Lievtenant there 300. markes and the Parliament was adjourned eftsoones unto the munday after St. Ambrose day Then rumours resounded that the Lord Thomas Fitz-Iohn Earle of Desmund died at Paris on St. Laurence feast day and was buried there at the Friers Preachers covent the King of England being present at his funerals After whom succeeded in that Seigniorie James Fitz-Gerald his Unkle by the fathers side who had three times thrust him out of his patrimonie and laid an imputation upon him that he was a prodigall spend-thrift and had wasted his patrimony both in Ireland and England and that he gave or would give lands to the Abbey of St. Iames at Kernisham 1421. The Parliament began upon prorogation the third time at Dublin the munday after the feast of S. Ambrose and there certain persons were ordained to be sent in message to the King as touching the redresse of the land namely the Archbishop of Armagh and Sir Christopher Preston Knight At the same time Richard O-Hedian Bishop of Cassell was accused by John Gese Bishop of Lismore and Waterford upon thirtie Articles laid to his charge After all that hee charged him that hee made very much of the Irish and loved none of the English that hee bestowed no benefice upon any Englishman and gave order likewise unto other Bishops that they should not conferre the least living that was upon them Item that hee counterfeited the King of Englands seale and the Kings letters patents that he went about to make himselfe King of Mounster also that he tooke a ring away from the image of S. Patrick which the Earle of Desmund had offered and bestowed it upon an harlot of his beside many other enormities which he exhibited in writing And the Lords and Commons were much troubled betweene these twaine Now in the same Parliament there was debate between Adam Pay Bishop of Clon and another Prelate for that the said Adam went about to unite the others Church unto his but the other would not and so they were sent and referred unto the Court of Rome and this Parliament lasted 18. daies In the Nones of May there was a slaughter committed by O-Mordris upon the family or retinue of the Earle of Ormund Lievtenant neere unto the Monastery of Leys where were slaine of the English 27. The principall parties were Purcell and Grant Then Gentlemen of good birth were taken prisoners and 200. fled unto the foresaid Monastery and so were saved In the Ides of May died Sir Iohn Bodley Knight and Geffery Galon sometime Maior of Dublin and was buried in the house of the preaching Friers of the same City About this time Mac-Mahon an Irishman played the divell in Urgal wasting and burning where ever he went The seventh of Iune the Lievtenant entred into the country to wit of Leys against O-Mordis and led thither a most puissant army having the killing of his enemies for foure daies together and untill the Irish promised all peace and quietnesse Upon the feast of Michael the Archangel Thomas Stanley accompanied with all the Knights and Squires of Meth and Iriel took Moyle O-Downyll prisoner and slew others in the 14. yeere of King Henry the sixth his reigne Thus far forth were continued the Annales of Ireland which came to my hands and upon which I have bestowed these few pages to gratifie them that may delight therein As for the nice and dainty readers who would have all writings tried to the touch of Augustus his dayes I know they can yeeld no pleasing rellish to them in regard of the harsh words and the saplesse dry stile familiar unto that age wherein they were penned Neverthelesse I would have those to remember That HISTORIE both beareth brooketh and requireth the Authors of all ages Also That they are to look as well for reall and substantiall knowledge from some as for the verball and literall learning from others THE SMALLER ILANDS IN THE BRITISH OCEAN NOw will I at length waigh anchor and set saile out of Ireland and lanching forth take survey of the Ilands scattered here and there along the coasts of Britaine If I durst repose any trust in my selfe or if I were of any sufficiencie I would shape my course to every one But sith it is my purpose to discover and inlighten Antiquity such as are obscure and of lesse account I will lightly coast by and those that carry any ancient name and reckoning above the rest I will enter and visite yea and make some short stay in them that now at last in a good and happy houre they may recover their ancienty againe And that in this voiage I may at first set out orderly and take a straight and direct course I will to begin saile out of Ireland into the Severn sea and by the Irish sea after I have doubled the utmost point of Scotland follow my course down into the Germai◠Ocean and so from thence through the British sea which extendeth as far as to Spaine hold on my race as prosperously as I can But I am afraid lest this my ship of Antiquity steared by me so unskilfull a Pilot either run and be split upon the rockes of errours or else be overwhelmed with the waves of ignorance yet venter I must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Antiphilus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Adventure is a good sea Captain and he that saileth the same voiage a second time may haply speed much better and finish his desired course First and formost because it seemeth not impertinent to my matter I will set down what Plutarch out of a fabulous narration of Demetrius who seemeth to have lived in Hadrians time reporteth generally as touching the Ilands lying neer to Britain Demetrius made report that most of those Ilands which coast upon Britain lie desert desolate and scattering here and there whereof somewere dedicated to the Daemones and Heroes also that himself by commission from the Emperour sailed toward one that was neerest of those desert Iles for to know and discover somewhat the which he found to have in a few inhabitants and those he understood were reputed by the Britans sacred and inviolable Within a while after he was landed there the aire and weather as he said became foully troubled many portenteous signes were given by terrible tempests with extra-ordinary stormes flashing and violent lightnings and fiery impressions which after they were appeased the Ilanders certified him that some one of great eminency was dead And a little after Now he said moreover that there was a certain Iland there wherein Saturn was by Briareus closed up and kept in prison sound asleep for sleep was the means to hold him captive about whose person there were many Daemones at his feet that stood attending as servitours Thus they took pleasure in old time as now also at this day boldly to devise strange wonders and tales of places far remote in a certain secure veine of lying as it were by authoritie In the narrow sea
that hee should be apprehended and brought unto William King of Scotland that with him he might be kept in prison And Olave lay prisoner in irons and chaines almost seven yeeres In the seventh yeere died William King of Scotland after whom succeeded his sonne Alexander Now before his death he gave commandement that all prisoners should be set free Olave therefore being enlarged and at liberty came to Man and soone after accompanied with no small traine of Noblemen he went to S. James and after he was thus returned Reginald his brother caused him to marry a Noble mans daughter of Kentyre even his owne wives whole sister named Lavon and gave him Lodhus in possession to enjoy Some few daies after Reginald Bishop of the Ilands having called a Synod canonically divorced Olave the sonne of Godred and Lavon his wife as being the cousin german of his former wife After this Olave wedded Scristine daughter of Ferkar Earle of Rosse For this cause Reginalds wife Queene of the Ilands was wroth and directed her letters in the name of Reginald the King into the I le Sky unto Godred her sonne that he should kill Olave As Godred was devising meanes to worke this feat and now entring into Lodhus Olave fled in a little cog-boat unto his father in law the Earle of Rosse aforesaid Then Godred wasteth and spoileth Lodhus At the same time Pol the son of Boke Sheriffe of Sky a man of great authority in all the Ilands because he would not give his consent unto Godred fled and together with Olave lived in the Earle of Rosses house and entring into a league with Olave they came both in one ship to Sky At length having sent forth their spies and discoverers they learned that Godred lay in a certain Iland called St. Columbs Ile having very few men with him misdoubting nothing Gathering therefore about them all their friends and acquaintance with such voluntaries as were ready to joine with them at midnight with five shippes which they drew from the next sea-shore distant from the Island aforesaid some two furlongs they beset the Isle round about Godred then and they that were with him rising by the dawning of the day and seeing themselves environed on every side with enemies were astonied but putting themselves in warlike armes assaied right manfully to make resistance but all in vaine For about nine a clocke of the day Olave and Pol the foresaid Sheriffe set foot in the Iland with their whole army having slain all those whom they found without the enclosure of the Church they tooke Godred put out his eyes and gelded him Howbeit to this deed Olave did not yeeld his consent neither could he withstand it for Bokes sonne the Sheriffe aforesaid For this was done in the yeere 1223. The Summer next following Olave after he had taken hostages of all the Lords and potentates of the Isles came with a fleet of 32. saile toward Man and arrived at Rognolfwaht At this very time Reginald and Olave divided the kingdome of the Ilands between themselves and Man was given to Reginald over and beside his owne portion together with the title of King Olave the second time having furnished himselfe with victuals from the people of Man returned with his company to his portion of the Iland The yeere following Reginald taking with him Alane Lord of Galway went with his souldiers of Man to the Iland parts that hee might disseize his brother Olave of that portion of land which hee had given unto him and bring it under his owne dominion But because the Manksmen were not willing to fight against Olave and the Ilanders for the love they had to them Reginald and Alan Lord of Galway returned home without atchieving their purpose After a little while Reginald under pretence of going to the Court of his Soveraigne the Lord King of England tooke up of the people of Man an hundred Markes but went in very deed to the Court of Alan Lord of Galway At the same time he affianced his daughter unto the son of Alan in marriage Which the Manksmen hearing tooke such snuffe and indignation thereat that they sent for Olave and made him their King MCCXXVI Olave recovered his inheritance to wit the kingdome of Man and of the Ilands which his brother Reginald had governed 38. yeeres and reigned quietly two yeeres MCCXXVIII Olave accompanied with all the Nobles of Man and a band of the strongest men of the country sailed over into the Ilands A little after Alan Lord of Galway and Thomas Earle of Athol and King Reginald came unto Man with a puissant army all the South part of Man they wasted spoiled the Churches and slew all the men they could lay hold of so that the South part of Man was laid in manner all desolate After this returned Alan with his army into his owne country and left his bailiffes in Man to gather up for him the tributes of the country But King Olave came upon them at unwares put them to flight and recovered his owne kingdome Then the people of Man which before time had been dispersed every way began to gather themselves together and to dwell with confidence and security In the same yeere came King Reginald out of Galway unlooked for at the dead time of night in winter with five ships and burnt all the shipping of his brother Olave and of the Lords of Man at Saint Patrickes Iland and suing to his brother for peace stayed forty daies at the haven of Ragnoll-wath Meane while he won and drew unto him all the Ilanders in the South part of Man who sware they would venture their lives in his quarrell untill hee were invested in the one halfe of the kingdome On the contrarie part Olave had the Northren men of the Isle to side with him and upon the 14. day of February at a place called Tingualla there was a battell strucke betweene the two brethren wherein Olave had the victorie and King Reginald was by some killed there without his brothers knowledge And certaine rovers comming to the South part of Man wasted and harried it The Monks of Russin translated the body of King Reginald unto the Abbey of S. Mary de Fournes and there enterred it was in a place which himselfe had chosen for that purpose After this went Olave to the King of Norway but before that hee was come thither Haco King of Norway ordained a certaine Noble man named Huâ—bac the sonne of Owmund for to bee King of the Sodorian Ilands and called his name Haco Now the same Haco together with Olave and Godred Don Reginalds son and many Norwegians came unto the Ilands and at the winning of a fort in the Iland Both Haco chanced to be smit with a stone whereof he died and lieth buried in Iona. MCCXXX Olave came with Godred Don and the Norwegians to Man and they divided the kingdome among themselves Olave held Man and Godred being gone unto the Ilands was slaine in the
troublous and rough narrow sea separateth by the space of two or three houres sailing from the coast of the Danmony and the inhabitants whereof observe the custome of ancient times They have no faires nor mercates and refuse mony they give and take one thing for another they provide themselves of necessaries by way of exchange rather than by prising and giving of money they serve the gods devoutly both men and women will be counted wizzards and skilfull in foretelling things to come Eustathius out of Strabo termeth the inhabitants Melanchlanos because they were clad in blacke garments reaching downe to the ankles and as Sardus was perswaded they depart out of this world for the most part so long livers that they desire to live no longer For from the top of a rocke as he saith they throw themselves into the sea in hope of a more happy life which doubtlesse was the perswasion of the Britain Druides Hither also the Roman Emperours were wont to send persons condemned to work in the Mines For Maximus the Emperour when he had condemned Priscillanus to death for heresie commanded his sectaries and disciples Iustantius a Bishop of Spain and Tiberianus after their goods were confiscate to be carried away into the Ilands of Sylly and Marcus the Emperour banished him that in the commotion of Cassius had prophesied and uttered many things as it were by a divine instinct of the gods into this Iland as some are verily perswaded who willingly for Syria Insula read Sylia Insula that is The Isle of Silly considering the Geographers as yet know no such Iland as Syria This confining or packing away of offendors into Ilands was in those daies a kind of exile and the Governours of Provinces might in that manner banish if they had any Ilands under them if not they wrote unto the Emperour that himselfe would assigne some Iland for the party condemned neither was it lawfull without the privity of the Prince to translate else whither or to bury the body of him that was thus banished into an Iland In the Writers of the middle time wee finde not so much as the name of these Ilands of Sylly but onely that King Athelstane subdued them and after his returne built a Church in honour of S. Beriana or Buriena in the utmost promontory Westward of Britaine where he landed Full against these on the French coast lyeth Plinies AXANTOS an Isle right before the Osissimi or Britaine Armorie which keeping still the name whole is called Ushant Antonine tearmeth it UXANTISSENA in which one word two Ilands grew together to wit UXANTIS and SENA For this Iland lieth somewhat lower now called Sayn which butting full upon Brest is named in some copies SIAMBIS and of Pliny corruptly Sounos about which from East to West for seven miles together or thereabout there shoot forth a number of rockes rather than Ilands standing very thick together Touching this Sain take with you that which Pomponius Mela reporteth SENA saith he lying in the British sea opposite unto the shores of the Osissimi is famous by reason of the Oracle of a French God whose shee-Priests vowing perpetuall virginity are said to be nine in number the Frenchmen call them Zenas or Lenas for so read I with Turnebus rather than Gallitenas and men are of opinion that they being endued with especiall endowments of nature are able by enchantments to trouble the sea and raise up windes to turne themselves into what living creatures they list to heale all those maladies which with others are incurable for to know also and to foretell things to come c. Beneath these there lie other Ilands in length namely Isles aux Motions neere unto Pen-Mac that is the horsehead Gleran over against old Blavic which at this day is Blavet Grois and Bellisle all which Pliny calleth VENETICAE For they lye opposite unto the Veneti in little Britaine who I wot not whether they were so named as one would say Fishermen for Venna in the ancient language of the Galls seemeth to signifie so much These Strabo supposeth to have been the founders and stockfathers of the Venetians in Italy who writeth also that they intended to have given Caesar battell at sea when he minded the conquest of Britaine These Ilands VENETICAE some out of Dionysius Afer terme NESIDES whereas in the Greek book we read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the Tract of the Islands Of which Priscian out of him writeth thus Nec spatio distant Nessidum littora longè In quibus uxores Amnitum Bacchica sacra Concelebrant hederae foliis tectaeque corymbis Non sic Bistonides Absynthi ad flumina Thraces Exertis celebrant clamoribus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nor distant farre from hence the shores doe lye Of Ilands which Nessides many call Wherein the wives of Amnites solemnly Concelebrate their high feasts Bacchanall With Ivie leaves and berries covered all The Thracian dames make not so loud a cry At Bacchus feast the river Absynts by Which Festus Avienus also hath expressed in these verses Hinc spumosus item ponti liquor explicat aestum Et brevis è pelago vortex subit hic chorus ingens Poeminei coetus pulchri colit Orgia Bacchi Producit noctem ludus sacer aera pulsant Vocibus crebris laiè sola calcibus urgent Non sic Absynthi propè flumina Thraces almae Bistonides non quà celeri ruit agmina Ganges Indorum populi stata curant festa Lyaeo From hence likewise the foaming sea displaies his swelling tide And from the deep short whirle puffs rise Here by the water side A mighty sort of women meet the feast of Bacchus faire To celebrate their sacred sports last all night long The aire Rings over head with voices shrill and under foot the ground With many a friske and stampe of theirs in dancing doth resound Like noises make not Thracian Dames the Biston wives I say Along Absynthus river while they use to sport and play Nor Indians neere swift Ganges streame farre in such frantick wise What time to God Liaeus they their set feasts solemnize Now that Bellisle is one of these foresaid Nessidae the authority of Strabo from the faithfull report of other doth prove sufficiently For it lieth before the mouth of the river Loire and Ptolomee placed the SAMNITAE in a coast of France opposite unto it For thus writeth Strabo Moreover they say there is a little Iland in the Ocean lying not far into the deep sea full against the mouth of Ligeris that in it inhabite the wives of the Samnitae which are inspired with the instinct or divine power of Bacchus and by ceremonies and sacrifices procure the favour of Bacchus that no man commeth thither but themselves taking their barkes saile away and company with their owne husbands and so returne againe into the Island Also that a custome it is among them to take away the roofe of their temple yeerly
are now subdued unto Christ and somewhat after Britanny is enclosed within the compasse of the Ocean The nation of the Mauri and the barbarous Getulians are beset by the Romans for feare they might passe beyond the limits of their countries What should I speake of the Romans who with garrisons of their Legions fortifie their Empire neither are they able to extend the power of their dominion beyond those very nations But the Kingdome and name of Christ reacheth farther still it is believed in every place and is worshipped of all those people above named c. But our Ecclesiasticall writers who have emploied both time and diligence in the consideration of this point endeavor and labour to prove and that out of ancient authors of credit that before this time in the very dawning and infancie of the Church Britanny had received christian religion and namely that Joseph of Arimathea a noble Senator sailed out of Gaule into Britanny and that Claudia Rufina the wife of Aulus Pudens which woman as it is credibly thought S. Paul nameth in his latter Epistle to Timothy and whom the Poet Martiall so highly commendeth was a Britan borne They cite also the testimony of Dorotheus who commonly goeth under the name of the Bishop of Tyre who in his Synopsis hath recorded that Simon Zelotes after he had travailed through Mauritania was at last slaine and buried in Britanny as also that Aristobulus whom S. Paul mentioneth in his Epistle to the Romans was made Bishop of Britanny whereto Nicephorus inclineth notwithstanding he speaketh of Britiana and not of Britannia they report likewise upon the authoritie of Simeon that great Metaphrast and of the Greeks Menology that S. Peter came hither and spread abroad the light of Gods word out of Sophronius also and Theodoret that S. Paul after his second imprisonment in Rome visited this our country Whereupon Venantius Fortunatus if he may be beleeved as a Poet writeth thus of him unlesse he speaketh of his doctrine Transiit Oceanum quà facit Insula portum Quasque Britannus habet terras quasque ultima Thule Pass'd over Seas where any Isle makes either port or bay And lands so far as Britans coast or cape of Thule lay But to this purpose maketh especially that which erewhile I alleaged out of Tertullian as also that which Origen recordeth How the Britans with one consent embraced the Faith and made way themselves unto God by meanes of the Druidae who alwaies did beat upon this article of beliefe That there was but one God And verily of great moment and importance is that with me that Gildas writeth after hee had mentioned the rebellion of Boodicia and treated of the revenge thereof Meane while quoth he Christ that true Sun shining with his most glittering brightnesse upon the universall world not from the temporall skie and firmament but even from the highest cope of heaven exceeding all times vouchsafed first his beames that is to say his precepts and doctrine in the time as wee know of Tiberius Caesar unto this frozen Island full of Ice and lying out as it were in a long tract of earth remote from the visible sunne Chrysostome likewise to note so much by the way writeth of the Christian religion in this Iland as followeth The British Ilands seated without this sea and within the very Ocean have felt the power of the word for even there also be Churches founded and altars erected of that word I say which is planted in the soules and now also in the lips of all people And the same Chrysostome in another place How often have folke in Britanny fed of mans flesh but now with fasting they refresh the soule Likewise S. Hierome The Britan divided from our world if he proceed in religion leaving the westerne parts toward the Suns setting will seeke Hierusalem a Citie known unto him by fame only and relation of scriptures But now passe we forward from the Church to the Empire When Commodus was slaine Pertinax being called to the Empire sent presently Albinus againe over into Britanny But after that Pertinax within eight hundred and two daies was made away Didius Iulianus who likewise was within a while killed at Rome Pescennius Niger in Syria Clodius Albinus in Britanny and Septimius Severus in Pannonia all together at once take upon them the soverainty of the Empire Severus being next unto Rome hastneth first to Rome and with consent of the souldiers and Senate proclaimed Emperor straightwaies because he would not leave an enemie behind at his backe craftily createth Albinus Caesar this Albinus chiefe commander of the forces in Britanny and Gaule and having stamped mony with his image upon it set up his statutes and conferred upon him the honorable dignitie of a Consull wisely with good foresight dulceth and kindly intreateth the men Then maketh he an expedition into the East against Niger whom in plaine field hee gave battell unto vanquished and slew The City Bizantium after 3. yeares siege he forced and wonne the Adiabenes Arabians and other nations hee brought to his subjection Being now puffed up with pride for these fortunate victories and impatient of a companion in government he sent under-hand murderers of purpose to dispatch Albinus but seeing his secret practises tooke not effect hee openly proclaimeth him Traitor and an enemie to the State and with all the speede he could make hasteneth into Gaule against him where Albinus with the choice and chiefe strength of the British armie made head neere unto Lyons The Albinians fought most valiantly in so much as Severus himselfe throwing from him his purple robe began with his men to flie But when the said British forces as if now the victorie had beene in their hands displaied their rankes in thinner arraies and ran furiously upon their enemies backs discomfited and in rout Laetus one of Severus his Captaines who with his fresh and unfoiled troupes waited untill then for to see the issue of the battell having heard withall that Severus was slaine with a purpose and resolution now to take the Empire upon him charged upon them and put them to flight And Severus having by this time rallied his men and resumed the purple Roabe aforesaid followed likewise fiercely upon them and having slain Albinus with a number of other obtained a most fortunate victorie Upon this Severus having alone the Soveraigntie of the whole world sent first Heraclianus to seize upon Britaine and to rule it when Virius Lupus as Propraetor and Lieutenant whom Vlpian the Civill Lawyer nameth Praesident of Britaine who as we shall relate in place convenient built many new Castles there howbeit driven hee was in the end to redeeme his owne peace at the hands of the Maeatae with a great summe of money after hee had recovered some few prisoners considering that the Caledonians kept not their word who had promised to keepe under the said Maeatae And being not able
Somersetshire and Wiltshire on the West with Devonshire and some part of Somersetshire on the East with Hampshire so on the South part where it carrieth the greatest length it lieth all open to the Sea bearing upon the British Ocean as I said erewhile for fiftie miles together or much thereabout A fruitfull soile it is The North part thereof being overspred with woods and forrests from thence garnished with many a greene hill whereon feede flocks of sheepe in great number with pleasant pastures likewise and fruitfull vallies bearing come it hath a descent even to the very Sea shore which in my description I will follow as it leadeth me for that I can find no better order In the very entrance into this out of Denshire the first place that sheweth it selfe on this shore is Lime a little towne scituate upon a steepe hill so called of a small river of the same name running hard by which scarcely may challenge the name of a Port or Haven towne though it be frequented with fishermen and hath a rode under it called the Cobbe sufficiently defended from the force of winds with rocks and high trees In ancient bookes I can hardly find any mention thereof onely thus much I have read that King Kinwulfe in the yeare of our Lord 774. gave by these words the land of one Mansion unto the Church of Scireburne hard by the Wersterne banks of the river Lime not farre from the place where he hideth the course of his streame within the Sea to this end that for the said Church salt might be boyled to the sustaining of manifold necessities Neere thereunto the river Carr dischargeth it selfe into the Sea and there standeth Carmouth a little village where the bold roving Danes having good successe in sea-fights wonne two victories of the English first vanquished King Egbert in the yeare of Christ 831. and then eight yeares after King Aethelwolfe Then there is Burtport or more truly Birtport placed betweene two small rivers which there meete together In this towne in the daies of King Edward the Confessor there were reckoned one hundred and twenty houses but in William the Conquerors raigne as we find in his booke of Doomesday one hundred and no more In our time in respect of the soile yeilding the best hemp and skill of the people for making ropes and cables for ships it was provided by a speciall statute to remaine in force for a certaine set time that ropes for the Navie of England should be twisted no where else Neither is this place able to maintaine the name of an haven albeit in the mouth of the river being on both sides enclosed within little hilles nature seemes as it were of purpose to have begun an haven and requireth in some sort art and mans helpe to accomplish the same From hence the shore winding in and out shooteth far into the Sea and a banke called Chesil of sands heaped up thick together with a narrow frith betweene lieth in length for nine miles which the South-wind when it is up commonly cutteth asunder and disperseth but the Northerne wind bindeth and hardneth againe By this Banke or Sand-ridge Portland sometime an Island is now adjoyned to the main-main-land The reason of which name is altogether unknowne unlesse it were so called because it lyeth full against the Port Weymouth but it soundeth more neere unto the truth that this name was given it of one Port a noble Saxon who about the yeare of our Salvation 703. infested and sore annoied these coasts This Portland in the declining state of the Saxons Empire for before-time writers never spake of it felt as much as any other place from time to time the violent rage of the Danes But when the Danish warre was ended it fell to the possession of the Church of Winchester For at what time as Emme mother to King Edward the Confessor whose name was called in question and she charged for incontinencie with Aldwin Bishop of Winchester had gone bare-foot upon nine culters red hot in Winchester Church without harme an unusuall kind of triall in those daies and then called Ordalium and so cleered her selfe of that imputation that she made her chastitie by so great a miracle more famous to posteritie She for a memoriall thereof gave nine Lordships to the Church of Winchester and King Edward her sonne repenting that hee had so wrongfully brought his mothers name into question bestowed likewise upon the said Church this Island with other revenues It is in compasse scarce seven miles rising up about the sides with high rocks but lying flat and low in the midst Inhabited scatteringly heere and there plentifull enough of corne and good to feed sheepe but so scant of woods that in default of other fewell they make their fire with oxe and cow dung dried The Inhabitants of all English-men were the cunningest slingers and very often doe find among the weeds or reeds of the sea Isidis Plocamos that is Isis haire which as Plinie reporteth out of Iuba is a shrub growing in the Sea not unlike unto Corall without leafe cut it up it turneth into a black colour and if it fall it soone breaketh On the East-side it hath one onely Church and very few houses standing close thereto and on the North a Castle built by King Henry the Eighth which also defendeth the entrance into the haven of Weimouth A little towne this is upon the mouth of Wey a small river over against which on the other side of the banke standeth Melcomb surnamed Regis that is Kings Melcomb divided from the other onely by the haven betweene But the priviledges of the haven were awarded from them by sentence of the Parliament howbeit afterwards recovered These stood both sometimes proudly upon their owne severall priviledges and were in emulation one of another but now God turne it to the good of both many they are by Authoritie of Parliament incorporated into one body conjoyned of late by a bridge and growne very much greater and goodlier in buildings by sea-adventures than heeretofore From thence the shore stretcheth out directly along by the Isle of Purbeck as they call it which for a great part of it is an heath and forrest like indeed replenished with Deere both red and fallow having also veines of marble running scatteringly heere and there under the ground In the midst whereof there is an old large castle named Corf seated upon a great slaty hill which after a long combat with time somewhat yielded as overcome unto time untill of late it hath beene repaired and is a notable testimony and memoriall of a Stepmothers hatred For Aelfrith to make way for her owne sonne Etheldred to the Crowne when Edward her sonne in law King of England came to visit her in this castle from his disport of hunting set some villaines and hacksters to murther him and like a most wicked Stepdame fed her eies with his bloud For which
the Church of Ely for to expiate and make satisfaction for the wicked act hee had committed in murdering his owne mother then by Angre where upon a very high Hill are the tokens of a Castle built by Richard Lucy Lord Chiefe Justice of England in the Raigne of Henry the Second of which Family a daughter and one of the heires King Iohn gave in marriage to Richard Rivers who dwelt hard by at Stranford Rivers So it passeth by Lambourn Manour which is held by service of the Wardstaffe viz. to carry a load of strawe in a Carte with sixe horses two ropes two men in harnesse to watch the said Wardstaffe when it is brought to the Towne of Aibridge c. and then by Wansted Parke where the late Earle of Leicester built much for his pleasure From the mouth of this Roding this Tamis hasteneth through a ground lying very flat and low and in most places otherwhiles overflowne whereby are occasioned strong and unwholsome vapours exceeding hurtfull to the health of the neighbour Inhabitants to Tilbury neere unto which there bee certaine holes in the rising of a chalky Hill sunke into the ground tenne sathome deepe the mouth whereof is but narrow made of stone cunningly wrought but within they are large and spacious in this forme which hee that went downe into them described unto mee after this manner Of which I have nothing else to say but what I have delivered already As for Tilbury Bede nameth it Tilaburgh it consisteth of some few cottages by the Tamis side yet was it in ancient time the seate of Bishop Chad when about the yeare of our Salvation 630. hee ingrafted the East-Saxons by Baptisme into the Church of Christ. Afterwards this River passing by places lying flat and unwholesome with a winding returne of his Water severeth the Island CONVENNON which also is called COUNOS whereof Ptolomee maketh mention from the firme land This hath not yet wholly foregone the old name but is called Canvey It lyeth against the Coast of Essex from Leegh to Hole Haven five miles in length some part whereof appertaineth to the Collegiat Church of Westminster But so low that oftentimes it is quite overflowne all save hillocks cast up upon which the Sheepe have a place of safe refuge For it keepeth about foure hundred Sheepe whose flesh is of a most sweet and delicate taste which I have seene young lads taking womens function with stooles fastened to their buttockes to milke yea and to make Cheeses of Ewes milke in those dairy sheddes of theirs that they call there Wiches There adjoyne to this Island along in order first Beamfleot fortified with deepe and wide Trenches as saith Florilegus and with a Castle by Hasting the Dane which King Aelfred wonne from them Then Hadleigh sometime the Castle of Hubert de Burgo afterwards of Thomas of Woodstocke Duke of Glocester now defaced with ruines and in the last place Leegh a proper fine little Towne and very full of stout and adventerous Sailers with Pritlewel fast by where Sweno de Essex built long since a Cell for Monkes And here the land shooteth forward to make a Promontory which they call Black-taile Point and Shobery Nesse of Shobery a Village situate upon it which sometime was a City an Havenet named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For in old Annales of the English-Saxons wee reade thus The Danes being driven from Beamfleot goe to a City seated in East-sex called in the English Tongue Sceobirig and there built themselves a sure and strong Fort. Heere by reason that the bankes on both sides shrinke backe the Tamis at a huge and wide mouth rowleth into the sea This doth Ptolomee terme Aestuarium TAMESAE and corruptly in some other Copies TEMESAE and we commonly the Tamis Mouth More inward is Rochford placed that hath given name to this Hundered Now it belongeth to the Barons Rich but in old time it had Lords of ancient Nobility sirnamed thereof whose inheritance came at length to Butler Earle of Ormond and Wiltshire and from them to Sir Thomas Bullen whom King Henry the Eighth created Vicount Rochford and afterward Earle of Wiltshire out of whose Progeny sprung that most gracious Queene ELIZABETH and the Barons of Hunsdon Heere I have heard much speech of a Lawlesse Court as they called it holden in a strange manner about Michaelmasse in the first peepe of the day upon the first cocke crowing in a silent sort yet with shrowde fines eftsoones redoubled if not answered which servile attendance they say was imposed upon certaine Tenants there-about for conspiring there at such unseasonable time to raise a commotion But I leave this knowing neither the originall nor the certaine forme thereof Onely I heard certaine obscure barbarous rhymes of it Curia de Domino Rege tenetur sin◠lege Ante ortum solis luceat nisi polus c. not worth remembring Leaving the Tamis Banke and going farther within the countrey yea from West to East these places of name above the rest standing thus in order shew themselves Havering an ancient retiring place of the Kings so called of a Ring which in that place a Pilgrime delivered as sent from S. J. Baptist for so they write unto K. Edward the Confessor Horn-Church named in times past Cornutum Monasterium that is the horned Minster for there shoot out at the East end of the Church certaine points of leade fashioned like hornes Rumford the glory whereof dependeth of a swine mercat and Giddy-hall an house adjoyning to it which belonged to that Sir Thomas Cooke Major of London whose great riches hoorded up together wrought him his greatest danger For being judicially arraigned innocent man as he was of high treason and through the incorrupt equity of Judge Markham acquit in a most dangerous time yet was he put to a very grievous fine and stript in manner of all that he was worth Brentwood called by the Normans Bois arse in the same sense and by that name King Stephen granted a Mercat and a Faire there to the Abbat of S. Osith and many yeares after Isabell Countesse of Bedford daughter to King Edward the Third built a Chappell to the memory of S. Thomas of Canterbury for the ease of the Inhabitants Engerstone a Towne of note for nothing else but the Mercat and Innes for Travailers Heere am I at a stand and am halfe in a doubt whether I should now slip as an abortive fruite that conjecture which my minde hath travailed with Considering there hath beene in this Tract the City CAESAROMAGUS and the same doubtlesse in the Romanes time of especiall note and importance for the very name if there were nothing else may evict so much signifying as it doth Caesars City as DRUSOMAGUS the City of Drusus which also should seeme to have beene built in the honour of Caesar Augustus For Suaetonius writeth thus Kings that
after he had rebelled against Rhese his Prince and not able to make his part good with him very rashly and inconsiderately which hee afterward repented too late sent Enion a Nobleman to whom he had affianced his daughter to procure Robert Fitz Haimon sonne to Haimon Dentatus Lord of Corboil in Normandy to come out of England and aide him against Rhese who forthwith having mustered certaine forces and taking for to associate him in his journey twelve Knights first gave Rhese Battaile and slew him and afterwards being allured with the fertility of the Country whereof before hand he made full account to be Lord turning his power upon Jestine himselfe because hee had not kept touch with Enion nor performed his promise easily thrust him out of his ancient Inheritance and shared the Country among his Companions The hard and barraine hill Country he granted to the said Enion the more fertile parts he divided betweene him and those twelve Knights whom he tearmed Peres on this condition that they should hold them in Fee and vassallage of him as their chiefe Lord to maintaine one another in common with their aides and auxiliary forces to defend every one his owne Ward in his Castle of Caerdiffe and to bee present and assist him in his Courts in the administration of Justice It shall not be amisse to put downe their names out of a little Pamphlet which Sir Edward Stradling or Sir Edward Mounsel both Knights men of ancient descent and most skilfull in Antiquity I wot not whether for it goeth abroad under both their names wrote concerning this matter And these be their names William of London or de Londres Richard Granvil Pain Turbervill Oliver Saint John Robert de Saint Quintin Roger Bekeroul William Easterling for that he was borne in Germanie whose heires are now called Stradlings Gilbert Hamfranvill Richard Siward John Fleming Peter Soore Reinald Sully The River Remnie falling from the Mountaines is the limite on the East side whereby this Country is divided from Monmouth-shire and Remnie in the British tongue signifieth to Divide Not farre from it where the River holdeth on his course through places hardly passable among the hilles in a Marish ground are to bee seene the tottering walles of Caer-philli Castle which hath beene of so huge a bignesse and such a wonderfull peece of worke beside that all men well neere say it was a garison for t of the Romans Neither will I deny it although I cannot as yet perceive by what name they called it and yet it may seeme to have beene re-edified anew considering it hath a Chappell built after the Christians manner as I was enformed by John Sanford a man singular well learned and of exact judgement who diligently tooke view of it In later ages it was the possession of the Clares Earles of Glocester descended from Fitz-Haimon aforesaid neither doe any of our Chronicles make mention thereof before king Edward the Seconds time For then after that the Spensers by underhand practises had set the King Queene and Barons at debate the Barons besieged a long time Hugh Spenser the yonger whom they called Hugolin herein and could not prevaile By this river also but the place is not certainely knowne Faustus a very good sonne as Ninnius writeth of Vortigern so bad a father built a great Place where with other holy men hee prayed daily unto God that himselfe whom his father committing most abominable incest had begotten of his owne daughter might not be punished grievously for his fathers faults also that his father might at length repent heartily and his native Country be eased from the bloudy warres of the Saxons A little beneath hath Ptolomee placed the mouth of RATOSTABIUS or RATOSTABIUS using a maimed word in stead of Traith Taff that is The sandy Trith of the River Taff. For there the said River Taff sliding downe from the Hilles runneth toward the Sea by Landaff that is The Church by Taff a small City and of small reputation situate somewhat low yet a Bishops See having within the Dioecesse 154. Parishes and adorned with a Cathedrall Church consecrated to Saint Telean Bishop of the same which Church German and Lupus French Bishops then erected when as they had suppressed the Heresie of Pelagius that was dangerously spread all Britaine over and preferred Dubricius a most holy man to bee the first Bishop there unto whom Meurioke a British Lord freely gave all the land that lyeth betweene the Rivers Taff and Elei From hence goeth Taff to Caer diff called of the Britans Caerdid a proper fine Towne as Townes goe in this Country and a very commodious Haven which the foresaid Fitz Haimon fortified with a Wall and Castle that it might bee both a seat for warre and a Court of Justice wherein beside a Band of choise soldiers those twelve Knights were bound to keepe Castle-guard Howbeit a few yeeres after Yuor Bach a British Mountainer a little man of person but of great and resolute courage marching with a Band of men by night without any stirre suddenly surprised tooke Prisoner William Earle of Glocester Fitz Haimons daughters sonne together with his wife and young sonne and detained them in hold with him untill he had made him full satisfaction for all wrongs and losses But how Robert Curthose William the Conquerours eldest sonne a man over venterous and foole hardy in warlique exploits quite put by his hope of the Crowne of England by his younger brethren and bereft of both his eyes lived untill he was an old man in this Castle you may see if you please in our Historians and understand withall that royall Parentage is never assured either of ends or safe security Scarce three miles from the mouth of Taff in the very bending in of the shore there lye aflote as it were two small but pleasant Islands separated one from another and from the maine Land with narrow in-lets of the Sea The hithermore is called Sullie of the Towne right over against it which tooke the name as it is thought of Robert Sully for it fell to his part in the division if you would not rather have him to take his name of it The farther more is named Barry of Baruch an holy man buried there who as he gave name to the place so the place gave the sirname afterwards to the Lords thereof For that noble Family of Vicounts Barries in Ireland had their originall from hence In a Rocke or cliffe heereof by the sea side saith Giraldus there appeareth a very little chincke into which if you lay your eare you shall heare a noise as it were of Smithes at worke one while the blowing of bellowes another while the striking of sledge and hammer sometime the sound of the Grindstone and iron tooles rubbing against it the hissing sparkes also of steele-gads within holes as they are beaten yea and the puffing noise of fire burning in the
land of Mon and Ynis Dowil that is A shadowy or darke Island of the ancient Anglo-Saxons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and at last after that the English men became Lords of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ea and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as one would say The English mens Island being severed from the Continent of Britaine with the small narrow streight of Menai and on all parts besides beaten upon with that surging and troublous Irish Sea lieth in forme unequall in length from East to West reaching out twenty miles in breadth scarce seventeene And albeit as Giraldus saith the ground may seeme dry and stonie nothing sightly and unpleasant and for the outward qualitie resembleth wholy the land Pebidiaâ—c that lieth hard unto Saint Davids yet for the inward gift of nature it is farre unlike For above all the Coasts of Wales it is without comparison most plentifull of Wheat in so much as by way of a Proverbe they are wont to say of it in the Welsh language Mon Mam Cymbry which is as much in English As Mon is the mother of Wales because when all other Countries round about doe faile this alone with the exceeding fat soile and plentifull encrease of Corne was wont to sustaine all Wales In Cattaile also it is passing rich and sendeth out great multitudes It yeeldeth also Grind stones and in some place an earth standing upon Alum out of which some not long since beganne to make Alum and Coperose But when they saw it not answerable to their expectation at first without any farther hope they gave over their enterprise This is that most notable Isle MONA the ancient seat of the Druides attempted first by Paulinus Suetonius and brought under the Romane Empire by Iulius Agricola This Suetonius Paulinus under the reigne of Nero as Tacitus writeth made all preparation to invade the Isle Mona inhabited by a strong and stout Nation and then the receptacle of Fugitives He built Flat-bothom vessels because the Sea is shalow the landing-shore uncertaine Thus their footmen passed over and after them the Horsemen following by the shallow fourd or swimming where the waters were deepe with their Horses Against them stood the Enemies armies on the shore thicke set in aray well appoynted with Men and weapons and Women also running in to and fro among them like furies of Hell in mourning attyre their hayre about their eares and with firebrands in their hands Round about them also were the Druida who lifting up their hands to Heaven and powring out deadly curses with the strangenesse of the sight so daunted the Souldiers as they stood stock-still and not able to stirre their joynts presented their bodies unto wounds At length what with the exhortation of their Captaine and what with encouraging and animating one another not to feare a flocke of Franticke Women and fanaticall persons they displaied and advaunced forward their Ensignes Downe they goe with all in their way and thrust them within their owne fires Which done Garisons were placed in their Townes and the Groves consecrated to their cruell Superstitions cut downe For they accounted it lawfull to Sacrifice with the bloud of Captives and by inspection of Mens fibres and bowels to know the will of their gods But as Paulinus was busie in these exploits newes came unto him of a sudden revolt through the whole Province which stayed his enterprise Afterwards as the same Tacitus writeth Iulius Agricola purposed with himselfe to subdue the Island Mona from the possession whereof as I said before Paulinus was revoked by a generall rebellion of all Britaine But as in a purpose not prepensed before vessels being wanting the policie and resolutenesse of the Captaine devised a passage over causing the most choise of the Auxiliaries to whom all the shallowes were knowne and who after the use of their Country were able in Swimming to governe themselves with their Armour and Horses laying aside their carriage to put over at once and suddenly to invade them Which thing so amazed the Enemies who supposed they would passe over by Shipping and therefore attended for a Fleet and the tide that they beleeved verily nothing could be hard or invincible to men that came so resolute to Warre Whereupon they humbly intreated for Peace and yeelded the Island Thus by this service Agricola became famous indeed and of great reputation Many ages after it was Conquered by the English men and tooke their name as being called in old time in the Saxons language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now commonly Anglesey as one would say The English mens Island But seeing that Humfrey Lhuid in a very learned Epistle to that learned Ortelius hath restored this Island to the due name and dignitie there is no reason that any man heere should require my diligence Yet thus much will I adde unto the rest When the Empire of the Romanes in Britaine now was in declining and going downward some out of Ireland entred in by stealth into this Isle also and nestled there For besides certaine Mounts of earth entrenched about which they call The Irish mens cotages there is a place also named Yn Hericy Gwidil of the Irish men who as we finde it recorded in the booke of Triades under the leading of Sirigus put the Britans to flight in that place Neither was it grievously infested onely by the English men but also by the Norvegians Likewise in the yeere of our redemption 1000. King Aethelreds fleete having skoured the Seas round about the said Isle wasted it in all hostile maner After this the two Norman Hughes the one Earle of Chester and the other Earle of Shrewsburie greatly afflicted it and built Castle Aber-Llienioc for to restraine and keepe under the Inhabitants But Magnus the Norwegian arriving heere at the very same time shot the said Hugh Earle of Shrewsbury through with an Arrow and after he had ransacked the Island departed The English men moreover afterward from time to time invaded it untill that King Edward the First brought it wholly under his subjection There were in ancient time reckoned in it 363. Villages and even at this day it is well peopled The principall Towne therein at this time is Beaumarish which King Edward the First built in the East-side of the Isle vpon a marish ground and for the situation thereof gave it this goodly faire name whereas before time it was called Bonover who also fortified it with a Castle which notwithstanding may seeme never to have been finished the Governour whereof is the right Worshipfull Sir Richard Bulkley Knight whose courtesie toward me when I came to visite these places I cannot chuse but evermore acknowledge with most hearty thankfulnesse Hard unto Beau-Marish lieth Lhan-vays a famous religious house in times past of the Friers Minors unto whom the Kings of England shewed themselves very bountifull Patrons as well in regard of the Friers holinesse who there conversed as also because there that I may speake out of
tongue the Isle of Masses hereby may bee remembred when as it was a most famous Abbey of the order of Saint Augustin founded by the Earle of Strathern about the yeere 1200. When Ern hath joined his water with Tau in one streame so that Tau is now become more spatious hee looketh up to Aberneth seated upon his banke the royall seat in old time of the Picts and a well peopled Citie which as we read in an ancient fragment Nectane King of the Picts gave unto God and S. Brigide untill the day of Doom together with the bounds thereof which lye from a stone in Abertrent unto a stone nigh to Carfull that is Loghfoll and from thence as farre as to Ethan But long after it became the possession of the Douglasses Earles of Anguse who are called Lords of Aberneth and there some of them lye enterred The first Earle of Strathern that I read of was Malisse who in the time of King Henrie the third of England married one of the heires of Robert Muschamp a potent Baron of England Long afterward Robert Stewart in the yeere 1380. Then David a younger sonne of King Robert the second whose onely daughter given in marriage to Patricke Graham begat Mailise or Melisse Graham from whom King James the first tooke away the Earledome as escheated after that he understood out of the Records of the Kingdome that it was given unto his mothers grandfather and the heires males of his bodie This territorie as also that of Menteith adjoining the Barons Dromund governe hereditarily by Seneschals authority as their Stewarties Menteith hath the name of Teith a river which also they call Taich and thereof this little province they tearme in Latin Taichia upon the banke of which lieth the Bishopricke of Dunblan which King David the first of that name erected At Kirkbird that is Saint Brigids Church the Earles of Menteith have their principall house or Honour as also the Earles of Montrosse comming from the same stocke at Kin-Kardin not farre off This Menteith reacheth as I have heard unto the mountaines that enclose the East side of the Logh or Lake Lomund The ancient Earles of Menteith were of the family of Cumen which in times past being the most spred mightiest house of all Scotland was ruinated with the over-weight and sway thereof but the latter Earles were of the Grahams line ever since that Sir Mailise Graham attained to the honour of an Earle ARGATHELIA OR ARGILE BEyond the Lake Lomund and the West part of Lennox there spreadeth it selfe neere unto Dunbriton Forth the large countrey called Argathelia Argadia in Latin but commonly ARGILE more truely Argathel and Ar-Gwithil that is Neere unto the Irish or as old writings have it The edge or border of Ireland For it lyeth toward Ireland the inhabitants whereof the Britans tearme Gwithil and Gaothel The countrey runneth out in length and breadth all mangled with fishfull pooles and in some places with rising mountaines very commodious for feeding of cattell in which also there range up and downe wilde kine and red Deere but along the shore it is more unpleasant in sight what with rockes and what with blackish barraine mountaines In this part as Bede writeth Britain received after the Britans and Picts a third nation of Scots in that countrey where the Picts inhabited who comming out of Ireland under the leading of Reuda either through friendship or by dint of sword planted here their seat amongst them which they still hold Of which their leader they are to this very day called Dalreudini for in their language Dal signifieth a part And a little after Ireland saith hee is the proper Countrey of the Scots for being departed out of it they added unto the Britans and Picts a third nation in Britaine And there is a very great Bay or arme of the sea that in old time severed the nation of the Britans from the Picts which from the West breaketh a great way into the land where standeth the strongest Citie of all the Britans even to this day called Alchith In the North part of which Bay the Scots aforesaid when they came got themselves a place to inhabite Of that name Dalreudin no remaines at all to my knowledge are now extant neither finde wee any thing thereof in Writers unlesse it bee the same that Dalrieta For in an old Pamphlet touching the division of Albanie wee read of one Kinnadie who for certaine was a King of Scots and subdued the Picts these very words Kinnadie two yeeres before hee came into Pictavia for so it calleth the countrey of the Picts entred upon the Kingdome of Dalrieta Also in an historie of later time there is mention made of Dalrea in some place of this tract where King Robert Brus fought a field unfortunately That Justice should be ministred unto this Province by Justices Itinerant at Perth whensoever it pleased the King King James the fourth by authoritie of the States of the Kingdome enacted a law But the Earles themselves have in some cases their roialties as being men of very great command and authoritie followed with a mightie traine of retainers and dependants who derive their race from the ancient Princes and Potentates of Argile by an infinite descent of Ancestours and from their castle Cambell tooke their surname but the honour and title of Earle was given unto them by King James the second who as it is recorded invested Colin Lord Cambell Earle of Argile in regard of his owne vertue and the worth of his family Whose heires and successours standing in the gracious favour of the Kings have bin Lords of Lorn and a good while Generall Justices of the Kingdome of Scotland or as they use to speake Iustices ordained in Generall and Great Masters of the Kings royall household CANTIRE LOgh Fin a lake breeding such store of herrings at a certaine due season as it is wonderfull severeth Argile from a Promontorie which for thirtie miles together growing still toward a sharpe point thrusteth it selfe forth with so great a desire toward Ireland betwixt which and it there is a narrow sea scarce thirteene miles over as if it would conjoine it selfe Ptolomee termeth this the Promontorie EPIDIORUM betweene which name and the Islands EBUDAE lying over against it there is in my conceit some affinitie At this day it is called in the Irish tongue which they speake in all this tract CAN-TYRE that is The lands Head inhabited by the Mac-Conells a family that here swayeth much howbeit at the pleasure and dispose of the Earle of Argile yea and otherwhiles they make out their light pinnaces and gallies for Ireland to raise booties and pillage who also hold in possession those little provinces of Ireland which they call Glines and Rowts This Promontorie lyeth annexed to Knapdale by so thin a necke as being scarce a mile broad and the same all sandie that the mariners finde it the neerer
of Severn there peep up first of all two small Ilands whereof the one because it lieth flat and with an even ground is by us called Flatholme in the same sense that Planarie is named Italy the other Step-holme because it riseth steep in the British tongue Reoric both of them when the Britans bare rule were tearmed Echni like as in our age Holmes for so the Anglo-Saxons called greene plaines enclosed within water neither were they in ancient times famous for any thing else but for that the Danes lay there at road and for the tomb of one Gualchus a Britan of singular devoutnesse whose Disciple Barruch left his name to the Iland Barry in Wales as an ancient monument of the Church of Landaff witnesseth which Iland in like manner hath given name to a noble house of the Barraies in Ireland This hath lying hard to it the little Iland Silly upon the coast of the ancient Silures of whose name it seemeth to retaine still more than a shadow like as a small town over against it in Glancorgan-shire yet dare I not avouch it to be Silura or Insula Silurum the Iland that Solinus mentioneth seeing there be other Ilands bearing the same name yet farre distant from the Silures From thence we come to Caldey in the British Imis-Pix lying neer unto the shore and to Londey farther within the sea over against Caldey belonging unto Devonshire from the promontory or cape whereof named Hert-nesse it lieth 14. miles Larger this is counted of the twaine howbeit reported to bee not much more than two miles long and one mile broad so encircled with rockes and cliffes round about that there is no avenue unto it but in one or two places A fort or sconce it had the ruines whereof like as of S. Helens Chappell are yet to be seene That it had beene in time past eared with the plough the ridges and furrowes in it doe evidently shew now all the commodity and profit that it yeeldeth doth arise from sea-fowle whereof it hath great store Trees it hath none but stinking Elders which the Stares haunt in such multitudes that uneth for their dung there is any comming unto them But what meane I to stand hereupon considering that Sir Thomas Delamere Knight in reporting how that silly king Edward the second when his froward and unreasonable wife together with the unruly Barons thundred out threats and denounced terrible menaces was minded to withdraw himselfe hither as to a place of refuge hath in old time described it in this wise Londay saith he is an Iland lying in the mouth of Severn two miles long over way full of pleasant pastures it affoordeth Connies in great store doves and stares which Alexander Necham tearmeth Ganimedes birds it hath continually from time to time ready to lay it serveth the inhabitants besides with fresh water walming abundantly out of springs though it selfe be on all sides compassed with the sea One way of entrance it hath into it wherein two men can hardly goe afront together on foot on every part besides the dreadfull rockes bearing out a mighty heighth hinder all ingresse But scarcely doe our Historians make any mention of it save only how William de Marisco a most leud and mischievous rover in the reign of king Henry the third from hence sore infested these coasts in times past and that in King Edward the third his daies it was part of the Lutterels inheritance From thence in the very bent and turning of Pembroch-shire we meet with Gresholme Stockholme and Scalmey in which is plentie of grasse and wild thyme groweth very fresh and pleasant The day was when I thought Scalmey to have been that SILIMNUS which Plinie in old time wrote of but the truth hath now made me change my opinion For that SILIMNUS of Pliny as the affinity of the word implieth seemes to be Ptolomee his LIMNI That this here is the Britans Lymen the word it selfe if I should say nothing sheweth evidently which the Englishmen by a new name have now a daies termed Ramsey This lieth full against the Episcopall Sea of Saint Davids whereunto it belongeth and was in the foregoing ages very famous for the death of one Iustinian a most holy man who after he had withdrawne himselfe hither out of little Britaine in France in that age that brought forth so many Saints and led a long time an Eremits life wholly devoted to the service of God being in the end slaine by a page was registred in the roll of Martyrs In whose life we finde it oftentimes written Lemenâ—ia Insula Which denomination verily together with the British name Limen by which name it is knowne unto the Britains themselves checketh and taxeth his drowsinesse who maketh this Iland lying next above it to be Ptolomees Limnon which the Britains now name Enhly and English Berdsey as one would say the Isle of Birds But that this should be it that Ptolomee calleth EDRI and Plinie ANDROS or ADROS as it is in some place read I durst more boldly ghesse by the signification of the word for Ader in the British tongue signifieth a Bird and in the very same sense the Englishmen afterward called it Berdsey As for Enhly it is a name of a later stampe and came by occasion of a certaine holy and devout man who here lived as an Eremite For this Iland which toward the East mounteth aloft with an high promontory but Westward lieth plaine and is of a fertile mould harboured in old time so many holy men that beside Dubrith and Merlin the Caledonian ancient histories record there were twenty thousand Saints buried here Next unto this lieth MONA that is Anglesey which the Britans also name Mon Tir-Mon and Ynis Dowyll that is A darke or shady Iland the Saxons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereof I have treated already in the page 671. To Mone or Anglesey there adjoine three smaller Ilands Moyl-Rhoniad that is The Isle of Seales upon the North-west which after it had beene with-held by certaine that unjustly seized upon it from the Bishops of Bangor unto whom it belonged Henry Deney Bishop of Bangor as we reade in the history of Canterbury with a fleet manned with souldiers in King Henry the seventh his time recovered Eastward lieth Ynis Ligod that is The Isle of mice and more beneath Prest-home that is The Isle of Priests and nothing saw we in it but the tower steeple of Saint Cyriacs chappell which sheweth it selfe to the beholders afarre off Incredible it is what the neighbours report of the infinite multitude of sea fowle that here doe breed as also what they tell of a causey or banke which went from hence through the sea to the foot of that huge mountaine Pen-Maen-Maur for their use who of devotion went on pilgrimage to visit this place held in times past so holy and religious I passe over Lambey a little Iland opposite unto this toward the coast of Ireland although our Metall-men have to
their great charges sought there of late for Alum More Northward lieth that Mona whereof Caesar maketh mention in the mids of the cur as he saith betweene Britaine and Ireland Ptolomee termeth it MONOEDA as one would say Mon-eitha that is if I may be allowed to conjecture The more remote Mona to put a difference betweene it and the other Mona that is Anglesey Plinie MONABIA Orosius MENAVIA and Bede Menavia secunda that is the second Menavia where he termeth Mona or Anglesey Menavia prior that is the former Menavia and calleth them both Ilands of the Britans in which writers notwithstanding it is read amisse Mevania Ninius who also goeth abroad under the name of Gildas nameth it Eubonia and Manaw the Britans Menow the inhabitants Maning and we Englishmen The Yle of Man stretched out just in the mid levell as saith Girald Cambrensis betweene the Northren coasts of Ireland and Britaine about which Isle and namely to whether of the two countries it ought of right to appertaine there arose no small doubt among those in ancient times At length the controversie was taken up in this manner For as much as this land fostered venemous wormes brought over hither for triall adjudged it was by a common censure and doome to lye unto Britain Howbeit the inhabitants both in language and manners come nighest unto the Irish yet so as they therewith savour somewhat of the qualities of the Norvegians It lieth out in length from North to South much about thirty Italian miles but reacheth in bredth where it is widest scarce above fifteene miles and where it is narrowest eight In Bedes dayes it contained in it three hundred families like as Anglesey 96. but now it numbreth seventeene Parish Churches Flaxe and hempe it beareth abundantly it hath fresh pastures and fields by good manuring plenteous of Barley and Wheat but of Oates especially whence it is that the people there eate most of all Oaten bread Store of cattell every where and mighty flockes of sheepe but both their sheepe and other cattell also bee smaller of body there like as in Ireland neighbouring upon it than in England and nothing so faire headed And considering it hath few or no woods at all they use for fewell a kind of clammy turfe which as they are digging out of the earth they light many times upon trees buried under the ground In the middest it riseth up with hils standing thick the highest whereof is Sceafull from whence a man may see on a cleere and faire day Scotland England and Ireland Their chiefe towne they count Russin situate on the South-side which of a castle wherein lieth a Garison is commonly called Castle-Towne where within a little Iland Pope Gregory the fourteenth instituted an Episcopall See the Bishop whereof named Sodorensis of this very Iland as it is thought had jurisdiction in times past over all the Ilands West Irish Iles or Hebrides but exerciseth it now onely upon that Iland and is himselfe under the Archbishop of Yorke Howbeit he hath no place nor voice in the assembly of the States of England in Court of Parliament Duglasse is the best peopled towne and of greatest resort because the haven is commodious and hath a most easie entrance unto which the Frenchmen and other forrainers use to repaire with their bay-salt having trafficke with the Ilanders and buying of them againe leather course wooll and poudred beefe But on the South side of the I le stand Bala-Curi where the Bishop for the most part is resiant and the Pyle a Block-house standing in a little Iland where also there are souldiers in garison Also before the very South point there lyeth a prety Iland called the Calfe of Man wherein are exceeding great store of sea-foule called Puffins and of those duckes and drakes which breeding of rotten-wood as they say the Englishmen call Bernacles the Scots Clakes and Soland geese That which here followeth I will set downe out of a letter which that learned and reverend father in God John Meryk Bishop of this I le wrote unto me This Iland for cattell for fish yea and for corne rather through mens industry than by any goodnesse of the ground hath not only sufficient for it selfe but also good store to send into other countries Yet happier it was for the government thereof as being defended from neighbour enemies by souldiers prest and ready at the expences of the Earle of Darby upon which he employed the greatest part of his yeerely revenue in this Isle All controversies are decided without writings or any charges by certaine Iudges whom they chuse from among themselves and call Deemsters For the Magistrate taketh up a stone and when he hath given it his mark delivereth it unto the plaintiffe who by vertue thereof citeth his adversary and witnesses If there fall out any doubtfull case of greater importance it is referred to twelve men whom they terme The Keyes of the Iland It hath certain Coroners and those they call Annos who stand in stead of Sheriffes and execute their office The Ecclesiasticall Judge doth cite persons and determine causes within eight dayes they stand to his award or they are clapt up in prison They had as I have heard say as a peculiar language of their own so also their peculiar lawes which are signes of a peculiar seigniory Their Ecclesiasticall lawes next after this Canon Law come neerest unto the Civill Upon any Iudge or Clerks of the Court for making of Processe or drawing Instruments the people never bestow so much as one penny As for that which English Writers report of mischiefes done by witchcraft and sorcery it is meere false They that are of the wealthier sort and hold faire possessions and for their good houskeeping and honest cariage are conformable to imitate the people of Lancaster The women whither soever they go out of their doores gird themselves about as mindfull of their mortality with the winding sheet that they purpose to be buried in Such of them as are by law condemned to die are sewed within a sack flung from a rock into the sea They are all of them in this Isle as far from the customary practice of theeving or begging from doore to doore as may be wonderfull religious and most ready every one to entertain the forme of the English Church The disorders as well Civill as Ecclesiasticall of their neighbour nations they detest and whereas the whole Isle is divided into two parts South and North this in common speech resembleth the Scottish the other the Irish. Haply it were worth my labour if I should here insert a little History of this Iland which truth of due demandeth at my hands that so I may keepe alive and in remembrance still the Acts heretofore atchieved which if they bee not buried yet are waxen old and have as it were one foot in the grave of oblivion That the Britans held this Iland as they did all Britaine it is confessed
by all But when the Nations from the North like violent tempests overflowed these South parts it became subject to the Scots For under the Emperours Honorius and Arcadius as wee read in Orosius it was inhabited as well as Ireland by the Scottish Nations and Ninnius hath written that one Biule a Scot was Lord of it But as the same writer recordeth the Scots were driven out of all the British countries and Ilands by Cuneda Grandfather of Maglocunus whom Gildas for the foule work that he made in these Ilands tearmed the Dragon of the Iles. After this Edwin King of Northumberland brought this Iland like as the foresaid Anglesey under the subjection of the English if we understand them both by the name of Menaviae as writers perswade us at which time it was reckoned an Iland of the Britans But when the North had sent abroad his brood the second time I meane the Normans Danes and Norwegians these Norwegians who with their manifold robberies and roveries did most hurt from the Northren sea tooke up their haunt into this Iland and the Hebrides and therein erected Lords and Petty Kings whose briefe history I will here put downe word for word out of an old Manuscript lest it should be utterly lost which is intituled The Chronicle of Man seeming to have been written by the Monks of the Abbey of Russin which was the principall place of religion in this Isle A CHRONICLE OF THE KINGS OF MAN ANno Domini MLXV Edward of blessed memory King of England departed this life after whom succeeded in the kingdome Harald the son of Godwin against whom Harald Harfager King of Norway came into the field and fought a battell at Stainford-bridge and the English obtaining the victory put them all to flight out of which chace Godred surnamed Crovan the son of Harald the black of Iseland came unto Godred the sonne of Syrric who then reigned in Man and by him was honourably received The same yeere William the BASTARD conquered England and Godred the sonne of Syrric died after whom succeeded his sonne Fingal MLXVI Godred Crovan assembled a great fleet and came to Man fought with the people of the land but was overcome and put to rout A second time hee rallied his forces and his fleet sailed into Man joined battell with the Manksmen was vanquished and driven out of the field A third time he gathered a great multitude together and by night arrived in the haven called Ramsa and hid three hundred men within a wood which stood upon the hanging hollow brow of an hill called Scacafel Now when the sunne was risen the Manksmen put their people in order of battell and with a violent charge encountred with Godred And when the fight was hot those three hundred men starting out of the ambush behind their backes began to foile the Manksmen and put them to the worst yea and forced them to flye Now when they saw themselves discomfited and no place for them of refuge to escape for the sea water comming in with the tide had filled the channell of Ramsa river and the enemies on the other side followed the chace hard they that then remained alive tooke up a pitifull cry and besought Godred to save their lives And he moved with compassion pittying their wofull calamity as who for a certain time had beene nursed and brought up among them sounded the retrait and forbad his hoast to pursue them any longer Goared the morrow after proposed this choice unto his owne army whether they would rather divide Man among themselves and therein dwell or only take the substance and pillage of the countrey and so returne unto their owne homes But they chose rather to wast and spoile the whole Iland and with the goods thereof to enrich themselves and so returne home But Godred himselfe with those few Ilanders that remained with him inhabited the South part of the Iland and granted to the remaines of the Manksmen the North part with this covenant and condition That none of them should at any time venture and presume to challenge any part of the land by right of inheritance Whereby it came to passe that even unto this day the whole Isle is the Kings domain alone and all the revenues thereof belonging unto the crown Godred then reduced Dublin and a great part of Leymistir under his subjection As for the Western Scottish he so over-awed them as that no man who built ship or cog-boat durst drive into it above three nailes Now he reigned 16. yeeres and died in the Iland that is called Yle He left behind him verily three sons Lagman Harald and Olave Lagman the eldest taking upon him the kingdome reigned seven yeeres And Harald his brother a great while rebelled against him but at length being taken prisoner by Lagman he had his members of generation cut off and his eyes plucked out of his head After this Lagman repenting himselfe that he had pulled out his brothers eyes gave over the kingdome of his owne accord and wearing the badge of the Lords Crosse took a journey to Jerusalem in which he died MLXXV. All the Nobles and Lords of the Islands hearing of the death of Lagman dispatched their Embassadors to Murecard O-Brien King of Ireland requesting that hee would send some industrious and worthy man of the blood royall to be their King untill Olave Godreds sonne came to full age The King very willingly yeelded to their requests and sent unto them one Dopnald the sonne of Tade warning and charging him to govern the kingdome which by right belonged unto another with all gentlenesse and modesty But he after he was come to the Crowne not weighing of the charge that his Lord and M. gave him abused his place and lorded with great tyranny and so committing many outrages and villanies reigned cruelly three yeers Then all the Princes of the Ilands agreed together in one conspiracy rose up against him and expelled him out of their coasts Who fled into Ireland and never looked them in the face after MLXXVII One Ingemund was sent from the King of Norway to take upon him the dominion of the Ilands and when he was come to the Isle Leodus he sent messengers to all the Nobles of the Ilands with a commandement that they should meet together and ordain him their King Mean while himselfe with his companions did nothing else but rob spoile make good cheere and banquet dishonour and abuse married wives defloure young maidens yea and give himselfe over to filthy pleasures and fleshly lusts But when tidings hereof came to the Nobles of the Ilands now assembled to make him King they were set on fire with furious wrath and sped themselves in all hast toward him and surprising him in the night burnt the house wherein hee was and with fire and sword made a quick dispatch of him and his company MXCVIII The Abbey of S. Mary at Cistertium or Cisteaux was founded Antioch was won by the Christians and a
Isle Lodhus So obtained Olave the kindgome of the Isles MCCXXXVII On the twelfth Calends of June died Olave the sonne of Godred King of Man in S. Patricks Iland and was buried in the Abbey of Russin He reigned eleven yeeres two by his brothers life and nine after his death Harold his sonne succeeded him being 14. yeeres of age and reigned 12. yeeres In the first yeere of his reigne he made a journey to the Ilands and appointed Loglen his cousin Custos of Man In the Autumne following Harald sent three sonnes of Nell namely Dufgald Thorquill Mormore and his friend Ioseph to Man for to consult about affaires On the 25. day therefore they meet at Tingull and by occasion of a certaine envious quarrell that arose between the sonnes of Nell and Loglen there was a sore fight on both sides wherein were slaine Dufgald Mormore and the foresaid Joseph In the spring ensuing King Harald came to the Isle of Man and Loglen as he fled toward Wales perished by Shipwracke with Godred Olaves sonne his foster child and pupill with 40. others MCCXXXVIII Gospatricke and Gillescrist the sonne of Mac-Kerthac came from the King of Norway into Man who by force kept Harald out of Man and tooke tributes to the Kings behoofe of Norway because he refused to come unto the King of Norwaies Court. MCCXL Gospatric died and is buried in the Abbey of Russin MCCXXXIX Harald went unto the King of Norway who after two yeeres confirmed unto him his heires and successours under his seale all the Ilands which his predecessours had possessed MCCXLII Harald returned out of Norway to Man and being by the inhabitants honourably received had peace with the Kings of England and of Scotland Harald like as his father before him was by the King of England dubbed Knight and after he had been rewarded with many gifts returned home The same yeere he was sent for by the King of Norway and married his daughter And in the yeere 1249. as he returned homeward with his wife and Laurence King elect of Man and many other Nobles and Gentlemen he was drowned in a tempest neere unto the coasts of Radland MCCXLIX Reginald the sonne of Olave and brother to Harald began his reigne the day before the Nones of May and on the thirtieth day thereof was slaine by one Yvar a Knight and his company in a medow neere unto the Holy Trinity Church on the South side and lieth buried in the Church of Saint Mary of Russin At that time Alexander King of Scots rigged and brought together many ships meaning to subdue the Iland and in the I le Kerwaray he died of an ague Harald the sonne of Godred Don usurped the name of King in the Ilands all the Nobles of Harald King Olaves sonne hee banished and placed in their stead all the Princes and Peeres that were fled from the said Harald MCCL. Harald the sonne of Godred Don being by missives sent for went unto the King of Norway who kept him in prison because he had unjustly intruded himselfe into the kingdome The same yeere there arrived at Roghalwaght Magnus the son of Olave and John the sonne of Dugald who named himselfe King but the people of Man taking it to the heart that Magnus was not nominated would not suffer them to land there many of them therefore were cast away and perished by shipwracke MCCLII Magnus the sonne of Olave came to Man and was made King The next yeere he went to the King of Norway and stayed there a yeere MCCLIV Haco King of Norway ordained Magnus Olaves sonne King of the Isles and confirmed the same unto him and his heires and by name unto his brother Harald MCCLVI. Magnus King of Man went into England and was knighted by the King of England MCCLVII The church of S. Maries of Russin was dedicated by Richard of Sodore MCCLX Haco King of Norway came unto the parts of Scotland and without any exploit done turned to the Orkneys where at Kirwas he ended his daies and lyeth enterred at Bergh MCCLXV Magnus Olaves sonne King of Man and of the Ilands departed this life at the Castle of Russin and was buried in the Church of S. Mary de Russin MCCLXVI The kingdome of the Ilands was translated by reason of Alexander King of Scots That which followeth was written in another hand and of a later character MCCLXX The seventh day of October a navy set out by Alexander King of Scots arrived at Roghalwath and the next morrow before sun rising a battaile was fought between the people of Man and the Scots in which were slain of the Manksmen 537. whereupon a certaine versifier played thus upon the number L. decies X. ter penta duo cecidere Mannica gens de te damna futura cave L. Ten times told X. thrice with five beside and twaine Ware future harmes I reed of thy folke Man were slaine MCCCXIII Robert King of Scots besieged the Castle of Russin which Dingawy Dowyll held against him but in the end the King won the castle MCCCXVI On the Ascension day Richard le Mandevile and his brethren with other Potentates of Ireland arrived at Ramaldwath requesting to be furnished with victuals and silver for that they had been robbed by the enemies warring upon them continually Now when the commonality of the country had made answer that they would not give them any they advanced forward against those of Man with two troops or squadrons untill they were come as far as to the side of Warthfell hill in a field wherein John Mandevile remained and there in a fought battell the Irish vanquished the Manksmen spoiled the Iland and rifled the Abbey of Russin and after they had continued in the Iland one whole moneth they returned home with their ships fraught with pillage Thus endeth the Chronicle of the K.K. of Man The Processe or course of the Historie following I will now continue summarily out of other Writers WHen Alexander the third King of Scots had gotten into his hands the Westerne Ilands partly by way of conquest and in part for ready money paid unto the King of Norway hee attempted the I le of Man also as one of that number and through the valiant prowesse of Alexander Stewart brought it under his dominion yea and placed there a petty King or Prince with this condition that hee should be ready alwaies at his command to serve with ten ships in his warres at sea Howbeit Mary the daughter of Reginald King of Man who was become the Liege-man of John King of England entred her suit for the Iland before the King of England but answer was made unto her that shee should demand it of the King of Scots for that he then held it in possession And yet her grand-child John Waldebeof for the said Mary married into the house of Waldebeofe sued for his ancient right in Parliament holden in the 33. yeere of King Edward the first before the K. of England as the superiour
and flowes againe Suidas writeth that it tooke the name of Thules a King of Aegypt Isidore of the Sunne Reynerus Reneccius of the Saxon word Tell that is A limit as if it were the bound of the North and West But yet for all this Synesius doubteth whether there were any Thule or no and our Giraldus Cambrensis writeth that it is no where extant to be seene and the better sort of learned men are of sundry judgements concerning it Most of them have affirmed Island that is subject to extreme sharpe cold and continuall winter to have beene called in times past Thule But Saxo Grammaticus Crantzius Milius Iovius and Peucerus are of a contrary opinion Neither am I ignorant that the vast and huge country of Scandia is described by Procopius under the name of Thule But if that be true which the most learned Peucer hath recorded in his book entituled De dimensione terrae that is Of the measuring of the earth that sailers call Shetland Thilensel neither dare I empeach his credit then surely wee have found Thule and the matter is now at an end and questionlesse For this Shetland is an Isle under the Scottish dominion environed with other Islets and the same is nipped with frost and chilly cold lying open on every side unto bitter storms the inhabitants whereof like as those of Island use in steed of bread-corne dried fish and the same braied and beaten which we call stock-fish And although it have not the North pole so elevated that there is continuall day sixe moneths together as Pithaeas of Marsils hath fained of Thule for which hee is justly taxed by Strabo and this hapneth not to Island it selfe where there is in manner a continuall Winter and an intolerable settled cold Yet that a man should thinke this Shetland to have been Thule first the situation thereof in Ptolomee may induce him being set 63. degrees from the Aequinoctiall as Thule is in Ptolomee again for that it lieth between Norway and Scotland where Saxo Grammaticus placeth Thule then because it is two daies sailing distant from the point of Caledonia or Cathnes according to which distance Solinus placeth Thule also Tacitus saith that the Romans kenned Thule afar off as they sailed round about Britain by the Orcades lastly because it faceth the shore of Bergae in Norway against which place Thule lieth according to Pomponius Mela in which Author the reading is corruptly Belgarum littori in stead of Bergarum For Bergae a citie in Norway lieth over against Shetland and Pliny nameth in this tract BERGOS which I doubt not but it is that little country wherein BERGAE flourisheth like as no man will deny that Norway is NERIGON specified by Pliny But enough of this Thule which snow and winter weather as one saith hath hidden from the ancient writers and from us too I assure you neither is any of them able to say which of the Northren Ilands they meant when they spake so much of Thule As touching the length of daies in that unknowne Iland Festus Avienus when hee treated of Britaine translated out of Dionysius these verses Long a dehinc celeri si quis rate marmora currat Inveniet vasto surgentem gurgite Thulen Hic cùm plaustra Poli tangit Phaebeius ignis Nocte sub inlustri rota solis fomite flagrat Continuo clarumque diem nox aemula ducit From hence if one with pinnace swift along the sea doth saile Thule above the Ocean vast to finde he shall not faile Here when about the Northren pole the Suns fire doth sejourne The night is lightsome and his wheeles continually doe burne The night I say resembling day faire light makes soone returne Which Pomponius Mela likewise hath noted in these words Opposite unto the coast of Bergae lieth Thule an Iland much renowned both in Greek Poems and in ours also In it for that the Sun riseth and is to set farre off the nights verily are short but in winter time as elsewhere darke in summer light because all that time hee mounteth very high although his body be not seen yet with his neere brightnesse he doth lighten the parts next unto him But about the solstice there be no nights at all by reason that hee being then more apparent not onely casteth bright beames from him but sheweth also the greatest part of himselfe Above these Ilands the sea is tearmed The slow frozen and Icie sea for that it is so rough by occasion of heaps of Ice and scarce navigable It is also named of ancient writers CRONIUM or Cronian sea of Saturne because here in a British Iland as Plutarch recordeth there goeth a tale how Saturne is kept sleeping in a deepe cave or bottome of a golden pumish stone that he is by Jupiter cast into a most deepe and dead sleepe which serveth in stead of bonds that birds bring him Ambrosia the divine meat with the odoriferous smell wherof all the place is perfumed Also that he hath many spirits or daemones attending upon him as servitours who reverence him serve him and attend upon him By which pretty fable unlesse I be deceived is covertly couched by a Mythiology that there lye hidden in these Ilands veines or mines of Metals over which Saturne is president which notwithstanding are forlet and out of request for want of wood to maintaine the fornaces Now beneath Thule Southward the German sea spreadeth it selfe wide wherein as Pliny affirmeth there lye dispersed the seven ACMODAE Mela tearmeth them HAEMODES But seeing it is knowne for certaine that these be Ilands belonging to Denmarke in the Codan Gulfe namely Zeland Fuynen Lagland Muen Falstor Layland and Femerem there is no cause wherefore I should say any more neither of the Isle GLESSARIA or ELECTRIDA so called of Amber cast up there out of the Sea which Sotacus supposed to drop forth of trees in Britain But seeing that the ancient Germans called Amber Glesse willing enough I am to thinke with that most learned man Erasmus Michael Laetus that the Iland Lesse hard by Scagen or Promontory of Denmark was in times past called GLESSARIA Now within the German sea on that side where it beateth upon Britaine appeare very few Ilands unlesse they be those that lye in Edenburrough Frith namely May Basse Keth and Inche Colme that is Columbs Isle On the coast of Northumberland over against the river Lied one sheweth it selfe namely Lindis-farn the Britans call it Inis Medicante which that I may use Bedes words as the sea ebbeth and floweth at his tides is twice a day inundated and compassed about with water in maner of an Iland and twice likewise made continent to the land as the shore is laid bare again whereupon he aptly termed it a Demy Iland The West part of it being the narrower and left unto conies joineth to the East side by a very small spange of land and this part which bendeth toward the South is much
broader having a pretty towne in it with a Church and a castle where sometimes had beene that Episcopall See which Aidan the Scot called thither to preach the Christian faith unto the people of Northumberland instituted as being much delighted with the solitary situation as a most fit place of retire In this small Iland there sat eleven Bishops But afterwards when the Danes rifled and robbed all the Sea-coasts the Episcopall See was translated to Durham Under the towne there is a good commodious haven defended with a Block-house situate upon an hill toward the South-East This for the habitation therein of holy Monkes is called in English Holy Iland Concerning which Alcuin in an Epistle unto Egelred King of Northumberland writeth thus A place more venerable than all the places in Britaine is left to the spoile of Pagans and Miscreants and where after the departure of S. Paulinus from York Christian religion in our nation first began there it hath felt the first beginning of misery and calamity Seven miles from hence South-Eastward Farn Isle sheweth it selfe distant almost two miles from Banborrow castle enclosed within the most deep Ocean and encircled about with craggy cliffs and this hath also in the middle well neere a Fort belonging unto it even in that place as the report goeth where Cuthbert Bishop of Lindisfarn that tutelar St. and Patron of the Northren Englishmen to the end he might wholly give himselfe to the service of God built as Bede saith in his life a city fitting his government and erected houses in this city sorting well therto For the whole building stood almost round in compasse reaching from wall to wall the space of foure or five perches The wall it selfe on the coast side was more than a mans height for on the inside with hewing downe into a mighty rocke he had made it far higher sufficient to with-hold and keep in the wanton lasciviousnesse either of eyes or thoughts and to elevate the whole intention of the mind up to heavenly desires in such sort as that the devout inhabitants thereof could out of his mansion place behold nothing but the heaven Which wall verily he made not of cut squared stone or of bricke nor laid the same with strong morter but raised altogether of coble and unpolished rough stones and turfe betweene which with digging he had taken out of the midst of the place Of which stones verily some were of that huge bignesse as foure men were uneth able to lift one of them Within this mansion hee had two houses a Chappell and a dwelling roome for common uses The walls whereof he brought up of very naturall earth by digging much of it within and without round about or else by paring it up And roofes over them of timber without all forme and straw thereupon Moreover at the haven of this Iland there stood a greater house wherein the brethren that came to visit him might be entertained and lodged and not far from it a fountain meet for their uses Upon this there adjoine other smaller Ilands toward the North as Widopens Staple Iland which lieth two miles off Bronsman and two lesser than these which they call the Wambes After these the Iland commonly called Coquet lieth right before the mouth of the river Coquet wherein is a plentifull veine of Sea-coale Neither are there any more Ilands to be seen in this coast but over against it be the Saxonum Insulae that is The Saxons Ilands now called Heilich lant that is The Holy-Ilands and they lie as it were in a continued range along East and West Frislands Among which that was best knowne unto the Roman Captaines which Strabo called BIRCHANIS Pliny BIRCHANA and the Romans FABARIA of the resemblance of a certain Graine or Pulse comming up there of the owne accord which that I may restore it againe to the due place although it bee nothing pertinent to my purpose the very name it selfe witnesseth to bee that Borkun which lieth over against the mouth of Ems. Somewhat lower upon the shore of Holland where in ancient time was the mouth of Rhene the foundations of a most ancient Store-house Magazin or Armory are covered over with the waves which being very seldome discovered and laide bare at a low ebbe of the Ocean sheweth both an admirable spectacle of reverend antiquitie and also a most noble modell and forme of building which Abraham Ortelius the repairer of ancient Geography and my entire and inward friend hath preserved out of the maine Ocean by his exact description thereof I have mentioned this the more willingly because the Hollanders call it in their language Huis te Britten that is the British house so that it belongeth at least wise in name to Britain and therfore not impertinent to my purpose For as it is evident and confessed of all that the Emperour C. Caligula when he entended the conquest of Britaine in that ridiculous voiage of his built it for a watch-tower so an ancient Inscription there digged up doth testifie that the Emperor Septimius Severus after it was fallen to decay rebuilt it But whence it was named Britten let him tell that best can ghesse Probable it is that it tooke this name from the Britans for that Bretta the natall place of Philip Melanchthon tooke name of the Britans he himselfe was fully perswaded and that Mounts in Heinault were of the Britans termed Breten we have read elsewhere But yet that I may speake as Plinie doth seeing he marvelleth why the Herbe that is peculiar unto Holland as growing no where else is called Britannica unlesse perhaps those that bordered upon the Ocean dedicated it unto Britain so neere unto it so for my part I wonder as much why this tower should be termed Britannica or Breten unlesse the Hollanders consecrated it to our Britaine lying opposite unto it Pliny calleth a place in Picardy Portum Morinorum Britannicum that is The British haven or port of the Morines either for that they took ship there to passe over into Britain or because it kenned Britaine over against it on the other side of the sea Why then should not this tower by the same reason be called Britannica or Breten for that the Britans often arrived here and that from hence out of Germany there was a common passage into Britain it is most certain considering that Zosimus hath given the just measure of the sea betwixt Britaine and this mouth of Rheine to be 900. Stadia over as though it had beene an usuall passage and written beside that corne was wont to be brought by ships out of Britaine to this place and from thence with barges and boats haled up the Rhene against the streame to serve the Roman garrisons seeing that Iulian the Emperour built garrisons as Marcellinus saith wherein might be inned and kept the corne that the Britans usually transported thither At which time this said Armory may seeme to
have beene converted into a Garner or Store-house for corne and of the said British corne tearmed Britannicum and so much the rather because in the old Records of Holland wee finde it written Brittanburg for that age termed castles standing commodiously and such as were stored with plenty of corne Burghs as we read in the history of the Burgundians Moreover what if the Britans that in this doubtfull matter I may run out of one conjecture to another sometimes held it in their owne hands and so adopted it into their owne name considering they invested Magnus Maximus whom some name Clemens Maximus in the purple robe and proclaimed him Emperour against Gratian. For he arrived at this mouth of Rhene If againe it had not as yet taken this name Britannicum what if the Saxons tearmed it Huis te Britten for that they tooke ship from hence into Britain when they annoied our shores with their Cyules for so they tearmed their pinnaces or Brigantines Verily Zosimus sheweth that the Saxons after they had driven out the Frankers called Salii planted themselves in Batavia that is Holland and that from thence they put over by multitudes into Britain it is most cleere and evident Which also as I said before Ianus Douza a noble Gentleman indeed and passing well learned in his Ode of Leyden seemeth to imply yet here againe lest I might seeme too forward and lavish in setting forth the glory of Britaine considering that the right learned Hadrian Iunius borne and bred in Holland hath fetched the originall of the herbe Britannica from Britten a word of his owne country because it groweth plentifully upon those turfes which they call Britten and whereof they raise great bankes and dikes against the violence of the encroching Ocean it will be no absurdity if one should reduce this Huis te Britten unto the same originall and suppose it to have been so called because it was fensed with banks of turfe or of Britten set opposite against the forcible surges of the waves which when the surges of the sea had once pierced and overthrowne it may seeme to have borne downe this house also But let them see to these matters who have a deeper insight into the nature of the word and the situation of the place and pardon me withall if here I have thrust my sickle into anothers harvest In that coast there be also Isles of Zeland compassed about with the rivers Scaldt Maese and the Ocean Touching which I will onely adde thus much that the name of Valachria for of these this is the chiefe as Lemnius Levinus conjectureth came from our Welshmen Over against Zeland Tamis the goodliest and noblest river of Britain dischargeth himself into the sea in which place Ptolomee setteth TOLIAPIS and CAUNA or CONVENNON Of Toliapis which I suppose to be Shepey see in Kent Of Convennos I have spoken in Essex in the page 441. More Eastward without Tamis mouth there lieth along before the Iland Tenet a place full of shelves and sands and very dangerous for saylers which they call Goodwins sands where our Annales doe record that in the yeere 1097. an Iland which was the patrimony of Goodwin Earle of Kent was quite swallowed up and sunk in the sea concerning which John Twin writeth thus This land was very fruitfull and full of plenteous pastures lying somewhat lower and more flat than Tenet out of which there was a passage by boat or barge three or foure miles long This Iland in an unusuall tempest of windes and boisterous fury of stormy raines and uncooth rage of the sea was drowned and lieth overwhelmed with sand cast up after an incredible manner and without all recovery is turned into a middle or doubtfull nature of land and sea For I wot wel what I say because one while it wholly floateth and another while at a low water after an ebbe it beareth walkers upon it Haply this is Toliapis unlesse you had rather read Thanatos for Toliapis and in some copies we read it Toliatis of which we have treated in Kent See the 345. page In this very place the huge vastnesse of the sea gathereth into such a straight that the gullet of the Ocean betweene the firme land of France and Britaine is not above thirty miles over which Streights some call the Narrow sea of Britaine others of France and the bound it is of the British sea which by little and little removeth the shores farther asunder that were in manner meeting together and by the driving backe of the lands on both sides equally floweth between Britaine and France from East to West At this beginneth the British sea wherein first you meet with the Iland or byland rather Selsy in the English Saxon tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is according to Bede The Iland of Sea-calves which in our tongue we call otherwise Seales But hereof I have spoken already in the page 308. Somewhat higher lieth the Isle Vecta in the British tongue Guith in the Saxon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Saxons tearmed an Iland 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wee The Isle of Wight and Whight Whereof also I have written before in the 273. page Of Portland likewise which now is no Iland but annexed to the continent I have treated heretofore in Dorsetshire in the page 210. Hence will I cut over to the shore of France just against it where from Beer-fleet in Normandy unto the midst of the Channell the sea by the Mariners saying is paved as it were and overspred with rocks and cragges among which William sonne to King Henry the first and heire both of England and of Normandy whiles he crossed the seas out of Normandy into England in the yeere of salvation 1120. was by woefull shipwracke together with his sister his base brother and others of the floure of the nobility drowned Whereupon a Poet of that age thus versified Abstulit hunc terrae matri maris unda noverca Proh dolor occubuit Sol Anglicus Anglia plora Quaeque priùs fueras gemino radiata nitore Extincto nato vivas contenta parente Him from the land his mother kind the Sea a stepdame caught Now Englands Sunne alas is set weepe England weep for thought And thou that didst enjoy the beames of twofold light before Since Sonne is gone content thy selfe with father and no more Funus plangendum privat lapis aequoris unus Et ratis una suo principe regnaduo O dolefull day one rocke in Ocean maine One barke of Prince bereaveth kingdomes twaine And another Poet at the same time hammered out these verses touching that shipwracke Dum Normannigenae Gallis claris superatis Anglica regna petunt obstitit ipse Deus Aspera nam fragili dum sulcant aequora cymba Intulit excito nubila densa mari Dumque vagi caeco rapiuntur tramite nautae Ruperunt imas abdita saxa rates Sic mare dum superans tabulata
there established On the East-side where it faceth the citie Constantia there is seated upon a steep rocke a most strong castle with an haughty name called Mont Orgueil which is much beholden unto King Henry the fifth who repaired it The Governour of the Isle is Captain thereof who in times past was called the Custos of the Isle and in Henry the third his reigne had a yeerely pension of 200. pound On the South side but with longer distance betweene Saint Malo is to be seene having taken that new name of Maclou a very devout man where before time it was called the city Diablintum and in the ancient Notice ALETUM for in a Manuscript of Isidor Mercator we read thus in expresse termes Civitas Diablintum c. that is the city Diablintum which by another name is called Aletum As for the inhabitants they freshly practice the feat of fishing but give their minds especially to husbandry and the women make a very gainfull trade by knitting of hose which they call Iarsey Stockes or Stockings As touching the politicke state thereof a Governour sent from the King of England is the chiefe Magistrate hee appointeth a Bailiffe who together with twelve Jurats or sworne Assistants and those chosen out of the twelve severall parishes by the voices of the Parishioners sitteth to minister justice in Civill causes in criminall matters he sitteth but with seven of the said sworne assistants and in causes of conscience to be decided by equity and reason with three Twenty miles hence North-west lieth another Iland which Antonine the Emperour in ancient time named SARNIA we at this day Garnsey lying out East and West in fashion of an harpe neither in greatnesse nor in fruitfulnesse comparable to Iersey for it hath in it only ten parishes yet is this to be preferred before it because it fostereth no venemous thing therin like as the other doth It is also better fortified by naturall fenses as being enclosed round with a set of steepe rockes among which is found that most hard and sharpe stone Smyris which we terme Emerill wherewith Goldsmiths and Lapidaries clense burnish and cut their precious stones and glaziers also divide and cleave their glasse Likewise it is of greater name for the commodiousnesse of the haven and the concourse of merchants resorting thither For in the farthest part well neere Eastward but on the South side it admitteth an haven within an hollow Bay bending inward like an halfe Moone able to receive tall ships upon which standeth Saint Peters a little towne built with a long and narrow street well stored with warlike munition and ever as any warre is toward mightily replenished with Merchants For by an ancient priviledge of the Kings of England here is alwaies a continuall truce as it were and lawfull it is for Frenchmen and others how hot soever the warre is to have repaire hither too and fro without danger and to maintain entercourse of trafficke in security The entry of the haven which is rockie is fortified on both sides with castles On the left hand there is an ancient bulwarke or block-house and on the right hand over against it standeth another called Cornet upon an high rocke and the same at every high water compassed about with the sea Which in Queene Maries daies Sir Leonard Chamberlane Governour of the Iland as also under Queene Elizabeth Sir Thomas Leighton his successour caused to bee fortified with new workes For here lieth for the most part the Governour of the Iland and the Garrison souldiers who will in no hand suffer Frenchmen and women to enter in On the North side there is La-vall a biland adjoining unto it which had belonging thereto a covent of religious persons or a Priory On the West part neere unto the sea there is a lake that taketh up a mile and halfe in compasse replenished with fish but Carpes especially which for bignesse and pleasant taste are right commendable The inhabitants are nothing so industrious in tilling of the ground as those of Iarsey but in navigation and trafficke of merchandise for a more uncertaine gaine they be very painfull Every man by himselfe loveth to husband his owne land so that the whole Iland lieth in severall and is divided by enclosures into sundry parcels which they find not onely profitable to themselves but also a matter of strength against the enemie Both Ilands smile right pleasantly upon you with much variety of greene gardens and orchards by meanes whereof they use for the most part a kinde of wine made of apples which some call Sisera and we Sydre The inhabitants in both places are by their first originall either Normans or Britans and speake French yet disdaine they to be either reputed or named French and can very well be content to be called English In both Ilands likewise they burne Uraic for their fuell or else sea-coals brought out of England and in both places they have wonderfull store of fish and the same manner of civill government These Ilands with others lying about them belonged in old time to the Dukedom of Normandy but when as Henry the first King of England had vanquished his brother Robert in the yeere of our Lord 1108. he annexed that Dukedom and these Ilands unto the kingdome of England Since which time they have continued firme in loialtie unto England even when John King of England being endited for murdering Arthur his Nephew was by a definitive sentence or arrest of confiscation deprived of his right in Normandy which he held in chiefe of the French King yea moreover when the French had seized upon these Isles hee through the faithfull affection of the people twice recovered them Neither revolted they when Henry the third King of England had for a summe of money surrendred his whole interest and right in Normandy And ever since they have with great commendation of their constancy persisted faithfull unto the Crowne of England and are the onely remaines that the Kings of England have of the ancient inheritance of William the Conquerour and of the Dutchy of Normandy although the French otherwhiles have set upon them who from the neighbour coast of France have hardly this long time endured to see them appertaine not to France but to England And verily Evan a Welsh Gentleman descended from the Princes of Wales and serving the French King surprized Garnesey in the time of King Edward the third but soone lost it And also in the reigne of King Edward the fourth as appeareth by the records of the Realme they seized upon the same but through the valour of Richard Harleston valect of the Crowne for so they termed him in those daies they were shortly disseized and the King in recompence of his valorous service gave unto him the Captainship both of the Iland and of the castle And in the yeere 1549. when England under King Edward the sixth a child was distressed with domesticall troubles Leo Strozzi Captaine of
how By borrow'd Organs which to them belongs Alas poore Snakes base Envies Instruments Poore in your Wit and way-ward in your Will Yee little learne so hate the Ornaments Of Arte in greater Wits of lesser skill Did ye not doubt your owne defect of Wit You would all Artes should still be showne to all And let the best Wit make best use of it For Wits renowne and letters liberall Yea you would wish the Babylonian towre Were yet to build while all one tongue impart That so sole Wit might be Arts Governour Not tongues that are the Essence of no Art But were yee good and would all Good should know Who Envy this more learn'd lesse-envious man You would the frankest praise on him bestow That makes th'unlearn'd a learn'd Historian Shall English be so poore and rudely-base As not be able through meere penury To tell what French hath said with gallant grace And most tongues else of lesse facunditie God shield it should and Heav'n foresend that we Should so debase our owne deere mother-tongue That shewes our thoughts how ever high they be With higher tearmes and elâ—quence among Then let me muzzle those so dâ—gged mouthes That byte and barke at what they should defend They lies doe love that hidden would have Truthes And he is Vertues foe that 's Errors friend But kind Philêmon let thine active Muse Still mount above these base detracting spirits Looke not so low as Snakes that men abuse And highest Fame shall crowne thy lowest merits Goe forward maugre backward Envies â—rabs That still goe backe thy paines give others pleasure They play proud Miriams part thou Ionadaâ—s They skant our learnings lists thou giv'st us measure This Camdens-Britaine that on wings of Art Flies or'e the World knowne least where most it oughâ— There thy free Pen to all doth it impart And mak'st them learn'd that almost are untaughâ— For Camden whose all time out-wearing fame Sith he the learned hath so often gladded Hath by thy Pen now multipli'd his Name For now to Camdens Britaine Holland's added Then pregnant HOLLAND Britaine fertile makâ— With learnings compost till the croppe of Art Be ready for our neighbours Sithe and Rake That have lesse skill than will to take our part So shall this soile when thou art soile or sand Call Camdens-Britaine Hollands richest land The unfaired honourer of thee and thine indeavours JOHN DAVIâ—S of Hereford BRITAINE BRITAINE or BRITANNIE which also is ALBION named in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the most famous Island without comparison of the whole world severed from the continent of Europe by the interflowing of the Ocean lieth against Germanie and France triangle-wise by reason of three Promontories shooting out into divers parts to wit BELERIUM i. the Cape of S. Burien in Corwall Westward CANTIUM i. the Fore-land of Kent into the East and TARVISIUM or ORCAS i. the point of Catnesse in Scotland Northward On the West side whereas Ireland is seated VERGIVIUS i. the Westerne Ocean breaketh in From the North it hath the most vast and wide Hyperborean sea beating upon it On the East where it coasteth upon Germanie enforced sore it is with the Germane sea and Southward as it lieth opposite to France with the British Disjoyned from those neighbour-countries all about by a convenient distance every way fitted with commodious and open havens for traffique with the universall world and to the generall good as it were of mankind thrusting it selfe forward with great desire from all parts into the sea For betweene the said Fore-land of Kent and Calais in France it so advanceth it selfe and the sea is so straighted that some thinke the land there was pierced through and received the seas into it which before-time had beene excluded For the maintenance of which their conceit they alleage both Virgil in that verse of his Et penitus toto divisos orbe Britannos And Britans people quite disjoyn'd from all the world besides Because Britaine saith Servius Honoratus was in times past joyned to the maine And also Claudian who in imitation of him wrote thus Nostra deducta Britannia mundo Britaine a land which severed is from this our Roman world Cerâ—es that the outward face and fashion of this globe of Earth hath beene with the inundation of Noahs flood as also by other causes altered that some mountaines thereby increased in heighth many places higher than others setled low and became even plaines and valleys that waterie washes were dried up and drie grounds turned to be standing waters yea and that certaine Islands have beene violently broken off from the firme land carrieth some likelihood of truth But whether the same be true indeed or whether there were any Islands at all before the Deluge it is not my purpose here to argue neither take I pleasure without good advisement of Gods works to give my doome That the providence of God hath ordained divers things to one and the same end who knoweth not and verily that parcels of the earth dispersed here and there within the sea serve no lesse to adorne the world than lakes spred upon the earth and hilles raised aloft aswell Divines as Philosophers have alwaies held Livius and Fabius Rusticus have likened the forme heereof unto a long dish or two edged axe and so is it shapen indeed toward the South as saith Tacitus whereupon the fame went of the whole But Northward that huge and enorme tract of ground running beyond unto the furthermost point groweth narrow and sharpe like a wedge So large and of such exceeding greatnesse in circuit they in olde time tooke it to bee that Caesar hee who first of all the Romans discovered it wrote How he had found out another world supposing the same so great as that it seemed to containe within it the Ocean and not to be compassed about therewith and Iulius Solinus Polyhistor hath left in writing that for the largenesse thereof it deserveth Well neere the name of a second world Howbeit this age of ours hath now at length by many and sundry voyages found out in some sort the true dimension and just compasse of the whole Isle For from the point Tarvision unto the cape Belerium the reaches and crooked turnings of the sea-banks along the West considered there are reckoned much about DCCCXII miles from thence keeping the sea side as it bendeth Southward untill you come to the Fore-land of Kent CCCXX miles whence coasting by the Germane sea with crooked creeks and inlets for DCCIIII miles it reacheth to the foresaid point Tarvisium so that by this reckoning the whole Iland taketh in compasse MDCCCXXXVI miles Which measure as it commeth farre short of Plinies so is it also somewhat lesse than Caesars As for Schitinius Chius I have no reason once to name him who having in Apollonius among other wonders tolde us strange tales of fruits
the Greeks used for drinke Others bring it from the BRVTII in Italy whom the Graecians called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As for those smatterers in Grammar who keepe a babbling and prating that Britaine should carry that name of British manners let them be packing These are all the opinions to my knowledge that have beene received touching the name of Britaine But heerein as wee cannot but smile at the fictions of strangers so the devices coined by our owne countrymen passe not currant with generall allowance And verily in these and such like cases an easier matter it is to impeach the false than to teach and maintaine a truth For besides this that it were an absurditie to seeke the reason of this name in a forrein language the generall consent of all Historiographers of better note doth confute Laetus who with one accord deliver unto us that those Armorica Britons departed hence and so from us carried the name with them Againe Britaine flourished under this name many hundred yeares before the names of Dania and Prutenia came up But what doth the word Britannia to doe with the Spaniards Bretta which I doubt whether it be Spanish or no and why should this Island be so termed rather than other Land That the drinke called Brithin was ever in use among our countrymen can hardly be proved and to give name to our nation of the Greekes drinke were ridiculous As for those Brutii in Italy whom as Strabo witnesseth the Lucans called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as one would say traiterous fugitives it can never be prooved that they like runnagates ranne hither into Britaine But to come now to our owne countrimens conjectures Eliots 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seemeth not probable seeing that word was proper to the Athenians and considering the Greeks called this Isle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lhuyds Prid-Cain for the Britan seemeth not onely too farre fetched but also over-hardly streined to say nothing how that word Cain came from the Latines Candidum and so crept into the provinciall language of the Britaines But as touching those reports of Brutus were they true certaine and undoubted there is no cause why any man should bestow farther study and labor in searching out the beginning of the Britaines The thing is dispatched to our hand and the searchers of Antiquitie are eased of their troublesome and painfull travell For mine owne part it is not my intent I assure you to discredit and confute that story which goes of him for the upholding whereof I call Truth to record I have from time to time streined to the heighth all that little wit of mine For that were to strive with the streame and currant of time and to struggle against an opinion commonly and long since received How then may I a man of so meane parts and small reckoning be so bold as to sit in examination of a matter so important and thereof definitively to determine Well I referre the matter full and whole to the Senate of Antiquarians for to be decided Let every man for me judge as it pleaseth him and of what opinion soever the Reader shall be of verily I will not make it a point much material And yet I see that I may tell you so much aforehand beeing as I am a plaine honest and diligent searcher after the truth how men most judicious and passing well learned goe about divers waies to extenuate the credit of this narration and so often as I stand in defence thereof to come upon me fiercely with these and such like arguments First grounding their reason upon the time they protest and say that all is but fabulous with reservation onely of the Sacred Historie whatsoever is reported to have beene done before the first Olympias to wit the yeare 770. before the birth of Christ like as these reports of Brutus which are before the said time 300. yeares and more And this they averre by the authoritie of Varro the most learned writer of all the Romans who as he named the first age immediately after mans creation unto the Deluge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is uncertaine by reason of the ignorance thereof so he termed the second even from the said Deluge unto the first Olympias 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say Fabulous because in that time there is related nothing else for the most part but tales even among the Greekes and Latines learned nations much more then among the Barbarous and unlettered such as in those daies they were in all this tract every one Then they alleage that for the confirmation of this matter in question the authoritie of sufficient writers which to the knowledge of things past maketh most and is all in all is altogether defective Now those they call sufficient writers whose antiquitie and learning the greater it is so is their credit the better accepted who all of them like as the ancient Britaines themselves by their saying knew not so much as the name of Brutus Caesar say they sixteene hundred yeares since as he testifieth of himselfe By all the enquirie that he could make found no more but this that the in land part of Britaine was inhabited by those who said they were borne in the very Island and the maritime coasts by such as from out of Belgium passed over thither Tacitus also a thousand and foure hundred yeares agoe who searched diligently into these particulars wrote thus What manner of men the first inhabitants of Britain were borne in the land or brought in as among barbarous people it is not certainely knowne Gildas being himselfe a wise and learned Britaine who lived a thousand yeares since hath not one word of this Brutus and doubteth whether the old Britaines had any records or writings whereby they might convey unto posteritie their own beginning and Historie professing that he wrote by the relation which hee had from beyond-sea and not by any direction out of the writings of his owne country or any records left by writers which if there were ever any at all either the enemies had burnt them or else they were carried away farre off in some fleet of exiled persons and so not extant Ninius also disciple of Eluodugus taking in hand to write a Chronicle eight hundred yeares agoe complaineth that the great Masters and Doctors of Britaine had no skill and left no memoriall in writing confessing that himselfe gathered whatsoever hee wrote out of the Annals and Chronicles of the holy Fathers To these they adjoyne Beda William of Malmesburie and as many as wrote eleven hundred and threescore years since who seeme not once to have heard of Brutus his name so silent are they of him in all their owne writings Hereupon they have noted that the name of that Brutus was never heard of in the world before that in a barbarous age and amid the thickest clouds of ignorance one Hunibald a bald writer fabled and feined That Francio a
disburthen themselves so long untill the universall world were to the glory of the Creator replenished with Inhabitants every where Wee ought therefore to bee perswaded that the ancient Gomerians of Gaule now France either chased away by the pursuit of others or cast out for lessening of the multitude or else inflamed with a desire to travell and see farre countries a thing naturally inbred in men crossed the sea and came over first into this Isle which from the continent they were able to kenne And it stands to verie good reason also that every countrie received the first Inhabitants from places neere bordering rather than from such as were most disjoyned For who would not thinke that Cyprus had the first Inhabitors out of Asia next unto it Crete and Sicilie out of Greece neereby and Corsica out of Italy a neighbour countrie and not to goe farre Zeland out of Germanie the neerest unto it as also Island out of Norway rather than from the remote tracts of Tartarie and Mauritania In like manner why should not wee thinke that out Britaine was inhabited at first by the Gaules their neighbours rather than either by the Trojans or Italians the Alabâ—s and Brutians so farre distant and remoove Neither doe writers fetch the originall and infancie as it were of the Britaine 's from any other place than their neighbour country Gaul The inner parts of Britaine saith Caesar is inhabited of them whom they themselves report out of their records to have beene borne in the Island the Sea coast of those who upon purpose to make warre had passed thither out of Belgium in Gaule who all in manner carie the names of those cities and States out of which they came thither and after they had warred there remained For there were in Britaine like as also in Gaule people named Belgae Atrebatii Parisi Cenomanni c. Semblably Tacitus Generally quoth he if a man consider all circumstances it is most likely that the Gaules beeing neighbours peopled the land of Britaine next unto them Yea and Beda one that among all our writers favoureth the truth At the first saith hee this Island had those Britaines onely to inhabite it from whom also it tooke the name who by report having sailed out from the tract of Armorica into Britaine challenged unto themselves the South coasts thereof Now he calleth the tract of Armorica the sea coasts of Gaule opposite unto our Island This also seemeth to make for our purpose that Caesar reporteth How Divitiacus the Gaule even in his remembrance held a good part both of Gaule and also of Britannie under his government as also that which is of greatest moment Plinie among the maritime people just over against Britaine neere unto the County of Bullen reckoned the Britaines like as Dionysius after a more ancient writer than he in these verses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Word for word thus And verily that utmost point and angle of this part Inhabite the Iberians people of haughtie heart Neere Gebraltar at Hercules his pillars cal'd of old Turning up the maine in length what way the current cold Of Northern Ocean with strong tides doth interflow and swell Where Britaines and those faire white folke the martiall Germans dwell For these words where Britaine 's seeme to have respect unto those other Turning upon the maine in length and Eustathius who did set forth his Commentaries upon this author understandeth it of the Britons in Gaule in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is And of these Britons the Isles of Britaine over against them tooke their denomination Howbeit Avienus and Stephen in his booke of Cities are of a contrarie mind Moreover the same Religion was of both people observed Among the Britaines saith Tacitus there is to bee seene in their ceremonies and superstitious perswasions an apparant conformitie with the Gaules The Gaules quoth Solinus after a detestable manner of sacred rites not to the honor but rather to the injurie of religion offred mans flesh in their sacrifices That the Britaines did the very same Dio Cassius beside others reporteth in his Nero. Both Nations also had their Druidae as Caesar and Tacitus very sufficient writers doe witnesse Concerning which Druidae let not the Reader thinke much to run over this whole passage out of Caesar. The Druidae are present at all Divine service The overseers they be of publike and private sacrifices the interpretours also of their religious rites and ceremonies To these a great number of younge men doe flocke for to bee taught and those doe they highly esteeme and honour For lightly they decide and determine all controversies as well publike as private And in case any hainous fact bee committed if there bee a murther or man-slaughter if variance arise about inheritance if strife about the bounds of lands they in their discretion judge of the matter they appoint rewards they award penalties and punishments If any either private person or body politike stand not to their Decree they put them by all sacrifices as excommunicate And this among them is the most grievous punishment They that be thus interdicted are reckoned as godlesse and most wicked persons All men decline from them they avoid both meeting and talking with them for feare of taking harme by contagion from them Neither have they the benefits of Law though they request it nor be capable of any office though they sue for it Moreover of all these Druides there is one President who hath the greatest authoritie among them When he is dead looke who excelleth the rest in worth and dignitie he succeedeth him But if there be many of equall estimation chosen there is one by the voices of the Druides Sometimes also they fall together by the eares and take armes about this place of precedencie These Druides at one certaine time of the yeare hold a solemne Session within a consecrated place in the marches of the Carnutes a countrey held to be the middle of all France Hither resort as unto the terme from all parts as many as have any controversies or suits in law and to their judgements and decrees they yield obedience Their learning and profession is thought to have beene first found and devised in Britaine and so from thence translated into France and now also in these daies they that desire more exact knowledge thereof goe thither for the most part to be instructed therein The Druides are wont to bee freed from warfare neither with the rest pay they tribute Immunitie they have in exemption as from war-service so from all other charges whatsoever Thus many there bee who being excited with so great rewards and of their owne accord meete together at Schoole for to learne and are thither sent by their kinsfolke friends and parents There by report they learne by rote a great number
named Celtae the Greekes termed Galatae of their milke-white colour as some would have it or of their long bush of haire as I said erewhile So they that nominated themselves after their own language Teutsch Numidians and Hellenes by the Romans were named Germans Mauri and Grecians Even so in those daies not to speake of many other they which in their owne Idiome are called Muselmans Magier Czecchi and Besermans are by all nations in Europe named Turkes Hungarians Bohemians and Tartarians And even wee our selves in England called in our naturall speech Englishmen are named by the Britaines Irishmen and the high-land Scots Sasson that is to say Saxons By the same reason we are to deeme that our ancestours which termed themselves Cumero were upon some other cause either by themselves or others named Britaines From whence the Greekes framed their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and delivered the same as it were from hand to hand unto the Romans This ground being laid let us enquire now into the names of our Island As for the name Albion I passe not much considering that the Greekes gave it to this Isle for difference sake seeing that all the Islands bordering round about it were called Britanish and Britaines The Island Britaine saith Plinie renowned in the Greek records and ours both lieth betwixt North and West over against Germanie France and Spaine but with a great distance betweene them they being the greatest parts by far of all Europe Albion it had to name when all the Isles adjacent were called Britannies Whereupon Catullus writing against Caesar said thus Hunc Galliae timent timent Britanniae Him Gaule doth feare him Britaine dreads Who also in the same traine of verses calleth it the utmost Isle of the West And it may seeme that this name Albion sprung from the vanitie the fabulous inventions and that unconstant levity of the Greeks in coining of names which they themselves termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For seeing they have in fabulous wife named Italy Hesperia of Hesperus the sonne of Atlas France Gallatia of a sonne of Polyphemus I cannot otherwise believe but that in the same veine also of fabling they called this Island Albion of Albion Neptunes sonne which thing Perottus and Lilius Giraldus have put downe in writing Unlesse a man would derive it rather of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which as Festus witnesseth in Greeke signifieth White whereupon the Alpes also have their appellation For environed it is with white rocks which Cicero termeth Mirificas moles that is wondrous Piles and hereof it is that upon the coined pieces bearing the stampe of Antoninus Pius and Severus Britaine is pourtraied sitting upon rockes in womans habit And the British Poets themselves name it Inis wen that is The white Isle To say nothing of Orpheus in his Argonauticks if so be they be his who called the Island next unto Hibernia or Irënis that is Ireland which must needs be this of ours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the white land and which a few verses before he may seeme to have named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fracastorius also writing how that pestilent day-fever in Britaine which commonly we call the British or English swet hapned by occasion of the soile as if the same had stood much upon plaister supposeth that this Island gat the name Albion of the said plaisterish soile As for that pretty tale how Albion was also called of Albina one of those thirtie daughters of Dioclesian the King of Syria which at their very wedding solemnitie slew their husbands and being brought hither by ship without rower tooke possession of this Island first and conceived by spirits brought forth a breede of giants who can abide to heare it without indignation as the most loud lie of some leaud lossell Neither is there any cause wherefore I should so curiously search why Britaine in that ancient Parodia against Ventidius Bassus is named Insula Caeruli considering that it is compassed round about with the Ocean which the Poets call Caerulus and Caerulum Whereupon Claudian of Britaine writeth thus Cujus vestigîa verrit Caerulus Whose feet the Azure Sea Doth sweepe I passe over to speake of Aristides who named it The great and the furthest Island That it was called also Romania Gildas after a sort doth intimate who writeth that subdued it was of the Romans so as that the name of Roman servitude stuck to the soile thereof and by and by after so as it might not be counted BRITANIA but ROMANIA and one or two pages after speaking of the same The Island quoth he keeping indeed the Roman name but neither their custome nor law And prosper Aquitanus in expresse words called it the Roman Island heereto may bee referred also thus much that when the Statutes of Tacitus and Florianus the Emperors were by lightning overthrowne the Soothsayers answered out of their learning that an Emperour should arise out of their family who among other things was to set presidents over Taprobane and to send a Proconsull to the Roman Island which the learned understand of our Britaine that was a Province Praesidiall and never Proconsular as afterwards wee will declare But that sometime it was named Samothea of Samothes the sixth Sonne of Iaphet believe it who that will for me Out of whose shop and forge this comes I wote full well even from Annius Viturbiensis forsooth who under a goodly title as the manner is of craftie retailers hath in the name of Berosus published and thrust upon credulous persons his owne fictions and vaine inventions But touching the name and originall of Britaine the truth by reason of the divers and sundry wits of men is very doubtfull and wavering In which point that I may lawfully interpose mine owne conjecture I will by way of Preface beseech our Britains to speake and think favorably of me that while they are desirous to learne they would be willing to pardon and not debarre me of that course which Eliot Leland Lhuid and the rest have taken For if it was lawfull for Humfrey Lhuid a most learned Britain without any prejudice at all to Brutus nay if hee were commended rather for it to derive the name of Britaine otherwise than from Brutus let it not bee imputed as a hainous offence unto me who am unwilling to impugne the Storie of Brutus to deduce it from somewhat else if I can And that out of the very British tongue and from nothing else which as it is least mingled with other languages and withall most ancient so in this search it seemeth greatly to helpe and further us For ancient tongues are reputed passing necessarie for the searching out of Originals and Plato teacheth us That the first names being through the long continuance of time growne out of use are preserved in barbarous tongues as being more ancient than others And although those things so
the Latins Minium in the name of Acliminius King Cinobelinus his sonne no man I hope will stand against mee Moreover Rufina that most learned British Lady tooke that name of the colour Rufus that is sad râ—d like as Albane the first martyr in Britaine of Albus that is White And if any one that is skilfull in the old British tongue would examine the rest of British names which in the ancient Writers are not past foure or five more in all wee may well suppose that he shall find in those names as few as they be some signification of a colour Neither must we omit this observation that the commonest names at this day among the Britans Gwin Du Goch Lhuid were imposed upon them from the white blacke red russet or tawny colour So that now it may bee thought no such wonder that the whole nation it selfe drew the denomination from painting considering verily that they in generall painted themselves and the very Inhabitants both in times past and also in these our daies imposed upon themselves their names of Colours But now to the matter if haply all this hath beene beside the matter This also is certaine that in stories a Britaine is called in the British tongue Brithon I care not for the note of aspiration seeing that the Britaine 's who as Chrysostome saith had a hissing or lisping pronuntiation delight in aspirations which the Latines have carefully avoided Now as Brito came of Brith so did Britannia also in my opinion Britannia saith Isidore tooke that name from a word of the owne nation For what time as the most ancient Greeks and these were they that first gave the Island that name sailing still along the shore as Eratosthenes saith either as rovers or as merchants travailed unto nations most remote and disjoyned farre asunder and learned either from the Inhabitants themselves or else of the Gaules who spake the same tongue that this nation was called Brith and Brithon then they unto the word BRITH added TANIA which as we find in the Greek Glossaries betokeneth in Greek a region and thereof they made a compound name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is the Britons-land for which they have written false 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But Lucretius and Caesar the first Latines that made mention thereof more truely Britannia That this is so I doe the more firmely believe because that besides our Britaine a man shall not find over the face of the whole earth above three countries of any account and largenesse which end in the termination TANIA and those verily lying in this west part of the world namely MAVRITANIA LVSITANIA and AQVITANIA Which names I doubt not but the Greeks made and delivered to the Latines as who first discovered and surveied these lands For of Mauri they framed Mauritania as one would say the countrey of the Mauri which the home-bred people of that land as Strabo witnesseth called Numidia of Lusus the sonne of Liber Lusitania as it were the land of Lusius and Aquitania perhaps ab aquis that is of waters as Ivo Carnotensis is of opinion being a region seated upon waters in which sense as Plinie writeth it was before time named Armorica that is coasting upon the sea As for Turditania and Bastitania names of smaller countries they may hereto also be reduced which likewise were in this westerne tract to wit in Spaine and may seeme to signifie as much as the regions of the Turdi and the Basti Neither is it a strange and new thing that a denomination should be compounded of a forrein and a Greek word put together Names are compounded saith Quintilian either of our own that is Latine and of a strange word put together as Biclinium that is a roome with two beds or two tables and contrariwise as Epitogium that is a garment worne upon a gowne Anticato that is a book written against Cato or of two forrein words joyned in one as Epirrhedium a kind of wagon And this maner of composition is most usuall in the names of countries Came not Ireland by composition of the Irish word Erin and the English word Land Did not Angleterre that is England grow together of an English and of a French word and did not Franclond for so our Saxons named Francia or France proceed from a French and Saxon word Came not Poleland likewise from a Polonian word which among them betokeneth a plaine and a Germane Lastly was not Danmarch compounded of a Danish word and the Duch March which signifieth a bound or limit But in so plaine and evident a matter I will not use any more words Neither have we cause to wonder at this Greeke addition TANIA seeing that S. Hierome in his questions upon Genesis proveth out of most ancient authors that the Greeks inhabited along the sea coasts and Isles of Europe throughout as far as to this our Island Let us read saith he Varroes bookes of Antiquities and those of Sisinius Capito as also the Greeke writer Phlegon with the rest of the great learned men and we shall see all the Islands well neere and all the sea coasts of the whole world yea and the lands neere unto the sea to have beene taken up with Greeke Inhabitants who as I said before from the mountaines Amanus and Taurus even to the British Ocean possessed all the parts along the sea side And verily that the Greeks arrived in this our region viewed and considered well the scite and nature thereof there will be no doubt and question made if we observe what Athenaeus hath written concerning Phileas Taurominites of whom more anon who was in Britaine in the clx yeare before Caesars comming if we call to remembrance the Altar with an Inscription Vnto Vlysses in Greek letters and lastly if we marke what Pytheas before the time of the Romans time hath delivered in writing as touching the distance of Thule from Britaine For who had ever discovered unto the Greeks Britaine Thule the Belgicke countries and their sea coasts especially if the Greeks ships had not entred the British and German Ocean yea and related the description thereof unto their Geographers Had Pytheas thinke you come to the knowledge of sixe daies sailing beyond Britaine unlesse some of the Greeks had shewed the same Who ever told them of Scandia Burgos and Nerigon out of which men may saile into Thule And these names seeme to have been better knowne unto the most ancient Greeks than either to Plinie or to any Roman Whereupon Mela testifieth That Thule was much mentioned and renowned in Greek letters and Plinie likewise writeth thus Britaine an Island famous in the monuments and records both of the Greeks and of us By this meanes therefore so many Greek words have crept into the British French withall into the Belgicke or low-Dutch language And if Lazarus Bayfius and Budaeus do make their vant and glory in this that their Frenchmen have beene of
old 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Lovers and Studious of the Greekes grounding their reason upon few French words of that Idiome which retaine some markes and tokens of the Greek tongue if Hadrian Junius joyeth no lesse because in the Belgicke words there ly covertly Greek Etymologies then may the Britaines make their boast in whose language many words there be derived from the Greeks Howbeit Sir Thomas Smith Knight sometime Secretary to Queene Elizabeth a man most learned every way thinketh verily that this hapned thereupon for that when all Europe besides was much troubled and shaken with wars very many of the Greeks flocked hither for refuge as it were into a sanctuary Thus have you as touching the Originall and name of Britaine mine error or coniecture whether you wil which if it swerve from the truth I wish it were by the truth it selfe reformed In this intricate and obscure study of antiquitie it is thought praise-worthy somewhat to erre and remember we should withall that such things as at the first sight being slightly thought upon are deemed false after a better review and further consideration oftentimes seeme true Now if any man should summon me to appeare before the Tribunall of Verity I have no other answer at all to make And as for our countrimen the Britans such as be of the learneder sort I doe most earnestly beseech and desire them to employ all their labour industry wit and understanding in the searching out hereof so lgog untill at last the truth with her owne cleare bright beames may scatter and dissolve all mists of conjectures whatsoever THE MANERS AND CVSTOMES OF THE BRITAINES AS concerning the Britaines what Acts at the first they exploited what forme of common-wealth they used after what orders and lawes they lived M. Daniel Rogers a very good man excellently well learned and my especiall friend promised in his writings to informe us but for that he beeing cut off by untimelie death hath performed nothing take here these few notes as touching their ancient maners and customes collected word for word out of ancient authors Caesar. The Britans use for their money brazen pieces or rings of iron duly weighed and tried to a certaine just poize To taste of hare hen and goose they thinke it unlawfull howbeit these they keepe for their delight and pleasure Of them all these are most civill and curteous by far that dwell in Kent which is a country altogether lying upon the sea coast neither doe these Inhabitants differ much in custome from the Gaules The Inlanders for the most part sow no corne but live of milke and flesh and clad themselves in skins But the Britans all in generall depaint themselves with wood that maketh a blew colour and hereby they are the more terrible to their enemies in fight The haire of their heads they weare long and shave all parts of the body saving the head and upper lip Ten or twelve of them together use their wives in common and especially brethren partake with brethren and parents with their children but looke what children they beare theirs they are reputed who first married them virgins In battell for the most part they were wont to employ their chariotiers First these ride about into all parts of the battell and fling darts and with the very fearefull sight of horse and with the ratling noise of the wheeles they doe most part breake the rankes and put them in disarray and when they have once wound themselves within the troopes of the horsemen they alight from their chariots and fight on foot The chariot-guiders in the meane time depart a little out of the medly and bestow themselves so that if the other be overcharged with the multitude of enemies they may readily and without let retyre in safetie Thus in their battels they performe the nimble motion of horsemen and steadinesse of footmen by daily practise and experience so ready in their service that they were wont to stay in the declivity of a steepe hill their horses being in their full carriere quickly turne short and moderate their pace runne along the spire-pole and beame of the chariot rest upon the yoke of and harnesse of their steeds and from thence leape againe into the chariots most speedily at their pleasure These chariotiers would retire also many times of purpose and when they had trained and drawne our men a little way off from their legions dismount from their chariots and encounter them on foot having thereby the vantage of them in flight Furthermore they never fought thicke and close together but thinne and with great distance betweene having set stations or wards of purpose so as one might succour another receiving the wearied and putting forth new and fresh supplies Strabo The Britans be taller of stature than the Gauls their haire not so yellow nor their bodies so well knit and firme For proofe of their talenesse I saw my selfe at Rome very youths and springals higher by halfe a foote than the tallest man Mary they had but bad feet to support them As for all other lineaments of the body they shewed good making and proportionable feature For disposition of nature they partly resemble the Gauls partly they be more plaine more rude and barbarous insomuch that some of them for want of skill can make no cheeses albeit they have plenty of milke others againe are altogether ignorant in gardening and planting of orchyards yea and in other points of husbandry Many Lords and Potentates they have among them In their warres they use a number of chariots like as some of the Gauls Woods stand them in stead of Cities and townes for when they have by felling of trees mounded and fensed therewith a spacious round plot of ground there they build for themselves halles and cottages and for their cattell set up stals and folds but those verily for the present use and not to serve long Caesar likewise A towne the Britaines call some thicke wood which they have enclosed and fortified with a ditch and rampier and made for a place of refuge and retrait to avoid the incursions of the borderers Diodorus Siculus The Britans live after the manner of the old world They use chariots in fight as the report goes of the ancient Greeks at the Trojane war Their houses are for the most part of reed or wood Their corne they inne and house with eare and all threshing out thereof from band to mouth as their need requires Faire conditioned people they are plaine and of upright dealing far from the subtiltie and craft of our men Their food whereupon they live is simple and nothing daintie nor like the full fare of rich men Their Island is replenished with people Pomponius Mela. Britaine bringeth forth nations and Kings of Nations but they be all uncivill and the farther they are from the continent the lesse acquainted they be with other kind of riches onely in catell and lands
the manner is of Slaves during the Saturnalia to celebrate that festivall time in the habit of their Masters and so presently with willing hearts followed Plautius The forces being divided into three parts for feare lest if they arrived all in one place they might be put by their landing carried backe by a gale of wind found some trouble in their passage yet taking heart againe because as they sailed along there was seene a fire-drake in the Element shooting from the East the West they were conveied over into the Island and no man stopped them For the Britans supposing verily in regard of those things which I have related that they would not come had not assembled themselves and therefore without any conflict they lay hidden within bogs marishes and woods in hope by lingring delaies to wearie the Romans that they should be forced without any service exploited to retire hence like as it had befallen unto Iulius Caesar. Wherefore Plautius tooke great paines in seeking of them out After he had found them now they were not free States but ruled under divers Kings first he discomfited Caractacus afterward Togodumnus the sonnes of Cunobellinus for their father was deceased When these were fled part of the Bodunni who were subject to the Catuellani he received into his protection and having left a garrison there hee went forward to a certaine river but because the Britans thought the Romans could not possibly passe over without a bridge they lay encamped more carelesly on the farther side thereof Plautius therefore set the Germanes who were wont to wade through the most swift and violent rivers even in their very armour These comming upon the enemies at unawares hurt not a man of them but wounded the horses onely that drew their chariots who when they were troubled and disordered the men were not able to sit them Then sent hee Flavus Vespasianus who afterwards became Emperour and his brother Sabinus with him as Lieutenant who likewise having passed over the river surprised very many of the Barbarians and slew them Neither fled the rest away but the morrow after joyned battell wherein the victorie remained doubtfull untill such time as C. Sidius Geta at the very point to have beene taken prisoner by the enemies vanquished them so as that for his good service triumphall honours were granted unto him although he had not been Consull From thence the Barbarians retired themselves to the river Thames where it dischargeth it selfe into the sea and with the flowe thereof riseth high This river they soone passed over as being skilfull of such places as would affoord them firme footing and were passable fords And the Romans in pursuing them were in danger Soone after when the Germanes had swum over a second time whiles some of them passed over at a bridge higher up the river environing the Barbarians on every side they made a great slaughter of them but when unadvisedly they followed after the rest they fell upon blind bogs and lost many of their men Hereupon and for that the Britans by occasion of Togodumnus his death abated not their courage one whit but rather prepared themselves to fight the more fiercely in revenge of his death Plautius for feare went no farther but setting a guard to keep what he had gotten sent for Claudius having a warrant and commandement so to doe in case he were overlaid with any extraordinary violence For which expedition among much other Equipage Elephants also were gotten together and prepared Claudius advertised of these newes committed the affaires of the City and the souldiers likewise to the charge of Vitellius upon whom as also upon himselfe he had conferred a Consulship for six moneths Then went he downe in person by water from Rome to Ostra and so from thence sailed to Marshils and travelling the rest of the way partly by land and partly by sea came to the Ocean embarked crossed the channell into Britaine and went directly forward to his forces expecting him by the Thames side When he had received them into his owne charge and passed over the river he fought a set battell with the Barbarians assembled against his comming and obtained victory Then tooke he in Camalodunum the roiall seat of Cunobellinus and many thence he drave others upon their yeelding he tooke to mercy For these acts performed divers times he was stiled Imperator a thing directly against the Romanes custome for lawfull it is not in one war to assume that name oftner than once Furthermore Claudius disarmed the Britans and committed as well them to be governed as the rest to be subdued unto Plautius Himselfe made speede to Rome sending before him Pompeius and Silanus his sonnes in Law with tidings of this victorie Thus much Dio. Howbeit Suetonius reporteth that part of the Iland he tooke into his hands upon submission without any battell or bloodshed Sixteene daies or thereabout himselfe stayed in Britain in which time he remitted unto the Gentry and Nobility of the Britans the confiscation of their goods For which benefit of his they frequented his temple and adored him as a God Thus returned he to Rome in the sixt moneth after that he went forth from thence So great a matter it was and of such consequence to have conquered even so small a parcell of Britain that the Senate thereupon decreed in the honor of Claudius yearly Games triumphall Arches both in Rome and also at Gessoriacum in Gaul and a most honorable and stately triumph to the beholding whereof the governors of Provinces also yea and certaine banished persons were permitted to come into Rome a Navall coronet was fixed upon the looure of the Palace as it were the ensigne of the British sea subdued by him the Provinces brought in Crownes of gold and Gallia Comata one above the rest waighing 9. pounds and the hither part of Spaine another of 7. pound weight He mounted up into the Capitoll by the staires on his knees supported and heaued up by his sonnes in Law on either side He entred in triumphing wise the Adriaticke sea embarqued in a vessell more like to some exceeding great house than a ship Unto his wife Messalina was allowed by the Senate the highest place to sit in as also to ride in a Carroch or hanging coach After this he set forth triumphall plaies and games having taken upon him for that purpose the Consular office and authoritie The solemnities were exhibited at once in two Theatres and many times when hee was gone aside from the sight others had the charge thereof Horse runnings for the prize hee promised as many as those daies would admit Howbeit above ten there were not for betweene every course of horses Beares were killed champions performed their devoirs and choyce boies sent for out of Asia danced the warlike dance in armor Moreover upon Valerius Asiaticus Julius Silanus Sidius Geta and others in regard of this conquest hee heaped Triumphall
stand in feare of them whom they knew not A greater matter therfore it was to have passed over to the Britans than to have triumphed over the Britans And in another place Britaine also which lieth hid amidst the waves he gained to the Roman Empire by force of armes by the triumph over which Island Rome was thought to be more welthy Claudius reputed more wary and politick and Nero esteemed more fortunate Also in another passage which deserveth most of all to be put downe here The very Elements also have done homage to the name of the Romans to whom likewise even the round world hath sworne alleageance already which is enclosed and bounded with the Romane Empire and in one word is of many called the ROMANE WORLD For if we search into the truth the whole army it selfe is comprised within the Empire of the Romans upon which the Roman valour having gone forward still beyond the Ocean hath sought for it selfe another world and in Britaine an Island remote from the confines of Lands hath found out for a selfe another possession To conclude they who are denied the benefit not onely of the free burgesie of Rome but in manner also of all converse with men are directed and awarded thither there to dwell as persons banished out of the world The Ocean now hath reined up his bounds For the Romans know how to seeke into his inward secret parts And Iosephus in the person of Titus speaketh thus to the Iewes What greater wall and barre than the Ocean wherewith the Britans being fensed and inclosed doe yet adore the Romans forces Moreover as touching this argument that renowned Ioseph Scaliger in his Catalects hath saved and freed from rust and mouldinesse certaine verses of a most learned Poet though unknown which because they are not every where to bee found I will not thinke much of my paints to put down for they are as good as good may be Now that they be sundry Epigrams and therefore distinctly to be considered Iohn Obsopaeus the German a passing learned young man hath out of ancient manuscripts parchments very lately enformed me Ausonius nunquam tellus violata triumphis Ictatuo Caesar fulmine procubuit Oceanusque tuas ultra se respicit aâ—as Qui finis mundo est non erit imperio That Land whose honour never felt by Roman triumph wrong By dint laâ—e of thy thunder-bolt ô Caesar lay along The Ocean seeth beyond it selfe thine altars to adore That will not bound their Empire now which did the world before Victa priús nulli jam jam spectata triumphâ— Illibata tuos gens jacet in titulos Fabula visa diù medioque reconditaponto Libera victori jam modó colla dedit Euphrates Ortus Rhenus incluserit Arctos Oceanus medium venit in imperium A people erst untouch'd unfoil'd and conquered of none Late seene in triumph to thy stile hath title added one Though but a tale long time as hid in mid-sea past all view To Victors yoke now yeelded necke that never bondage knew How ever Rhene shuts up the North Euphrates Easterne land It skils not now that th' Ocean sea is whole at thy command Libera non hostem non passa Britannia Regem Aeternum nostro quae procul orbe jacet Foelix adversis sorte oppressa secunda Communis nobis tibi Caesar erit Britaine most free which enemie and Monarch never felt Far dissite from this world of ours wherein we ever dwelt An happie state in adverse times but wonne in prosperous dayes Sall be ô Caesar common now to thee and us alwaies Ultima cingebat Tibris tua Romule Regna Hic tibi finis erat religiose Numa Et tua Dive tuum sacrata potentia coelo Extremum citra constitit Oceanum At nunc Oceanus geminos interluit orbes Pars est imperij terminus ante fuit Thy Kingdomes all ô Romulus Tibris sometime did bound Past it ô Numa prince devout thou had'st no foot of ground And even thy power right sacred now and heavenly though it be O Caesar staied within precinct of thine owne Ocean sea But now the Ocean interflowâ—s two worlds by double shore And parcell of our Empire is which was the bound before Mars pater nostrae gèntis tutela Quirine Et magno positus Caesar uterque Polo Cernitis ignotos Latia sub lege Britannos Sol citra nostrum flectitur imperium Vltima cesserunt adaperto claustra Profundo Et jam Romano cingimur Oceano O father Mars ô Romulus Protector of our race And Caesars both late defied in heav'n who have your place The Britans erst unknown ye see the Latian lawes embrace And short of our large Seignory the Sun turnes in his race The furthest frontiers soone gave way when seas once opened were The Romane Ocean now it is wherein enclosed we are Opponis frustrà rapidum Germania Rhenum Euphrates prodest nil tibi Parthe fugax Oceanus jam terga dedit nec pervius ulli Caesareos fasces imperiumque tulit In vaine opposest thou for fence swift Rhene ô Germany Euphrates Parthian boots thee nought thou that in fight dost flie For th' Ocean is already fled which passable to none Hath now the Caesars government and Romes rule undergone Illa procul nostro semota exclusaque coelo Alluitur nostrâ victa Britannia aquá Semota vasto disjuncta Britannia Ponto Cinctaque inaccessis horrida littoribus Quam fallax aestu circuit Oceanus Quam fallax aestu circuit Oceanus Brumalem sortita plagam quà frigida semper Praefulget stellis Arctos in occiduis Conspectuque tuo devicta Britannia Caesar Subdidit insueto colla premenda jugo Aspice confundit populos imper via tellus Conjunctum est quod adhuc orbis orbis erat That Britain from our clime far set and thence excluded quite Conquerd of late is washed yet with water ours by right Britain I say far set apart and by vast sea disjoin'd Wall'd with inaccessible banks and craggy clifts behind Which father Nereus fensed had with billowes most invincible And Ocean likewise compassed with ebs and flowes as fallible Britain that hath a wintry clime alotted for her seat Where cold North-Beare shines alway bright with stars that never set Even at thy sight and first approach ô Caesar soone subdu'd Submitted hath her necke to beare strange yoke of servitude Behold the earth unpassable of nations makes commixtion What heretofore was world and world is now conjoined in one Now let Tacitus proceed in his Story Vntill this time all went well with Ostorius but soone after his fortune stood in dolefull termes either for that upon the displacing of Caractacus as if thereby all had beene subdued and the warre ended the Romans intended not so carefully their militarie service or because the enemies in compassion of so puissant a king were more fervently enflamed to revenge For they environed the Camp-master and those Legionary cohorts
billowes the one of the land and enemie conquered the other of the Ocean subdued The Britains as by the prisoners was understood were amazed also at the sight of the navie as though now the secrets of their sea were disclosed and no refuge remained if they were overcome Whereupon the Caledonians arming with great preparation and greater bruit thereof as the manner is of matters unknowne having of themselves first set in hand to assault our Castles braved our men and put them in feare as Chalengers in so much that some of our side who would seeme to be wise but were dastards indeed counselled the Generall to retire on this side Bodotria and that the best course was to depart of their own accord rather than to be repelled with shame in the mean while Agricola takes knowledge that the enemies meant to divide themselves and to give the onset in severall Companies whereupon lest hee should bee enclosed about and entrapped by their multitude and skill in the country he also marched with his armie divided in three Which when it was knowne to the enemie they on a sodaine changing advise and uniting their forces together joyntly assaulted by night the ninth Legion as being of weakest resistance and having slaine the watch partly asleep and partly amazed with feare brake into the campe And now were they fighting within the very trenches when Agricola having intelligence given him by Spies what way the enemies had taken and following withall their footsteps commanded the lightest horsemen and footmen to play on their backs and maintaine the skirmish and the whole armie anone to second them with a shout And when it drew neere to day the glittering of the ensignes was seene So the Britaines were quailed with a duple danger but the Romans recovered courage againe and being past perill of their persons fought now for their honour freshly assailing their late assailers And verily within the streights of the gates the conflict was sharpe and cruell till in the end the enemies were forced to flie whilest both our armies contended the one would seeme to have helped their fellows the other to have needed none other to help them and if the bogs and wood had not covered their flight that one victory had ended the warre Vpon this battell so manfully fought so famously wonne the armie presuming that to their prowesse all things were easie and open cried To lead into Caledonia and to find out the limit of Britan with a course of a continued Conquests and even those who ere while were so warie and wise waxt forward enough after the event and grew to speak bigly such is the hard condition of warres If ought fall out well all challenge a part misfortunes are ever imputed to one Contrariwise the Britans presupposing that not valour but the cunning of the Generall by using the occasion had carried it away abated no whit of their stomacke but armed their youth transported their children and wives into places of safetie and sought by assemblies and religious rites to establish an association of their Cities and States together And so for that yeare both parties departed away incensed The same summer a cohort of Vsipians levied in Germanie and sent over into Britan committed a hainous and memorable Act. For having slaine a Centurion and certaine souldiers intermingled among other manciples and set over them for direction of discipline they fled and embarqued themselves in three pinnaces compelling by force the Masters of the said vessels to execute their charge and only one doing his office the other two being suspected and thereupon slaine this strange going out and putting to sea the fact as yet not noised abroade was gazed and wondred at afterwards being driven uncertainly hither and thither and having skirmished with the Britains standing in defence of their owne often prevailing and sometimes repulsed they came at last to that miserie that they were enforced to eat one another first the weakest then as the lot lighted Thus after they had floated round about Britain and lost their vessels for lacke of government they were intercepted first by the Suevians then by Frisians as Pirats and Rovers Now some of them there were that being bought by merchants as slaves and by change of Masters brought to our side of the river grew into a name by giving first notice of so great and so rare an adventure In the beginning of Summer Agricola was deepely touched with a grievous mischance that happened in his owne house for he lost his owne Sonne about a yeare old Which infortunate hap he neither bare out as most of these great men do in the like case vaine-gloriously nor tooke it againe so impatiently with sorrow and lamentation as women are wont and amidst his mourning used the warre as one of his remedies Therefore having sent his fleete afore which by spoiling in sundry places should induce a greater and more uncertaine terrour upon his enemies hee made ready and followed after with his armie joyning thereto some of the valiantest Britaine 's whom by long experience in peace he had found most faithfull and so came as farre as to the mount Grampias where the enemies were lodged before For the Britans nothing danted with the event of the former battell and attending for nothing else but revenge or servitude and being taught at length that common danger must bee repelled with concord by embassages and league made had raised the power of all their Cities and States together And now by this time there were entred into the field the view being taken above thirty thousand armed men besides an endlesse number of youth which daily flocked to them still yea and lusty old men renowned in warr and bearing every one the badge due to their honour at what time among many other leaders Galgacus for his valour birth the principall man seeing the multitude thus assembled hotly to demand battell is said to have used this speech unto them When I view and consider the causes of this warre and our present necessitie I have reason me seemes to presume that this day and this your agreeing consent will give a happy beginning to the freedome of the whole Island For both have we all hitherto lived in liberty besides no land remaineth beyond no nor so much as sea for our safegard The Romane navie thus as you see hoovering upon our coasts so that Combat and armes which valiant men desire for honour the dastard must also use for his best securitie the former battels which have with divers events been fought against the Romanes had their hope and refuge resting in our hands Because we the flower of the British Nobilitie and seated therefore the furthermost in never seeing the coasts of the countries which serve in slaverie have kept even our eies unpolluted and free from all contagion of tyrannie Beyond us is no land beside us none are free us hitherto this very corner and the inward recesse
the Arians their heresie crept into Britaine wherein from the first yeares of the great Constantine a sweete concent and harmonie of Christ the head and his members had continued untill such time as that deadly and perfidious Arianisme like to a pestiferous Serpent from the other side of the sea casting up her venom upon us caused brethren dwelling together to be dis-joyned piteously one from another and thus the way as it were being made over the Ocean all other cruell and fell beasts wheresoever shaking out of their horrible mouthes the mortiferous poison of every heresie inflicted the deadly stings and wounds of their teeth upon this our countrey desirous evermore to heare some noveltie but holding nought at all stedfastly In favour of these Arians Constantius summoned foure hundred Bishops of the West Church to Ariminum for whom the Emperour by his commandement allowed corne and victuals But that was thought of the Aquitanes French and Britaines an unseemely thing refusing therefore that allowance out of the Emperours coffers they chose rather to live at their owne proper charges Three onely out of Britaine for want of their owne had maintenance from the State refusing the contribution offered unto them from the rest reputing it more safe and void of corruption to charge the common treasure than the private state of any person After this when Constantius was departed this world Julianus that Apostata who had taken upon him the title of Augustus against Constantius first drave out Palladius who had been master of Offices into Britaine and sent away Alphius who had governed Britan as Deputy Lieutenant to reedifie Jerusalem but fearefull round balles of flaming fire breaking forth neere unto the foundations skarred him from that enterprize and many a thousand of Jewes who wrestled in vaine against the decree of God were overwhelmed with the ruines This dissolute Augustus and in his beard onely a Philosopher feared as hath erewhile been said to come and aid the poore distressed Britans and yet from hence he carried out every yeare great store of corne to maintaine the Roman garrisons in Germany When Valentinian the Emperour steered the helme of the Roman Empire what time as through the whole world the trumpets resounded nothing but the warlike Al Arme the Picts Saxons Scots and Attacots vexed the Britans with continuall troubles and annoyances Fraomarius then King of the Almanes was translated hither and by commission made Tribune or Marshall over a band of the Almanes for number and power in those daies highly renowned to represse the incursions of those barbarous nations Neverthelesse Britaine was through the generall conspiracie of those Barbarians afflicted and brought to extreme distresse Nectaridius Comes or Lieutenant of the maritime tract slaine and Bucholbaudes the Generall by an ambush of the enemies circumvented The intelligence of which occurrences when it was brought unto Rome with great horror the Emperour sent Severus being even then Lord High Steward of his houshold to redresse what was done amisse in case his hap had beene to have seene the wished end who being within a while after called away Iovinius went to the same parts sent backe Proventusides in post minding to crave the puissant helpe of an armie For they avouched than the urgent necessary occasions required so much At the last so many and so fearefull calamities were by daily rumors reported as touching the same Iland that Theodosius was elected and appointed to make speed thither a man of approved skill in warlike affaires most fortunatelie atchieved who having levied and gotten unto him a couragious company of young gallants to furnish as well Legions as cohorts put himselfe in his journey with a brave shew of confidence leading the way At the same time the Picts divided into two nations the Dicalidones and Vecturiones the Attacots likewise a warlike people and the Scots ranging in divers parts did much mischiefe where they went As for the cohorts of Gaule the Frankners and Saxons confining upon them brake out and made rodes where ever they could either by land or sea and what with driving booties with firing towns and killing poore captives made foule worke there To stay these wofull miseries if prosperous fortune would have given leave this most vigorous and valiant Captaine intending a voiage to the utmost bounds of the earth when he was come to the sea side at Boloigne which lieth divided from the opposite tract of land by a narrow streit ebbing and flowing where the water is wont to swell on high with terrible tides and againe to fall downe flat and lie like even plains without any harme of sailer or passenger from thence having sailed and leasurely crossed the said sea he arrived as Rhutupiae a quiet rode and harbour over against it From whence after that the Batavians Heruli Iovij and Victores companies confident of their strength and power who followed were come hee departed and marching toward London an old towne which the posteritie called Augusta having divided his troopes into sundry parts hee set upon those companies of roving and robbing enemies even when they were heavy loaden with bootie and pillage And having quickly discomfited those that drave before them their prisoners bound and cattell he forced them to forgoe the prey which the most miserable tributaries had lost In the end after full restitution made of all save onely some small parcels bestowed upon his wearied souldiers he entred most joyfully into the citie over set before with distresses and calamities but now suddenly refreshed so far forth as hope of recovery and safetie might effect and there being raised up with this luckie hand to adventure greater exploits and yet casting with himselfe projects promising securitie he staied doubtfull of the future event as having learned by the information of revolting fugitives and confession of captives that so great a multitude of sundry nations and a stiffe-necked people of so fell and fierce a disposition could not possibly be vanquished but by secret wiles and sudden excursions Finally after proclamations published and promises made of impunitie he summoned as well the traiterous runagates as many others that went with free pasport dispersed sundry waies to present themselves ready for service Vpon which summons given so soone as most of them were returned he as one pricked forward with so good a motive and yet held backe by heavie cares called for Civilis by name who was to rule Britaine as Deputie to bee sent unto him a man of a very quicke hastie nature but a precise keeper of Iustice and righteousnesse likewise for Dulcitius a redoubted Captaine and right skilfull in feates of armes Afterwards having gotten heart and courage to him he went from Augusta which in old time they called Londinum well appointed with industrious and considerate souldiers and so brought exceeding great succour to the ruinate and troubled estate of the Britaines gaining
God was minded to purge his family and to recure it thus infected with so great corruption of sinnes by hearesay onely of tribulation the winged flight as one would say of an headlesse rumour pierceth the attentive eares of all men giving notice of ancient enemies ready to arrive and upon their comming fully minded to destroy them utterly and after their wonted manner to possesse and inhabite the countrey from one end to another Yet for all this were they never the better but like unto foolish and senselesse horses resisting the bridle of reason and refusing to admit the bit as they say into their close shut mouth leaving the way to salvation narrow though it were ran up and downe at randum all in the broad way of all wickednesse which leadeth directly and readily to death Whiles therefore as Salomon saith the obstinate and stubborne servant is not amended with words scourged hee is for a foole and feeleth not the whip For loe a pestilent contagion bringing much mortalitie falleth heavily upon the foolish people which in a short space when the enemies sword was gone destroied so great a multitude of them as that the living were not able to bury the dead Neither verily were they the better for it that the saying of Esay the Prophet might in them also bee fulfilled And God calleth them quoth he to sorrow and mourning to baldnesse and sackcloth but behold they fell to killing of calves to slaying of rams Lo they went to eating and drinking and said withall Let us eate and drinke for to morrow wee shall die And why the time drew neere wherein their iniquities like as those in times past of the Amorites should come to the fulnesse For they fall to consult what was the best and most convenient course to be taken for to represse so cruell and so many invasions of the forenamed nations with the booties which they raised Then all the Counsellors together with the proud tyrant become blinded and bewitched devising such a protection nay a destruction rather of their country as this namely that those most fierce Saxons a people foully infamous odious both to God and man should be let into this Island as one would say wolves into the sheep-folds to repulse forsooth and beat backe the Northern nations Than which I assure you nothing was ever devised and practised more pernicious nothing more unhappy unto this land O mist of sense and grossest understanding that ever was O desperate dulnesse and blind blockishnesse of mind Those whom in their absence they were inclined and given to dread more than very death now of their owne record these foolish Princes of Egypt entertained as I may say under the roofe of one house giving as hath beene said fond-foolish counsell unto Pharao Then rushed forth out of the barbarous Lionesses den a Kennell of whelps in three Vessels called in her language Cyulae that is Keeles and in our Latine tongue Longae naves under full saile carried with the wind of lucky sure presaging auguries whereby fore-prophesied it was unto them that for 300. yeares they should possesse and hold that land as their countrey unto which they directed their course and for an hundred and twentie that is the one moity of the said space oftentimes waste and depopulate the same These being put on shore first in the East-part of the Island and that by commandement of this infortunate tyrant set fast their terrible pawes and clawes there pretending unto the Islanders defence of their countrey but more truely intending the offence thereof unto which whelpes the foresaid dam the Lionesse finding that their first setting foote and marching forward sped well sends likewise a greater rabble of worrying freebooters which being arrived here in Flotes conjoyned themselves with the former misbegotten crew From hence it is that the shoot-grifts of iniquitie the root of bitternesse and virulent plants due to our deserts sprout and put forth in our soile proudly bud branch leafe Well these barbarous Saxons thus admitted into the Island obtaine allowance of victuals and wages as for douty souldiers and such as would endure hard service and much hazard for so they falsly beare men in hand in defence of their good hosts and friends for their kind entertainment Which being given unto them a long time stopped as wee say the dogs mouth Howbeit afterward they complaine that their monthly wages was not well paid them devising of purpose colourable occasions of quarrell protesting and threatning that unlesse they might feele more munificence powred and heaped upon them they would with the breach of covenant spoile and waste the whole Island throughout And without further delay they second these threats with very deeds for the cause of deserved revenge for precedent wickednesse was still nourished the fire kindled and set a flaming by these prophane men from sea to sea ceased not to consume all the cities and countreys bordering there about untill such time as burning well neere all the inland soile of the Island it licked up with a red flaming and terrible tongue all unto the westerne Ocean In this violent furious invasion comparable to that of the Assyrians in old time against Iuda is fulfilled also in us according to the historie that which the Prophet by way of sorrowfull lamentation uttereth They have burnt with fire thy Sanctuarie they have polluted in the Land the Tabernacle of thy name And againe O God the Gentiles are come into thine heritage they have defiled thy holy Temple c. In such wise as all the Colonies by the force of many engines and all the Inhabitants together with the Prelates of the Church both Priests and People by drawne sword glittering on every side and crackling flame of fire were at once laid along on the ground yea and that which was a piteous spectacle to behold in the midst of the streets the stone workes of turrets and high walles rent and torne in sunder from aloft the sacred altars and quarters of carcases covered with imbossed works of imagerie of a bloudy hue were seene all blended and mixed together as it were in a certaine horrible wine-presse neither was there any Sepulcher at all abroad save onely the ruins of buildings and the bowels of wild beasts and fowles When we shall read these reports let vs not be offended and displeased with good Gildas for his bitter invectives against either the vices of his owne countrey-men the Britans or the inhumane outrages of the barbarous enemies or the insatiable crueltie of our Fore-fathers the Saxons But since that for so many ages successively ensuing we are all now by a certaine engraffing or commixtion become one nation mollified and civilized with Religion and good Arts let us meditate and consider both what they were and also what wee ought to be lest that for our sinnes likewise the supreame Ruler of the world either translate other nations hither when wee are first rooted out
Caledonian advanc'd and though no barre Staid him but that the Scots and Picts with Saxons he subdu'd c. I cannot chuse but with another Poet crie out in this wise Sit nulla fides augentibus omnia Musis These Poets love to over-reach Beleeve them not when so they teach For Caesar who is prodigall in his owne praise would never have concealed these exploits if he had ever performed them But these men seeme not unlike to those good honest and learned writers in our age who whiles they patch together an historie of Caesar write forsooth how he subdued the Franks in Gaule and the English men in Britaine whereas in those daies the names of English and French were not so much as heard of either in the one or the other country as who many ages after came into these Regions That the Pictones of Gaule and our Picts were both one Nation I dare not with Ioannes Picardus avouch seeing the names of the Pictones in Gaule was even in Caesars time very riâ—e and much spoken of and for that our Picts were never called Pictones yet am I not ignorant how in one onely place of the Panegyrist among all the rest through the negligence of the copier there was foisted in Pictonum in stead of Pictorum SCOTI AMong the people of Britaine after Picts the SCOTISH Nation by good right challenge the next place concerning whom before I speake ought for feare lest evill willers frowardly peevish should calumniously misconsture those allegations which I simply ingenuously and in all honest meaning shall heere cite out of ancient writers as touching Scots I must certifie the Reader before hand that every particular hath reference to the old true and naturall Scots onely Whose of-spring are those Scots speaking Irish which inhabite all the West part of the Kingdome of Scotland now so called and the Islands adjoyning thereto and who now adaies be termed high-High-land men For the rest which are of civill behaviour and bee seated in the East part thereof albeit they beare now the name of Scottish-men yet are they nothing lesse than Scots but descended from the same Germane originall that wee English men are And this neither can they chuse but confesse nor we but acknowledge being as they are teamed by those above said High-land men Sassones as well as we and using as they doe the same language with us to wit the English-Saxon different onely in Dialect a most assured argument of one and the same originall In which regard so farre am I from working any discredit unto them that I have rather respectively loved them alwaies as of the same bloud and stocke yea and honoured them too even when the Kingdomes were divided but now much more since it hath pleased our Almightie and most mercifull God that we grow united in one bodie under one most Sacred head of the Empire to the joy happinesse welfare and safetie of both Nations which I heartily wish and pray for The beginning and Etymologie of the Scotish Nation like as of other neighbour nations round about is so full of obscuritie and lies over-spred under the mist of darkenesse in such sort that even Buchanan himselfe though otherwise a man of a very deepe insight either hath seene little therein or seene to himselfe alone for in this point he hath come short of all mens expectation Whereupon I have forborne a long time to take this enterprize in hand lest with others in admiring fables I should full sweetly please my selfe and fall into folly For a man may with as great probability derive the Scots pedigree from the Gods as from Scota that supposed and counterfeit daughter of the Aegyptian King Pharaoh wedded forsooth unto Gaithelus the sonne of Cecrops founder of Athens But as this conceite arising from the unskilfulnesse of Antiquitie is of the better sort of ingenuous Scots rejected so that other opinion of later daies drawne without all sense from a Greeke fountaine that Scots should bee so called as it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Obscure I utterly disallow and condemne as a device of envious persons to the slanderous reproach of a famous and valiant Nation Neither doe all men like the derivation of our Florilegus namely that Scots were so called because they came of a confused mingle-mangle of divers nations And yet I cannot but marvell whence Isidorus had this The Scots saith he take their name in their owne proper tongue of their painted bodies for that they are marked with sharpe yron pricks and inke and so receive the print of sundry shapes Which also Rabanus Maurus in the very same words doubtlesse out of him doth testifie in his Geographie to Ludovicus â—ius the Emperour which is to be seene in the Librarie of Trinitie Colledge in Oxford But seeing that Scotland it selfe hath of her owne people such as might very well fetch their beginning from the inmost record of Antiquitie and thereby best of all advance the glory of their Country in case they would wholly set their minds and bestow their carefull diligence for a time in this argument I will point only with my finger to the fountaines from whence haply they may draw the truth and lay before them certaine observations which I would wish them to marke and consider more diligently for my selfe will in this matter play the Scepticke and affirme nothing And first touching their originall and then of the place from whence they removed and came over into Ireland For certainely knowne it is that out of Ireland an Isle inhabited in old time by Britans as shall in due place be proved they passed into Britan and what time as they were first known unto writers by this name seated they were in Ireland For Claudian the Poet hath written of their irruptions into Britaine in these verses Totam cum Scotus Hibernem Movit infesto spumavit remige Thetis What time the Scots all Ireland stir'd offensive armes to take And with maine stroke of enemies ores the sea much fome did make And also in another place Scotorum cumulos flevit glacialis Hiberne And frozen Ireland heapes of Scots bewail'd with many a teare Orosius likewise writeth thus Ireland is peopled with Scotish Nations Gildas calleth Scots Irish Spoilers And Beda The Scots that inhabite Ireland an Isle next unto Britaine as also elsewhere Yea and in the daies of Charles the Great Eginhardus in expresse words calleth Ireland The Isle of Scots Moreover Giraldus Cambrensis That the Scottish nation saith he is descended out of Ireland the affinitie as well of their Language as of their apparell of their weapons also and of their manners even to this day doe sufficiently prove But now to come unto the points which I would have the Scots throughly to weigh For as much as they which are right and naturall Scots acknowledge not this name of Scots but otherwise call themselves Gaoithel Gael and Albin seeing also that very many
it also was a parcell of the Kingdome of Northumberland and possessed by the English-Saxons no man gain-saieth and hereof it is that all they which inhabit the East part of Scotland and be called Lowland men as one would say of the Lower-countrey are the very of-spring of the English-Saxons and doe speake English But they that dwell in the West coast named Highland men as it were of the upper countrey be meere Scots and speake Irish as I have said before and none are so deadly enemies as they be unto unto the Lowland men which use the English tongue as we doe Ammianus Marcellinus writeth that together with the Scots ATTACOTTI a warlike people did much mischiefe unto Britaine and those Humfrey Lhuid guesseth how truely I know not to have beene also of the Scotish nation Saint Ierome telleth us plainely that they were a British people For he writeth that when he was a very youth while Iulian as it seemeth was Emperour he saw in Gaule the Attacots a British nation feed of mans flesh who when they found in the Forrests heards of swine flockes of neat and other cattell were wont to cut off the buttockes of their heard-men and keepers the dugs also and paps of the women and account the same the onely dainties in the world For so according to the true Manuscript copies we are to read in this place Attacotti and not Scoti with Erasmus who acknowledgeth this text to be corrupted Although I must needs confesse that in one Manuscript wee read Attigotti in another Catacotti and in a third Cattiti Neither can this passage bee any waies understood as the vulgar sort take it of the Scots considering that Saint Ierome treating there of the sundry orders and manners of divers nations beginneth the next sentence following in this wise The nation of the Scots hath no proper wives of their owne c. In another place also where Saint Ierome maketh mention of the Attacotti Erasmus putteth downe for them Azoti These Attacoti as appeareth by the booke called Notitiae served under the Romans in their warres in the very decaying and declining state of their Empire For reckoned there are among the Palatine aids within Gaul Attecotti Iuniores Gallicani and Attecotti Honoriani Seniores also within Italie Attecotti Honoriani Iuniores By this addition Honoriani they seeme to be of the number of those Barbarians whom Honorius the Emperour entertained and to no small dammage of the Empire enrolled as souldiers to serve in his warres Among these nations also which made rodes and invasions into Britain Iohn Caius a man much exercised with cares and endevours of the best kind and one who hath passing well deserved of our Common-wealth of learning reckoneth the Ambrones for that he red in Gildas where he writeth of Picts and Scots thus Those former enemies like Ambrones Wolves even enraged for extreame hunger with dry jawes leaping over the sheep-fold whiles the shepheard is out of the way being carried with the wings of ores and armes of rowers set forward also with sailes helped with gales of winde breake thorow the bounds killing and slaying all where they came This good meaning old man thought of that which hee had read in Festus namely that the Ambrones together with the Cimbri flocked by numbers into Italie and being busied about another matter it was quite out of his head that Ambro as Isidorus noteth doth signifie a Devourer Neither doth Gildas use that word in any other sence nor Geffrey of Monmouth who called the Saxons also Ambrones nor any other Ambrones than these could my selfe hitherto ever find in ancient Writers to have invaded Britaine ENGLISH-SAXONS WHen as now the Romane Empire under Valentinian the younger did more than decline and Britaine being exhaust through so many levies of all able men and abandoned of the Romane garisons could no longer withstand the force of Scots and Picts Vortigern whom the Britans had made their Soveraigne and chiefe Governour or who as others thinke had usurped the Monarchie to the end that he might establish his imperiall rule and recover the State falling to ruine much awed hee was saith Ninnius by the Picts and Scots he stood in feare of the Romanes forces and was afraid of Aurelius Ambrosius sent for the Saxons out of Germanie to aide him who forthwith under the conduct of Hengist and Horsa with their Ciules for so they called their Flat-boats or Pinnaces arrive in Britaine and after they had in one or two battels gotten the victorie against the Picts and Scots became verie much renowned and seeing the Britans still relying upon their manhood and courage they send for greater forces out of Germany which should keepe watch and ward upon the borders and annoy the enemies by land and sea Guortigern saith Ninnius by the advice of Hengist sent for Octha and Ebissa to come and aid him who being embarqu'd in 40. Cyules or Pinnaces and sailing about the Picts coasts wasted the Isles called Orcades yea and got many Isles and Countreys beyond the Frith as farre as to the confines of the Picts But at length after they had begun to fall in love with the Lands the civill fashions and riches of Britaine presuming upon the weaknes of the Inhabitants and making the default of pay and want of victuals their quarrell they entred into league with the Picts and raised a most bloodie and mortall warre against the Britans who had given them entertainment they kill and slay them in every place being put in affright and amazednesse their fields they harrie their cities they raze and after many doubtfull events of battell fought against those two bulwarks of warre Aurelius Ambrosius who here tooke upon him to weare the purple roabe wherein his parents were killed and that warlike Arture they disseize the Britans of the more fruitfull part of the Isle and drive them out of their ancient possessions At which time to speake all in a word the most miserable Inhabitants suffred whatsoever either conquerour might dare or the conquered feare For supplies of aide flocked together daily out of Germanie which still should renew warre upon warre against the wearied Britans to wit Saxons Iutes for so must we read and not Vites and Angles who by these proper names were knowne one from another although generally they were called English and Saxons But let us treat of these in severall and summarily that if it be possible we may have a sight of our originall and first cradles Howbeit first will I adde hereto that which Witichindus being himselfe both a Saxon borne and also a writer of good antiquitie hath related as touching the comming in of the Saxons Britaine saith hee being by Vespasian the Emperour long since reduced among Provinces and under the vassalage of the Romanes standing them in stead and serving to good use a long time became assailed by their neighbour-nations for that it seemed destitute and abandoned
themselves of Holland then called Batavia under Constantius Chlorus Constantine the Great and his sonnes being received as Liege-men and translated from thence to inhabite the waste and desert countries of Gaule either by the swords point making way into more plentifull regions or else as Zosimus writeth driven out by the Saxons departed out of Holland From which time all the people bordering upon that sea coast in Germanie which were men of warre and professed Piracie as before they grew to be Franci so now they became clepid Saxons those Nations I meane which inhabite Iutland Sleswicke Holst Ditmarse the Bishopricke of Breme the countie of Oldenburgh both East and West Frisland and Holland For the nation of the Saxons as Fabius Quaestor Ethelward himselfe descended of the Saxons royall bloud writeth was wholly all that upon the seacoast from the river Rhene unto the citie Donia and which now is commonly called Dane-Marc Which author that I may acknowledge by whom I have profited master Thomas Allen of Oxford an excellent man and one endued with very many singular Arts first found out and of his courtesie imparted the same unto me with many others Out of this Maritime tract the Saxons fleshed now with the slaughter of many Romanes brake many times into the Romans provinces and for a great while annoied this Iland untill Hengist himselfe came Who out of Batavia or Holland sailed into Britaine and built that Castle of Leiden in Holland as not onely the Hollanders Annals doe testifie but also that noble Ianus Dousa a man of excellent wit and learning who of that Castle versifieth thus Quem circinato maenium ut ambitu Sic arcuatis fornicibus novum Putatur Hengistus Britanno Orbe redux posuisse victor Which Hengist by report when he Return'd from Britaine with victorie Built new with walles in compasse round And on vaults arched under ground The Iutae who had that name as many thinke from the Gutes Getes or Gothes for in a manuscript booke we read Geatun did for certaine inhabite the upper part of Cimbrica Chersonesus which still the Danes call Iuitland descended haply of those Guttae whom Ptolomee hath placed in Scandia whose habitation this day is called Gothland But take heede you thinke not with Iornandes that this was the native country of those Gothes who with victorious conquests over-ran all Europe for the most ancient and best approoved writers have recorded unto us that they dwelt beyond the river Ister fast by Pontus Euxinus and were before time called Getae But in what place the Angles were seated it is a question neither are all men of one opinion Most authors place them in Westphalia where Engern standeth and where the Suevians whom Tacitus and Ptolomee make mention of had their abode whom I am willing to beleeve if wee speake of the age of Tacitus but I suppose that from thence they came downe to the tract by the sea side Others seeke for them in Pomerania where the towne Angloen flourisheth But seeing these reach into the more inland parts of Germany far from our seas surely we must seek for some other seat of our Angles or Englishmen which Beda willed me to looke for between the Saxons and Iutes The Angles quoth he came out of that countrey which is called Angulus and is reported from that time to lie waste betweene the Provinces of the Saxons and Iutes Now seeing that between Iuitland and Holsatia the ancient countrey of the Saxons there is a little Province in the Kingdome of Dania named at this day Angel beneath the citie Flemsburg which Lindebergius in his Epistles calleth Little Anglia I dare affirme that now at length I have found the place of our ancestors habitation and that from thence the Angles came into this Iland And to averre this the more confidently I have good warrant from the authoritie of that ancient writer Ethelwardus whose words be these Old Anglia is sited between the Saxons and the Giots they have a capitall towne which in the Saxon tongue is named Sleswic but the Danes call it Haithby In which verie place Ptolomee seemeth to set the Saxons So that a Poet of the middle time sung not untunably in this manner Saxonia protulit Anglos Hoc patet in lingua niveoque colore That Englishmen from Saxons draw descent Their colour white and tongue make evident Of these Angles some part having passed forward into the inmore quarters of Germanie being blended with the Longobards and the Suevians went as farre as Italie and are thought to have left their footing in Engelheim the native countrey of Charles the Great Ingolstad Engleburg Englerute in Germanie and Angleria in Italie But what the reason or Etymologie is of the name I dare not definitively pronounce Away with that Angulus the son of Humblus and with Queene Angela whom foolish folke babble to have beene the founders of our Nation Neither thinke we that their name was imposed of Angulus that is An angle or corner as if it were a corner of the world as some building upon that stale verse seeme to hold Anglia terra ferax fertilis angulus orbis Insula praedives quae toto vix eget orbe England a fruitfull angle is without the world so wide An Iland rich that hath small need of all the world beside Neither doth Goropius his conjecture deserve credit but rather a smile which deriveth Anglos that is Englishmen from Angle that is A fishing rod or a Fish-hooke because saith he they hooked all unto them and were as we say Good Anglers But he that seeth the Etymologie of Engelbert Englehard and such like Dutch names may see perhaps the originall of Angli also Moreover it may seeme out of Procopius that the Frisones likewise came with others into Britaine The text whole as it lieth for that the booke is not commonly extant in print I will not thinke much here to set downe even as Franciscus Pithaeus a singular good man and in all sorts of Antiquitie most skilfull hath exemplified it unto me out of the Kings Library in Paris 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is according to my grosse translation thus The Iland Britaine three most populous nations doe inhabite which have everie one their severall King to rule them and these Nations be called Angili Frisones and after the name of the very Iland Britones Now they seeme to be so great a multitude of people that every yeere a mightie number of them with their wives and children flit from thence unto the Franks and they give them entertainment in that part of their Land which seemeth most desert above the rest and hereupon men say they challenge unto themselves the verie Iland And verily not long since when the King of the Franks sent certaine of his people in Embassage to Constantinople unto the Emperour Iustinian he sent withall some English pretending ambitiously that this Iland was under his
used in old time before they tooke any enterprize in hand God grant me gracious good speed In the severall discourses of every of them I will declare as plainely and as briefly as I can who were their ancient Inhabitants what is the reason of their names how they are bounded what is the nature of the soile what places of antiquitie and good account are therein what Dukes likewise or Earles have beene in each one since the Norman Conquest And in this succession of Earles to confesse frankly by whom I have taken profit I doe willingly and justly acknowledge that Thomas Talbot a most diligent Clerke in the Records of the Tower a man of singular skill in our antiquities hath given me much light And begin I will at the farthest parts in the West that is to say at Cornwall and so passe over the other countries in order imitating herein Strabo Ptolomee and the most ancient Geographers who alwaies begin their description in the Westerne countries as being first from the Meridian DANMONII THat Region which according to the Geographers is the first of all Britaine and growing straiter still and narrower shooteth out farthest into the West and hath on the North side the Severne-Sea on the South the British and on the West the Vergivian or Westerne Ocean beating upon it was in ancient time inhabited by those Britaines whom Solinus called DVNMONII Ptolomee DAMNONII or as we find in some other copies more truely DANMONII Which name if it bee not derived from those ever-continuing mines of tinne in this tract which the Britans terme Moina may seeme to come of the dwelling there under hils For their habitation all over this Country is somewhat low and in valleys which manner of dwelling is called in the British tongue Dan-munith in which sense also the Province next adjoyning in like respect is at this day named by the Britans Duffneint that is to say Low valleys Now whether the OSTIDAMNII called also OSTAEI and OSTIONES of whom Strabo maketh mention out of Pithaeas of Marfiles be our Danmonij I wish the studious searchers of Antiquity would weigh with themselves and examine somewhat more diligently For seated they were by their report in the farthest parts of Europe toward the West Ocean over against Spaine not farre from the Isle Vxantissa now called Vshant Which particulars every one doe very well and in each point agree unto this Region of our Danmonij And seeing that those Ostiones be called by Artemidorus COSSINI as Stephanus in his Cities seemeth to note I wish likewise they would consider because these people are termed also Corini whether in stead of COSSINI we are not to read CORINI For we read Fusij for Furij and Valesij for Valerij And surely the Geographers have not so much as a glimps where to seeke these Ostidamnij and Cossini by the westerne Sea if they be hence excluded But the Country of this nation is at this day divided into two parts knowne by later names of Cornwall and Denshire whereof wee will speake in order CORNWALL COrnwall which also by later Writers is called Cornubia in Latin of all Britaine doth beare most Westward and is inhabited by that remnant of Britans which Marinus Scotus calleth Occidentales Britones that is Britaines of the West parts who in the British tongue for as yet they have not lost their ancient language name it Kernaw because it waxeth smaller and smaller in manner of an horne and runneth forth into the Sea with little promontories as they were hornes on every side For the Britaines call an horne Corn and hornes Kern in the plurall number although others would have Cornwall to take the name of one Corineus I know not what Companion of Brutus and doe call it Corinea according to this verse of a fabulous Poet Pars Corinea datur Corinaeo de duce nomen Patria deque viro gens Corinensis habet To Captaine Corineus part was given to hold by right Of him both coast Corinea and people Cornish height But no strange matter it is if a man search Antiquities for many places to have their denominations given them of such kind of scite as this In Crete and Taurica Chersonessus there bee promontories termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Rams Foreheads because they shoote forth into the sea after the fashion of Rams hornes Semblably Cyprus was of the Greekes in old time called Cerastis for that it butteth on the sea with promontories bearing out like hornes so that it is no marvell if the coast bee called Kernaw and Corn crookening inward as it doth like unto an horne and having divers smal capes and points sticking out as it were hornes Whereupon when in the heat of the Saxons warre many Britans retired themselves into this tract trusting to the naturall strength of the place for they knew that the waies by land were hard enough to bee passed through by reason of mountaines and crossed in divers places with armes of the Sea that sailing likewise there was combersome because the places were unknowne the Saxon being Conquerour who called all forraine things and aliens or strangers in their language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 named the Inhabitants hereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hereof sprang the Latin name Cornwallia and in the later age Cornubia and in some writers Occidua Wallia So farre it is off that it should be called Cornwallia of the Gaules that conquered it which some there bee that in flatterie of the French name and nation would uphold who if they were as quicke-sighted at home as they bee curious abroad might find that their Britaine lying upon the sea coast opposite to this country is so named of our Britan and that Cornovaille no small territorie therein which speaketh the same language that our Cornishmen doe tooke name of our countrey-men that passed over hence to dwell there For as these our Britaines of the West parts aided the Armorici of Gaule inhabiting in that tract in their warres against Caesar upon which occasion hee pretended a quarrell to invade Britaine and they afterwards comming thither as wee said before changed the name of Armorici and called it Britaine so in the foregoing ages readie they were and ever at hand to helpe those Britaines their country-men against the French and during the tempestuous troubles of the Danish warre some of them put over thither also and are thought to have left this name of Cornovaille behind them there But to leave that Cornovaille This our Cornwall as if nature made amends and recompence for the incroching in of the sea is for the most part raised on high with mountaines being in the vallies betweene of an indifferent glebe with which the Sea weede or reit commonly called Orewood and a certaine kind of fruitfull Sea-sand they make so ranke and battle that it is incredible The Sea coast is beautified with very many
for all England right happy For it brought forth to us Queene Elizabeth a most gracious and excellent Prince worthy of superlative praise for her most wise and politique government of the Common-wealth and for her heroicke vertues farre above that sexe But when the said Thomas Bullen overcome with the griefe and sorrow that hee tooke for the infortunate fall and death of his children he ended his daies without issue this title lay still untill that King Edward the Sixth conferred it upon William Powlet Lord Saint Iohn whom soone after hee made Marquesse of Winchester and Lord Treasurer of England in whose family it remaineth at this day This Countie containeth in it Parishes 304. HANTSHIRE NExt to Wilshire is that Country which sometimes the Saxons called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and is now commonly named Hantshire of which one part that beareth farther within the land belonged no doubt to the Belgae the other which lieth upon the sea appertained without question to the Regni an ancient people of Britaine On the West it hath Dorsetshire and Wilshire on the South the Ocean to bound it on the East it joyneth to Sussex and Surrie and on the North it bordereth upon Barkshire A small province it is fruitfull in corne furnished in some places with pleasant woods standing thicke and well growne rich in plenteous pasture and for all commodities of sea most wealthy and happie It is thought that it was with the first brought under subjection to the Romans For our Histories report that Vespasian subdued it and very probable reasons there are inducing us to beleeve the same For Dio witnesseth that Plautius and Vespasian when they were sent by the Emperour Claudius against the Britaines did give the attempt upon this Island with an armie divided into three parts least if they should have ventured to land in one place onely they might have beene driven backe from the shore Suetonius also writeth that in this expedition Vespasian fought thirtie battailes with the enemie and subdued the Isle of Wight which lieth against this country and two other right puissant nations with it For which his victories as also for passing over the Ocean so safely Valerius Flaccus speaketh unto Vespasian himselfe as one more fortunate than Iulius Caesar in this manner Tuque O Pelagi cui major aperti Fama Caledonius post quam tua Carbasa vexit Oceanus Fhrigios prius indignatus Iülos And thou for Seas discoverie whose fame did more appeare Since that thy ships with sailes full spred in Northren Ocean were Which skorn'd before of Phrygian line the Julii to beare And of the very same Vespasian Appolonius Collatius Novariensis the Poet versified thus Ille quidem nuper faelici Marte Britannos Fuderat He verily of late by happy flight Had won the field and Britains put to flight But how in this war Titus delivered Vespasian his father when he was very streightly besieged by the Britans and how at the same time likewise an adder grasped him about and yet never hurt him which he tooke as a lucky foretoken of his Empire you may learne out of Dio and Forcatulus I for my part to come to my purpose beginning at the West side of this province will make my perambulation along the sea-coast and the rivers that runne into the Ocean and after that survey the more in-land parts thereof HAMSHIRE OLIM PARS BELGARVM A long the East banke of this river in this Shire King William of Normandie pulled downe all the townes villages houses and Churches farre and neere cast out the poore Inhabitants and when he had so done brought all within thirty miles compasse or there about into a forrest and harbour for wild beasts which the Englishmen in those daies termed Ytene and we now call New forrest Of which Act of his Gwalter Maps who lived immediately after wrote thus The Conquerour tooke away land both from God and men to dedicate the same unto wild beasts and Dogs-game in which space he threw downe sixe and thirtie-Mother-Churches and drave all the people thereto belonging quite away And this did he either that the Normans might have safer and more secure arrivall in England for it lieth over against Normandie in case after that all his wars were thought ended any new dangerous tempest should arise in this Island against him or for the pleasure which he tooke in hunting or else to scrape and rape money to himselfe by what meanes soever he could For being better affected and more favourable to beasts than to men he imposed verie heavie fines and penalties yea and other more grievous punishments upon those that should meddle with his game But Gods just judgement not long after followed this so unreasonable and cruell act of the King For Richard his second sonne and William Rufus King of England another sonne of his perished both in this Forrest William by chance shot through with an arrow by Walter Tirell the other blasted with a pestilent aire Henrie likewise his Grand-child by Robert his eldest sonne whiles hee hotely pursued his game in this Chase was hanged amongst the boughes and so died that wee may learne thereby How even childrens children beare the punishment of their Fathers sonnes There goe commonly abroad certaine verses that Iohn White Bishop of Winchester made of this Forrest Which although they falsly make William Rufus to have ordained the same yet because they are well liked of many I am likewise well content heere to set them downe Templa adimit Divis fora civibus arva colonis Rufus instituit Beaulensi in rure forestam Rex cervum insequitur Regem vindicta Tirellus Non bene provisum transfixit acumine ferri From God and Saint King Rus did Churches take From Citizens town-court and mercate place From Farmer lands New forrest for to make In Beaulew tract where whiles the King in chase Pursues the Hart just vengeance comes apace And King pursues Tirrell him seeing not Unawares him slew with dint of arrow shot He calleth it Beauley tract for that King Iohn built hard by a pretty Monasterie for the pleasant scituation called Beaulieu which continued ever unto our Fathers memorie of great fame as being an unviolated sanctuarie and a safe refuge for all that fled to it in so much that in times past our people heere thought it unlawfull and an hainous offence by force to take from thence any persons whatsoever were they thought never so wicked murtherers or traitours so that our Ancestors when they erected such Sanctuaries or Temples as they terme them of Mercie every where throughout England seemed rather to have proposed unto themselves Romulus to imitate than Moses who commanded that wilfull murtherers should bee plucked from the Altar and put to death and for them onely appointed Sanctuarie who by meere chance had killed any man But least the sea coast for so long a tract as that forrest is heere should lie without defence all open
which the unskilfull rurall people envie us the having Onely one was brought from hence to London which was to be seene in the gardens of the right honourable Sir William Cecill Lord Burghley and high Treasurer of England to wit MEMORIAE FL. VICTORINAE T. TAM VICTOR CONJUX POSVIT That this Tombe was erected for that Victorina which was called Mater Castrorum that is The mother of the Campe and who against Gallienus the Emperour excited in Gaule and Britaine the two Victorini her sonne and sonnes sonne Posthumus likewise Lollianus Marius and Tetricus Caesars I would not with others affirme Yet I have read that two of the VICTORS were in some place here in Britaine and those at one and the selfe-same time the one Maximus the Emperour his soone the other Praefectus Praetorio to the same Emperour of whom Saint Ambrose maketh mention in his Epistles but I dare avouch that neither of these twaine reared this monument for his wife As one high way or street of the Romans went straight from hence Southward to Winchester so there was another ran west-ward through Pamber Forrest very full of trees and other by-places now standing out of the way hard by Litchfield that is the field of dead bodies to the Forrest of Chute pleasant for coole shade of trees plentifull game in which the Hunters and Forresters themselves do wonder at the banke or ridge thereof so evident to be seene paved with stone but broken here and there More toward the North in the very edge and frontier of this Shire we saw Kings-Cleare a market towne in these daies well frequented the residence in times past of the Saxon Kings by it Fremantle in a parke where King Iohn much haunted also Sidmanton the habitation of the Kingsmils Knights and Burgh-Cleare scituate under an high hill in the top whereof a warlike rampire such as our countreymen called a Burgh hath a trench taking a great compasse about it from whence there being a faire and open prospect every way ever the countrey lying underneath there standeth a Beacon that by light burning fire the enemies comming may bee shewed to all the neighbour-Inhabitants round about And verily such watches or signals as this we terme in common speech Beacons of the old word Beacnian that is to shew by a signe and for these many hundred yeares they have beene in right great request and much used among us in some places by heaping up a deale of wood in others by barrels full of pitch fastened to the top of a mast or pole in the highest places of the countrey at which by night some doe evermore watch and in old time there were set horsemen as posts in many places whom our Ancestors called Hobelers who in the day time should give notice of the enemies approach This shire like as the rest which hitherto we have run over belonged to the west-Saxon Kings and when they had deposed Sigebert from his Kingdome for his tyrannie evill entreating and lewd managing of his province this countrey as Marianus writeth was assigned unto him least hee should seeme altogether a private person Whom notwithstanding afterward for his wicked deeds they likewise expelled from hence and so far was it off that this afflicted state of a King moved any man to take pitie of him that a Swine-heard in the end slew him in the wood Anderida where he had lurked and hidden himselfe This Shire can reckon but very few Earles besides those of Winchester which I have already named In the first time of the Normans Bogo or Beavose the English man who fought against the Normans in the battell at Cardiff in Wales is reputed to have beene Earle of South-hampton a man for warlike prowesse much renowned whom while the Monks laboured to set out with their fained fables they have obscured his doughtie deeds in greater darkenesse From which time unto the daies of K. Henry the Eight there was no Earle of South-hampton that I read of but he created William Fitz-williams descended from the daughter of Marquesse Montacute both Earle of South-hampton and also Admirall of England when he was now well stricken in yeares Who dying straight after without issue King Edward the Sixth in the first yeare of his raigne conferred the said honour upon Thomas Wriotheosley Lord Chancellor whose grand-child Henrie by his sonne Henrie enjoyeth the same at this day and in the prime and flowre of his age hath by good literature and militarie experience strengthned his honorable parentage that in riper yeares he might be more serviceable to his Prince and countrey There be found in this shire Parishes 253. and mercate townes 18. VECTA INSVLA ISLE OF WIGHT TO this Countie of South-hampton belongeth that Island which lieth out in length over against the midst of it South-ward called by the Romans in times past VECTA VECTIS and VICTESIS by Ptolomee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Britaines Guith by English-Saxons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For an Island they termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by us in these daies the Isle of Wight and the Whight by so small a streight running betweene anciently called Solent It is severed from the maine land that it may seeme to have beene conjoyned to it whereof that British name of it Guith which betokeneth a separation as Ninnius saith is thought to have beene given even as Sicilie also being broken off as it were and cut from Italie got the name from Secando the Latin word which signifieth cutting as the right learned Iulius Scaliger is of opinion Whereupon under correction alwaies of the Iudicious Criticks I would read in the sixt Quest. Naturall of Seneca thus Ab Italia Siciliaresecta that is Sicilie cut from Italie wheras it is commonly read there rejecta By this Vicinitie of Scite Affinitie of name we may well thinke this Vecta to be that Icta which as Diodorus Siculus writeth seemed at every tide to be an Island but when it was ebbe the ancient Britaines were wont that way to carry tinne thither by carts which should bee transported into France But yet I would not deeme it to be that MICTIS in Plinie which likewise commeth very neere unto VECTA For that in it there was plentie of tinne but in this of ours there is not to my knowledge any veine at all of mettall This Isle betweene East and West in ovall forme stretcheth out twentie miles in length and spreadeth in the midst where it is broadest twelve miles having the one side turning to the North and the other Southward The ground to say nothing of the sea exceeding full of fish consisteth of soile very fruitfull and is thankefull to the husbandman in so much as it doth affoord corne to be carried forth breeding every where store of conies hares partridges and phesants One little forrest it hath likewise and two parkes replenished with deere for game and hunting pleasure Through the midst thereof
answered for him at his Baptisme Then Ceadwalla King of the West-Saxons when the said Edelwalch was slaine and Aruandus the petty King of the Island made away annexed to it the Dominion and in a tragicall and lamentable massacre killed every mothers child almost of the inborne Inhabitants and the fourth part of the Isle to wit as much land as contained 300. Hides hee gave unto Bishop Wilfrid The first that instructed the Islanders in the knowledge of Christian religion But these matters Beda will informe you best writing as he doth in these words After then that Ceadwalla had obtained the kingdome of the Gevissi hee wonne also the Isle of Wight which unto that time had beene wholly given to Idolatrie and then endeavoured what he could to make a generall massacre and tragicall slaughter of all the native Inhabitants thereof and instead of them to plant there people of his owne province binding himselfe with a vow although he was not yet regenerate and become Christened and in case he wonne the Isle he would give unto God a fourth part both of it and also of the whole booty Which vow he so paied as that he offered this Isle unto Wilfrid the Bishop who being of his nation hapened then to come thither be present to the use and glory of God The measure of the same Island according to the English mens estimation is proportionable to one thousand and two hundred hides of land Whereupon the Bishop had possession given him of so much Land as rose to three hundred Hides But hee commended that portion which hee received unto one of his Clarkes named Bernwin and his sisters sonne he was giving unto him a priest named Hildila for to minister unto all that were desirous of salvation the word and laver of life Where I thinke it not good to passe over in silence how for the first fruits as one would say of those who of the same Isle were saved by their beleife two young children brethren of the Royall bloud to wit the sonnes of Arvandus King of the Isle were by the especiall favour of GOD crowned with martyrdome For when the enemies approached hard unto the Island these children slipt secretly out of the Isle and were remoâ—ved into the province next adjoyning where being brought to a place called Ad Lapidem when they had committed themselves upon trust to be hidden from the face of the King that was conquerour betraied they were and commanded to be killed Which when a certaine Abbat and Priest named Cynbreth heard who not farre from thence had his monasterie in a place named Reodford that is the Ford of reed hee came unto the King who then in those parts lay secretly at cure of those wounds which hee had received whiles hee fought in the Isle of Wight and requested of him that if there were no remedie but that the children must bee murthered they might yet bee first taught the Sacraments of Christian faith before their death The King granted his petition and hee then having catechised them in the word of truth and bathed them in the fount of salvation assured them of their entrance into the everlasting Kingdome of heaven And so within a while after when the executioner called instantly for them they joyfully suffered that temporall death of the body by which they made no doubt of their passe unto the eternall life of their soules In this order and manner therefore after all the Provinces of Britaine had embraced the faith of Christ the Isle of Wight also received the same in which notwithstanding for the calamitie and trouble of forraine subjection no man tooke the degree of Ministerie and See Episcopall before Daniell who at this day is the Bishop of the West Saxons and the Gevissj Thus much Beda From this time forward our writers for a great while have not one word of Wight unto the yeare of our Lord one thousand sixtie six in which Tostie Hing Haralds brother with certaine men of warre and Rovers ships out of Flanders in hatred of his brother invaded it and after he had compelled the Islanders to pay him tribute departed Some few yeares after as we read in the old booke of Cares broke Priorie which Master Robert Glover Somerset shewed me who carried as it were the Sunne light of ancient Genealogies and Pedigrees in his hand Like as saith this booke William the Bastard conquered England even so William Fitz Osbern his Mareschal and Earle of Hereford conquered the Isle of Wight and was the first Lord of Wight Long after this the Frenchmen in the yeare 1377. came suddenly at unawares under saile invaded and spoiled it and the same French in the yeare 1403. gave the like attempt but in vaine For valiantly they were drived from landing even as in our fathers daies when the French Gallies set one or two small cottages on fire and went their way As touching the Lords of this Isle after that William Fitz-Osbern was forth-with slaine in the warre of Flanders and his sonne Roger outlawed and driven unto exile it fell into the Kings hands and Henrie the First King of England gave it unto Richard Ridvers otherwise called Redvers and de Ripariis Earle of Denshire and withall the Fee or Inheritance of the Towne Christ-Church Where like as at Caresbroke that Richard built certaine Fortresses but Baldwin his sonne in the troublesome time of King Stephen when there were in England so many Tyrants as there were Lords of Forts and Castles who tooke upon them every one to stampe money and challenged other rights of Regall Majestie was by Stephen disseized and expelled from hence Howbeit his posteritie recovered their ancient right whose Genealogie wee have already put downe when wee treated of the Earles of Denshire But in the end Isabell widow to William de Fortibus Earle of Albemarle and Holdernesse sister and heire of Baldwin the last Earle of Devonshire of that house after much intreatie was overcome to make over by charter all her right and interest and to settle it upon King Edward the First with the Manours of Christ-Church and Fawkeshaul c. For foure thousand Markes Ever since which time the Kings of England held the Isle and Henry de Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke was by King Henrie the Sixth unto whom hee was most deere crowned King of Wight and afterwards nominated The first or principall Earle of all England But together with him this new and unusuall title died and vanished quite Afterwards Richard Widevile Earle Rivers was by King Edward the fourth stiled Lord of the Isle of Wight Sir Reginald Bray took it of King Henry the Seventh with whom he was most inward in Fee farme for a rent charg'd of three hundred markes yearely to be paid Also beside these Lords this Isle had a noble Familie named de Insula or Lisle out of which in the raigne of King Edward the Second one was summoned unto the Parliament by the
said Richard and by impious cruell meanes usurped the kingdome that hee might by his benefits oblige unto him the house of the Howards created in one and the same day Iohn Lord Howard Duke of Norfolke as next cosin and heire to the Mowbraies and his sonne Thomas Earle of Surrie in whose of-spring this honour hath ever since beene resplendent and so continueth at this day This County hath in it Parish Churches 140. SVSSEX VNder Suth-rey toward the South lieth stretched out in a great length Suth-sex which also in times past the Regni inhabited in the Saxon tongue called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at this day Sussex which is as much to say as the Region of the South Saxons a word compounded of the site thereof Southward and of the Saxons who in their Heptarchie placed here the second kingdome It lieth upon the British Ocean all Southward with a streight shore as it were farre more in length than bredth Howbeit it hath few harbours by reason that the sea is dangerous for shelves and therefore rough and troublous the shore also it selfe full of rocks and the South-west wind doth tyrannize thereon casting up beach infinitely The sea coast of this countrie hath greene hils on it mounting to a greater height called the Downes which because they stand upon a fat chalke or kinde of marle yeeldeth corne aboundantly The middle tract garnished with medowes pastures corne-fields and groves maketh a very lovely shew The hithermore and Northern side thereof is shaded most pleasantly with woods like as in times past the whole country throughout which by reason of the woods was hardly passable For the wood Andradswald in the British language Coid Andred taking the name of Anderida the City next adjoyning tooke up in this quarter a hundred and twentie miles in length and thirtie in bredth memorable for the death of Sigebert King of West Saxons who being deposed from his royall throne was in this place stabbed by a Swineheard and so died Many pretty rivers it hath but such as springing out of the North-side of the shire forthwith take their course to the Ocean and therefore not able to beare any vessell of burden Full of iron mines it is in sundry places where for the making and fining whereof there bee furnaces on every side and a huge deale of wood is yearely spent to which purpose divers brookes in many places are brought to runne in one channell and sundry medowes turned into pooles and waters that they might bee of power sufficient to drive hammer milles which beating upon the iron resound all over the places adjoyning And yet the iron here wrought is not in every place of like goodnesse but generally more brittle than is the Spanish iron whether it be by the nature or tincture and temper thereof Howbeit commodious enough to the iron Maisters who cast much great ordnance thereof and other things to their no small gaine Now whether it bee as gainefull and profitable to the common-wealth may bee doubted but the age ensuing will bee better able to tell you Neither want here glasse-houses but the Glasse there made by reason of the matter or making I wot not whether is likewise nothing so pure and cleare and therefore used of the common sort onely SVSSEXIA Siue Southsex olim pars REGNORVM Selsey before said is somewhat lower in the Saxon tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say The Isle of Sea calves for these in our language wee call Scales which alwaies seeke to Islands and to the shore for to bring forth their young but now it is most famous for good cockles and full Lobsters A place as Beda saith compassed round about with the Sea but onely in the West side where it hath an entrie into it by land as broad as a slings cast It was reckoned by Survey taken to containe fourscore and seven Hides of Land when Edilwalch King of this Province gave it to Wilfride Bishop of Yorke whiles hee was in exile who first preached Christ unto this people and as he writeth not only by baptisme saved from thraldome under the divell two hundred and fiftie bond-men but also by giving freedome delivered them from the yoke of bondage under man Afterwards K. Cedwalla who vanquished Edilwalch founded here a Minster and beautified it with an Episcopall See which by Stigand the two and twentieth Bishop was translated to Chichester where it now flourisheth and doth acknowledge Cedwalla to bee the founder In this Isle remaineth onely the dead carkasse as it were of that ancient little citie wherein those Bishops sat and the same hidden quite with water at everie full sea but at a low water evident and plaine to be seene Then maketh the shore way for a river which out of Saint Leonards Forrest runneth downe first by Amberley where William Read Bishop of Chichester in the raigne of Edward the third built a castle for his successours and so from thence by Arundell seated on the hanging of an hill a place greater in name than deede and yet is not that name of great antiquitie for before Aelfreds dayes who bequeathed it by testament to Anthelme his brothers sonne I have not read it so much as once named Unlesse perhaps I should thinke that Portus Adurni is corruptly so called by transposition of letters for Portus Arundi The reason of this name is fetched neither from that fabulous horse of Sir Beavois of Southampton nor of Charudum a promontorie in Denmarke as Goropius Becanus hath dreamed but of the valley or dale which lieth upon the river Arun in case Arun bee the name of the river as some have delivered who thereupon named it in Latine Aruntina vallis that is Arundale But all the fame it hath is of the Castle that flourished under the Saxon Empire and which as we read presently upon the comming in of the Normans Roger Montgomerie repaired who thereupon was 〈◊〉 Earle of Arundell For a stately place it is both by naturall situation and also by mans hand verie strong But his sonne Robert de Belismo who succeeded his brother Hugh being by King Henrie the First proscribed lost that and all his other dignitie For when he had perfidiously raised warre against the King he chose this Castle for his surest hold whiles the warre lasted and fortified the place with many munitions but spedde no better than traitours use to doe For the Kings forces environing it everie way at the last wonne it Whenas Robert now had forfeited his estate and was banished the King gave this castle and all his Lands besides unto * Adeliza daughter to Godfrey Barbatus of Lovaine Duke of Loraine and Brabant for her Dowrie whom he tooke to be his second wife In whose commendation a certaine English man in that unlearned age wrote these not unlearned verses Anglorum Reginatuos Adeliza decores Ipsa referre parans Musa stupore riget Quid Diadema tibi
Rochester would give unto the King an hundred pound of deniers At last by the intercession of Sir Robert Fitz Hamon and Henry Earle of Warwick the King granted it thus farre forth in lieu for the money which hee demanded for grant of the Manour that Bishop Gundulph because he was very skilfull and well experienced in architecture and masonrie should build for the King at his owne proper charges a Castle of stone In the end when as the Bishops were hardly brought to give their consent unto it before the King Bishop Gundulph built up the Castle full and whole at his owne cost And a little after King Henrie the first granted unto the Church of Canterbury and to the Archbishops the keeping thereof and the Constableship to hold ever after as Florentius of Worcester saith yea and licence withall to build in the same a towre for themselves Since which time it was belaied with with one or two great sieges but then especially when the Barons with their Al'armes made all England to shake and Simon Montford Earle of Leicester assaulted it most fiercely though in vaine and cut downe the wooden bridge which was after repaired But in the time of King Richard the Second Sir Robert Knowles by warlike prowes raised from low estate to high reputation and great riches built a very goodly stone bridge of arch-work with money levied out of French spoiles At the end of the said bridge Sir Iohn Cobham who much furthered the worke erected a Chapell for our elders built no notable bridge without a chapell upon which besides armes of Saints are seen the armes of the King and his three uncles then living And long after Archbishop Watham coped a great part of the said bridge with iron bars Vnder this Medway swelling with a violent and swift streame strugleth and breaketh through roaring and loud but forthwith running more still and calme becommeth a road at Gillingham and Chetham for a most royall and warlike navy of strong and serviceable ships and the same most ready alwaies at a short warning which our late gracious Ladie Queene Elizabeth with exceeding great cost built for the safegard of her subjects and terror of her enemies and for the defence thereof raised a castelet at Vpnore upon the river side Now Medway growne more full and carying a greater breadth with his curling waves right goodly and pleasant to behold runneth a long by the fruitfull fields untill that being divided by meeting with Iland Shepey which wee supposed to bee Ptolemeis TOLIATIS maketh his issue into the Aestuarie or Frith of Thames at two mouthes Of which twaine the Westerne is called West-Swale the Easterne that seemeth to have severed Sheppey from the firme land is named East-Swale but by Bede termed Genlad and Yenlet This Isle of the sheepe whereof it feedeth mighty great flockes being called by our ancestours Shepey that is The Isle of Sheep passing plentifull in corne but scarse of woods containeth twentie one miles in compasse Vpon the North-shore it had a little Monasterie now they call it Minster built by Sexburga wife of Ercombert the King of Kent in the yeare of 710. Vnder which a certaine Brabander of late beganne to trie by the furnace out of stones found upon the shore both Brimstone and Coperas It hath Westward in the Front thereof a very fine and strong Castle which King Edward the third built as himselfe writeth Pleasant for site to the terrour of his enemies and solace of his people unto which hee adjoyned a Burgh and in the honour of Philip the Queene his wife called it Queene-borough as one would say The Queens Burgh The Constable whereof at this day is Sir Edward Hoby who hath polished his excellent wit with learned studies Eastward is Shurland seated which belonged in late times to the Cheineies and now to Sir Philip Herbert second sonne to Henry Earle of Pembroch whom King Iames in one and the same day created Baron Herbert of Shurland and Earle of Mont-Gomerie This Isle appertaineth to the Hundred of Middleton so named of Middleton the towne now Milton This was some time a towne of the Kings aboade and of greater name by farre than at this day although Hasting the Danish pirate for to annoy it fortified a Castle hard by in the yeare 893. Neere adjoyning heereto Sittingburn a towne furnished with Innes sheweth it selfe with hiw new Major and corporation the remaines also of Thong Castle which as some write was so called for that Hengist built it by a measure of thongs cut out of a beasts hide when Vortigern gave so much land to fortifie upon as hee could encompasse with a beasts hide cut into thongs Since the conquest it was the seat of Guncelline of Baldismer of noble parentage whose sonne Bartholomew begat Guncelline and hee by the Inheretrie of Raulph Fitz-Barnard Lord of Kings-Downe was father to that seditious Sir Bartholomew Lord Baldismer of whom I spake he againe of Margaret Clare begat Sir Giles Lord Baldismer that died without issue also Margerie wife to William Roos of Hamlake Maude the wife of Iohn Vere Earle of Oxford Elizabeth espoused to William Bohun Earle of Northampton and afterward to Edmund Mortimer and Margaret whom Sir Iohn Tiptoft wedded from whom descended a goodly of-spring and faire race of great nobilitie Then saw I Tenham not commended for health but the parent as it were of all the choise fruit gardens and Orchards of Kent and the most large and delightsome of them all planted in the time of King Henrie the Eighth by Rich. Harris his fruterer to the publike good For thirty Parishes thereabout are replenished with Cherie-gardens and Orchards beautifully disposed in direct lines Amongst these is Feversham very commodiously situate For the most plentifull part of this countrey lieth round about it and it hath a creeke fit for bringing in and carrying forth commodities whereby at this day it flourisheth amongst all the neighbour townes It seemeth also in former times to have flourished considering that King Aethelstane assembled hither an assembly the Sages of his Kingdome and made lawes heere in the yeare of our redemption 903. King Stephen also he that usurped the Kingdome of England founded an Abbey heere for the Monkes of Clugny In which himselfe Maude his wife and Eustach his sonne were entombed Nigh thereto like as else where through this Countie are found pits of great depth which being narrow in the mouth and very spatious beneath have their certaine distinct roomes or chambers as it were with their severall supporting pillers of chalke Concerning these there are divers opinions I for my part cannot tell what to thinke of them unlesse they were those pits out of which the Britaines in old time digged forth chalke or white marle to dung their grounds withall as Plinie writeth For they sound pits saith hee An hundred foote deepe streight at the mouth but of great capacitie within like unto
furnace Now I should easily bee perswaded that such a sound may come of the sea water closely getting into the Rocke were it not the same continued as well when the sea ebbeth at a low water when the shore is bare as it doth at an high water when it is full sea Not unlike to this was the place which Clemens Alexandrinus maketh mention of in the seventh Booke of his Stromata in these words They that have written Histories doe say that in the Isle of Britaine there is a certaine hole or Cave under the bottome of an hill and on the toppe thereof a gaping chaune or chinck And whensoever the winde is gathered into that hole and tossed to and fro in the wombe or concavity thereof there is heard above a sound of Cymbals For the winde driven backe gives the stronger sound Beyond these Islands the Shire runneth directly Westward and giveth entrance and passage to one River upon which more within the Land standeth Cowbridge the Britans of the Stone-bridge call it Pont-van a Merdare Towne and the second of those three which Fitz Haimon the Conquerour kept for himselfe Now whereas Antonine the Emperour in this very Coast at the same distance from ISCA placed BOVIUM which also is corruptly read BOMIUM my conjecture liked me so well that I have beene of opinion this Towne was the said BOVIUM but seeing that three miles from hence there standeth Bovirion which fitly accordeth in sound with Bovium so love mee trueth I dare not seeke for BOVIUM elsewhere And that it is no strange and new thing that places should bee fitted with names from Kine and Oxen I report me to Bosphorus in Thracia Bovianum in Samnium and Bauli in Italie as it were Boalia if we may beleeve Symmachus But let this one argument serve for all fifteene miles from BOVIUM hath Antonine placed even with a Latine name the Towne NIDUM which although our Antiquaries have beene this great while a hunting after in vaine yet at the very same distance there sheweth it selfe Neath a Towne very well knowne retaining still the old name in manner whole and sound and heere at Laâ—twit that is The Church of Iltut that joyneth close thereto are seene the foundations of many houses for it had divers Streets in old time A little from hence in the very bout well neere of the shore standeth Saint Donats Castle a faire Habitation of the ancient and notable Family of the Stradlings neere unto which were very lately digged up antique peeces of Romane money but those especially of the thirty Tyrants yea and some of Aemilianus and Marius which are seldome found The River Ogmor somewhat higher maketh himselfe way into the Sea falling downe from the mountaines by Coitie which belonged sometimes to the Turbevills afterwards to the Gamages and now to Sir Robert Sidney Vicount Lisle in right of his wife also by Ogmor Castle which came from the Family of London to the Dutchy of Lancaster Some few miles from hence there is a Well at Newton as Sir John Stradling a very learned Knight hath signified unto me a little Towne on the banke of the River Ogmor Westward an hundred paces well neere from Severn side in a sandy plaine The water thereof is none of the cleerest yet pure enough and good for use It never springeth and walmeth up to the brinke but by certaine staires folke goe downe into the Well At any flowing of the Sea in Summer time you shall hardly get up a dish full of water Whereas if you come anon when it ebbeth you may well lade up water with a good bigge bucket or paile The like instability remaineth also in Winter time saving that it is nothing so evident by reason of the Veines of water comming in from above by showres and otherwise Many of the Inhabitants thereabout men of good credite constantly avouched thus much unto me But I distrusting Fame that oftentime doth but prate went my selfe of late once or twice to the said Well For even then had I great desire to write thus much unto you When I was first come unto the place and had stayed the third part of an houre viewing and considering every thing while Severn surged and rose high and no body came thither to draw the water was fallen about three inches I goe my waies And not long after when I was returned againe I finde it to be risen a foote higher The compasse of this Well beneath within the walles is almost sixe foote Concerning which my Muse also enditeth this Dittie Te Nova-Villa fremens odioso murmure Nympha Inclamat Sabrina Soloque inimica propinquo Evomit infestas ructu violenter arenas Damna pari sentit vitinia sorte sedilla Fonticulum causata tuum Quem virgo legendo Littus ad amplexus vocitat latet ille vocatus Antro luctatur contra Namque astus utrique est Continuo motu refluus tamen ordine dispar Nympha fluit propiùs Fons defluit Illa recedit Isteredit Sic livor inest pugna perennis With troublous noise and roaring loud the Severn Nymph doth cry New-towne on thee and bearing spite unto the ground thereby Casts up and sends with violence maine drifts of hurtfull sand The neighbour parts feele equall losse by this her heavie hand But on thy little Well she laies the weight which she would woo And faine embrace as Virgin she along the shore doth goe Call'd though he be he lurkes in den and striveth hard againe For ebbe and flow continually by tides they keepe both twaine Yet diversly for as the Nymph doth rise the Spring doth fall Goe she backe he comes on in spite and fight continuall The like Fountaine Polybius reporteth to bee at Cadyz and this reason hee giveth thereof namely that the winde or aire when it is deprived of his wonted issues returneth within forth and so by shutting and stopping up the passages and veines of the Spring keepeth in the waters and contrariwise when the surface thereof is voide and empty of water the veines of the source or Spring are unstopped and set free and so the water then boileth up in great abundance From hence coasting along the shore you come within the sight of Kinefeage the Castle in old time of Fitz-Haimon himselfe also of Margan hard by the sea side sometime an Abbay founded by William Earle of Glocester but now the Habitation of the worshipfull Family of the Maunsells Knights Neere unto this Margan in the very toppe of an Hill called Mynyd Margan there is erected of exceeding hard grit a Monument or grave-stone foure foote long and one foote broad with an Inscription which whosoever shall happen to reade the ignorant common people dwelling thereabout give it out upon a credulous errour that hee shall bee sure to dye within a little while after Let the Reader therefore looke to himselfe if any dare reade it for let him assure himselfe that hee shall for
doth the word import so it hath communicated that name unto the whole Country for heereupon the English men call it Caer-narvon-shire This is encompassed with a very small circuit of walles about it and in manner round but the same exceeding strong and to set it the better out sheweth a passing faire Castle which taketh up the whole West side of it The private buildings for the manner of that Countrey are sightly enough and the inhabitants for their courtesie much commended who thinke it a point of their glorie that King Edward the First founded their Citie that his Sonne King Edward the Second was heere borne and surnamed of Caer-narvon who also was of the English line the first Prince of Wales and also the Princes of Wales had heere their Chauncerie their Exchequer and their Iustice for North-Wales About seven miles hence by the same narrow Sea standeth Bangor or Banchor low seated enclosed on the South side with a Mountaine of great heighth on the North with a little hill so called A choro pulchro that is of a faire quire or as some would have it quasi Locus Chori that is as if it were the place of a quire Which being a Bishops See hath within the Diocese thereof 96. Parishes The Church was consecrated unto Daniel sometime Bishop thereof but that which now standeth is of no especiall faire building for Owen Glendoverdwy that most notorious Rebell who had purposed utterly to destroy all the Cities of Wales set it on fire for that they stood for the King of England and defaced the ancient Church which albeit Henry Deney Bishop of the same repaired about the time of King Henry the Seventh yet it scarcely recovered the former dignity Now the Towne is small but in times past so large that for the greatnesse thereof it was called Banchor Vaur that is Great Banchor and Hugh Earle of Chester fortified it with a Castle whereof I could finde no footings at all though I sought them with all diligent inquiry But that Castle was situate upon the very entry of the said narrow Sea Over the Menay or streight hereby King Edward the First that he might transport his Army into Mona or Anglesey whereof I must treat anon in due order went about with great labour to make a bridge but all in vaine Albeit Suctonius Paulinus conveyed over his Romane Souldiers long before into Mona his Horsemen at a Fourd and the Footemen in little flat botomed boates as we reade in Tacitus From hence the shore raising it selfe with a bending ascent runneth on by Penmaen-maur that is The great stony head a very exceeding high and steepe Rocke which hanging over the Sea when it is floud affourdeth a very narrow path way for passengers having on the one side huge stones over their heads as if they were ready to fall upon them on the other side the raging Ocean lying of a wonderfull steepe depth under it But after a man hath passed over this together with Pen-maen bychan that is the lesser stony head he shall come to an open broad plaine that reacheth as farre as to the River Conwey which limiteth this Shire on the East side This River in Ptolomee after a corrupt manner of writing Greeke is called TOISOVIUS for CONOVIUS It issueth out of a Poole of the same name in the South border of the Shire and being pent in and as it were strangled runneth apace within a very narrow chanell as farre almost as to the mouth thereof breeding certaine Shell-fishes which being conceived of an Heavenly deaw bring forth Pearles and there giveth he name unto the Towne CONOVIUM which Antonine mentioneth And although it now lie all along and that name there be utterly extinct yet by a new name it doth covertly implie the antiquity For a very small and poore village standing among the rubbish thereof is called Caer hean that is the ancient City Out of the spoile and ruines whereof King Edward the First built a new Towne at the very mouth of the River which thereupon they call Aber-Conwey that is the mouth of Conwey which place Hugh of Chester had before-time fortified But this New Conovium or Aber-Conwey being strongly situated and fensed both with walls and also with a very proper Castle by the Rivers side deserveth the name rather of a prety Citie than of a Towne but that it is not replenished with Inhabitants Opposite unto this Towne and yet on this side of the River which is passed by ferry and not by bridge reacheth out a huge Promontory with a bending elbow as if nature purposed to make there a road and harbour for Ships which is also counted part of this Shire and is named Gogarth wherein stood Diganwy an ancient City just over the River Conwey where it issueth into the Sea which was burnt many yeeres agoe with lightning And I am of opinion that it was the City DICTUM where under the later Emperours the Captaine over the band of the Nervians Dictenses kept their guard And for that afterwards it was called Diganwy who seeth not that the said Canwey came of Conwey and from thence the English name Ganoc For so was that Castle called which afterwards King Henry the Third built in that place to bridle the Welsh Straight after the Normans comming into this Island Gruffin ap Conan governed this Country who being not able to represse the English troupes who swarmed into Wales yeelded otherwhiles unto the tempest and at length when with his integrity and uprightnesse he had regained the favour of King Henry the First he easily also recovered his owne lands of the English and left them to his heires successively untill the time of Lhewelyn ap Gruffith who when he had provoked his owne Brethren with wrongs and the English men with inrodes was brought to this passe that hee held this hilly Country together with the Isle Anglesey of King Edward the First as Tenant in Fee and paid for it yeerely a thousand Markes Which conditions afterward when hee would not stand unto and following rather his owne and his Brothers stubborne wilfulnesse than any good hope to prevaile would needes put all once againe to the hazard of warre he was slaine and so both ended his owne life and withall the British government in Wales It hath in it Parish Churches 68. ANGLESEY Conitatus olim MONA INSULA Druidum sedes Britannice Tir Mon THE ISLE MONA or of ANGLESEY THe County of Caer-Nar-von which I last ranne through tooke name as I said erewhile of the chiefe Towne therein and the said Towne of the Isle Mona which lieth over against it and requireth as it were of right that I should treat of it in his due place which unwillingly heeretofore I confesse I referred to the out Islands whereas by right it is to be placed among the Shires This Isle called of the Romans MONA of the Britans Mon and Tir-Mon that is the
game and hunting of red Deere being divided eft-soone speedeth himselfe on the one hand to Idel a River in Nottingham-shire on the other to Are that hee and they together may fall into Humber In which very place there are environed with these rivers Diche-marcâ— and Marshland little Mersh Countries or river-River-Islands rather taking up in circuit much about fifteene miles most plentifull of greene grasse passing good for feeding of Cattaile and on every side garnished as it were with prety Townes Yet some of the Inhabitants are of opinion that the land there is hollow and hanging yea and that as the waters rise the same also is heaved up a thing that Pomponius Mela hath written concerning Antrum an Isle in France But among those Beakes and Brookes that convey their streames hither I must not overpasse Went which floweth out of a standing Poole neere unto Nosthill where sometime stood an Abbay consecrated to Oswald both a King and a Saint which A. Confessour to King Henry the First reedified But since the dissolution it hath beene the dwelling house of the Gargraves Knights of especiall good respect Calder springing in the very Confines of Lancashire runneth along certaine Townes of no account among which at Gretland in the top of an Hill whereunto there is no ascent but of one side was digged up this Votive Altar erected as it should seeme to the tutelar God of the whole State of the Brigants which Altar was to bee seene at Bradley in the house of the right worshipfull Sir John Savill Knight Baron of the Exchequer but now among Sir Robert Cottons Antiquities On the other side DUI CI. BRIG ET NUM AUGG. T. AUR. AURELIAN US DD PRO SE ET SUIS S. M. A. G. S. ANTONINO III. ET GET COSS. That is To the God of the whole Communalty and state of the Brigantes and to the sacred Majesty of the Augusti Titus Aurelius Aurelianus hath dedicated for himselfe and his The letters that bee last of all passe my skill altogether When Antonine the third time and Geta were Consuls Now whether that DUI be God whom the Britans now call Diw or a peculiar locall God or Genius of the Brigantes I leave for to be discussed by them that are better learned Like as the soules are divided and distributed among them that are borne saith Symmachus even so are Fatall Genij among Nations And the divine minde allotteth sundry keepers and Guardians to particular Countries For thus they were in old time perswaded in their Divinity and thus they beleeved And to say nothing of forraine Nations whose History is very full of such peculiar and locall Gods the Britans had in that part which now is called ESSEX ANDATES in Cumberland BELLO-TUCADRUS in Northumberland VITERINUS and MOGONTUS as shall appeare more evidently out of those Inscriptions which I will set downe in due place Servius Honoratus likewise hath well and truely observed that these Locall or Topick Gods doe never passe unto other Countries But to returne unto the River Calder which when by the comming in of other waters hee is growne bigge and carryeth a fuller streame hath a faire Bridge over it at Eland neere unto which at Grimscarre were brickes found with this Inscription COH IIII. BRE For the Romanes flourishing in military prowesse in great wisedome and policie exercised both their Legions and Cohorts in time of peace to withstand Idlenesse by casting of ditches making of High-waies baking of brickes building of Bridges c. Calder afterward among the very Hilles leaveth on the left hand Halifax a most famous Towne lying from West to East upon the steepe descent of an Hill And not many ages since tooke it this name whereas before time it was called Horton as some of the Inhabitants doe report who tell this prety story also touching the alteration of the name A certaine Clerke as they call him was farre in love with a maiden who when hee might not have his purpose of her for all the faire meanes and enticements hee could use his love being turned unto rage vilanous Wretch that hee was cut off the Maides head which being hung afterwards upon an Eugh tree the common people counted as an hallowed Relique untill it was rotten yea and they came devoutly to visit it and every one gathered and carryed away with him a branch or sprig of the said tree But after the tree was bare and nothing left but the very stocke such was the credulity of that time it maintained the opinion of reverence and Religion still For the people were perswaded that the little veines that are stretched out and spred betweene the barke and body of the Eugh tree in manner of haires or fine threads were the very haires indeed of the Virgins head Hereupon they that dwelt thereabout repaired on Pilgrimage hither and such resort there was unto it that Horton being but a little Village before grew up to a great Towne and was called by a new name Halig-Fax or Hali-fex that is Holy haire For the Englishmen dwelling beyond Trent called the haire of the head Fax Whence also there is a Family in this Country of Gentlemen named Faire-fax of the faire bush of their haire They therefore which by resemblance of the name gather this to bee Ptolomees Olicana bee farre deceived Now this place is become famous as well among the multitude by reason of a Law there whereby they behead streightwaies whosoever are taken stealing as also amongst the learned for they report that Joannes de Sacro Bosco the Author of the Sphaere was here borne yet more famous it is for the greatnesse of the Parish which reckoneth in it eleven Chappels whereof two be Parish-Chappels and to the number of twelve thousand people therein So that the Inhabitants are wont to give out that this Parish of theirs maintaineth more men and women than other living creatures of what kinde soever Whereas you shall see elsewhere in England in the most fruitfull and fertile places many thousands of Sheepe and very few men as if folke had given place to flockes of Sheepe and heards of Neat or else were devoured of them Moreover the industry of the Inhabitants heere is admirable who in a barraine Soile wherein there is no commodious nay scarce any dwelling and living at all have so come up and flourished by Clothing a trade which they tooke to not above threescore and tenne yeeres agoe at the farthest that they greatly enrich their owne estates and winne the praise from all their neighbours yea and have proved the saying to be true That barraine places give a good edge to industrie and that hence it is that Norinberg in Germanie Venice and Genua in Italie and Limoges in France situate all in barraine places are become right flourishing Cities Sixe miles from hence and not farre from the right side of the River Calder neere unto Almond-bury a little Towne standing upon an
bigge and large as that it may seeme to match with a city Neither went it for any other but a castle when King William Rufus having raised over against it a tower called Mal-voisin gave assault continually to Mowbray while hee rebelled and lurked there who at length privily stole away escaped by flight The greatest part of the beauty therof was lost long time after in the civill warre when Bressie the Norman redoubted souldier who sided with the house of Lancaster exercised his rage against it very outragiously Since then it hath beene sore beaten with time and the windes together which have blowne by drifts an incredible deale of sand of the sea into the fortresses Hereto adjoyneth Emildon sometime the Barony of John Le Viscont but Rametta the heire of that house sold away the possessions to Simon de Montfort Earle of Leicester In this was borne John Duns called Scotus because hee was descended of Scotish bloud who being brought up in Merton Colledge at Oxford became wonderfull well learned in Logicke and in that crabbed and intricate Divinity of those dayes yet as one still doubtfull and unresolved he did overcast the truth of religion with mists of obscurity And with so profound and admirable subtlety in a darke and rude stile hee wrote many workes that hee deserved the title of the Subtile Doctor and after his owne name erected a new sect of the Scotists But hee died pitifully being taken with an Apoplexy and overhastily buried for dead whiles upon returne of life nature though too late was about to discusse the violence of the disease and hee making meanes in vaine by a lamentable noise to call for helpe after he had a long time knocked his head against the grave stone dashed out his owne braines and at last yeelded up his vitall breath Whereupon a certain Italian wrote thus of him Quaecunque humani fuerant jurisque sacrati In dubium veniunt cuncta vocante Scoto Quid quod in dubium illius sit vita vocata Morte illum simili ludificante strophâ Quum non ante virum vitâ jugularit ademptâ Quà m vivus tumulo conditus ille foret All learning taught in humane books and couch'd in holy writ Dan Scotus darke and doubtfull made by subtlety of wit No marvaile that to doubtfull termes of life himselfe was brought Whiles with like wile and subtle tricke death on his body wrought When as her stroke to kill outright she would not him vouchsafe Untill the man a piteous case was buried quicke in grave That he was borne here in England I avouch it out of his owne manuscript works in the Library of Merton Colledge in Oxford and upon their faithfull testimony which conclude in this maner Explicit Lectura c. that is Thus endeth the Lecture of the subtle Doctor in the University of Paris Iohn Duns borne in a certaine little village or hamlet within the Parish of Emildon called Dunston in the county of Northumberland pertaining to the house of the scholars of Merton Hall in Oxford On this shore forward there is nothing to be seene worth relation but the Holy Island whereof I will write in due place untill a man come to the mouth of Twede which parteth England and Scotland a great way asunder and is called the East limit and thereupon our Necham thus writeth insinuating that the hither part of Scotland was called pict-Pict-land Anglos à Pictis sejungit limite certo Flumen quod Tuedam pristina lingua vocat The river Twede a certaine bound Divides * Pict-land from English ground This river breaking forth at a number of Springs out of the mountaines of Scotland wandereth a great while with many a crooked winding in and out among the ranke-riders and borderers to give them no worse tearme whose manner is as one saith to try their right by the swords point But when hee is come hard to a village called Carram waxing a great deale bigger by reason of many waters fallen unto him hee begins to distinguish the Confines of the Kingdomes And when hee hath watered Werke a Castle often assaulted by the Scottish belonging in times past to the Rosses and now to the Graies who by feats of armes have wonne much honour hee is encreased more with the streame of Till a river that hath two names For at the head which is in the innermore part of this country it is called Bramish and upon it standeth Bramton a little village very obscure and almost of no reckoning from whence it goeth Northward by Bengeley which together with Brampton it selfe with Broundum Rodam which hath given name to a stock in this tract of good note Edelingham c. was in King Henry the third his time the Barony of Patricke Earle of Dunbar who also as we read in the book of Inquisitions was Inborow and Outborow betweene England and Scotland that is to say if I mistake it not he was to allow and observe in this part the ingresse and egresse of those that travailed too and fro betweene both Realmes For Englishmen in ancient time called in their language an Entry and fore Court or Gatehouse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Higher somewhat standeth Chevelingham now called Chillingham hard by the river which like as Horton not farre distant from it had their Castles belonging to the Greies ever since that those two families of the Greies were conjoyned in one by marriage There lyeth neere unto it Wollover a Barony which King Henry the first gave to Robert Muschampe who bare Azure three Butterflies or Papilions Argent of whose race descended Robert who in Henry the third his reigne was reputed the mightiest Baron in these North parts But the inheritance was quickly dismembred and parted among the females one of whom was married unto the Earle of Stratherne in Scotland a second to Sir William de Huntercombe and a third to Odonell Ford. Then the river of Glen from out of the West augmenteth Till with his waters and nameth the vale that he runneth thorow Glendale Touching this little river Bede writeth thus Paulinus comming with the King and Queen into a Manour or house of the Kings called Ad-Gebrin at this day Yeverin abode with them 36. daies there emploied wholly in the catechizing and baptising during all which time he did nothing from morning but instruct the people resorting to him in the saving word of Christ and being thus instructed he baptised them to the forgivenesse of their sinnes in the river of Glen which was hard by This house was in the time of the succeeding Kings neglected and another made for it in a place called Melmin but at this day Melfeld Here within a little of Brum-ridge by Brumeford K. Athelstan fought a pitched field with Aulase the Dane Constantine K. of Scots and Eugenius or Owein Prince of Cumberland with so fortunate successe that this battaile was most famous farre
was Robert Boide whose wife and Earldome together when Boide was banished the realme James L. Hamilton as I said erewhile obtained and his posteritie enjoyed the same Earldome saving that of late Sir James Steward appointed guardian to James Hamilton Earle of Arran when hee was so defective in understanding that he could not manage his estate tooke this title in the right of being guardian Neere unto this standeth Buthe so called of a little religious Cell which Brendanus founded for so is a little Cell tearmed in the Scottish tongue In this Iland is Rothsay Castle which giveth the title of Dukedome unto the King of Scots eldest sonne who is borne Prince of Scotland Duke of Rothsay and Seneschall of Scotland since time that King Robert the third invested Robert his eldest sonne Duke of Rothsay the first in Scotland that ever was created Duke With which title also Queene Marie honoured Henrie Lord Darly before she tooke him to be her husband Then shew themselves Hellan sometimes called Hellan Leneow that it as Iohn Fordon interpreteth it The Saints Ilands and Hellan Tinoc that is The Swines Iland with a great number of other Ilands of lesse note and reckoning in the same Forth DAMNII CLUYDSDALE c. BEyond the NOVANTES more inward by the river Glotta or Cluyd and farther still even to the verie East sea dwelt in times past the DAMNII in those countries if I have any judgement for in things so farre remote from our remembrance and in so thick a mist of obscuritie who can speake of certaintie which are now callled Cluydsdale the Baronie of Renfraw Lennox Strivelinshire Menteth and Fife Neere unto the head of Cluyd in Crawford Moore among the wilde wasts certaine husbandmen of the countrey after great store of violent raine happened to finde certaine small peeces like scrapings of gold which have this long time given great hope of much riches but most of all in our dayes since that Sir Beamis Bulmer undertooke with great endevour to finde out here a Mine of gold Certes there is Azur gotten forth everie day without any paines in manner at all Now the Castle of Crawford together with the title of the Earle of Crawford was by Robert the second King of Scots given unto Sir James Lindesey who by a single combate performed with Baron Welles an Englishman won high commendation for his valour These Lindeseyes have deserved passing well of their country and are of ancient nobilitie ever since that Sir William Lindesey married one of the heires of William of Lancaster Lord of Kandale in England whose neice in the third degree of lineall descent was married into the most honourable family of Coucy in France Cluyd after hee hath from his spring head with much struggling got out Northward by Baron Somervils house receiveth unto him from out of the West the river Duglasse or Douglasse so called of a blackish or greenish water that it hath which river communicateth his name both to have the vale through which hee runneth called Douglasdale and also to Douglasse castle therein which name that castle likewise hath imparted unto the family of the Douglasses Which I assure you is very ancient but most famous ever since that Sir James Douglasse stucke verie close at all times as a most fast friend unto King Robert Brus and was readie alwaies with singular courage resolution and wisdome to assist him claiming the kingdome in most troublesome and dangerous times and whom the said King Robert charged at his death to carrie his heart to Jerusalem that hee might bee discharged of his vow made to goe to the Holy-land In memoriall whereof the Douglasses have inserted in their Coat of Armes a mans heart From which time this family grew up to that power and greatnesse and namely after that King David the second had created William Earle of Douglasse that they after a sort awed the Kings themselves For at one time well neere there were sixe Earles of them namely of this Douglasse of Angus of Ormund of Wigton of Murray and of Morton among whom the Earle of Wigton through his martiall prowesse and desert obtained at the hands of Charles the seventh king of France the title of Duke of Tourain and left the same to two Earles of Douglasse his heires after him Above the confluence of Douglasse and Cluyd is Lanric the hereditarie Sheriffdom of the Hamiltons who for their name are beholden unto Hamilton castle which standeth somewhat higher upon Cluyds banke in a fruitfull and passing pleasant place but they referre their originall as they have a tradition to a certaine Englishman surnamed Hampton who having taken part with Robert Brus received from him faire lands in this tract Much increase of their wealth and estate came by the bounteous hand of King James the third who bestowed in marriage upon Sir James Hamilton his own eldest sister whom he had taken perforce from the Lord Boide her husband together with the Earledome of Arran but of honours and dignities by the States of the kingdome who after the death of King James the fifth ordained James Hamilton grandsonne to the former James Regent of Scotland whom Henrie also the second King of France advanced to be Duke of Chasteau Herald in Poictou as also by King James the sixth who honoured his son John with the title of Marquesse of Hamilton which honourable title was then first brought into Scotland The river Glotta or Cluyd runneth from Hamilton by Bothwell which glorieth in the Earles thereof namely John Ramsey whose greatnesse with King James the third was excessive but pernicious both to himselfe and the King and the Hepburns whom I have already spoken of so streight forward with a readie stream through Glascow in ancient times past a Bishops seat but discontinued a great while untill that King William restored it up againe but now it is an Archbishops See and an Universitie which Bishop Turnbull after hee had in a pious and religious intent built a colledge in the yeere 1554. first founded This Glascow is the most famous town of merchandise in this tract for pleasant site and apple trees and other like fruit trees much commended having also a verie faire bridge supported with eight arches Of which towne I. Ionstoun thus versified Non te Pontificum luxus non Insula tantùm Ornavit diri quae tibi caussa mali Glottiadae quantùm decorant te Glascua Musae Quae celsum attollunt clara sub astra caput GLOTTA decus rerum piscosis nobilis undis Finitimi recreat jugera laeta soli Ast Glottae decus vicinis gloria terris Glascua foe cundat flumine cuncta suo The sumptuous port of Bishops great hath not adorn'd thee so Nor mitre rich that hath beene cause of thine accursed woe As Cluyds Muses grace thee now O Glascow towne for why They make thee beare thy head aloft up to the starrie skie Cluyd the beautie of the
world for fishfull streame renown'd Refresheth all the neighbour fields that lye about it round But Glascow beautie is to Cluyd and grace to countries nye And by the streames that flow from thence all places fructifie Along the hithermore banke of Cluid yeth the Baronie of Reinfraw so called of the principall towne which may seeme to bee RANDVARA in Ptolomee by the river Cathcart that hath the Baron of Cathcart dwelling upon it carrying the same surname and of ancient nobilitie neere unto which for this little province can shew a goodly breed of nobilitie there border Cruikston the seat in times past of the Lords of Darley from whom by right of marriage it came to the Earles of Lennox whence Henrie the Father of King James the sixth was called Lord Darly Halkead the habitation of the Barons of Ros descended originally from English blood as who fetch their pedegree from that Robert Ros of Warke who long since left England and came under the alleageance of the King of Scots Pasley sometimes a famous Monasterie founded by Alexander the second of that name high Steward of Scotland which for a gorgeous Church and rich furniture was inferiour to few but now by the beneficiall favour of King James the sixth it yeeldeth both dwelling place and title of Baron to Lord Claud Hamilton a younger sonne of Duke Chasteu Herald and Sempill the Lord whereof Baron Sempill by ancient right is Sheriffe of this Baronie But the title of Baron of Reinfraw by a peculiar priviledge doth appertaine unto the Prince of Scotland LENNOX ALong the other banke of Cluyd above Glascow runneth forth Levinia or LENNOX Northward among a number of hills close couched one by another having that name of the river Levin which Ptolomee calleth LELANONIUS and runneth into Cluyd out of Logh Lomund which spreadeth it selfe here under the mountaines twenty miles long and eight miles broad passing well stored with varietie of fish but most especially with a peculiar fish that is to be found no where else they call it Pollac as also with Ilands concerning which manie fables have beene forged and those riâ—e among the common people As touching an Iland here that floateth and waveth too and fro I list not to make question thereof For what should let but that a lighter bodie and spongeous withall in manner of a pumice stone may swimme above the water and Plinie writeth how in the Lake Vadimon there be Ilands full of grasse and covered over with rushes and reeds that float up and downe But I leave it unto them that dwell neerer unto this place and better know the nature of this Lake whether this old Distichon of our Necham be true or no Ditatur fluviis Albania saxea ligna Dat Lomund multa frigiditate potens With rivers Scotland is enrich'd and Lomund there a Lake So cold of nature is that stickes it quickly stones doth make Round about the edge of this Lake there bee fishers cottages but nothing else memorable unlesse it be Kilmoronoc a proper fine house of the Earles of Cassiles on the East side of it which hath a most pleasant prospect into the said Lake But at the confluence where Levin emptieth it selfe out of the Lake into Cluyd standeth the old Citie called Al-Cluyd Bede noteth that it signified in whose language I know not as much as The rocke Cluyd True it is that Ar-Cluyd signifieth in the British tongue upon Cluyd or upon the rocke and Cluyd in ancient English sounded the same that a Rocke The succeeding posteritie called this place Dunbritton that is The Britans towne and corruptly by a certaine transposition of letters Dunbarton because the Britans held it longest against the Scots Picts and Saxons For it is the strongest of all the castles in Scotland by naturall situation towring upon a rough craggie and two-headed rocke at the verie meeting of the rivers in a greene plaine In one of the tops or heads abovesaid there standeth up a loftie watch-tower or Keep on the other which is the lower there are sundrie strong bulwarks Betweene these two tops on the North side it hath one onely ascent by which hardly one by one can passe up and that with a labour by grees or steps cut out aslope travers the rocke In steed of ditches on the West side serveth the river Levin on the South Cluyd and on the East a boggie flat which at everie tide is wholly covered over with waters and on the North side the verie upright steepenesse of the place is a most sufficient defence Certain remaines of the Britans presuming of the naturall strength of this place and their owne manhood who as Gildas writeth gat themselves a place of refuge in high mountaines and hills steep and naturally fensed as it were with rampires and ditches in most thick woods and forrests in rockes also of the sea stood out and defended themselves here after the Romans departure for three hundred yeeres in the midst of their enemies For in Bedes time as himself writeth it was the best fortified citie of the Britans But in the yeere 756. Eadbert King of Northumberland and Oeng King of the Picts with their joint forces enclosed it round about by siege and brought it to such a desperate extremitie that it was rendred unto them by composition Of this place the territorie round about it is called the Sherifdome of Dunbarton and hath had the Earles of Lennox this long time for their Sheriffes by birth-right and inheritance As touching the Earles of Lennox themselves to omit those of more ancient and obscure times there was one Duncane Earle of Lennox in the reigne of Robert the second who died and left none but daughters behinde him Of whom one was married to Alan Steward descended from Robert a younger sonne of Walter the second of that name High Steward of Scotland and brother likewise to Alexander Steward the second from whom the noblest and royall race of Scotland hath beene propagated This surname Steward was given unto that most noble family in regard of the honourable office of the Stewardshippe of the kingdome as who had the charge of the Kings revenues The said Alan had issue John Earle of Lennox and Robert Captain of that companie of Scottishmen at Armes which Charles the sixth K. of France first instituted in lieu of some recompence unto the Scottish nation which by their valour had deserved passing well of the kingdom of France who also by the same Prince for his vertues sake was endowed with the Seigniorie of Aubigny in Auvergne John had a sonne named Matthew Earle of Lennox who wedded the daughter of James Hamilton by Marion daughter to King James the second on whom he begat John Earle of Lennox hee taking armes to deliver King James the fifth out of the hands of the Douglasses and the Hamiltons was slaine by the Earle of Arran his Unkle on the mothers side This John was
time and from out of them three hundred yeeres agoe and thirtie Robert Stewart by Marjorie his mother daughter to King Robert Brus obtained the Kingdome of Scotland and now lately James Stewart of that name the sixth King of Scots by Margaret his great grandmother daughter to King Henrie the seventh the divine power of that most high and almightie Ruler of the world so disposing is ascended with the generall applause of all nations to the height of Monarchicall majestie over all Britaine and the Isles adjacent ROSSIA THe Province ROSSE so called by an old Scottish word which some interpret to be a Promontorie others a Biland was inhabited by the people named CANTAE which terme in effect implieth as much in the time of Ptolomee This extendeth it selfe so wide and large that it reacheth from the one sea to the other What way it beareth upon the Vergivian or Western Ocean by reason of huge swelling mountaines advancing their heads aloft and many woods among them it is full of stagges roe buckes fallow Deere and wilde foule but where it butteth upon the German sea it is more lovely bedect with corne fields and pastures and withall much more civill In the very first entrance into it Ardmanoch no small territorie whereof the second sonnes of the Kings of Scotland beare the title riseth up with high mountaines that are most trustie preservers of snow As touching their height some have reported unto me strange wonders and yet the ancient Geometers have written that neither the depth of sea nor height of hills exceed by the plumbe line ten stadia that is one mile and a quarter Which notwithstanding they that have beheld Tenariffe amongst the Canarie Ilands which is fifteene leagues high and sailed withall the Ocean neere unto them will in no wise admit for truth In this part standeth Lovet Castle and the Baronie of the worthy family of the Frasers whom for their singular good service for the Scottish kingdome King James the second accepted into the ranke of Barons and whom the Clan-Ranalds a most bloodie generation in a quarrell and braule between them had wholly destroied every mothers sonne but that by the providence of God fourescore of the principall persons of this family left their wives at home all great with child who being delivered of so many sonnes renewed the house and multiplied the name againe But at Nesse mouth there flourished sometimes Chanonrie so called of a rich Colledge of Chanons whiles the Ecclesiasticall state stood in prosperitie in which there is erected a See for the Bishop of Rosse Hard by is placed Cromartie where Urqhuart a Gentleman of noble birth by hereditarie right from his ancestours ministreth justice as Sheriffe to this Sheriffdome and this is so commodious and safe an harbour for any fleet be it never so great that both Sailers and Geographers name it PORTUS-SALUTIS that is The Haven of safetie Above it is LITTUS ALTUM whereof Ptolomee maketh mention called now as it seemeth Tarbarth for there indeed the shore riseth to a great height enclosed on the one side with Cromer a most secure and safe haven and on the other with CELNIUS now Killian the river and thus much of the places toward the East Ocean Into the west sea the river LONGUS mentioned in Ptolomee at this day named Lough Longus runneth then the CERONES anciently dwelt where now is Assinshire a countrey much mangled with many inlets and armes of the sea in bosoming it selfe with manifold commodities As for the Earls of Rosse it is full of difficulty to set them down in order successively out of writers About foure hundred yeers past we read that Ferqhuard flourished enjoied this title But for default of issue male it came by a daughter to Walter Lesley who for his noble feats of armes courageously atchieved under Lewis the Emperour was worthily named The Noble Knight he begat Alexander Earle of Rosse and a daughter married unto Donald Lord of the Islands Hebrides This Alexander had issue one onely daughter who made over by her deed all her owne title and right unto Robert Duke of Albany whereat the said Donald of the Islands being highly enchafed and repining stiled himselfe in the reigne of James the third King of the Islands and Earle of Rosse having with fire and sword laied waste his native country far neere At length the said K. James the third by authoritie of Parliament in the yeere 1476. annexed the Earldome of Rosse to the crowne so as it might not be lawfull for his successours to alienate by any meanes from the crowne either the Earldome it selfe or any parcell thereof or by any device to grant the same unto any person save onely to the Kings second sonnes lawfully borne whence it is that Charles the Kings second sonne Duke of York at this day holdeth an enjoieth the title of Earle of Rosse SUTHERLAND BEyond Rosse Sutherland looketh toward the East Ocean a land more meet to breed cattell than to beare corne wherein there be hills of white marble a wonderfull thing in this so cold a climate but of no use almost considering excesse in building and that vain ostentation of riches is not yet reached to these remote regions Here is Dunrobin a castle of very great name the principall seat of the ancient Earles of Sutherland descended if I be not deceived out of the family of Murray Among whom one William under King Robert Brus is most famous who married the sister of the whole blood to K. David and had by her a son whom the said David declared heire apparant of the crown and compelled his Nobles to sweare unto him alleageance but he within a little after departed without issue and the Earldome in the end came by a daughter and heire hereditarily unto A. Gordon one of the line of the Earles of Huntly CATHANES HIgher lieth CATHANES butting full upon the said East sea bending inward with a number of creakes and compasses which the waves as it were indent In which dwelt in Ptolomees time the CATINI but written falsly in some copies CARINI among whom the selfe same Ptolomee placeth the river Ila which may seem to be the Wifle at this day The inhabitants of this province raised their greatest gaine and revenues by grazing and raising of cattell and by fishing The chiefe castle therein is called Girnego in which the Earls of Catnesse for the most part make their abode The Bishops sea is in Dornock a little meane town otherwise where also King James the fourth appointed the Sheriffe of Catnesse to reside or else at Wik as occasions should require for the administration of justice The Earles of Catnesse in ancient times were also Earles of the Orcades but at last they became distinct and by the eldest daughter of one Malise given in marriage to William Seincler the Kings Pantler his heires successively came to be Earls of Catnesse
which name is derived not à vergendo that is of bending towards as some are of opinion but of Mor-weridh for this name the Britans gave it or else of Farigi by which name the Irish men call it the most famous Iland HIBERNIA that is to say IRELAND encloseth the West side of Britain an Iland which in times past challenged the third place amongst all the Isles of the then knowne world For thus as touching Ilands writeth the ancient Geographer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Of all Ilands for greatnesse the Indian TAPROBANE is prime and principall next after it BRITAINE and in a third degree another British Iland named HIBERNIA that is Ireland and thereupon Ptolomee called it LITTLE BRITAIN This Isle by Orpheus Aristotle and Claudian is named IERNA by Iuvenal Mela JUVERNA by Diodorus Siculus IRIS by Martian of Heraclea JOYEPNIA by Eustathius OYERNIA and BERNIA by the native inhabitants Erin by the Britans Yuerdon and of English men Ireland Whence these names have had their originall sundry and divers opinions have beene conceived from time to time as in a doubtfull matter Some derive Hibernia from Hiberno tempore that is from the Winter season others from Hiberus a Spaniard and some againe from the river Iberus the author of the booke entituled Eulogium from Duke Irnalph Postellus a fancifull man when he read Pomponius Mela publikely in Paris because hee would seeme to have a reach beyond other men fetcheth the originall thereof from the Hebrewes so that Irin should bee as much as Iurin that is the Jewes land The Iewes forsooth saith he being most wise Sages and learned Philosophers knowing by their learning that the Empire of the world should be setled in the strongest Angle which lieth West seized upon those parts and Ireland with the first The Syrians also and Tyrians to lay the foundation of their future Empire endevoured all they could to inhabite those Regions Pardon me I pray you if I dare not subscribe hereto no nor give my consent to that opinion most received as touching the Winter season aforesaid although I have read that in this Iland the aire upon every winde is cold and winterlike As for Hibernia Iuverna and Ouernia they came doubtlesse from IERNA spoken of by Orpheus and Aristotle and the same Ierna as also Iris Yuerdhon and Ireland from Erin the tearme that the inhabitants use From this Erin therefore a word proper unto the nation the originall must be deduced Here I with those great Philosophers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is hold off and suspend my judgement neither know I what to divine and ground my conjecture upon unlesse peradventure that name may come from Hiere an Irish word which with them signifieth the West or a Western coast whence Erin may seeme to bee derived as one would say a Western countrey Of this opinion have I been a good while since induced thereto with my owne conceit and flattering conjecture both because it lieth furthest Westward of any region in all Europe as being no more than twelve degrees distant from the utmost West point as also for that the river running in the most remote West part of this Iland is in Ptolomee called IERNUS like as the Promontorie or Cape bearing out farthest West in Spaine from whence our Irish-men came is named by Strabo IERNE and as the next river unto it which also is most West of all the rivers in Spaine is called by Mela IERNA Moreover by reason of the Western situation Spaine is named Hesperia and that West Cape in Africk Hesperium cornu yea and even in Germanie these countries Westrich Westphalen c. have their denomination from that position and site so that it is no marvaile if Ireland were tearmed Erin of the Western situation Besides these names of Ireland which I have spoken of the Irish Bards or Poets have usually taken up in their ballads these tearmes Tirvolas Totidanan and Banno as the most ancient names of this Iland but upon what reason I wot not unlesse Banno were that Bannomanna which Plinie mentioneth out of Timaeus whiles his pen coasteth along the outmost sides and skirts of Europe and the shore of the Northren Ocean on the left hand from Scythia even as farre as Cadis in Spaine For what countrey that same Bannomanna should bee the Geographers have not yet found out But Biaun in Irish signifieth Sacred or Holy and verily Festus Avâ—enus calleth Ireland SACRAM INSULAM that is The holy Iland in that little booke intituled ORAE MARITIMAE that is The Sea coasts which he compiled out of most ancient Geographers namely Hecataeus of Miletum Hellanicus of Lesbos Philaeus of Athens Caryandaeus Pausymachus of Samos Damastus Euctemon and others But I will write downe his verses for when he had spoken of the Ilands Ostrymides thus he versifieth Ast hinc duobus in SACRAM sic insulam Dixêre prisci solibus cursus rati est Haec inter undas multum cespitem jacit Eamque latè gens Hibernorum colit Propinqua rursus insula Albionum patet But to the SACRED Isle for so They us'd to call it long agoe From hence a course who so desires Just two dayes sailing it requires Much turfe it casts the waves among And Irish dwell therein along Now very neere to it againe The Albions Isle is kenned plaine If that OGYGIA which Plutarch placed on the West side of our Britaine were not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not a vaine dreame but a matter in truth hee may seeme by that name plainly to point at Ireland although the reports that he so sadly telleth of it be meer poeticall fictions Milesian toies Neither can any man readily tell why they called it Ogygia unlesse haply of the antiquitie For the Grecians tearmed nothing by the name of Ogygia but that which was very ancient And Robert Constantine seemeth to have shot wide all the world over when he affirmeth that CERNE mentioned in Lycophron was our Ireland for Lycophron himselfe and Tzetzes that commenteth upon him doe place Cerne toward the sunne rising and all the best learned men thinke it to be Madagascar situated as it were in another world right under the Tropique of Capricorne right over against Aethiopia Thus much touching the names of Ireland yet so as we remember withall to take this by the way that in these later times it was called also SCOTIA that is Scotland by Isidor and Bede of the Scots who inhabited it and that thence the name of Scotland together with the Scots themselves came into Britaine But of this we have spoken alreadie once before and therefore have no cause to repeat here This Iland is stretched out from South to North not broader than it is long as Strabo hath recorded but shaped in forme of a lentile or an egge nor of twentie dayes sailing as Philemon in Ptolomee hath set it downe but according to
inhabited it before Noahs flood Then that Bartholanus a Scythian came hither about three hundred yeeres after the said Noahs flood and fought right doughtie battels with giants That many yeeres after Nemethus a Scythian arrived here and forthwith was cast out by the Giants After this that Dela with certaine Grecians seized upon this Island and soone after that Gaothel with Scota his wife daughter to Pharaoh King of Egypt landed here and nominated after his wives name the Island Scotia and according to his owne name the language Gaothela and that about the time of the Israelites departure out of Egypt And the British historie reporteth how some few ages after Hiberus and Hermion Ever and Erimon the Irish writers terme them the sonnes of Milesius King of Spaine by the sufferance of Gurguntius King of the Britans planted colonies in this countrey after it had beene dispeopled by a pestilence My purpose is not either to averre these reports for true nor yet to refute them In such things as these let Antiquitie bee pardonable and enjoy a prerogative Surely as I doubt not but that this Island became inhabited even of old time when as man-kinde was spred over all quarters of the world so it is evident that the first inhabitants thereof passed thither out of our Britaine For to say nothing of an infinite number of British words in the Irish tongue together with the ancient names which favour of a British originall the natures of the people and their fashions as Tacitus saith differ not much from Britain of all ancient writers it is called A British Iland Diodorus Siculus termed Irin a part of Britaine and Ptolomee named the same BRITANNIA PARVA that is little Britaine as you may see if you list to compare his Geographickes with his book of Great Construction And the Epitome of Strabo calleth the inhabitants in plaine words BRITANS the old Geographers also named it The Britans Iland yea and Festus Aveienus sheweth this out of Dionysius Afer when he treateth of British Ilands in these verses Eminus hic aliae gelidi prope flabra Aquilonis Exuperant undas vasta cacumina tollunt Hae numero geminae pingues sola cespitis ampli Conditur occidui quà Rheni gurgitis unda Dira Britannorum sustentant agmina terris Here other Islands neere unto the chilling North winds blast The waves of sea surmount aloofe and shew their mountaines vast In number twaine their soile is fat their ground both large and wide What way the Western Rhene his gulfe and waters deepe doth hide These Lands fierce Britan troups maintaine and thereon they abide Neither is there any other countrey out of which by reason of the vicinitie they might passe over more commodiously into Ireland than out of Britaine from whence there is the like passage thither in respect of the space of sea betweene as is out of France into Britaine But afterwards when the Romanes had enlarged their Empire every way many there were no doubt who out of Spaine Gaule and Britaine withdrew themselves hither that they might shake off that intolerable yoke of the Romans slaverie Neither do some otherwise understand these words of Tacitus Ireland being situate in the middest betweene Spaine and Britanie lying also very fitly for the French sea would aptly have united to the great use advantage of the one and the other the strongest members of the Empire together the landing places and ports whereof by entercourse of trafficke were better known than those of Britain And albeit Iulius Agricola also kept with him a pettie King or Prince of Ireland who was driven thence by occasion of civill dissention that hee might have the more advantageous opportunitie thereby to invade the Island which he thought would be subdued and held with a legion and a small power of aide forces and was perswaded withall that the same would availe much for the affaires of Britaine in case the Roman forces were planted everie where and hope of libertie banished as it were farre out of sight yet wee read not that the Romans gave any attempt that way Notwithstanding some are verily perswaded that they assaied the conquest of it and doe gather the same hardly out of this place of Iuvenal Arma quid ultra Littora Iuvernae promovimus modò captas Orcadas minimâ contentos nocte Britannos Why warred we past Irish coasts and the Orkneis lately wonne Beyond the Britans eke that have least night and longest Sunne Yet the Panegyricall oration pronounced before Constantius the Emperour implieth that Ireland was under his government Britaine saith he is so recovered that even those nations also which join upon the coasts of the same Island are become subject and obedient unto your command Also we find written in the Chronicles of later historians that Ireland together with Britain and Thule at the division of the Empire fell unto Constantine the sonne of Constantine the Great And that very fond fable of Caesarea Noahs Niece carrieth before it the name of Caesars so as that therein may seeme covertly couched the comming of some Caesar into Ireland Howbeit I can hardly perswade my selfe to beleeve that this countrey at any time became subject to the Romans But a blessed and happie turne had it beene for Ireland if it had at any time beene under their subjection surely it had then beene reduced from barbarisme to civilitie For wheresoever the Romans were victors they brought them whom they conquered to civilitie neither verily in any place else throughout Europe was there any civilitie learning and elegance but where they ruled And very inconsiderately also they may seeme to have neglected this Island For from hence to the plague and spoile of Britaine brake out most dangerous enemies which Augustâ—â— seemeth to have foreseene when he tooke so small care of Britaine for the danger which hee presaged to hover and approach from the nations round about adjoyning But when the Roman Empire began now to decay the nation of the Scots or Scythians for in times past as Strabo writeth all people Westward were tearmed Celto-Scythae grew mightie in Ireland and began to be renowned Furthermore under the Emperours Honorius and Arcadius it was inhabited by the Scottish nations as Orosius hath written Whereupon Claudian living in the same age wrote thus Scotorum cumulos flevit glacialis Ierne Yce-frozen Ireland wept amaine To see the Scots on heaps lye slaine And in another place Totam cùm Scotus Hibernem Movit What time as Scots did make All Ireland armes to take For from hence it was that the Scots made their forcible invasions into Britaine and hither they were otherwhiles with great losses and overthrowes repulsed But whence they came into Ireland Ninnius a disciple of Elvodugus an author of good antiquitie shall enforme you by his own words who lived as himselfe witnesseth in the yeere 830. under Anaraugh King of Anglesey and Guineth or North-Wales For after he had related
after he had killed and drowned in the river Moin about three thousand of them A happy victory this was and of great consequence both for the present future times whereby the rebellion together with the title of Mac-William was extinguished Donell Gormy and Alexander Carrough the sons of Iames Mac-Conel and those Ilanders who most of all had plagued Ireland were slaine These occurrents have I briefly set down out of my Annales impertinent though they be to my intended purpose which for their worthinesse ought more at large to be penned by some Historiographer THE COUNTY OF SLEGO SOmewhat higher lieth the county of Slego a plenteous and battle country for feeding and raising of cattell wholly also coasting upon the sea Betweene it and Ulster Northward runneth the river TROBIS which Ptolomee calleth RAVIUS as an out-let of the Lake Erne it is severed from the neighbour counties Le Trim and Roscoman by the comberous Curlew hills and the river Suc divideth it in twaine In some place hereabout Ptolomee setteth the city NAGNATA but what city it was it passeth my wit to find out He hath placed also the river LIBNIUS in this tract which through the retchlesnesse of the transcribers I reduced even now from out of exile to Dublin his owne city But that place which Ptolomee here pointeth out is now called THE BAY OF SLEGO a rode full of harbours under Slego the principall place of this county where standeth a castle the seat at this day of the Sept of O-Conor who of it take their addition of Slego and fetch their pedegree as they say themselves from that Rotherick O-Conor Dun who being a great man and of much puissance bare himselfe as Monarch of Ireland what time as the English entred first into Ireland hardly yeelded himselfe unto King Henry the second although in words he professed submission and oftentimes raising tumults as an author without name of that age writeth used ever and anon to cry out and say That these words following of Adrian the Pope in his Patent or Charter made unto the King of England were prejudiciall unto him Enter you into that Iland and execute whatsoever shall concerne the glory of God and the salvation of that land and let the people of the said land receive you and honour you as their Lord untill such time as Pope Alexander the third by a new Bull or Charter of his had confirmed in like manner unto the Kings of England their right to Ireland for then became he more tractable and condescended unto more equall conditions as I shall shew anon After these O Conors the greatest men of name in this territory are O Don O Haris O Ghar and Mac-Donagh THE COUNTY OF LE-TRIM THe County of Slego Eastward is enclosed with Breany the possession of the ancient family of O-Rorck which drew their descent from Rotherick Monarch of Ireland whom they by contraction which they take pleasure in terme Rorck untill that Brien O Rorck Lord of Breany and Minterolise fed with vaine hopes by Pope Sixtus Quintus and the King of Spaine had persidiously cast off his allegeance to Queene Elizabeth and taken armes who being streightwaies chased into Scotland and sent backe into England suffered for his inconsiderate rashnesse due punishment upon the gallowes and his lands were adjudged to the Crown This Breany by Iohn Perot Lord Deputie was made a county and of the chiefe towne called Le-Trim which riseth up throughout with hills full of ranke grasse yet not so as that it should be altogether true which Solinus reporteth of Ireland namely that it is so full of forage that unlesse cattell were kept other whiles from grasing their fulnesse would endanger them And so much cattell it feedeth that within the little circuit which it hath it may reckon at one time above a hundred and twenty thousand head of beasts In this standeth Achonry Bishopricke united now to the See of Elphin And Shannon the Soveraigne of all rivers in Ireland hath here his spring-head which being one while narrower and another while broader with divers turning and winding reaches that he makes washeth and watereth of either side as I have said many a country The principall families be O Rorck O Murreies Mac Lochleims Mac Glanchies and Mac Granelles all meere and stark Irish. Whereas Iohn Burgh sonne to Richard the Earle of Clan-Ricards was created by Queene Elizabeth Baron Le-Trim who was afterward slaine by his envious concurrents I cannot say whether he had that title of this Le-Trim or of some other place in this kingdome THE COUNTY OF ROSCOMAN UNder the county of Letrim Southward lieth ROSCOMAN ordained to be a county by Henry Sidney Lord Deputy lying out a good length but narrow closed up between the two rivers Suc Westward and Shanon Eastward and on the North side bounded with Curlew mountaines A territory it is for the most part plaine fruitfull feeding many herds of cattell and with meane husbandry and tillage yeeldeth plenty of corne Where it beareth Northward the steepe mountaines of Curlew perke up aloft and those impassable untill by the carefull industry of George Bingham there was a way cut out which Curlews not long since became more notorious for the disastrous death of Sir Coniers Clifford and by his default for the slaughter with him of most valiant and experienced souldiers In this county are reckoned foure Baronies Under Curlew hills by the river Shanon the Baronie of Boyle first commeth in view where was founded in times past a famous Abbey in the yeere 1152. together with the Abbey of Beatitude and Mac Dermot ruleth all there as Lord then by the river Suc lieth the Baronie Balin Tober where O Conor Dun is of the greatest command and upon it joineth Elphen an Episcopall See Somewhat lower is Roscoman the Baronie of O Conor Roo that is Conor the red wherein is seated the chiefe towne of the whole countie sensed in times past with a castle by Robert Ufford Lord Justice of Ireland but all the houses are mean and thatched and more Southward Athlone the Baronie of the O Kellies so named of the head towne which hath a castle and ward in it also a most beautifull bridge of hewen stone which to the great terrour of seditious rebels Queen Elizabeth in our memory appointing Henry Sidney Lord Deputy of Ireland overseer thereof caused to be built with a purpose to constitute in that place as most fit of all others in Ireland to represse seditions the seat of residence for the Lords Deputies and thus much for the Counties of Conaght LORDS OF CONAGHT AS for the Lords of Conaght wee finde it recorded in the Irish histories that Turlogh O Mor O Conor ruled absolutely in old time this countrey and divided it wholly betweene his two sonnes Cahel and Brien But at the Englishmens first arrivall into Ireland Rothericke bare rule who stiled himselfe Monarch of Ireland yet being put in feare with
Comet or blazing star appeared The same yeere there was a field fought between those of the Isle of Man at Sâ—antwas and the Northren men got the victorie In which battell were slaine Earle Oiher and Mac-Moras Generals of both the sides In the same yeere Magnus King of Norway the son of Olave son of Harald Harfager desirous to try whether the corps of S. Olave King and Martyr remained uncorrupt commanded that his tombe should be opened and notwithstanding the Bishop and Clergy withstood it the King himselfe came boldly thither and by force that he brought with him caused the coffin to be opened Now when he had both seene and handled the body uncorrupt and nothing perished sodainly there was a great feare fell upon him and in all haste he departed thence The next night following Olave King and Martyr appeared unto him in a dreame saying thus Chuse thou one of these two things either to lose thy life and kingdome both within thirty daies or to depart from Norway and never see it againe When the King awakened he called unto him his Princes and Elders and declared unto them his dreame and vision and they being sore affraid gave him this counsell to depart with all speed out of Norway He without delay caused a fleet to be rigged and put in readinesse of an hundred and threescore saile and cutteth over to the Isles of Orkney which he forthwith subdued making way by dint of sword thorowout all the Iles and bringing them to his subjection went forward still as far as to Man and when he was arrived and landed he came unto St. Patrickes Isle to see the place wherein the field had beene fought a little before betweene the Manksmen because as yet many of their bodies that were slaine lay there unburied Now when he saw this most goodly and beautifull Iland it pleased his eye and he chose it to seat himselfe therein built fortresses in it which unto this day carry his name And those of Galway he held in so great awe that he compelled them to cut downe wood for timber and to bring it unto the shore that therewith he might build his Forts and Bulwarkes To Anglesey then called Mona an Iland in Wales hee sailed and found in it two Earles by the name of Hughes the one he slew the other he put to flight and subdued the Iland But the Welshmen presented him with many gifts and so he bad them farwell and returned unto Man Unto Murcard King of Ireland he sent his shooes and commanded him to carry them on his shoulders through the middest of his house on Christmas day that he might thereby understand he was subject unto King Magnus Which the Irishmen as soone as they heard of it took grievously and disdained exceeding much But the King following a wiser course I had rather saith he not onely carry his shooes but also eat them than King Magnus should destroy one Province in Ireland Hee fulfilled therefore his commandement and honourably entreated his messengers Many presents also hee sent over by them unto King Magnus and entred into league with him These messengers being returned unto their Lord related unto him many things touching the situation of Ireland the pleasantnesse thereof the abundance of corne and wholsomnesse of aire When Magnus heard this straightwaies he thought of nothing else but to conquer Ireland and bring it wholly under his dominion He commanded therefore his men to prepare a navie and himselfe in person setting forward with sixteene ships desirous to take a view of the countrey as he unwarily departed aside from his shipping was suddenly compassed about by the Irish and so lost his life together with all those in manner that were with him And he was buried hard by S. Patricks Church in Doun Hee reigned sixe yeeres after whose death the Princes of the Ilands sent for Olave the son of Godred surnamed Crovan who lived in the Court of Henry King of England son of King William MCII. Olave the sonne of Godred Crovan aforesaid beganne his reigne and reigned forty yeeres a peaceable Prince having all the Kings of Ireland and Scotland to be his confederates Hee tooke to wife Affrica the daughter of Ferguse of Gallway of whom he begat Gadred By his concubines he had Regnald Lagman and Harald beside many daughters whereof one was wedded to Summerled Prince of Herergaidel who was the cause of the ruine of the whole Kings of the Ilands On her he begat foure sonnes Dulgall Raignald Engus and Olave MCXXXIII There hapned so great an Eclipse of the Sun upon the fourth Nones of August that the day was turned into night MCXXXIV Olave gave unto Yuo Abbat of Furnes a plot of his land in Man to build an Abbay in a place called Russin and both enriched with revenues and endowed with priviledges the estate of the Church in the Ilands MCXLII Godred Olaves son saileth over sea to the King of Norway whose name was Hinge and did his homage unto him and staied there being honourably entertained of him The same yeere three sonnes of Harald Olaves brother who had been brought up in Dublin raising a great number of men together and all those who were fled from the King came to Man demanding of the same King to have the one moity of the whole kingdome of the Ilands to bee given unto them But the King when he had heard their demand being willing to pacifie them answered That hee would take counsell of the matter Now when they had appointed the time and place where the counsell should bee held in the meane while those most leud and wicked villaines complotted among themselves the Kings death At the day appointed both parts met at the haven which is called Ramsa and sat in order by rowes the King with his counsell on the one side and they together with their company on the other and Reginald who was to dispatch him was in the midst between and stood talking apart with one of the Peeres of the land But when the King had called him and he was come unto him he turned toward the King as though hee would salute him and therewith lifting up a glittering axe a great height at one blow cut off the Kings head And forthwith as soone as they had committed such a bloody murder they divided the land among themselves and after some few daies having gathered a navie together failed over to Galway desirous to bring it also under their subjection But those of Galway sticking close and round together gave a faire onset and joined battell with them They by and by turning their backes fled in great disorder to Man And as for all the Galwaymen that dwelt therein some of them they slew others they expelled MCXLIII Godred Olaves son returning out of Norway was created King of Man and to avenge his fathers death he caused two of Haralds sons to have their eies pulled out and slew the third MCXLIV Godred begun his reigne
and reigned thirty yeeres In the third yeere of his reigne the people of Dublin sent for him and created him King of Dublin against whom Mure-card King of Ireland raised war and encamping himselfe before the Citie which is called Coridelis sent his halfe brother by the mothers side Osibeley with three thousand men of armes to Dublin who was by Godred and the Dublinians slaine and all the rest put to flight These exploits atchieved Godred returned to Man began to use tyranny and turned Noblemen out of their inheritances whereof one called Thorsin Oters Son mightier than the rest came to Sumerled and made Dubgall Sumerleds son King of the Ilands subduing unto him many Ilands When Godred had intelligence of these things by one Paul he prepared a navie and setteth forward to meet with Sumerled who was comming with a fleet of 80. saile And in the yeere 1156. there was a battell fought at sea on Twelfe day at night and after many a man slaine on both sides the next day after they grew to a pacification and divided among themselves the kingdome of the Ilands and so it became two severall kingdomes from that very day unto this present time And this was the cause of the overthrow of the kingdome of the Isles since time that Sumerleds son seized upon it MCLVIII Sumerled came to Man with a fleet of 53. saile put Godred to flight wasted the Iland Godred then crossed over to Norway to seek for aid against Sumerled MCLXIV Sumerled gathered together a fleet of 1060. ships and arrived at Rhinfrin coveting to subdue all Scotland But by the just judgement of God hee was vanquished by a few together with his sonne and an infinite number of people there slain The same yeere there was a field fought at Ramsae betweene Reginald brother of Godred and them of Man and by the deceitfull practice of a certaine Earle those of Man were put to flight Then Reginald began to reigne and on the fourth day after came Godred upon him out of Norway with a great multitude of armed men and tooke his brother Reginald whom he bereft both of his eyes and of his genitall members The same yeere died Malcolm King of Scotland and his brother William succeeded him in the kingdome MCLXVI Two Comets or blazing stars appeared before Sun-rising in the Moneth of August the one in the South the other in the North. MCLXXI Richard Earle of Penbrock sailed over into Ireland and subdued Develin with a great part of Ireland MCLXXVI John Curey conquered Ulster and Vivian Legate of the Apostolicke Sea came into Man and caused King Godred to bee lawfully espoused unto his wife Phingola daughter of Mac-Lotlen son to Murkartac King of Ireland to wit the mother of Olave then three yeers old Sylvan the Abbat married them unto whom the very same day Godred gave a piece of land at Miriscoge where he built a Monastery but at length the ground was together with the Monkes granted to the Abbey of Russin Reginald sonne to Eac-Marcat one of the royall blood comming into Man with a great band of men in the Kings absence at the first conflict put to flight certain warders that kept the shore and killed about 30. men Afterwards the Manksmen gathering their forces together the same day slew him and almost all his company MCLXXXIII O-Fogolt was Sheriffe of Man MCLXXXV There fell out to be an Eclipse of the Sun on Saint Philip and Jacobs day MCLXXXVII On the fourth Ides of November died Godred King of the Ilands and the next Summer was his body translated to the Isle of Hy. He left behind him three sonnes Reginald Olave and Tvar In his life he ordained his sonne Olave to be his heire because hee onely was borne in lawfull wedlock But the people of Man seeing that Olave was now scarce ten yeeres old sent for Reginald out of the Iles and set him up for their King MCLXXXVIII Reginald Godreds son began to raigne over the Ilands and Murchard a man of great power throughout all the kingdome of the Iles was slaine MCXCII A battell was fought betweene Reginald and Engus the sonnes of Sumerled but Engus won the victory The same yeere was the Abbey of Russin translated to Dufglas but after foure yeeres the Monks returned to Russin MCCIII Michael Bishop of the Isles died at Fontans after whom succeeded Nicolas MCCIV. Hugh Lacy came with an army into Ulster and gave John Curcy battell tooke him prisoner and conquered Ulster Afterward hee set John at liberty who came to King Reginald and he honourably entertained him because he was his brother in law for John Curcy had taken to wife Affrica Godreds daughter who founded the Abbey of S. Mary de Iugo Domini and was there buried MCCV. John Curcy and Reginald King of the Iles having entred into Ulster with one hundred ships in the haven which is called Stranford slackly besieged the fortresse of Rath but Walter Lacy comming upon them with an army put them to flight after this Curcy never recovered his land MCCX Engus Sumerleds son was with three of his sonnes slaine John King of England at the same time brought a navie of 500. saile to Ireland subdued it who sending a certaine Earle named Fulk unto Man in one fortnight and a day wholly in a manner wasted it and taking hostages returned thence into their country King Reginald and his Nobles were not in Man MCCXVII Nicolas Bishop of the Ilands departed this life and was buried in Ulster within the house of Benchor after whom succeeded Reginald Here I thinke good to write somewhat againe of Olave and Reginald Brethren REginald gave unto his brother Olave the I le called Lodhus which is said to be larger than the rest of the Ilands but slenderly inhabited because it stands much upon mountaines is stony besides and almost all unfit for tillage The inhabitants thereof live for the most part by hunting and fishing Olave therfore went to possesse himselfe of this Iland and dwelt in it leading a poore life And when he saw it would not suffice to maintaine himselfe and his army he came boldly unto his brother Reginald who then made his abode in the Ilands and spake unto him in this maner Brother saith hee my Soveraigne Lord the King thou knowest that the kingdome of the Ilands belonged unto me by inheritance but since the Lord hath elected thee to sway the Scepter thereof I envie thee not nor take it grievously that thou art exalted to that royall dignity Now thus much I heartily beseech thee that thou wouldest provide me some portion of land in the Iles wherein I may live honestly according to mine estate for the Iland Lodhus which thou gavest unto me is not sufficient to sustaine me Reginald his brother after he had given him the hearing said he would take counsell upon the point and the morrow after when Olave was sent for and came in place to parley of the matter Reginald commandeth
Valentia Barle Clan-Caâ—r Beare O Swilivant O Mahon Notium Promontorium The river Iâ—rnus Earles of Desmond Vodiae a people Coriandi a people Muskeray Carbray Spaniard landed in Ireland and from thence driven Kerry-wherry Vicount Butiphant Baron Roch Vicount Fermoy Yoghall The Kay The kingdome of Corke Lismor Christian a Bishop Ard-mor Dessee Dungarvan Poers Barons of Curraghmore Waterford Earle of Waterford Steward of Ireland An. 28. H. 8. Conilagh Knoc-Patric Knight of the Valley Anno 11. Reg. Eliz. Limirick Clan-William Baron of Castle Conell Clan-Gibbon 13. Elizab. Fitz-Geralds Emely The lower Ossery The county of Holy Crosse of Tipperary Wood of the Crosse. Cassile Baron de Cahir Clomell Earle of Caricke Anno 9. Ed. 2. Ormond Butlers Earles of Ormond Anno 2. Ed. 3. Earle of Tipperary Wolf-men The disease Lycanthropia County of Kilkenny Upper Ossery Baron of upper Ossery Thomas Towne Callan Inis Teog The Statute of Absenties Barony Ydron Cavanaghs O More Out of a pamphlet of Patrick Finglas Hook-Tower Lease Mary Burgh Donemaws Rheba Baronet of Rheban Offaly Philips towne Kildar S. Brigid Ch. 9. Ed. 2. N. 12. Barons Fitz-Eustace Pat. 2. Ed. 4. Carausius Tintern Monastery Hieron a Promontory Cauci O Tooles O Birns Arklo Glynnes Wicklo lately made a county 1606. The Grounds Old-Court Poers Court Liffy river which Girald calleth Aven-Liff * That is the river Lâ—ff Eblana Dublin Who also is named Abloicus Aulafus and Olavus Ioscelin of Furnes in the life of S. Patricke Lib. 2. verum Anglicar c. 26. Kaies * Upon Ausonius l. 2. c. 22. Dammensis All-Hallowes An University begun 1591. 13. May was the foundation laid 1593. Scholars were first admitted 1320. A Manuscript of Baron Hoult Thomas Court Statut. Parli 18. H. 8. c. 15. Tole-stale Marquesse of Dublin Pr. p. Pat. anno 9. Rich. 2. m. 1. Saint Laurence Barons of Houth Malchid Fingall Th. Stukely Marquesse of Leinster Laberus Barnwell Baron Trimlet stoun Baron Slane Navan Baronet of Navan Bishop of Meth. Molingar Barons Delvin Nogents Lords of Meth. Genevile Constables of Ireland Anale O-Pharoll River Senus or Sineus Shannin and Shannon Macolicum Malc Rigia Which others call Mare Bredunicum Nagnatae Gangani Concani Auteri Killaloe Catarracta Bunraty Clare Earles of Twomond Ilands of Arran Bed l. 4. c. 4. Ecclesiast hist. Logh-Corbes Gallwey The battell of Knoctoe 1516. Aterith Birminghams Clan-Ricard Earles of Clan-Ricard Archbishoprick of Toam or Tuen Maio. Killaley Bishoprick of Killaley Lib 4. cop 4. Logh-Mesk Galloglasses Mac-William who also is called Mac-William Eughter Cuttings Coyne Liverey c. Cause of Rebellions in Ireland Richard Bingham Nagnata Diploma l. 2. c. 6 Girald Cambren de expugnatio Hibern p. 787. Curlew hills Barony of Boyle Balin Tober Rog. Hoveden Anno 1175. pag. 312. John Perot Lord Deputy 1585. Uriel in Latin Urgalia Tredagh Mellifont Abbey Dundalk Carlingford Birmingham who also is called Brimicham Earle of Louth Baron Louth East Breany O Reily Kilmore Bishopricke Poore Bishops Lough-Ern Bal-tarbet Belek Mac-Mahon Fitz-Urse 1590. Charles Blunt L. Mont-joy Fewes Orry Mont-Norris Armach S. Patricke Vita Patricii Marianus Scotus The Irish shaving See Bed l. 5. c. 22. S. Bernard in the life of Malachy Lib. 1. Ceremoniar sacrar Sect. 14. Isanium the Promontory Dunum Downe Saint Patricks Sepulcher Robert de Monts de Immutatione Ordinis Monachoâ—um Banchor Abbay Pelagius the Arch-heretick In the life of Malachias Bishoprick of Coner Savage Upper Clane-Boy Knoc-Fergus Nether Clane-Boy Isle of Magie Glinnes Bissets James Mac-Conell The Rowt Mac-Guilly Surley Boy Chairly Boy Donluse River Ban. Glan-Colkein Salmons O-Cahan Uraights The election of O-Neal Scottish Ilanders Upper Tit-Oen Bishopricke of Cloghter Dunganon Baron of Dunganon Fort of Black-water Patricks Purgatory Regia Reglis Derry Robogdii Robogdium Promontory Vennicnii River Vidua Boreum Promontory Sligah â— Donegall O-donell Scoti In the life of S. Patrick Earles of Ulster An. 7. Ioannis See pag. 624. and 725. Ireland neglected Scoto-Chronicon lib. 12. cap. 26. Shan or John O Neale Thomas Earle of Sussex Lord Deputy Sir Henry Sidney Lord Deputy 1565. 1567. Hugh O-Neal Earle of Tir-Oen 1588. 1595. Die 12. Iunii Lord Generall of the Army Baron Burough Lord Deputie 1597. 1598. Robert Earle of Essex Lord Lievtenant 1599. 8 September 1599. 28. Septemb. 1599. Charles Blunt Lord Deputy 1600. The manners of the Irishry or wild Irish. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but in the Epitome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is feeding upon herbes and weeds O prefixed to the names of the Noblest men in Ireland by way of excellency Brehons Professionâ— hereditary Tanistry Girald Cambren Galloglasses Kernes Barritus Water-cresses Shamroots This place is corrupted in the copie The whole yeere out of an old fragment Haply Hollâ—wood Gresholme Stockholme and Scalmey Silimnus Bernacles Annales of Th. Otterborn Anno 7. H. 4. Scottish or westerne Iles. Earles of Orkney Thule Thule for Britaine Island Lib. 2. belli Gothici Shetland which some call Hethland Bergos Nerigon The frozen sea or Cronium Lindis-farne Holy Iland Farn Isle Bede in the life of Cuthbert Saxon Ilands Lib. 7. Birchanis Borkun The British Armory or Store-house Holland coast Britten huis Portus Morinorum Britannicus The Chamavi dwelt thereby as appeareth out of the Embassages of Eunapius Burgus what it is Zosimus l. 4. Saxons in Holland Janus Douza in his Nomenclator Britten an herb Zeland See pag. 333. 441. Toliapis Caunus Canvey See in Essex Shepey Goodwin Sands Some call it Lomea The British narrow sea Alderney Casquettes Gerzey Castra Constantia Moritavum Uraic Fucus marinus Sarnia Garnsey Haply Granonâ— by a transposition of letters which the Nâ—â—titia placeth iâ— the Tract of Armorica Smyris Normandy lost Tillet Serke Set-Iles Barsa Basepole Where the British sea is deepest Lisia by transposition of leters Silia * Sacrum Promontorium Non usque navibus we read in the notes of Paris Stella Maria. Ulpian lib. 7. de Mathematicis Axantos Ushant Siambis Mariners cal it the Seame Veneti Insulae Vene cae Vannes Venna Caro i. Charles Fiâ—shing as Heâ—gardus saith Nesidae * Samnitum Bacchus Oleron Uliarus Lex Rhodia Admirall of England Hereditary territories in France belonging to the Crowne of England
growing in Britaine without kernels and of grapes without stone and seed hath bounded it within the precinct of CCC stadia and no more Much better yet hath Dionysius After in his Description of the world reported of the British Ilands that is to say Britaine and Ireland in this wise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now for their greatnesse verily exceeding large they are And seeke through Ilands all none may with Brittish Isles compare And togetâ—â—â— with him Aristides and other Greeke writers accord who by way of excellenc◠〈…〉 truly called Britaine for the greatnesse thereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is The great I' 〈◊〉 Now they that have more curiously compared the spaces of heaven above together with the tracts of earth beneath place Britaine under the 8. Climate and include it within the 18. and 26 Parallel They thinke also the longest day there to be 18. Aequinoctiall houres and an halfe But the Cape of Cornwall respecting the convexitie of the earth they describe to be situate 16 degrees 50 scruples from the furthest point West the longitude likewise of the Fore-land in Kent to be 21. degrees as for the latitude in the south-coast they measure it by 50 degrees and that of Catnesse Northward by 59 40 scruples over So that according to this site Britaine is seated aswell for aire as soile in a right fruitfull and most milde place The aire so kinde and temperate that not only the Summers be not excessive hote by reason of continuall gentle windes that abate their heat which as they refresh the fruits of the earth so they yeeld a most holsome and pleasing contentment both to man and beast but the Winters also are passing milde For the raine falling often with still showers to say nothing of the aire it selfe somewhat thicke and grosse dissolveth the rigour of the cold so and withall the sea which compasseth it with moderate warmth doth comfort the land in such wise as that the cold with us is much more remisse than in some parts of France and Italie Whereupon it is that Minutius Foelix proving that God by his providence hath a speciall regard of the severall parts of the world as well as of the whole saith That Britaine though it want other whiles the aspect of the Sunne yet refreshed it is with the warmth of the sea flowing round about it Neither neede you to marvell at his speech concerning the warmth of the sea The seas quoth Cicero stirred to and fro with the winds do so wax warme that a man may easily perceive within that world of Waters there is inclosed a certaine heat To the temperatenesse also of this Iland Cescenius Getulicus a very ancient Poet seemeth to have respect when he versified thus of Britaine Non Illîc Aries verno ferit aëra cornu Gnosia nec Gemini praecedunt cornua Tauri Sicca Lycaonius resupinat plaustra Bootes The RAM unkindly smites not there in Spring the aire with horn Nor TWINS the horned BULL of Crete untimely go beforn Where DRIVER hight Arctophylax doth his drie waine up-turn Caesar likewise writeth thus The places in Britaine be more temperate by reason that the weather is not so cold than in France Semblably Cornelius Tacitus No extremitie there is of cold and hee addeth moreover and saith The soile setting aside the Olive the Vine and the rest which are proper to warmer countries taketh all kind of graine and beareth it in abundance it ripeneth slowly but commeth up quickly the cause of both is one and the same to wit the overmuch moisture of ground and aire For the aire as Strabo writeth is subject rather to showres of raine than to snow Howbeit the ground enriched so with all sorts of corne that Orpheus hath reported it to bee the very seat of Ladiâ— Ceres for that which we read in his Poeme thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lo heere the stately hauls Of Ceres Queene is meant of this our Island yea and it hath beene the very barne garner and store-house of victuals of the West Empire from whence the Romans were wont yearely to transport into Germanie with a fleet of 800. vessels bigger than barges great store of corne for the maintenance of their armies which there defended the Frontiers But lest I should seeme to exceed over-much in the praise of my native country heare in stead of me that ancient Oratour who with open mouth resoundeth out the commendations thereof in this manner O happie Britaine and more fortunate than all other lands beside which first sawest Constantine Emperour for good cause hath nature endowed thee with all the blessed gifts of aire and soile wherein there is neither excessive cold of Winter nor extreme heat of Summer wherein there is so great plenty of graine that it serveth sufficiently both for bread and drink wherein the forrests are without savage beasts and the ground void of noysome serpents Contrariwise an infinite multitude there is of tame cattell with udders strutting full of milke and loaden with fleeces and verily that which for the use of our life we much esteemed the daies there are very long and the nights never want some light whiles those utmost plaines by the sea side cast and raise no shadowes on high and the aspect both of skie and starres passeth beyond the bound of the night yea the very Sunne it selfe which unto us seemeth for to set appeareth there onely to passe along and goe aside Hearken also if it please you to another Oratour speaking unto Constantius the father of Constantine the Great in this wise And I assure you no small dammage was it to the Common-weale as to lose the bare name onely of BRITAINE so to forgoe a land so plentifull in corne so rich in pasturage so full of mines and veines of mettall so gainefull in tributes and revenewes so accommodated with many havens and for circuit so large and spacious Moreover the singular love and motherly affection of Nature to this Island a Poet of good antiquitie hath by way of a speech made unto Britaine lively expressed thus in this Epigram which some have judged not unworthy to be divulged Tu nimio nec stricta gelu nec sydere fervens Clementi coelo temperiéque places Cùm pareret Natura parens varióque favore Divideret dotes omnibus una locis Seposuit potiora tibi matreque professa Insula sis foelix plenáque pacis ait Quicquid amat luxus quicquid desiderat usus Ex te proveniet vel aliunde tibi For aire so mild and temperate right pleasing is thy seat Where reigneth neither chilling cold nor yet excessive heat What time Dame Nature brought things forth and of her onely grace Bestow'd her favours manifold and gifts on every place Like mother kinde the better part aside for thee she laid Oh happie Island maist thou be and full of peace she
said What ever vaine excesse affects what may mans need content Shall come from thee or else to thee from other lands be sent This plentifull abundance these goodly pleasures of Britain have perswaded some that those fortunate Islands wherein all things as Poets write do still flourish as in a perpetuall Spring tide were sometime heere with us For this doth one Isacius Tzetzes a Greek Author of no small credit affirme and our ancestours seeme to have believed the same as a certaine truth For what time as Pope Clement the sixth as wee read in Robert of Aevsburie had elected Lewis of Spaine to bee the Prince of those fortunate Islands and for to aid and assist him mustered souldiers in France and Italie our countrymen were verily perswaded That hee was chosen Prince of Britâ—ine and that all the said preparation was for Britaine as one saith he of the fortunate Islands Yea and even those most prudent personages themselves our Legier Embassadours there with the Pope were so deeply setled in this opinion that forthwith they withdrew themselves from Rome and hastned with all speed into England there to certifie their countreymen and friends of the matter Neither will any man now judge otherwise who throughly knoweth the blessed estate and happie wealth of Britaine For Nature tooke a pleasure in the framing thereof and seemeth to have made it as a second world sequestred from the other to delight mankind withall yea and curiously depainted it of purpose as it were a certaine portraict to represent a singular beautie and for the ornament of the universall world with so gallant and glittering variety with so pleasant a shew are the beholders eies delighted which way soever they glance To say nothing of the Inhabitants whose bodies are of an excellent good constitution their demeanour right courteous their natures as gentle and their courage most hardie and valiant whose manhood by exploits atchieved both at home and abroad is famously renowned thorow the whole world But who were the most ancient and the very first Inhabitants of this Isle as also from whence this word Britan had the originall derivation sundry opinions one after another have risen and many we have seene who being uncertaine in this point have seemed to put downe the certaine resolution thereof Neither can we hope to attaine unto any certaintie heerein more than all other nations which setting those aside that have their originall avouched unto them out of holy Scripture as well as wee touching their point abide in great darkenesse errour and ignorance And how to speake truly can it otherwise be considering that the trueth after so many revolutions of ages and times could not chuse but be deepely hidden For the first inhabitours of countreys had other cares and thoughts to busie and trouble their heads than to deliver their beginnings unto posteritie And say they had been most willing so to do yet possibly could they not seeing their life was so uncivill so rude so full of warres and therefore void of all literature which keeping companie with a civill life by peace and repose is onely able to preserve the memorie of things and to make over the same to the succeeding ages Moreover the Druidae who being in the olde time the Priests of the Britans and Gaules were supposed to have knowne all that was past the Bardi that used to resound in song all valours and noble acts thought it not lawfull to write and booke any thing But admit they had recorded ought in so long continuance of time in so many and so great turnings and overturnings of States doubtlesse the same had beene utterly lost seeing that the very stones pyramides obelisks and other memorable monuments thought to be more durable than brasse have yeelded long agoe to the iniquitie of time Howbeit in the ages soone after following there wanted not such as desired gladly to supplie these defects and when they could not declare the trueth indeed yet at least way for delectation they laboured to bring foorth narrations devised of purpose with certaine pleasant varietie to give contentment and delivered their severall opinions each one after his owne conceit and capacitie touching the originall of Nations and their names Unto which as there were many who neglecting further search into the trueth quickly yeelded connivence so the most sort delighted with the sweetnesse of the Deviser as readily gave credence But to let passe all the rest one Geffrey Ap Arthur of Monmouth among us whom I would not pronounce in this behalfe liable to this suspicion in the raigne of K. Henrie the Second published an Historie of Britaine and that out of the British tongue as hee saith himselfe wherein he writeth That Brutus a Trojane borne the sonne of Silvius nephew of Ascanius and in a third degree nephew to that great Aeneas descended from supreame Jupiter for the goddesse Venus bare him whose birth cost his mother her life and who by chance slew his owne father in hunting a thing that the wise Magi had foretold fled his country and went into Greece where he delivered out of thraldome the progenie of Helenus K. Priamus sonne vanquished King Pandrasus wedded his daughter and accompanied with a remnant of Trojans fell upon the Island Leogetia where by the Oracle of Diana he was advised to goe into this Westerne Isle From thence through the Streights of Gebraltar where he escaped the Mer-maydes and afterward through the Tuskan sea hee came as farre as to Aquitaine in a pight battell defeated Golfarius the Pict King of Aquitaine together with twelve Princes of Gaul and after he had built the citie Tours as witnesseth Homer and made spoile of Gaule passed over sea into this Island inhabited of Giants whom when he had conquered together with Gogmagog the hugest of them all according to his owne name he called it Britaine in the yeare of the world 2855 before the first Olympiad 334. yeares and before the nativitie of Christ 1108. Thus farre Geffrey of Monmouth Yet others there bee that fetch the name of Britaine from some other causes Sir Thomas Eliot by degree a worshipfull Knight and a man of singular learning draweth it from the Greeke fountaine to wit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a tearme that the Athenians gave to their publike Finances or Revenues Humfrey Lhuyd reputed by our countrymen for knowledge of Antiquitie to carrie after a sort with him all the credit and authoritie referreth it confidently to the British word PRID-CAIN that is to say a pure white forme Pomponius Laetus reporteth that the Britons out of Armorica in France gave it that name Goropius Becanus saith that the Danes sought heere to plant themselves and so named it BRIDANIA that is Free Dania Others derive it from PRVTENIA a region in Germanie Bodine supposeth that it tooke the name of BRETTA the Spanish word which signifieth Earth and Forcatulus of BRITHIN which as wee read in Athenaeus
These lands whilom by violence of breach and ruines great Such change makes time and what is it that long time doth not eate A sunder fell men say where as they both in one did grow The Seas brake in by force and through the mids did overthrow Both townes and grounds And Italy forthwith from Sicily side Did cut and them with in-let streight doth still part and divide Plinie sheweth likewise of Isles that Cyprus was rent from Syria Eubaea from Baeotia Besbicus from Bythinia being parts before of the maine land But none of the old writers was ever able to avouch that Britaine was so severed from the Maine onely those verses of Virgil and Claudian before cited by me in the very first entrance into this worke together with the conjecture of Servius Honoratus doe insinuate so much And yet Dominicus Marius Niger and Master Iohn Twin a right learned man and whosoever he was that wrested these verses made of Scicilia unto Britaine are of this opinion Britannia quondam Gallorum pars una fuit sed pontus aestus Mutavere situm rupit confinia Nereus Victor abscissos interluit aequore montes Some time was Britannie A part of France But swelling tides on hie Have changed the site and Nereus he as Conquerour hath torne The confines quite and runnes betweene the cliffs a sounder worne Considering therefore that in this matter there is no assured ground upon certaine authoritie the learned by laying and comparing the like examples in such narrow Seas as this for searching out of the truth propose these and such like points duly to be weighed and considered First whether the nature of the soyle in both shores be the same which verily is found here to be even so For the shore of either side where the distance betweene is narrowest riseth up with loftie cliffes of the same matter as it were and colour so as they may seeme to have beene riven asunder Secondly How great the breadth is of the sea or streight Certes the streight heere is not much broader than either the streight of Gibraltar or of Scicily to wit twenty foure miles over so as at the first sight one would imagine that these lands were severed by the billowes of the raging counter-seas For that the land sunke downeward by earth-quakes I hardly dare thinke seeing that this our Northen climate of the world is seldome shaken with earth-quakes and those when they happen be never great Thirdly How deepe the streight is As the Streight of Sicilie is sounded in depth 80. paces so this of ours exceedeth not 25. fathom whereas the sea on both sides of it is much deeper Fourthly Of what nature the ground is in the bothoms stony sandy beachy or else oasy and muddy And whether there be beds or shelves of sand lying scattered in the said narrow sea I have learned of Sailers that there lieth but one banke and the same in the very mid-channell which at a low water is scarce 3. fathom deepe But within halfe a league to the South-ward it is 27. fathom deepe and to the North-ward 25. Lastly Whether any place in either of the two shores taketh name in the ancient language of a breach a plucking away division separation or such like as Rhegium which standeth upon the Sicilian Streight is named of the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to breake because in that place by the violent force of waves Sicilie was broken off from Italie But thinking as I doe heereof I can meet with none unlesse one would suppose that Vitsan upon the French shore had the name from Gwith which in the British tongue betokeneth a division or separation They that would have Britaine to have been the very continent of Gaule after that universall deluge argue from the wolves whereof there were many among us in old time like as at this day in Scotland and Ireland How say they could there be any of them in Ilands considering that all beasts and living creatures perished which were not in the Arke unlesse a long time after the earth had beene passable throughout and no Isles at all This question busied Saint Augustine but unto it he answereth thus Wolves and other beasts may bee thought to have swome over the sea unto Ilands yet onely to neere adjoyning Ilands as stags yearely for their reliefe and food swim out of Italy into Cicily But some Isles there be so far remote from maine lands that it is to be thought no beast could swim over If it should bee said men caught them and so brought them over with them it carrieth some credit that this might well have beene for the delight they had in hunting Although it cannot bee denied but by the commandement or permission of God even by the worke of Angels they might have beene transported But if so be they sprung out of the earth according to their first originall when as God said Let the earth bring forth a living soule then it appeareth much more evidently that all kind of living creatures were in the Arke not so much for the encrease and reparation of them as to figure out sundry Nations for the sacrament of the church in case the earth brought forth many creatures in those Ilands whereto they can not passe Thus Philosophizeth he Neither is any man able upon this argument to pronounce any thing more sufficiently and exquisitely For me it may suffice that I have propounded thereof let the Reader throughly waigh and examine it And hee that is able in this point to see deepest what is most true verily I will report him a man right skilfull and deepely quick-sighted On the other side in the Firme-land inhabited the MORINI so called in the ancient Gaules tongue as it were Maritimi sive Maris accolae men dwelling upon the Sea-coast or hard by the sea Their countrey is now termed Conto de Guines and Conte de Bolonois and had in old time two places of very great name to wit GESSORIACVM and ITIVM whence as Caesar hath recorded there was the best and most commodious passing out of Gaule or France into Britain and most Authors thinke it was that towne which now they call Callais But that famous and learned man Hospitalius Chancellour of France a very skilfull Antiquary avoucheth that Callais is no ancient towne but was only a small village such as the French-men terme Burgados untill that Philip Earle of Bolen walled it about not very many yeares before the English won it Neither is it red in any place that men tooke shipping there for Britaine before those times I thinke therefore that Itium is to bee sought some where else that is to say below at Vitsan neere unto Blacknesse which we call Whitsan the word sounding not much unlike to Itium For that all men crossed over out of this Iland thither and embarqued there to saile hither wee observed out of our owne histories in so much
as certaine lands were held in Coperland neere Dover by service to hold the Kings head betweene Dover and Whit-sand when soever hee crossed the Sea there And Lewis the younger French King when he came in devout pilgrimage to visit Thomas of Canterbury besought that saint by way of most humble intercession that no passenger might miscarry by shipwracke betweene Vitsan and Dover as who would say that at the same time that was the usual passage to and fro neither in truth is this narrow sea else where more streightned although it is to bee supposed that they who faile betweene in passing over did not respect the neerer way and shorter cut in sailing but the commodiousnesse of the havens in the one shoare and the other For even so albeit the sea be narrowest betweene Blacknesse in France and the Nesse in England yet now the ordinary passing is betweene Dover and Callais as in former ages before that Vitsan haven was dammed up the passage was betweene it and Dover and before that time betweene Rhutupiae and Gessoriacum From whence Claudius the Emperour and the other captaines whom I have spoken of sailed over into Britaine This GESSORIACVM Pliny seemeth to call Portum Morinorum Britannicum peradventure for the passage from thence into Britaine Ptolomee in whom it hath crept into the place of Itium nameth it Gessoriacum Navale in which signification also our Welsh Britans commonly terme it Bowling-long that is Boloine the ship-road For that Gessoriacum was the very same Sea-coast towne which Ammianus calleth BONONIA the Frenchmen Bologne the Low-country men Beunen and wee Bolen I dare bee bold to aver and maintaine against Hector Boethius and Turnebus grounding my assertion both upon the authoritie of Beatus Rhenanus who saw an ancient military Map wherein was written Gessoriacum quod nunc Bononia that is Gessoriacum now called Bolen and also upon Itinerarie computation or account of the miles which answereth just to the distance that Antonine the Emperour hath put downe betvveene Ambiani and Gessoriacum But that which may serve in steed of all proofes The rablement of Pyrates serving under Carausius which the Panegirick Oration pronounced unto Constantius the Emperour reported to have beene inclosed and shut up within the walles of Gessoriacum and there surprised an other Oration unto Constantius Maximus his sonne relateth to have beene vanquished at Bononia so that Bononia that is Bolen and Gessoriacum must needs be one and the selfe same place and it may seeme that the more ancient name was vvorne out much about that time For it is not to be surmised that so grave authors unto the great Princes erred in the setting downe and naming of this place the memory thereof being then so fresh and that victory so glorious But what have I to doe with France Verily I have the more willingly ripped up the memorie of these matters for that the prowesse and valour of our Ancestours shewed it selfe often in this coast as who wonne and wrested both Calais and Bolen from the French And as for Bolen they rendred it backe againe at the humble request of the French King after eight yeares for a summe of money agreed upon But Callais they held 212. yeare in despight and maugre of the French Now returne wee to Britaine with full sailes and a favourable tide From Dover leaving the little Abbey of Bradsole dedicated to S. Radegund wherof Hugh the first Abbat was founder there runneth for five miles in length a continued cheine of chalky cliffes standing on a row hanging joyntly one to another as far as to Folkstone which was a flourishing place in times past as may appeare by the pieces of Roman coine and Britaine brickes daily there found but under what name it is uncertaine Probable it is that it was one of those towres or holds which in the reigne of Theodosius the younger the Romans placed for to keep off the Saxons as Gildas saith At certaine distances along the shore in the South part of Britaine Famous it was and much frequented by the English Saxons for religions sake by reason of a Monasterie that Eanswide daughter to Eadbald King of Kent consecrated there unto Nunnes But now it is a small towne and the greatest part thereof the Sea hath as it were parted away Howbeit it was the Baronie of the Family de Abrincis or Aurenches From whom it came to Sir Hamon Crevequer and by his daughter to Sir Iohn of Sandwich whose grand child Iulian by his sonne Iohn brought the same as her dowry to Iohn Segrave From thence as the shore turneth a front South West-ward Sandgate Castle built by King Henry the Eighth defendeth the coast and upon a Castle hill thereby are seene reliques of an ancient Castle More inward is Saltwood a Castle of the Bishops of Canterbury which William Courtney Archbishop of Canterbury enlarged And neere unto it is Often-hanger where Sir Edward Poinings Baneret a father of many faire bastards and amongst them of Thomas Lord Poining Lieuftenant of Bollen began to build a stately house but left it unperfect when death had bereft him of his onely lawfull child which he had by his lawfull wife the daughter of Sir I. Scot his neighbour at Scots-Hall where the family of Scots hath lived in worshipfull estimation a long time as descended from Pashely and Serteaux by Pimpe But to returne to the sea-coast neere to Sandgate Hith is situated one of the Cinque ports whereof it assumed that name which in the English Saxons tongue signifieth an haven or harbour although hardly it maintaineth that name now by reason of sands and the Sea withdrawing it selfe from it And yet it is not long since it first made any shew and that by the decay and fall of Westhyth a neighbour-towne Westward and which was sometime a Port untill the Sea in our great grandfathers daies retired from it So are Sea-townes subject to the uncertaine vicissitude of the Sea This Hith like as West-Hith also had their beginning from the ruine of Lime standing hard by which in times past was a most famous Port towne untill the sands that the Sea casteth up had choked and stopped the haven Both Antonine and the booke of Norrices called it PORTVS LEMANIS Ptolomee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which being in Greeke a significative word the Copiantes or Copiers out of old bookes because they would seeme to supply the defect wrot it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Latin Interpreters following them translated it Novus portus that is New port or New haven whereas the proper name of the place was Limen or Leman like as at this time Lime Heere the Captaine over a company or band of Turnacenses kept his station under the Count or Lieuftenant of the Saxon shore And a Port way paved with stone called Stonystreet reacheth from hence toward Canterbury which one would easily judge to have beene a worke of the Romans like as the
same Avienus wrote thus Tartesiisque in terminos Oestrymnidum Negotiandi mos erat Carthaginiâ— Etiam colonis Those of Tartessus eke as well As they in Carthage towne that dwell Were wont to trade for merchandise To skirts of Isles Oestrymnides Other Greeke writers tearmed these Cassiterides of Tinne like as Strabo nameth a certaine place among the Drangi in Asia CASSITERON of Tinn and Stephanus in his booke of Cities reporteth out of Dionysius that a certaine Iland in the Indian sea was called CASSITERIA of Tinne As for that MICTIS which Pliny citeth out of Timaeus to bee sixe dayes sailing inward from Britaine and to yeeld Mines of white lead that it should be one of these I dare scarcely affirme Yet am I not igrant that the most learned Hermolaus Barbarus read it in manuscript books Mitteris for Mictis and doth read for Mitteris Cartiteris But that I should avouch these to be those CASSITERIDES so often sought for the authority of the ancient writers their site and the mines of Tinne are motives to perswade me Full opposite unto the Artabri saith Strabo over against which the West parts of Britain doe lye appeare those Ilands Northward which they call Cassiterides placed after a sort in the same clime with Britaine And in another place The sea between Spaine and the Cassiterides is broader than that which lieth between the Cassiterides and Britain The Cassiterides look toward the coast of Celtiberia saith Solinus And Diodorus Siculus in the Ilands next unto the Spanish sea which of Tinne are called Cassiterides Also Eustathius There be ten Islands called Cassiterides lying close together Northward Now seeing these Isles of Silly are opposite unto the Artabri that is Gallitia in Spaine seeing they bend directly North from them seeing they are placed in the same clime with Britaine seeing they looke toward the coast of Celtiberia seeing they are dis-joined by a farre broader sea from Spaine than from Britaine seeing they are next unto the Spanish sea seeing they lye hard one by another toward the North and ten onely of them bee of any good account namely Saint Maries Annoth Agnes Sampson Silly Brefer Rusco or Trescaw Saint Helens Saint Martins and Arthur and that which is most materiall seeing they have veines of Tinne as no other Iland hath beside them in this tract and considering that two of the lesse sort to wit Minan Witham and Minuisisand may seeme to have taken their names of Mines I would rather think these to be CASSITERIDES than either the Azores which beare too far West or Cisarga with Olivarius that lieth in maner close unto Spaine or even Britain it selfe with Ortelius considering there were many Cassiterides and Dionysius Alexandrinus after he had treated of the Cassiterides writeth of Britaine apart by it selfe If any man by reason of the number deny these to be CASSITERIDES for that they be more than ten let him also number the Haebudes and the Orcades and if after the account taken he finde neither more nor fewer with Ptolomee than five Haebudes and 30. Orcades let him search in any other place but where they are now extant and with all his searching by reckoning of the numbers I know for certaine he shall not easily finde them But the ancient writers had no certaine knowledge of these most remote parts and Ilands of the earth in that age no more than wee in these daies of the Isles in the Streights of Magellane and the whole tract of New Guiney And that Herodotus had no knowledge of these it is no marvell for himselfe confesseth that hee knew nothing for certaine to make report of the farthest parts of Europe But lead was brought first from hence into Greece Lead saith Plinie in his eight Booke and in the Chapter of the first Inventours of things Midacritus first brought out of the Island Cassitiris But as touching these Islands listen what Strabo saith in his third Booke of Geography toward the end The Ilands Cassiterides be in number ten neere one unto another situate in the deepe sea Northward from the haven of the Artabri One of them is desert the rest are inhabited by men wearing blacke garments clad in side-coats reaching downe to their ankles girt about the breast and going with staves like unto the Furies in Tragedies They live of their cattell straggling and wandring after a sort as having no certaine abiding place Metall mines they have of tinne and of lead in lieu whereof and of skins and furres they receive by exchange from the Merchants earthen vessels salt and brasen workes At the beginning the Phoenicians only traded thither from Gades and concealed from others this their navigation But when the Romanes followed a certaine Master of a shippe that they themselves might learne this trafficke of merchandise he upon a spitefull envie ran his ship for the nonce upon the sands and after hee had brought them that followed after into the same danger of destruction himselfe escaped the shipwracke and out of the common Treasury received the worth of the commodities and wares that he lost Howbeit the Romans after they had tryed many times learned at length the voiage hither Afterwards Publius Crassus when hee had sailed thither and seene how they digged not very deepe in these Mines and that the people were lovers of peace and lived quietly desirous also to saile upon the sea he shewed the feat thereof to as many as were willing to learne although they were to saile a greater sea than that which reacheth from thence to Britain But to discourse no farther whether these were the ancient Cassiterides or no and to returne to Silly There bee about an hundred forty and five Ilands carrying this name all clad with grasse or covered with a greenish mosse besides many hideous rockes and great craggy stones raising head above water situate as it were in a circle round eight leagues from the lands end or utmost point of Cornewall West-South-West Some of them yeeld sufficient store of corne but all of them have abundance of conies cranes swannes herons and other sea-foule The greatest of them all is that which tooke the name of Saint Marie having a towne so named and is about eight miles in compasse offereth a good harbour to Saylers in a sandie Bay wherein they may anchor at sixe seven and eight fathom but in the entry lye some rockes on either side It hath had anciently a castle which hath yeelded to the force of time But for the same Queene Elizabeth in the yeere 1593. when the Spaniards called in by the Leaguers of France began to nestle in little Britain built a new castle with faire and strong ravelines and named the same Stella Maria in respect both of the ravelines which resemble the raies of a starre and the name of the Isle for defence whereof shee there placed a garrison under the command of Sir Francis Godolphin Doubtlesse these are those Ilands which as Solinus writeth a