he did besides that there are many errata in erratis But perhappes some wil merueile what is my reason that I haue termed this worke in English the Breuiary of Britayne since it is not intitled so in Latine To them I answere that if they deeme of the Latine title a right they shal perceaue that I haue not strayed one iote from the authours meanyng For where he calleth this booke CommeÌ„tarioli Britannicae descriptionis fragmentum that is to say a fragment of a litle treatise or discourse of the description of Britayne waygh and iudge indifferently good Reader how muche I haue gone byside the purpose And here peraduenture it may be looked for accordyng vnto the custome of some translatours I should fine and picke my penne to set foorth the commendation of mine authour as in very deede some of them had neede to do But I feare me much least in myne ouer rash attempt in takyng so worthy a writer in hand not beyng furnished with any greater skyll and learnynge in this his kinde then I am knowne to be I haue deserued iust blame and M. Lhuyd if he were liuynge woulde haue desired me of lesse acquaintance Whose passyng earnest traueile in attaynyng skil and knowledge hath deseruedly purchased vnto him immortal fame and so much the rather for that he hath therin endeuoured him selfe to doo his countrie good wherevnto all men are naturally bounden And not only contented to take the paynes for his owne knowledge sake but willing to pleasure other therby hath communicated the same vnto the worlde Which commendable example of his I trust shal be a prouocation vnto some other in this Realme that haue traueiled longe time and taken much paines in the searching out of antiquities and anncient Monuments of Britayne not without their greate charges Whose singular learnyng without suspition of partialitie I may not commende to attempte the lâ—kâ— â–ª 〈◊〉 that they be hindred b◠〈…〉 lâ—ng to do nothyng th 〈…〉 tie ought to be furtherers an 〈…〉 â—o others And for my parte I 〈…〉 en the paynes with hazard of mine eâ—emation for the English Readers sake whiche vnderstandeth not the Latine â—ongue To whom I thought it as 〈…〉 h appertayning to know the state and description of his owne country as to the learned be he Englishman or stranger Only for recompence gentle Reader let me haue thy good woorde and lawfull fauour and I aske no more Farewell hartly and enioy it ¶ A freind in prayse of the Authour THE British soyle with all therin that lies The surging Seas which compasse it about In what estate of heate or colde of skies It stands with many thinges of other rout Lhuyd in this booke hath put theÌ„ out of doubt Which though in viewe it be of body smale in breif discourse it doth comprise them all ¶ Ptolom his pen it seemes he had in hand Somtimes in Seas with NEPTVNE he did dwel IVNO to skies pluckt him to view the land Els surely could he not haue done so well That thus so right of euery thing doth tell As though he stoode aloft and downe did looke And what he saw wroat straight into his booke ¶ Ech Hill ech dale ech water worth the name With Forests wide and many a standing Wood Ech Citie Towne ech Castle great of fame Ech King prince spronge forth of noble blood Were bad his reigne or were it iust and good So much as skild him for to touch therin To tell the truth he forced not a pin ¶ Thy couÌ„try Lhuyd is bounden much to thee Which makest it vnto vs not only knowen But vnto such as in far countries be Wherby thy fame the greater way is flowen And eke thy countries praise the more is groweÌ„ So by one deede two noble thinges are chanced Britayne and Lhuyd to heauen are aduanced ¶ In Latine thou the learned sort to please In single payne a double skill didst show In English Twyne hath turned for greater ease To those the ROMAN tongue that do not know The worke is one though tongues be twaynel trow The Latin thou the English Twyne did twyst The learned laud you both disprayse who lyst Finis Thomae Brounei Praebendarij VVestm in Commentariolos Britannicae descriptionis Humfredi Lhuyd Denbyghiensis Cambri Britanni FLumine Lhuyde fluis laxis effusus habenis Dulcis irrigno flumine LHVYDE fluis Nereides viridesque Deae pater Inachus aiunt Parnassi ex ipso vertice Lhuyde venis In mare dulcisono Lhuydus fluit amne BritannuÌ„ Clamant Cluydae flumina Lhuydus adest Et nouus ille nouis auxit faelicius vndis Fontes Annales inclite Brute tuos Nomina vera docet Regionis fluminis vrbis Et cuiusque loci quae sit origo docet Vt vere scripsit sic vero interprete gaudet Sed Lhuydus Latij fluminis amne fluit Anglus hic interpres Romanum iam facit AngluÌ„ Scripsit vterque bene laus sit vtrique sua Ed. Grant Scholemaster of VVestminster in coÌ„mendation of this treatise of Britanie pende in Latin by HuÌ„frey Lhuyd and translated into English by Tho. Twyne IF for to write of Brutus broode eche Britaynes brayne be bounde For zeale he owes to country soyle and eke his natiue grounde Then Wales may boast and iustly ioy that such a Britayne bred which hath with serious serche of brain and toylyng trauell spred Throughout the coasts of Britany and forrayne countries strange The liuely fame of Brutus name that through the world doth range That longe lay hid in dungeons darke obscurde by tract of time And almost smouldred with the smokâ— of ignorances crime But now reuiude and polished by Lhuyd his busie brayne And brought to light former frame by his exhausted payne Whose diligence and iudgement great I can but muse to see That with such skill doth paynt the prayse of Brute and Britanie That with such loue to countryes soyle doth bryng agayne to light The shinyng shape and stately stampe of that was darckned quight By whose endeuour Polidore must now surseace to prate To forge to lie and to defame kynge BRVTVS worthy state By whose great paynes proude Hector must now leaue of to bable Such vaunts as of his Scottish soyle Scot he whilom seemd to fable By Lhuid their brags be beaten downe their forgyng lies be spide And Britaine needs must chaleng fame that erst it was denide Lhuid findeth forth hir former fame and antique names doth tell And doth refute their forged lies that did of rancor smell Brutes worthy race is blazed here by trumpe of flickering fame And Lhuid it is a flowyng flud that hath reuiude the same Who though enterred now in earth yet shall he neuer die But liue amongs his Britanists by this his Britanie whose thread of life wold god the Fates had yet not sought to spoyle Then had wee had a larger scope of Brutus sacred soyle Go litle volume go thy wayes by Lhuid in Latin pende And new attir'd in English weede
water either into the Sea as Aberconwy Abertiui Abertawy that is to say the mouth of Conway Tibius and Tobius or into some great Riuer as Aber hodni Abergeuenni to say the fall of Hodnus and Geuenus into Osca Moreouer wee call mouthes and entrances of Riuers Aber without addynge any thynge more thereto as in Carnaruanshyre between Conouium and Banchorium in the same maner so that I thinke Aber to signifie as much as Aestus doth whiche is the rage fall or force of Water as is most agreeable with Ptolomaeus Aboue these were the Damnij whose cheife Citie Antoninus maketh Vandagora to be not far from the valley Ofdam wherby I coniecture that they be those whiche wee call now VVestmerlandshyremen The Selgouij and Otadeni in times past inhabited Cumberland At the verie brimme of the Uallie standeth a most auncient citie Ptolomeus calleth it Lucopibia Antoninus Luguballia the Britaynes and Englishmen terme it Caerloyl and it standeth in the Frontirs of the Nouantes Not farre from this Citie as Malmsburiensis reporteth there was a Stone founde with this inscription In token of Marius victorie whiche token of triumph I suppose to haue bin erected by Meurigus whom some of the Romans haue termed more aptly Aruiragus othersome Marius in token that the Readshankes were there vanquished Rodericus beyng theyr kynge whiche at that season as the Saxons did exercised Pyracie in our Seas vntill at length one parte of them setled in Albania and other in Fraūce And it is wel knowne that these countries together with Gallouidia so farre as the Riuer Cluda vnto the yere of our Lorde 870 were in the Britaynes possession at what time beyng by the Scottes Danes and Englishmen disquieted with many batayles and in the ende their kynge Constantinus slayne at Lochmaba in Anādra they were enforced to returne into VVales to their countrymen and dryuing away the English Saxons forcibly chalenged to them selues the greater parte of the country which lieth twixt Conway and the water of Dee whiche they possessed and there appoynted a kyngdome whiche of the riuer Cluda on whose shoare they dwelt is of our countrymen called Struteluyd of Marianus Scotus corruptly Streadiylead of the VVallanes They had many conflictes agaynst the kynges of England as the same author reporteth vntill at length their last kynge dying at Rome they submitted themselues to the princes of Gwynedh This Marianus the chiefest Hystoriographer of his time one of late hath caused to set foorth in Printe being imperfect and lackynge the better parte of set purpose as him selfe confesseth because of the ambiguitie of the British Hystorie In like maner Sleydan while he turneth his abbridgement of Frossard into Latine beyng too too muche partiall to the Frenchemen either ouerpasseth with silence the most noble valiant deedes of the Englishmen or variynge from his author reporteth them otherwyse then Frossard hath written Wherefore me seemeth that the sayinge of Martial the Poet verye well agreeth with them That which now thou doest turne O Fidentine the booke is mine But when thou turnest him ill then he begins for to be thine But this much by the way The laste of the Northumberlandshyremen and almost of all Lhoëgr follow the inhabitantes of Lancashyre to be intreated of whom the Ryuer called of the Englishmen Merssee deuideth from the Kyngedome of March of whom the kyngdome of March in Englande was so called It is soone prooued out of Ptolomaeus that these were called Ordouici in olde time For the Ordouici saieth he lie more Southwest then the Brigantes doo Since therefore that Yorkeshyre is the kyngedome of Brigantes in vayne with Boethius wee seeke them in Scotland and muche more in Northfolke with Polydorus Wherefore renouncing these fables for my part I am perswaded that the ORDOVICI are not only the Lancas hyremen but also the Deuani or Ches hyremen and Shrops hyremen beyng recompted of Tacitus for a greate Citie In this place I call a Citie as Caesar doeth an whole conuent or kyngedome For looke how many Cities there are so many kyngedomes in olde time were in Britayne whiche seuerally wagyng batayle agaynst the Romans were all the sooner ouercummen Amongst the Cities of these kingdomes Ptolomaeus reciteth Mediolanū called now Lancastre Mancunium as appeareth out of Antoninus is called Māchestre Their kynge in times past was Cataracus whose fame was knowne aboue the Skies who the space of nine continuall yeres very muche molested the Romans with Warre at length was taken by treason of a Woman and led to Rome in triumphe And Claudius the Emperour deserued no lesse prayse for vanquishynge Cataracus then did Scipio for Syphax or Lucius Paulus for Perses as Tacitus writeth two moste puissant kynges brought home in shew to the people of Rome And here can I not maruel enough what came in minde to that Boëthius not the Troiane but the Scotte for Ahlas what one was he how farre from that same Hector sore He chaunged was that in Achilles spoyles came home before Impudently to affirme that he was a Scot seeyng that there was no suche nation at that time in the worlde But if there were it was so enfolded in darkenesse that it was vnknowne to the Romans and Britaynes or as Haymo Armenius writeth of a certayn nation it had so bleared the eyes of all peoples and countries that the Scots were inuisibly conuersant between the Romans and Britaynes Polydorus also writeth that he was kynge of the Ordulacae when neither Tacitus nor Ptolomaeus mentioneth the same but of the Ordouici And Tacitus reporteth that he was not onely gouernour of the Ordouici but also of the Siluri Which Siluri dwelled not in Scotland but in Southwales as in another place it shal be prooued more playnly And I remember very well that a few yeres agoe when I was in the frontirs of Shrops hyre with others about certain businesse of my Lordes the right honoble Erle of Arundell where some parte of his inheritance lieth I chaunced to fall into the view of a place exceedingly well fortefied both by nature art The situation whereof was vpon the toppe of an high hill enuironed with a triple ditche of greate depth There were iij. gates not directly but a shoshe the one agaynst the other and on three sides steepe headlonge places and compassed with twoo Riuers on the lifte hande with Colun or Clun on the right with Themis which our countrymen call Teuidia and accessible but on the one side therof These thinges when I beheld I vnderstoode by the inhabitants that this place was called Caër Caradoc that is to say the citie Caradoc and that there haue bin many fierce battayles fought there agaynst a certaine kyng called Caradoc who at last was vanquished and taken of his enemies For our coūtrymen ca◠not only walled Cities townes but also al maner places which are entrenched and walled by the name Caër as I wil proue afterward by
of Aegypt sent foorth his oratours vnto Reutha kynge of Scots that by the view taken and report of his neare countrymen namely such as had come lyneally from the Egiptians he might vnderstand the situation and forme of the countrie together with the conditions and maners of the people to the intent that he might set downe the same in his woorke of Cosmographie whiche he had then in hand Whiche oratours beyng right courteously intertayned were afterward led through all the regions and townes of Scots and Readshankes at last beyng largely rewarded returned into Aegypt O noble and worthie deede of a Gentleman but moste vnthankfull Ptolomaeus and vnmindeful of so great rewards Who after that he had sent his Embassadours into countries so farre distant hath left no shire yea almost no towne in all Britayne in that woorthy woorke of his vnspoken of whiche was set foorth not by the kynge but longe time after by another Ptolomaeus Pheludensis a Philosopher very well learned onely his welbeloued cosins the Scots and ReadshaÌ„ks he hath lefte raked vp in their owne darkenesse neither once vouchsaued in his booke wherin he made a most perfect description of all Albania to expresse so muche as their names Nay rather Boethius it is a sinne to beleeue that suche a kyng when he had sent thither his Legates and recited all the Cities and people of Albania to haue bin ignorant of the nations name and in describynge the situation of the Region so to haue varied from the trueth For he whiche sette foorthe that noble woorke aboute the yere of our redemption one hundred and fortie appeareth in no place to speake of the Scottes and Readshankes which at that time were vnknowen to the worlde This beyng omitted let vs come to the second Fable wherein gentle reader whether I shal mooue thee to laugh ter or lothsomnesse I am vncertayn He writeth that one Gyllus vsurped by force the kyngedome of Scotland before the commynge of Caesar into Britayne who after that he had committed many cruell deedes at length by Euenus the lawfull heyre one Cadallus beyng captayne was in Ireland vanquished in blouddie fight and afterwarde slayne Of this slaughter by reason that the Irishmen were afflicted with the force armes of the Albion Scots the Poete Claudianus other writers haue entreated Wherby he maketh the noble poete Claudianê° which liued vnder Honorius 410. yeres after the incarnate woord author of the Scottish war against Gyllus which vnto him seemeth no inconuenience who in other places most impudently fathereth his follies fables vpon Caesar the Dictator Tacitus In very deede Claudianus hath writen of the Gyldonicum warre made in Africk by Masticelis brother to Gyldo cheiftaine therin and of the expedition which Honorius tooke in hande against the brother that rebelled But I besech you my freend Hector tell me whether you affirme this geare in iest or in good earnest that thereby wee may iudge of the residue or whether that you thought you could deceaue all men with your lies This Gyldo was a Goth no Scot the warre was in Africk not in Ireland This visible tyranne liued in the yere of our Lorde 398. but theyr feyned inuisible Gyllus is deuised to haue flowrished 400. yeres before Besides these insulse and vnsauored lies he affirmeth that all the knowledge and learnynge of the Druydes came first vnto the Scots when as it playnely appeareth vnto suche as are excercised in the readyng of Hystories that Phylosophy and the liberal scieÌ„ces were knowen to the Celtae and Britaynes longe before they were to the Greekes and Latines But as touchyng the holsome lawes institutes whiche he falsely attributeth vnto the Scots vnto those whiche reade Solinus and Mela depayntyng foorth the maners and nature of the Irishmen the truth will appeare Likewise out of S. Hierome whom wee may better credite then Boethius it is euident that at his time that is as muche to say as in the yere of our Lorde 400. the Scots were accustomed to eate mans fleash For saieth he what shall I say of other nations when as I my selfe beyng but a yonge man saw in Fraunce Scottes whiche fead on mans fleash And when as they chance to finde in the wooddes any heards of Hogges also any droues of catayle or beastes they vse to cut of the buttockes of the Heards men and keepers and the Pappes of women accomptyng those partes for a most delicate dish These Scots as though they followed Platoes coÌ„mon wealth haue no peculiar wiues of their owne but as their lechery moueth them saith he runne lasciuiously about after the maner of beastes This much S. Hierome Since therfore it is certainly prooued out of this true author that they were so barbarous at his time it is not like that so many hundred yeres before as Boethius doth fayne they were ruled with so many good lawes and holsome institutes Neither doo I for my part write this to the intent I woulde detract any thinge from the Scottish glory in so much as I know very well that this nation after that it had departed from barbarousnesse and embraced Christian religion and obeyed lawes and rightes precisely like other people was so firmlye ioyned in league of friendship with our Britaynes that wee reade how in many warres th`one nation ayded the other I acknowledge also that many thinges haue bin by them doone both wisely valiently in Britayne Fraunce and Italy and that the Englishmen howbeit a stronge nation seldome assayed the Scots in war but that they were alwaies readie with al their force to ioyne with them in battayle which is no signe of a cowardly or hart lesse people But I write this only to this entent that the truth of the history may be knowne and that the Scots themselues may contemne this fabler hold them selues contented with this that together with the Saxons Frenchmen Englishemen most noble natioÌ„s they were first knowne to the Roman world And now let vs see what substantiall approued writers whom bothe wée they must credit haue transported to memorie touchyng the Scots and Readshankes The first therfore of the Romans so far as I know Mamertinus in his Panegyricus called Maximinianê° maketh mention of the Readshankes by these woordes And truly not like as there is but one name of Britayne so should the losse be but smale to the coÌ„monwealth of a lande so plentifull of corne so flowrishyng with numbers of pastures so flowynge with riuers of metalles so gaynefull for reuenewes so welbeset with hauens so wide in circuit Which when Cesar first of the Romans the beginner of this your name entred into wroate that he had founde another world supposing it to be so bigge that it seemed not to be compassed with the Oceane but rather to compasse the Oceane about But at that time Britayne was nothynge furnished with shippes for Warre by Sea and the Romans after the Punick and Asiatick warres had
called in Latin Deua of the riuer whiche wee terme Dourdowy to say the water of Dee The Englishmen call it Legancestre and afterward clippyng the name shorter called it Chester and the Citizens doo glory that they haue the body of Henry the fourth Emperour whome they affirme to haue yelded vp the Empyre and haue betaken him selfe to an Hermites life And so are they likewise perswaded of Herald who was the last kynge of the Danish bloud More East from these are the Doruentani now Derbishyremen so termed of theyr cheifcitie Dwrguent whiche is as muche to say as white Water All these shyres and conuentes with a great parte of VVales as farre as the renowmed ditche of Kyng Offa of whiche wee will speake hereafter made vp the sixt kingedome of English Saxons in Britayne which of the ryuer Merse was called the kyngedome of Mercij or March. Here now I cannot sufficientlye merueile how VVolfangus Lazius a man excellently learned and very well deserued of all that be studious of antiquitie in his greate worke of the Migration of nations should be so muche deceaued as to say that the Mertij or people of March were Marcomanni and the their kynges Penda Offa with all the rest reigned in the lower Germany Beyng most euident in all hystories that there was neuer any such kyngdome there and that these kynges peoples whom he affirmeth to haue dwelled in Germany inhabited that country of Britayne whiche wée now describe Likewise while he endeuoreth to lynke together the discentes and pedegrees of the Norman bloud of the kynges of England he handleth them so confusely so far besides truth that it seemeth he neuer read either the names or order or deedes of the kinges but it is rather likely that he learned theÌ„ by hearesay of some babling vnlearned foole that had no regarde of his good same or honestie As a nother hath â—oone of late dayes a man famously learned in the Mathematikes in his Geographical chart of this Ilande And besides these Hieromus Ruscellus in his Ptolomaeus lately printed at Venice while he goeth aboute to set foorth new names correspondent to the olde confoundeth places an hundreth miles distant one from another namely Colchester and VVynchester Neither in other places ar his gheasses any thynge more certayne wherefore I exhorte men not to trust him in this behalfe There remayneth the seuenth and last kyngedome of Saxons in Englande whiche they termed Nordan Humbrorum because it standeth at the Northecoast of Humber The same was afterwarde deuided into two kyngedomes of the Deeres and Bernices The kyngedome of Deera contayned all the country from Humbre and Trent to the Riuer Tyssa Bernicia reached from Tyssa to the Scottish Sea whiche they call now Fyrthew the Britaynes terme this same Brennich the other Deifyr The inhabitantes of this region especially south warde are called Snotyngomenses but now most coÌ„monly NotingamshiremeÌ„ Next vnto these are Yorkeshyremen who of the Romans were called Brigantes of whom Tacitus writeth thus Petilius Caerealis fought many batailes wherof some were not vnblouddy agaynst the Citie of the Brigantes which is reported to be the place of resorte to the whole populous prouince and obtayned a greate parte of the Brigantes either by victory or els by fight All these the liyng champion of the Scottysh name Hector Boëthius sticketh not to put into his Gallouidia and to proue the same by argumentes gathered out of Ptolomaeus and Tacitus But how much Ptolomaeus was deceaued trustyng to the report of others in describing the length and bredth of places in Britayne for he writeth that Scotland lieth forth to the East that the farthest Promontorie therof is viij degrees more Easterly then any place of England whiche in this paralelle do make aboute 240 miles whiche is altogether vntrue seyng Englande standeth more to the East then Scotlande â—â—the is as cleare as day light to all those that haue tasted of Cosmography But Ptolomaeus is to be pardoned beyng an Egyptian borne and excellently well learned in Mathematicals who hath done the best he coulde but not foolish and impudent Boëthius borne and brought vp no farther of then ScotlaÌ„d He speaketh thus of Tacitus that he beyng a graue author affyrmeth that the Brigantes were a Spanish broode dwellyng in a farre corner of Britayne farther then any durst auouche that at his time the Britaynes had passed O impudent face where aboute did Tacitus speake thus of the Brigantes He seemeth to deriue the Siluri by a colour from the Spanish broode because they lye ouer agaynst Spayne Gallouida is farther from Spayne then any Region of Englande or VVales And that in Tacitus time the Brigantes were first knowne to the Romans I confesse it but he findeth it not in Tacitus and not mindefull of him selfe as it behoueth a lier to be he calleth not to remembrance that he wrote in another place that Claudius the Emperour adioyned also vnto his Empyre the Orchades whiche lie beyonde Scotland But let vs bid faythlesse Hector a dieu and let vs now also see what the auncient writers haue writen of the Brigantes Ptolomaeus reciteth the Cities of Brigantes Eboracum Epiacum Calatum Bimonium CaturactoniuÌ„ Rhigodunum Isurium Olicana with others All men know that Eboracum is that Citie whiche the Britaynes call Caër Efroc the Englishmen Euerwyke and now shorte Yorke Of the rest wee doo but coniecture as Bimonium to be Bincestre Calatum which Antoninus and Bede cal Calcaria to be Helicastre now Tadcastre Rhigodunum Rippon and Olicana Haligfex And that Isurium is called Aldburg There was neuer any man that dreamed that these Cities were in Scotland But Antoninê° ascribeth theÌ„ to the BrigaÌ„ts placeth them in the way which leadeth to London from the Ually PraetoriuÌ„ for that there was a vally from the riuer Soluathianus to the mouth of Tine al do knowe I conclude therfore that it is impossible that the Brigants were euer in Scotland In so muche that the remembrance of this name remaineth vntill this day amongst vs For when we sée any man not duly obeing lawes coÌ„maundements him wée cal Chwaret Brigans that is to say one that plaieth the Brigant And like as they were rebelles agaynst the people of Rome so doth he contempne the lawes of Magistrates and of Elders And surely I am of beleefe that all Deera before time was called Brigantia Ptolomaeus placeth the Vernicones and Taiazalos betweene the Riuers Tine and Tweede This country alonely now refayneth the name of Northumberland when al the region before time from that riuer to the Scotish Sea was called by that name For there is no riuer in all Britayne that hath the name of Humbre but only the water into whom many notable streames do flow Wherby our freend M. Leland not with out good cause supposed that the same should be called Aber whiche amonge the Britaynes signifieth an arme of the Sea either swiftnesse or fall of any
appeare that through the default of writers necligence of such as wrote afterwardes amonge whom Liuius euen of the Romanes themselues is touched with want of trust many thinges of greater importance then the departure of Brutus are yelded to obliuion And although Caesar call the Britaynes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say borne in the same countrey where they dwell And Diodorus siculus saieth that they were from the beginning yet doo I beleeue that Brutus came into Britayne with his traine of Troians and there tooke vpon him the gouernement of the auncient inhabitantes and of his owne men therof were called Britaynes For our coūtrymen vnto this day doo call a Britayne Brituun whiche woorde cometh not from the auncient name of the Ilande Prydain but from Brutus the kynge and our hystories call the Britaynes in the plurall numbre Brytaniaid and Brython whiche woordes are deriued from the name of Brutus For in deriuation of woordes our countrymen doo often turne V into Y the ignorance wherof did very much trouble my freende M. Leland But bycause this whiche wee haue sayd touchyng the name of the Ilande and the first inhabitantes therof seemeth sufficient for our purpose wee will now intreate of other matters Britayne which more rightly how beit more strangely ought to be called Prydain is deuided into three partes Lhoegria Albania and Cambria Lhoegria is called of our countrymen reseruyng as yet the old name that same parte of Britayne which beyng possessed by the English Saxons the Iuthi peoples of Germany is now of all nations called England For when Britayne by Maximus the Tyranne was bereft of all the youth a greate parte wherof was slayne with him at Aquilaeia the residew stoutly inuaded and possessed a parte of Fraunce called Armorica sleayng and driuyng thence the country dwellers Wherby that country at this day is called by the name of the Lesse and the Continent Britayne And here I must not let passe with silence that BEDE the Englishman Volaterranus and Polydorus Italians were shamfully ouerseene in saying that this Ilande tooke his name of that other beynge euident to all men that the same was termed Armorica whiche in our tongue is as muche to say vpon the Sea and this ours Britannia Neither was there euer any of the auncient Britaynes or Britons in Fraunce so farre as I knowe before Sidonius Apollinaris whiche liued a litle after this migracion that lefte anie remembrance of it But in an Epistle to Vincentius of Aruandus secretary which accused his Lorde of highe Treason thus he writeth This letter seemed to be sent to the kyng of Gothes or Gutland diswadynge him from peace with the Emperour of Greece and shewynge that the Britaynes vpon Ligeris ought to be set vpon So farre he But if as they dreame and also Coenalis whiche hath erroniously followed them the Britaynes had possessed some parte of Fraunce before that time and suche a parte as shoulde haue byn called Britayne as they doo affirme impudently enough it should not haue escaped vnspoken of of all the Romane writers vnto whom Fraunce was as wel knowne as Italy Howbeit our countrymen say that the Cornishmen and those were one nation whiche bothe the kynges names beyng like in bothe countries as Conane Meriadoc by whiche name a par cell of Denbygh shyre in Northwales is called to this day Hoel Alane Theodore Rywallone with diuers other and also the proper woordes and names for all thinges almost one although in theyr ioynynge and construction of speach they seeme a litle to differ as it chaunceth somtimes in one countrie do proue manifestly Our countrymen call it in theyr mother tongue Lhydaw which woorde seemeth to me to be derined from the Latine woorde Littus signifiyng the shoare as who should say it were a country liynge on the shoare of Fraunce For like as the Latines doo change D. in all our woordes into T euen so our countrymen do turne their T into D and doo alwayes in woords whiche beginne with L write them with aspiration as Lhadron borowyng the woorde Latrones from the Latines that is to say in English Theeues But to returne agayne from whēce wee haue digressed when as I haue sayd before the youth of Britayne was lead by Maximus into Fraunce those that were left at home were oppressed by the most cruell and sauage nations the Readshankes and Scottes lookyng for no succour from the Romanes whiche were then otherwise busied aboute the yeare of our Lorde 450. They called vnto them the Saxons whiche were then practising Pyracie on the coastes of Fraunce and Britayne gaue them wages to ayde them And whereas some write that before that time the Britaynes neuer knew the Saxons it may appeare to be false out of sundrie Authours For Claudianus where he inueigheth against Eutropius speaketh of them in these woordes aboute the yere of our Lorde 400. What I may do since thou my prince hast bin Thinges not farre hence can shew for Tethis doth begin To waxe more milde since Saxons thou hast quailde c. Lykewise of the forteth Consulship of Honorius The Orchades were wet with bloud of Saxons slayne And in another place Britayn speaketh And me she sayth with countries neare about who was destroyd Almost defenced well hath Stilico By whose helpe now it is that Scottish warres I doo not doubt Ne doo I dread the Picts ne doo I feare the Saxon rout By standinge on the shoare to see them come with doubtfull windes c. Also Sidonius Apollinaris whiche wrote aboute their commyng into England hansomly describeth their Pyracie in an Epistle to Lampridius Wee may behold the vvannish Saxons here Vsd to the Sea before to dread the shoare From of whose heads where outward they appere Their bittes content to hold not any more The shires their toppes of heare do clip shore So that their lockes cut hard vnto the skinne Do make their head decreace but face to winne And in his Panegiricus vnto Socer But also the Amorick coast the Saxons pyracie Wel hoped for ▪ to whom the British salts but playe it was All naked and with clouted boate the graysh Sea to pas Moreouer Sextus Rufus in his booke de Notitia Prouinciarum of the knowledge of Prouinces speaketh of the Earle of the Saxon shoare alonge both the Britaynes These I say beynge sufficiently knowne to the Britaynes before they sent them against the Scots and Readshankes vnder the conduct of one Hengischus Whom when they had ouercome they entred a Trayterous league with them and like false men turned theyr face agaynst theyr maisters And hauing slayne the whole nobilitie of Britayne by crafte at Ambrose hill and sendynge for ayde from amonge the Englishmen and Iuthj beyng Germans they vsurped the same countrie which wee call Lhoëgria And after almost infinite battels they draue the auncient inhabitantes into the ends and edges of the Ilande and parted the same between themselues
the Romans Antoninus also mentioneth PontiuÌ„ which appeareth now to be called Reading Thantique name of Spinae which signifieth Thornes continueth to this day in the one side of Neubery which is as much to say as New courte From whence a good way of vpon the riuer Cunetio standeth a famous Citie called Cunetio by the Romanes but now Marlborow Betweene these and the Sea lye the Simeni whose Metropolitane or cheif Citie is Venta which in fore times was a Citie of greate renowne and of the Britaynes called Caërwynt of the Englishmen VVynchester And at the Sea there is the great port called now Portesmouth at whose mouth there standeth a Citie called of olde Caërperis but now Portchester Also Tris Antonis an haueÌ„ now South hampton retaynyng the olde name Ouer against these lieth the I le of VVyght celebrated by the auncient Romane wryters and first subdued by Vespasian The same is in length xx miles and. x. in bredth in forme like to an egge in some places seuen miles distant from the mayne shoare and in others but twayne It hath very rough and craggie Cliffes it is very plentifull of Corne. The cheifest and only market towne of all the Iland is Newport There is also a Castle called Caërbro that is to say the tract for Nettes expressynge the Britysh antiquitie The VVestsaxons when they had driuen away the Britaynes added the same to their dominion vntill Cadwalla a Britayn hauing slaine Aruald recouered it to him self Englishmen call it the VVyght Britaynes terme it Gwydh whiche in our tongue signifieth perspicuous or easy to be seene as Gwydhgruc that is to say a perspicuous heape Gwydhfa a perspicuous place by which terme the most highest Mountayne of all Britayne in Carnaruanshyre is called The inhabitants of this Iland are wont to glory that their country is destitute of three greate discommodities that are founde in other countries to wit Foxes beggynge Fryers and Lawiers They are vnder the precincte and dioces of Southampton By the same Sea shoare alonge follow the Seueriani called now the inhabitantes of VVylshyre whose cheef citie is Caërseuerus called also Caër Câ—radoc and now by Englishmen Sarysbury Twixt these is S. Ambrose hyll celebrated by reason of the slaughter of the Nobilitie of Britayne there committed Also Shaftes bury knowne of olde to the Britaynes by the name of Caërbaladin and Caërsepton At the Westside of thâ—se lie the Durotriges called of vs Durugueir of the Englishmen Dorsetshyre men From whence more westerly are the Damnonij wée cal them at this day Dyfynnaint whiche signifieth deepe narow valleys not of the Danes as some affyrme These are called in English DeuonshyremeÌ„ and they lye betweene two Seas the Seuern and the British Oceane Their principall Citie is Isca called also AVGVSTA before time Caërwisk of the water passynge bie but now of the Englishmen Excestre Howbeit I know well enough that some affyrme that before it was called by the olde Britaynes Penuchelgoëd Last of all cometh Cornauia of the inhabitantes and our countrymen called Cernico of Englishmen Cornwal Here it is to be noted that the Saxons did thrâ—st the Reliques of the auncient Britaynes into those streightes Who because they vsed the Britysh tongue whiche the Saxons vnderstoode not they termed them Cornwalas that is to say WelshmeÌ„ of Cornauia or Cornwall as they called also our countrymen Welsh Britaynes after the German guyse This is the true Etimologie or cause of the name and farewel to them whiche pleasinge them selues in the inuention of the name doo call it Cornu Galliae to saye an horne of Fraunce wherein Polydorus as in other thynges also vttereth his ignorance As for mine opinion very auncient bookes doo confirme it written in the saxon tongue and the name also wherby those whiche inhabite the countrie do vsually cal it They speake the British language al their wordes almost are founde like vnto ours but that they differ sumdeale in construction of speache The promontorie of Cornauia now Cornwall is famous amongst our countrymen coÌ„monly called Penrhyngwaed that is to say the promontory of bloud whiche I suppose to be called of Ptolomaeus Antiuestaeum Beyonde the Damnonij or Deuonshire men nigh the course of Seuern lieth sometime the region of Murotriges wee call it Guladyr haf Englishmen Somersetshyre where are many notable auncient places séene as the Mounts of Caërmalet otherwise called Camalet There standeth also Iscalis now Ilcester and the Isle of Auolonia whose Citie is Venta now Brystow but in antique time the Britaynes called it Caër oder yn Nant Badon that is to say the Citie Odera in the vally of Badon Another towne of the Belgae with Ptolomaeus Aquae Calidae that is of hot water with Antoninus Aquae Solis of water of the Sunne the Britaines cal it Caërbadon the Englishmen Bathe and is very renowmed for holsom Bathes of hot waters Of whiche thynge I am a most certayne witnesse For when as by the stroke of an horse whiche I had caught at Myllayne in Italy I was greuously pained with the Sciatica continually the space of one whole yeare and hauing assayde the helpe of many excellently learned Phisitions was nothynge the better I vsed these Bathes but only sixe dayes and was restored to my former health Between these and the Thames head were the Dobuni now Claudiani whose cheefe towne in old time was called CoriniuÌ„ of the Britaynes Caër Cory the English men now terme it Cycestre And Claudia commonly called Glocester a famous Citie standyng vpon Seuern the head of all the shyre I suppose not to haue bin knowne to the Romanes but was afterward as Gyldas reporteth builded by Glouy a Britayne who after that the Romanes were driuen thence reygned there and not so named by Claudius Caesar as hereafter shal be shewen In the same shyre also standeth Malmesbury called before time Caërbladhon These shyres doo make the thyrde Kyngedome of Saxons in Britayne whiche they call VVestsaxons whose kynge was Egbert who hauinge subdued all the other first of the Germans obtayned the Monarchie of Lhoëgr Thus hauynge described the countries that lie on the Southside of the Thames let vs now come to the other in ordre And first ouer agaynst Kent on the other side of the Thames lie the Trinouantes whose prince was Mandubratius or as other write Androgorius our countrymen cal him Audâ—wy the same sent for Caesar intâ— Britayne and when he was come asisted him with his power and followed him into Italy and Thessalie Theyr chief Citie was builded by Brutus and was called Troynewith that is to say New Troy howbeit there be some whiche call it Trenouantum bycause Tre signifieth in British a Towne But afterwarde it was called of Belus whiche dwelt there Dinas Beli that is to say Belinus Palace or Courte Last of all of Lud brother to Caswallane whiche wonderfully adorned it with beutifull
they come of Englishmen where as they and the Englishmen coumpte the other Scots but rude and barbarous These nations as I say vntill that Honorius came to the Empyre whiche was aboute the yere of the Lorde foure hundred and twentie molested the North parte of Britayne with incursions and robberies at whiche time hauyng called a power out of Ireland to helpe them as Gyldas and Bede doo auouch vnder conducte of Reuda established them selues a kyngdome in the West parte of Albania But the Readshanks possessed the East region whereas first they made warre agaynst the Romans and the Britaynes and afterwarde with the Englishmen and Danes sometime they were confederate sometime they warred diuersly vntill aboute the yere of our Lorde eight hundred and fortie all the Readshankes were destroyde by Kennethus kinge of Scottes in somuch that their name and kyngedome ceased to be any longer in Britayne Whose country the Scottes added vnto theyr owne whiche to this day is renowmed in Britayne This much I had to say of the Scots and Readshankes according to the verity of the hystory Howbeit I know well how Boethius a most vayne reporter of Fables impudently affirmeth that they reigned in Britayne three hundred yeres before Christe was borne And he feineth that there were so many kinges so many warres by them most valiently waged agaynst the Romans so many holsome lawes and statutes in Britayne by them instituted as neither Lucian in his Fabulous narrations neither the author of the booke of Amadis of Gaule nor wittie ARIOSTVS in his Orlando Furioso haue euer commended vnto vs in Fables But to the intente that I may set foorth the most beastly man in his colours that the sleight and subtelty wherwith he endeuoureth to bleare all mens eyes may be displayed I will briefly touche certayne of his most vayne trifles suche as all men of wit and vnderstandynge may easely perceaue to be starke lies And here I let pas Aegiptian fables and of the stocke and race of Scottish kynges in Britayne before Caesars coÌ„myng Where he affyrmeth that Caesar was vanquished by the Scots and fled out of Britayne Who afterwarde sent Ambassadours vnto the Scots and Readshankes to request their freindship and that at last he conducted his Roman armie in to the Forest Caledonia Also that Augustus sent his messengers vnto Metellus kynge of Scots to entreate him for peace Moreouer he maketh Cataracus a Britaine and sonne to kynge Cynobellinus as Dion a most famous author reporteth Kynge of Scotland He sticketh not to auouche that the Brigantes Siluri and Ordouici were Scots He sheweth how dangerous the expedition was of Claudius the Emperour and describeth greate warres betweene him and Canus the kynge of the Orchades He writeth that Voadicia the most renowmed queene of Iceni whose valient deedes agaynst the Romans Tacitus and also Dion haue made knowne to the world Veusius Earle of Brigantes Cartimandua the Queene were all Scots And finally there is no one thinge wherein the Romans or Britaynes behaued them selues couragiously or wysely in Britayne which this monstre doth not ascribe vnto his fayned Scots and whiche at that time were vnknowen to the worlde And he hath not only transcribed the minde but also whole sentences and orations of Tacitus into his booke alwaies changynge the names of nations and cities like a malicious falsefier with out al shame or honestie He sayth Caesar Tacitus wrote these thinges of the Readshankes and those of the Scots that these nations made suche and so many Warres when as in deede the names of Scots or Readshankes are not at all to be founde in these most noble writers And truly it is not like that Caesar beyng avery wise gentleman when he had throughly learned the state maners of the Britaynes and Irishmen would with silence haue ouerpassed the names of the Scots and Readshankes specially hauynge sent Embassadours vnto their kynges Neither is it probable that Tacitus a famous man and very expert in the state of Britayne and other countries when he describeth the expeditions of Agricola his father in lawe in to Britayne and as it were depeynteth foorth the Sheyres Peoples Portes and Riuers of that region by their proper names maketh mentioÌ„ of a certeine Erle of Ireland taken by Agricola knew not also the names of Scots and Readshankes with whom Boethius â—ayneth he waged that warre when as in euery place he seemeth to cal the inhabitants of Albion Britaynes And it had stoode much more with Agricolas honour beyng a worthy man whom Tacitus also by his workes endeuoreth to make more noble to haue subdued vnknowen nations and suche as â—ead on mans â—leash such as it shal be prooued that the Scots were long time after rather then the Britaynes which were sufficieÌ„tly knowne to the Romans Also Dion a man which had byn Consul and familiar with Seuerus the Emperour and vnto him dearly beloued whilst he declareth his expedition into Britayne at large not once speaketh of the Scots or Readshankes bâ—yng very well knowne to all men that he conueyed all his force and power into Albania or Scotland For quoth Dion the Meati Caledonij two diuerse kindes of Britaines reuolted from the Romans and Seuerus callyng together his souldiers coÌ„maunded them to innaâ—e theyr countrie and kill all that euer they met and thus he charged them in these woordes Let none escape your hands away nor cruell blouddy broyle No tender impe though in her wombe the dame ther with do toyle Let him not scape a woful death When Seuerus came into Caledonia he fought neuer a battell neither saw he any power of his enemies in a redinesse and so passyng throughout all his enemies land hauyng not lost in fight but by water and hunger fiftie thousand men returned vnto his fellowes If the Scots had bin in Britayne at that time the reporter herof being a freend neither after him Herodian who in sufficient longe discourse hath set foorth that viage woulde haue defrauded an Emperour so ambitious and thirsty of honour as Seuerê° was of his due praise Wherefore it is as euident as noone dayes that at this time whiche was about two hundred and two yeres after the incarnation of our Lorde the Scots had no seat in Britayne Ouer and besides al this neither Eutropius neither Spartianus neither Capitolinus neither Lampridius neither Vopiscus nor Aurelius victor who haue all written the expeditions and warres of the Roman Emperours in Britayne haue in any plate made mention of the Scottish or Readshank name Although therefore I suppose that these arguments are sufficient to improoue and condemne the â—eere trifles of Boethius notwithstandynge I will lightly touche twoo of his Hystories which by the author are setfoorth at large enough with woordes a foote and an halfe longe But I pray you When ye be let to looke your laughter freends you would refraine In the seconde booke of his fables he writeth how that Ptolomaeus Philadelphus kynge
lately bin busied agaynst Pyrats afterward by the Mithridatick fight was very well practised by Sea and Lande Besides this nation was then but rude and the Britaynes beyng accustomed but only to the Readshankes and Irishmen their enemies as yet but halfe naked soone yelded vnto the Roman armes and ensignes that Caesar almost in all that expedition coulde vaunt him self but of this owne thing that he had sayled vpon the Oceane He affirmeth that the Britaynes only dwel in an Iland and termeth them Hibernenses who afterwarde were called Scots Also another Panegyricus vnto Constantinus the Emperour speaketh of the Readshankes called Pictones as followeth For neither he speakyng of his father Constantius after such and so many notable actes whiche he hath done vouchsaueth to get not only the wooddes and Marises of the Calidones and other Pictones but neither Ireland which lieth nigh neither the farthest Tyle neither yet the fortunate Ilands if there be any suche Thus farre the Panegiricus This he wroate aboute the yere after Christe was borne three hundred twentie at what time it seemeth that the Pictones or Readshankes beganne first to inhabite the farther most partes of Scotland After him Ammianus Marcellinus first of the Latines made mention of the Scots in the yere of our saluation 364. In the tenth Consulship of Constantius and the third of Iulianus when as in Britayne by excursion and breakyng foorth of the Scots Readshankes beyng wilde nations peace beyng broken the places about nigh to the frontirs were spoyled And afterwarde in the life of Valentinian and Valens he sayeth At this time as though alarme were sounded throughout all the Roman dominions the most fierce and sauage nations arose forcibly inuaded their neare neighbours The Alemanni or Almaynes spoiled the countrie of France and Rhetia together Sarmatae the Ponnoniae and the Quadi now Bohemans The Readshankes Saxons Scots and Attacotti much molested the Britaynes And afterwarde At that time the Readshankes beynge deuided into two nations Deucalidonae and Vecturiones also the Attacotti a very warlike nation and the Scots wandrynge vncerteinely about here and there wasted and spoyled very much And as for the coastes of Gallia they were spoyled by Frenchmen and Saxons c. Hereby it appeareth in what darkenesse the Scottish state is drowned For Boethius in no place maketh mention of the Attacotti who appeare by this authour to haue dwelled in Albania and to haue bin of the Scottishe race Wherefore it is most likely that a litle before that time the Scottes and Attacotti who afterward vanished into the name of the Scots foorth of Ireland and from the Hebrides the Readshankes out of the Orchades whereas they lurked before by one consent entred into Albania and there prouoked by warre the Romans and Britaynes that they departed out of the field some time conquerers and sometimes conquered For shortly after Ammianus reporteth that after that these nations were by Theodosius a valiant captain vnder Valentinian vanquished and driuen out of the Roman prouince they were at quiet And this can be no disparedgment but rather a greate glorie to the Scottish nation that rather at that time then before that forcibly agaynst the Romans will they planted them seates in Britayne Whiche is prooued not out of vayne and fabulous writers such as is Boethius and other suche like but out of substantiall authours and such as doo very wel know the state of Britayne After all these Claudianus a Poete singularly learned in diuers places maketh mention of these nation as for example of the Getick warre A power also there came against the farthest Britaynes bent Which bridled hath the Scots so fierce and notes with iron brent Then fayling reads whilst Readshanks bloud and breath is spent And in his Panegyricus to Honorius The nimble Moores hath he and Pictes so termed by name full true â—ubdude and he the Scots with blade at randon did pursue And of the fourth Consulship of Honorius Were wet with Saxons slayne The Orchades and Island eke was hot with Readshanks bayne And frosen Irland eke dead heapes of Scotshmen wept amayne Who did euer set foorth more plainly the natural countrie of both natioÌ„s For he sheweth how Readshanks cam from Thule that is to say Ilandes of the North and the Scots but lately out of Ireland And in another place in his Panegyricus Britayne speaketh vnto Stilico And me she saith with countries neare about who was destroyd Almost defenced well hath Stilico When Irlands soyle on euery syde The Scots doo mooue and seas with noysom sayles doo fome about By whose helpe now it is that Scottish force I doo not doubt Ne doo I dread the Picts c. Hereby it appeareth manifestly that at this time that is to wit the yere of our saluation 410. the Scots possessed no certayne place in Britayne but many times vsed to make irruptions out of Ireland and by litle and litle subdued the North partes of the Ilande and at length hauyng driuen thence the inhabitants established their kingedome there vnder Valentinian the yonger the yere of God incarnate 444. wheÌ„ as now the Romans had lefte of the charge and care of Britayne This much I had breifly to say touchynge the originall of the Scots and Readshankes Now I will addresse my selfe to the description of Albania or Scotland It is seperate from England by the Riuer Twede the hyll Cheuiot and certayne litle Riuers runnynge downe into the chanell Soluathianus The first people whiche come to hand are Gallouidiani of olde time called by the Romans NOVANTES and not Brigantes as wee haue shewed before Ptolomaeus called their citie Leucopibia whiche wee terme now Caërleil standeth in the entrance of both kyngedomes Next vnto these were the Gadini nigh the riuer Glota which some doo better call Cluyda howbeit that name by reason of the proprietie of the tongue is sometime pronounced Gluyda wherby grew that errour of calling it Glot Upon this Riuers side sometime there stoode a noble Citie of the Britaynes called Caër Alchuyd or Archuyd that is to say a Citie standyng vpon Cluyda whiche is now of the Scots called Dounbritton bycause it was restored agayne by the Britaynes aboute the yere of our saluation 800. Aboue these towards the East Sea lieth a region which now is called LaÌ„donia and Mercia March but in times past Breunicia and of the Pictes called also Readshankes Pictlandia The Maeatae are placed here by Dion For sayth he the Maeatae dwel beyonde the wall vnto the Caledonij Ptolomaeus laieth the Vacomagi beyonde Tueda This limityng wall as Spartianus reporteth was first builded by Adrianus the Emperour fourescore myles in length And Capitolinus is author that Antoninus erected another made of Turâ—es between the Britaynes And last of all that Seuerus by a trenche which was cast from Sea to Sea deuided the Roman prouince from the other Britains all men do generally agree Whereby our countrymen
nothyng troubled with hunger nor cold neither wearied with martial affayres neither fallynge into desperation by aduersitie but soone redie to rise vp after a fall and prest by and by agayne to assay the peril of war as in battayle easie so in continuance of warre harde to be ouercome Wherby Claudianus seemeth to speeke of the nature of the same nation saying If that their harts you let a whyle To rest so many slaughters they deuoyd of sence doo seeme To take and of smale price the losse of so much bloud to deeme Thus much he and more whiche shortly god willyng shal be set forth Now let vs come to the description of the lande This lande after the British destruction was deuided into six RegioÌ„s as I read of late in a very auncient booke written of the lawes of the Britaynes For sayth that booke after that the Saxons had vanquished the Britaynes obtayned the Scepter of the Realme and the crowne of London all the people of Wales assembled together at the mouthe of the Riuer Deuey to choose a kynge And yno i Doethant Gwyr Gwynedh à Gwyr Powys à Gwyr Deheubarth à Reynnwc ac Esylluc à Morganuc That is to say and thither came men of Gwynedh and men of Powys and men of Deheubarth and of Reynnucia and of Syllucia and Morgania they chose Maylgun whom others call Maclocunius of Gwynedh to be their kynge This was aboute the yere of our Lorde â—60 Howbeit afterward in the lamentable conflict agaynst Ethelfredus kynge of Northumberland are recited the kings of Dynetia whiche falsly they call Demetia of Guenta of Powysia and of Northwales And in another place â—ention is made of the kinges of Stra 〈…〉 Cluyde So that hereby it is easely 〈…〉 ered that this country was subiect 〈…〉 iuers petikinges or Erles vnto 〈…〉 e of Roderike the great who ob 〈…〉 the Monarchie of al VVales the yere of our Lorde 843. deuidyng it into three partes whiche he left in possession of his three sonnes For vnto Meruinius as Gyraldus termeth him to whom I consent his eldest sonne he gaue Gwynedh to Anaraudus whome some make the eldest Powys to Cadelhus the youngest Deheubarth And that I may vse the woords of Gyldas Southwales was alotted to Cadelhus with the blessyng and goodwil of all the people which they call Deheubarth which is as much to say as the right side Which although in quantity it be farre the biggest notwithstandyng by reason of noble men which in the welsh tongue are called Vchelwyr that is to say high men wherwith it aboundeth whiche were wont to rebell agaynst their Lordes to defie them in armur it séemed to be the worser This diuision whilst their posteritie conteÌ„ded among themselues in Ciuill warre and ech of them alone with the Englishmen in externall at last destroyed the kyngedome of wales The cheefest of these kyngdomes whiche the inhabitantes call Gwynedh Englishmen Northwales the Latine writers corruptly Venodotia had in auncient time these limites On the Weast and North sides it hath VergiuiuÌ„ or the Irish Oceane at the Southwest and by South the Riuer Deuye Wherby it is cut of from Southwales On the South and East sides it is seuered from Powys and England with high Hilles and somtime with waters vnto the force of the Riuer Dee The same also was parted into foure Regions which conteined fiftéene Cantredi which signifieth an hundred villages The principallest of these Regions was the I le of Anglysey of whom wee haue spoken in another place in the same was a kynges Palace the seate of Northwales in Aberfraw whereof the kinges of Gwynedh haue the name of the kinges of Aberfraw For in the lawes of Howel Dha that is to say good Howel of walles both kynge and lawier which I haue seen written both in the British and Latin tongues it was decreed that like as the kynge of Aberfraw ought to pay threescore and thrée poundes for tribute vnto the kynge of London So likewise the kinges of Dinesur an Matrafall were seuerally bounde to pay so much Whereby it appeareth that this kinge was the cheefest prince of al wales About Anglysey be diuers litle Ilands as Ynis Adar that is to say the I le of Byrdes sometime but now it is called Ynis Moylrhoniaid to witte the I le of Whales in English Ysterisd Also Ynis Lygod that is the I le of Myse and the I le Seirial in english Preêstholme The seconde Region of Gwynedh called Arfon as who should say aboue Anglysey the best fortified parte of all VVales For it centeyneth the highest Mountaynes and Rockes of all Britayne which wee terme Yriri the Englishmen Snowdowne because they carie Snow For height and plentie of cattayle scarce inferiour to the Alpes It hath in it many Riuers and standing Waters Beyonde whose farthest promontory called Lhynus lieth an I le whiche Ptolomaeus termeth Lymnos our countrymen Eulhi the EnglishmeÌ„ Bardesey that is to say the I le of the Bardi In Arfon oueragaynst Anglysey stoode an auncient Citie called of the Romans SegontiuÌ„ of the Britaynes Caërsegont of a Riuer whiche passeth therby But now out of the ruynes therof there is a new Towne and a Castle founded by Edward the first of that name kyng of England called Caër Arfon that is to say a Towne vpon Anglysey And not farre from thence oueragaynst Anglysey lieth the Byshops See of Banchor And vpon Conway water which there ebbeth and sloweth standeth Conway of our countrie men called Aberconwy a walled towne builded by the same kynge Then followeth Meridnia with vs Merionydh and Gyraldus calleth it the land of the sonnes of Conauius The same as he sayeth is the most roughest and sharpest of al VVales hauynge in it moste highest Mountaynes The people vse longe Speares wherwith they be of greate force as the Southwales men with their Bowes so that an Harnies cannot beare it of So much he The Sea coast there by occasion of great Herryng takyng is much frequented by people of diuers countries In the same standeth the Towne Harlechia by the Sea side And within the lande is the great lake Tegid through which the riuer Dee whiche wee call Douerduwy that is to say the water of Dee floweth Where it is worthe the notyng that there is in that Ponde a peculiar kinde of Fish which is neuer founde in the runnynge water neither the Salmons wherof the Riuer is full doo euer entre into the Lake In this country and in Arfon are seene greate multitude of Deare and Goates vpon the high Hilles And these two countries of all Wales cam last into the power of the EnglishmeÌ„ Neither did the people of this country euer frequent domestical incursioÌ„s but before our time alwaies séemed to obey lawes rightfully The farthest last part of Gwynedh is called of our couÌ„trimen Berfedhwlad that is to say the inward and midland region and is seuered from
Arfon by the ryuer Conway of whom Antoninus Ptolomaeus do speake vnder the name of Nouius In this besides the forenamed Riuer standeth a most antique citie of the Britaynes called Dyganwy in Rosse of the Englishmen Gannock famous in Tacitus by the name of Cangorum wherof the people of that countrie were called of the Romans CANGI And Ptolomaeus mentioneth the Promontorie of the Iangani which they call now Gogarth A place so fortified by nature that it can scarse be taken by maÌ„s strength This citie as I say was the seate and Palace of the later kynges of Britayne when as now their power began to quayle as namely of Maylgun Caduanus Cadwalla whom Bede termeth a most cruell Tyranne bicause he persecuted his enemies very fiercely and of Cadwalladar who was the last kynge of Britayne of the Brittish bloud This Citie the yere of our redemption eight hundred and sixteen Cananus Dyndaythuy reygnynge in VVales was stroken with lightnynge from Heauen and burned in suche sort that it could neuer be afterwarde restored howbeit the name remayneth to the place to this daye out oâ— whose rubbish Conouia was builded Moreouer in this Territory in Rhyfaniacum Henry Lacey Erle of Lincolne to whom the conquer our therof Edward the first gaue that land erected a very stoute Castle not only by naturall situation but also by a Wall of wonderfull thicknesse made of a very harde kinde of stone in my opinion the strongest and best defensed thynge in England Addyng also therto a towne walled about whiche by the auncient name he called Dynbech although those which cam afterwarde termed it Denbigh This fine Towne and my sweet country beynge compassed welnigh aboute with very fayre Parkes standyng in the entrance of an exceedynge pleasant Ualley aboundeth plentifully with all thinges that are necessarie to the vse of man The Hilles yéelde Fleash and white meates The most fertile Ualley very good Corne and grasse The sweet Riuers with the Sea at hande minister all sortes of Fishe and Foule Strange Wynes come thither foorth of Spayne FrauÌ„ce Greece abundantly And being the cheif towne of the shyre standyng in the very middle of the countrie it is a greate market Towne famous and much frequented with wares and people from al partes of Northwales The indwellers haue the vse of both tongues And beyng endued by kinges of England with many Priueledges and Liberties are ruled by their owne lawes The valley nigh wherto this Towne standeth is termed amongst vs Dyphryn Clwyd that is to say the Ualley of Clwyd It is almost eighteene miles in length and in breadth in some place foure miles in other some sixe On the East west and South sides it is enuironed with high Hilles on the North with the Oceane Sea. In the midst it is cut in twayne by the Riuer Clwyd wherof it taketh name into whom diuers other litle streames fallyng out of the Hilles doo discharge them selues by reason wherof irriguous and pleasant Medowes plentifull pastures doo lie aboute the bankes therof In the entrance of whiche Ualley Ruthyn an auncient towne and Castle of the Grayes from whence the most noble famely amoÌ„gst the Englishmen tooke beginninge is to be seene And not farre from the Sea standeth Rudhlan in Tegengyl sometime a greate Towne but now a litle Uyllage In the same Prouince is a Cathedrall Churche of our country men called LHANEL WEY of the Englishmen S. Assaph builded between twoo Ryuers CLWYD and ELWEY I remember that I haue read that there was one ELBODIVS Arch bisâ—hoppe of Northwales preferred vnto that honour by the Byshoppe of Rome Who fyrst of all the yere of our Saluation seuen hundred thrée score and two reconciled the VVelshmen to the Romishe Churche from whiche before they had disagreed For the Britaynes imitatynge the Asiaticke Churche celebrated theyr EASTER from the foureteene day of the Moone vnto the twentie When the Romans followynge the Nicene counsell keepe theyr Easter from the fifteene to the one and twentie Whereby it commeth to passe that these Nations haue celebrated that Feast on diuers Sundayes But let the Byshoppes take regarde how farre they doo erre from the Decrees of the NICENE Counsell whyle they followe that vncertayne rule of the motion of the Sonne and Moone whiche they call the Golden Number beynge therein very fowly deceaued Whiche thinge in times paste was obiected for a cryme agaynst the Britaynes by the ouer superstitious Mounke Augustine and lykewyse by Bede whiche to muche attributed vnto suche tiâ—les in somuch that for the same cause he durst terme them Heretiques But now howbeit vnder curse of the Nicene counsell it be otherwyse commaunded it is reiected by the Prelates them selues and the whole Churche of Europe But let vs returne to our purpose In that place where the See of S. Assaph is was sometime a Colledge of learned Agonists that I may vse Capgraues woordes celebrated for multitude vnder Centigeme a Scot whiche was called Elguense or Eluense of a Riuer This Prouince Tegenia is called of the Latines Igenia and after beynge vanquished by the Englishmen began to be termed Tegengel that is to say the Englishmens Tegenia Afterward being inhabited by Britaynes cuÌ„minge foorth of Scotland driuyng the Englishmen thence with the Ualley of Clwyd Ruthyn and Rosse make one kyngdome whiche Marianus calleth Streudglead our countrymen terme it Stradclwyd that is to say the soyle of Clwyd For this woord Strat with the name of some Riuer ioyned therto doth vsually signifie amongst the welsh men a veyne or soyle of lande nigh to a Riuer as Strad Alyn Strad Towyn with many such like Theyr last prince called Dunwallon forsakyng his kingdome when the Danes afflicted all Britayne departed to Rome the yere after the incarnation 971. where shortly after he died In Tegenia is a well of a meruaylous nature whiche beyng sixe myles from the Sea in the parish of Kilken ebbeth and floweth twise in one day Yet haue I marked this of late when the Moone ascendeth from the East Horizon to the South at what time all Seas do flowe that then the water of this Wel diminisheth and ebbeth And not far from this place is the famous Fountayne takynge name of the superstitious worshyppinge of the Uirgin VVenefride which boyling vp sodenly out of a place which they call Sychnant that is to say a drie vallye rayseth forth of it self a greate streame which runneth immediatly into Deuanus This water besides that it bredeth Mosse of a very pleasant sauour is also most holsome vnto mans body bothe for washyng and drinkynge and of verie good tast in so much that many beinge washed therin were cured of diuers infirmities wherwith they were borne Moreouer in Tegenia there is a certayne auncient monument of an olde building in a place called Pot Vary somtime renowmed by Roman letters and Armes The towne whiche they call Flynt standynge vpon the water Deua is
to Hamo and ioynynge with other Rebelles out of WENTA and BRECHINIA mette with RHESVS in Black hill and there slew him And so payinge the Englishmen theyr Wages discharged them But they takynge regarde vnto the goodnesse of the soyle and the greate variance whiche was then amongst the VVelshmen as inforetime the Saxons had done they turned theyr force of Armes agaynst those whiche entertayned them and soone displaced them wholy of all the champion and the best of the countrie Whiche HAMO deuided amongst twelue knights which he brought with him reseruing the better part to himself Who buildynge there certein Castels and ioynyng their power together defended their Farmes and Lordeships which they had possessed and taken Whose heyres peacebly enioy the same vnto this day But Iestinus scarsly reserued to him selfe and his the hillye countrie The twelue knightes names were these London Stradlyng Sanct Iohn Turberuille Granuille Humfreyuille Sanctquintin Sorus Sullius Berkerolus Syward and Fleminge In this prouince are NETH vpon a Riuer of the same name Pontfayn that is to say Stone brydge Englishmen falsly call it Cowbridge Lantwyd Wenny Dynwyd Townes and Castels besides Caër Phili a most auncient Castle and Fortresse Whiche as reporte goeth was erected by the Romans and Caerdid the principall towne of the shyre standyng vpon the ryuer Taf English men terme it Cardyd And not far from thence is Landaf to say a Churche standynge on Tauus ennobled with a Byshops See. Next vnto this region lieth Wenta vnder Momuthshyre This in olde time was called Siluria which may easely be proued contrarie vnto the ridiculous authoritie of Boethius and Polydorus And first to beginne with Tacitus who affirmeth that the Siluri lye ouer agaynst Spayne But these are farre more neare Spayne then any parte of Scotland wherefore it is more like that they dwelt here rather then in Scotland Moreouer whereas in a fayre discourse he describeth the expedition of Agricola agaynst the Albani or Scots and there reciteth all the people and nations of Albania he neuer maketh mention of the Siluri whiche was the most Warlike nation of them all And vndoubtedly if they had bin in Scotland he would neuer haue passed them ouer with silence Considering also how he telleth that ther were exceedyng greate Forestes in Siluria the tokens whereof remayne as yet in VVenta Ptolomaeus also and after him Marius Niger layeth the Siluri next vnto the Demeti and Maridunum but somdeale more Casterly Besides these authorities the moste auncient booke of the British lawes mentioneth Syllwc a prouince of VVales whose inhabitantes wee must needes call in the British tongue Syllwr wherby they were of the Romans termed Silures And one parte of VVenta is at this day called Gwent lhwc leauyng out one silable as though it were Went silluc Also Chepstow a fine market Towne in VVenta before a few yeres since passed was called by the name of Strigulia whiche seemeth to come somwhat neare to Siluria Moreouer Antoninus a very graue author maketh mention how Venta of the Siluri was not farre from this towardes the ferrie or place of passedge ouer the Seuern Wherfore it were but a iest hence foorth to seeke for the Siluri in Scotland And although that Plinius writeth that out of the Region of the Siluri ouer into Ireland was but a very shorte cut wee must thus take it that at his time Britayne was not sufficiently knowne nor the people of Albania longe after that subdued Wherby when certeyne of the Romanes as Englishmen vse now a dayes had passed ouer into Ireland out of Southwales others whiche neuer saw Britayne supposed it to be a very short cut In this Region is situate the most auncient noble citie of Legions which our countrymen call Caerlheon ar Wisk that is to say the citie of Legions vpon Vsk for difference sake between it and the other which is builded in Northwales vpon the Riuer Dee Of whom Gyraldus writeth thus The same was an auncient and noble Towne the tokens whereof remayne as yet an huge Palace a Giantlike Tower goodly Bathes and Hotte houses Reliques of Churches and places like Theatres compassed with beautifull Walles partlye yet standynge Also buildynges vnder the grounde conductes secreat passages and vautes vnder the earth Stewes framed by wonderfull workemanship There lie two martyrs Iulius Aron which had churches dedicated vnto thē There was also a Cathedral Church of an Archbishop vnder Dubricius which fell to Dauid This much he Also on the otherside of Vsk in the way which leadeth to Strigulia ar seen auncient Ditches and the remnants of towne Walles of the Siluri of Venta which now also they call Caerwent to wit the Citie Venta wherof the name grew to the whole countrie At the mouth of Wey whiche wee call Gwy is a famous Market Towne in olde time Strigulia but now called the Castle of Gwent The Erles Martials their heirs of this place did very much weaken the state of VVales Not farre hence is Monmuth of vs Monwy so called by the meeting of Mona Wey together the head of the whole shyre Aboue at Osca are the Castle of Osca called Brynbuga in the vpper Venta at the meetyng of Vsk and Geuenna is Abergeuenny the Lorde whereof Brienne Guilford wrought muche mischeif agaynst the VVenti But afterwarde VVillus Brustius Lorde of Brecknoc vnder pretence of loue and freendship called the nobles of Wenta into this Castle to Feastyng and Banquettynge Who commynge thither with Sesylius sonne to Dunwallan cheif man of all that Region and his sonne Gryf fith suspectyng no deceate and vnarmed were euerychone most cruelly slayne by Brustius gward which were put readie in armour for that purpose And afterward sodenly breakynge into Sesylius house the vnmercifull Butchers murdred the yonge Infant Cadwaladar his sonne despiteously before the Mothers face Whose sonnes notwithstandyng takyng the Castle and hauyng sleyne Ranulphe Poerius with many other noble men at Lhandyuegad manfully reuēged their fathers death But BRVSTIVS beyng reserued vnto greater mischeif was famished to death with his Mother in the Castle of VVindelesour And here I thought good to note that the name of Sesylius beynge common among the Britaynes and welshmen ought to be written not with C. which alwayes expresseth the nature of the English K but with S. For els it should be read amongst the VVelshmen Kyllius There remayneth yet the last Inland Region of Southwales which maketh the shyre of Brechnock the head wherof Brechnock or as the VVelshmen terme it Aberhodni standeth in vsk vpon the fall of HODNI Bernhard of Newmarcat first of all Englishmen by force of armes subdued the same Aboue this Region lieth Bogwelth which they terme Buellt a rough and hilly countrie reachynge from VVey to Tobius Beneath is Ewias woonne by the power of Paganus the sonne of Iohn Which afterward was parted in twayne Herold and Lacey And not farre thence is Haya
passe by Good lorde what a thyng is this that alwayes from some furthermost ende of the worlde there come downe new powers from God to be worshipped of all the earth Thus farre he What of Bonosus out of the captaynes of the boundes of Rheticus a more couragious then fortunate Emperour What of Carausius Augustus who the space of seuen yeres together ware his princely Robes contrary to the will of Iouius and Herculius What of Allectus Caesar for subdueynge whom Mamertinus seemeth to prefer Maximianus before Caesar Iulius whose woordes I will not sticke to alledge And truly sayth he so foorth After him sprange the Emperour Maximus a Britayne and nephew to Helene a man both stoute and vertuous and worthy of Augustus but that in his youth leadyng an army agaynst Gratianus whom he vanquished he had sacked his countrie Who by Helene his wife daughter to Euda lefte his sonne Victor Emperour And as Paulus Diaconus writeth Bitayne also acknowledgeth Marcus and Gratianus the Emperours Moreouer Constantinus with his Sonne Constans when Gratianus their countriman was slayne were created Emperours in Britayne in name like to the aboue sayde but not in happinesse agaynste whom Gerontius theyr Captayne of whose death there are extant very auncient British Rhymes made another Maximus then the first was Augustus And after all these Ambrosius Aurelius is by Panuinius accompted the last Emperour of the British bloud Besides these xij Emperous Britayne hath also brought foorth to the worlde the moste puissant and inuincible kynge Arthur whose euerlastynge renowme and moste noble deedes our freende Mayster Leland hath set foorthe and made more apparant by infinite testimonies and moste weightie argumentes agaynst the gnarrynge and doggysh mouthe and hatred more then euer was Vatinians of Polydorus Vrbine and of the gresie Monke Rhicuallensis more conuersant in the Kitchin then in the hystories of olde writers And not only our countrymen but also Spayniardes Italians Frenchmen and the Sueones beyonde the Sea Baltheum as Gothus reporteth out of their Hystories doo celebrate and aduance vnto this day in theyr bookes the worthy actes of this puissant kyng Caduanne also who from prince of Gwynedh became Kynge of the Britaynes and his sonne Cadwalla whom BEDE calleth a Tyranne because he persecuted the Saxons with cruell Warre whilâ—st the BRITISH Empyre was in decayinge were valient Kynges And after the Brityshe destruction there rose vp noble gentelmen in VVales not to be debarred of theyr due prayse as Rodericke the greate and his Nephue by his Sonne Howell surnamed GOOD both famous as wel in warre as peace Also Gryffith the Sonne of Lhewelin the Sonne of SESYLâ—IVS â–ª who most stoutly defended VVales his natiue country And after him Owayn prince of Gwynedh who moste hardely withstoode at COL Henry the seconde the most mightiest kynge of all that euer reygned in England thrise entrynge into Wales with greate armies whose sonne also he slow in Anglysey and the greater part of his armie as Gyraldus reporteth And his nephew likewise borne of his sonne Lewellyn the great whose innumerable triumphes that I may vse the woordes of Parisiensis the Englishman doo require speciall treatises And not these only but also the Cornishmen beynge the remnantes of the olde Britaynes as they are the stoutest of all the British nations so are they coumpted to this day the most valiant in warlike affayres Neither yet the Britons which dwell nigh Fraunce a nation of the same broode doo any whit degenerate from their forefathers When as they â–ª did not only many huÌ„dred yeres prosperously defend amoÌ„gst the thickest of stoute sturdie nations those seates whiche they had purchased with their manhood and prowes but also haue vanquished the Gothes and Frenchmen in great battels and stoutly withstoode the most mightie prince Charles the Mayne put to flight the armie of his sonne Lewes the Emperour whiche was sent agaynst them vnder conduct of Murmanus ouercame Charles Caluus then Emperour and kynge of Fraunce in open fight twise vanquishynge his armie Numenius beynge kynge the Emperour priuely flyinge thence leauynge there his Pauilions and Tentes and all other his kinglike prouision as Regino writeth But Herispous sonne to Numenius compelled the same Charles to make shamful and dishonorable truce with him Whom Salomon also sonne to Herispous a valiant and warlike gentleman enforced to retyre backe when he was coÌ„mynge agaynst him with a mightie armie But when Salomon was deade the Britons through desier to reigne and contention who should next be kynge fell vnto Ciuile warres amonge them selues as Sigisbertus sayth and so they were constreyned to leaue of the destruction and ouer runnynge of Fraunce which they had determined What shall I speake of the noble deedes of Vrfandus an inuincible captayne agaynst Hastynge the Norman and Pastquitanus the Briton Of Iudicaël also and Alane who manfully draue the Normans out of their coastes which pitifully wasted and spoyled all Fraunce What shall I neede to touche such Warres as they made longe after vpon the kynges of Fraunce beyng therein ayded by thâ—impregnable power of the Englishmen since it is well knowne to all men that it was alwayes a most potent nation And that I may at length stop Polydorus mouth together with his Gyldas thus much I say that if he sticke in any poynte vnto him he was no Hystoriographer but a Preist and a Preacher Whose custome is very sharpely to inueigh agaynst the faultes of their hearers Wherfore if wee seeke authorities out of Sermons as Polydorus Vrbine hath done What Parish what Towne what nation or kyngedome may escape infamie What hath Bernhard written of the Romans Thus surely terming them impious vnfaith full seditious dishonest traytrous great speakers but litle doers These thynges are by Deuines spoken in the Pulpit according vnto their manner that the like faultes might be amended and the life reformed not that the Romans or Britaynes were such in deede Neither is there any man vnlesse he be a shameles Sycophant that lieth in wait for al occasions to dispraise and accuse which will go aboute by wrestynge of sentences foorth of the sermons of preachers sclaundrously to tax infamously to note any whole couent shire citie or people Wherfore let such idle ill disposed sclaunderers leaue of and suffer the true renowme of Britayne appeare to the worlde neither iudge me good Reader of two sharpe a tongue Seyng so god helpe me neither enuie of any forreine name neither thyrst of vayn glory neither hatred of any natioÌ„ but alonly the loue of my country which is euill spoken of vndeseruedly and desier to set forth the truth haue prouoked me to write thus much And touchyng this rude and disordred litle treatise truly I woulde not haue suffred it to haue come to light had I not well hoped that all learned men would accept this my endeuour in good parte and also take occasion by this