it It is a thousand pities for the sake of this invention that the Gate was not built upon the Rivulet but now as the case standeth this most miserable Derivation is not to be helped out but by a faith that is able to remove Mountains Let therefore King Lud enjoy the Honour of that Structure whose very mute Statue as Mr. Sheringham saith seems to call out against those who would deprive him of it But besides these two Magnificent Works the Wall and the Gate this Prince is said to have taken such exceeding delight in this City that he built himself a Palace not far from Ludgate supposed by some to have been in the place where the Bishop of Londons Palace stood Others think at Bernards Castle he is thought to have built a Temple also not far from his Court where St. Pauls Cathedral afterwards stood and by these great Works and his continual residence in that City the name of Troy-novant was changed into London or Lundain that is the residency of King Lud. The British Histories write that the changing the name from Troy-novant into Lundain was the cause of great dissension between King Lud and a bold Commander of those times Nennius who eagerly opposed this Innovation whereby the Memory of Troy which so long bad been preserved would be utterly abolished But this story is very much suspected of late to have been altogether Fabulous and there are other Derivations given of the Name of that most Famous City Erasmus brings it from a City in Rhodes called Lindus but this is rejected by Mr. Cambden who in the place of it puts down two Conjectures The first is That seeing the Britains called any place fenced with Trees a Town or City which they expressed by the word Lihwn that this City by way of Excellence might be named the Lihwn and afterwards by corruption London But the second is more probable That it was called London from Lihong signifying in the British Tongue a Ship and Dinas in the same Language a City so that it is as much as the City of Ships And to confirm this Opinion he proves that it was called Anciently Longidinium and by an Old British Bard Lihong-Porth that is a Harbour of Ships In my thoughts this seems to be the truest Etymologie of that most honourable City which in all Ages hath been a place of great Traffick and Commerce with the whole World and by the convenience of its Scituation upon so Navigable a River can receive Ships of great Burthen and in great Multitudes so that the Masts of them appear to be what the Britains called Llhwun namely Woods and Forrests As concerning the Name of TROY-Novant by which this City is supposed to have formerly been called because I am now taking my leave of the British History and am come to the time of the Romans I will freely put down my Conjecture Nant in the British Tongue or Novant for they are both one as Mr. Cambden shews signifies a Valley and Cre Cri or Cra a City and both taken from the Phoenicians as I have shewn by several Places in Cornwal Crinovant therefore is as much as the City of the Vallies for the People who were under the subjection of this City lived Low upon the River Thames and the whole Region in a manner lay in a Valley so that they may be supposed to have been called as other places have been upon the same account Noantes Novantes or Nantuates and this City Crinovant or the City of the Novantes the similitude of which Name as I have shewn in another place gave occasion to those who began the Trojan Original to call it Troy-novant or the New-Troy King LUD after he had Reigned eleven years and was Interr'd in his Temple near Ludgate left behind him two Sons Androgeus and Theomantius Com. Pal. saith that this Lud was Sir-named Immanuentius and was slain by his Brother Cassibelan at Troy-novant and that his eldest Son Androgeus was Sir-named Mandubratius and was the same Prince of the Trinobantes whom we find in Caesar's Commentaries to have sled into Gallia and to have put himself under the protection of Caesar. Of this Mandubratius I shall have occasion to speak in the History of the Romans in this Island whom we shall find Invading it in the next Kings Reign called cassibelanus And seeing now we are come to the Times of the Roman Histories the Authority of which is unquestionable I shall faithfully Collect the Government of Britain under their Emperours from the Latin Writers themselves yet not altogether so as to neglect absolutely the British Histories in the Lives of their Kings and the Circumstances of their Government This I do because that the Histories of the Romans concerning this Island as their Government in it is often broke off and interrupted and those Breaches are supplied by the continuance of the British Succession but I shall place the Roman History in the first place as infinitely surpassing the British in its Authority and all along the British History shall be set under it as attending only and subservient to it THE NAMES OF THE Roman Emperours WHO GOVERNED THIS ISLAND FROM The first Invasion thereof by Julius Caesar until it was quitted of the Roman Jurisdiction by Honorius immediately before the Entrance of the Saxons AND A Catalogue of the Lieutenants employed by them JULIUS CAESAR The first Invader of the Britains after whose Second
Warryor in the German Besides it appears more manifest that Kamper or Kimper a Warryor hath nothing to do in the derivation of the Ancient Nation the Cimbri if it be considered that Kamper proceeding from Camp in the German Tongue signifying a Field where Souldiers pitch their Tents seems to be derived from the Latin Campus a Field Now the name of the Cimbri was long before ever the Latins can be supposed to have carried any thing of their Language into Germany But Lazius the Author of this Etymology of the Cimbrians did not much relie upon the truth of it himself seeing in another place forgetting what he had written before he names the Cimbri from I know not what King called Cambrivius the Grand-son of Aschenas As the name of the Cimbri from their continual molesting their Neighbours was used by the Gauls in their Tongue to express Robbers so from the exceeding proportion of their Limbs being generally men of great and extraordinary Stature in After times Cimber came also to be taken for a Gyant In the Danish Tongue Pontanus saies Kimber Kemp and Kemper signifie properly a Gyant Now that the Cimbri were in truth very remarkable in this point as likewise the Cymri of Britain according to Strabo who saies He saw very Youths taller by half a foot than the tallest Men Caesar largely expresseth by the general Consternation of his Army in his march against Ariovestus their Leader They were described to the Romans just as the Canaanites were to the Children of Israel and we may judge of the dreadful apprehension the Gauls had of them by the like expression they used to Caesar namely That they were so exceeding Tall that other Nations seemed as nothing in their eyes And that Cimbrian whom Manlius encountred is described by the Romans like a Goliah of a vast and unweildy Body but whilst he stood in the rank of his own Army there was no great disproportion visible in him from the rest but when he had stalked out some paces and came higher the Romans they began to be amazed and astonished at the sight And as Kimber from the great proportion of these Cimbri came to signifie a Gyant in the Danish Tongue so from a part of them called Getes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also came to signifie a Gyant but as the Nation of the Getes is far Ancienter than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Gyant this word being derived from them so the Cumerii or Cimbri were a People long before either Kampher Kimper or Kimber had any of the aforementioned significations for this cause the Cimbri could not receive their Names from those words the signification of which they themselves had occasioned Many other remarkable Qualities these Cimbri had which were also taken notice of in the Cumri of Britain namely their exceeding swiftness by which they could lay their hands on the Mayns of their Horses and equal them in their Race as is witnessed by Caesar. This might give occasion to other significations of the word Kimber in after Ages among the Germans viz. to express Strength and Nimbleness Mr. Sherringham takes notice that in Norfolk they say a Kemper Old Man that is Brisk and Lively These Cimbri therefore who are supposed by Mr. Cambden to be the Fathers of our Cumri in Britain I think that none will doubt but that they were a German Nation seeing their Name also continued long after in Germany and in regard their settlement in Gaul and upon the Sea parts of it especially came by Conquest and not Primitive possession But as all Nations upon some secret and unknown causes have often many ebbs and flows as to matters of Manhood and Courage so it happened that before Caesars daies as he himself writes the Gauls exceeded the Germans in Valour and possibly then it might be that the Gauls encreasing in Number and Power and recovering their Ancient Seats might proceed into Britain also and here invade part of the Cimbri who had long before placed themselves in this Island And although these Gauls had obtained the Sea-Coasts and entred far into the Inland parts so by long possession came to be called Britains yet they were looked upon by the more Ancient Inhabitants as Encroachers only they esteeming themselves only as the Aborigines of the Island I have been more particular in treating of these Cimbri because from a branch of this very same Nation in after Ages our English Ancestors proceeded Providence so ordering it that although the Ancient Cumri of Britain were grievously molested by the Gauls and afterwards afflicted and kept under by the Romans yet may they be said to have recovered these Seats again although not by themselves being but a small Relick yet by the succession of a People descended of the same Original But whether these Cimbri entred the Northern and Eastern parts of this Island before the Phoenicians arrived in the West is a thing altogether unsearchable but I have shewed in all likelyhood that it was Seven or Eight hundred years after the Flood before any part of it was Inhabited In the following Mapp I shew the progress of the Cimbri on the Continent on one part and the Voyages of the Phoenicians from the Streights on the other The Procession of the Cimbri is more Obscure upon the account that all the knowledge we have of them proceeds from the Greeks and Romans there being nothing of their Language remaining which we can say was particularly theirs nor any Records of that as well as other German Nations whereon to build any solid foundation of Antiquity But on the other side all these Proofs are not wanting in the Voyages of the Phoenicians their Language is sufficiently known and by it they may and are traced not only through all the parts of the Mediterranean but on this side of the Streights also even in Britain it self as shall be shewn hereafter a Nation of the greatest Antiquity being it self One and Conversant with the most Knowing and Experienced People of the World As Learning and Science is especially got by Commerce and they were the Wisest People that lived on the Mediterranean and followed Trading in the Primitive Ages of the World so that Phoenicians in this point exceeded all other People their Colonies were more numerous and their Voyages greater than any Nation besides The Greeks did but Copy-out their Actions and the Names that were given by the Phoenicians to all places they Traded unto were translated by the Greeks into their own Language which will appear in the following Mapp of the Ancient WORLD wherein the Phoentcian names of the Countries are exactly put down with the Greeks in all or most of those places to which both those Nations in different times Traded From these Phoenicians therefore the first Antiquity of this Nation is to be deduced which will more evidently appear in the following Chapters wherein it will be manifest that Britain as well as the rest of
defaced could read no one Sentence through yet could I well perceive in several places the word Prytania If this Book be admitted of any considerable Antiquity as that Humphry Lloyd speaks true that there is no first Radical Letter B in the Welch Tongue but that they were called Prydayns by themselves I believe without doubt the Greeks from this way of the Islanders derived them from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prytania signifying Mettals in their own Language for they knowing that the first Original Name Bretanica came from the Phoenicians in which name the Commodity of the Country Tynn was expressed and finding it corrupted by the Natives into Pretan Prytan or something like it easily making 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wittingly embraced this occasion to derive the Country from a word from their own Language signifying Mettals so that if there be any truth in the Derivation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it must of necessity proceed from this Fountain The like may be said of Bretta the Spanish word Earth from whence some have derived it For if there be any kind of Truth delivered by Tradition of such a thing among the Spaniards then it must come from those Spaniards which in former times were called Iberi that is Diggers in Mines and as the word importeth it was derived from the Phoenicians That these Iberi might be employed by the Phoenicians in the Tynn Mines in BRITAIN is not unlike for Tacitus saies That the Complexion of the South part of Britain differs much from the Northern and both from those parts that lie upon France and therefore he is of Opinion that the North parts were Peopled by the Germans the Eastern Coast by the opposite Neighbours the Gauls and the South parts by the Iberi This he gathers by the different Complexion of the People the North Britains being Fair having large Limbs long Yellow hair as the Germans have the South Britains being Swarthy and Curled hair like the Spaniards the Coast lying upon France agreeing in Language Customes and in every thing with the Gauls It is difficult to perswade me that Primitively any part of Britain could be Peopled out of Spain by entire Colonies but rather that it is more natural that this Island being peopled by Colonies descending down the Rhine and filling France Belgium and all that Tract of Ground the Spaniards came to the South part as Miners only being very active and expert in that Trade having plenty of Mines in their own Country as the Roman Histories witness continued unexhausted even to Hannibals daies According to this account it must certainly be vainly supposed of the derivation of Britain from Bretta signifying Earth in Spanish especially when considered this Island once in conjunction with the Continent but from the Spanish Mariners who took Bretta from the Phoenician Brat the first syllable in Bratanac signifying Earth For it will frequently happen that the Truth of things is delivered down though the Reason by which men would evidence them are often vain and frivolous according to the divers apprehensions and conceptions of Men. The time when the Phoenicians came from Tyre and Zidon their own Native Country to discover BRITAIN THE next thing I shall shew is about what time the Phoenicians from Tyre came into the Western Seas and when in all reason it may be supposed they discovered and named this Island for from the Certainty and Antiquity of their Navigations will depend the evidence of our Derivation And I shall also make it appear that the Tyrians before the Trojan War under their Captain and Country man Hercules having Trafficked to all the parts of the Inland Sea at last passed the Streights of Gibraltar having first built several Cities on the Streights and possessed Tartessus Erythea and Gades Islands with great part of the Continent of Spain and Africk lying on the Sea Coasts as many Monuments of their Language and Customes do evidence And that the Western Sea was discovered before the Trojan War we learn from the Ancient Poets Orpheus and Homer with whom nothing is more frequent than those sayings That the EARTH was an Island and encompassed round with the SEA And first Orpheus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Sea around the Earth her Water throws And in that Circle does it all inclose Upon this very account was it called AMPHITRITE by Homer its going round the Earth as Herodotus speaks in his fourth Book Homer makes the Sun to arise and set in the Ocean and in the first Mapp of the World as I may call it the Shield of Achilles which Vulcan makes him we find that the Earth was in the midst of the Waters for the SEA was placed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vpon the extream borders of the Shield From whence could Orpheus and Homer have this if not by Tradition from the Phoentcians for Colaeus Samius was the first of the Greeks that discovered the Western Ocean and he lived four hundred years after Homer besides he never went farther than Tartessus but contented himself with the discovery of the Streights mouth only and to have seen that Ocean so that we must suppose Homer had it by Tradition from the Phoenicians as Bochartus proves him to have had many Names of Places particularly the ELYSIAN FIELDS in Hispania BETICA Let us hearken also what Strabo saith to this business speaking of the Phoenicians They saies he went beyond HERCULES Pillars and there built Cities even to the middle of Lybia on the Sea Coast a little while after the TROJAN War and Mr. Milton saies that he thinks that ALBION has some relation to these Actions in Lybia quasi Alebion so called by the Phoenicians which in my opinion is the most probable Derivation I ever read of ALBION However we see that the Navigations of the Phoenicians into these Seas were Ancient Herodotus makes mention with wonder of some Phoenicians sent by Nero how they failed round Africa and returned through the Streights of Gibraltar having in their Voyage the Sun on their Right hand part of which story Herodotus will not believe It must needs be true for after they had passed the Tropick of Cancer beyond which Africk runs out many degrees Now this story so innocently told by Herodotus as a Wonder argues the Ignorance of the Greeks and the great Experience the Phoenicians had in those Seas all along the Coast of Africk This I conjecture is the cause why men beyond Reason have drawn their Voyages even to the East Indies under King Solomon and to the West under Hanno and Himilco a Fate we often see that attends Great Actions when over-fond men out of a desire to magnisie things Famous beyond their true proportions inconsiderately stretch them beyond the bounds of Truth and Modesty Having said thus much of the Derivation of BRITANNIA that it came from the Phoenicians Bratanac let us see whether the Graecians might not take the name
and possibly this Bird might be derived from the same Root Parat to sing for which excellency she is chiefly admired Thus in short have I run over all the Words used by Mr. Cambden to prove the Gauls and Britains the same Nation with intention not to deny but they were used by both Nations with variation only in Dialect but to shew that this consent and harmony in some points of their Language cannot evidently demonstrate them one and the same People but that it proceeded from the Phoenician Traffick into Britain and the Mart for Tynn which they kept in Gaul To which may be added that the Gauls as Caesar witnesseth sent their Children into Britain to be Educated in Learning and Religion where without any doubt they learnt great part of their Language For Britain being the Learneder Nation of the two could not proceed from any other cause than the Concourse of Phoenicians and Greeks to it upon the account of Trade but especially the Phoenicians of whom the Greeks themselves confess they received their Letters As it is not my intent in this place to search into the Language of the Britains but only what relates to the proving of the Phoenician Traffick into these Countries and that the Name of BRITAIN proceeded from them and not from any such word as Bryth and Cania so give me leave summarily to recount what has been said of this Matter How that the Phoenicians about the time of the Trojan War sayled into these Seas first discovering the Scilly Islands and finding them full of Tynn Mines they called them in their Language BRATANAC From hence they carried all the Tynn the Greeks afterwards used who from the Phoenician Bratanac called them in their Language word for word the same namely CASSITERIDES But when Bratanac prevailed then the Greeks used Bretanica long before Britannia as has been proved And that some Islands about Albion were called Britains before this it self was called so I have manifested out of Pliny which Islands could be none but the Scilly Islands But when the Phoenicians had discovered the Mines of Tynn and Lead in Cornwal and Devonshire then began the Name to prevail over this Island also To make this evident I have shewn many Foot-steps and Remains of their Language and Customes remaining to this day among the Britains and especially in Cornwal and Devonshire and have given a short Catalogue of Words relating to the scituation and nature of Places which most frequently occur in the composition of Towns Cities Forts Hills c. in the Western parts of England where they most conversed And all this that the Phoenician Voyages to Our Island might appear the more clear and evident and that Britain it self received its Name from them as well as other more particular Places which Mr. Cambden in one particular himself confesses when he saies That the Syrians meaning the Phoenicians sending out so many Colonies left great part of their Language in most places of the World Now if he had seriously considered and not have deceived himself by misunderstanding Plybius That Britain was but lately known certainly he would have given a more exact account of this most Renowned Island and never have derived its name from Bryth Painting a Custome among very few of them and that many hundred years after it was called Bretanica THE Antiquity and Original OF THE PHOENICIANS THEIR Correspondence and Agreement WITH THE JEWS HAving discoursed thus much of the Phoenicians in this ISLAND it will not be amiss to shew from whence they derive their Original Bochartus in his first Book and first Chapter concerning Canaan learnedly and evidently proves that they were the same with the Canaanites from the Identity of their Names although promiscuously given them Scituations Language Institutes Arts Manners Customes Gods Rites and Ceremonies By promiscuousness I mean when as the Land of Canaan is called the Land of the Phoenicians and the Phoenicians the Canaanites As for Example the Woman in St. Matthews Gospel is called a Canaanite by St. Marks interpretation is made a Syrophoenician which clearly demonstrates the promiscuous way of naming that People although all of one Original And Bochartus further shews that the Phoenicians were the Sons of Anak and therefore saies that the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is most properly to be derived from the the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Son or Sons of Anak insomuch that the Greeks from the Canaanitish word Ben Anak and by contraction Beanak formed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from whence more truly sprang 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Phoenicia And the Graecians through Ambition endeavouring to fasten all the honour of Primitive knowledge upon their own Ancestors obscured the true Antiquity of most Nations and that evidently appears in their attributing more Honour to their own Hercules than the Phoenician from whom they had received most of their Arts and Sciences foisting in those words to derive their Originals as best seemed agreeable to their own genius and probable conjecture so that in giving 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Original of Phoenicia which by interpretation was a place in that Country where a multitude of Palm-Trees grew they also put 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying Red in allusion to the Red Sea upon which those People bordered from which they were also called the Idumaean Tyrians and so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phoenicians And still proceeding after that ingenious Method of naming People according to the product of their own Brains as I have instanced in other matters in another place they sounded also the word upon them agreeable to the Jewish Institution as they suted with them in their strang kind of inhumane and unnatural Customes in sacrificing to their Gods For as the Jews sacrificed their Sons and Daughters to Devils viz. unto Molock that god was in high esteem with the Phoenicians and although it discovers the near Allyance and Correspondence between the Jews and Phoenicians yet was it altogether improper from thence to derive the Original of Nation and a People too so considerable as they were upon no better foundation of Antiquity This Molock was also the God of the Ammonites and the same with Baal c. the Original of whose name proceeded from Belus or Bel the King of the Phoenicians or Tyrians and this also gives some light from whence the Old Romans of whom I shall treat particularly by themselves might receive the first Institution a though perhaps performed after another way and Method of consecrating their Princes after death to be no less than Gods The Canaanites were willing to receive the names of Phoenicians Syrians ‑ Assyrians Sidonians and Syrophoenicians rather than Canaanites to blot out the Remembrance of that great and terrible Persecution they received from the Jews ensuing the Curse laid on their Father Canaan so that in truth the word SYRIAN became a Common
Name to them and their neighbouring Nations proceeding from Tyre the Metropolis of Phoenicia yet all the Canaanites who from that time received all these Names were not all of one and the same Family and Lineage for they must be distinguisht into two parts 1. Those that came from Tyre the grand City in Phoenicia were called Syrians Assyrians and Syrophoenicians 2. But those that came from Ashur and dwelt beyond Euphrates were of another stock and so known by Sidonians and Phoenicians by themselves Thus Hesychius To treat now a little of the Correspondency and Agreement between the Jews and Phoenicians will be necessary and as we have had occasion to set down the Original of the Phoenicians so in brief shall that be concerning the Jews more especially when it is to be considered there happened so mutual a Friendship and Correspondency between them The word HEBREW in most likelyhood proceeded from Eber or Heber the father of Phaleg so called from the Confusion of Languages and it must be understood that all the Nations of the Canaanites by different Sir-names were derived from the best known Authors of their Families which in a particular manner is described by Moses himself in his Book of Genesis Chap. the 10th and so it happened with Heber and Phalegs Generations who were the Issue of Shem yet all the People that sprang from the Hebrew Nation c. differed not in their Language save only in Dialect and it is instanced in the Punick Language to shew the Agreement between the Phoenicians and them and it is further Argued that the difference in latter times did more plainly appear foisting by long continuance many things into the Punick which were intrinsick thereunto insomuch that those words that did agree with the Radicals of the Hebrew differed only in the flexions of Vowels in sound and yet not in signification The Hebrew continued in its native purity until the Captivity of Babylon which Language beginning from the Creation was preserved very near Three thousand and forty years and then and not before it degenerated from its primary Institution for the Jews after their return from the Captivity suffered the Chaldee Syriac and Philistin Idioms to intrude into it and therefore no wonder there happened in process of time some variance relating thereunto that at last they lost both the Language and Worship they were born in And whereas the word HEBREW was particularly appropriated to Israel it was because the Israelites possest the Land of Canaan by a divine Decree and the Hebrews had not enjoyed their Language so long as they did had it not been for the benefit of the Patriarks to make their Peregrination in Canaan the more easie In the first Ages of the World between the Jews and Phoenicians there happened a great disagreement in maintaining of Interests Rights and Ceremonies but after some debate between them the Jews taking a fancy to the Phoenician Worship the Phoenicians answered their kindness by affecting their mysterious Doctrine and Ceremonies and so making Religion like a Merchandize of Goods they exchanged the one for the other the Jews sent them Traditions Laws and Mysteries in lieu of which was returned a set method of Idolatry Custome and the Name of the Phoenicians which happened so early as to receive its first birth in the time of the Judges yet grew not up to its nature and full perfection till Solomons time and if the true Original of the Phoenicians according to the Greeks is to be derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intimating the Red Sea which relates to the passage of the Israelites through the Red Sea into Egypt as they agree in Names so must they be one and the same People without such need of distinction insomuch that where Herodotus under the name of Phoenicians treats of the Jews speaks that those Jews that were Circumcised in Palestine were called Syrians which was an additional name to Canaan and a great probability of it Syria lying as near Judaea as one County or Village in England can properly be said to border one upon another so that in time what by Commerce and Neighbour-hood they might be best known by one and the same Name The cause of making the Phoenicians so early Marriners was not only through their ambition of Empire and particular genius to Navigation and Merchandize but through necessity of inventing the best and safest way of escaping the hands of Joshua who persecuted them with an Army of Israelites who after they had made themselves Masters of most part of the Land of Canaan they were driven up into a slender Nook of Earth too narrow to contain so great and numerous a Body disceded themselves into good Shipping to seek their Fortunes in most parts of the World of whose Company Britain received a considerable share These were the People so publickly commended for distributing Arts and Sciences and if we should attempt to trace them to the end of their long Voyages value the Richness of their Merchandize we must measure the Heavens and number the Stars which certainly is beyond the Art of Arithmetick to accomplish CHAP. VI. The Greeks in BRITAIN COncerning the Phoenicians Traffick into this ISLAND I have discoursed at large and have proved that long before the Greek COLAEUS had discovered the West Ocean Britain had been Famous for its Commodities of Tynn and Lead through all the Mediterranean Seas and that the name BRETANICA was many years known in their Parts before ever the Greeks had so much as the least knowledge of these Islands I come now to treat of the Greeks arrival in BRITAIN the discovery of these Cassiterides or Bretanick Countries which before they had known only by Hear-say and of which they had writ so much upon the Relations of the Phoenicians that Pliny saies BRITAIN was famous in the Greek Monuments long before the times of the Romans The usefulness of those excellent Commodities imported from Britain into those Parts rendered the Greeks very curious after the search of them It is not to be doubted but the Phoenicians very studiously concealed this Treasure from them as we find they did from the Romans because they being the great Trading Nation of the World they were jealous least these Mines once discovered to their Neighbours who by this time had learnt of them the Art of Navigation they should lose the Advantages that infinite Trade of Tynn and Lead which had hitherto been a peculiar Monopoly to themselves and which they had dispersed and sold to all Nations at their own prizes That this is true Strabo in his third Book of his Geography witnesseth ' At the beginning saith he the Phoenicians alone Traded to Britain from Gades and concealed from others this Navigation but when a Roman Vessel followed a certain Master of a Ship that they themselves might learn this traffick of Merchandize he upon a spiteful Envy ran his Ship on purpose upon the Sands and after he
Africk even to Carthage and the Streights of Gibraltar that Egypt a place of great fertility without any question was much frequented by them We read in Herodotus that the Egyptians did make a sort of drink with Barly and the invention of it was very Ancient in that Kingdom the particulars thereof he describeth Now why may not this Custome be thought to come from them by the means of the Phoenicians who found Britain very fruitful in that Grain and not inferiour to Egypt it self in the wonderful production of it For as Egypt was esteemed the Granary of those parts so was Britain of these yea as Orpheus calls it The very Seat of the Lady Ceres so that the usefulness of this Invention of the Egyptians who abounded in Corn was not less to the Britains This Drink which we call Ale by the Britains at this day is called Kwrw by the Gauls Korma so Athenaeus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is corrected by Causabon out of Manuscripts as thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by Dioscorides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Marcellus Curmi Dioscorides names it not wrong seeing Marcellus and Athenaeus agree with him For although at this day the word be depraved into Kwrw by our Welch Britains yet no doubt Anciently and Primitively it was called Corma Cormi or Curmi or else something like it By transposing of the R and M making Comra for Corma we have the very Phoenician word of this Liquor which the Britains drank instead of Wine If any shall say that Chomra in the Phoenician Tongue signifies Wine and not Ale let them consider that at this day we give that name of Wine to Drinks not produced of the Grape And seeing the Britains used it instead of Wine no doubt as Bochartus saies they gave it the same Appellation Now seeing this Custome was used only in Britain and the parts adjacent having plenty of that Grain and in respect we read of no other Nation but the Egyptian that used it since the Phoenicians were frequent in Egypt and Traded also into these Islands and more especially since the name of this Rwrw or Curmi is Phoenician we have not the least cause to doubt of the original of this Custome but that the Britains received it from this fountain Pliny writes of the Britains that in some solemn Feasts and Sacrifices they coloured themselves like AEthiopians all over their Bodies being naked at the Solemnities whence could the Britains have this Custome if not from the same Original As in AEgypt so in Britain as Gildas saies Ugly Spectres meerly Diabolical nay in the number of them Britain as he reporteth rather exceeded AEgypt These they placed upon their Walls within and without and as they cut them in the same shapes as the Britains did so I suppose by the like placing them they esteem'd them of a Talismanical nature to expel Mischief and to defend their Walls Some of these Representations were remaining in the Ruines of their Cities to Gildas his daies who describes them to have ugly Lineaments with stern and grim looks after the manner of those of AEgypt Perhaps they might be Monkies or Baboons Creatures much worshipt in those Countries But of this I shall treat of more fully in the Chapter which concerns the Idolatry of the Britains To the same Original may be reduced the great opinion the Britains had of the Art Magick which by a peculiar name was called the Learning of the AEgyptians Pliny saies the Britains were so wholly devoted to it and had such entire Ceremonies in the performance as a man would imagine that the Persians learnt all their Magick from them which Flourish of Pliny I conjecture gave occasion to Annius Viterbiensis in his seigned Berosus to make Magus a King of this Island who taught this Art and spread it abroad in the World Upon such slender foundations do Confident men ground their own idle and ridiculous Inventions and these very Customes the Britains learnt of the Phoenicians Mr. Selden sets down a British Custome namely that when any Great man died his Relations made great enquiry of his Wives if they suspected cause concerning his death If they found them guilty with Fire and other Torments they proceeded against them Sr. Edward Cooke refers to this Original the Law of England for burning Women that kill their Husbands c. The Britains as Caesar reports did not esteem it lawful to eat either Hare Hen or Goose but kept them for pleasure and their delicate Diet as Pliny saies were the Chenerotes Fowls less than wild Geese which some have made to be Brauts or Soland Geese so that Caesar and Pliny do after this account disagree in their Relation unless we believe that the Britains had left off this Custome not long after the Arrival of the Romans into this Island However this distinction of Meats their making some lawful others unlawful some clean and others unclean Mr. Selden saith relished something of the Jews and was rarely observed in any but Eastern Nations as Phoenicia AEgypt and Syria c. with whom the Jews conversed With the Syrians the Britains agreed in that Custome in not eating of Fish but seeing this is by Dio Nicaeus only reported of the Northern Britains and that the Custome of Diets do vary according to the diversities of Ages it cannot be expected that exact accounts can be given of it Their usual Diet was of any sort of prey as Venison Fruit and Milk but they had not learnt to make Cheese of it They inured themselves to Hardness so as to be able to endure any cold hunger and labour whatever Dio Nicaeus reports of them That they would stick themselves in Boggs up to the heads and there continue many daies together without any sustenance and upon occasion retiring and hiding themselves in the Woods they fed on the Barks and Roots of Trees as the Indians at this day are wont to do But I cannot imagine what Meat that should be which Dio saies they preserved on all occasions whereof if they eat but the quantity of a Bean it satisfied their hunger and thirst Dio Siculus reports in general That the Food they eat was simple not dainty according to the luxury of rich Nations likewise that they howed their Corn and brought it in by Sheaves but never threshing out more than what served their present occasion which is a perfect sign that they did Till their Grounds Pliny saies They did manure them with Marle Dio Nicaeus writes of the Northern Britains that they Till'd no Ground and Strabo saies That some of them were altogether ignorant not only in Gardning and Planting of Orchards but in all other parts of Husbandry Thus what Dio Nicaeus saies of the Northern Britains only and Strabo of a few of them Mr. Speed confounds the whole Nation making Diodorus Siculus and Pliny to
before was a Garment wore by the Gauls and Britains of which Martial thus writes Lassi Bardiacus quod evocati Malles quà m quod oles olere Bassa This Garment was of divers Colours woven together and made a gaudy shew without doubt very pleasant to the Britains in those daies as we find the Indians to be much taken with the like It is called Bardes in the Phoenician Dialect and Bord or Borda by the Arabians and no doubt by the Phoenicians was brought into these parts which words are very sufficient also to prove from whence the Bardi received their Name The Arabians wore it mixt only with black and yellow but generally it was made up of some colours in the nature of our Fools Coats Hence it is that St. Augustine in his 68th Epistle of the Circumcelliones saith Presbyterum burdâ vestitum c. they cloathed a Priest in this habit and shewed him as a ridiculous spectacle But however odd this Garment seems in our daies certainly it was worn by the chief Nobility and greatest Princes of the Britains If Mr. Cambden from the divers Colours which he finds out in the Names of the British Princes would make them to be diversly Painted he had better have looke for it in these Coats than in their Skins for as for their Bodies they used but one Colour in the dying of them Mr. Speed with whom Mr. Cambdens Derivation of Britannia from Brith is all Gospel in confirmation of it has exposed two Naked Britains to view not considering the Circumstances of time how that it was long after they were called BRITAINS they took up that Custome To Answer him Since I suppose Britain to be truly and rightly derived from Bratanac in the Phoenician Tongue signifying a Country of Tynn and upon the account that from hence that useful Commodity was dispersed by them through the whole World upon the very same account are these Islands called by the Greeks the same as Bratanac namely Cassiterides the Tynn Islands I will represent one Person of the Bretanick Islanders who lived I suppose in the Forelings or Scyllies in which Islands together with Cornwal and Devonshire Mettal most abounded The description of which is given by Strabo They are Inhabited saies he by Men wearing black Garments clad in side Coats descending to their Ankles going with Staves like the Furies in Tragedies Mines they have of Tynn and Lead which they exchange for Earthen-Pots Salt and Brazen ware Megens Phoenicum condemnavere metallis Polluit hinò yultus eruta terra meos Quamvis ore niger yidearg inyestibus atrox Candidus intereà moribus esse feror These are the Silures of whom Tacitus writes That their Hair was black and curled differing from the rest of the Britains in their swarthy Countenances by which he reckons them to be of a Spanish Original namely the Off-spring of the Iberi who were great Miners but we have shewn treating in the Chapter of the Phoenicians that in all probabillity they were called Silures from some Colony of the Phoenicians Trading with them as their Name in the Phoenician Tongue importeth And we may observe that as the adjacent Islands the Sorelings especially were called Bretanick upon the account of their Tynn Mines when this was known by the name of Albion only so there was an Island called Silura lying off of Cornwal which I believe gave the Name to the Silures in South Wales So that Britannia in general and the Silures in particular both took their Names from Bretannick or Tynn Islands which we have proved to be first discovered by the Phoenicians The Habits of these Western Britains were remarkable for their Length and Colour the former of which together with the Staff they used to carry argues that some Eastern Colonies and especially the Phoenicians traded with them and although by the Black colour of their Hair and Garments their Swarthy complexions and their Staves they seem'd like Furies in Tragedies yet are they described by the same Author to be of a gentle and kind Disposition of a fair and honest Behaviour simple and sincere in their Conversation and generally the Britains by most Authors are so set out They have not saies Diodorus Siculus the craft and subtilty of other Nations but are fair Condition'd People of a plain and upright Dealing They had all things in Common amongst them and would not admit of any Propriety at all after the manner of the Germans described by Caesar from whom in all probability they descended insomuch that the same Author reports That ten or twelve of them agreed together in the promiscuous use of one Woman Brethren with Brethren nay Parents with their own Children The Issue they had by them they nurtured and brought up by a Common-stock though they were reputed his in a more especial manner who married the Mother in her Virginity This incestuous Custome was frequent among the Athenians before Cecrops daies as Mr. Selden notes and I conjecture was only used by the wilder sort of Britains and continued it was a long while after the Romans had subdued this Island For we read that Julia the Empress of Severus twitted the Wife of Argentocorus with it who replied in this manner We British Women do truly differ herein from you Roman Ladies for we satisfie our selves with the accompanying with the Worthiest men openly but you with every Base fellow in a corner These are the most memorable Customes used by the Britains in which they agreed sometimes with the Gauls sometimes with the Germans according as they were derived from either and some Customes we have shewn they had particular to themselves of which no account can be given and others also which could have no other Original but from the Phoenicians or Graecians which Originals besides the congruity the Britains had with no other Western Nation their Neighbours is evidently shewn out of the very Names of the Customes themselves Certainly it would take up a Volume if any one better skill'd in the Phoenician Greek and British Tongues and in the customes of these three Nations would sit himself down seriously and fully to compare their respective waies and manner of Living their Habits Coyns Laws and other Circumstances In all which as likewise in their manner of Warring there seems such an apparent similitude between the aforesaid Nations that they seem rather Neighbours than to be so far disjoyned as they are But it will suffice if by this small account given of them a way may be opened to an ingenious Undertaker to search deeper into the matter and so I shall pass on to their Customes in War CHAP. VIII The Custome of the BRITAINS in their Wars and Manner of Fighting BRITAIN at the first entrance of it by Julius Caesar was divided into a great many petty States and Governments insomuch that the different Interest of Princes was the cause of continual Wars and Dissensions
nothing like a Spit and was not for thrusting but hewing and slashing It is more probably derived from Spatin in the same Dialect which being a plural word and signifying only Staves yet by adding the word Biszel or Iron they are general interpreted words Sparum another Weapon used in Gaul Festus derives from Spargendo but probably it may be supposed to be called Sparon by the Phoenicians from the Root Sapar from whence comes Sophron signifying an Iron Edge Cataia according to Isidore is a Weapon made of the softest Mettal which by reason of its weight did not fly far but with great force brake through wherever it lit and why may not this come from Catat signifying to break in pieces and scatter the Enemies Forces Bochartus thinks these Cataia are meant those Ingentes Clavae made mention of by Ammianus which were set on fire and which he saies the Barbarians flung on their Enemies and with which together with their Swords they brake through their Left wing but I never read of any Fire ever made use of by the Britains in their Fights but only when the Romans invaded Anglesey and whether they were these Cataiae which Tacitus calls Fire-brands it is hard to judge Lancea comes according to Festus from the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and perhaps was brought immediately by the Graecians into Britain for it is very difficult to bring it from Romcha changing R into L although there wants not several Examples of that nature as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lilium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clibanus Pereginus the Gaulish Peterin Matara another Weapon which I suppose was their Darts they flung out of their Charriots it is also called Mataris and Materis but by Hesychius Madaris Strabo saies it is of the kind of Weapons called Palta And Pollux saith Paltum was a Medish Dart so that we may gather it had its Original in the Eastern Countries in whose Dialect Matara signifies to dart To these names of their Weapons I will only add two more of their Instruments in War The first Manga Mangana and Mangonale an Engine to fling Stones with the French call it Mangoneaux by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but whether brought by them or the Phoenicians into these Parts is doubt worthy but in the Phoenician Dialect Manganon signifieth the same Engine Add to this Carnon a Trumpet in the same Language in the Arabian Dialect is called Carnon in the Syrian Carno or Carna so that this also proceeds from the Phoenicians And now this shall suffice to have been spoken of the Armour used by our Britains The Britains before they undertook any War are reported according to the Customes of other Nations to have enquired into the Entrals of Beasts yea and of Men also and I suppose had the same methods of judging whether Success was portended or no. They fought under the Conduct of Women discoloured their Faces and shaped their Bodies into divers figures they used Superstitious and Magical Exclamations in the beginning of their Battles with many other Rites and Usages which will more properly be shewn in the course of the History seeing they relate to the Britains after they were subdued by the Romans and are not of so Ancient a date as to be placed here where nothing was designed to be spoke of but what was almost of equal standing with the first Plantation of this Island it self CHAP. IX The BRITISH Idolatry their several GODS and superstitious Rites and Ceremonies of Worship IT is certain by the Testimony of Caesar and other approved Authors that the Britains had the same GODS with the Gauls and agreed with them in their manner of Worship using the same religious Rites and superstitious Ceremonies they did Neither indeed could it be otherwise if we do but consider what care the Druids took who were the common Priests of both Nations to preserve the unity of Religion and the exact observancies of their Order For besides the yearly Synods held in the Isle of Anglesey or Man under a President who had Jurisdiction over all Britain and great part of Gallia they had a solemn and general Sessions in the Marches of the Carnutes about Charters a Country held to be in the middle of all France To this great Assembly resorted the Druids from all Parts to hear Causes and to consult about the affairs of Religion in which Consultation the British Druids carried the most eminent Authority having learned their general Discipline in a Country where it was first begun and more exactly taught and to whose Schools the Druids of France resorted to be more fully instructed in the more hidden and more abstruse Mysteries of their Religion This consent of both Nations in the uniformity of Worship does not argue them to be of the same Original but is to be attributed to a Druid Interest who notwithstanding the continual Animosities arising between petty Princes and the great Heart burnings between the Inland Britains and the Gauls that had invaded them Nevertheless they kept up their Authority and Interest on all hands partly by the Holiness of life and partly by the assistance of the Secular Power thereby so brought it about that they were the only Interpreters of Divine Mysteries that no Sacrifice either publick or private could be performed without their assistance or solemn Feasts proclaimed without their consent and upon this their pretenoe it past currant as necessary for the maintaining of any Religious Worship Moreover it is to be supposed that in their publik Assemblies they agreed upon the number of their Gods and the particul Honours due to them they also Instituted publick Feasts and set Sacrifices upon set times of the Moon that the day might be celebrated uniformly through all their Jurisdictions And seeing the GODS of the Gauls as Apollo Minerva Jupiter Mars Mercury c. were Greek Gods and Idolized by the Britains with the same Rites and Ceremonies as in Greece and had the same Offices ascribed to them it is manifest they were introduced by the Druids and so worshipped in Britain before Gaul and from thence translated into that Nation So that considering the Original of the British and Gaulish Gods proceeded from the same Authors of their Religion and considering likewise the great care the Druids used in preserving Uniformity least they should break out and divide into Factions among themselves it is not to be questioned the Authority of Caesar also bearing witness but that the Gods of the Gauls were also worshipped in Britain And although in many particular places the People might have private and Tutelar Gods whose Denominations extended not beyond a Hill River Fountain or Spring as shall be shewn in the sequel and which Gildas numbers amongst the British Idolatry yet as to those Gods called by the Latins Dii majorum gentium of the highest rank and whose Power was universal they were equally common to both Nations
that his Souldiers were on an unknown Coast their hands full their heavy bodies laden with Armour that at the same time they were to jump from their Ships stand among the Waves and engage the Enemy and on the other side that the Britains were on the dry ground or else in very shallow Water that they were light Armed and quick Motioned that they were acquainted with the shoars and their Horses accustomed to that kind of Duty yet all this seemeth to be confessing rather than excusing a Defeat The Romans being to encounter with all these Difficulties but especially with the undaunted Courage of the Britains and being gauled with this unusual manner of Fighting stood as men absolutely astonished not knowing which way to turn themselves until Caesar seeing them beginning flatly to yield to the impression of the Enemy draws off his Long-boats and Gallies from his Ships of Burthen and orders them to be placed against the open flank of the Enemy The very sight of this kind of Shipping amazed the Britains the swiftness of their motion and the number and ratling of the Oars but as on the other side they were exceeding surprizing to the Britains so they struck no less Courage and Resolution into the daunted Romans But the first impressions being over notwithstanding the force and greatness of their Gallies with which as being strongly workt by the multitude of Oars the Britains were almost overwhelmed yet left they not off still manfully to defend their Country and expose their Chariots and naked Bodies to the Ships and Armour of their Enemies Caesar finding that by plain Force he was not able to attain the Landing orders his Engines and Slings to be set up in all his Gallies and that they should be plaid against the open side of the Enemy And now whole showers of Stones and Darts were discharged upon the naked Britains and the Roman Ships something cleared of their close Engagers The Britains notwithstanding all these dangers did not quit their ground but with the loss of their lives and although the thick shot falling round about the Roman Fleet made them stand at a Bay yet durst not their Enemies venture to quit their Vessels fearing as is reported the depth of the Sea but more probably the re-advancement of the Enemy as soon as their Engines should leave working In this general Consternation of the Romans an Ensign-bearer of the tenth Legion having first invoked the Gods that what he intended might succeed to the good of his Legion breaks out into these words Fellow Souldiers desert if you please your Ensign and betray it to the Enemy I for my part will perform my Duty to the Common-wealth and my General having thus said with a loud voice he jumps into the Sea and advancing the Eagle he marcheth upon the Enemy The Souldiers began to recollect their Spirits and exhorting one another not to suffer the disgrace of loosing their Standard with one consent followed their resolute Leader Others incited by their Example do the like and now in several Bodies they advance to the Enemy Here began a terrible fight on both sides wherein the Romans received great damages partly for want of sure footing and partly because in eagerness to rescue their Ensign they observed no Order every one out of his Ship advancing to that standard that was next to him On the other hand the Britains managed their Advantages with great prudence and Resolution Where they saw the Enemy boggled either in the Depths or the Sands they presently assaulted them cuting them off in all Parties and wheresoever they perceived any few making up to their Standards driving furiously between they intercepted their passage and with ease dispatcht them Others there were who attempted the main Body which was gathering about the Standard and with their Darts very much anoyed them which Caesar perceiving he commanded all his Boats and Shallops to be filled with Souldiers and where he saw any distressed he received them into his protection By this means the Foot were all dis-embarkt and having got into some Order they made up to the Shoar where after a sharp dispute the wearied Britains were put to flight or rather retired having observed by the disburthening of all the Ships that the Romans had no Horse to follow them which indeed proved true by reason that through negligence they did not or by contrary Winds could not arrive so speedily as they were ordered This proved a great vexation to Caesar who never used to get Victories by halves and this is the first time we ever find him complaining against his Fortune The BRITAINS send for PEACE but upon an Accident to the ROMAN Fleet change Counsels THE Britains for what cause is uncertain but probably from Divisions in themselves and a Roman Party crept in amongst them send Embassadours to Caesar to Treat of Peace promising to give what Hostages he should demand and to submit to his disposal With these Embassadours Comius of Arras also returns whom I said before was sent by Caesar into Britain him after his Landing the Britains had apprehended as a Spie and having understood his Order had laden with Irons And now to ingratiate themselves with Caesar they send him back laying the envy of his Imprisonment upon the Common Rout and desiring that if in yeilding to the Multitude they had done imprudently they might obtain pardon for their Errour Caesar complaining that of their own accords having sent to him on the Continent for Peace they should give the first occasion of War was willing nevertheless to take their Acknowledgments and accept their Excuse but demands Hostages some whereof were immediately sent others that were to be fetcht higher in the Country they promised should be ready in a few daies The mean while the People being dis-banded and sent home the adjoyning Princes met together and submitted themselves and their States to Caesar at his Camp which is supposed to have been at Barham-Down The Peace thus Concluded an Accident happened that put the Britains upon new Counsels The eighteen Ships which transported the Horse being loosed from the Harbour with a small Gale in four daies sail came in sight of the Island and might be descried from the Camp when of a sudden a Tempest arising dispersed them some being cast back to the Port from whence they came others driven West-ward of the Island But finding no safety in those parts nor being able to ride at Anchor in such high Seas were forced at night to make for the Continent and as Orosius saith most of them perished The same night it happened the Moon being Full at which time the Floods are highest that unawares to the Romans the Spring-tide filled and covered those Gallies which had been haled on shoar and which were intended to serve for the transporting of the Army On the other hand the Ships of Burthen that lay off at Anchor were sorely shattered by the Tempest the Romans all the while
at variance Hirilda was slain whereupon Cassibelan summons Ewelin to appear before him to answer for the death of his Nephew but being encouraged by Androgeus refused to obey the Summons Upon this Cassibelan begins to make War upon Androgeus who finding himself not able to deal with him fled unto Caesar into Gallia and invited him to return into Britain for Caesar upon his ill success had left the Island Caesar took Hostages of him and among the rest Scaeva Androgeus his Son and so returns where encountring at his Landing with Cassibelan he was worsted until Androgeus coming upon the back of the Britains totally overthrew them Neither had the Romans any success against the Britains but what they obtained by the means of Androgeus whom I said before is called by Caesar Mandubratius and the aforesaid Reason is given by the British Histories of his flight unto Gallia Count Palatine writes that when Caesar was led by Androgeus he found the Britains drawn up at the Stowr in Kent he drave them from the opposite Bank with an Elephant armed with Iron-plates and a Tower upon his back and that the British Horses like those of Greece and no doubt all of Trojan breed could not endure the scent of the Elephant and so gave back drawing the Britains in their Charriots after them Likewise that the Breast-plate stuck with Pearls which Caesar dedicated to Venus Genetrix was presented him by Cassibelan at his departure from the Island and that Caesar in return of so seasonable a Gift for he had no time to gather any himself recompenced him with no less honourable Munificence After the final departure of Caesar Androgeus Mandubratius was not restored to the Kingdom of the Trinobantes but whether through the Ill will of Cassibelan or the general Hatred the People had to him for the enslaving of his Country is uncertain so that leaving Britain he again be took himself unto Caesar and attended him to Rome where he was entertained as King of Britain and saluted Friend to the Commonwealth At last he was slain in the Battle of Thessalia against Pompey Cassibelan after the Departure of the Romans reigned ten years which time he employed in Revenging himself upon the Cities that had Revolted from him during the Wars with Caesar. He was Buried at York in the year before Christ 42 and after the building of Rome 705. THE Inter Regnum OF THE ROMANS DURING the last ten years of Cassibelan and till the time of the Emperour Claudius the Britains were free from the yoak of the Romans and were ruled by their own Kings and governed by their own Laws so that for a while we must take our farewel of the Roman History collecting it only as we find it scattered here and there and follow the Succession of the British THEOMANTIUS or Tenantius Nephew of Cassibelan succeeded his Unkle in the Kingdom having before enjoyed the Principality of Cornwal far remote from the Troubles of the times and by that means not engaged by assisting his Brother to take to a Roman Interest or by ayding Cassibelan to justifie his Violences by which indifferent Carriage by the general Applause of the People he assumed the Crown Anno ante Christum XLV In this Kings Reign Octavius the Grand-child of Julia Caesars Sister obtained the Empire of Rome but before he had fully possest himself of it and was yet strugling with Antony and Lepidus Theomantius sends his Son Kymbelin to him to attend upon him in his Wars hoping thereby to ingratiate himself with Augustus and obtain a relaxation of the Tributes And indeed Cunobelin so behaved himself that he grew into especial favour with the Emperour and accompanied him to Rome where he was saluted by the name of FRIEND of the Commonwealth and bred up in all the splendour and magnificence of the Court. During his residence there Tenantius paid in Tribute which the British Histories set upon the score of this great Favourite of Augustus but the Roman Authors seem generally to imply That the Troubles of the Empire and the bandings of Great men after the death of Caesar were the causes of the Quiet of the Britains during these Civil Dissensions This carries most probability with it for we find Augustus no sooner setled in the Roman State but he began to cast his thoughts towards Britain And although Tacitus draws the neglect of this Island in Augustus to a wholsome State-Maxime of not making the Empire too unweildy and Strabo would have us think that he absolutely slighted it as a place of no importance and whose Enmity or Friendship conduced nothing to the good or ill of the Empire yet we find him twenty years after the Departure of Caesar Advanced as far as Gallia in order to the Reducing of it For had not a Revolt in Pannonia diverted him he had certeinly Attempted it About seven years after with the same Resolutions be once more drew down into Gallia and the Britains hearing thereof sent their Embassadors and promised their Tribute which Submission at the present he accepted of because some Commotions in Gallia arising he was willing to give himself totally to the Suppression of them The year following some differences arising about performance of Covenants he was again hindered by disturbances in Spain the Biscans and they between Gallicia and Portugal having Revolted This last designed Invasion was in the two and twentieth year of the Reign of Tenantius who in the thirtieth year died and was buried at London KYMBELIN or KUNOBELIN succeeded him in the Third year before CHRIST And if he was not Educated at Rome yet the kind Correspondence between the Romans and Britains about these Times gave fair occasion to the British Writers so to imagine it for now the Britains began to learn all the Arts and Intreagues of Courtiers to flatter for Advantage and by Gifts to appease a Prince and buy off a War They sent some Presents to Augustus and others to the Roman Gods to be offered with their Submission in the Capitol with such like obsequious Addresses This I suppose gave occasion to Horace to write Coelo tonantem credidimus JOVEM Regnare praesens Divus habebitur AUGUSTUS adjectis Britannis Imperio Gravibusque Persis JOVE we beleive the Heavens do sway CAESAR's a God below He makes the Britains Homage pay And the stiff Persians bow But although they shifted off the Tribute yet they yielded to Taxes and Impositions which were of more dangerous consequences to them For by that means they admitted the Romans into the Trading part of the Nation and although their Commodities vented on the Continent were inconsiderable such as Ivory-Bones Iron-Chains and such like Trinckets of Amber and Glass yet by this means the Roman Collectors were of necessity to be Admitted and their Enemies got more insight into them by this Amicable Correspondence than ever Caesar could do in both his Expeditions Nay by this means the
his daies four Legions were in Britain Britain saith he is encompassed about with the Ocean and almost as big as our World the Romans there inhabiting have brought it under their Dominion and four Legions do keep in subjection an Island Peopled with so great a multitude To preserve all their Provinces the Romans had but twenty nine Legions out of which Britain had four by which we may see what a great proportion this Island bore to the whole World and how considerable a part thereof it was esteemed in those daies GALBA GALBA was chosen by the Souldiers Emperour he was nothing related to the Family of the Gaesars but undoubtedly of Noble Blood The name of Galba how given to his Ancestors is variously conjectured by Suetonius Among other Opinions he puts this down as probable that it was derived from the Gaulish word GALBA signifying Fatness which Mr. Cambden proves was also British and besides his Name we shall find very little of this Emperour relating to Britain This we read that he slew Petronius Turpilianus Lieutenant of this Island under Nero having no other Crimes to lay to his charge but that he continued faithful to his Master when other Governours of Provinces were engaged in Conspiracies He held the Empire but seven Months and then was slain by Otho's Conspiracies He was old and Covetous by which means he lost the love of his Souldiers he was generally esteemed a greater Man when private than a Prince and would alwaies have been accounted worthy of the Empire had he never been advanced to it He continued Trebellius Maximus in his Government of Britain whose actions shall be related under the next Emperour OTHO OTHO by the death of Galba assumed the Empire a Prince soft and effeminate Trebellius Maximus continued still Lieutenant of Britain a Man as was said before given to Ease and Sloth having no experience in War no Conduct but holding the Province at first by a kind of Court-like and affable Behaviour And now the Britains began to suck in the pleasures of Vice and to entertain the Luxuries of Rome so that Trebellius gave himself to Ease finding no great cause to molest the Britains who were so ready to comply with him in a lazy Cessation But the Roman Souldiers who had been alwaies kept in exercise or busied in some Expedition or other now being left to an Idle life as it alwaies happens fell to Civil Dissensions Trebellius by them was grown hated and despised as it seems for his niggardly and covetous Temper and this aversion they had entertained against their General was heightened by Roscius Gaelius Legate of the twentieth Legion an ancient Enemy of his insomuch that oftentimes by flight and hiding himself he escaped the fury of his Army afterwards debasing himself in a low and creeping manner he held a precarious Authority as if he and his Army had agreed that they should enjoy the Licentiousness of their living and he his safety But when the Civil Wars brake out between Otho and Vitellius then began Trebellius and Gaelius to flie into greater and more open Discords Trebellius laid to Gaelius his charge the spreading of Sedition and drawing the Souldiers from Discipline and Obedience on the other side Caelius upbraided him of defrauding and pillaging the Legions amidst these shameful Contentions the modesty of the Army was so corrupted and their Confidence grown to that height that the Auxiliary Forces stuck not publickly to give Ill language to their General and most of the Cohorts and bands of Souldiers openly withdrew unto Caelius Trebellius plainly perceived they fled unto Vitellius who by this time was Emperour for Otho governed but 95 daies VITELLIUS AFTER the flight of Trebellius the Province continued in quiet notwithstanding the Consular Lieutenant General was removed the two Legates of the Legions in his absence governed Affairs with equal and joynt Authority but Calius bore the chief sway as being the man of greatest Spirit Trebellius being come to the Emperour was received with little Honour as one that had run away from his Souldiers that Vectius Bolanus was placed in his stead After him was sent by the Emperour the fourteenth Legion who by Nero upon some occasions had been drawn out of Britain This Legion had stuck faithful to Otho against Vitellius and notwithstanding the death of Otho and the advancement of Vitellius yet continued they their Love to their former Prince insomuch that oftentimes flying out into Mutinies and not acknowledging themselves as a conquered Legion they were hardly quieted and with much difficulty removed into Britain And it appeareth out of Tacitus that during the Contention between Otho and Vitellius for the Empire many Forces were transported from Britain to serve in those bloody Wars so that the minds of the Souldiers as well in this Island as in other Provinces stood divided in their Affections And now hardly was Bolanus warm in his Government but Vespasian began to appear for the Empire and new Wars were beginning so that no doubt the fourteenth Legion discontented with Vitellius secretly favoured the cause of Vespatian Bolanus during these Commotions was not able to preserve Discipline much less to attempt any thing upon the Britains The Divisions continued the same in the Army as in the time of Trebellius only this difference that Bolanus was innocent and not hated for any Vices and carried himself so equally that though he had not the Authority of a General yet he ruled by the Affections of the Souldiery And now Vitellius fearing the Power of Vespatian whose Forces began daily to encrease wrote unto Bolanus for Aids but he was not able to send him any partly because the Britains were not sufficiently quieted but taking the advantage of these Diffensions among the Romans raised continually new Commotions and partly because the Souldiers of the fourth Legion incensed against Vitellius were sent for over by Letters from Mutianus in favour of Vespatian In this condition was Britain during the Government of Bolanus when Vitellius was deposed about the tenth Month of his reign He was a great Glutton and so inordinately given to the satisfying of his Appetite that it was the great employment of his Captains from all Provinces to provide him the most delicate Fares he is reported at one Supper to have been served with two thousand dishes of the choicest Fish seven thousand of Fowl and in the short time of his Reign Tacitus saith he had wasted nine hundred millions of Sestercies which amounteth to about seven millions sterling He was by nature bloody insolent and haughty during his Prosperity and as base and dejected in Adversity He had not courage after his Defeat to die like a Roman much less an Emperour but lived to the reproaches of an Ignominious death With his hands bound behind him and a Rope about his neck he was led through the Market place the People all along reviling him unto the place of Execution
extendeth or the Mediterranean Gulf doth reach Neither are we ignorant although through fear of You that Infection spread through the bowels of Britain only and proceeded no farther with what rage it might have advanced it self elsewhere if it could have been assured of means to have ranged abroad so far as it desired for it was bounded in by no border of Mountain or River which by Garrisons appointed may be guarded and defended but was as free as the Ships themselves and might notwithstanding we have your Valour and Fortune to relieve us be continually at our elbows to affright us so far as either Sea reacheth or Wind bloweth For that incredible boldness and undeserved success of a few silly Captive Franks in the daies of PROBUS the Emperour came to our remembrance who conveying away certain Vessels from the Coast of Pontus wasted both Greece and Asia and not without great hurt and damage coasting upon Lybia at length took the City Saragose in Sicily a Port-Town in times past highly renowned for Victories at Sea and afterwards passing the Streights of Gibraltar came into the Ocean and so with the Fortunate success of many rash and presumptuous Attempts plainly shewed that nothing can be safe from the desperate boldness of Pirates wherever Ships can touch and have success So therefore by this Your Victory not Britain alone is delivered from Bondage but to all Nations safety is restored which might by the use of the Seas come to as great Perils in time of War as to gain of Commodities in time of Peace Now Spain to pass over the Coast of Gallia with her shoars almost in sight is in security Now Italy now Africk now all Nations even to the Fens of Maeotis are void of perpetual Cares neither are they less joyful the fear of Danger being taken away which to feel as yet necessity had not brought them but they rejoyce so much the more for this that by the direction of Your providence and the powerful concurrence of Your fortune so great a combination of Sea-men is broken their quarters beat up and Britain it self which had given harbour and protection to so long a Conspiracy was made sensible at last of your Victory by her restitution to peace and quietness Not without good cause therefore immediately when You her long wished Revenger and Deliverer was arrived Your Majesty was met with great Triumph and the Britains full of unspeakable Joy ran forth and presented themselves before you with their Wives and Children adoring not only your self whom they esteemed as one descended from Heaven but even the sails and tacklings of that Ship which had brought your Divine Presence on their Shoars And as soon as You had set foot on Land they were ready to prostrate themselves before you that you might as it were walk over the Necks of them who desired you above all things to do it Nor was it a wonder they were so Joyful seeing after their miserable Captivity so many years continued after so long abusing their Wives and the enslaving of their Children at length were they reitored to Liberty at length made Romans at length refreshed with the true light of the Imperial Rule and Government For besides the same of your Clemency and Goodness which was sounded forth by all Nations in Your Countenance Caesar they visibly read the Characters of all Vertues in your Face Gravity in your Eyes Mildness in your Ruddy complexion Bashfulness in your words Justice all which things as by Regard they acknowledged so with shouts of Joy they signified aloud To You they bound themselves by Vow to You they bound their Children yea and to your Children they devoted all the posterity of their Race and Off-spring We truly O perpetual Parents and Lords of Mankind implore this of the Immortal Gods with most earnest supplication and hearty prayer That our Children and their Children and such as shall spring from their Loyns for ever may be dedicated unto You and to those whom you now bring up or shall bring up bereafter For what greater happiness can we wish to them that shall succeed us than to be made partakers of that Felicity which at present we our selves enjoy The Roman Common-wealth doth now intirely possess in Peace and Union whatever formerly at sundry times and in scattered parcels belonged to it and that huge and vast Power which with its own burthen was sunk and riven asunder is now again closely compacted and joyned together by the sure ligaments of the Imperial Government For there is no part of the Earth or Region under Heaven but is either quieted by Fear subdued by Force or else won by Clemency Is there any thing else remaining behind to which the power and ambition of Man can extend beyond the Ocean what is there more than Britain which is so recovered by You that those Nations also adjoyning to it are subject to your Commands There is no occasion to invite you further except the ends of the Ocean which Nature forbiddeth should be sought for All is Yours Most Invincible Princes that is accounted worthy of you hence it proceedeth that you may equally provide for all since all is in your Majesties possession And therefore as heretofore Most Excellent Emperour DIOCLESIAN by Your appointment Asia supplied the Desert places of Thracia with Inhabitants transplanted thither as afterwards Most Excellent Emperour MAXIMIAN by Your orders the Franks at length brought to a pleasant subjection and reduced to Laws have Peopled and manured the empty possessions of the Nervians and the Neighbourhood of Trier so now by your Victories Invincible Constantius Caesar whatsoever lay vacant about Amiens Beavois Trois and Langres begins to flourish with Inhabitants of sundry Nations Moreover Your most loyal City of Autun for whose sake I have a peculiar cause to rejoyce by means of this glorious Victory in Britain hath received many and divers Artificers of whom these Provinces abounded and now by their Workmanship the same City riseth up by repairing her ancient Houses and restoring her publick Buildings and Temples so that now she accounteth her Ancient and friendly Incorporation with Rome renewed with advantage and that she hath You for her Founder SOME OBSERVATIONS Out of the fore-going PANEGYRICK THis is the sum and substance of that Panegyrick inticuled to MAXIMIAN out of which the History of the Wars against Carausius and Alectus is gathered I need not repeat those several Expressions therein which evidently set forth the considerable Power of this Nation united together though under Usurpers their dreadful Preparations by Sea which not only gave Alarums to Spain Gallia and Africk but even to Italy it self and as far as the Mediterranean extended The subduing of these Rebels was esteemed a Victory in which the power and strength of the whole Empire was engaged and that action of Constantius in firing of his Ships at his landing plainly shewed that he reckoned himself fighting for the last stake So
him in Ecclesiastical History the name of a good Catholick and free from the Arrian Heresie Flav. Valentinianus VALENTINIANUS upon the death of Jovian was chosen Emperour He was the Son of that Gratian Sirnamed FUNARIUS who had been chief Commander of all the Land-Forces in Britain In his Reign the Picts Saxons Scots and Attacots infested the Britains to the repressing of whose Incursions was sent FRAOMARIUS King of the Almains the successour of King EROCUS who assisted Constantine the Great The Almains in these daies were of great repute for their hardiness and skill in War and their Princes highly esteemed for their faithful Service and constant adherence to the Romans But it seemeth that Fraomarius as likewise Erocus who took Commissions under the Romans were expell'd their Kingdom by some Rebellion or Insurrection of their People for the Nation of the Almains we read in these daies mightily infested the Romans and invaded their Province of Gall and Rhetia so that they who followed Fraomarius into Britain seem to be a Party of the Almains who attended their Prince in his banishment Men of Spirit and Nobility and therefore most likely to do considerable Service for the honour of their Prince and the quieting of the British Nation The Expedition of Fraomarius with his Almains into this Island appeareth to be in the fifth year of this Emperours Reign An. Dom. 370. By the general Plots and Contrivances of those Barbarous People Britain was sorely distressed and afflicted Nectaridius who at that time was Lieutenant to manage Maritime Affairs lost his life and Bulchobaudes a General by the crafty contrivance of the Enemy was prevented in his designs The Emperour after he had received Information of these sad disasters sent Severus then Lord Steward of his Houshold to rectifie and set in order miscarriages but being in a short time after called back was not able to effect what he so much desired After that Jovinus went to the same parts and in great haste sent Proventusides to request a potent Force but this place in the Text Mr. Cambden apprehends was corrupted as the necessity of the cause required So many dreadful Afflictions and Calamities being daily spread abroad of the Island Theodosius was chosen and hastned with all expedition thither because he was esteemed a Person so fit for that employment Having collected to himself a sufficient number of stout and valiant Men the better to strengthen Legions as Cohorts led the way with much Courage and Resolution About that time the Picts were severed into two Nations that is Dicaledonians and l'icturiones the Attucots a fierce and resolute People with the Scots in divers parts where they roved did great mischief In like manner the Gaulish Cohorts Frankners and Saxons being next Neighbours to them made great spoil and havock both by Land and Sea and what with murthering Captives firing Towns and plundering represented all places deplorable and much to be pitied To put a stop to the current of these Grievances if Fortune would have so consented this zealous and vigorous Captain intended a voyage to the utmost bounds of Earth for when he arrived to the Sea-side of Bullen which is separated from an opposite piece of Land by a narrow street called the Sleeve ebbing and flowing where the Waves are wont to mount up with swelling Tides and of a sudden to humble themselves by a low and submissive level the better to favour the Passenger from whence having by slow and chary sailing passed the Ocean he gained the shoar of Rhutapia called Ribchester or Richborow by Sandwich over against it a place more freed from Rage and disturbance from whence after that the Batavians Heruli Jovii and Victores who followed were come Upon this he departed and reaching that Old Town AUGUSTA now the famous City of LONDON divided his Army into several parts he charged upon these robbing Adversaries so briskly thinking it a time most proper as they were laden with the Spoyls and destruction of his Friends discomfiting those that were haling forward their Captives and such as also drave away Cattle that they were forced to leave their Prey and think of nothing more for the present than how to make safely their escapes Having made restitution of the Goods so taken to the Owners save only some small encouragement reserved for the Souldiers he hastned into the City now pretty well cleared from Calamities And moreover having been advised by the information of revolting Fugitives and confession of Captives that so great a multitude of sundry Nations so resolute and perverse in their Natures were not to be vanquish'd but by sudden Excursions and private Contrivances therefore did not by this first success puff himself up either with an absolute security or adventure greater exploits resting in himself doubtful of the future event After he had proclaimed promises of Impunity he summoned as well the Trayterous Runagates as divers others that went different Journies without controul to offer themselves for his employment As soon as most of these summoned were returned he loaded with Cares curbed his former motion insomuch that he called for Civilis by name intending him a Deputy Governour of Britain a precise keeper of Justice and observer of Right although something touched in his Nature with a haughty disposition He likewise sent for Dulcitius a Captain very knowing in War-like employments Now gaining courage to a willing heart he left Augusta and with faithful and couragious Souldiers brought great comfort to the ruinated estate of the Britains by fore-laying an Ambush in all places against the Barbarians where was thought to be the greatest advantage and encouraged the Common Souldiers much by engaging them in no hot Service but would take to himself the first essay thereof thereby evidencing the part of a stirring and hardy Souldier as the charge and courage of a noble General putting to flight divers Nations who thinking themselves secure through Pride or vain boasting were stirred up to invade the Roman Government For a long space of time the foundation of Peace being thus laid by him Castles and Cities were restored to their former security and freedom which before had suffered under many troubles and dangers In the time of these his Atchievments there had like to have happened a horrible Act which might have been a cause of raising new Troubles had it not been destroyed in its infancy Valentinus of Valeria Pannonia one of a proud Spirit Brother to the Wife of that pestilent Maximinus first Deputy Lieutenant afterward President for some remarkable fault of his was banisht Britain Through impatience till he could act his Villany rose up in Arms against Theodosius contriving all imaginable Plots to raise disturbance occasioned by some private and inward Pride and Malice And although he perceived him alone able to encounter with his Designes yet attempted to solicite as well the Banished persons as Souldiers promising a Reward the more easily to draw them to perform for
assistance of the Romans first having tried what they could do by freeing themselves from Forreign Yoak grown as weary of their Liberty as they had been formerly of Bondage sent unto Honorius humbly craving his Protection to which Message they received no other answer but in Words by which he exhorted them to stand upon their own Guard and so quitted them of the Roman Jurisdiction Thus ended this famous Empire of the Romans first in Britain and not long after in Italy it self having born chief sway in this Island though never wholly conquered nor at one time intirely possest for the space of four hundred sixty two years if we account from the first arrival of Julius Caesar to the taking of Rome by Alarick in which year Honorius wrote those Letters of Discharge Britain thus deserted by the Romans was left unable to defend it self having all the flower and choice of her Youth drawn out to serve in the Roman Garrisons abroad whilest others had forsaken their Country to follow the Ambition of such Tyrants whom they had headily advanced to the Purple Robe and having Possessions given them in Gaul never returned so that before I proceed to set down the Calamities of the Britains when left to themselves and their own Counsels it will not be amiss to shew how from time to time the Romans drew out their Youth and what numbers attended the Tyrants which were so frequently advanced in the latter daies of the Empire when there was no end of their Levies out of Britain To begin with the Romans first Trebellius Maximus transported into Germany a great number of British Souldiers to make good the Faction of Vitellius against Otho Honorius Flaccus in the same cause sent out eight thousand chosen Souldiers Albinus in the bloody Battle at Lyons against Severus the Emperour lost fifty thousand Men most of which were of the British Cavalry This loss laid the Province naked and left it open to the Insolence and Violence of Forreign Invaders and Constantine the Great as Malmsbury reporteth carried out such numbers with him that to their Assistance especially he owed his Victories and the Empire of the whole World Afterwards he planted them on the West-coast of France called Armorica next drawing out those Souldiers who lay for the defence of the Marshes and Fronteirs he seated them in other parts of the Continent carried some into the East and instead of those Living-strengths he built Castles and Forts which seized by the Enemy proved continual annoyances to the Britains Maximus the Tyrant who slew Gratian the Emperour levied vast numbers of Britains and transported them into Gaul and Ninnius writeth that he would not send them home again but gave unto them many Countries even from the Pool or Meer which lieth above Mount Jovis unto the City that is called Cantguic and unto Curcocchidient And he that annexed brief Notes unto Ninnius reporteth how truly I cannot tel the Armorican Britains which are beyond Sea attending Maximus in his Expedition when they could not return wasted the Western-coasts of Gaul and when they had married their Wives and Daughters cut out all their Tongues for fear lest the succeeding Progeny should learn their Mother Language whereupon we call them in our Tongue Lhet vydion that is Half-silent or Tongue-ty'd because they speak confusedly Constantius who was elected only for his Name transported most of the flower and strength of the Britains into Gallia and Spain where in his Quarrel many of them perished and the rest never returned having Seats allotted them in the West of Gaul or else followed the Emperour in his Wars Hence it is that Prosper Aquitanus wrote thus At this instant of time in respect of the decay of the Roman Forces the power and strength also of the Britains was brought low and unable to make resistance For which cause and occasion our Historiographer of Malmsbury speaks thus When the Tyrants had rid the Country of all save half Barbarians none were there either in Towns or Cities but who gave themselves upto Epicurism Britain now forgetting the use and practice of good Arts and wanting assistance of vigorous Youth for a long time lay open to the Mercy of Ravening mouths that confin'd upon her which was evidenced by the Incursions of the Picts and Scots many lost their lives Cities were subverted Villages fired insomuch as all lay naked and low to express the Rage and Fury of merciless Invaders The Islanders in this streight after they had buryed their Wealth much of which hath been since found chose rather to flie unto the Mountain-Country than to stand the hazard of a set Battle purposing after that to go to Rome to request assistance But to little purpose for Valentinian the Third as he was not able to recover either Spain France or Asrick Provinces rent by violence from him so could he not be able to answer their expectation And Gildas for this very cause much pities the dejected case of the Britains For saith he Britain was despoyled of all their Armed-men her Military Forces Governours although cruel they were and of a mighty number of her stout hard-hearted Youths For besides those whom the Tyrant and Usurper Maximus and the last Constantine carried with them it appeareth by ancient inscriptions and the Book called Notitia Provinciarum that these Companies here-under written were employed by the Romans in War dispersed in Parties over their Provinces which exhausted very much the principal fighting men in Britain it self Ala Britannica Milliaria Ala quarta Britonum in AEgypto Cohors prima AElia Britonum Cohors tertia Britonum Cohors septima Britonum Cohors 26 Britonum in Armenia Britanniciani sub Magistro peditum Invicti juniores Britanniciani inter Auxilia Palatina Exculcatores Jun. Britan. Britones cum Magistro Equitum Galliarum Invicti Juniores Britones intra Hispanias Britones Seniores in Illyrico So that it will be no wonder when we shall read the following Calamities and downfall of the Britains that being reduced to so small a number and worn out with the continual Incursions of their Enemies the Picts and Scots deserted by their Ancient Protectours the Romans they were constrained to call in another Nation to their assistance who quickly imposed a Yoak upon them so much the more heavy and grievous than the former inasmuch as the Roman Civility exceeded the Rudeness of the Primitive Saxons But before we proceed to these Relations let us see the British History in the daies of this Honorius THE British History In the Daies of HONORIUS UNTO VORTIGERN Who brought in the SAXONS THE Britains upon dislike to Honorius for that he had slain Stilico who by the report of our Histories did great Service for them chose Marcus for their King but him not found agreeable to their humour they slew and set up Gratianus Municeps in his stead a Britain born but a great Tyrant so that not enduring him above four months they kill'd
Hengists further Advice in hastning speedy Orders for a greater supply of German Forces in pretence of securing the Land more firmly from the rage and power of his Enemies which in truth at last proved but to promote and strengthen his own Greatness which so long he had fore-cast in his head to accomplish esteeming it also to be a great Honour to his Name and Family that he should approve himself to be the only Man that first laid the foundation of a Saxon Monarchy in so Great and Renowned a Kingdom as BRITAIN which was not only so esteemed in those daies but by the Phoenicians Greeks and Romans their Predecessours And we have just cause to believe his Affairs were managed with more than ordinary prudence and policy when in one of his Armies was conveyed hither the comely and most beautiful Rowena on purpose to entice and steal away the Kings heart that her Father might take the better advantage in compleating his Emperial designs The King no sooner saw this Beautiful Virgin at a Banquet unto which he was invited by Hengist but so infinitely admired her Person Beauty and Noble Behaviour that nothing would divert his resolution or quench the heat of so sudden a passion but the deserting his own Queen to obtain Rowena in Marriage but Hengist craftily managing his designs modestly complements the King with humble and submissive Excuses much after this manner That neither his Daughters degree Person or Fortune was suitable to Majesty or the Greatness of his Dominions and Empire yet at last through the earuestness of the Kings Importunities he gave his consent for his speedy Marriage By this Hengist was not only honoured in being Related to a British Prince but firmly received a confirmation of the Kings Gratitude the Kingdom of Kent for his Recompence which formerly had been governed by one Guorongus a Vice-Roy to manage State Affairs in that Province This German Alliance with King Vortigern in a short time made the Saxon Confederates more burthensome to the State than their late Enemies which at first a little startled the King nevertheless the crafty and fortunate inventions of Hengist strengthned by the power of that beloved Rowena so eclipsed the Kings sight yea so weakned his Power that he gained further leave to send into Germany for his Brother Occa and his Son Ebusa The pretence was that the Enemy grew too heady and strong for him and that by such aids and assistance he could better undertake the defence of the South parts when at the same time They if here might preserve the North. Some report although not without contradiction to others that this Occa was the Son of Hengist and Ebusa his Uncles Son but the difference in Opinions in this point is not much material sufficient that the story is true that such Persons by name were called hither by the advice and procurement of Hengist to promote the power of a Saxon Interest The Nobility of the British Nation now sensible of their destruction knew it was too late to reclaim a Luxurious and careless Prince and as to little purpose to endeavour the recalling of a neglected opportunity wherein once they might have stopt the current of such dangerous Events and Accidents For their Consultations now with the King how to prevent Occa and Ebusa from entring the British shoars were wholly rejected through the inseparable affection he bore to the content and happiness of his new Associate The manner of Occa and Ebusa's behaviour after their Arrival is briefly thus After the King had given his consent for the landing of a powerful Army of Germans there came with them as their Generals Occa and Ebusa and coasting towards Britain they struck Sail for the Orkney Isles after whose arrival the Inhabitants received great and unspeakable damages and not long after the Scots and Picts bore an equal share in affliction for after they had sufficiently executed their Tyranny upon the Britains they proceeded to Northumberland where for some time at their first entrance intended only to make a short stay but in process of time too well approving the accommodation of that Country they esteemed it a place worthy of longer residence yet not so fully and absolutely possessing it as to govern it under the title of KINGS but Subjects of Kent till ninety nine years after their first possession Now it is that again we hear how infinitely afflicted and moved the Subjects of King Vortigern were at the increasing Power of the Saxons and because as I said before they could not perswade him into the belief of such great dangers likely to happen they universally agreed in Counsel among themselves to bereave him of his Regal Power and Dignity and in whose stead they placed his Son Vortimer which for the present put the Nation into no small confusion and hubbub besides gave new occasions to the Saxons to revive Insurrections and commit upon the distressed Inhabitants most deplorable spoil and havock Bede and others are silent of Vortimers taking possession of the Crown about this time and consequently that there happened no such fewd and heart-burning between King Vortigern and his Nobility upon the account of the Saxons Arrival into this Land For they say that when the Saxons came into the Land they were received as Friends Aiders and Assisters of the disturbed Britains against their Enemies But I conceive Bede and others might mistake the true Timing of Transactions in that State forgetting the time of the breach of Covenant between them and so might easily mistake one time for another as I find the British History in several other cases are worthy of too great blame and reprehension What Courage the Britains took after all these discouragements in the daies of Aurelius Ambrosius shall be shewn in a following Treatise relating to the transactions in that Princes Reign Hengist by Birth however he dissembled his Quality in that modest behaviour of his in behalf of his Daughter to King Vortigern was of the Princely Blood of the Saxon Race born in Angria in Westphalia the Son of Wiht-Gisil of the Line of Prince Wooden The Kingdom of Kent he obtained by his power and policy not Right which in the daies of Julius Casar was never known to be an intire Province as it was alwaies governed by four Petty Kings of the British Race And although he obtained not the Kingdom by right of Inheritance yet was he to be commended for his Policy Valour and Conduct He possest not the Kingdom above seven years but laid the foundation of the Saxon Government and approved himself an Example yea the first Rule and direction to Egbert afterwards a K. of the West Saxons how to reduce the whole Kingdom into one happy and entire state of Monarchy So that before we proceed to the History and Chronicle of his Successours who after their Arrival bore the greatest sway in this Kingdom and by success of Arms and vast supplies received from the
Prisoners by the Enemy into Liberty to contribute largely when their Patron sued for any honourable Office of State to pay all pecuniary Mulcts arising from private Quarrels never expecting again eithe Use or Principal and to present on the Kalends of January their Patrons with New-years-gifts It was not lawful for them to give their Votes for any of the contrary Party if they did they were guilty of the breach of Statute made against Traytors and fell under the Curse of their Decemviral-Law viz. Patronus si Clienti Cliensvè Patrono fraudem faxit sacer esto By vertue of which Law they were mutually obliged to be faithful one to another The Roman Gentry took great pride in vying with one another who had in his Retinue most of these Clients nay many Provinces and Nations too had one of the Great ones at Rome for their Patron to plead for them in their absence the Senate many times referring their Causes to be decided by the Patron they had chosen resting satisfied in his determination This Custome kept them so entirely united that it preserved the City free from slaughter and those inhuman Civil Wars which through neglect afterwards followed though there were several Quarrels between the Commons and Gentry but soon compos'd for the space of 630 years After the Expulsion of Tarquin they were divided into Senatours Knights and People A Senatour was he which at first was chosen by the Kings next by the Consuls afterwards by the Censors into that great Councel of State called the Senate whether Noble-Man Knight or Plebeian The value of a Senatours Estate until the time of Augustus was Octingenta Sestertia 60001. A Knight a Name of great esteem and honour among the Romans was an Order betwixt the Senatour and Commonalty they were chosen into that Society by the Censors who at the time of their Election delivered them a Ring for distinction to the Commonalty a Horse to be maintained in Peace and War at the Publick charge so that the Commonalty were not allowed the use of Rings The estimation of a Knights Estate was Quadringenta Sestertia viz. 30001. which sum if any waies imbezelled or they had committed any notorious Crime those Ornaments were taken from them and themselves degraded from the reputation of that Order Their Robes were little different from the Senatours only the purple Studs or Tufts of the Senatours Garment were somewhat larger They degraded for unseemly Gestures and irreverent Responsals or for having lean and poor Horses which seems to prove that their Horses were kept at their own charges and not at the publick expence of the State The Commonalty whom Livy calls Ignota Capita Men of little or no account were the same there as in other Countries yet if any of them had attained to a Knights Estate and Procured from the Censors a Horse and Ring he was accounted a Knight and might be capable of being chosen into the Senate yet those Senatours that were chosen from among the Plebeians were for any notorious fault liable to be degraded and have their Names enrowled in the Caerites Tabulae or Censors Tables whereby they were deprived of giving their Votes as did other Citizens The next division of the People was into Nobiles Novi and Ignobiles Their Noble-Men were those that could produce the Images of their Ancestors which were equivalent to our Coats of Arms Their Novi were those that had only their own and were beholding more to their Vertues than their Ancestors for their Nobility Ignobiles were those that had none of their own or of their Predecessours Now an Image was the Effigies or representation of any Person of their Family whose glorious Actions had formerly preferred him to any of the great Offices of State which Images were used carefully to be kept in Wooden Presses in the best part of their Houses For to none but those who had born the Curule Magistracy was the use of Images lawful but after the Commons by an Act of Senate were made capable of obtaining those places as well as the Gentry without doubt they also might have the priviledges of using Images also These Images were sometimes placed over the Gates of their Houses with Inscriptions UT EORUM VIRTUTES POSTERI NON SOLUM LEGERENT SED ETIAM IMITARENTUR Upon daies of Feasting and Rejoycing these Figures were spruck't up with Garlands and Flowers but on daies of Mourning they were deprived of all their Jovial Ornaments seeming to sympathize and partake with their sorrow They were represented commonly but from the shoulders upwards the matter whereof they were made being Wax But when any of the Houshold died they were carried before the Corps as I have shewn more fully in the Ceremonies of Deifying their Emperours with a Body or Trunck annexed to them Addito ut magnitudine quà m simillima apparerent reliquo corporis trunco that they might seem proportionable in length to the Person deceased they were dressed up in the Robes peculiar to the quality of the Person the Ensigns of his Office being alwaies carried before him The Citizens of Rome were distinguisht by the difference of Freedoms in the City of Rome and were termed either Liberti Libertini aut Ingenui Libertus was he that had been formerly a Slave or Servant and afterwards was made free The Son of any Person thus made free was called Libertinus and the Son of two that were born free or of two Libertines was termed Ingenuus These were capable of the Order of Knight-hood but not of being elected into the Senate which we may gather from Suetonius his own words who saies That anciently the dignity and honour of being a Senatour was conferred not upon the Pronepotes Civium Romanorum but upon the Abnepotes viz. such as were removed four degrees from a Libertus The usual way of their making them Free was after this manner The Master bringing his Servant whom he desired should be made free took the Servant by the Head or any other part saying to the Praetor I will that this Man be made Free and then he let him go Some say They used to take the Servant a box on the Ear turn him round and then let him go out of their hands Then the Praetor laying a certain Rod called Vindicta upon the head of the Servant said I pronounce this Man free after the manner of the Romans his Head at the same time being shaved received of the Praetor a Cap in token of his Liberty Of their Civil Government AFTER Romulus his death his Successours till the Reign of Tarquin Sirnamed the Proud thought it not only their greatest security to govern their People with great Justice and Moderation but the highest point of Glory also to admit them into a share and participation of the Government that it might be said They Ruled over Princes rather than Slaves And although most Writers agree that the Polity of Rome was Monarchical it seems rather to
have been a mixture of Monarchy Aristocracy and Democracy therefore they were divided accordingly under the Government of a King Senate and Commonalty the power and prerogative of their KING was First Jus rerum Sacrarum a Right over all Ecclesiastical Affairs to constitute what Religious Orders he pleased and to see that all Sacrifices and their Ceremonies were rightly performed and to offer up in his own Person as being their Pontifex Maximus in case their Wars did not call him aside all Propitiatory Oblations for the appeasing and averting the Anger of the Gods Secondly Legum morumque Patriarum custodiam the preservation and interpretation of all Laws and Customes whatsoever the determining of all Controversies of weight referring all business of smaller consequence to the decision of the Senate yet in case of wrong Judgment reserved to himself a power of otherwise adjudging the Matter as the cause required Thirdly Jus Senatus Comitiorum a power of assembling Senate and People propounding what he thought convenient but first giving his Opinion of it again yet that constantly took place and prevailed most which was confirmed by the Suffrages of the greatest number In the dispose of the Senate or Great Councel of the City was the Publick Treasury and consequently the ordering of the Revenues and Expences of the State the Treasurers themselves having no power unless for the use of the Kings and that of the Consuls afterwards to expend upon any Publick account whatsoever without an especial Order and Decree of Senate Under their cognizance also fell enormous and heinous Crimes committed within the Confines of Italy likewise of protecting and taking into favour any private Person or City of Italy that implored the favour of their assistance Fourthly That Great and Royal Prerogative of sending Embassadours and giving Audience to those of Forreign Princes was solely in the Power of the Senate These Senatours at the sacking of Rome by the Gauls were singly taken for Gods and together by Pyrrhus his Embassadours for so many Kings at an interview Tarquin Sirnamed the Elder was so tender of displeasing them that being presented by the Hetrurians with a Golden Crown and an Ivory Scepter with an Eagle on the top he refused to appear in publick with those Ensigns of Majesty till he had leave from the Senate and People which Custome the succeeding Kings afterwards retained The Election of their Kings and afterwards of the chief Ministers of State the making of Laws concluding on War or Peace was altogether in the Jurisdiction of the People By such Polity these Kings secured themselves from danger of the suspicion of Tyranny and consequently assured and confirmed themselves in the love of their Subjects Neither could the People reasonably desire innovation or change where they were governed by no other Magistrates than of their own choosing where they were obliged to live under no other Laws than of their own making or forced to be engaged to any other Wars than of their own concluding By this kind of Equilibrium of Power was Rome peaceably and happily governed by its first Kings the Royal Prerogative seldom interfering with the Peoples priviledge But Tarquin Sirnamed the Proud overstraining his Prerogative spoiled the harmony and concord of the whole Government the King and People being before like a fifth and eighth that are Unisons strike one and the other shakes that is they were highly concerned in the honour of their King and the King in the loss and sufferings of his people But Tarquin who had seized on the Throne by Violence and Usurpation was resolved to defend it by Rapine and Murther and justifie them too by Insolence though as insupportable as both At his receiving the Title of MAJESTY he seemed to have laid down all his Humanity for after the murthering his Father-in-law over whose dead Corps Tarquinius his Wife commanded her Coach-man to drive at her return from proclaiming her Husband KING he trampled on both Priviledges and People Some he banisht by his Cruelty others through the insupportableness of his Behaviour he committed continual Mafsacres and Butcheries on the Senate and People So that while this Feaver lasted Rome was like the Torrid Zone supposed by the Ancients too hot to be inhabited But the People by the disposition and vertue of their Primitive Laws being too well acquainted with Majesty to be made any longer Slaves finding the Kings resolutenets and violent Nature not at all to be moved by their Complaints which were constantly blasted with the odious Name of Rebellion and Treason upon the ravishing the beautiful Lucretia by Tarquin's Son Sextus being animated and headed by Brutus and Collatinus were inraged to that degree of Courage that they began to expostulate their Liberty with their Swords in their hands driving the Tyrant taught by his own Example from the Throne into perpetual banishment teaching Governours what it is to out-live the Affections of their well-meaning Subjects After this they stood up so stiffly for Liberty that though Porsenna King of Hetruria commiserating Tarquin's condition came with a puissant Army to re-instate him in the Roman Throne yet they maintained their cause so gallantly and gave so many signal Testimonies nay miracles of their Valour witness the Actions of Horatius Cocles Mutius Scaevola that Porsenna of a terrible Enemy became a generous Friend and chose rather to make Peace with them although the Victory was well nigh assuredly his own than unjustly oppress so much an injured Vertue That they might the better hereafter stop the Precipice of their future ruine and free themselves from the like Jealousies and Fears they first made it their business to render the word KING as detestable and odious as the power of a Tyrant And the People taking a solemn Oath never to admit Monarchy among them for the future they erected a Government consisting of two Officers chosen out of the Patrioii whom they called CONSULS named so from their Duty not their Power They were two that one might be a stop and check to the Ambition of the other Their Government was Annual that through shortness of time and multiplicity of business they might not have leisure enough to fall in love with the Majesty and Grandeur of their Office supposing they would govern the better when they knew that afterwards they were to live private Men under the Commands of others But Brutus and Collatinus who had been the chief Authors and sticklers in expelling Tarquin were chosen Consuls by the People yet they fearing Tyranny might run in a Blood deposed Collatinus in a short time after for being a kin to Tarquinius Superbus though he was Husband to Lucretia who had been so lately ravisht substituting Valerius Publicola in his place who to oblige and secure the Fears of the People caused his own House to be pulled down because it looked so like a Castle and place of Defence Brute on the other side hearing that there was a plot on foot among the young
one fastned upon another with Lint and Bulls-glew and was covered with an Oxes-Hide or other stiff Leather the upper and lower part of it was bound about with a plate of Iron or Brass which they called Umbo Romulus brought them up first among the Romans taking the use of them from the Sabines The Auxiliaries were such Forces as were sent to the Romans by the Praefects of the Neighbour and Confederate Countries at the command of Consul or General Their Horsemen were divided into Troops called Turmae containing thirty Horsemen every Turmae was again divided into three less Companies called Decuriae containing ten Horsemen whence their Captain was called Decurio But those to whom the several wings of Horsemen were committed were stiled Equitum praefecti The Roman Horsemen saith Polybius at the first carried but a weak limber Pole or Staff and a little round Buckler but afterwards they used the furniture of the Graecians which Josephus affirms to be a strong Launce or Staff and three or four Darts in a Quiver with a Buckler and a long Sword by the Right side Upon any sudden Expedition out of the whole Army were taken the choicest Young-men both for strength and agility to them were given little round Bucklers and seven Darts apiece These Souldiers practiced to ride behind the Horsemen and speedily to alight from their backs at a Watch-word given and so to charge the Enemy on foot This custome was first used at the Siege of Capua and first brought into practice by one Q. Navius a Centurion and he was honourably rewarded for it by Q. Hulvius the Consul and from hence saith Livy grew the institution of the Velites The Romans had four forms of the front of a Battle the first was called Acies recta when neither the Wings nor the Battle advanced one before another but were all carried in a right line and made a strait Front The second form was called Obliqua when one of the Wings was advanced nearer the Enemy than the rest to begin the Battle and this was commonly called as Vegetius noteth the Right wing as having great advantage against the Left of the Enemy The third form was called Sinuata when both the Wings were advanced forward and the Battle stood backwards off from the Enemy after the fashion of a half Moon The last form was Gibbosa or Gibbera acies when the Battle is advanced and the two Wings lagg behind Caesar's custome in Marching was to send his Cavalry and light armed Footmen before the body of his Army both to discover and impeach the Enemy For these Troops were nimble in motion and fit for such services but if the danger were greater in the Reer than Front they marched in the tail of the Army giving security where was most cause of fear But if they were found unfit to make good that Service in that place as it often fell out in Africa against the Numidians he then removed them as he found it most convenient and brought his Legionary Souldiers which were the strength of the War to march at the back of the Army to make good that which the Horsemen were not able to perform The manner of their Encamping THE Centurion that went before to choose a convenient place and having found a fit scituation for their Camp first assigned a station for the Generals pavilion which was commonly in the most eminent place of the Camp from whence he might easily overview all the other parts or any Alarum or sign of Battle from thence might be discovered from all parts This Pavilion was known by the name of Praetorium the General of the Army being formerly called Praetor In this place they stuck up a white Flag from which they measured every way an hundred foot The Area or content thereof was almost an Acre the form of the Praetorium was round and high in this Praetorium was the Tribunal or Chair of State and the place of Divination which they called Augurale with other appendices of Majesty and Authority The Generals Tent being thus placed they considered which side of the Pavilion lay most convenient for Water and Forrage and on that side they lodged the Legions they being divided one from another by a Street or Lane fifty foot in breadth according to the degree of Honour that every Legion had in the Army So were they lodged in the Camp either in the midst which was accounted most honourable or towards the sides a place of meaner reputation Between the Tents of the first Maniples in every Legion and the Praetorium there went a Way of one hundred foot in breadth throughout the whole Camp which was called Principia In this place the Tribunes sate to hear matters of Justice the Souldiers exercised themselves and the Leaders and chief Commanders frequented it as a place of Publick meeting on either side the Emperours Pavilion in a direct line to make eaven and streight the upper side of the Principia The Tribunes had their Tents every Tribune confronting the head of his Legion Above them towards the head of the Camp were the Legates and Treasures the upper part of the Camp was strengthned with some select Cohorts and Troops of Horse according to the number of Legions that were in the Army Polybius describing the Camping used in his time when they most commonly had but two Legions in the Army with as many Associates placeth the Ablecti and Extraordinarii which were select Bands and Companies in the upper part of the Camp and the Associates on the outside of the Legions The Ditch and Rampier that encompassed the whole Camp about was two hundred foot distant from any Tent whereof Polybius giveth these Reasons First That the Souldiers marching into the Camp in Battle array might dissolve themselves into Maniples Centuries and Decuries without tumult and confusion and again if occasion were offered to sally out upon the Enemy they might very conveniently in that place put themselves into Companies and Troops and if they were assaulted by night that the Darts and Fire-works which the Enemy might cast should do them no harm This Ditch and Rampier was made by the Legions every Maniple having his part measured out and every Centurion overseeing his Century The approbation of the whole work belonged to the Tribunes and their manner of Intrenching was thus The Souldiers being girt with their Swords and Daggers digged the Ditch about their Camp which was alwaies eight foot in breadth at the least and as much in depth casting the Earth thereof inwards But if the Enemy were not far off the Ditch was eleven fifteen or eighteen in latitude and altitude according to the discretion of the General the Ditch being as broad at bottom as at top The Rampier from the brim of the Ditch was three foot high and sometimes four made after the manner of a Wall with green Turfs cut all to one measure half a foot in thickness a foot in breadth and a foot and a
Sanguine Britonum regni hujus Guti verò similiter cum veniunt suscipi debent protegi in regno isto sicut conjurati fratres sicut propinqui proprii Cives regni hujus Exierunt enim quondam de nobili Sanguine Anglorum scilicet de Engra Civitate Anglici de sanguine illorum semper efficiuntur Populus unus Gens una Concerning such who may and ought of Right to cohabit and remain in the Kingdom of Britain The Britains of Armorica when they come ought to be entertained in the aforesaid Realm and protected in the same as good Citizens Of old they went out of the body of this Realm of the blood of the Britains of this Realm Likewise the Gutes when they come ought to be entertained and protected in the foresaid Realm as sworn Brothers as near Kinsmen and proper Citizens of this Realm for they proceeded of old from the noble Blood of the Angles to wit out of the City Engra and the Angles from their Blood and they are alwaies esteemed one People and one Nation Thus much concerning the more Ancient Customes of the SAXONS We come now to those times wherein they began to appear upon our Coast until their arrival in Britain take the account as it is here and there delivered in Good Authors THis Nation of the SAXONS was generally of a most Warlike temper their valour and hardiness in War is thus celebrated by Zosimus For Courage of mind saith he strength of body and enduring labour and travel they are of all the Germans most renowned the same saith Orosius who stileth them terrible for hardiness and agility Marcellinus said they were dreadful to the Romans for their sudden and quick motions and AEgysippus makes them a nimble swift and dodging Enemy Saxony saith he is a Region or Country in respect of its Marshes unapproachable and surrounded with combersom Countries not easie to be passed through By reason whereof although they procure to themselves greater security for War and although it self was often represented Captive to exalt the Roman Triumphs yet they retain the repute of being a most Valorous People especially excelling all others in Piracy howbeit trusting to their swift Pinnaces and Fly-boats not in fine force provided rather for flight and to make escapes than to stand to battel Exactly after the same manner Isidore describes them The Nation of the Saxons scituated upon the Coasts of the Ocean and among Marshes unpassable is for Warlike courage and nimbleness expert at Service from whence they took their Name as being stout valiant and hardy and renowned above all others for Piracy They were tall of stature and for feature and good proportion of limbs conspicuous Witichindus the Monk thus sets them out The Franks admired these Men for their excellency as well in Body as Mind they wondered at them for their new and strange Apparel for their Armour and the Hair of their heads that covered their shoulders but most of all for their stedfast and constant Resolution and Valiant spirits They were clad in Souldier's Cassocks and had long Spears for their weapons they put confidence in their little Bucklers and wore great Knives at their backs However it may seem that in former time they shaved their head close after the Asian fashion from whence they proceeded leaving only a tuft of hair on their Crown wearing a Plate about their temples And this appears out of the Verses of Sidonius Apollinaris Istic Saxona cerulum videmus Adsuctum antè salo solum timere Cujus verticis extimas per oras Non contenta suos tenere morsus Altat lamina marginem comarum Et sie crinibus ad cutem recissis Decrescit caput additurque vultus There the Tarpawlin Saxon we behold Fearful ashore but on the waters bold A Plate around his head his Temples clasp's And keeps the hair up which it closely grasps Beneath all shav'd the visage does advance What 's lost in head is gain'd in Countenance Paulus Diaconus gives us an account of their Habits in these words Their Garments saith he were large loose and for the most part made of Linnen after the manner of the English Saxons Trimmed and set out with very broad gards or welts purflet and embroidered with sundry Colours Long living in Piracy it was not strange to find them expert Sea-men insomuch as being so long acquainted with the Sea they were fearful of the Land They wrought so much mischief upon the Coasts of Britain and France extending their Piracy as far as Spain that particular Orders were taken by the command of both Countries for providing Captains and Sea-men to restrain their Insolencies and depredations who thereupon were stiled Counts and Earls of the Saxon shore along Britain and France which gave the occasion of Sidonius Apollinaris to write thus of them Quin Armoricus piratam Saxona tractus Sperabat cui pelle salum sulcare Britannum Ludus assuto glaucum mare findere lembo The Coast of France began to fear And dread the Saxon Privateer Who in his patcht-up leather Pinnaces Takes his delight and pastime on the Seas And seizing within Gaul the Country about the Baiocesses they held it for along time in their hands Gregorius Turonensis calleth them Saxones Baiocassinos and the common sort of them Soshes Bessins And Sidonius tells us what great and cruel outrages they committed along these Coasts His words are these The Messenger saith he with whom we spent some time in Discourse while for your sakes we held him with us always affirmed that of late you sounded Alarms at Sea and in your own Person performed the part sometimes of a Souldier sometimes of a Marriner ranged up and down upon the winding Ocean to affront and disquiet the flat-bottom Barks of the Saxons and as many of such Rovers as you see you may think you behold so many Arch-Pyrats They all of them together so command obey teach and learn to steal and rob that now you have the greatest Cause to be warned and to be most heedful and vigilant over them There is no Enemy so cruel as this he setteth upon others unawares and to save himself slips away as warily he sets at nought all that did encounter with him he ruins all that take no heed of him whomsoever he follows are certainly overtaken but when he flyeth he is sure to make his escape To this Service ship-wracks inure him and so affrighten him not and they are not only skilful in the dangers of Sea but familiarly acquainted with them If a Tempest ariseth the same of one side serveth to protect them were they in Jeopardy to be taken on the other side if they assail others it hindereth them from being perceived or discovered at a distance In waves and craggy rocks they venture their Lives in the hopes to be rewarded by fortunate success and besides this before they take shipping into their own Country and weigh their
He that shall put out an Oxes eye shall pay five pence a Cows one shilling Of yearly Barley every Season shall be given 6 pound c. Here wanteth something Of a yoke of Oxen borrowed If a Boor shall hire a yoke of Oxen and hath Corn enough he shall pay the whole hire with Corn but if he want sufficient Corn he shall pay half in Corn and half in other goods Of Church Dues Every one shall pay his Church-dues at that place where he resided in the midst of winter Of him of whom Pledg is required If at any time a Pledg is required of a person accused and he hath not to lay down in pledg before his cause is heard and another will lay down pledg for him upon condition that the other may be in his custody till he receiveth his goods laid down for him and the second time the accused be forced to give Pledg and the party that first engaged will not again be security and so his cause fall it shall not be restored to the Surety what he laid down in the first cause Of the departure of a Boor keeper of the Peace A Boor that is keeper of the Peace if he leaves his house and goes to another place to dwell in he shall have power to carry with him his Overseer his Smith and a Nurse Of them who possess Lands He that possesseth 20 hides of land and is going to another place shall leave behind him 12 hides ready sown he that holdeth 10 shall sow six hides he that hath 3 hides and is a departing shall leave half an one sown If any one hath hired Roods of land of the Lord and hath plowed them and the Lord not content with the rent and service requireth more work and duty than was bargained for the Tenant shall not be bound to hold on those conditions unless the Lord give him an House neither shall he be prohibited plowing Of a Boor keeper of the Peace banished If a Boor keeper of the Peace shall be banished for any misdemeanour his house shall not be a refuge for him Of Wool A sheep shall not be sheared until Midsummer or the Fleece shall be redeemed with two pence Of the estimation of Men. Out of the estimation of the head of a Man that whilst he lived is valued at 200 s. there shall be substracted 30 s. to recompence his death to the Lord out of the estimation of the head of a Man valued at 600 s. 80 shall be substracted out of the estimation of the head valued at 1200 shillings an hundred and twenty shillings shall be substracted Of Maintenance to be allowed Out of 10 hides of land for maintenance shall be given 10 fats of Hony 300 loaves 12 gallons of Welch-Ale 30 gallons of small Ale 2 grown Oxen or 10 Weathers 10 Geese 20 Hens 10 Cheeses 1 gallon of Butter 5 Salmons 20 pound of Fodder and an hundred Eeles Of estimation by the head If any one be required to pay to the valuation of his head and being about to swear confesseth what in words before he denied nothing shall be demanded of him for penalty before he pay the whole value of his head Of a Robber that hath been Amerced the price of his head and is taken A Robber having been punished the price of his head and taken if he escape the same day the intire penalty shall not be again required if he was taken about night but if theft was committed before the foregoing night they shall pay who took him before as they can agree with the King or his Justices Of a Welch Servant killing a free English man If a Welch Servant shall kill an English man his Master shall deliver him into the hands of the Lord or the dead man's Relations or redeem him with 60 s. But if he will not part with mony let him free his Servant and let the friends of the slain sue for the value of his life If the freed Servant hath friends that will uphold his cause if not let him look to himself It is not required of a Free-man to pay with Servants unless he will redeem with a price the penalty of Capital enmity nor for a Servant to pay with Free-men Of things stolen and found with another Goods stolen and found with another if if he that vents them being called to an account will not take upon him the goods or the sale of them and yet confesseth that he sold some other goods to the party then it is the part of the Buyer to confirm by oath that he sold those very goods and no other Of the death of a God-father or God-son If any one kill a God-son or his God-father let him pay the same to the Relations as he doth to the Lord to satisfie for his death and his payment for the proportion of the value of the slain is to be more or less according as if payment were to be made to a Lord for his Servant But if the dead party the King received at the Font let satisfaction be made to him as well as to the Relations But if his life was taken away by a Relation substraction must be made of the mony to be paid to the God-father as it useth to be done when mony is paid to the Master for the death of his Servant If a Bishop's Son be killed let the penalty be half BUt this King INA is more especially celebrated by the Monkish Writers of those times for a great favourer of a Monastick life and a supporter of its Interest as well by his own profession of the same as by large Revenues and great Priviledges granted to its maintenance and honour But the chief of all his works was his stately Church at Glastenbury a place so renowned for its ancient Sanctity as being the first Seat of Christianity in this Island that our Ancestors called it The first Land of God The first Land of Saints in Britain The beginning and foundation of all Religion in Britain The Tomb of Saints The Mother of Saints The Church founded and built by the Lord's Disciples In the first planting of Faith in this Island there had been built as hath been shewn in the foregoing History by Joseph of Arimathea Philip or some of their Disciples a little Cell or Chappel for the exercise of Religion by those Primitive Apostles This being by this time decayed was afterwards repaired or rather a new one built in the same ground by Devi Bishop of St. Davids which also exposed to ruine was again kept up at the cost and charges of twelve Men coming from the North. But now NIA having well settled his Kingdom demolished that ruinous building and in the room of it erected a most stately and magnificent Church dedicating it to CHRIST and his two Apostles Peter and Paul guilding it throughout with gold and silver after a most sumptuous manner Upon the highest coping thereof he caused to be written in large Characters