The descrypcyon of Englonde Here foloweth a lytell treatyse the whiche treateth of the descrypcyon of this londe whiche of olde tyme was named Albyon And after Brytayne And now is called Englonde and speketh of the noblenesse and worthynesse of the same ¶ Hit is so that in many and dyuerse places the comyn Cronycles of Englonde ben hadde and also now late enprynted at Westmynstre And for as moche as the descrypcyon of this londe whiche of olde tyme was named Albyon and after Brytayne is not descryued ne comynly hadde ne the noblenesse worthynesse of the same is not knowen Therfore I entende to sette in this booke the descrypcyon of this sayd Yle of Brytayne with the commodytees of the same ¶ In the fyrst shall be tolde the names of the Ylonde Ca. j. ¶ Of the â—ettynge bouÌ„dynge lengthe and brede ca. ij ¶ Of the worthynesse and prerogatyues ca. iij. ¶ Of the merueylles and of the wondres ca. iiij ¶ Of the chyef partyes of the same londe ca. v. ¶ Of the Ylondes that ben therto adiacent ca. vj. ¶ Of the kynges hye wayes and stretes ca. vij ¶ Of the famous Ryuers and stremes ca. viij ¶ Of auÌ„cyent cytees townes ca. ix ¶ Of prouynces shyres ca. x. ¶ Of the lawes and the names of the lawes ca. xj ¶ Of kyngdoms of boundes markes bytwene them ca. xij ¶ Of bysshoryches theyr sees ca. xiij ¶ Of how many maner people haue dwelled therin ca. xiiij ¶ Of the langages of maners vsage of the people of that londe ca. xv ¶ Of the londe of Wales ca. xvj ¶ Of the name and why it is named Wales ca. xvij ¶ Of the commodytees of the londe of Wales ca. xviij ¶ Of the maners and rytes of the Walsshmen ca. xix ¶ Of the merueylles and wondres of Wales ca. xx ¶ Of the descrypcyon of Scotlonde somtyme named Albania ca. xxi ¶ Of y e descrypcoÌ„n of Irlonde ca. xxij ¶ Of y â— bouÌ„dynge of Irlonde ca. xxiij ¶ Of the gretnes and qualyte of that londe ca. xxiiij ¶ Of the defautes of y â— londe ca. xxv ¶ Of them that fyrste enhabyted Irlonde ca. xxvj ¶ Of the condycyons and maners of Irysshmen ca. xxvij ¶ Of the merueylles and wondres of Irlonde ca. xxviij ¶ Of the merueylles of sayntes of Irlonde ca. xxix ¶ Explicit tabula ¶ The names of this Ylonde Ca. j. FIrste as Galfrydus sayth this londe was named Albyon after the name of Albyne the oldest doughter of Dyoclesyan and had xxxij systers And they were fyrst that enhabyted this londe And by cause she was the oldest syster she named this loude Albyon after her owne name as the Cronycle reherseth Other saye that this londe was named Albyon as it where the whyte londe of whyte rockes about the clyues of the see that were seen fro ferre Afterwarde Brute conquered this londe called it Brytayn after his owne name And thenne Saxons or Englysshmen conquered this londe called it Anglia that is Englonde Or it is called Anglia of a quene that owed this lâ—nde sthat was named Angela was a noble dukes doughter of the Saxons Or as Ysyd sayth Ethi .xv. Anglia hath that name as it were an angle and a corner of the worlde Or els as Beda sayth li. j. Saynt Gregory sawe Englysshe childern to selle at Rome he accorded to the name of the londe and sayd they ben sothely angles for her face shyned as angels for the noblyte of the londe shone in the childern faces ¶ Alfre The Bryttysshe Anglia is called the other worlde for grete plente of all good the grete Charles called it his owne chambre ¶ Solinus The edge of the frensshe clyt sholde be the ende of the worlde yf the Ylonof Brytayne ne were not whiche is worthy to haue the name of an other worlde ¶ Alfre This Ylonde is called Insula for it is in salo that is the see is beten of with dyuerse course of waters with stremes with wawes of the sâ—e ¶ Of the settynge bouÌ„dynge lengthe brede of this londe ca. ij THis Brytayne is acouÌ„ted a noble londe both in our storyes also in the storyes of Gâ—ekes is sette ayenst Germania Gallia Fraunce Spayne bytwene the north the west and the see bytwene This londe is fyfty myle from the clyf of the men that be called morim gessorico ¶ Beda li. j. And for this Ylonde â—yeth vnder the north heed of the worlde it hath lyght bryght nyghtes in the somer tyme. So that oftentyme at mydnyght men haue questyons doubte whether it be euen tyde or dawynge y t is for the tyme of the yere y t the sonne goth not ferre vnder y â— erthe by nyght but passeth by the north syde cometh soone in to the eest agayne And therfore in the somer ben thyr dayes full longe of .xviij. houres the nyghtes of .vj. houres And after in the wynter ben longe nyghtes of .xviij. houres shorte dayes of .vj. houres Also in Armenia Macedonia Italia and in other londes of the same lyne the lengest daye lengest nyght also is of rv houres the shortest daye or nyght is ofix houres ¶ Pliuê° in mewe That Ylonde is chyef of black men ther is the lengest daye .xij. houres In Alexandria in Egypte of .xiiij. houres In Italia of .xv. houres In Brytayne of .xviij. houres In the Ylonde named Tyle all the .vj. somer monethes is daye all the .vj. wynter monethes is nyght ¶ Ysyd li. xiij Brytayne is sette within Occean as it were without the worlde is sette ayenst FrauÌ„ce Spayne ¶ Giraldus Brytayne is endlonge and larger in the myddel than in thendes ¶ Orosiê° Brytayne stretcheth in length out of the south in to the north in the southest syde hit hath FrauÌ„ce in the south Spayne in the noth Norwaye in the west Hys bernia that is Irlonde Whan shypmen passen the next clyf of that londe they se a cyte that heet Ruâ—py mouth ¶ Beda li. j. That cyte is now called shortly of Englysshmen Reptacestre ¶ Solinê° Brytane is viij hondred myle of lengthe it be moten from the clyf of Totenesse to the angle of Calydon ¶ Alfre That is from Penwith strete .xv. myle beyonde Michels stowe in Cornewayle vnto Catenesse y t is beyonde Scotlonde Brytayne is more than two hondred myle brode from Meneuia y t is the vttermest place in Wales vnto Yarmouth in Northfolke ¶ Beda Oonly outake the lengest out shetynge of dyuerse forlondes with y â— whiche Brytayne is all about xlviij sythe .lxx. thousande paas ¶ Of the worthynesse and prerogatyues ca. iij. AS Fraunce passeth Brytayne so Brytayne passeth Irlonde in fayre weder noblyte but not in helthe ¶ Beda li. j. for this ylonde is best to brynge forth trees and fruyte Ruthern beestes And wyne groweth therin in some place The londe hath plente of foules of beestes of
dyuerse maner kynde The londe is plenteuous the see also The londe is noble copyous ryche of noble welles Ryuers with plente of fysshe There is grete plente of small fysshe of samon of celes ¶ Wilhel de pon li. iij So that the people in some place fedeth theyr swyne with fysshe ¶ Beda li. j. There beâ— oftentymes taken Dolphyns See calues Balaynes grete fysshes as whales kynde and dyuerse maner shelfysshe amonge the whiche 〈…〉 ben muskles that within 〈…〉 Margery peerles of all maner of colour and hewe of tody reed purpure of blewe and specyally moost of whyte There is also plente of shelfysshe that men dyen therwith syne reed the redenes therof is wonder fayre stable and steyneth neuer with colde ne with 〈◊〉 with wâ—et ne with drye but euer the â—lder the colour is the fayrer There â—en also salt welles and hote welles therof rennen stremes of hote bathes departed in to dyuerse places 〈◊〉 For man woman of all maner age olde or yonge ¶ Basilius sayth That the water that renneth passeth by vaynes of certayne metalle taketh in his course grete hete This ylonde is plenteuous of vaynes of metalles bras of yron of leed of tyn of syluer also ¶ Plinius li. vj. ca. vj. In this ylonde vnder the turfe of the londe is good merle fouÌ„den the thryfte of the fatnes dryeth hymself therin Soo that euer the thycker the felde is merled the better corne it woll bere There is also an other maner whyte merle that the londe is y â— better foure score yere that therwith is merled ¶ Solinus In this ylonde groweth a stone y â— is called Gagates yf ye wyll knowe his fayrenesse it is blacke as genunes ben yf ye wyll knowe his kynde hit brenneth in water quencheth in oyle and as to his myght yf the stone be froted and chauffed hit holdeth what hym neygheth as Succuns a stone that is so named ¶ Ysydorus li. xv There ben sheep y â— beren good wulle There ben many hertes and wylde beestes fewe wolues therfore sheep ben the surer without kepynge lefte in the felde ¶ R. In this ylonde also ben maner Cytees and townes fayre noble ryche many grete Ryuers and stremes with grete plente of fysshe many fayre woodes grete with ryght many beestes tame wylde The erthe of that londe is copyous of metall oor and of saltwelles of quareyes of marble of dyuerse maner stones of reed of whyte of softe of harde of chalke of whyte lyme There is also whyte daye reed for to make pottes crokkes stenes and other vessell brente tyle to couere with houses chirches as it were in the other samia that is named samos also ¶ FlauÌ„dres loueth well the wulle of this londe And Hollande the skynnes felles of all maner of beestes Guyan the yron the leed Irlonde the oor and the salt All Europa loueth and desyreth the white metall of this londe ¶ Alfredus Brytayne hath ynough of mater that ther nedeth to bye and selle or is nedefull to mannes vse there lacketh neyther salt ne yron Therfore a versefyour in his metre prayseth this londe in to this maner Englonde is a good londe fruytfull of wulle but it is a comer Englonde is full of playe free men well worthy to playe free men free tonges free hertes and free ben all theyr thynges theyr honde is more free and better than theyr tonge Also Englonde is beauteuous of londe floure of londes all about that londe is ful payed with fruyte good of his owne that londe releueth strauÌ„ge men that hath nede therto And whan honger greueth other londes that londe fedeth them That londe bereth fruyte and come good ynough That londe is well at case as longe as men lyue in peas Eest and west in eche londe ben knowen well the hauenes of Englonde Her shyppes foundes and ofte helpeth many londes Theyr mete money men haue ther more comyn alwaye And for to lerne men gladly yeue gyftes In londe and sronde wyde speke men of Englonde Londe hony mylke chest this ylonde therof shal bere the pryce This ylonde hath noo nede of other londes all londes must seke helpe at this allone Of the lykynge of theyr wounâ—â— myght wonder kyng Salomon The rychesse that ther is an wolde desyre Octauyan ¶ Of the merueylles and of wondres ca. â—â— IN Brytayne ben hoot welles well arayed and a dressyd to the vse of manhode marshesse of thâ—â—ke welles is the grete spyryte of 〈◊〉 In her hous the fyre endureth alway that neuer chaungeth in to asshes but there the fyre slaketh hit chaungeth in to stone clottes ¶ Alfre In Bretayne ben many wondâ—es neuertheles foure ben moost wonderfull The fyrste is at Pecton there bloweth so stronge wynde out of the chynes of the â—â—the that it casteth vp agayne clothes that men caste in The seconde is at Stonhenge besydes Salâ—sbury there ben grete stones wonder huge and ben reâ—ed an heygh as it were yates sette vpon other rates Neuertheles it is not knowen clerely ne aperceyued how and wherfore they ben so areâ—ed and soo wonderfully honged The thyrde is atte Cherdhoke there is a grete holownes vnder the erthe often many men haue walked therin haue seen Ryuers stremes but nowher can they fynde none ende The fourth is that rayne is seen reysed vpon hylles and anone yspronge about in the feldes Also there is a grete ponde that conteyneth lx ylondes couenable for men to dwelle in that ponde is beâ—lypped about with sixe score roches and vpon euery roche an egles nest and thre score ryuers rennen in to that ponde and none of them all renne in to the see but one There is a ponde closed about with a walle of tyle and of stone In that ponde men wasshe and bathe well ofte and euery man feleth the water hoot or colde ryght as he wyll hymself There ben salt welles ferre from the see and ben salt all the weke longe vnto saterdaye at noone and fresshe fro saterdaye noone vnto mondaye The water of these welles whan it is soden torneth in to small salf fayre and whyte Also there is a ponde the water therof hath wonder werkynge for though all an hoost stode by the ponde and torned theyr face thyderwarde the water wolde drawe hym vyolently towarde the ponde wete all theyr clothes so sholde hors be drawen in the same wyse And yf the face be torned awaye fro the water the water noyeth not Ther is a welle that noo streme renneth fro neyther therto and yet foure maner fysshes be taken therin that welle is but .xx. foot longe and .xx. foot brode and not depe but to the knee and closeth with hygh bankes on euery syde In the contree about Wynchestre is a denne or a caâ—â— out of that caue bloweth alwaye a 〈◊〉 wynde soo that no man may endure to stonde tofore that denne
or caue There is also a ponde that torneth tree in to yron yf it be therin a yere And so trees ben shapen in to whestones Also there is in the toppe of an hylle a buryels euery man that cometh and meteth that buryell he shall fynde it euen of his owne lengthe mesure And yf a pylgryme knele therto anone he shall be all fresshe and fele no gryef of werynes ¶ Gir. in top Faste by the mynster of Wynburney that is not ferre fro bathe is a wood that bereth moche fruyte yf the trees of that wood falle in to water or grouÌ„de that is neygh and lye there all a yere the trees tornen in to stones ¶ Gir in itinere Vnder the Cyte of Chestre renneth that Ryuer Dee that now departed Englonde and Wales That Ryuer chaunged euery moneth his fordes as men of the contree tellen leueth often the chanell but whether the water drawe more towarde Englonde or towarde Wales to what syde that it be that yere men of that syde haue the worst ende be ouersette And men of that other syde shall haue better ende and ben at theyr aboue Whan the water so chauÌ„geth his course hit bodeth suche happes This Ryuer Dee renneth and cometh out of a lake that heet Pymblemere In this Ryuer is grete plente of samon neuerthelesse in the lake is neuer samon founden ¶ Wilhel de re li. ij Take hede how grete lyght and bryghtnesse of goddes myldenesse hath be shewed vpon Englysshmen sythen they fyrste torned to ryght byleue So that of no men in one prouynce ben founden soo many hoole bodyes of men after her deth in lyknes of euerlastyngnes that shall be after the daye of dome as it well semeth in these holy sayntes As Edeldrede Edmonde the kyng Elphege Edgar Cutherd saynt Edwarde and many other I trowe that it be do by a specyall grace of god almyghty for the nacyon that is sette as it were without the worlde sholde take hede to buryenge of bodyes without corrupcyon and rotynge and ben the more bolde and stedfast for to trust on the fynall arysynge of deed bodyes for to laste euermore after the daye of dome ¶ Of the chyef partyes of the same londe ca. v. AFter the fyrst Brutes tyme the ylonde of Brytayne began for to haue the pryncypall partyes that ben Loegria Cambria that is Wales And Albania that is now Scotlonde Loegria hath that name of Locrinus that was Brutes oldest sone and heet Loegria as it were Locrinus londe but now Loegria is called Englonde The bouÌ„des and merkes were therof some tyme the Frensshe see both by cest and by south ¶ Beda li. j. ca. ij And by north two armes of the see y t breketh ferre in to the londe eyther ayenst other But they reche not togyder the eest arme of tylke tweyne begyÌ„neth about a two lytell myle fro the mynstre of Ebburcurynge In the west syde of Penulton in that arme is a towne that is called Guydy The west arme of thylke tweyne hath in the ryght syde a stronge Cyte that heet Aldiud whiche in her langage is called Clynâ—stone and standeth vpon a Ryuer that is called Clynt also ¶ R. Some men wolde mene that Loegria endeth att Humbre stretcheth no ferther north warde The seconde partye of Brytayne is called Albania that is Scotlonde and hath that name of Albanactus Brutes sone and stretcheth fro the forsayd two armes of the see northwarde vnto the see of Norwaye Neuerthelesse the south partyes of Albama where as Pictes dwelled somtyme lyeth from the water of Twede vnto the Scottesshe see All that longed some tyme to the kyngdome of NorthuÌ„berlonde Brenycon the north syde of Northumberlonde fro the fyrste tyme of Englysshe kynges to y t tyme whaâ— Kynadius kyng of Scotlonde that was Alpinus sone dyde awaye the Pictes and so Ioyned that conâ—ee to y â— kyngdome of Scotlonde The 〈◊〉 partye of Brytayne is Wales Wallia that heet Cambria also and hath that name Cambria of Camber Brâ—tes sone for he was prynce of Wales In the cest syde Seuarne departed some tyme bytwene Englonde and Wales But now in the north syde the Ryuer Dee at Chestre in the south the Ryuer that is named Vaga at the Castell of Strygelyn departeth Englonde and Wales Also kyng Offa for to haue a dystynceyon for euermore bytwene the kynges of Englondâ— of Wales made a longe dyche that strecheth forth out of the south syde by Brystowe vnder the bylles of Wales northwarde and passeth the Ryuers Seuarne and Dee all moost to the heedes and vnto the mouth of the ryuer Dee beyonde Chestre fast by the castell it renneth bytwene Colehylle the mynstre of Basyngwerk in to the see This dyche is yet in many places seen In saynt Edwardes tyme Walsshe men sholde not passe that dyche w c wepen vpon a grete payne And that was atte erle Haroldes procurynge as it shall be sayd here after But now in eyther sydes bothe ayonde half a this half the dyche specyally in the shyres of Chestre of Shrowesbury of Herforde in many places ben Englysshmen and Walsshmen medled togyders ¶ Of the Ylondes that ben therto adiacent ca. vj. BRytayne hath thre Ylondes y t ben nyghe longen therto all without the ylondes Orcades as it were answerynge to the thre chyef partyes of Brytayne For y eyle of Wyght longeth lyeth to Leogria that is Englonde The ylonde Mon that is called Angleseya also longeth to Wales And the ylonde Eubonia y t hath two other names is called Meneuia and Man also whiche longeth to Scotlonde And all these thre ylondes Wyght Mon Man ben almoost alyke moche of y e lyke quatyte of the whiche thre all a rewe now foloweth our speche ¶ Beda li. j. ca. iij. Claudius sente Vespasianus Vespasianus wanne Wyght and Wyght stretcheth out of the cest in to the west .xxx. myle longe And out of the south in to the north .xij. myle is in the eest syde .vj. myle fro the south clyf of Brytayne and 〈◊〉 myle in the west syde ¶ Beda li. 〈◊〉 ca. v. The mesure of this ylonde as Englysshmen gesse is a thousande housholdes two hondred ¶ Gir. in itinere Mon that is called Angleseya also is departed from northwales by a shorte arme of the see as it were two myle brode In Mon ben iij. hondred townes lxiij and ben accompted for candredes that ben iij. hondredes the ylonde is as it were .xxx. myle longe .xij. myle brode Candredus is so moche londe as coÌ„teyneth an hondred townes that name candredus is made out of two langages of Brytysshe and of Irysshe In praysynge of this ylonde Walsshmen he wonte to saye a prouerbe an olde sawe Mon man kembry that is to saye in Englysshe that londe is so good that it semeth y t it wolde fynde corne ynough for all the men of Wales Therfore
Virgyls verses may be acordynge therto as moche as guawes bestes longe Inneth dawes So moche efte bryngeth colde dewe in a nyght In that arme of the see that departed this londe northwales is a swolowe that draweth shyppes to it that saylleth by swoloweth hem in ryght as doth Cylla and Carybdis y t ben two peryllous places in the see of myddell erthe Therfore men may not saylle by this swalowe but slyly atte full see ¶ R. Of the merueylles and wondres of the ylonde Mon thou shalt fynde tofore in the chapytre of Wales ¶ Gir. in itinere The thyrde ylonde that is called both Eubonia Meneuia that is Man standeth in the myddell bytwene the Irysshe vlster the Scottysshe gallewaye as it were in the nauell of the see ¶ Beda li. ij ca. .ix. This ylonde Man conteyneth as it were two ylondes The fyrst is southwarde the more couÌ„tree and the better corne londe conteyneth .ix. hondred and .lx. housholdes The seconde conteyneth the space of CCC and moo as Englysshmen gesse ¶ Gir. iij top Somtyme was stryfe whether this ylonde Man sholde longe to Brytayne or to Irlonde And for as moche as venemous wormes y t were brought thyâ— lyued there it was Iuged y t the ylonde Man sholde longe to Brytayne ¶ R. In y t ylonde is Iortylege wytchecraft vsed For woman there selle to shypmen wynde as it were closed vnder thre knottes of threde so y t the more wynde he wyll haue the mo knottes he must vndo There often by daye tyme men of that londe seen men y t ben deed â—â—fore honde byheded or hoole and what deth they deyed Alyens sette theyr feet vpon feet of the men of y â— londe for to see suche syghtes as the men of y â— londe done ¶ Beda li. ij Scottes dwelled fyrst in this ylonde ¶ Thanatos that is Tenet is an ylonde besydes â—ente and hath that name Thanatos of deth of serpentes for there ben none And the erthe therof sleeth serpentes yborn in to other londes There is noble corne londe fruytfull Hit is sapposed that this ylonde was halowed blessyd of saynt Austen the fyrste doctour of Englysshmen for there he arryued fyrst ¶ Of the kynges hye wayes and stretes ca. vij MOliuncius kyng of Brytons was the .xxiij. of hem and the fyrst that gaf hem lawe He ordeyned that plowmen folowes goddes temples hyghe wayes that leden men to Cytees townes sholde haue the fredom of socour so that euery man that wente to ony of them for socour or for trespaas y t he hath doo sholde be sauffor poursute of all his enemyes But after warde for the wayes were vncertayne stryf was had Therfore Belinus the kyng y t was the forsayd Moliuncius sone for to putte awaye all doubte stryf made foure hyghe kynges wayes preuyleged with all preuylege fredom And the wayes stretche thrugh the ylonde The fyrst gretest of the foure wayes is called Fosse and stretcheth out of the south in to y â— north begynneth from the corner of Cornewayle passeth forth by Deuenshyte by Somersete forth besydes Tetbury vpon Cottes wolde besyde Couentre vnto Leycestre so forth by wylde playnes towarde Newerke ended at Lyncoln The seconde chyef kynges hyghe waye is named Watlyngstrete stretcheth thwart ouer Fosse out of the southeest in to the northwest begynneth at Douer and passeth by the myddell of Kente ouer Temse besyde London by west Westmestre so forth by saynt Albon in y â— west syde by Don staple by Stratforde by Toweetre by Wedon by south Lylleborn by Atheryston vnto Gilbertes hylle that now is called Wrekene forth by Seuarne passeth besydes Wrokcestre thenÌ„e forth to Stratton so forth by y â— myddell of Wales vnto Cardykan endeth atte Irysshe see The thyrde waye is called Erynnugestrete stretcheth out of the west northwest in to erst southeest begynneth in Menâ—uia y â— is in Saynt Dauyds londe in weste Wales stretcheth forth vnto Souhthampton The fourth is called Rykenyldestrete sretcheth forth by Worchestre by Wycombe by Byrmyngeham by Lychefelde by Derby by Chestrefelde by Yorke forth vnto Tynmouthe ¶ Of the famous Ryuers and stremes ca. viij THre famous Ryuers rennen through Brytayne by the whiche thre Ryuers marchauÌ„tes of beyonde the see comen in shyppes in to Brytayne well nyghe out of all maner of nacyons londes These thre Ryuers ben Temse Seuarne and humbre The see ebbeth floweth atte mouthes of these thre Ryuers departeth the thre prouynces of the Ylonde as it were the thre kyngdomes a sondre The thre partyes ben Loegria Cambria Northumbria That ben myddell Englonde Wales and Northumberlonde ¶ R. These name Temse semeth made one name of two names of two Ryuers that ben Tame Yse for the Ryuer Tame renneth besydes Dorchestre falleth in Yse therfore all the Ryuer fro the tyrite heed vnto y â— eest see is named Tamyse or Temse Temse begynneth besydes Tetbury that is thre myle by north Malmesbury There the Temse spryngeth of a welle that renneth eestwarde passeth the Fosse departeth Glouceâ—tre shyre Wylshyre and draweth with hym many other welles stremes wexeth 〈◊〉 at grecestre passeth forth thâ—n 〈◊〉 Hampton so forth by 〈◊〉 by Wallynforde by Redynge and by London ¶ 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 ca. ij Atte hauen of Sandwhiche hit falleth in to the test see holdeth his name .xl. myle beyonde London and departed in some place Lâ—câ—te Essex Westâ—ex Mercia that is as it were a grete dele of myddel Englonde ¶ R. Seuarne is a Ryuer of Brytayne is called Habern in Brytona hath that name Habern of Habeâ—en y t was Estryldes doughter Guendolon the quene drenched this Habren therin therfore the Brytons called the Ryuer Habren after the woman that was drowned therin but by corrupt latyn it is called Sabrina Seuarne in Englysshe Seuarne begynneth in y â— myddell of Wales passed fyrst towarde the eest vnto Shrowesbury thenÌ„e tomed southwarde vnto Bryggenorth Wyrcestre Gloucestre falleth in to the west see besydes Brystowe departed in some place Englonde Wales ¶ Wilhel de pon li. iiij Seuarne is swyft of streme fysshe craft is therin wodenes of the swolowynge of whyrlynge water casteth vp gadreth to hepe grete hepes of grauel Seuarne ofte aryseth ouerfloweth the hankes ¶ R. Humbre hath that name of Humbre kyng of Hâ—â—es for he was drowned therin And renneth fyrste a crook out of the southsyde of Yorke and thenne it departed the prouynce of Lyndeseye that longed somtyme to the Merces from the other countree Northumberlonde Trente Ouse rennen in to Humber maken the Ryuer full grete ¶ Treuisa The Merces were men as it were of myddel Englonde as it shall be sayd here after ¶ Of auÌ„cyent cytees townes ca. ix THe kyngdom of Brytayn was some
men kyn ¶ Gaufr In Vespasyan the Emperours tyme whan Marius Aruiragus sone was kyng of Brytons One Rodryk kyng of Pyctes cam out of Scicia gan to destroye Scotlonde Thenne Marius the kyng slewe this Rodryke gaf the north partye of Scotlonde that heet Cathenesia to the men that were come with Rodryk were ouercome by hym for to dwelle â—nne But these men had no wyues ne none myght haue of the nacyon of Brytons therfore they saylled in to Irlonde toke to theyr wyues Irysshmens doughters by y t couenauÌ„t y t the moder blood sholde be put tofore in successyon of herytage ¶ Gir ca. xvij Netheles Sirinus sup VirgiliuÌ„ sayth that Pyctes ben agatyrses that had some dwellynge place about the waters of Scicia they ben called Pyctes of peyntynge smytynge of wouÌ„des y t ben seen on her body So y t they semed as men were peynted with wouÌ„des therfore they were called Pyctes as peynted men These men these gothes ben all one people For whan Maximus the tyraunt was wente out of Brytayne in to FrauÌ„ce for to occupye th empyre Thenne Gracianus Valentinianus y t were brethern felowes of th empyre brought these gothes out of Scicia with grete gyftes with flateryng fayre behestes in to y e north countree of Brytayne For they were stalworth stronge men of armes so these theues bryboâ—â—s were made men of londe of couÌ„tree dwelled in the north couÌ„trees helde there cytees townes ¶ Gaufre Carancius the tyrauÌ„t slewe Bassianus by helpe treason of the Pyctes y t come in helpe socour of Bassianus and gaf the Pyctes a dwellynge place in Albania that is Scotlonde there they dwelled longe tyme afterwarde medled with Brytons ¶ R. Thenne syth y t Pyctes occupyed fyrst the north syde of Scotlonde It semeth y t the dwellynge place y t this Carancius gaf hem is the south syde of Scotlonde that stretcheth from the thwart ouer walle of Romayns werke to the Scottysshe see conteyneth Gallewaye Lodouia y t is Codewaye ¶ Therof Beda li. iij. ca. ij speketh in this maner Ninian the holy man conuerted the south Pyctes Afterwarde the Saxons come made y t couÌ„tree longe to Brenicia y â— north partye of Northumberlonde vnto the tyme that Kynadius Alpinus sone kyng of Scotlonde put out the Pyctes made that couÌ„tre y t lyeth bytwene Twede the Scottysshe see longe to his kyngdome ¶ Beda li. j. ca. j. Afterwarde longe tyme the Scottes were ledde by duke Renda come out of Irlonde y â— is the propre couÌ„tree of Scottes with loue or with strength made hem a place fast by the Pyctes in the north syde of that arme of the see that breketh in to the londe in the west syde y â— departed in olde tyme bytwene Brytons Pyctes Of this duke Renda the Scottes had the name were called Dalrendines as it were Rendaes parte for in hyr speche a parte is called dal ¶ Gir â— The Pyctes myght haue no wyues of Brytons but they toke hem wyues of Irysshe Scottes promysed hem fayre for to dwelle with hem grauÌ„ted hem a londe by the see syde there the see is narowe that londe is called now Gallewaye Marianus Irysshe Scottâ— londed at Argayll that is scotten clyf for Scottes londed there for to do harme to the Brytons or for that place is nexte to Irlonde for to come a londe in Brytayne ¶ Beda And so the Scottes after the Brytons and Pyctes made y e thyrde peple dwellyng in Brytayne ¶ R. Thenne after that come the Saxons atte prayenge of the Brytons to helpe hem ayenst the Scottes Pyctes And the Brytons were soone put out in to Wales Saxons ocupyed the londe lytell lytell and efte more to the Scottysshe see And so Saxons made the fourthe maner of men in the ylonde of Brytayne ¶ Beda li. v. ca. ix For Saxons and Angles come out of Germania yet some Brytons that dwellen nyghe callen hemshortly Germayns ¶ R. Netheles about y â— yere of our lorde viij hondred Egbertus kyng of westsaxon coÌ„mauÌ„ded hadde all men to calle the men of the londe Englysshmen ¶ Alfre Thenne after that y â— Danes pursued the londe about a two hondred yere that is for to saye fro the forsayd Egbertus tyme vnto saynt Edwardes tyme made the fyfth maner of people in the ylonde but they faylled afterwarde At the last come Normans vnder duke William subdued Englysshe men yet kepe they the londe and they made the sixth people in the ylonde But in the fyrst kyng Hemryes tyme come many Flemynges receyued a dwellynge place for a tyme besyde Maylros in the west syde of Englonde and made the seuenth people in the ylonde Netheles by coÌ„maundement of the same kyng they were put thens dryuen to Hauerfordes syde in the west syde of Wales ¶ R. And soo now in Brytayne Danes and Pyctes fayllen all out fyue nacyons dwellen therin that ben Scottes in Albania that is Scotlonde Brytons in Cambria that is Wales but that Flemynges dwelle in that is west Wales And Normans and Englysshmen ben medled in all the ylonde for it is now doubte in storyes how in what maner they were put awaye and destroyed out of Brytayne Now it is to declare how the Pyctes were destroyed and faylled ¶ Gir. â— ca. xvij Brytayne was some tyme occupyed with Saxons peas was made stablysshed with the Pyctes thenne the Scottes that come with the Pyctes sawe that the Pyctes were nobler of dedes better men of armes though they were lasse in nombre than the Scottes Thenne the Scottes hauynge therof enuye torned to theyr naturell treason that they haue ofte vsed For in treason they passe other men ben traytours as it were by kynde for they prayed all the Pyctes specyally the grete of hem to a feest and wayted her tyme whan the Pyctes were mery and hadde well dronke they drewe vp nayles that helde vp holowe benches vnder the Pyctes the Pyctes vnware and sodaynly fylle in ouer the haÌ„mes in to a wonderfull pytfalle Thenne the Scottes fylle on the Pyctes and slewe them lefte hone alyue And so of two maner people the better warry ours were hoâ—ly destroyed But the other that ben the Scottes whiche ben traytours all vnlyke to the Pyctes toke prouffyte by that fals treason for they toke all that londe holde it yet vnto this tyme calle it Scotlonde after hyr owne name In kyng Edgarê° tyme Kynadiê° Alpmus sone was duke leder of the Scottes and warred in Pycte londe destroyed the Pyctes he warred sixe sythes in Saxon and toke all the londe y t is bytwene Twede the Scottysshe see with wronge with strengthe ¶ Of the langages of maners vsage of the people of that londe ca. xv AS it is knowen how many
toure They take wood mareys for socoure Whan they seen it is to do In fyghtynge they wolde be ago Gyldas sayth they ben varyable In peas and not stable Yf men axe why it be It is no wonder for to se Though men put out of londe To put out other wolde fonde But all for nought at this stonde For all many woodes ben at gronde And vpon the see amonge Ben castels buylded stronge The men may dure longe vn ete And loue well conume mete They can ete and ben mury Without grete cury They ete brede colde and hote Of barly and of ote Brode cakes rounde and thynne As well semeth so grete kynne Selde they ete brede of whete And selde they done ones ete They haue gruell to potage And lekes kynde to companage Also butter mylke and chese Y shape endlonge and corner wese Suche messes they ete snell And that maketh hem drynke well Meete and ale that hath myght Theron they spende daye and nyght Euer the redder is the wyne They holde it the more fyne Whan they drynke atte ale They telle many a lewde tale For whan drynke is an handlynge They ben full of Ianglynge Atte meete and after eke Her solace is salt and leke The husbonde in his wyse Telleth that a grete pryce To gyue a caudron with gruwele To hem that sytten on his mele He deleth his meete atte mele And gyueth euery man his dele And all the ouerpluse He kepeth to his owne vse Therfore they haue woo And myshappes also They eten hote samon alway All though physyk saye nay Her houses ben lowe with all And made of yerdes small Not as in cytees nyghe But ferre a sonder and not to hyghe me Whan all is eten at home Then to hyr neyghbours wyl they to And ete what they may fynde se And then torne home aye The lyf is ydle that they ledes In brennynge slepynge suche dedes Walsshmen vse with her myght To wesshe theyr ghestes feet a nyght Yf he wesshe her feet all and somme Then they knowe y t they be welcome They lyue so esely in a route That selde they bere purs aboute At her breche out and home They honge theyr money and combe It is wonder they be so hende And hate crak atte nether ende And without ony core Make theyr wardrope atte dore They haue in grete mangery Harpe tabour pyp for mynstralcy They bere corps with sorowe greet And blowe loude hornes of gheet They prayse fast Troyan blode For therof came all her brode Nyghe kyn they wyll be Though they passe an hondred degre Aboue other men they wyl hein dyght And worshyp prestes with her myght As angels of heuen ryght They worshyp seruauntes of god almyght Oft gyled was this brode And yerned batayll all for wode For Merlyns prophecye And oft for sortelegye Best in maners of Brytons For companye of Saxons Ben torned to better ryght That is knowen as clere as lyght They tyllen gardyns felde downes And drawe hem to good townes They ryde armed as woll god And go y hosed and y shood And sytten fayre at her mele And slepe in beddes fayre and fele So they seme now in mynde More Englysshe than walsshe kynde Yf men axe why they now do so More than they wonte to do They lyuen in more pees By cause of theyr ryches For theyr catell sholde slake Yf they vsed ofte wrake Drede of losse of her good Make them now stylle of mode All in one it is brought Haue nothynge and drede nought The poete sayth a sawe of preef The foot man syngeth tofore y e theef And is bolder on the waye Than the hors man ryche and gaye ¶ Of the merueylles and wondres of Wales ca. xx THer is a pole at Brechnok Therin of fysh is many aflok Oft he chaungeth his hewe on cop And bered aboue a gardyn crop Ofte tyme how it be Shape of house ther shalt thou se Whan the pole is frore it is wonder Of the noyse that is ther vnder Yf the prynce of the londe hote Byrdes synge well mery note As meryly as they can And syngen for none other man Besydes Caerleon Two myle fro the town Is a roche well bryght of leem Ryght ayenst the sonne beem Goldclyf that roche hyght For it shyneth as god full bryght Suche a floure in stone is nought Without fruyte yf it were sought Yf men coude by craft vndo The veynes of therthe come therto Many benefyce of kynde Ben now hyd fro mannes mynde And ben vnknowe yet For defaute of mannes wytte Grete tresour is hyd in grounde And after this it shall be founde By grete studye and besynes Of hem that comen after vs That olde men had by grete nede ¶ Treuisa We haue by besy dede In bokes ye may rede That kynde fayleth not at nede Whan noman had craft in mynde Then of craft halpe god and kynde Whan no techer was in londe Men had craft by goddes honde They that had craft so thenne Taught forth craft to other menne Some craft that yet come not in place Some man shall haue by gods grace ¶ R. An ylonde is with noyse stryf In west Wales at Kerdyf Fast by Seuarne stronde Barry hyght that ylonde In that hyther syde in a chene Shalt thou here wonder dene And dyuerse noys also Yf thou put thyn eere to Noys of leues and of wynde Noys of metall thou shalt fynde Frotynge of yren westones y u shalt here Hetynge of ouens then with fyre All this may well be By wawes of the see That breketh in thare With suche noys and fare At Penbrok in a stede Feudes do ofte quede And throweth foule thynge jnne And despyseth also synne Neyther craft ne bedes may Do thens that sorowe away Whan it greueth soo To the men it bodeth woo At crucynar in west wales Is a wonder buryals Euery man that cometh it to se Semeth it euen as moche as he Hoole wepen there a nyght Shall be broken er daye lyght At nemyn in north wales A lytell ylonde there is That is called bardysay Monkes dwelle there alway Men lyue so longe in that hurst That the oldest deyeth fyrst Men saye that Merlyn there buryed is That hyght also syluestris There were Merlyns tweyne And prophecyed beyne One hyte Ambrose and Merlyn And was ygoten by gobelyn In demecia at carmerthyn Vnder kyng Vortygeryn He tolde his prophecye Euen in snowdonye Atte heed of the water of coneway In the syde of mount eryry Dynas embreys in Walsshe Ambrose hylle in Englysshe Kyng Vortygere sate on The watersyde and was full of wone Then Ambrose Merlyn prophecyed ¶ Treuisa Tofore hym ryght tho What wytte wolde wene That a fende myght gete a childe Some men wolde mene That he may no suche werke welde That fende that gâ—th a nyght 〈◊〉 full ofte to gyle 〈◊〉 is named by ryght And gyleth men other whyle Succubus is that wyght God graunte vs none
dyuerse fygures shappes and peynte hem with ynke or w t other peynture or colour by cause they were so peynted they were called Picti that is to saye peynted ¶ Erodotê Scottes ben lyght of herte strauÌ„ge wylde ynough but by medlynge of Englyshmen they ben moche amended they ben cruell vpon theyr enemyes hateth bondage most of ony thynge and holde for a foule slouth yf a man deye in his bedde grete worshyp yf he deye in the felde They ben lytell of mete mowe fast longe eten selde whan the sonne is vp eten flesshe fysshe mylke fruyt more than brede And though they be fayr of shappe they ben defouled made vnsemely ynough w t theyr owne clothynge They prayse fast the vsages of theyr owne forfaders despysen other meÌ„nes doynge her londe is fruyt full ynough in pasture gardyns feldes ¶ Gir. de â— ca. xviij The prynces of Scottes as the kynges of Spayne ben not wonte to be enoynted ne crowned In this Scotlonde is solempne grete myÌ„de of sayÌ„t Andrewe thapostle For saynt Andrewe had the north contrees of the worlde Scytes Pyctes to his lotte for to preche conuerte y e people to Crystes byleue And atte last he was martred in Achaia in Grecia in a cyte y t was named Patras his bones were kepte CC. lxxn yere vnto Constantinus themperours tyme and thenne they were transleted in to Constatynople kept there C. x. yere vnto Theodosiê themperours tyme. And thenÌ„e Vngus kyng of Pyctes in Scotlonde destroyed a grete parte in Brytayne was besette w t a grete hoost of Brytons in a felde called Merke he herde saynt Andrewespeke to hym in this maner Vngus vngus here y u me crystes apostle I promyse the helpe socour whan y u hast ouercomen thyn enemyes by my helpe y u shalt gyue the thyrde dele of thyn herytage in almesse to god almyghty in the worshyp of saynt Andre we the sygne of y â— crosse went tofore his hoost the thyrde day he had vyctory so torned home ayene deled his herytage as he was boden And for he was vncertayne what cyte he sholde dele for saynt Andrewe he fasted thre dayes he his men prayed saynt Andrewe y t he wolde shewe hym what place he wolde chese And one of the wardeyns y t kept the body of saynt Andrewe in Constanstinople was warned in his slepe y t he sholde go in to a place whyder an angell wolde lede hyÌ„ so he come in to Scotlonde with vn felowes to y t toppe of an hylle named Ragmonde The same hour lyght of heuen beshone beclypped the kyng of Pyctes y t was comyng w t his hoost to a place called Carceuan There anon were heled many seke men There met with the kyng Regulus the monke of Constantynople with the relyques of saynt Andrewe There is founded a chirche in worshyp of saynt Andrewe y t is heed of all the chirches in the londe of Pyctes y â— is Scotlonde To this chirche comen pylgryms out of al londes There was Regulus fyrst abbot gadred monkes And so al y e tyenthe londe that the kyng had assygned hym he departed it in dyuerse places amonge abbayes ¶ Of y e descrypcoÌ„n of Irlonde ca .xxij. HIbernia y t is Irlonde was of olde tyme Incorperate in to the lordshyp of Brytayne soo sayth Gir. in sua toppÌ„ Where he descryueth it at full Yet it is worthy semely to prayse y e londe w t larger praysynge for to come to clere full knowleche of y t londe these tytles y t folowe opene y e waye Therfore I shal telle of the place stede of y t londe how grete what maner londe it is wherof y t londe hath plente wherof it hath defaute also of what men y â— dwelled therin fyrst Of maners of men of y â— londe Of the wondres of that londe of worthynes of halowes and sayntes of that londe ¶ Of y e bouÌ„dynge of Irlonde ca .xxiij. IRlonde is the last of all the west ylondes hyght Hibernia of one Hiberus of Spayne y t was Hermonius broder for these two brethern gate wanne y t londe by conquest Or it is called Hibernia of y t ryuer Hiberê° y t is in the west ende of Spayne y t londe hyght Scotlonde also for Scottes dwelled there somtyme er they come in to y t other Scotlonde y t longed to Brytayne therfor it is wryten in the Martyloge Suche a day in Scotlond sayÌ„t Bryde was born y t was in Irlonde This londe hath in the southest syde Spayne thre dayes sayllynge thens a syde half hath in the est syde y e more Brytayne thens a dayes sayllynge in the west syde the endles Occean in the north syde Yselonde thre dayes sayl lynge thens ¶ Solinus But the see y t is bytwene Brytayne Irlonde is al the yere full of grete wawes vnesy so y t men may selde saylle sykerly bytwene that see is C. xx myle brode ¶ Of the gretnes and qualyte of that londe ca. xxiiij IRlonde is an ylonde grettest after Brytayne stretcheth north warde from Brendas hylles vnto the londe Columbina conteyneth .viij. dayes Iourney euery Iourney .xl. myle from Deuelyn to Patryks hylles to the see in y t syde in brede .iiij. Iourneys Irlonde is narower in y â— myddel than in thendes al otherwyse than Brytayne is as Irlonde is shorter northwarde than Brytayne soo is it lenger southward y e londe is not playne but full of montayns of hylles of wodes of mareys of mores the londe is softe rayny wyndy lowe by y e see syde within hylly sondy ¶ Solinus Ther is grete plente of noble pasture of leese therfore the bestê must be oft dryuen out of theyr pasture lest they ete ouermoche for they sholde shende hem self yf they myght ete at theyr wyll ¶ Gir. Men of y t londe haue coÌ„munely theyr helth strauÌ„gers haue ofte a perylous flux bycause of the moysture of y e mete The flesshe of kyen is there holsome swynes flesshe vnholsome Men of y t londe haue no feuer but only the feuer ague y t ryght selde Therfore the holsomnes helth of y t londe the clennes out of venyme is worth all the boost rychesse of trees of herbes of spycer of ryche clothes of pretyous stones of the cest londes The cause of the helth holsomnes of y t londe is the attemperate hete colde y t is therin In â—bz rebz sufficit In this londe ben mo kyen than oxen more pasture than corn more gras than seed ther is plente of samon of lamprayes of celes of other see fysshe Of egles of cranes of pecoks of curlewes of sperhaukes of goshaukes of gentyl fawcons Of wolues ryght